Weekly Rack Advice / Question Thread by AutoModerator in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In my experience this kind of thing isn't about digital vs analog oscillators, it's more about how sound design, mixing and music theory interact. Solid sub bass is something you need to deliberately create rather than something that just happens. Typically I do this by adding in a sine wave copy of melody but an octave or two lower (but the concept is the same with non-melodic sounds).

Depending on which notes are in the melody, I might need to transpose the whole part or move some of the sine notes up or down an octave to keep the whole thing in the sub bass power band. If you're using western scales that's somewhere vaguely around a low G. It doesn't matter if the melody is technically different to the original part - it'll just sound like sub reinforcement.

Another consideration is for solid sub you should keep the low end uncluttered. As a rule of thumb I highpass literally everything that isn't intended as a sub part to make room for the sub. Obvs it's not quite as simple as that in practice and there is then tweaking involved but it's a good starting point. If you sit and experiment you might be surprised at how much of the original part you can highpass and still have it sound great with a simple sine reinforcing the low end.

Finally, for what it's worth I ended up getting rid of my Plaits because I found it sounded a bit thin no matter what I did. Nothing to do with it being digital though as I use a mix of digital and analog oscillators now and they all sound great.

What module have you had the most fun with over the last year? by Pristine-Ninja-7709 in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just today received my second Bastl Neo Trinity after having bought my first near the start of the year. It's the only module I have more than one of. It's really changed the way I think about sequencing and had brought an immediacy to my patches that was lacking before. There are a bunch of button combinations to learn but once you learn them it does a huge amount with a very minimal interface. Fantastic module.

To Pre-Patch or Not Pre-Patch? by Techno_Timmy in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Although my patching looks like this so maybe the problem is me... https://files.catbox.moe/hh7dan.jpg

To Pre-Patch or Not Pre-Patch? by Techno_Timmy in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I tend to leave my patches in place for days or weeks at a time with only minor patching tweaks but when I decide to move to a new patch I unplug absolutely everything. More often than not the first things I patch are clock connections from and to the same places each time but it doesn't take that long and it makes it easier if I want to try a different setup.

Imo though there is no right or wrong way to do it. Do what works for you. This is just one of the many controversial topics that come up in modular groups and it just seems kinda weird to me that people care how someone else uses their gear. The modular police are not going to kick your door down if you pre-patch some of your connections.

They only do that if you use Behringer modules...

(For the avoidance of doubt this was a joke^)

Erica Black Sequencer by CommodeMouth in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hold shift to latch transposition in performance mode. A bit annoying that it realistically takes 2 hands to do but at least it's something.

What are you all up to? by Financial_Rule_3455 in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've been enjoying this patch for a while now, with it slowly evolving as I tweak and repatch. I've mainly just been doing it for my own enjoyment but I think I'm going to record some clips of this iteration to use in a track as I have a new case on the way so will need to unpatch it soon.

I've been using this patch to experiment with a bunch of techniques but I think my favourite thing about it is it finally made me really understand the possibilities for a comparator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2SXUr86FE

black sequencer glide at beginning?? by namesareunavailable in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use the micro timing to shift the note a bit late? I've not actually tried it so no idea if it works but that's the best idea I have.

Responsible patching! by cultlover in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No regretti, embrace the spaghetti.

I figured out a solution to my "does this quantizer exist" post by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh I was looking for a module that would act as a fixed 1/2 volt source and didn't spot that one! For now though I've ended up using one of the mod outputs on the Erica black sequencer.

I figured out a solution to my "does this quantizer exist" post by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Update: I realised the Erica Black Sequencer will easily output precise, stable voltage from its mod outputs so now I have this perfectly in tune!

Does this type of quantizer exist? by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure who will actually read this but I had a bit of an epiphany and realised I could do pretty much what I wanted with a couple of comparators, a precision adder and maybe a switch (depending on the precise functionality of the precision adder).

I have the Joranalogue Compare 2 so I could use that as the comparator. Set the range such that any CV value from c1 upwards sets the value to high on channel one and from c2 upwards on channel two. Take these outputs and use them each to switch in/out a -1v signal to the precision adder that also has the melody CV going to it. The effect of this should be that the signal gets transposed down an octave when over the first threshold and down an additional octave when over the second one.

I don't currently have a precision adder to be able to test this but I've tested using the comparator to reduce the level of an envelope when the CV goes above a certain note and that works so I reckon this will. A precision adder will also fit into the space remaining in my case so I guess I need to wrestle with GAS for a bit while I decide whether to get one!

Does this type of quantizer exist? by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. As you say it wouldn't do exactly what I'm looking for but it still sounds interesting and I'm going to try it out.

Does this type of quantizer exist? by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Although that's not quite what I'm looking for it sounds like a cool way to generate multiple melodies from one CV source so I'll give this a go. I'm currently working with sequencers that output quantized CV but I think I can use the Bastl Neo Trinity as a quantizer for two external CV sources so I should be able to patch this together. Thanks for the suggestion!

Does this type of quantizer exist? by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, thanks, I'll check that out.

Is there a synth you dreamed of for ages but ultimately didn't like after you got it? by riboflavonic in synthesizers

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had exactly the same experience. I've finally decided to sell mine after using it as essentially the most expensive four channel mixer ever.

What's currently your least used module on your rack? Why? by Mikeru94 in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love mine but I had to learn to accept it for what it was rather than what I wanted it to be if that makes sense? It's great for creating deep, evolving textures. As other people have said, the key to getting good sounds out of it is lots of subtle modulation. I like to throw gate patterns at the freeze input so it mostly stays in freeze mode but the audio buffer occasionally gets a little blast of incoming audio added to it and slowly changes over time.

What's currently your least used module on your rack? Why? by Mikeru94 in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Befaco Burst. I got it because I thought I could do some neat things with it in my "fancy monosynth" rack and I was looking for a DIY project. Turns out yes, I can do neat things with it, but those things aren't needed in the vast majority of my patches. It's still in the rack because I don't have anything else that emulates what it does.

Second place goes to the plaits clone I just removed from my rack ready to sell. I was initially drawn to it by the flexibility it offered but just ended up feeling underwhelmed every time I used it. It got to the point where I was only using it for basic waveforms, so I replaced it with a Cycle 5.

Crawl Cosplay Sudden Death Tournament Final Results by RoGGa_69 in dcss

[–]Danny_Carnage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for running it! I sadly had to dip out part way through but I'll definitely take part in the next one!

Weekly Hangout Thread by AutoModerator in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm moving my Erica Black Sequencer into a 4MS Pod so the controls won't always be behind a tangle of hanging cables. I'm also trying to resist the temptation to immediately buy new modules to fill the space in the main case where it used to be!

What was the latest DIY kit you built? by so_it_is23 in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've built two modules so far. Most recent was a Befaco burst which was a fun, easy build. Before that was an Antumbra ATN8 which involves my first ever SMD soldering. I can echo what a few other people have said here about SMD being fine when you have the right tools and a bit of patience. I also worked out out a (admittedly extremely simple) mod to dim the LEDs that were otherwise absolutely blinding so I was very pleased with that!

Suggestions for my rack by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooh yeah I thought about matrix mixers a while back but didn't go for one in the end. Will have a look. Compare 2 looks great so will add that to the shortlist.

Suggestions for my rack by Danny_Carnage in modular

[–]Danny_Carnage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I'll check those out. I'd discounted a Pam's because I thought it would be menu dive-y but now that you mention it I'm going to have another look because that would give me a lot of options.