Tag Archives: Modular

New Video (4rbitrary)

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Inspired by Chris Randall’s videos I decided to explore the possibilities of the CV track on the Elektron Analog Four. The weird spacey sounds you hear are coming from the modular synth, curtesy of a lot of cross modulation between 3 Bubblesound VCOs, with trigs from the Analog Four. Most of the percussive elements are from the Maschine, but some clicks and cracks are from the A4 as well.

Ableton Live was used for recording only, effects and sequencing is all from either Maschine or the Analog Four.

The quality of the video is not the best and the track is so-so, but it’s all good practice both in terms of running a track live, and also in front of the camera.

Doepfer Soundcloud Group

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If you are curious about what types of music / sounds people create with modular synths, and especially the Doepfer system, there’s a Soundcloud group you might be interested in.

In this moderated group you’ll find everything from melodic tracks to drones, space, ambient, Berlin style and techno. Check it out to learn more about the infinite sonic possibilities of the world of modulars.

Modular Synth Dust Covers

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I’m about to embark on a 2 week trip away from home, but against all odds I wont be bringing my modular synth with me. Naturally dust is a concern when leaving gear unattended for extended periods of time, so I wanted to find a good way of covering up the modular.

At first I tried cutting out paper bags. Turns out the standard Safeway / Whole foods paper bag as just about the right depth and height to be slid over a Doepfer 9u case (that’s the LC9 one, not the portable). However, this not only looked silly, but the paper bags have a tendency to give off this foul smell that I did not want to imbue my gear with.

Instead, I found these really nice and stretchy iMac covers on Amazon that are just about the right size to be stretched across a 9u LC case. It’s a tight fit, but it works pretty well. Check out the photo below.

CumulusDustCoverThat’s two Doepfer LC9 cases side by side, each covered with a 27″ iMac stretch cover. If you have any better suggestions on how to cover up these cases and protect your modules from dust, please leave a comment and let me know!

New Video (Cumulus 2 – The Bridge)

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Part two in the tentatively named Cumulus series. Based entirely on the modular synth, with the exception of the kick drum. This track continues to explore the theme of sound textures started with the Cumulus 1, but this time with a higher tempo.

The track was recorded in multiple layers with the Morphing Terrarium as the primary sound source, except for some guest play from time to time by the Bubblesound VCOs. Only reverb was added as an effect while mixing the layers. There are no other computer generated effects.

Of course, all layers where recorded as continues ‘live’ recordings, each track ‘over dubbing’ the previous ones. The video was recorded in separate takes for each layer, and since all I have is a web camera and iMovie the results are… not exactly stellar. But at least it gives you some pretty light to look at as an excuse to listen to the track! ;-P Not all of the layers where filmed so if you are trying to match up knob-wiggling with actual sound it wont exactly match all the time :).

Modules are from Doepfer, XAOC Devices, Synthesis Technology, Bubblesound, TipTop Audio, Pittsburgh Modular and 4ms.

New Song (Cumulus 3 – The Quarters)

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This is the 3rd track in the Cumulus series. As always this is coming from multiple live overdubs using my modular synth and NI’s maschine.

This is music for very late nights, dark rooms and headphones… or any other time and place of your choice of course.

(The Cumulus series is intended to work as a conceptual soundtrack to an abandoned, hulking and alien structure. Use of rich imagination and association is highly recommended!)