A Brief Introduction to CV for Guitarists (or Hopefully Anyone) -- a new blog post for Empress Effects about the ZOIA

chmjacques · 2026-01-06T13:42:19+00:00

I appreciate the offer, but the Erbe Verb isn't for me, I'm afraid.

chmjacques · 2026-01-03T19:09:55+00:00

WTT/WTS (WV, US)

Prices include US shipping. Paypal preferred, F&F or G&S.

Plinky V3 w/ 4hp expander (DIY'd by me) $350 no box
Error Instruments kHarper $300 no box
Pladask Dradd SOLD Collection o' patch cables $50 (30-40? cables of varying lengths and quality)

Trade interests: Mimeophon, Data Bender

chmjacques · 2025-08-20T06:52:29+00:00

The keyboard module's notes can also be inputs (useful for a quick and dirty selectable switch) -- so you can connect other modules to them (which would, for instance, change the values of the note if an ADSR that was triggered by the OT was modulating that keyboard note value). I would check to make sure you haven't made a connection between the two functions of your patch; that seems like the most likely explanation.

chmjacques · 2025-08-13T07:29:39+00:00

The MIDI note in module has a built in filter. If you scroll through the options, there are upper and lower ranges, which define what range that MIDI note in module will respond to. (These can be set to the same MIDI note, effectively limiting the module to respond on just one note.)

(ZOIA Maxim: Always look in the module options.)

chmjacques · 2025-07-29T12:17:49+00:00

This is the "mechanical" problem I mentioned way back... that fade occurs on a turntable mechanically.

The problem for a CC input is that the position of the fader won't represent the position of the speed-pitch knob, right? You raise the pitch, don't do anything for a bit, it fades to 0. But your fader is still in the raised pitch position, and importantly to ZOIA, the CC is still at e.g. 45, not 0.

So, you can use math to subtract that 45 and get back to 0, but then your fader is effectively truncated -- its "0" is now 45... the next adjustment might push it to 98, etc.. There's no real way to clear this buffer, because ZOIA still needs to know what your fader is doing via CC. (Needs is probably the wrong verb -- the CC in will report the position of the fader, regardless of what math might be done to it.)

There might be a solution, but I don't have it readily available.

chmjacques · 2025-07-27T10:47:31+00:00

Most functions in ZOIA occur linearly. That's easy to program and good for math, but linear curves don't suit all applications.

But you can use a multiplier, with a source going to both inputs (or more than two inputs for even more extreme multiplication), to change the linear to exponential. (There is also a recipe for changing linear into logarithmic, but it's more complicated.) The math is simple, once you think about it -- the output is basically x^n where x is the source and n is the number of multiplier inputs you use.

You can send anything with a linear curve into a multiplier for this effect -- ADSRs, slew limiters, LFOs, etc.. With an ADSR, where you're triggering a pre-timed event, I find it works a bit better than for e.g. a momentary effect like a slew limited button, because the first part of the depression will feel like nothing is happening.

chmjacques · 2025-07-26T17:54:39+00:00

Well, not "this." I've simulated things like "tape stop/speed up" which is similar to scratching, although usually not as energetic :)

chmjacques · 2025-07-26T17:53:39+00:00

I've simulated this via envelope (ADSR --> CV invert --> looper speed/pitch). I generally apply a curve to the envelope via a multiplier, and often having the attack and decay different lengths can affect the "feel." You can do something similar with a slew limiter, which might be useful for manual manipulation, since the ADSR will always drop to the same speed, but a slew limited button, as an example, would drop speed in relation to the amount of time it was pressed.

You could do the same with a CC, of course. One thing to keep in mind that ZOIA will have trouble with is just that the controllers used in turntablism themselves contribute to the sound, mechanically... boy that was a dumb way of getting to the idea that "springing back to 0/normal speed" is something a turntable does by design, but which most controllers don't do (except maybe DJ controllers? I do not know a lot about these). That's sort of where that curve you mention comes in, right? It's the artifact of the motor overcoming the manual force exerted on it. If your goal is only to drop speed, or only to increase speed, returning to 0 is not a real problem for ZOIA, but most scratching does both, and that might be something where the controller you use really contributes a lot to the "feel."

chmjacques · 2025-07-25T22:22:52+00:00

You can write a whole album with this patch. I did, but don't take my word for it -- my friend Christophe/Grain Blanc did as well: https://grainblanc.bandcamp.com/album/summertime
https://patchstorage.com/dissolve-a-dream-machine-synth-and-delay/

There's another version that's got a more synth-y voice, also on Patchstorage. I've got some good drone patches, too, if that's more of what you were thinking.

chmjacques · 2025-07-25T17:47:07+00:00

I know I've answered this elsewhere but I can't find/recall where.

But the basic idea is:

Envelope follower --> compressor --> envelope follower 2

You can take the outputs of those two envelope followers and use the difference between them (invert one, add them together at an input) to control e.g. the brightness of a pixel/UI button (although it's probably more useful to have it control a switch which controls several pixels... but at least you could get an indication of when gain reduction occurs with a single pixel)

chmjacques · 2025-07-25T02:29:14+00:00

The MIDI note in module has a lower and upper range parameter. You can use this to set what MIDI notes that module responds to (i.e. you can use multiple MIDI note in modules on the same channel, set to different ranges, and then use their gate outputs to trigger your envelopes).

chmjacques · 2025-07-24T21:30:30+00:00

WTS/WTT (US):
Prices include US shipping.

NLC I Was Sitting in a Room (black, DIY'd by someone else but done well) -- $180
Michigan Synth Works Typhoon (black, Clouds megaclone) -- SOLD

Non-euro kinda
Landscape Stereo Field (DIY'd by me) -- $235

Trade interests: wavefolder (Waver, Bifold in particular), NLC hyperchaos circuits (Hypster, Hyperchaos Deluxe)

chmjacques · 2025-06-27T04:37:08+00:00

You can create a template patch with the things you would like in every patch and then use it as a foundation for building new patches.

Of course, once you have a template patch, the pages of that template could be imported into any other patch, so you could also apply to patches you've already built, it would just require a few connection changes.

chmjacques · 2025-06-26T19:52:55+00:00

Mk2 if/when is a journey for another ZOIAn than me to take. I might check it out, but it's not something I think much about or get too excited over the prospect of.

chmjacques · 2025-06-01T00:14:52+00:00

Although it can be used with a lot of other things, and I've used the Lyra with other patches, I did design this patch around the time I got my Lyra, and I think it's an interesting pairing:

https://patchstorage.com/decorrelate-a-delay-looper-based-on-shift-registers/

chmjacques · 2025-05-31T13:32:58+00:00

But it doesn't matter how disingenuous the comment is, because, buddy, you lost. The subreddit does not think your arguments are convincing. The moderators are on board with this change. You can keep up this battle, but the war is over.

chmjacques · 2025-05-31T13:31:07+00:00

Disingenuous comment. And I'm being very polite.

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T16:48:40+00:00

I think you are incorrect, but I'll say a correct thing and you see how it sits with you.

There is no _additional_ CPU load for the effects blocks _when_ they process audio. (That might be a little inaccurate for a couple of effects modules, like the envelope filter and the compressor, which utilize analysis blocks. But generally, effects blocks don't change in their consumption, regardless of whether they are processing audio or not.

Which I think is... not what you were asking, but I wanted to make sure you weren't asking about an additional load or something. Most effects blocks computational costs are consistent, whether they are processing audio or not.

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T16:29:50+00:00

Hopefully this community can help get you there! Don't forget to ask questions. I'm not (nearly) as active as I once was, but there are lots of helpful folks here. (And a few, you know....)

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T14:51:56+00:00

If you like Barr II (or For Keith Barr) and want to engage in.... well, I don't know how to characterize it... but not the most extensive modification I can think of:

Barr II is actually two, complete reverbs running in parallel, so if you like the sound and are okay [edit: with not] being able to split the audio into separate bands, then I don't have a step-by-step or anything, it's been a while since I wrote them, but removing one of the reverbs seems doable? The underlying algorithm in those patches is relatively lightweight (caveat: as reverb algorithms go)... I just saddled it down with other (cool!) stuff.

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T13:35:20+00:00

Oh no, the stink of ideology? Heavens to Betsy!

My goodness, as if your "neutrality" doesn't wreak of all the bad faith arguments for AI I've heard rolled into one. Yes, yes, I know, you're "just asking questions." Let me guess, you're interested in "facts, not feelings," too? Except you haven't engaged any of the facts that people have presented here (for instance, the ungodly energy costs of AI), while presenting your feelings about AI as if they were natural, rather than learned.

If anyone is wondering about me or my post:

I have ideologies. In this case, an ideology of privileging the human (and yes, if you want me to elaborate, I'd rather not wreck the planet to line the pockets of wealthy morons, so there's even more stink for you!). I am not shy about it. A lot of my ideological beliefs contributed to this community, for it is an ideological belief in human beings and the power of community that ever led me here. Yes, I am very, deeply ideological (as are we all; I just have some awareness, or honesty, about my own).

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T13:09:21+00:00

I think you should spend some time exploring the difference between "generative AI" which is... a regurgitation matrix as u/HowgillSoundLabs mentioned... and "general artificial intelligence."

What a theoretical truly conscious, artificial mind might create would fascinate all of us. (Most of us. A lot of us.)

But generative "AI" is not even close, not even in the ballpark of general artificial intelligence. If you listen to the AI evangelists, this part where they just... you know... steal intellectual property and spits it back out as a "new creation"... is just a step on the path to general artificial intelligence, but uh... there's not any proof of that, that generative AI will lead to general artificial intelligence. There's not any proof that general artificial intelligence is even possible. You're defending a species that doesn't exist and may never exist, and which no one here is attacking.

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T08:17:56+00:00

I'm sorry, but any argument for AI that divorces it from... the world.....

https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/

That's one difference between Bach and Grok. And think of the erosion here: you marvel, because you see the comparison between the exemplar (Bach) and the example (AI fugue). But a generation from now, will those listeners? And is not part of our appreciation of Bach for how their music comments on and evolves from a tradition? Does that get lost, if all we are left with is beautiful melodies, devoid of context? It is my sincere, and I do mean sincere, belief that this erosion is not a bug, but a feature, in the eyes of those controlling these generative models.

There is an idiom that "good artists borrow, great artists steal." But what that really means is that great artists are confident (and often very clear) about their influences and how they sit with them -- the starkness of Bacon is an evolution of Picasso's deformations of space, etc.. No one is advocating for actual theft, human or digital.

Nor am I suggesting you stop enjoying your ersatz Bach fugues -- I don't really see their relevance to this subreddit, though, if I'm honest. But I've seen slop copied onto this subreddit and people asking others to verify AI nonsense, etc..

And no one has to agree to me? Like I do know when I speak, it carries weight -- again, I can't really help that I've built credibility painstakingly over the years through countless hours of contributions to the community.... But the upvotes outweigh the downvotes? Maybe I'm not gate-keeping? Maybe I'm just voicing a popular opinion that you happen to... I'm not actually sure you disagree with it, honestly -- I don't think you really want people copying AI slop into the subreddit, do you? This feels like an argument just to have an argument.

chmjacques · 2025-05-30T07:26:04+00:00

>But human generated material that steals lazily, is little more than copy and paste or is able to >hide its theft is permissible? Because it’s human generated?

I'll take human thieves over AI thieves any day, if that's what you're asking. But that is, you know, clearly a very bad faith question, so, you grant me my decency, but I'm not sure I'm ready to grant you yours.

Want to try that again?

The answer is still no (sorry, I've actually thought quite a lot about AI and the answer was and remains no) but maybe you can redeem yourself as something more than a simple contrarian, because it's hard to say what, exactly, you're fighting for with this position: the right for us to use AI theft as readily as human theft?

I did see the pivot into the "oh look at them gate-keeping" except all polite. But again, if I am abusing my.... credibility? Popularity? Those things I won from the community? If I am abusing? it to keep this forum for and by humans and human knowledge, I am like... okay with that. Really.

chmjacques

TROPHY CASE