Here’s a quick video showing the system you are thinking about. Nothing at all planned out here. Just making noise. I’ll try to do a more interesting video with some voiceover soon.
I basically just ran some Morphagene reels into DATA - discovered what notes were in the reel and then used PAMS to quantize a random output to a scale with those notes. I lowered the output to around 25% so the notes would say in ~2 octave range - and then just played piano sounds from the Disting EX-Alpha over a reversed Morphagene reel - using Beads for reverb and to give a bit of texture. In a more complex patch I’d really try to sequence more from PAMS, modulating beads and the Disting more, triggering Morphagene, etc.
You have essentially endless options of going from Morphagene > Beads or Beads > Morphagene. Oh, also, pro-tip - theres a ton of free awesome Morphagene reels here. It’s amazing to use as a looper and just to sample whats coming out of your case, but equally interesting to load it up with some fun reels and just play around with those. The naming scheme is pretty specific for the SD card, but I can help you out there later if you need it.
I’ve watched it several times and have learned from it. And I have questions about things that are obvious to anyone with more knowledge of this stuff than me…..which is possibly everyone.
I recognize 3 modules (Pamela’s Workout, Morphogene, and Beads) that sit side-by-side, left to right. But I don’t know what the thin module on the far left is, nor do I see/know what the modules to the right of Beads are/do.
You’d mentioned that you could plug a microphone directly into Morphogene and/or Beads but you didn’t do that (and I know you have mics that you bought from Goodwill ).
I keep trying to focus on what it is I want to do/ what I want to begin with and not succumb to the enchantment of “OMG, look what that module can do” times infinity. So, I’ve gone back to trying to evaluate why I’ve (we’ve) settled on the half-dozen modules that’d fit in 2/3 of an 84 HP eurorack I seem hell-bent to buy.
Here’s where I think I’m on solid ground: I need an I/O module and either but not necessarily both Morphogene and/or Beads. And DATA. And the case. And something to plug it into (I’m thinking Merlin and Gremlin to start). And headphones. But I’m not locked into the belief that I’m even right about this. Am I?
And I’m bothered by Beads because it’s out of production because its manufacturer went away a couple years ago. There may or may not be PDFs of useful/fairly complete Beads manuals. I don’t know.
Morphogene is said to have a steeper learning curve and more possibilities, but regardless I am of the opinion/delusion that I kind of understand its inputs/outputs/knobs/buttons/lights while the Beads faceplate is still gobbledygook to me (which is more likely my problem than obfuscation by the designers of Beads).
Ah - the Module to the left of Pams is just the power supply module. It has a ribbon cable with 8 connectors that just power the rest of the rack.
Regarding I/O I should better clarify what I mean by this, and you can decide what you need. I n most cases at a minimum you need an output module to get your sound to speakers or heaphones, or both. This utility is often part of a mixer module that will allow you to sum together and mix a number of eurorack level signals. This 4MS module is a great example of a basic mixer that can take 4 mono or stereo signals, mix them, and provides outputs for both speakers and headphones each with their own volume control.
Depending on how you plan to use this module, you can spend a lot more. For example, some mixers allow you to control the volume with control voltages, so you can essentially automate volumes and bring parts in and out. Others have FX loops where you could send numerous signals to a single processor. I’ll show you my mixer later - i specifically have BEADS as an FX Loop where i can send any signal in the mixer to beads.
In your case - for now - I would say simple is better. Unless you have a bunch of sound sources that you are using at the same time you really can just use everything in line - meaning you plug each module into the next directly.
For “input” all we are talking about here is having the ability to plug external sources into eurorack. Most modules that work well with external sources like Beads, Morphagene, and Arbhar all work with these signals without the need for an additional module. For now I wouldn’t worry about a dedicated “input” module.
Pams + any of these modules will already give you heaps of fun! I’ll try to make a video later with an actual mic so i can walk you through a bit more of this.
I think you put your finger on the cause of my issue, although I hadn’t realized it until you mentioned it. I am apparently interested in using a bunch of sound sources at the same time.
I kept trying to figure out how to do that as though that’s what everybody is doing, which it isn’t ….. or it often or usually isn’t what I’ve seen in videos of this stuff, which I only began paying attention to after reading your post on Buchla + Tip Top on Apos a couple weeks ago. It’s the reason you’d mention “there’s a ton of free awesome Morphogene reels here” as though that were a good thing while I would overlook that because that’s not something of value to me.
And I really hadn’t figured that out until I began this reply, but I had started to wonder whether having more that one Morphogene module would be for me a step in the right direction.
This more like setting up your own chemistry or biology or physics or materials engineering (etc.) lab than building a musical instrument…..although it is building a musical instrument.
(Pause)
Okay, I’ve just gone back and re-read your above two paragraphs on I/O modules and mixers and your using Beads in that capacity. Yeah, maybe we could explore that a bit?
In the interim I’ve watched a lot of video, talked to the sales staff of several vendors, bought books (Andrea Pejrolo & Scott Metcalfe; Darwin Grosse), and rethought through a lot of the conversations I had with you. I’ve studied east vs west coast synth philosophies (Moog et al. vs. Buchla) and note that for decades I’d not been interested in this stuff until I came across your blurb on Apos about the Tip Top revival of Buchla. That now makes sense to me given the diametrically opposite objectives Moog vs. Buchla had. (The former was not a musician but was someone who was creating an “instrument “ for musicians to use as they would use a piano, while Buchla was an accomplished musician who was interested in exploring with musicians new sonic territory bereft of musical instruments. Or something like that. Anyway, I live in the Buchla camp.)
I also found myself dropping down the rabbit hole where the greedy part of the brain gets excited about various whoop-dee-doo modules, which suddenly become l-gotta-have-that items. However, with the exception of a used Buchla/TipTop 266t SoU, I’ve resisted and refocused and re-refocused.
I bought a 7U powered case, which I’d have chatted with you about given the opportunity but which I’m pretty comfortable with given that I foresee plugging in probably no more than nine modules in total in the near future. (I’ve got Modular Grid on my to do list.)
Additionally, I’ve purchased what I’m of the belief are appropriate input(Befaco I4 Instrument Interface) and output (Intellijel Outs Interface) modules and the Mordax Data oscilloscope you mentioned. I’m dithering on a whether to buy a decent SDC or a Shure SM57 microphone.
I’ve rewatched Stazma’s essential Buchla modules parts 1 and 2 over and over and settled on recreating his part 2 components (hence the 266t purchase, which was premature.) At least that’s where I’m leaning.
I have the case and output module. The carrier is notifying me that I need to be available to sign for the Befaco I4. Data’s on its way. Once I’ve got the mic, I should be able to use the oscilloscope. That would be a very comfortable place for me to begin.
I’ll be interested in your design thoughts on the tossed salad of synth modules I’m throwing together…..
The pieces have been trickling in. The microphone arrived just yesterday. Enough pieces here finally to send a signal to the oscilloscope, so I’ll see if I can put what I’ve got together and try to learn to do that. I think the oscilloscope can also be used to modify input noise, which would give me something to send to the output module where I believe I can plug earphones.
If that works, I’ll buy the Make Noise Morphogene. If not, I hope Andy returns.
I’m looking forward to Andy’s return, too. I’m bringing an inexplicably intense interest that suddenly consumed me and a lot of ignorance and a wavering focus that off-and-on seems to be coming together. But anything of substance in this thread comes from Andy.
Granulators, oscillators, filters, and attenuation in addition to input and output have captured most of my time spent so far, but yesterday I began looking at something I thought I had some handle on: the MIDI. But it turns out I don’t. Betcha Andy does.
Sorry for being slow - things are a bit nutso right now with work. Been preparing for CanJam NYC all week and slowly working on opening a retail shop.
Welcome to the intense interest of modular. It either something that really scratches a niche itch, or something that most people have no interest in at all. Seems like your the former.
Rad that you’re getting stuff in! DATA itself can be an oscillator, so yeah it will take V/OCT CV and ouptut some basic waveshapes. Definitely will want a filter or Low Pass Gate to tame these output signals from DATA though.
For MIDI it really just depends on what you want to do with it. There’s taking external MIDI and using it to control the Modular, or you want to get MIDI from the modular (generally if you have a sequencer you really like) and send it to an external synth. I don’t think any are necessary at first if you’re in the modular environment. MIDI only really matters once you start integrating the modular setup into a larger system.
Do you have a modular grid of the stuff you’ve already gotten or that are on your list you can share??
Nice to hear from you. Hope your retail space goes well.
I’ve not done Modular Grid.
The stuff I have now is (1) a 7 U powered Intellijel case, (2) a Befaco i4 instrument interface, (3) DATA, (4) Intellijel Outs output interface, and (5) an SDC microphone.
I’m going to add (6) Morphagene and (7 - 11) the five Buchla 200t modules Stazma uses in his
Buchla & TipTop Audio 200t Essentials ESSENTIAL System Vol. 2 YouTube video.
).