I decided to stay home this weekend. I stopped by Control in Williamsburg and picked up a new module for my Eurorack system. I bought a Toppobrillo Multifilter. You can hear it in the above videos filtering a Wiard Oscillator, Make Noise Echophon and a iPad Police Scanner. The clock and drums are from a Korg Rhythm 55. An Analog Solutions Telemark is providing some LFO modulated white noise snares and a Korg Monotribe is joining in with some resonant rides and a synth line. Both the Telemark and Monotribe are being pinged by an Intellijel uStep. There’s also an Intellijel uVCA and Pittsburgh Modular ASDR doing some utility work. There’s won’t end up as songs as sometimes it good to just play around.
“The so-called state-variable filter has a long history in electronic music- traditionally the most versatile voltage-controlled filter at any analog synthesist’s disposal. there were several classic design examples and variants produced throughout the heyday of analog synthesis, such as those implemented in the Oberheim SEM, the EDP Wasp, and the fabled,albeit lesser known filters such as the famous Serge filters and Arp 1047; the classic SVF configuration is simple and versatile- with several different filter responses available simultaneously ‘for free’ by nature of it’s design with no elaborate mixing schemes. traditionally there have been some considerations when designing a wide-range filter with variable Q using this topology, for instance, relative instability/ generally poor sound and behaviour at very high Q, many designs get around this by limiting the maximum Q available, among other things. those that are designed to allow for self-oscillation will often become unstable at the threshold and have inconsistencies initiating or mantaining oscillation across the entire audio range. The Toppobrillo Multifilter is a new/ traditional state-variable design based on a great modern quad VCA chip, the SSM2164. this, in part, helps make the Multiflter what it is, a clean, quiet, stable and very controllable filter at it’s core, without limiting its palette, well suited for processing anything you can run through it.” – toppobrillo.com
For more info: thehorrorist.com and toppobrillo.com
This entry was written by , posted on September 23, 2012 at 5:35 am, filed under iPad, modular, synthesizer and tagged Analog Solutions, Echophon, Eurorack, intellijel, Korg, Make Noise, modular, Monotribe, Pittsburgh Modular, Telemark, Toppobrillo. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
As I focus more on my new Eurorack Modular some people have been asking me what do the modules do and how to they work together. Conviently Zoë Blade created the video above. Start here to get a basic system going.
“A brief guide to sound synthesis / how synthesisers (synthesizers) work. Using a Doepfer A-100 modular synthesiser, I demonstrate CV pitch and gate signals, oscillators, attenuators, mixers, ADSR envelope generators and filters.” – Zoë Blade
via Matrixsynth
This entry was written by , posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:20 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Doepfer, Eurorack, modular, Zoe Blade. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
I imagine if something like the Maxtrix is real music like that of Rastko Lazic would be playing in the server rooms of our masters. These are some pretty sounding and looking modular synth videos.
“Rastko Lazic (born 1970 in Belgrade, Serbia) is a composer and improviser of electronic music based in Geneva, Switzerland. He has been composing music for contemporary dance, theatre and television since 1996. As a member of the `Recoil Performance Group` (Denmark) he toured the Middle East and Europe.”
For more info: rastko.info and soundcloud.com/rastko
This entry was written by , posted on July 18, 2012 at 7:41 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Berlin, modular, Rastko Lazic, synthesizer, tape. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Beginning this October eight new Eurorack modules will be released by Davide Mancini’s company Soundmachines. Davide is a long time reader of Wire to the Ear and I’m finally embarking on my own Eurorack system so I though it appropriate to share a photo of one of his prototype modules plus some info. The module above is called the RB1-robotto, “a singing module based on Babblebot IC” (see the above video for some Babblebot audio). I am very much into speech synthesizers and I may hold off on a Flame Talking synth module to see what the final RB1 can do! Soundmachines is based in Fabriano, Italy.
“I started a division inside of my company to produce modules and more. The product family is bound to be rich and basically I already designed 8 modules… We are going to use brushed (oleophobic) stainless steel, is good to cut with laser and it’s a material that is not yet used. – Davide Mancini
Read a long thread introducing Soundmachines on the Muffwiggler forum: click here
This entry was written by , posted on July 17, 2012 at 8:17 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Eurorack, Flame Talking Synth, modular, RB1-robotto, Soundmachines. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Here is a preview of the upcoming Eurorack modular module the DPO or Dual Prismatic Oscillator from Make Noise. The company from Asheville, NC is on a serious roll making one wild module after the next. I ordered a Tiptop Audio Happy Ending Kit from Analogue Haven and a Make Noise Echophone from Control last week.
“A voltage controlled oscillator designed for generating complex waveforms. Expanding on the classic 259 arrangement of Primary and Modulator Oscillators, the DPO has both of the VCOs operable as complex signal sources. It is in essence a Dual Primary Oscillator.” – Make Noise
For more info: makenoisemusic.com/dpo.shtml
This entry was written by , posted on July 15, 2012 at 7:37 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged DPO, Dual Prismatic Oscillator, Eurorack, Make Noise, modular. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Most people believe it’s very expensive to get into modular synthesis. The Eurorack format has really taken off and there are actually many affordable modules and as seen here even racks. There are also now Eurorack modules that are unique to the format. Modules like the new Make Noise Echophone and Flame Talking Synth just blow me away. Consider this option: Instead of getting the MF-104M Analog Delay for $680 grab a Tiptop Audio Happy Ending Kit ($149) and an Echophone ($399) for $550 and have something in my opinion more interesting and expandable.
“Tip Top Audio has now given people no excuse to dive into the modular world. At an incredible price tag of $149, a full 3U row of space and the best power the modular world has to offer – this is absolutely the cheapest way of getting a professional brand name rack.” – Trash Audio
For more info: tiptopaudio.com
photo credits: Trash Audio and Richard Devine
This entry was written by , posted on July 11, 2012 at 5:21 am, filed under Uncategorized and tagged Eurorack, Happy Ending Kit, modular, TipTop Audio. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
I had a great time at the Control Voltage Fair at the South Street Seaport yesterday. It was good to see that there are now 4 stores in the NYC area selling modular synthesizers! I spent the most time with Karl Ekdahl and his new Polygamist synth. I own his Moisterizer spring reverb unit and the new synth is wonderful. It’s also one of the coolest looking pieces of hardware I’ve ever seen. Mark Verbos had his car size vintage Buchla system there and did an hour live performance (eat that Deadmau5!). A good time and I hope these type of events keep happening because you really need hands on time with the modules to decide which ones you want in your own rack. You can see the full set of photos if you: click here
“The analog modular synthesizer is a type of synthesizer consisting of separate specialized modules connected by wires (patch cords) to create a so-called patch. There are three basic kinds of modules: source, processor and logic. The basic modular functions are as: signal, control, logic/timing. Outputs are an electric voltage.” – Wikipedia
For more info: wiretotheear.com/2012/06/27/control-voltage-faire
This entry was written by , posted on June 29, 2012 at 6:59 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Control Voltage Faire, Eklahl Polygamist, John Selway, LZX Industries, modular, Pittsburgh Modular, synthesizer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
There is a modular synth show at the South Street Seaport (210 Front Street, New York) in NYC tomorrow today! It’s called the Control Voltage Faire and it runs from 3-8PM. If that’s not enough fun for you there is a Buchla Concert that follows from 8-10PM.
“Since most modular synthesizers are constructed at the cottage industry level and distributed online, it is difficult for users to interact with these instruments. Control Voltage Faire will be the first opportunity on the East Coast for amateur enthusiasts, professionals and the general public to experience analog synthesizer modules produced by DIY manufacturers and crafters. Like a small-scale NAMM show with the independent spirit of the Maker Faire, the Control Voltage Faire will zone in on the origins and future of modular synthesis. Presenters at the Control Voltage Faire include: Control, 4ms, Harvestman, Knas, Main Drag Modular, Make Noise, Malekko, SnazzyFX, MeMe Antenna and Pittsburgh Modular. And more to be announced! The evening will feature Buchla 200 Recital, presenting three composers exploring this powerful instrument: Alessandro Cortini, Carlos Giffoni, and Mark Verbos. To end the event, a late show featuring Xeno & Oaklander and Loud Objects will perform on all-analog instruments. The concert will take place in Lower Manhattan’s @SEAPORT!, located at 210 Front Street.” – facebook.com/events…
For more info: indiegogo.com/sourceofuncertainty and facebook.com/events/352178294830987
This entry was written by , posted on June 27, 2012 at 12:56 pm, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Buchla, Control Voltage, Mark Verbos, modular, New York City, synthesizer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Well this is really exciting for me to see! There is a brand spanking new modular synth store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s named Control and the address is 416 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, New York. 11206. They opened yesterday! The website isn’t online yet but you can join their mailing list here: ctrl-mod.com. There’s no doubt you will see me there often.
“Driphouse’s Daren Ho and Jonas Asher have just opened New York’s premier synthesizer boutique. If you’re on the east coast you no longer have to wait for modules to arrive from California, just visit CONTROL in Williamsburg.” – The Sixth Bar
via matrixsynth and the sixth bar
This entry was written by , posted on June 21, 2012 at 5:00 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Brooklyn, modular, New York, shopping, store, synthesizer, Williamsburg. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
The Make Noise Echophon will certainly help your eurorack modular system make some noise! Delay, pitch shifter, freeze… want. $400 USD.
“pitch shifting echo with smooth time modulation, tempo sync, saturating feedback and a unique pitch shifting algorithm inspired by the springer tempophon, lovingly engineered by dsp guru tom erbe” – analoguehaven.com
For more info: analoguehaven.com/makenoise/echophon and makenoisemusic.com
This entry was written by , posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:24 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Echophon, Eurorack, Make Noise, modular. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
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