tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56201498936909520082024-03-14T13:26:29.921+01:00navs.modular.labeurorack modular resource
demos reviews tests newsNavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-83610211071339723052023-05-09T18:39:00.001+02:002023-05-09T18:39:41.911+02:00Video: Navs at Superbooth '22 <p>Just ahead of this year's <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/">Superbooth</a>, here's my set from SB'22: </p>
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<p>Thanks to Andreas, Evi, Tom, Mareen & Barry!</p>Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-83981351443331039562021-05-18T19:03:00.000+02:002021-05-18T19:03:45.424+02:00Digitale Grütze - Waldorf MicrowaveThe sound of a <a href="https://waldorfmusic.com/en/hardware-archive/microwave">Waldorf</a> Microwave 1 (Rev A) Wavetable synthesizer, highlighting its 1980’s digital charm.<br><br>
<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1050965557&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/navs" title="navs" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">navs</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/navs/roxy" title="Roxy" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Roxy</a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/waldorf-electronics-microwave/285">Microwave 1</a> can sound delicate or brash. In this example I wanted to show the artefacts that are part of its character.<br><br>
Some of them can be coaxed or intentionally set, for example by overloading its digital mixer or using stepped modulation to switch <a href="http://wolfgangpalm.com/story/c7.html">wavetables</a> abruptly. Others are less predictable, like the sound of it breathing. <br><br>
I played parameters in realtime via the <a href="https://12decode.de/MW2E/">MWAV editor</a>. The recording is a single pass, edited in length.<br>
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-23415375201853324052020-03-25T18:11:00.000+01:002020-03-25T18:11:34.616+01:00DIY Trigger to DIN-Sync BoxBuilding a small passive adapter to control DIN Sync devices with triggers from your modular or other voltage sources, like Expert Sleepers’ Silent Way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DxWGP6AJKNkh4324NmyU90Rrd8ILZcrQFN0jCHQ-yCpL7jRJDCbzLHhAD9Z56p4UQJMxHfHlyXD_rvNGlMF3VApuhehpfUfu6DeMdSJhbLLRXkoW9deIDndbZhLIu3_s20w1IT83gUw/s1600/01_dinsync-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DxWGP6AJKNkh4324NmyU90Rrd8ILZcrQFN0jCHQ-yCpL7jRJDCbzLHhAD9Z56p4UQJMxHfHlyXD_rvNGlMF3VApuhehpfUfu6DeMdSJhbLLRXkoW9deIDndbZhLIu3_s20w1IT83gUw/s400/01_dinsync-box.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a><br />
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I’m years late to the game, but in case you haven’t already got something like this, here’s some encouragement to build your own trigger to DIN-Sync adapter. It’s as simple or as fiddly as you want to make it and the results are worth it: using <a href="https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/index_files/silent-way-1-7-0-released.php">Silent Way’s Sync Plugin</a> has allowed me to teach my old Roland dogs a new trick: swing.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/783076861&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgafYxyf5_TDjsMlA6t-sy4JeXvH42_IttxVdZhu-pkB70gXCzP5ik60uxUylW-POnDv0peEYbtXxC8WHIjMltCZb_k45uqJYz2zcBF_iCJ3VSnev9nMEZ9acHClcq4nUh3bLU8ZiCOo/s1600/02_dinsync-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgafYxyf5_TDjsMlA6t-sy4JeXvH42_IttxVdZhu-pkB70gXCzP5ik60uxUylW-POnDv0peEYbtXxC8WHIjMltCZb_k45uqJYz2zcBF_iCJ3VSnev9nMEZ9acHClcq4nUh3bLU8ZiCOo/s400/02_dinsync-box.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a><br />
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DIN-Sync devices need a minimum of two command voltages (+ a ground reference) to work: a clock and a run command. See the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_sync">Wikipedia entry on DIN-Sync</a> for a picture of the relevant pins. How you connect these will depend on what you chose to build. You could use sockets, as I did, or, for example, cut the end off a DIN-Sync cable and solder jacks to the wires in question. Don’t forget to connect the ground between the two. Here are some <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/expertsleepers/6146325291/in/photostream/">close-ups</a> from the adapter os from ES made. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4ZBZRSZbNLrcJacJdYNBQ1IYcmCjGbJxgB5hNaBazGCu847jEsn_IxPTfbWfEfnTRqFYX2eDLqQqMlnnloAkYhRy5K1-mH_GrPfocjlxfihsmYlTU8tse00RYwRysQbe3fPBScIo_D8/s1600/03_dinsync-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4ZBZRSZbNLrcJacJdYNBQ1IYcmCjGbJxgB5hNaBazGCu847jEsn_IxPTfbWfEfnTRqFYX2eDLqQqMlnnloAkYhRy5K1-mH_GrPfocjlxfihsmYlTU8tse00RYwRysQbe3fPBScIo_D8/s400/03_dinsync-box.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a><br />
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The box I built has three outputs. These are just passive multiples. I use an old Expert Sleepers ES-3 which has no problems driving two instruments; I doubt a third will be a problem. As DIN-Sync expects 5V triggers, i.e., the sort of voltages our modulars generate, you could also run your 808 directly from an analogue source. Just bear in mind that your clock needs to be running considerably faster for things to work as expected, e.g., 24 pulses per quarter note.<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-62350675672209266232020-03-20T12:27:00.000+01:002020-03-20T12:27:55.255+01:00Wolfgang Seidel’s Freeartslab<a href="https://www.instagram.com/basic_electricity_berlin/">Basic Electricity</a> stalwart <a href=" https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Seidel_(Musiker)">Wolfgang Seidel</a> sent me these new additions to his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/freeartslab/videos">freeartslab</a> Youtube channel.<br />
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The first two videos feature music from his collaboration with the wonderful duo <a href="https://caothanhlan.com/">Lan Cao</a> and <a href="https://gregorsiedl.com/">Gregor Siedl</a>, aka <a href=" https://siedlcao.com/zicla/">Zicla</a>. The synthheads among us might enjoy the conversation between Wolfgang's Buchla Music Easel and his old friend <a href=" https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Schnitzler">Conrad Schnitzler</a>'s EMS <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=conrad+schnitzler">Synthi</a> A.<br />
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If you like the music, you can get a copy of the trio's CD <a href="http://www.molokoplusrecords.de/finder.php?folder=Label&content=73">'Optimistic Modernism' from Moloko Plus Records</a>.Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-24815616471013912702018-05-20T13:05:00.000+02:002018-05-20T13:05:28.622+02:00Video - Navs live at Powwow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcECo4V7a0HMIuSvbhd7vgSZHgkwNdDzkNV3gpy2mL66QHY_TPcj_tgc67-kYO5jXY2C9j_nyFCTfONAFRMU52YHdj2-lX1qJeJn8VhcYhnzbNEwTIgZXslz6QWElAvhUq5MajwbzKzFc/s1600/powwow-splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcECo4V7a0HMIuSvbhd7vgSZHgkwNdDzkNV3gpy2mL66QHY_TPcj_tgc67-kYO5jXY2C9j_nyFCTfONAFRMU52YHdj2-lX1qJeJn8VhcYhnzbNEwTIgZXslz6QWElAvhUq5MajwbzKzFc/s400/powwow-splash.jpg" width="400" height="281" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="422" /></a><br />
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I had a lovely time playing at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwow.stream/">Powwow</a> last week. If you missed the stream, here is the full <a href="https://youtu.be/GIqjhAUp2z8?t=648">video</a>.<br />
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The line-up was Navs, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/uchpuch">Uchi</a>, <a href="https://ww.virtual-slap.net/">Wilted Woman</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/goldwiener">Goldwiener</a> + Luma/Chroma and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Hainbach101">Hainbach</a>. It was the first Berlin Powwow to be held at <a href="https://www.patch-point.com">Patch Point</a>’s new store in Neukölln and in stereo.<br />
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My 6U case contained the usual suspects - Cwejman, Mungo, Makenoise, Toppobrillo - with the new additon of a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101109000724/http://www.theharvestman.org:80/1991.php">Harvestman Piston Honda MkI</a>. It's a <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=wavetable">wavetable</a> oscillator, packed with timbres and glitchy surprises - an oldie but goldie.<br />
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Thanks to Darrin and Stefan for organising the evening and setting the stage, to Uchi and Wilted Woman for their wonderful sets, Luma/Chroma for her mesmerising visuals, to Paul for his excellent camera work and Wouter for that suit!Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-87628626893561105162018-05-20T12:19:00.001+02:002018-05-20T12:19:48.923+02:00Bleeps & Bloops ReimaginedA fun experiment, applying events that might be clichéd in the modular context to preset sounds. Inspired by the CV to MIDI compositions of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/konstantineffff/">Konstantine</a>, the piano playing of <a href="https://soundcloud.com/quentin-tolimieri/from-a-solo-set-15-april-2016">Quentin Tolimieri</a> and rediscovered due to <a href="https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=199986">this forum thread</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQVuamDG_fVR19WeOdOoShhF57t6LaJ2thQkszFKS3ZgdY_LLwkndHS4SsXJZT4bi-ccdTQT8uYbLvXWvlBBMqLcUAxM0x7UK48zw8iW2zctpZHKAiQyV_B5_ObEpzicNBAbulcmILF8/s1600/qy10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQVuamDG_fVR19WeOdOoShhF57t6LaJ2thQkszFKS3ZgdY_LLwkndHS4SsXJZT4bi-ccdTQT8uYbLvXWvlBBMqLcUAxM0x7UK48zw8iW2zctpZHKAiQyV_B5_ObEpzicNBAbulcmILF8/s400/qy10.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a><br />
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Recent discussion of a piano module reminded me of something I did a few years ago where I used a simple <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search/label/clavia">Clavia G2</a> patch to control a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_QY10">Yamaha QY10</a>. It’s a small MIDI notepad from the 90’s that has a rubberised keyboard, sequencer and PCM sounds … drums, piano, double bass, horns, strings etc. In other words, the antithesis of the timbres we know from the modular synth. Here’s what it sounds like ‘sequenced’ by a stream of random MIDI events:<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/446589993&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><br />
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The Patch uses the G2’s MIDI modules to send both keyboard and random notes to the QY10. Flicking through the MIDI channels on the Yamaha itself causes hanging notes and weird stuff. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyh-a_u3loArIP6kuKI88VAmIkIVydhCWzb8kqDGf0tiULBSKO_7ZTHCQPoePt1h2_3d-qpwAPnDo2SdcnwNoFH3QubXvs8LZkpcwfpdOkDZWr6-rdD8OPNQBlrV6HTJenxJ4m1EZJBQ/s1600/QY10-control.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyh-a_u3loArIP6kuKI88VAmIkIVydhCWzb8kqDGf0tiULBSKO_7ZTHCQPoePt1h2_3d-qpwAPnDo2SdcnwNoFH3QubXvs8LZkpcwfpdOkDZWr6-rdD8OPNQBlrV6HTJenxJ4m1EZJBQ/s400/QY10-control.jpg" width="400" height="260" data-original-width="839" data-original-height="545" /></a><br />
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It’s all quite entertaining - the above recording was played live and edited for brevity. If you want to hear music made by someone who does this properly, check out Konstantine aka Paranormal Patroler. He knocked us out at his <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/2017/10/november-24-sense-of-sound.html">Basic Electricity concert</a> with his CV to MIDI set using Doepfer and ADDAC conversion.<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-70954333095877590192017-11-05T11:31:00.000+01:002017-11-05T11:31:44.271+01:00Thru-Zero FM ExplainerHow to get the best results from your analogue thru-zero linear FM oscillator. An explainer in response to <a href="https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2672071#2672071">questions</a> about the Doepfer A-110-4, but which is also applicable to other <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=thru-zero">TZ-FM</a> VCOs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IycAgbdV_G5Hz6TMgLxj-0Cmk1pgEpKq2v90Y0tIfZkKIsPzhl1x2RxJI4oMnGYFnaCJJA8LnmfL3-DQPKZzSLiFC-YIkXfrjYcf8Li7K1Deh7xkBFwKeF8uCt8raRKOmLTrXw-91gk/s1600/TZ-ZO.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IycAgbdV_G5Hz6TMgLxj-0Cmk1pgEpKq2v90Y0tIfZkKIsPzhl1x2RxJI4oMnGYFnaCJJA8LnmfL3-DQPKZzSLiFC-YIkXfrjYcf8Li7K1Deh7xkBFwKeF8uCt8raRKOmLTrXw-91gk/s400/TZ-ZO.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="450" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://doepfer.de/A1104.htm">A-110-4</a> seems to be more prone to pitching artefacts than other thru-zero (TZ) VCOs. That might partly be due to the specific design, but general considerations like the tolerances and sensitivities of analogue designs also play a role. Another issue might be perception, e.g. when certain modulation depths make it hard to discern the original pitch of the carrier.<br />
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DIGITAL FIRST<br />
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Ignoring the actual implementation (frequency- or phase-modulation), the reason digital FM is easy is because it’s clean. There are no DC offsets or pitch instabilities to ruin the result.<br />
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Here is an example using the <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=clavia">Clavia</a> Nord Modular G2. The carrier is always heard and only the modulator is enveloped. The frequencies of the two oscillators are fixed but the FM amount is manually increased: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/w4jmhf10ofhw863/01-TZ_clavia-digital.mp3?dl=0">01-TZ_clavia-digital</a><br />
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The carrier was tuned to B3 and the modulator D#5. I chose these pitches by ear to show an effect which might be confused for pitching at higher mod depths. When the modulation recedes, we get a sound similar to guitar feedback. This shows that it’s possible to find combinations of frequency relationships and modulation depths that will sound ‘wrong’ even when patched digitally. In an analogue system, frequency drift or tracking inconsistencies can worsen the problem.<br />
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DIRTY SIGNALS<br />
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But weird C:M ratios are not the main problem. The real enemy of dynamic linear FM is asymmetry caused by DC offsets. If the modulating wave is not centred about zero, the sound will churn. Here’s the same G2 patch, this time with some virtual DC offset added: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/frb1osfw9ber9nc/02-TZ_clavia-digital_virtual-dc-offset.mp3?dl=0">02-TZ_clavia-digital_virtual-dc-offset</a><br />
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To avoid this, some FM inputs are AC-coupled - the signal is filtered by a capacitor. But this is not a magic bullet. If the offset is large enough and being swept dynamically, the capacitor will have a hard time eliminating it. The most likely cause for DC offsets are the modulating oscillator itself, or more precisely its wave-shaping circuitry. I have had best results with Doepfer’s <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=A-143-9">A-143-9</a> Quadrature sine-core oscillator. <br />
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SCIENCE, SWITCHES<br />
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Analogue TZ-FM involves switching to generate ‘negative frequencies’. No matter how finely timed, there is a moment of indecision which may be audible as a growl or rumble. DC offset makes this worse as it shifts the switching point. Lower initial frequencies (aka Bias, Symmetry or LFreq) allow more modulation and brighter sounds, but the cost is lower accuracy and more ‘bum notes’.<br />
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THE A-110-4<br />
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The Doepfer TZ-VCO switches between two oscillators. This method has pros and cons. If the two VCOs do not respond equally to modulation, the resulting FM will sound ‘off’, even if the modulator is clean and the switching point is accurate. This cannot be trimmed by the user. To mitigate pitching artefacts at the point of switching, calibrating the TZ transition can help.<br />
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WHAT IS IT?<br />
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As Cynthia Webster says in her humorous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Eo_P6iW-0">video</a> showing the difference between thru-zero and normal linear FM, without TZ “half the modulation is gone”. As you’ll hear, the frequency relationship between carrier and modulator also plays a role. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbt3aYDYhfrntiXjRf515hgpYjU4cYdoY8qgyVtaezCClADGW2ct7kF1nX-ypHqasmL5_mKdOiANej5o-UUWWtrMyaEAQ-tmx_VzAHRBVs-WOQl8onHAAcOwl6YS1aUH5e0rMoRaEGdc/s1600/TZ-ratio3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbt3aYDYhfrntiXjRf515hgpYjU4cYdoY8qgyVtaezCClADGW2ct7kF1nX-ypHqasmL5_mKdOiANej5o-UUWWtrMyaEAQ-tmx_VzAHRBVs-WOQl8onHAAcOwl6YS1aUH5e0rMoRaEGdc/s400/TZ-ratio3.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="450" /></a><br />
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The first VCO you hear in the next two examples is the Zeroscillator, then the A-143-9 which I have <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2014/09/a-143-9-lin-fm-buchla-saw-modification.html">modified</a> for standard linear-FM. <br />
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If the carrier’s initial frequency is high enough and/or the modulator is higher in frequency than the carrier, the tonal result is very similar: <br />
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/2fcxifngytxsosi/03-TZ-high-initial-freq_ZO-A-143-9.mp3?dl=0">03-TZ-high-initial-freq_ZO-A-143-9</a><br />
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The real difference between thru-zero and normal linear FM is apparent when the modulator is slower. As you can see above, instead of adding gentle folds, the modulator pushes and pulls the carrier through zero. TZ allows deep levels of modulation, even when the carrier’s initial frequency is low. When this is the case, there is a big difference between normal and TZ linear FM in the possible tonal result: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/394id5eie4068v9/04-TZ-low-initial-freq_ZO-A-143-9.mp3?dl=0">04-TZ-low-initial-freq_ZO-A-143-9</a><br />
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One last thought on this as the Zeroscillator video is much quoted when the question “what is thru-zero FM?” is raised: toggling the “Through Zero” switch on the ZO does not yield ’typical’ linear FM; normal linear FM does not sound like this: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/kx9olomiiwl7mjv/05-TZ-not-typical.mp3?dl=0">05-TZ-not-typical</a><br />
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PATCH TIPS<br />
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I have concentrated on the audio effects here, but VCOs that can go thru-zero have other uses when they themselves are used as modulators. For an idea, try this patch for a <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2012/04/potd-swings-roundabouts.html">thru-zero frequency shifter</a> and listen to your sounds swap stereo sides.<br />
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I hope this explainer helps you with your TZ-FM experiments. The files folder is <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t0jy7tiizalbz2q/AABcvTiw8cRk6ZYHE3soesSaa?dl=0&lst=">here</a>. If you’re not sure about the analogue results you’re getting and need a digital ’control’, download the Clavia Nord Modular <a href="http://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads/legacy/nord-modular-g2">G2 demo</a>. If you’re on a Mac and 10.7 or higher, you can run the demo under Wine. There is info <a href="http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-62683.html&postorder=asc">here</a> or an installer <a href="https://www.stage-engine.com/micro-modular-1/">here</a>.<br />
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Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-55483660839279073922017-10-28T19:37:00.002+02:002017-10-28T19:37:46.878+02:00Powwow 4 - FeedbackHere’s the recording of my live set at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwow.stream/videos/841491266028137/">fourth Berlin Powwow session</a> which you can buy from <a href="https://navs.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-powwow-berlin-4">my Bandcamp</a>.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1281547181/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://navs.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-powwow-berlin-4">Live at Powwow Berlin 4 by Navs</a></iframe><br />
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For this performance I wanted to explore feedback and the obstacles and modifiers one can place in the loop. The key players in this were delays, filters, non-linear functions and malfunctioning components. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYZheXRDbx_RJD52JaP9wuTtmSXTTnvpMUHVuBzJ81EuSXW0u5YjUN2lbMIYGpj8C3KYaxMM7VP8FDJbZVtzRblr2_uw95jHwsqGJ2c5GvA07FaOlcLj6ceyQn3shFumLHEMKHu63YdM/s1600/navs-powwow4-rig.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYZheXRDbx_RJD52JaP9wuTtmSXTTnvpMUHVuBzJ81EuSXW0u5YjUN2lbMIYGpj8C3KYaxMM7VP8FDJbZVtzRblr2_uw95jHwsqGJ2c5GvA07FaOlcLj6ceyQn3shFumLHEMKHu63YdM/s400/navs-powwow4-rig.jpg" width="400" height="192" data-original-width="934" data-original-height="449" /></a><br />
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My main analogue patch featured a <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=res-4">Cwejman RES-4</a> in a loop with a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060615060116/http://www.bananalogue.com/wvx.html">Bananalogue Serge WVX</a>. The combination of four frequency bands of oscillation might have been enough, but placing a <a href="https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/cwejman-synthesis-modules-part-3">Cwejman VCEQ-3</a> in the chain to dampen or boost the feedback added another level of complexity. A stressed coupling capacitor and scratchy Folds pot on the WVX added to the unpredictability and fun.<br />
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Live, I love my <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2013/11/nord-coast-micro-modular-patches.html">Clavia Micro Modular</a> for two main reasons: patch recall, which allows me to set a scene or chop between moods, and polyphony. The virtual <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=feedback">feedback patches</a> in this set were simple, but switching them to two or three voices added complexity and interest, for example asynchronous panning or the beating of multiple sine-wave oscillators. You can do it with a ’real’ modular, but at a cost!<br />
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This set up is flexible and just about portable. It’s still completely live in that each patch either has to be built or played by hand. But the addition and convenience of the Micro Modular does cause me to question how we approach <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de">playing live with a modular</a>. With many musicians turning up to gigs with their rigs pre-patched, is there a difference or even a need for the real deal?<br />
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Thanks again to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goldwiener">Goldwiener</a>, <a href="https://www.hainbachmusik.com">Hainbach</a>, Paul da Fonk and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mrkbrmn/">Mark Berman</a> of Powwow for the opportunity to make some noise.<br />
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Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-42470161897556330212017-10-19T12:51:00.000+02:002017-10-19T13:11:21.936+02:00Basic Electricity Concert Tonight - Rastko, Plastiq Phantom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXcEgT8jT2HVZsd8WwTs_qRd3HVFD89ll1sf7LAkA2-haoYH3ay-v1kYaTixyaVrd4exNEMZV1vJv5zTj61CnapU_axzsiEgVLLO7SbRIYVW7wOSctPGFfxKQjW9ytpoxHoAEf8KVnD8/s1600/basic-electricity_michael-vorfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXcEgT8jT2HVZsd8WwTs_qRd3HVFD89ll1sf7LAkA2-haoYH3ay-v1kYaTixyaVrd4exNEMZV1vJv5zTj61CnapU_axzsiEgVLLO7SbRIYVW7wOSctPGFfxKQjW9ytpoxHoAEf8KVnD8/s400/basic-electricity_michael-vorfeld.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a><br />
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If you’re in Berlin tonight, come along to <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de">Basic Electricity</a>, a concert with the Serge Animal tamer, <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=rastko">Rastko</a> and Patch Point proprietor, <a href="https://de-de.facebook.com/patchpoint/">Plastiq Phantom</a>, aka Dr. Wiener.<br />
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Doors open at 19:30 for music at 20:30 at the <a href="https://de-de.facebook.com/koenigottoneukoelln/">König Otto</a> in Neukölln. As you can see, it’s an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/basic_electricity_berlin/">amazing venue</a> housed in the old Kindl brewery.<br />
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There’s more info <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/2017/10/october-19-in-jungle.html">here</a> and a Facebook event <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/951295548342482/">here</a>. <br />
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See you later!<br />
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BE#23, Thursday, 19.10.17 @ König Otto<br />
Tickets 10€. Doors at 19:30, music at 20:30<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/2ETz2eqTs922">Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin Neukölln</a><br />
U7 Rathaus Neukölln or U8 Boddinstr.Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-16181070714145003612017-09-27T10:24:00.001+02:002017-09-27T10:24:52.867+02:00Basic Electricity - concert, tomorrow night in Berlin<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8tLamaFud1HW-e5k4v22z_JisCLk4uj-oc7hr4bum35X1nfdSCdfZkIcwEmuh0C0hyphenhyphenVbSkH0CrtdQeGot8ZLf2ggAliZdwXdtJPPnju83c-_cAs97jFZJN7Qw2IgP58P4pWaloK-1xs/s1600/BE22-Michael-Vorfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8tLamaFud1HW-e5k4v22z_JisCLk4uj-oc7hr4bum35X1nfdSCdfZkIcwEmuh0C0hyphenhyphenVbSkH0CrtdQeGot8ZLf2ggAliZdwXdtJPPnju83c-_cAs97jFZJN7Qw2IgP58P4pWaloK-1xs/s400/BE22-Michael-Vorfeld.jpg" width="400" height="277" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="415" /></a><br />
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Basic Electricity returns tomorrow night with a special concert featuring <a href="https://vimeo.com/32291937">Michael Vorfeld’s Glühlampenmusik</a> and Wouter Jaspers’ Field Trip at the König Otto in Berlin, Neukölln - come along at at 20:00 for what promises to be an audio-visual treat!<br />
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There’s more info at the <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/2017/09/september-28-switched-on.html">Basic Electricity Blog</a> and here is the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/172303216666390/">Facebook Event</a>.<br />
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Here is Wouter performing with some of his <a href="https://koma-elektronik.com">Koma</a> gear at Powwow last week:<br />
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<iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FGJzfK8Hcss" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Basic Electricity!<br />
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BE#22, Thursday, 28.9.17 @ König Otto<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/2ETz2eqTs922">Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin Neukölln</a><br />
U7 Rathaus Neukölln or U8 Boddinstr. <br />
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Tickets 10€. Doors at 20:00, music starts 21:00<br />
Seating is limited to 50, so please come on time.<br />
The bar will be open for drinks and sandwiches.<br />
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Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-61298446999682591932017-06-29T13:54:00.000+02:002017-06-29T13:54:57.121+02:00Take Seven - modular jazz revisitedA longer improv and edit inspired by this <a href="https://soundcloud.com/navs/take-six">modular bebop</a> sketch.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/330701760&color=ff00c5&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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This track started out as a test for my old Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor - the kitchen sink FX box from the 90’s, <a href="http://theprodigy.info/equipment/Boss-SE-70.shtml">loved by The Prodigy</a> - which I had dusted off to check out the pitch shifters. <br />
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A medium-paced <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=wogglebug">Wogglebug</a> conducted two <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101022232357/http://www.ear-group.net:80/model_15.html">Plan B Model 15</a>s and <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=maths">Maths</a>. There was a bit of FM and wave-folding involved. I’ve always felt that the Wogglebug had the jazz so it was a short jump of the imagination to add some Rhodes/ Cwejman <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=res-4">RES-4</a>-ish tones from a <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search/label/clavia">Clavia G2</a> Voice Filter patch and some brushed beats. <br />
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I guess this was an exercise in re-contextualisation - hope you enjoy it!<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-84614968079738693942017-06-28T19:01:00.001+02:002017-06-28T19:01:59.135+02:00Powwow - Thanks 2A second round of applause for hosts <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hainbach101/">Hainbach</a> & <a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldgang/">Goldwiener</a> and their lovely assistant Paul Da Fonk for a fab time at Berlin’s 2nd <a href="https://www.instagram.com/powwow.audio/">Powwow stream</a> at <a href="http://www.patch-point.com">Patch Point</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PrKC0F-qKyIX5iYKo6lRXTboEb2wYIsCebfa2AknmeCTBYhPlRqUNsJ8mQri1OzjTkAdyawzUJx2cFEvBS5ZQI9HDl22mguBWwMbH5j-ZBohSl7hPjCONAJqj0L2LTrT4HG2kgsXdx8/s1600/navs-powwow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PrKC0F-qKyIX5iYKo6lRXTboEb2wYIsCebfa2AknmeCTBYhPlRqUNsJ8mQri1OzjTkAdyawzUJx2cFEvBS5ZQI9HDl22mguBWwMbH5j-ZBohSl7hPjCONAJqj0L2LTrT4HG2kgsXdx8/s400/navs-powwow2.jpg" width="400" height="284" data-original-width="935" data-original-height="665" /></a><br />
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Here’s the recording of my set which you can also buy from <a href="https://navs.bandcamp.com">my Bandcamp</a>:<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1097696152/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://navs.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-powwow-berlin-2">Live at Powwow Berlin 2 by Navs</a></iframe><br />
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Get ready for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTyoz5O2R_w">3rd Berlin Powwow event, also on Youtube, on Friday, July 21st</a> with music from <a href="http://cargocollective.com/AshleyMPuente">Ashley M Puente</a>, Hainbach, Goldwiener, <a href="http://lindreddigital.com/">Lindred</a> and Navs and featuring the knock-out visuals of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Luma-Chroma-1626417147399034/?hc_location=ufi">Luma //Chroma</a>!<br />
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Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-52715181178513320802017-06-08T08:18:00.002+02:002017-06-08T08:18:52.868+02:00Navs Live on Berlin Powwow Stream Tonight!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BLPr7_zpyw3SLeZICTJMhyphenhyphenTXpeaAXQZWwEre-KhyphenhyphenDz8gdp1Uve3zJXxkVmL8h6OqCHVgShZqGL8aqglChM5VPBuHGgF3jT3Q1YFjSSFgEKTW2UhIacQk41ikwb9_-meeBKvI7Ca5GTs/s1600/powwow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BLPr7_zpyw3SLeZICTJMhyphenhyphenTXpeaAXQZWwEre-KhyphenhyphenDz8gdp1Uve3zJXxkVmL8h6OqCHVgShZqGL8aqglChM5VPBuHGgF3jT3Q1YFjSSFgEKTW2UhIacQk41ikwb9_-meeBKvI7Ca5GTs/s400/powwow2.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="450" /></a><br />
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I’m taking part in the second <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwow.stream/">Berlin POWWOW live video stream</a> this evening, Thursday, 8th June. It’s a live modular improvisation over the internet also featuring <a href="https://soundcloud.com/aa-ll">Andrea Lange</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Hainbach101">Hainbach</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/goldwiener">Goldwiener</a>, a special surprise act and visuals by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Luma-Chroma-1626417147399034/?fref=mentions">Luma //Chroma</a>.<br />
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The <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2017/05/powwow-thanks.html">first Berlin session</a> was loads of fun - join us for part two tonight!<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-19675307833010182592017-05-12T14:51:00.001+02:002017-05-12T14:51:43.127+02:00A-147 LFO Wave Skew ModA simple modification to gain voltage controllable wave shapes from <a href="http://doepfer.de/a147">Doepfer’s A-147 VCLFO</a>. Learn how to turn this old stalwart into a morphing modulator with just a couple of resistors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEycEeSl80eYIPjLHb86n0-ADNLM5VEH2qfn7eKo-WTqxW1sNJua1egccWocHi2ckhsQQ5erWgzgKhmYZ48j3_j-ZOBUE91OMNUXrHvQnPJNTdX343aX8LzpH1SunTtaLtHWOyIAwmO_c/s1600/a-147_skew-mod1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEycEeSl80eYIPjLHb86n0-ADNLM5VEH2qfn7eKo-WTqxW1sNJua1egccWocHi2ckhsQQ5erWgzgKhmYZ48j3_j-ZOBUE91OMNUXrHvQnPJNTdX343aX8LzpH1SunTtaLtHWOyIAwmO_c/s400/a-147_skew-mod1.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br />
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The A-147 is a triangle/square-wave oscillator built around the pairing of an integrator and comparator. They work in a loop with the one feeding the other, back and forth. You can see them in action <a href="http://www.falstad.com/circuit/e-triangle.html">here</a>.<br />
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The result of integrating a square wave is a triangle. But if we independently change the rate at which the integrator charges and discharges, we can skew the waveform from a rising to falling sawtooth via a triangle. Because the integrator and comparator are related, the square wave becomes a variable width pulse.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9wIK6tfVyvZPptfSWCQsmGgGaX71Fcgky5nkyhjHBPneaRKyI5PWqtwj-70WOSbAEqrywziJ2wCYUlUB1iprp59O850DfdLjSuHJ50HM4mjnDU75phXlY8xz61TOCClLRS0FsL93my8/s1600/a-147_skew-mod2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9wIK6tfVyvZPptfSWCQsmGgGaX71Fcgky5nkyhjHBPneaRKyI5PWqtwj-70WOSbAEqrywziJ2wCYUlUB1iprp59O850DfdLjSuHJ50HM4mjnDU75phXlY8xz61TOCClLRS0FsL93my8/s400/a-147_skew-mod2.jpg" width="400" height="119" /></a><br />
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The easiest way to achieve this is to hijack the square-wave on its way to the integrator, split its path with two diodes and then set the balance with a potentiometer. You can see this manual arrangement in <a href="http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/OLDIESBUTGOODIES/LFO/lfo-1.html">Ray Wilson’s Variable Skew LFO</a> or <a href="http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs58_lfo.html">Ken Stone’s Utility LFO</a>.<br />
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To get proper voltage control over this ‘re-balancing’ might take a considerable amount of extra active circuitry, more than I felt the effect is worth, especially given the digital options available today. Here’s my simple kludge:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic87NwIw4Dpn4X5U9VvBrq26YMk1SqRz3kM6iCFCUVHkbDE2CSvqv8XftLpZFh3xs9cKQWM8wFyU1TdRBNrx8ievA3msJicvTgzdwewUNuGb8oAiOBHKEWlaFMvlwXQ3qiqQNHdR5aDY/s1600/a-147_skew-mod3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic87NwIw4Dpn4X5U9VvBrq26YMk1SqRz3kM6iCFCUVHkbDE2CSvqv8XftLpZFh3xs9cKQWM8wFyU1TdRBNrx8ievA3msJicvTgzdwewUNuGb8oAiOBHKEWlaFMvlwXQ3qiqQNHdR5aDY/s400/a-147_skew-mod3.jpg" width="400" height="283" /></a><br />
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The idea is to massively reduce the size of the square wave going into the integrator so that the injection of an external voltage is enough to shift the bias of the square and hence alter the shape coming out of the integrator. <br />
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Resistor R14 (15k), which is to the left of the quad opamp (TL084) forms a voltage divider with the 1k resistor which also marked in yellow in the picture above. The output of this divider goes to the CA3080 OTA for integration. I found that swapping the 15k for a 1M resistor was enough to allow the bias to be shifted with a +/-5V CV. For the CV input I ended up using two resistors in series to give me 670k rather than the 1M in the picture.<br />
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Reducing the amplitude of the square wave to the integrator also reduces the overall frequency of the LFO, so I also swapped the 0.1uF capacitor C2 for a smaller 15nF to bump up the speed. <br />
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Below is how it looks and here are some <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fkayrg10xd368u1/a-147%20build.pdf?dl=0">construction pictures</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA6gcQtTvtFY2Kr3acKmyhSy56LTPnkYC8FWDBZbH_mrYF0COou2L4Devjspa0pEMXkE98ThSL2Job6NNzXdEXMbVNw8ip2IwaiQViEKC4f5O2-2jb4KygDrqwRBhpost0RZ4NeTQx0w/s1600/a-147_skew-mod4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA6gcQtTvtFY2Kr3acKmyhSy56LTPnkYC8FWDBZbH_mrYF0COou2L4Devjspa0pEMXkE98ThSL2Job6NNzXdEXMbVNw8ip2IwaiQViEKC4f5O2-2jb4KygDrqwRBhpost0RZ4NeTQx0w/s400/a-147_skew-mod4.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br />
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I like simple mods - minimum change for maximum effect. Skewing the wave shape with this method also changes the frequency of the LFO, which you might not want. There is a way to compensate for this, but again, I decided it wasn’t worth the extra circuitry as I like the effect of the LFO slowing down as it changes direction, almost like a thru-zero oscillator. But you could try the following schemes. One is relatively simple, the other might need an expander module to provide space for the extra PCB. Neither is perfect.<br />
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The idea here is to inject a fraction of the skew CV to the A-147’s FCV input. For example, given a skew CV of 5V I found I needed about 5-600mV FCV to correct the frequency. You can use the attenuator on the module for this or send your skew CV via a ca. 560k resistor to the output pin of the 50k FCV potentiometer (ahead of the FCV buffer). The ‘gotcha’ with this method is that it only works for positive offsets as we always need to speed up the LFO when skewing. <br />
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What is needed is an active full-wave rectifier to ensure that the compensation voltage is always positive. This is a simple enough circuit to add but for the lack of space behind the panel. If you want to try this, have a look at <a href="http://schmitzbits.de/diode_tutorial/index.html">Jim Patchell’s Ideal Diode Tutorial</a> hosted at <a href="http://schmitzbits.de/index.html">René Schmitz’ Schmitzbits</a> site. <br />
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The usual DIY disclaimers apply - you do this at your own risk. Have fun but take care of your module and yourself!<br />
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Thank you <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TimStinchcombeSynthStuff/">Tim Stinchcombe</a> for identifying the relevant parts and for your thoughts and suggestions.Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-31848025914644146652017-05-11T11:56:00.000+02:002017-05-11T11:57:13.374+02:00Patch Tips #28 - Wavetable Clock MultiplierDriving a wavetable oscillator to get reliable clock multiplication, regardless of changes in tempo. A follow-up to these posts (<a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2010/04/patch-tips-9-119-as-frequency-doubler.html">1</a>, <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2010/03/potd-toppo-banjo-wonky-beat.html">2</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMycKjv3jTqkV3jBG9DY8duT5lZeol7AEAXjFH-P9nLi9geh2z8DvCQHGRslfWimB0z795D8LX46ea3dMQJpyWjlUa2SYO8MNxk6Q3dS27A0M0woaKLCjl21Uu4nGZ0rKbpnol_B5i9Ik/s1600/megawave-waveforms.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMycKjv3jTqkV3jBG9DY8duT5lZeol7AEAXjFH-P9nLi9geh2z8DvCQHGRslfWimB0z795D8LX46ea3dMQJpyWjlUa2SYO8MNxk6Q3dS27A0M0woaKLCjl21Uu4nGZ0rKbpnol_B5i9Ik/s400/megawave-waveforms.jpg" width="400" height="270" /></a><br />
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Clock division is easy and instantaneous. Getting <i>faster</i> pulse streams from a master clock is an imperfect science, even with <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=scm">dedicated solutions</a>. Here is a multiplier patch that tracks changes in tempo and avoids the lags and glitches that can affect modules which try to average or predict incoming clocks.<br />
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In a sense, it’s an analogue rather than digital approach: instead of counting pulses or square waves from a master clock (tap tempo etc.), we use a sawtooth wave to voltage address a suitable waveform in a wavetable module. <br />
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If we scan a wave that contains four equally placed pulses (see image above) we can quadruple our ‘clock’. If the amplitude of our sawtooth remains constant - i.e., we read out the entire contents of the page - we will always get four pulses for each single sweep of the saw, regardless of how fast or slow that saw moves.<br />
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Here’s how it sounds: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4k3myy381ebh3ky/wavetable-clock-multiplier.mp3?dl=0">wavetable-clock-multiplier.mp3</a><br />
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For this patch, I used a sawtooth LFO to drive a <a href="https://malekkoheavyindustry.com/product/richter-mega-wave-voltage-controlled-wavetable-device/">Richter Megawave</a>. I multed this saw and used one copy to trigger one envelope (master clock, left channel voice) and patched the other to the input of the Megawave. I patched its output to a second envelope and voice (multiplied clock, right channel). I used the sine waves in ’Miniwave’ (Bank 14, Wave 3) as they are more regular than the pulses in Bank 7. Fortunately, these sines were enough to trigger my envelopes. I kept the multiplication at x4 but modulated the frequency of the LFO (and the pitch of the audio VCOs) with a voltage offset and a clocked random voltage. <br />
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To get voltage control over the multiplier e.g., jump from quarter notes to 16-ths, we can do two things: either select a new wave via CV or manually select the wave with the most pulses and control the amplitude of the sawtooth with a VCA, as you would with a wave-folder. Much like the old <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/0jesecydn4umx9b/PotD_BeatFolder.mp3?dl=0">Beat Folder</a> patch, we are re-assigning voltages. But instead of using an analogue transfer function, the wavetable module allows us to look up a series of digitally stored arbitrary values.<br />
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If you want to read some more about the Megawave and its many uses, head <a href="https://www.infinitesimal.eu/modules/index.php?title=Malekko_Megawave">here</a>. The Megawave is full of maths, a ‘best-of’ transfer functions (see the <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/2xxfrcojca8si03/Socrock_manual.pdf?dl=0">Socket Rocket manual</a> for ideas). This is my sort of module. It’s multifunctional - not because it has many modes but because its principle function can be re-imagined according to the desired use.<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-20481210188453407982017-05-10T15:18:00.000+02:002017-05-10T15:18:29.606+02:00Powwow - thanks …… to our hosts, Hainbach & Goldwiener and to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Luma-Chroma-1626417147399034/?hc_location=ufi">Luma //Chroma</a> for the mesmerising visuals! The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/721892447988020/posts/766189820224949/">launch of Powwow Berlin</a> was loads of fun and I’m looking forward to doing it again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlYB1GWzEh6vZPms_UiHVWMiMSNQ98EBmQd1_IabnN3cVGkIFCNW4swJGYrPf7cK4yGsKIrNFaz5HP_yLiGN73TrVWZvdt-tCNwEjjc0uYy-UFbwPtmEk3THDPVOw8BgS6jrpZXN1hek/s1600/navs-powwow-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlYB1GWzEh6vZPms_UiHVWMiMSNQ98EBmQd1_IabnN3cVGkIFCNW4swJGYrPf7cK4yGsKIrNFaz5HP_yLiGN73TrVWZvdt-tCNwEjjc0uYy-UFbwPtmEk3THDPVOw8BgS6jrpZXN1hek/s400/navs-powwow-pic.jpg" width="400" height="225" /></a><br />
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Here is a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwow.stream/videos/765603726950225/">video teaser of my set</a>:<br />
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<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpowwow.stream%2Fvideos%2F765603726950225%2F&width=400&show_text=false&height=224&appId" width="400" height="224" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe><br />
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And here is a proper recording which you can also buy from <a href="https://navs.bandcamp.com/">my Bandcamp</a>:<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=573804663/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://navs.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-powwow-berlin">Live at Powwow Berlin by Navs</a></iframe><br />
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I patched a 6U case live, with back-up provided by a <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search/label/clavia">Clavia</a> Micromodular and <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search/label/Electro%20Harmonix">EHX SMMH</a> as delay and looper. Given the short set-up and play time, this was a good selection which provided enough options. It was nice to get back to basics after a couple of virtual modular gigs and I think there’s enough play in this caseful of modules for another outing.<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-32201689783668275772017-05-02T08:51:00.000+02:002017-05-02T08:51:23.222+02:00Navs on Powwow Live Stream ThursdayI’m taking part in the first <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwow.stream/">POWWOW</a> Berlin Live Stream this Thursday, 4th May from 19:00. It’s a live modular improvisation over the internet featuring Hainbach, Lindred, Navs, zv_k and Goldwiener.<br />
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<a href="https://de-de.facebook.com/events/227402494401696/">Details are here.</a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD9nkmxk85_14kzLkbYuD9ajRDo3KbGYCh7WTLKV27V6x3d5v5rIGRbc8bBmk11OAmN4MGzr3wo66S6fKyWMclYllWuQ_ygkXAlj8Lb5zPPzrVfIofw3IeeBSgcU3SAJyucadFIpMZg8/s1600/powwow-berlin-navs.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD9nkmxk85_14kzLkbYuD9ajRDo3KbGYCh7WTLKV27V6x3d5v5rIGRbc8bBmk11OAmN4MGzr3wo66S6fKyWMclYllWuQ_ygkXAlj8Lb5zPPzrVfIofw3IeeBSgcU3SAJyucadFIpMZg8/s400/powwow-berlin-navs.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br />
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I’ve never knowingly played to a virtual audience before and I’m looking forward to making music with these lovely people, so tune in on Thursday night!<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-46632802788152626812017-04-19T09:34:00.001+02:002017-04-19T09:34:11.887+02:00Basic Electricity on Friday - Joker Nies, Gino Robair, Richard ScottJoin us on Friday, April 21st for an evening of hands-on live electronics with Joker Nies, Gino Robair and Richard Scott. It’s the second Basic Electricity concert in our new, super venue, the König Otto in Berlin, Neukölln.<br />
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There’s more info, pics + video <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/2017/03/april-21-touch-me.html">here</a> and the Facebook event is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/389375801446591/">here</a>.<br />
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Here is a video of the re-opening concert with Wolfgang Seidel, Hilary Jeffery and me:<br />
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<iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4yGadK72FzE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/4yGadK72FzE">direct link</a><br />
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We're looking forward to seeing you on Friday!<br />
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BE#20, Friday, 21.04.17 @ König Otto<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/2ETz2eqTs922">Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin Neukölln</a><br />
U7 Rathaus Neukölln or U8 Boddinstr.<br />
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Tickets 8€. Doors open 20:00, music starts at 21:00. <br />
Seating is limited to 50, so please come on time.<br />
The bar will be open for drinks and sandwiches.<br />
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Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-19347930597053953542017-03-20T13:56:00.000+01:002017-03-20T13:56:04.162+01:00March 24 - Navs Live @ Basic Electricity BerlinI’ll be playing live with Wolfgang Seidel, Hilary Jeffery & Hainbach this Friday, March 24th, at Berlin's best live electronic night, <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de">Basic Electricity</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqpq3m_0xTBwERG4hWXhyphenhyphenjVo3pdod-ovaGUFVvvXtATAEgZCeMkEgjQ3GbunQortnza9SJqmV0B-tk7AKiTCcA5Yt1gg7JwGlVtbcsn4yMcEvFnUN-HftQ6hAclMmXeoiB7nJ6pvPICg/s1600/BE19-postcard-400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqpq3m_0xTBwERG4hWXhyphenhyphenjVo3pdod-ovaGUFVvvXtATAEgZCeMkEgjQ3GbunQortnza9SJqmV0B-tk7AKiTCcA5Yt1gg7JwGlVtbcsn4yMcEvFnUN-HftQ6hAclMmXeoiB7nJ6pvPICg/s400/BE19-postcard-400.jpeg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br />
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We’re very happy to have a new venue, the wonderful König Otto in the old Kindl brewery in Neukölln. <br />
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There’s more info, pics and video <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/2017/03/march-24-otto-totto.html">here</a>; the Facebook event is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/177428482758792/">here</a>.<br />
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Doors open at 20:00, music kicks off at 21:00. The address is <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/2ETz2eqTs922">Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin Neukölln</a>.<br />
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Look forward to seeing you on Friday - until then, here are some ideas I have been working on for the show: <br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/313388011&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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Cheers, Navs.Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-60400788598135498662016-09-07T12:20:00.000+02:002016-09-07T12:20:47.932+02:00Sept 14 - Navs Live @ Modulation ICMC UtrechtI’ll be holding a workshop and playing live at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/194235577658932/">Sonar Traffic’s Modulation</a> in Utrecht next week, Wednesday September 14th.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WZffg_a9gEEfEhYd3noD3mVafhH7A_vrpi1chqO8hNvqSiCb6IQtGja9GQ9s6UubTN_HBX9I7qi3KvpJruW3XQTTnrh0kECCyp-YBx7vvqb9PW_etta9BXfc485VukIpV64DS0Xhm4o/s1600/modulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WZffg_a9gEEfEhYd3noD3mVafhH7A_vrpi1chqO8hNvqSiCb6IQtGja9GQ9s6UubTN_HBX9I7qi3KvpJruW3XQTTnrh0kECCyp-YBx7vvqb9PW_etta9BXfc485VukIpV64DS0Xhm4o/s400/modulation.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br />
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It’s an off-event for the International Computer Music Conference, <a href="http://www.icmc2016.com/">ICMC</a>. The builder of marvellous mechanical modules, <a href="http://gieskes.nl/">Gijs Gieskes</a> and the prolific performer and composer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichardScottSoundsfromtheether/">Richard Scott</a> will also play.<br />
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My workshop starts at 19:30 and the concerts begin an hour later.<br />
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The address is <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/xce38VtFWeo">Kytopia, Oude Gracht 245</a> and tickets cost 7,50€<br />
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The Facebook Event and ticket information is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/194235577658932/">here</a>.<br />
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METHODS OF PATCH<br />
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For my workshop I want to look into what makes music modular. Is it the sound, the organisation of sound or is it just about the gear? We’ll look at function blocks, feedback and performance patches.<br />
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I’ll then attempt to put some of those ideas into practice in my live performance! Here is a taste of what I’ve been working on for Modulation:<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/281779544&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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Look forward to seeing you in Utrecht next Wednesday!Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-5411945318907680872016-05-21T10:53:00.000+02:002016-05-21T10:53:21.936+02:00Superbooth Gig Video<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lcFZ9IzQfgc?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2016/05/08/electroacoustic-trio-improvisation-at-superbooth-16/">Synthtopia</a> for taking the time to document our <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/de/eventdetails/wolfgang-seidel.html?day=20160401&times=1459533600,1459535400">trio's</a> concert at <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=superbooth">Superbooth</a>!<br />
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Hilary Jeffery has dates in France this weekend. <a href="http://www.hiljef.com/news/">Check his site</a> for more live engagements.<br />
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Wolfgang Seidel has just published a <a href="https://www.ventil-verlag.de/titel/1735/wir-muessen-hier-raus">book about Krautrock</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb6VUXu1C9UoFJOTjGAvUsAnFoJp73JGx1KsmLgCRNln9RbN1C9lg7KvOVJ1gqVVX7Ja9ssNhFz0dFJ0HqEb94vYCrlv09K4QYsHr2lJoaW1TOL-82jhvV9vvHPqNz6tpTXluB7dbjvI/s1600/krautrock-wolfgang-seidel.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb6VUXu1C9UoFJOTjGAvUsAnFoJp73JGx1KsmLgCRNln9RbN1C9lg7KvOVJ1gqVVX7Ja9ssNhFz0dFJ0HqEb94vYCrlv09K4QYsHr2lJoaW1TOL-82jhvV9vvHPqNz6tpTXluB7dbjvI/s400/krautrock-wolfgang-seidel.jpg" /></a><br />
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Everything you ever wanted to know about this strange German music but were afraid to ask, written by a man who was there.Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-61127270316480344172016-05-01T11:12:00.000+02:002016-05-01T11:12:04.508+02:00May 7: Wolfgang Seidel + Navs Live, G2 Patch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_Nr5vlotKVAtRKDFJL369GFiZ5JSAUxrV3hwIQ0rqUKN20J4-2w4JkzPPKCxpKYEC5HSA2uczX_EQ4WdEY-o4pY7GFjsCBV2xx1_PKWCN3cpXm3tu_9KeridBuhHCj1mRhZbwRAvTI/s1600/navs-sound-anatomy.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_Nr5vlotKVAtRKDFJL369GFiZ5JSAUxrV3hwIQ0rqUKN20J4-2w4JkzPPKCxpKYEC5HSA2uczX_EQ4WdEY-o4pY7GFjsCBV2xx1_PKWCN3cpXm3tu_9KeridBuhHCj1mRhZbwRAvTI/s400/navs-sound-anatomy.jpg" /></a><br />
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Fresh from our <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=superbooth">Superbooth</a> set, I’m looking forward to another chance to improvise with <a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/search?q=seidel">Wolfgang Seidel</a>. We are <a href="http://spektrumberlin.de/events/detail/sound-anatomy-iii-axel-doerner-richard-scott-navs-wolfgang-seidel-146.html">playing at Spektrum</a> in Berlin, Neukölln next Saturday, May 7. Doors open at 19:00 and we must start by 20:00 so don’t be late!<br />
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Also on the bill at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichardScottSoundsfromtheether/">Richard Scott’s</a> Sound Anatomy night will be the pipe-smoking professor himself in duet with trumpet-player extraordinaire <a href="http://soundanatomy.com/axel-dorner/">Axel Dörner</a>. They will launch their new release on the <a href="http://soundanatomy.bandcamp.com/">Sound Anatomy</a> label. <br />
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Spektrum is at Bürknerstr. 12 in 12047 Berlin Neukölln. The Facebook Event is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/224155744622569/">here</a>.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261772037&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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Playing live electronics can be a lot of fun, especially given a nice sound system and large room. The one bane for the performer can be the amount of equipment he or she needs and, conversely, the amount of space offered by the venue. A case or two of modules, a small mixer and a couple of effects often have to be unpacked, set-up and dismantled on a small table in a short amount of time.<br />
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<a href=" http://www.frankbretschneider.de/crbst_53.html">Frank Bretschneider’s</a> minimal kit list for his Superbooth performance was inspiring: just an Elektron Octatrack and an external delay. Frank told me the effects box was wired as an auxiliary loop within the Octatrack. I’m not familiar with the architecture of the Elektron but saw a possible parallel with the <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=clavia">Clavia</a> Nord Modular G2 system. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVALfdVz5HXTuvwGETZdyTEt98LyJmbtNCbxb-LxNkjfESBi5dhfFH3sCwFKec7FYnBp43RNeumihg_J7bfvrk6tgN993hhOTB0nJD7APot8CNDPFTPZN84j_e9Q6TZMhFUMG5yHcQ0s/s1600/navs-clavia-g2-fx-send.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVALfdVz5HXTuvwGETZdyTEt98LyJmbtNCbxb-LxNkjfESBi5dhfFH3sCwFKec7FYnBp43RNeumihg_J7bfvrk6tgN993hhOTB0nJD7APot8CNDPFTPZN84j_e9Q6TZMhFUMG5yHcQ0s/s400/navs-clavia-g2-fx-send.jpg" /></a><br />
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Above is the FX framework that I’ll be using at the Spektrum gig. It means I don’t have to bring an external mixer and can control levels directly from the G2. A multiple of outputs 1+2 is sent to an external effects unit via physical outputs 3+4 and returned via Ins 3+4. I’ve set the modulation wheel to act as the FX send pot and dedicated one knob page to the virtual mixer. With a few tweaks it could easily be modified for ‘voltage controlled’ automation. <br />
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It’s not perfect as there is a momentary muting of the output when switching between patches. But I felt it was more important to have control over the main as well as dry/wet levels and ratios. This is especially important when, for example, using my gigging delay, the <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search/label/Electro%20Harmonix">EHX SMMH</a>, as a looper. Patching the delay physically between the synth and the venue’s PA/ mixer would not be as flexible.<br />
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There seems to be a drop in levels between the VA + FX sections on the G2, irrespective of any padding. To avoid overdriving the delay pedal I have additionally padded the input to the FX section by -6dB. You can switch in a 6dB boost or add some overdrive to make up the gain should you need it. Be careful of avalanches if you use the FX-FB feedback loop.<br />
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You can download the G2 patch <a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21140631/nml/navs_fx-aux-send.pch2.zip">here</a>. Let me know how you get on. Hope to see you at the gig!<br />
Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-79830465749636184882016-04-28T17:10:00.000+02:002016-04-28T17:10:23.636+02:00Funkhaus Fun + Ribbon Tales<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9z9w2gGrllkYSllCNVi7_U0JUXqDwPFr6n7RetxSz6Cuwp9gvWfYOf8epvzypGtQfVYpWMI2rW6P_ubT__6g8wqwPjp-fxDh38LFyKkbSRH-dqILOwPhS04MLHi225t0r_S6whZaoksk/s1600/seidel-jeffery-navs_funkhaus-berlin_superbooth2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9z9w2gGrllkYSllCNVi7_U0JUXqDwPFr6n7RetxSz6Cuwp9gvWfYOf8epvzypGtQfVYpWMI2rW6P_ubT__6g8wqwPjp-fxDh38LFyKkbSRH-dqILOwPhS04MLHi225t0r_S6whZaoksk/s400/seidel-jeffery-navs_funkhaus-berlin_superbooth2016.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks to everyone who came to see the concerts in Saal 2 of the Funkhaus on Friday night of <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/2016/03/live-at-superbooth.html">Superbooth</a>. Wolfgang Seidel, Hillary Jeffery, Hainbach, Frank Bretschneider and I had a great time. Thanks also to Andreas Schneider and especially Adam and his team for the wonderful sound and light.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbTR8lac5SZDCrU1aZWqWqc_JYfTV4AZX1rgn5y6V3cEs6z_E01K-Z06IWzfFnCuuS9Ln594qmJm9ffPpSsnz5HZ9CgAWsqCLJGmAAGZp5g_2RJeDur_2j91J1oeB11HbZhyphenhyphenl-KfM2m0/s1600/navs_funkhaus-berlin_superbooth2016_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbTR8lac5SZDCrU1aZWqWqc_JYfTV4AZX1rgn5y6V3cEs6z_E01K-Z06IWzfFnCuuS9Ln594qmJm9ffPpSsnz5HZ9CgAWsqCLJGmAAGZp5g_2RJeDur_2j91J1oeB11HbZhyphenhyphenl-KfM2m0/s400/navs_funkhaus-berlin_superbooth2016_800.jpg" /></a><br />
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Our <a href=" https://www.superbooth.com/de/eventdetails/wolfgang-seidel.html?day=20160401×=1459533600,1459535400">trio</a>’s set was improvised but Wolfgang and I did have one ‘get to know you’ musical session, during which I noticed he uses not one but three <a href="http://doepfer.de/R2M.htm">Doepfer R2M</a> ribbon controllers! I had tried one of these years ago, when Schneider bundled them together with an Analogue Solutions MS-20 filter/ VCA and Doepfer VCO - the Jimi-Box, named for Hendrix. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-O17-ZGpjm5YxZtZ5EN9tpv_rhyzv6FSLI13eEMp0wxnZJxRf5rISSQ4yJULGWd8j5Ksu5lmEDbxcIQas9tFTqQ0DGBNcavmfUzItRMnULZFp38UvBxkBzLEUO4VhlR9B7qVCSbmexY/s1600/jimibox.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-O17-ZGpjm5YxZtZ5EN9tpv_rhyzv6FSLI13eEMp0wxnZJxRf5rISSQ4yJULGWd8j5Ksu5lmEDbxcIQas9tFTqQ0DGBNcavmfUzItRMnULZFp38UvBxkBzLEUO4VhlR9B7qVCSbmexY/s400/jimibox.jpg" /></a><br />
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But the ‘widdle’ wore thin pretty quick so I passed on the analogue version of the ribbon controller. The R2M, of course, can ‘speak’ both analogue and digital. It’s a good partner for the MIDI-equipped <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=clavia">Clavia Micromodular</a>, which has only three knobs and no keyboard. For its part, the Micromodular, with its familiar environment and patch recall, is the perfect accompaniment to an analogue modular when playing live. You can see me using them in the second picture above.<br />
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Here are two patches from that concert. One is inspired by Peter Grenader’s iconic ribbon <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9MRK1-OyaY">video</a> from a few years ago. Note position determines pitch, panning and also speed of the clocking VC-LFO, pressure adds modulation.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261298391&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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I wanted to use a voltage controlled radio during our set at the Funkhaus, the former East German broadcasting house, but was unsure of whether I’d get any reception. The answer was to mimic the random bursts of noise and music fragments with this second patch. Three <a href="http://navsmodularlab.blogspot.de/search?q=comparator">comparators</a> provide an on-off switch for the virtual radio, tonal and frequency changes.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261300250&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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You can download the patches and R2M preset info <a href=" https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21140631/nml/navs-clavia_nm1-superbooth-patches.zip">here</a>. Let me know how you get on!Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-39856188624526184062016-03-23T12:45:00.000+01:002016-04-25T05:16:26.136+02:00Live at Superbooth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPLUg0-C_bKBHALw4GZ29_ANYrvfzE36pMK3wYqWvO0UGqxROcN_B5C2FcZzo1ILOS_kPEV_PhJvfpRVjb8YdXynzWw17Ng3Nt2oUdOMds6Q2n4zNLvXY2bAAimny2zQ83pzvd8Jzs0E/s1600/superbooth-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPLUg0-C_bKBHALw4GZ29_ANYrvfzE36pMK3wYqWvO0UGqxROcN_B5C2FcZzo1ILOS_kPEV_PhJvfpRVjb8YdXynzWw17Ng3Nt2oUdOMds6Q2n4zNLvXY2bAAimny2zQ83pzvd8Jzs0E/s400/superbooth-banner.jpg" /></a><br />
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I’m very happy to present an evening of improvised music on Friday, 1st April at Andreas Schneider’s inaugural <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/landing.html">Superbooth</a> in Berlin’s historic Funkhaus.<br />
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<a href="http://basicelectricityberlin.blogspot.de/">Basic Electricity</a> stalwart, <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/eventdetails/wolfgang-seidel.html?day=20160401×=1459533600,1459535400">Wolfgang Seidel</a> and I will be joined by <a href="http://www.hiljef.com/news/">Hilary Jeffery</a> on trombone for a clangorous electro-acoustic trio. <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/eventdetails/hainbach-n-visuals.html?day=20160401×=1459537200,1459539000">Hainbach</a> combines recordings and melodic modular electronics and is accompanied by Orca’s hand drawn and animated visuals. And <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/eventdetails/frank-bretschneider.html?day=20160401×=1459540800,1459542600">Frank Bretschneider</a> presents his new project Sinn + Form, featuring recordings of vintage Buchla & Serge systems at EMS, Stockholm.<br />
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Follow the links in the artist’s names for more information and media. Click <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/events/category/6.html">this link</a> for a list of evening events.<br />
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We’ll play in the wonderful Saal 2, the so-called ‘small’ recording hall!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzTL8-4y8LWHRqxqKt0DcZNtSDXvmTyV6GoxvWJhyphenhyphenVUk5NFrSbHL3nQAhFIFrhMq0RA9i3eHtykwUH3vTZo9A8B-_pihZQ5x642u9vUdaRhg2gCv8xlPyiUbAHV1tw2Sminzogcef1ls/s1600/saal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzTL8-4y8LWHRqxqKt0DcZNtSDXvmTyV6GoxvWJhyphenhyphenVUk5NFrSbHL3nQAhFIFrhMq0RA9i3eHtykwUH3vTZo9A8B-_pihZQ5x642u9vUdaRhg2gCv8xlPyiUbAHV1tw2Sminzogcef1ls/s400/saal2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Click <a href="https://www.superbooth.com/en/funkhaus.html">here</a> for more pictures and information about the Funkhaus.<br />
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Here’s a taster of some patches I'm preparing for the concert:<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/254404791&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe><br />
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Look forward to seeing you at Superbooth!Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620149893690952008.post-19174173102028605872016-03-23T10:48:00.000+01:002016-03-23T10:48:26.754+01:00Modular Minds - eContact! Publication<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcG7z-11NhhUpaB6oV5BA0u8gtY6NZnPznoVIYUsbIA2hsgwcE6bnyQPTdJ2q3muG-YqV33MDp26W1N3QfahVakYNi2holwN0SfdzYv3QbEVLT1JwqvWTFeTmEB0TNjhbWv_t8A5etn8/s1600/econtact-modular.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcG7z-11NhhUpaB6oV5BA0u8gtY6NZnPznoVIYUsbIA2hsgwcE6bnyQPTdJ2q3muG-YqV33MDp26W1N3QfahVakYNi2holwN0SfdzYv3QbEVLT1JwqvWTFeTmEB0TNjhbWv_t8A5etn8/s400/econtact-modular.jpg" /></a><br />
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The latest issue of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cec.sonus/">Canadian Electroacoustic Community’s</a> online journal is called “Analogue and Modular Synthesis: Resurgence and Evolution”. It’s about the renewed interest in modulars and how we use them live and in composition. The magazine features 20 articles on the basics, practicalities and philosophies surrounding these instruments by authors including Rob Hordijk, Peter Blasser and myself.<br />
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You can find it here: <a href="http://econtact.ca/17_4/">http://econtact.ca/17_4/</a><br />
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Many thanks to <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/RichardScottSoundsfromtheether/">Richard Scott</a>, <a href="http://newmusicnotation.com/chippewa/index.html">jef chippewa</a> and colleagues for their hard work in making this happen. <br />
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Enjoy the read and let us know what you think!Navshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06664366116627242090noreply@blogger.com0