The Magic World of Analog | Serge Modular | Episode 04
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- In this video, I'll dive into the magic world of analog synthesis with a focus on the Serge Wavemultiplier (folder) and Resonant EQ. They sound great, but many of the Serge modules have secret 'magic' worlds, or less dramatic, they can do things you would not expect.
I also took the opportunity to do a compare with the Ohmicide digital distortion, which is ported from a VST. I don't want to compare digital and analog sonically, because I believe digitally modelled analog sounds just as good as real analog. The differences are revealed when unexpected conditions take place. In real analog, mother nature will determine what happens (cause and effect). In digital, you'd encounter an exception. So let's see what happens when Ohmicide has to process its own output :).
Another difference is that digital modules don't have a secret world beyond the code.
What ever did let me end at the serge - is this high sonic quality paired with this immense conversation friendlyness. I mean, I can tell my serge the story only with 1 or 2 R&S handcranked tube sine oscillators. And if you patch it correspondingly you can totally get a beat progression along, your filterpingpong and all effects interacting just based on the two inputs in relation to each other. And making music in such abstract ways just urges for a human interface in the physical analog world. Cause otherwise you cannot perform intentions, your feeling.
To me, arranging all tracks and using digital synths is SUCH a different approach versus the liv(e/ing) thing. Still, also to me, it's so new and so crazy, that I end some sessions overwhelmed because I see I was running into a barrier - and dont understand shit about serge. And this is exactly where your videos are excellent stuff, to re-emerge, and from a bit different perspective. Thanks.
This is one of your best, imo.
Wonderful! Analog!
Holy Funk, your videos and your music rock. And its both, the musician and the engineer of me that would say that. In electroacoustics we were also investigating some AN vs DIG. And. at least for audio conversion, it's still for a large part, a miracle for what makes a difference, because studies and experiments showed that one cannot tell the difference. It would depend on various factors. After some years and alot of recordings and ADCs later.. I can only say that sonically I prefer to create the entropy before the ADC, as much as I can. Where everything, even the resistance, adds to the sonic image. And then, just a stereo pair or quad channels used to convert. That feels to me like keeping at the most lossless. Not so much the most expensive ADCs. So, you have the music and just 2-4 conversions.
Yes! Loving this Serge series!❤
again phantastic video! I also love my 3 serge modules (ResEQ, Wavemultiplier, SSG) and there will come more 😂
Thanks! I wish I could make Serge videos all day long but I'd scare people away. It's still a niche in a niche. But, wow that GTS/GTO combo!
Harvestman /IME modules are very digital are can do feedback extremely well though they are the exception.
I love GTO
great one
Wow that was cool!
Analog "doesn't find a way". What it does, it just _is_. The circuit will react, because the electrons will flow, even if it means burning up the components. (Then you get a burnt offering, aka "letting the smoke out." Done that a few times, over the decades.) With CPUs running programs, I have to anticipate what will happen. When I don't, my code has to handle the exception. I don't get "happy accidents." Then the algorithm is adjusted, and I try again.
For my synthesis, I prefer analog. Years ago, I bought a digital synthesis library. I used it until the publisher turned off their licensing server for that version. Nobody is turning off the licensing for transistors.
Thanks for sharing your view on this. I think analog finds a way like a river does. following least resistance. So I hope we can agree to disagree :).
Love the video! Where are you getting the white Bananuts?
I spray painted the silver ones in a cardboard box. Super easy.
Some glitches are loved more than others. Unfair.
Incredible！
And if you could also include the 8XL in one of your serge series, I'd highly appreciate that. Because for this module there does not exist sh*t. No manual, no video, no cool patch patterns for a core approach in making re-serge music. In general, the pairing of serge and sequencers is sparse in YT. But the 8XL is still quite flexible compared even to contemporary sequencers. I'll get mine in some days. Ah yeah and enjoy putting some audio into it (props to mafmadmaf)
Both digital and analog have their use cases. Digital IMHO shines when it comes to stuff that is too unwieldy or almost impossible to create in the analog realm. Other than those, I would usually prefer analog. Not that I think that digital doesn't sound as "warm", far from it. It's just that I think why should I use a digital "copy" if I can have an analog original? And I still think there's lots to be found in the analog realm. But, yes, digital absolutely has its use cases. *looks smiling at my Electus-which-is-now-a-Imitor Versio*
I’ve coaxed some sounds out of analog that has no business coming out of anything analog
@@geraldgoodiii6993 I absolutely agree!
One more good vidéo ! I agree with you about analog vs digital.
Both are intersting of course, but:
With digital technology, the maker must think about all possible use, if not, most of unespected cases will do...nothing (no sound) or unintersting things..
With analog, unespected uses are very often interesting. And no risk to freez the module ;)
Once again, there is certainly a lot of counter-examples.
... and feedback is THE best test ! yes !!!
I couldn't have said it better myself :)
What id give to get my mitts on that case
It is not what you have; but what you do with it! Both analog and digital have strengths & weaknesses, it is up to the user to create. If written well, digital can have a secret world as well. I am exploring Plaits into (modal polyphony) Rings, and field recordings into Beads. One doesn't have better secret worlds than the other.
This whole 'magic world' idea was just for fun. In the end it's all voltage math (possibly controlled by code) but that takes the magic out of it. On the other hand, voltage math IS magic.
@@CinematicLaboratory All good. The Magic World I am within today is Hi-Fi field recordings being played with Rample into Beads. Because Rample has a gate & track # CV in; and Beads has a gate in And a gate out it absolutely “can dance”! Space Disco meets Tarzan & Jane!
DAWs are 32 bit float so there’s damn near infinite headroom to work with but yes ya got that 0dBfs to deal with and that will never change lol
Indeed, the problem is in the audio interface which are 24 bit. I have a little Korg DSD converter which supports 32 bit float on 44.1K, and you can just push your source to ear destroying levels without clipping. No more 0 dBfs! I made a video about it in dec 2022.
czcams.com/video/0eOy0PImJd4/video.html
Thank you, .. still trying to get my brain around the origins of good modular sound .. this helps. This must be why MI Blades isn't digital, eh? Which, I very much like.
Blades is definitely a great filter, which can also double as a dual VCO. I think it's a collector's item now. I learned a lot in this video, and I'll probably get more sound out of Blades because of it. Never tried self-patching Blades with a feedback loop. I think I'll give it a try tomorrow. Blades+Beads. It's going to be a vicious necklace :). Cool title...
@@CinematicLaboratory mhmm .. that's a "necklace" I wear a bit, myself. Have to admit, that some of the outer ranges, of Blades .. I can't get to sound in any pleasing way. But, if that never improves, .. so be it. I remember your Blades demonstrations being the inspiration of me getting one. Yes, .. I lucked out, in the buying of it.
@@CinematicLaboratory Oh, & also .. here's an idea, speaking of Blades (or the like) .. Blades trailing after Ohmicide? You'd have this crisp, precise digital product, then pouring into an analog gadget .. a digital/analog, 2 stage composite sound, . Who knows, it might be a thing? I wish I had an Ohmicide .. :)
Thank you, great video
What is you opinion on serge sequencer? Especially compared to 0-ctrl
I think they offer similar basics, but 0-ctrl can do a lot more (extra tempo lane, pressure out, dynamic gates, internal clock). The only thing I miss on the 0-Ctrl is addressable stages, which is super useful. I also think the Serge build quality is of a higher level. Honestly I got the SEQ8XL because I wanted a full Serge case with all 1970's limitations. I also have a Five12 Vector (exactly the same size), but it would take the challenge away.
I have a 6u x 104 hp Serge case, plus new cv res eq (it expensive but highly recommended, it is a magic module of another level), but no dedicated sequencer for it.
Thinking of getting 8xl or 0-ctrl. I like to have a hands on analogue sequencer for serge, but 8xl looks to basic. Wish they made SQP4+ in 3u