Re: Can we talk about modular synths?
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:32 pm
Cross post from a MW thread about drone techniques.
I'm getting back into modular after about a two month hiatus. I sold my DPO, and got a Drumbrute (thx Nov). Ive simplified my set up a bunch since this fall and Im reconfiguring my concept of what my rack will be. Will post more when I make the plunge into some stuff.
EDIT: for shits and giggles, a rough sketch. Much less emphasis on rhythm and percussion than my past conceptions.
I worked out a drone patch today I was pretty happy with so I'll break it down.
The basis of the patch was a Cursus Iteritas running into the center channel of a self oscillating Three Sisters in crossover mode. The three filter peaks were oscillating at some harmonious chord, and the Cursus was running through an Optomix with a slow Maths cycle opening the gate into the filter. This was nice because the high and low filter peaks stayed at a constant pitch, while the pitch of the center peak and the pitch of Cursus slowly faded back and forth.
I also had a slightly faster Maths cycle modulating the "structure" parameter on the Cursus, which changed the relationship of even and odd harmonics of the output. I liked this because it added a light pulsing rhythm that faded in and out with the volume of the Cursus. I also used all of Maths mixer outputs to lightly modulate the level of other timbre parameters and the volume of the high filter peak oscillation.
I like using the Maths mixer outputs for modulation because these modulation sources are all related and connected, but not necessarily"in sync" rhythmically. Sometime I find strict rhythmic synchronization takes me out of the drone headspace, but having interconnected modulation can add to the cohesiveness of a patch (I really want to add Just Friends to my rack for this purpose). I also like to leave some elements unmodulated so that I can tweak them by hand. In this patch it was the Fold parameter on Cursus and the level of the low filter peak oscillation. I like adding a slight performative aspect without giving myself too much to distract me from the drone headspace.
I'm getting back into modular after about a two month hiatus. I sold my DPO, and got a Drumbrute (thx Nov). Ive simplified my set up a bunch since this fall and Im reconfiguring my concept of what my rack will be. Will post more when I make the plunge into some stuff.
EDIT: for shits and giggles, a rough sketch. Much less emphasis on rhythm and percussion than my past conceptions.
SPOILER : show