How to make a TINY live techno modular synth in only 62HP.
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- This video is like a step-by-step workshop where I will systematically explain and patch an entire wee tiny live techno modular synth, that works a LOT like my bigger live system. I'll show how I wire it up, and talk about techniques/problems and options throughout. LINKS BELOW!
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I've designed many iterations of my live modular system at this point but it's been interesting to work on how SMALL you can make a system and still keep it relatively usable and flexible. I've been able to take ideas from Surgeon, Colin Benders and my own experiments and squeeze them into the smallest space practical. This video should be useful if you are new to modular, as it is intentionally systematic without missing out any steps!
⮞ Grayscale Algorhythm: grayscale.info/algorhythm (Running 2.0 Firmware)
⮞ Ladik S-142: ladik.ladik.eu/?page_id=1695
⮞ DivKid RND Step: divkidvideo.com/rnd-step-the-...
⮞ 2HP Euclid: www.twohp.com/modules/euclid
⮞ ALM MCO: busycircuits.com/alm021/
⮞ Steve's MS-22 Filter: www.threetom.com/product/stev...
⮞ Music Thing Chord Organ: musicthing.co.uk/pages/chord....
⮞ 2HP MMF: www.twohp.com/modules/mmf
⮞ Befaco Percall
⮞ Tiptop One sampler
⮞ Prok Clap: www.thonk.co.uk/shop/prok-dru...
⮞ Expert Sleepers Disting: www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/dis...
FURTHER READING
⮞ ModularGrid of the Rack: www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...
⮞ The Patch We Make in this vid: www.modulargrid.net/e/patches...
⮞ Link to Colin Benders Podcast: www.whywebleep.com/whywebleep...
⮞ Link to Hazel Mills Podcast: www.whywebleep.com/whywebleep...
⮞ Previous suggested system video: • Make a BUCHLA MUSIC EA...
⮞ Watch me build the Chord Organ for this video in realtime - just four and a half short hours of entertainment: • BUILDING A MUSICTHING ...
⮞ Oh hey it's Patreon again: / mylarmelodies
00:00 Joyful introductory montage!
01:31 Design Principles and Objectives
04:32 Patching Begins - Grayscale Algorhythm for Gates
07:00 Tiptop Audio One for Kicks (or as VCO?!)
09:31 Prok Clap - for more flexible claps
12:02 Making Hats with Befaco Percall - Clever 'backend' for making percussion & tones
21:00 Ladik S142 Sequencer + S&H Dirty Industry Secrets
22:52 Intro to the sequencer trick I'm using DivKid RND Step for.
23:20 ALM MCO wavetable module patched for Bass!
24:21 Mini MS20 filter: Steve's MS22 Filter for bass!
27:19 Gain Staging (Importance of)
30:18 RND Step & The Sequencing Trick That Helps 1 Sequencer Control 2 Voices
34:54 Using 2HP Euclid to make bass patterns (and why)
40:22 Testjamming with Euclid making bass patterns
41:30 Chord Organ - for jazzy chords!
43:09 2HP MMF analogue filter - filtering the Chord Organ
43:53 Patching a DC offset to replace a tiny knob - for usability
46:23 Improving my DC Offset Trick
47:40 Using Random on Algorhythm, Autechre inspiration
48:20 Disting - for Clocked Delay Effects!
51:23 Sequencing the Chord Organ with a Second S&H Output
55:44 Thin Masking Tape: Great for Labeling parts
56:52 Using Choking on Percall for extra interest
58:06 Discussing Tuning, Issues, Potential Solutions
1:01:59 Jamming and Testing, Thoughts as I play
1:08:57 The Moral I've learned from This System
1:10:40 General live performance tips.
1:11:43 Thanks and Further Reading Suggestions
As a eurorack noobie, the thought process going into the patch building is far more valuable than any "gear hype" video I've ever seen. Phenomenal video.
same here
very well said.
damn this is inspiring! im constantly changing the palette and this gave me a ton of ideas. 💪
No surprise finding Ricky Tinez around here!
Thanks m8 🙌
I like the idea of keeping it small, like building your own groovebox rather than a synth monstrosity...!
indeed his use of the radio for white noise is very clever indeed! I have an Elektron for this kind of stuff. Same size more powerful.
@@GuitarsAndSynths funnily enough I bought a cheap battery-powered radio last summer in the hope of picking up some long wave broadcasts for sampling, which it sucked at, but I still got my £15 value out of it - thanks, Argos!
Another pro tip on the tip-top one. Try and sort your samples by how heavy or intense they are. For example. Have it so that you have subtle kicks when the file knob is closed and hard heavy kicks when fully open. I found that this can really help giving some control over the overall energy of the patch since it’s easy to remember what kind of samples are stored where based on the knob position.
Nice one 👌
Such a good tip...!
3000 iq here, thanks alot
You're using 100% of your brain capacity
dude, that's actually really useful...
The best part of this video is from 0:00 to 1:12:56
I have obviously missed something , personally would suggest 0:00 to 0:01
When you tuned into the radio channel just a tad more and played with the slider I got the biggest smile on my face, cool stuff
nomodz4real what time is that at
@@jetpacksnake9741 14:34 or so
This should go into the CZcams Modular Synth videos Hall of Fame. Along with the Generative Patch one.
Yea, man. To figure out what to get next, play with what you've already got. I hear that. This whole video was just amazing to watch.
"Who needs an LFO when you've got a left hand?" 😆
haha I was about to write the same quote.
Didn't look at the length of the video before starting. 15 minutes in now, I've got a six pack in the fridge and already a propped full shopping list at Thomanns. Thanks MM ^^,
Ha thanks!! Shameless Thomann affiliate link here as it helps me eat! www.thomann.de/gb/index.html?offid=1&affid=845 (Lmk if you have any qs)
Mannnnn I love these videos. As someone new to modular, these walk throughs make so much sense. These might be real simple sounds but they FAT as hell!!
The threetom MS-22 is Madness!
'Anything going through it' will sound new, old, classic, refreshing... no surprise there is a waiting list.
5:54 life hack, if you ever need a cheap external clock source, just use an electronic metronome
Ooh that’s a great shout
hah, i was just about to write this question of what is the external clock source; thanks
Heh, I've been trying to spec out a palette case, and have been considering a Pams Workout with a 1U Steppy, (instead of the Algorithm) which would solve the clock question. However, you'd have to give up some 1U real-estate, as I think only the steppy and the quadratt would fit at that point (plus either a usb power or 1U LPG).
Lol nice
?!?!?!?!?!?!? How have I never thought of that
Damn, I was 50 minutes in before I realized it was a >1 hour video. that shows how interesting this is.
I found myself in a similar place. Think i got to 35 mins before i realised everything around me went dark. Too much for my limited brain to take in but just couldn't stop myself watching and watching and watching
Loving more of these demos of smaller systems. I think the community would really appreciate more of these kinds of setups being demo'd and walked through - there's a wealth of knowledge here from "rack hacks" that make cramming multiple voices into a small rack like Palette possible (in your case, Percall!)
I always wanted to see the bare case and then your thoughts as you add each wire. This may be the best synth video I have ever seen. Thank you.
The longer these videos are, the better it is :D So refreshing to see the modular world explained so clearly
I love this video a lot! You break down exactly what is going on as you go along and introduce ideas in a performance setting rather than a dry instructional and it's helped me learn so much!
This is my favorite synth series on youtube :) love the concept and the way you explain things. Explanation to music ratio is spot on! Keep up the great work!
Love Surgeon so much, we managed to pool enough cash to get him to come play in Brisbane, Australia years ago. It was fucking nuts, such an incredible dj. His Glade festival set is probably my favour mix of all time.
Your radio white noise trick @ 14:00 is grouse, I have sampled radio so many times on my OP-1 but never thought to run the OP-1 radio into the modular, nice mate.
Love the minimal build ideas here - and the focus on performance! thanks for the video!
Alex, please do more like this, it's so enjoyable listening to the track while listening to you talking about how your making it, would be fun to use this video as the input of the Percall
This is one immensely valuable video! Soooo many good tricks you show here that let this system fly musically! Thank you 🙏
Love that radio technique, I've done it with 4 portable radios and a Mutable Fames
Finally, getting this -
Really love what you are saying about having some about having 2 things going and one thing ready.
That shortwave radio for noise is brilliant!
I've def got some ideas to use within my semi-modular set-up and the utilities I have in my small rack. This also gives me some ideas for the few additional modules I plan to add to it. That Intellijel case seems to offer quite a bit also.
Anyway, there were some fantastic ideas here and I def see my self using a good many of them.
Wow, you did just an amazing job clearly explaining this system. Really impressive video!
Love this video and learned so much! I’m a digitakt user and midi guy so the modular world has been a tad bit of a reach for me. This really helped me understand some of the possibilities and inner workings of sound design. -Thank you sir
Thank you so much for your videos. You are a awesome teacher. Some people like myself are a little slow understanding and have to be hands on to learn. The way you do these videos nice and slow and explain it as you go I can follow along and tailor my system to your instruction (different modules being the issue) and not have to pause the video rewind it play it again and so on lol. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻 Really great to be able to learn so much from one video. Stay safe Godspeed.
PercAll giving some interplay between the synth and bass lines is fantastic for such a cool mini rig!
I just ran across this. This is super inspiring. Thanks for explaining your thought stream and workflow.
Keep up this series! Absolutely love the techniques and patching ideas
this is such a thorough video.
i was losing stamina and then I heard the chords output and now i'm back in. damn that sounds nice
I really like the idea of Radio 4 being “chopped”.
Indeed wicked and totally awesome rhythm section, the radio is brilliant. At some points it sounds just as huge as the live system.
Brilliant video. loved this . Been watching Steve Davis on telly all day , he's a legend that man.
Tons of insights and really cool techno jams. Can't really complain about that.
when the radio signal is introduced is when I'm like 'I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE NOW!"...
These suggested system vids are the mutts nuts mate! both so far have immediately made me want to go have a play with some new ideas :)
Absolutely in love with this series. Been planning some palette systems lately myself, generative stuff mostly. Looking forward for 62hp ACEness 🙌
I watch all of your vids and I think this is my favourite. I've watched it... more than once. I'd love more tiny rack or live rack vids! Thank you for your effort.
whoaaaaa, the radio trick is one of the most creative things I've seen!
Great video. Def gonna check out that podcast. Seems like exactly what someone getting into modular should hear before buying anything
Thanks for this! You explained some things that others gloss over. For example.. I've been asking about how to use the audio out of my Volca Bass. People said "you need an input" and now I understand why.
Wonderful video, really inspiring! Love this series so far :)
Great work! The outside radio as noise source is indeed a clever trick
Great tutorial, more of this please! Learned a ton and inspired!
Appreciate your perspectives. Beautiful video.
I feel this is the first time I've actually understood a modular setup! Very exciting.
Best compliment I could hope to get - thanks!
Same for me!
I was given a radio like that in my early teens, and used to have wires trailing all round the room to pick up Colin Dale's Abstrakt Dance Show on a Thursday night on Kiss FM, before Classic started broadcasting on the range I could pick it up on. Still have it in a drawer, as I new there's be a future use :)
🎛🤏Yes!!!! Love your work, my new favorite artist!
The best eurorack modular video ever seen on youtube.
Loving the joyful introductory montage :-)
That filter sounds frigging awesome 😍
Why, thank you, kind internet stranger 😁
Excellent and very inspiring.
i clicked on this video for background while i rearrange my system. i didnt imagine how much i would end up wanting a filter ive never heard of ~ that thing is slick
quality stuff as ever.
the percall is amazing, I need to get one of those asap.
great stuff, also highly appreciate the time indexing, very helpful
Nice one! I'm in the process of planning a ER-setup, but with a Planck-scale budget I've been seriously considering a full on DIY approach (I know my way around electronics, programming from assembly to OOPs, and wield a soldering iron with some degree of confidence...) But I'm beginning to realize that with the time this would take I may as well mount it all inside a coffin if I expect to spend any decent amount of time with my dream system! Thank you for showing me how flexible a minimal setup actually can be with proper planning!
You are the best man. Thank you so much for everything you do.
hungover on a Saturday watching mylarmelodies videos again. i don't own any modular. this was great, thanks.
Love seeing the Chord Organ you built on stream getting put to good use!
Watched this when it came out, didn't get it. Just watched it again, recreated it in VCV....oh man. This is why I got into modular. Freaking brilliant.
Great video!! Def find it inspiring. I'm always looking for interesting ways to rock a small techno setup.
Thanks for this video!
I just pulled the trigger on a case and my first few modules. I know I can easily let things get out of control so I wanted to limit myself from the get go. I got a 4U 84HP case, and I'm looking at builds like this one to navigate my way to a fun, "fully"-featured system that will fit in that case, +/- a couple fx pedals and a Pocket Operator
It's motivating to see that it's not necessary to have a big 15U system just to get started, and as fun as it is to watch what Colin Benders can do with his wall of modules, it's nice to know I can go quite a long way with much less
This is a master class on modular. Too often we get caught up in gas instead of limiting and forcing ourselves to get our modules to go further than originally intended or even simpler all that they were intended.Well done mate! So inspiring.
Thanks Stephen 👍
This is the best video on the entire internet!
What can I say, wicked as always. Learned a lot again and meanwhile was entertained very much as well. And the music is amazing, love the chord organ.
Thanks as ever m8 - Yeah that Chord Organ is just instant vibes
Excellent video perhaps one of your best! This case is really thought out well and gives you a ton of flexibility!
Thks 2 u mylar...im french and ur easy 2 understand hopfully!
You are one of the greatest teachers, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks!! 🙌
+1 on installing the modules “upside down”, see ricky tinez’s video on the palette case. done the same with mine and it makes it a whole lot more accessible imo.
the noise random tools will give you that clock source and white noise source as you’ve said elsewhere. and the slew is handy as an extra asr envelope if you ever need one. would look at using a mixup as a mixer and for your send/returns potentially. it connects directly to the ins/outs on the palette case too so can save you some 1/4” to 1/8” adaptors down the line too. learning modular has a nice video on patching up the mixup as a stereo effects send.
thank *YOU* very much. this is now on my groove machine build wish list. 🙏
Really nice to see how your process driven music making translates across to the smaller system. It really sounds like you because you're using the same process and approach just with different modules. A refreshing change from the focus on specific modules and pieces of gear in this scene, this shows that developing a process can be more important than what you buy.
Thanks m8 - yes you've got it exactly...apart from certain things like using RND Step as it gives a stable voltage, I'm trying to avoid making systems that really require specific modules to work...the ideas should be general to get you thinking more about process than getting hung up on having 'just the right thing'!
@@mylarmelodies A great way to do things, it's about creativity rather than gear. I've ended up with my own approach which is different to yours but been very influenced by the idea of developing a process. That said, I have had a go at emulating your single sequencer, multiple parts approach on my cirklon using grab auxes which is fun for improvising.
Very creative use of this small hp!
Super interesting, thank you very much
Great video, and a really useful insight into some live improv techniques in a small system. Love the look of the Befaco module and that tiny MS filter. Thank you!
I wonder if you could swap out one of your external in 1u jobbies for some sort of LFO or clock to eliminate need for Beatstep?
@@sarmism This would be the one! intellijel.com/shop/eurorack/1u/noise-tools-1u/ If it were squeezable in
@@mylarmelodies that looks like a great little module.
For those who don't know: there IS a pitch quantiser in the 'disting'-module on the right. But it would have to switch modes and mylar would loose the delay. But he'd have crazy playable melodies instead.
U mean that the module that is out, next to the delay, on the table, is the pitch quantiser? and is connected to the eurorack case?
@@torviification No, the right most module. It's a multi function module and has a quantizer-mode should he decide to not use the echo/delay mode.
This has explained a lot to me how modular synthesis works! thanks for sharing. Please make more, I’ve seen systems that overwhelm me and I don’t know what’s going on, with this it breaks down and keeps it simple.
Thanks Keith, yes more coming! This is the aim
mylarmelodies I look forward to the videos 👍🏻
Fantastic video
Superb instructional. I FINALLY managed to make something that resembles both in functionality and sound your 62HP system presented here, and I literally only have the 2HP Euclid: all the rest I used substitutes and additions. I learned a lot, thank you so much! I did use 295 HP though: I never bothered with size when making decisions for my rack :) Now to add a voice to play some arpeggio's; that MS22 filter sounds sweet, and thinking of a Cs-L for osc. It's gonna be great, and my dream of being able to perform, for a few friends at least, is finally coming closer. Both from Colin and yourself, feels like having a 'Masterclass' right here on YT. Thanks again!
Genius, really inspiring.
Love the radio live input... got me thinking
Rewatched the video: my brain took it in toooootally differently! Good going!
This is awesome - thanks so much for making this vid
Was enjoying the video, but then you pulled out the SW radio move, legend mate! Defo my new fave youtuber 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I’m so glad I came across this video. It’s been a great guide for getting started on the system I want to build.
Thanks m8 - good luck!! What are you going for?
@@mylarmelodies So far I’m starting with the Cre8audio NiftyBundle (built in MIDI and audio out sold me on it), Erica Synths Trigg, Erica Synths Drums, and Noise Engineering Sinc Bucina. My goal is to eventually be able to achieve some of the same elements you have going on here.
As a physical instrument (guitar. Bass. Piano player), DAW producer and recently 100% sold on hardware synths, I wasn't sure getting into eurorack was really for me until you turned the radio into hi hats. Even from a music production standpoint I now need the modules that will make that happen
Watching again, so smart
Thanks for this. Really helpful. Loving that MCO/Steve's combo. The sequencer/S&H technique is inspired. Imma gonna give it some rice. :)
I would LOVE more videos like this
You dear sir are a legend. Light my fire!
Really digging this series, watched both videos a few times now.. would be really cool to see your take on a jungle beast.. lots of sampler modules with maybe Nerdseq as the heart for full tracker sequencing love
So good! It looks good, sounds good and it is interesting for the brains! Good job!
I think I need to make one so I can touch it too :D.
That’s a really great trick with the hamm line in !
man this is the first video that convinced me that I can and do understand this stuf! thanks!!
🙌
I bought the percall kit while watching this video the first time around.
Amazing module even if I can't get channel 3 working!
This is wicked Alex 🖤
I fucking love this series.
i'm constantly amazed by synthesizers
dang that sounds so cool
really blown away by how many ideas you're packing in these small palette spaces. having recently got one i'm well up for getting some of these ideas on the go, not only in the palette which is mostly planned out already, but smaller sections of my larger rig.
as a regular of House of God here in Brum where Tony Surgeon is still resident after all these (25!) years, i'm deffo interested in you picking apart these ideas. not sure if he's still into modular tho, as his recent rig interviews wiill testify, but i'd deffo be up for you chatting with him bleepwise.