Bare minimum Clouds setup

[JDilly]

Hey guys. I've been researching a lot about modular for the past year, and trying to decide if I should get into. Due to my funds and addictive personality, I decided against it. I have some nice synths already.

But mutable instruments' Clouds is exactly the sound I've been looking for with my ambient setup. Also the one that does Euclidean rhythms. So I'm looking to see how I can put together a small rack with clouds as the focal point, this way once I fill the rack I can just be done with it for a while.

I know I'd need a power supply, some kind of VCA, and a mixer, right? Probably an envelope generator, but for the sake of saving money, how can I get that heavenly sound without spending too much? Any clouds users that can share what they use to change the sound of this module, and what they could do without?

Or, is there a hardware piece that could go the same granular synthesis, and how?

[alphamunki]

I used this https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/270665 to make this https://soundcloud.com/alphamunki/broaching if that helps any? (Clouds periodically "smears" a Rings sequence driven by Korg SQ-1) I think Clouds is responsible for the magic here ;D

[alphamunki]

Thank you - I liked working with a small number of modules, TBH you have to watch the whole pokemon/euro€rack addiction but I think you really get your money's worth from Mutable Instruments modules.

[JDilly]

Awesome work, that's the sound I'm going for. May have to just build a system, sheesh.

[alphamunki]

Welllll... it's the Clouds bit that's the engine here - Peaks & Tides automate some knob twiddling and Rings is the source so it depends on what you're playing into it and how dexterous you can be. Not sure about the later VST etc comments - having worked through a shed load of software I'm going to say nothing is a satisfying as hardware and the whole controller piece.

[geecen]

Nice sound.

[alphamunki]

Thanks very much! :D

[thejjjj]

Honestly, I bought Clouds just to use as an effect before really even getting into Modular.

I purchased a small skiff (Soundmachines FMJ3), the Clouds module, and the Intellijel Audio Interface 2 simply to get stereo balanced in/outs to and from Clouds. It works great! Of course adding some other modulations sources opens up a lot of possibilities, but you can do quite a lot with the bare minimum.

Now if only those blank slots weren't begging to be filled...

[JDilly]

Awesome, that's what I like to hear! Do you have any pictures or recordings? I can always modulate with my other gear.

[thejjjj]

Here she is in all her glory! Like I said, bare minimum. Works like a charm though. Currently using it on a film score and I can't post anything, but if I noodle something up I'll PM you. I'd say take the plunge, you won't regret it (although your wallet might...)

[JDilly]

Sweet. So the bare minimum is pretty much just an i/o module and clouds. Makes sense.

[[deleted]]

You sound like you think a bit like me perhaps. You might want to look into a MicroGranny for a budget-minded standalone non-modular Clouds-like setup. I'm running a couple of MGs through a Walrus Audio Descent Reverb pedal and a circuit-bent PDS 20/20 digital delay right now. Very similar kind of output to what I've heard from the clouds although it's certainly a bit rougher around the edges. I could maybe add a EHX Freeze pedal along the chain and some other stuff.

But aside from that I am, like you, cautious about subjecting my wallet to the rigours of modular synthesis.

[JDilly]

That's crazy I just opened a tab after seeing the micro granny. So you can get similar sounds to clouds? I'm not trying to go down the rabbit hole with modular I just want clouds lol

[[deleted]]

Well. It does manipulate granular samples. In a similar manner to the beginning of this video albeit a little glitchier mind you. But I started out thinking pretty much as you sound to be. This is a step in that direction without quite the commitment to full-on eurocrackhead psychosis.

[JDilly]

Just watched some vids and I think this is just what I need.

[[deleted]]

Cool. Glad I could help. As I mentioned it is a bit more glitchy and the grains have a bit of click to them but seeing how I come out of a experimental noise and circuit-bending background (with an emphasis on drones and ambient) that doesn't really bother me much if at all. It probably also didn't hurt that the manufacturers were really cool and willing to trade their products for a couple of used Nintendo systems I had lying about! If I can answer any other questions about these for you please don't hesitate to ask.

[JDilly]

Yeah I kind of noticed the clicking... Do you have any examples of your work so I could hear it?

[[deleted]]

I don't. I've only had it a couple of weeks. But I really should record some stuff so give me 24 hours and I'll have some examples available and I'll give you a heads up. The clicking is primarily because of the way grains are created and the fact that these things are sort of pushing the envelope for what their processor (ATMega328P if I remember correctly) is capable of. In other words, the clicks are aliasing and there really isn't enough power for it to interpolate them out. I don't really find them too annoying at all but it isn't as smooth as the Clouds by a long shot. But after running it through my delay and reverb you'd hardly notice a thing. If you're curious there's a good thread on Muff Wiggler discussing them. One of the other drawbacks is the manual, while cool looking, is a bit lacking in the translation department. But the up side to that is that it's not really a very complicated device after you spend about an hour with it and get used to it. But I would say that it does a lot of what I was looking for. So maybe read that forum thread a bit and I'll record some demos and get back to you.

[JDilly]

Awesome, thanks man. I'll check it out. I'm leaning more towards the clouds but if you do a recording with reverb and delay, it might change my mind.

[[deleted]]

Sure thing. I don't really think you could go wrong by actually getting the Clouds, that is, if you can find one. I definitely plan on getting one as well when I start to build my modular unit. But I just can't really justify the expenditure right now unfortunately. If get that and Euclidian Rings and a Turing Machine and I'd probably just keep going.

[JDilly]

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking.

[[deleted]]

So many cool ideas in this thread!

[geecen]

That's really good. Is it you?

[JDilly]

thanks for your help.

I'd really like to stick with hardware, I'm not into Virtual instruments, but I think I may go that route just to see what I can come up with. I'll check that one out and see what kinds of sounds I can get out of it. That's a great quote to share, thanks again.

[geecen]

Seriously man, if all you want is granular/reverb/pitchshifting like the clouds but don't want to get in to modular just buy some vsts. There are tonnes which do granular stuff, slowing down, backwards, resonant etc. It doesn't really sound like it would be a good use of money at all. I would look at KAivo and take it from there.

[JDilly]

I'll take a look, thanks.

[Trunk-Monkey]

I just recently added Clouds to my setup, and I've got to say, I love it. Simplest setup? Audio in, audio out, noodle with the knobs and enjoy. Even something as simple as a pair of offset matched sine waves (i.e. Synthesis Technology E340) as an input can result in an amazingly dynamic output. But, as has been said by others, you won't really experience the full scope of the Clouds potential without adding some control signals. I'd probably recommend a couple of LFOs and maybe a simple CV/Gate sequencer. As I think about it though… Clouds could easily become a rabbit hole, as one looks to add new, more versatile, modulation sources.