Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Today’s topic is inspired by some questions I got from a few students in my Learning Sound and Synthesis class recently: “how can I use randomness in my patches to make generative melodies, but not have it be *totally* random and all over the place?”
There are LOTS of ways to approach this, but this video^^ shares one of my personal favorite ways of using “constrained randomness” – I have a simple 8-stage sequencer with specific pitches dialed in, and I am using a random generator to determine the timing and order of each new note; rather than sequencing the sequencer in a linear / looping way, I’m using it more as a bank of stored voltages, and then randomly jumping between stages!
Randomness can (and often does) play a big role in generative modular synth patches, but it’s important to remember that you can scale it to taste. You can choose just 1 element of your patch to randomize, while keeping everything else more directly controlled.
Or, if you’re like me, you can find out what happens when you randomize absolutely every single parameter at once! 😉
This also touches on the question: “which is the best sequencer for generative patches?”
I would look for a sequencer with a lot of modulatable parameters. Specifically, it’s great to be able to scan / select stages with external voltages, and to modulate sequence direction, length, and speed. I love the Bog Audio PGMR in @VCVRack for this (free!!), or in hardware form the @verboselectronics Voltage Multistage, @befacosynth Muxlicer or @makenoisemusic René are fun options.
What other questions / topics should I cover in this Generative Music + Modular Synths series? Comment below to let me know!
Today’s topic is inspired by some questions I got from a few students in my Learning Sound and Synthesis class recently: “how can I use randomness in my patches to make generative melodies, but not have it be *totally* random and all over the place?”
There are LOTS of ways to approach this, but this video^^ shares one of my personal favorite ways of using “constrained randomness” – I have a simple 8-stage sequencer with specific pitches dialed in, and I am using a random generator to determine the timing and order of each new note; rather than sequencing the sequencer in a linear / looping way, I’m using it more as a bank of stored voltages, and then randomly jumping between stages!
Randomness can (and often does) play a big role in generative modular synth patches, but it’s important to remember that you can scale it to taste. You can choose just 1 element of your patch to randomize, while keeping everything else more directly controlled.
Or, if you’re like me, you can find out what happens when you randomize absolutely every single parameter at once! 😉
This also touches on the question: “which is the best sequencer for generative patches?”
I would look for a sequencer with a lot of modulatable parameters. Specifically, it’s great to be able to scan / select stages with external voltages, and to modulate sequence direction, length, and speed. I love the Bog Audio PGMR in @VCVRack for this (free!!), or in hardware form the @verboselectronics Voltage Multistage, @befacosynth Muxlicer or @makenoisemusic René are fun options.
What other questions / topics should I cover in this Generative Music + Modular Synths series? Comment below to let me know!
