Melodicer vs. Black Sequencer - one or both? John Schussler 2023-06-19 | I haven't spent much time with the Erica Synths Black Sequencer, and I noticed in a thread the other day somebody mentioning it serving as a substitute for the Vermona Melodicer. Say what? I have a Melodicer, and it's the cat's meow. Can it really be supplanted by the Erica Synths offering?They're big modules, so it's worth asking the question. Which is what you have here...me asking the question of whether I keep both or just one.Source VCO is an Acid Rain Chainsaw. No envelope, just the output gates from the sequencer’s going to a Bard tube LPG.00:00 Intro00:20 Vermona02:21 Black Sequencer 10:29 Tiebreaker
Clank Thererec 2-channel eurorack cv motion recorder John Schussler 2023-09-21 | There are quite a few cv recorders available in eurorack, including a few thatuse motion or pressure to indicate gestures. Clank has now released Thererec, which uses proximity sensors to sense your finger motions, and coupled that with recording functionality to loop your gestures.The name is derived from its inspiration, the theremin, bonded to a recorder.Where it gets more interesting is in the ability to change the range and speed of the looped gestures, plus a reset jack for syncing to a clock.Source audio is a Befaco Pony VCO. 00:00 Intro00:20 Manual01:35 Recording03:19 Reset
Making Sound Machines - Farbshaper John Schussler 2023-09-20 | I covered the Making Sound Machines Farbfolder in a previous vid: youtube.com/watch?v=p0VKtHrOYnsThe Farbshaper is similar, but not such a standard wavefolder design. It has a gain circuit that's unusually responsive to the amplitude of the input signal, giving it a very organic sound and variety of timbres you don't get on other folders.The input signal is all sine wave from the Befaco Pony VCO.00:00 Intro00:20 Source audio00:45 Sweeps02:50 Sequence
Patching Panda Punch MG - first patch John Schussler 2023-09-15 | I'm not entirely sure what to call the Punch MG. It's a mixer, it's a VCA, it's anenvelope, but also it's none of those things. It's its own thing.Try this: you put some sounds into it, plus some triggers. It has a decay envelope for each channel that you can adjust so that you can make those sounds percussive. That's part one.Then you add each channel to the Mute group (or don't). This doesn't reallymute the channels in any sense, it ducks them. The signal on one channel affects the envelope of the signal on another, and vice versa.At least I think that's what's happening. In any case, it makes a group of sounds work really well together.00:00 Intro00:20 Source audio00:45 Basic mixing04:30 Add sequence05:17 Mix sequence
End of chain drum effects John Schussler 2023-09-12 | I recently got the ADDAC Vintage Clip, and have been playing with it as an end of chain drum mix treatment. I have a few other simple stereo distortions and filters and figured I'd listen to them as a group and see which I liked best in the role of "final drum effect."It's not so much a fair comparison as...just a comparison. There are lots of other modules that could probably serve this purpose just as well, but these are what I have and wanted to listen to. So there you go.YMMV.Drums are an SSF Ultra Kick, Prok SN, Prok HH, and WMD Chimera. Sequencer is an Iron Ether Pithoprakta.00:00 Intro00:20 Vintage Clip04:05 Twin Drive09:24 Stereo Mix16:34 Roucha Legio21:34 nw2s D0
Erica Synths Bassline - DIY edition John Schussler 2023-09-07 | I recently did a 303/acid module comparison of the acid modules I had on hand (youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_krhJ_nx8), but then heard from folks who said "you missed some good ones." Not surprising, as I can't afford to buy every module, but the Erica Synths Bassline got me particularly interested. I found this DIY version through Wigglehunt.com (very handy, that site), and was interested to see how it compared to some of the others I have on hand.Not all of them, mind you, I'm not redoing the whole comparison. You can watch the first one here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_krhJ_nx8But I figured I'd include a couple as common denominators between this and the other acid video to make cross-video comparison easier.Sequencer is a Clank Chaos. (Which is the bomb, btw. You should get one.)00:00 Intro00:20 Erica Bassline06:48 Vult Freak10:40 Doepfer A-103
Joranalogue Fold 6 feedback John Schussler 2023-09-05 | What does it sound like if you patch the Fold 6 into itself? Source audio is a plain sine wave.
Zlob Folidplier wavefolder - sine edition John Schussler 2023-09-05 | In my last video (youtube.com/watch?v=rjYogZtvER4) I did a comparison with the Zlob Foldiplier that involved me using a saw wave as the input audio source.It was pointed out to me later on ModWiggler that in fact, that's not the best idea. What you really want to do with wavefolders (and distortion) is to use a simple wave like sine or triangle, so the folder can add more magic, particularly on the low end. High-harmonic-content waves like saws are already so busy that you don't get as much of the juice out of the 'folder.So let's try this again, but this time with a sine wave. Note that I'm not doingthe AI Synthesis Wave Animator in this one since it's not technically a wavefolder, and the input wave doesn't matter. I am, however, adding in the Joranalogue Fold6, because like the Foldiplier it's 4hp, and it's currently my favorite.Let the competition begin....00:00 Intro00:20 Foldiplier08:37 Feedback13:00 FLD6
Two New Waveshapers - August 2023 John Schussler 2023-08-25 | (UPDATE: Sine demo of the Foldifier available: youtube.com/watch?v=2I7hwu_04Hg)New month, new modules.I built the Wave Animator from the kit: it's very straightforward with a small part count and easy assembly.I most certainly did not build the Foldiplier. It's got lots of parts and does notlook to me like an easy project. (Zlob's web page rates its difficulty at 3.5/5)They're both waveshapers, but with very different approaches. The Wave Animator is based on an Ian Fritz design that produces two pulses whenever it sees an input wave. The Foldiplier is a more "standard" wavefolder/harmonics generator, with the caveat that it has a feedback mode best described as "pissed off."Both are quite fun.00:00 Intro00:20 Wave Animator07:02 WA growly bits12:45 Foldiplier19:45 Foldiplier feedback
Eurorack cv presets - Traffic, Frames, Morphader, VC Transitions John Schussler 2023-08-04 | With the arrival of Traffic, a new module from Jasmine & Olive Trees, I find myself with several modules that do similar things around "cv presets."The scenario I'm considering today is putting a single module (e.g. Basilimus Iteritas Alter from Noise Engineering) into different "states" by simultaneously changing multiple cv inputs going to the module. This way you can get multiple "instruments" out of a single module, in this case a variety of drums and percussion, which can then be sequenced.There are other modules that do this as well (e.g. Endorphines Total Control), but these are the ones I happen to have. So, grain of salt and all that.Sequencer is Pittsburgh Modular Micro Sequence. Clock source is Pam's Pro Workout.00:00 Intro00:20 Traffic04:52 VC Transitions09:08 Morphader13:00 Plancks II
Noise Engineering Versio - Praetereo firmware John Schussler 2023-07-29 | There's a new firmware available for the Noise Engineering Versio modulescalled "Praetereo." It's a drifting loop maker, in the same vein as the SomaCosmos or Hologram Microcosm.There's a thread for it on ModWiggler with links and detailed info: modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=276033No commentary from me in this one, just listening. VCO is a Cwejman VCO-2RM, with one side going to the left channel and one to the right. Seqencer is the OK200 Degree. Envelope: Zadar.Last in the chain is a Yester Versio module. If you hear a regular delay, it's that, not the Praetereo. And occasionally I bring in the Yester wavefolder. If you hear effects happening but don't see my hand making them, it's the Yester.00:00 Intro00:20 Part 108:30 Part 218:00 Part 3
Eurorack acid - TB 303 style modules John Schussler 2023-07-29 | If you listen to techno, you listen to the Roland TB-303. It's the sound of acid, and is such a unique sound that everybody wants and uses it.Although several makers are selling clones in the original 303 design (with the sequencer and original layout), you may just want to get one in Eurorack without all the fuss of learning the 303 sequencer interface (it's not intuitive).Here are a bunch of 303 modules that either include all the parts (VCF, VCA, envelope, accent, glide...the works) or just one part (the VCF, which is the most critical bit).There are others as well, these are just the ones I happen to have....00:00 Intro00:20 Hydronium07:28 TB-EFA13:56 Acid Source24:14 Pico Acid30:00 Doepfer A-103/12046:16 Vult Freak
Making Sound Machines Farbfolder vs. Joranalogue Fold 6 John Schussler 2023-07-20 | Just got the new Farbfolder in from thonk.co.uk and put it together (it's an easy build, just knobs and jacks). I must admit the sexy color LEDs at the top caught my eye. They've 3D printed a light guide and used a transparent panel, so it gives you an excellent show of das blinkenlights. (Die? Das? I've forgotten what little German I had.)But of course there's always the real question, how does it sound? And how does it compare to others at its size? I figured I'd pair it against the Fold 6 from Joranalogue, which is also 4hp, for a head-to-head.Source audio is a Befaco Pony VCO sine wave. Envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 Farbfolder08:19 Fold 6
Farbfolder from Making Sound Machines John Schussler 2023-07-19 | Quick demo of the new Farbfolder eurorack wavefolder.
New from Bard Synthesizers - LPG and Ring Modulator John Schussler 2023-07-17 | I recently got a couple new modules from Bard Synthesizers. The VTG low pass gate is available as part of his normal product lineup, but the ring modulator is a custom build. I'm guessing if you like it you could talk him into building you one as well, but note that it takes a bit longer, what with it being a custom build and all.Here's a little sampler to get an idea how they sound. Plus some extra from the Erica Synths Fusion Ring Modulator at the end for comparison.Source VCOs are an Acid Rain Chainsaw and a Befaco Pony VCO. Envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 LPG06:00 Gilbert Ringmod 11:27 Erica Ringmod
MeloDicer save and recall patterns John Schussler 2023-06-20 | One of the killer features of the Vermona MeloDicer is the ability to save and recall patterns. Press the C button, select a slot with the encoder, and press the encoder. Saved. Press the D button, select a slot with the encoder, press the encoder...loaded! Easy and quick.
Eurorack Formant Filter comparison John Schussler 2023-06-09 | I now find myself with 3 separate filters that do "formant" filtering, so clearlyit's time for a comparison. I'm literally getting my ya-yas out. And my yi-yis, and sometimes my wa-was. Just depends on where you turn the knob....There are other formant filters out there, this isn't all of them, but it's all the ones I have, so don't assume this is the exhaustive comparison.Formants are fun. And though I don't get into it much in this video, usingformant filters for "regular" duties with only mild formant effects canbe quite interesting.Actually, using formants sparingly should probably be the rule. There'sdefinitely too much of a good thing possible here....00:00 Intro00:20 Gyrinx VCF08:00 Morphing Filter Bank 18:10 Formantic
Eurorack Waveshapers - May 2023 comparison John Schussler 2023-06-03 | Another month, another new set of modules needing listening to. These are all waveshapers in one form or another. Ok, not entirely, the first one's just a filter. So *technically* it shapes the wave, but not like, folding it or anything.Anyway.Just some more modules that seem like they sorta live in the same category, up for comparison and general listening/introduction.00:00 Intro00:20 G-Storm Electro T2K05:15 shkrjn Morphing Filter Bank11:57 Noise Engineering Roucha Legio20:08 Klavis Flexhaper26:00 Fruku Dis
Vice Virga - Great fill maker for drums John Schussler 2023-04-18 | In an earlier Beat Mangler video I tried out the Jam Jam from Noise Engineering, and had a hard time getting what I wanted out of it. Turns out what I really needed was a Vice Verga. That's arrived, and is clearly the answer to the question: "What if you want some interesting drum fills on a regular basis, but don't want to do it manually?"I used a 2hp Burst in this patch, but I'm guessing if I read more of the Pam'smanual there's probably a way to do it entirely within Pam's.Either way, Vice Verga is a great fill maker for drums.
Jroo Loop - Pitch shifting tape looper John Schussler 2023-04-16 | Here's a fairly simple tape loop module from Jroo called Loop. When you change the speed of the loop it actually pitch shifts, which makes for somereally interesting opportunities for new harmonies.This whole video is the same very simple sequence from a Pittsburgh MicroSequence b driving an Acid Rain Chainsaw VCO. On top is a bucketloadof reverb from Valhalla to let things ring out into space.Fun.00:00 Intro00:20 Clean11:53 Distorted
Three beat manglers - Particles, IDUM, and Jam Jam John Schussler 2023-04-11 | Update: The Vice Virga has arrived - youtube.com/watch?v=PylHy_-jdW0Here are three beat manglers. They expect gates in and they give gates out, but in between they mangle them all about. You do the hokey pokey and you......nevermind. So anyway, they mangle. This isn't the best comparison, however, because as it turns out I'm largely unable to understand the secondary modes on the Particles module. I sorta understand the modes in IDUM, but haven't read the 38 page manual to understand all the details. And as it turns out the better Noise Engineering module is probably Vice Verga rather than Jam Jam.I've ordered a Vice Verga. We'll see how that goes. In the meantime, you get this video which, as usual, is mostly me figuring stuff out, and then realizing I've not really figured it out. There are a few interesting bits here and there, though....cause that's what it's all about. (sorry)00:00 Intro00:20 Particles05:26 IDUM13:25 Jam Jam
Three Versio Delays - Melotus, Yester, Imitor John Schussler 2023-04-09 | The Yester Versio arrived the other day, so I wanted to compare it to the other Noise Engineering delay lines I have handy: Melotus Versio (which is actually a granular sampler, but is easily used as a delay), and Imitor Versio, which is a delay with an unusual dose of attitude.No commentary, just listening.VCO: Acid Rain Chainsaw. LPG: Natural Gate. Sequencer: Pittsburgh ModularLifeforms Micro b + VPME.de T43 transposer00:00 Intro00:20 Melotus Versio06:04 Yester Versio15:26 Imitor Versio
Bastl Drum Kastle - Eurorack version(s) John Schussler 2023-04-04 | Bastl created the Drum Kastle as an offshoot of the Kastle portable sound maker. It's now available in Eurorack by a couple makers who've adapted it for the 3U format, with appropriate cv controls.I was curious to see if there was much sound difference between the two, given they're working from the same basic circuit design. There are a few differences, but do they radically change the experience? Inquiring minds want to know.No other modules involved. Just Kastles.00:00 Intro00:20 Drum Kastle12:48 Rythm Lab
Small rhythm generators - instant gratification test John Schussler 2023-03-27 | There are a metric ton of rhythm generating modules in Eurorack. I have a few of them. My goal in this video is to look at the instant gratification level the modules in this group provide. Some of them are significantly more complicated than others, but all are 10hp or less.It's not a feature-to-feature comparison, since some are Euclidian and several are not. It's really a "how hard is it to hear something good come out" kinda deal, without having to study and elaborate manual. Yes, one should RTFM, but on the other hand it's a sign of good design when the interface is so intuitive you don't need the manual.The drums are an MSW SY0.5, a WMD Kraken, and a WMD Chimera.00:00 Intro00:20 Kompas04:30 Beat Freqs10:16 Little Nerd16:55 Euclidean21:56 Dot28:02 Grids34:51 Launch Codes
Three Generative Sequencers - And one that isnt John Schussler 2023-03-10 | I have a few generative sequencers I've not had time to play with, and figured I'd compare how they...play. Three are generative in one form or another, and one, the Berlin School, is not. I leave you to suffer with that incongruity in silence.This is my first exploration with each of them, so I'm just getting a feel for how they work. You're along for the ride, but don't expect too much.VCO is Acid Rain Chainsaw. LPG is Rabid Elephant Natural Gate. No envelope. Delay here and there is Make Noise Mimeophon. Quantizer is 2hp Tune.00:00 Intro00:20 Feigen12:00 Anima23:29 Odds31:34 Berlin School
WMD Legion vs Intellijel Dixie II+ John Schussler 2023-03-06 | As is so often the case with these videos, I'm trying to make a "keep or sell" decision. In this case between the WMD Legion, which has just arrived, or theIntellijel Dixie II+, both of which are 8hp VCOs.They have different feature sets, and that's not really what interests me here. In this video I'm just doing a comparison of the basic sounds, getting a feel for whether there's a big difference in sound quality that would indicate keeping one or the other makes sense, or if they're so similar it's just a feature competition.Sequencer: Stochastic IG. Envelope: Zadar00:00 Intro00:20 Saw01:15 Triangle01:59 Pulse02:49 Pulse+sub03:41 Pulse width04:34 Saw+sub05:01 Triangle+sub06:01 FM11:15 Legion features
Sovage Engineering - LEcorcheur eurorack distortion John Schussler 2023-02-28 | I did a video a little while back comparing some distortion modules, and included the L'Ecorcheur. At the time I didn't really understand how the Glitchzr knob worked, so the demo was...sub-optimal.Here's another try, focusing this time just on the L'Ecorcheur. Starting with the Glitchzr knob down, so we get a better comparison of its straight distortion capabilities, then later we turn it up for the full experience.VCO is a WMD Legion in swarm mode. Envelope: Zadar. Sequencer: Stochastic IG00:00 Intro00:20 Sweeps06:06 Sequence13:49 Zone output14:37 CV in and GLITCHZR
OK200 Degree Sequencer - First Impressions John Schussler 2023-02-27 | I've had this for a little while but haven't had a chance to really dive in. This vid is basically just my first impressions, with a very basic setup: 4 VCOs, no filters, no FX (other than end of chain reverb), no fancy stuff. Just seeing how the sequencer works.Spoiler alert: It works like da bomb. Easily one of the most fun sequencers out there.There are four VCOs: WMD PDO (ch. 1), Mannequins Mangrove (2), Therevox Ondes (3), and Black Corp Deckard's Voice (4). Each going straight to the WMD Performance mixer with an envelope from Zadar. Except the Deckard, which has an onboard envelope.This is just a taster. Once I start hooking up the bender CV outs from this thing...whoo boy...gonna be a party. I'll do more vids in the future as I learn it. Though I don't know that much learning is necessary...it's very intuitive.00:00 Intro00:20 Sequence 105:01 Sequence 212:06 Sequence 3
Eurorack Waveshaping VCOs John Schussler 2023-02-25 | Several interesting new VCOs have been released over the past 6 months or so, and just recently the one I was waiting on, Legion from WMD, arrived.So now seems like a good time to look at this batch of VCOs that all have a similar add-on feature: waveshaping. They don't all do it the same way, and all have very different sounds, but in my head they're sortof a category from which I probably only need one or two.We'll see.Sequence from Stochastic IG, envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 Pony VCO06:08 Virt Iter Legio12:15 Pizza19:58 Legion
Eurorack glitch modules - February 2023 John Schussler 2023-02-21 | I've added a few glitch modules to the stable, and it seems like it's time to do a comparison. Mostly for my own benefit, as usual. See my earlier run at a couple of these: youtube.com/watch?v=a60uczBFthcI'm mostly interested in deciding which ones really work well at helping create glitchy beats, and which just make stuff sound broken.To that end, I've discovered that it's all about interface. All these modules will do the glitchy-glitchy. But some are much easier to get interesting stuff out of than others.Source audio is an SSF Ultra-Kick and some Prok modules, sequenced by Circadian Rhythms.00:00 Intro00:20 Modbap Per4Mer04:08 2hp Slice07:04 Clouds Kammerl firmware14:39 Make Noise Mimeophon21:56 Make Noise Morphagene26:47 Q-Bit Data Bender36:29 Noise Engineering Multi-Versio42:10 Reflex LiveLoop
Eurorack distortion comparison - January 2023 John Schussler 2023-01-28 | I used to number my distortion comparisons, but there are so many now, and in different forms, that I've decided it'll be easier to just go by date. Here's the January 2023 batch. All have been released fairly recently AFAIK.The comparison is a little tilted in that some are just drive circuits, while others are full on distortion/clippers. But I prefer to think of it as comparing along a range vs. a head-to-head evaluation.Note that the video goes from soft to loud at times, because, y'know, distortion, so I recommend not blasting it too loud until you've skipped around a bit to get a feel for the dynamic range.VCO is an Acid Rain Chainsaw saw wave. Envelope: Zadar. Sequencer: Stochastic IG.00:00 IntroSweeps00:20 Atonal OD02:44 London Drive03:49 Twin Drive04:33 Nijel05:42 cDVCA08:08 L'EcorcheurSequence11:07 Atonal OD14:18 London Drive16:25 Twin Drive18:00 Nijel19:40 cDVCA22:34 L'Ecorcheur
Neutral Labs: Pip clocked cv generator John Schussler 2023-01-26 | Along with Nijel (see previous vid), Martin at Neutral Labs sent along a kit for Pip, his new clocked CV generator. Its main selling point is the synchronization between the two channels: channel A can run at a multiple or fraction of channel B, and both are clocked so they'll stay in sync with the beat.You can get some interesting rhythmic sounds out of your modules that have two cv inputs by using contrasting waves and different ratios (there are 16 "pages" of waves, each with two waves that can be morphed to make new waves).The most interesting part, however, is when you self-modulate it. You get the benefit of the synchronized channels, clocked, plus interesting little additionsthat bring the whole thing to life (Spoiler alert! Skip to 23m22s for my favorite bit).VCO: Chainsaw. Sequencer: Stochastic IG00:00 Intro00:20 Encephalo Adjuster05:35 Nijel07:08 Scrat11:13 Pizza13:09 Siren16:10 Self-modulation
Eurorack low pass gates - session 5 (ish) John Schussler 2023-01-13 | I can't stop collecting low pass gates. There's GAS, and then there's LPG GAS. Don't know what the deal is there. (Here's a playlist with all my vids on them: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm4FlogANMcgiJcAsb3ISKm5g7YfQ8dYb)Here's the latest batch. Most of them are small and passive, but some are bigger and powered and covered in knobs and sliders and stuff. So it's really a sound comparison, not a full module comparison.Sound source: Befaco Pony square wave. Sequencer: Stochastic IG.No envelopes, just gates out of the SIG. 00:00 Intro00:20 Agogo00:48 BeepBoop v102:32 BeepBoop v204:05 kNoB05:18 Abyss06:49 Herzlich09:29 EAR12:38 SSF16:16 Rabid Elephant19:11 EAR plus attenuator20:57 Fast gates w/atten
Neutral Labs Nijel Distortion John Schussler 2023-01-02 | My earlier video on Scrat - youtube.com/watch?v=_1OzHNDru-4neutral-labs.com/nijelI really liked Neutral Labs' first module: Scrat. It's a filter plus distortion in 8hp. But y'know, maybe you have lots of filters and only want the distortion bit, so to the rescue comes Nijel: just 4hp, but using the same sound cards as Scrat (the cards are called "Nuts"), and with plenty of attitude.So as soon as I heard of Nijel's existence I jumped at the chance to build one (it's a super easy build...all the SMD components are already on the PCB, you just do pots and jacks for the most part). Many thanks to Martin at Neutral Labs for getting me in early. Sound source: Acid Rain Chainsaw (3 VCO). Envelope: Zadar. Sequencer: Stochastic IG. 00:00 Intro00:20 Sweeps01:22 Nuts03:12 Sequence08:33 Scrat12:02 LFO Drive
Small Tube VCA/Distortion Modules John Schussler 2022-12-07 | There seem to be more and more folks making modules with small tubes these days. I have a few of them, and figured I'd do a comparison. These are all "distortion" modules in one sense or another. Some are VCAs, some are filters, and some are just tube-y grimy-ness.I've also thrown in an intro to the cDVCA, a new kind of VCA that is also a specialist at distortion. It doesn't have a tube, so it gets a solo spot at the end.Source audio is the saw out of an Acid Rain Chainsaw. Envelope from Zadar.Sequence from Stochastic IG00:00 Intro00:20 Atonal OD - sweeps03:52 Karltron Tube 06:35 Thermo Nuclear 09:27 Gotharman 11:48 Atonal OD - sequence15:50 Karltron Tube18:52 Thermo Nuclear21:49 Gotharman25:32 Bonus - cDVCA
Serge Random*Source Resonant EQ - SMD vs Thru hole John Schussler 2022-12-01 | UPDATE: I did a whupsie - I reversed the timings. 00:20 is actually the thru hole, and 4:30 is SMD. Ignore the on-screen legend for those two...sorry.I've had an SMD version of the Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ for some time, and have been curious to know whether the older thru-hole version had a significantly different sound. I recently ran across one for sale, so here we are.This is basically me trying to figure out how they're different, and whether I have a preference. Ideally I'd only keep one, but....Source oscillator is an Acid Rain Chainsaw in single saw mode.Sequence from Stochastic IG. Envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 TH self-oscillation04:03 SMD Self-oscillation07:27 Sequence13:55 Faster sequence
Siren Meets Godeater - Eurorack drone through distortion John Schussler 2022-11-30 | EZBot has already done a great video (youtube.com/watch?v=6Snp7gqJ_Y0) on Siren showing it off in a fairly clean environment. I was curious how it would sound when chewed up and spit out by a distortion module.So here's 15 minutes of mostly drone, with a little sequence, exploring Siren when it's treated to some fat distortion.00:00 Intro00:20 Drone08:34 Sequence12:24 More drone
Therevox Ondes VCO + Hakken Continuumini John Schussler 2022-11-24 | My uCVC module has arrived from Evaton Tech. It's a CV converter that takes the USB output of the Hakken Audio Continuumini (little sibling to the Hakken Continuum keyboard) and breaks it into usable CV outputs.I got it specifically to use with the Ondes VCO, because the original Ondes Martenot after which the Ondes VCO is modelled used a...well what to me appears to be a ring on a string. So a continuous pitch movement rather than quantized by keys. I already had the Continuumini, so figured it should be a perfect match.This is me running through the various voices on the Ondes VCO and different pitch ranges on the Continuumini to see what we get.For a sequencer-based demo, see my earlier video on the Ondes VCO: youtube.com/watch?v=3FtZ_da8Wt0.
Euro Kastle and Tele Blender - Patterns of Chaos John Schussler 2022-11-16 | Both the ST Modular Euro Kastle (based on the Bastl Kastle) and the ErrorInstruments Tele Blender are chaotic noisemakers. The former has a circuitmodeled after the famous Rungler circuit from Rob Hordijk. The latter usesa different (and unspecified) method for creating its chaos.Both are new to me, so I figured I'd give them a run through and see howthey compared.No sequencer here, all their note movement is internally generated.00:00 Intro00:20 Euro Kastle11:56 Tele Blender
TB 303 redux: Geosync TB Super-O vs. Acid Rain Chainsaw John Schussler 2022-11-14 | I got ahold of a couple modules from GeoSync recently, the TB Super-O triple VCO and the TB-EFA filter/VCA. I also have an Acid Rain Chainsaw, and it occurred to me to wonder how the Chainsaw would do as a 303 source for the TB-EFA. How different might they be?Of course they're different, but y'know, how exactly?As with so many of my videos, this is just me trying to answer a random question of comparison between two modules.Sequence from Stochastic IG. Envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 Super-O saw03:32 Chainsaw saw05:06 Square waves06:57 Drive control10:00 With Godeater
Snare Drums - 7 eurorack modules compared John Schussler 2022-11-03 | I've been collecting snare drums, and have finally gotten around to doing a comparison. There are, of course, many snare modules out there, these are just what I happen to have. I'm trying to figure out which ones to keep, and which to move on.No additional effects added, just raw snare sound (which, I grant you, gets a bit grating after a while). But that's the thing about direct comparison, I like to keep it simple and uncolored.The kick is an SSF Ultra Kick. Hat is Patching Panda Hatz. Sequencer is Acid Rain Constellation.I purposely left the sequence irregular and off-kilter because a consistent beat was just too much to listen to after a while. This will irritate some folks. Apologies for that, but this was the compromise that kept me from grinding my teeth to powder.00:00 Intro00:20 2hp Snare03:28 Erica Synths Drum207:08 Erica Synths Sample Drum12:17 Intellijel Plonk17:15 Noise Engineering Tymp Legio22:10 WMD Kraken27:23 Prok Snare Drum
Schlappi Engineering Three Body - Envelopes John Schussler 2022-10-09 | Followup to the previous Three Body vid: this one's just envelopes. Envelopesprovided by Zadar, which can output four separate and different enevelopes off a single trigger.And some reverb, 'cause it gets kinda harsh when it's all dry.00:00 Intro00:20 Type: Ratio04:57 Type: Free13:20 Upper register17:00 Faster tempo18:43 Back to Ratio19:24 Formants? 20:56 Even faster
Schlappi Engineering Three Body VCO - Just Drones John Schussler 2022-10-08 | Three Body has just arrived, and I'm in the throes of figuring it out.Here's 25 minutes of me working through a bunch of different drone sounds, first with outputs from all three VCOs, then from just Center VCO outputs (but modulated by the other two VCOs).No external modulation sources, no envelopes, just the Three Body by itself.00:00 Intro00:20 Individual knobs02:50 Type: Free12:16 Type: Ratio19:38 Only center osc outs
Ondes VCO from Therevox - Ondes Martenot in Eurorack format John Schussler 2022-09-25 | UPDATE: New video available with the Ondes VCO played by Continuumini controller: youtube.com/watch?v=LhTtlb1RUAUThis is a first look at the Ondes VCO. It just arrived, and I'm so pleasantly surprised by the sound that I figured I'd put a quick video up so others can hear it as well.It's not a "standard" VCO. Based on the Ondes Martenot, each of its voices are, on the one hand, traditional (sine, square, triangle), and on the other specifically treated to give a sound that's unique. And because it allows for onboard mixing of waves, all sorts of variety is possible.I'll dig in deeper later, but for now, have a listen to some of the very particular voices that come out of this module.Sequence from Stochastic IG. Envelope from Zadar.00:00 Intro00:20 Individual voices01:28 Slow sequence05:19 Add reverb and delay09:16 Fast sequence10:55 Tighter envelope
Formants - Noise Lab Formantic and Mannequins Mangrove John Schussler 2022-09-20 | Noise Lab has recently released their latest module, the Formantic. It's a"formant filter," which in this case means it's really three filters in one: a low pass filter plus two band pass filters. The cutoffs and resonances of all three can be set independently, as well as be controlled through a common cutoff knob.I was curious both about its sound when driven by a standard VCO (e.g. Dixie) and how it would sound with the Mangrove, an oscillator designed to produce formants on its own. If one formant module is good, surely two is better, yes?You be the judge.00:00 Intro00:20 Mangrove07:20 Formantic w/sawtooth12:20 Formantic w/distorted saw22:09 Formantic w/Mangrove26:46 Now with reverb and delay!
Tube Distortion In 16hp - Rabbit Hole, Saevitum, Turbo Entubulator John Schussler 2022-09-16 | I have a 16hp hole in the rack waiting for a tube distortion. Which one do I choose?Here are three options. There are more at this size, but I happen to have these three.As it turns out, they're all very different in sound. The Turbo Entubulator specializes in flexible tube tone. The Rabbit Hole heads towards tube-y corruption while still staying somewhat civilized. And the Saevitum, well, it's just angry angry angry.So I don't really have a choice so much as a selection for rotation, I suppose.But it's interesting to hear them back to back and really get a feel for the differences in their character.Input audio was a basic sine wave from a Dixie II+. Sequenced by Stochastic IG.00:00 Intro00:20 Rabbit Hole03:50 Rabbit Hole sequence07:55 Saevitum11:12 Saevitum Sequence15:32 Turbo Entubulator17:35 Turbo Entubulator Sequence
