Patch Tips #13 - Binary Zone Clone

Imitating John Blacet's complex staircase generator with Eurorack modules.



My first modular sequencer consisted of an A-160/ 1 clocking combo and a mixer. Patching four outputs of the A-161 to an A-138 and then on to a VCO was simple but fun. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize that I should have tried the clock divider's outputs too!

Here's a short recording to demonstrate the difference between mixing the clock sequencer's outputs and those of the clock divider:

binaryzoneclone1

The principal difference is that, while the A-161 will yield single steps, the A-160's gates will push and pull the sequence higher or lower depending on the mix levels. This results in a variety of the number of steps and the overall sequence length.

binaryzoneclone2

The Binary Zone offers six clock divisions. Using a polarizing mixer like the fonitronik mh-01 will limit you to four, but if you substitute the A-160 with a 4MS Rotating Clock Divider, you can generate some very interesting shifting patterns.

Patch of the Day - Lagtyme

Featuring the Toppobrillo Sport Modulator as VC divider and Triple Wave Folder as VC Multiplier.



Today's PotD is based on the 'VC divider' patch with the added twist of a multiplied pulse train courtesy of the TWF. Mult your clock source to four destinations: the TWF, Env1, SM1 S/H and SM2 S/H. Set both sections of the SM to cycle in 'hold' mode, send the output to two VCOs (in this case for pitch and PWM) and the End Out to envelopes 2 & 3. Take the TWF's pulse output to trigger a fourth envelope. In the recording, the first sound you hear is paced by the source clock, the two VCOs by the divisions generated by the SM and the hi-hat by the TWF stream.

You might not want the pitch changes generated by patching the SM's outs to the VCOs, but in this case it allowed me to generate some noise bursts by flicking each section's mode button from S&H to lag and hold. I also added some variation to the patch by sending three CV variables from Pressure Points to the two Toppobrillo modules.

For more patch ideas, see the Sport Modulator page and manual here.

Patch Tips #12 - More Mixed Envelopes

Mixing envelopes for tailor-made transients. A follow-up this post.



Today's Patch Tip aims to overcome the limitations of the simple ADSR envelope when used to open a filter or VCA. I often find that in addition to controlling the time it takes for an envelope to reach it's peak value, I also want to control the level of that stage. This is especially true of the attack portion when I want more 'bite' without increasing the overall modulation depth of the D, S & R stages. Mixing an ADSR with an AD envelope solves this problem:

envmix1.mp3

Cwejman VCO-2RM (+ sub ex A-160) > Borg filter, ADSR-VC2 + Bananalogue VCS > Fonitronik polarizing mixer > Borg. Gate to both envelopes. Pitch CV > VCOs + Borg 'key in'. Makenoise Pressure Points row 1 offsets pitch of oscillator 2, row 2 > VCS VC rise.

This is a simple but effective solution without getting into the complexities of patching-up a time/ level envelope as found on the Korg Poly 800 or Roland JD-800. If you did, however, want to try this, the Maths, Brains/ Pressure Points and Doepfer A-143-1 manuals all offer examples.

Monday Sport

A couple of action shots of the Toppobrillo Sport Modulator.





Mounted alongside Maths, PP + Brains, A-151 & Choices, the SM makes a great addition to the team.

Sport Modulator - Staircase to Heaven?

An overview and demo of the Toppobrillo Sport Modulator, a dual lag + hold/ sample + hold CV processor and generator which takes its cues from a classic Serge design.



The Sport Modulator features two identical but related sections, both of which are capable of smooth & stepped functions, low and audio-frequency oscillation and pulse streams. For more information and patch tips, see the product page and the SSG Wizardry section of the Serge Fans site.

Here's a basic run-though to get started:



LFO sine > SM in. SM out > VCO. Manual modulation of slew rate. Then pulse from same LFO to 4ms SCM, x8 out > SM T/H in. Lag + Hold mode first, then S+H. Hi hat provided as timing reference.

Here's the SM processing some white noise:



Bottom section cycles, end out provides T/H trigger for top section. Manual tweaks.

And here it is processing itself:



Both sections cycling, top > bottom S/H in, comparator out > bottom CV in, bottom end out > top CV in, bottom out > VCA.

And lastly, a variation on an Allen Strange S&H patch:



2 VCOs. One receives all notes, the second gets timed 'grabs': the main sequence is 8 notes long. Taking a shorter or uneven division from a clock divider causes the S&H to grab a different note on each pass. After about 40 seconds you can hear the difference between S&H + T&H modes: the latter lets the note stream pass while the gate is high and then holds the last note when it goes low. The second part of the recording, after 1 minute, uses the SCM to generate triggers at a faster rate than the main clock, opening the doors to staircase madness.

I have to admit, I spent the first five minutes staring at the Sport Modulator not knowing what I was supposed to patch where. The SSG tips were a great help, although there are some differences between the two. Firstly, as mentioned, both sections of the SM are capable of both smooth and stepped functions making it more flexible than its ancestor. However, the SM's cycle function is not gate-able so, while the cycle button provides convenience, some patch possibilities may have been sacrificed.

The build quality and layout are great and the circuit does indeed hold for quite a while without noticeable droop. Cross-modulating two cycling sections can generate chaotic repetitive patterns, with the comparator output documenting the two oscillators' struggle. An LED for the comparator output and 'attenuverters' for the CV ins would have been useful, but their absence in no way spoils the fun. Like the Wogglebug, which covers some of the same ground, the Sport Modulator is greater than the sum of its parts and the musical results are unique.

PotD - Brains Releasequence

Today's Patch of the Day showcases some of the features that make the combination of Brains, Pressure Points and Maths such a flexible & tactile sequencing package.



Here are the patch details:

Cycling Maths Ch1 acts as clock. EOR > Brains CLK.
Linear, R = 0, Fall = 14:30
Envelope controls VCA depth + VCO FM Index.

Maths Ch4 slews Press CV from PP buss (use input, not trigger).
R + F ca. 15:00, exponential.
Slewed CV > VCA (dynamics), Brains 'Run' + Maths Ch2.
Set Ch2 to ca. 22:00 (-ve) and patch to Ch1 Fall VC

Patch PP rows 1-3 > sequential switch. PP row 1 gate > A-152 clock.
Digital out 4 > reset, common I/O > quantiser > VCO.

And here's what's happening:

Although Maths is cycling and providing Brains with a clock, the sequence is blocked from running until the press CV exceeds 1V. On release of the touch plate, the Press CV fades out, allowing the sequence to continue running until it again falls below 1V. An inverted mult of the press CV, which is fed to Ch1's Fall VC via Ch2, controls the speed of the clock. The harder you press, the faster the clock. As the press CV fades, the clock slows. Try different rise and fall times for both channels 1 + 4 and the amount of fall VC from Ch2 to taste. You could, for example, have the sequence get faster as the volume fades. The remaining connections (Ch4 EOC > Brains reset, PP rows 1-3 > multiplexer etc.) are non-essential, but nice.

Make Noise Brains

If you didn't spot Brains lurking under my DIY desktop rack in Monday's post, here's another glimpse:



Brains provides sequencing power to Make Noise's Pressure Points, offering some of the functionality of the classic Serge TKB. For a full description, see the product page and make sure you read the manual! I'd never have thought that such a small and seemingly simple clocker could open up so many possibilities. Nice work work, Tony - Brains, Pressure Points & Maths make a cracking team!

Here's a quick example using the stepped out of a Wogglebug to change the direction of a four-note (i.e. one row) sequence. When the random voltage is above 1V, the sequence runs forward. When it's below, it runs backwards. At about 23 seconds, the /6 output of a 4ms RCD steps a sequential switch to add rows 2 & 3 to the chain, creating a 12-note sequence.


Bugbrains

Brains comes with all the necessary cables to connect the unit to two Pressure Points as well as chain the touchplates and is available now from Schneidersbuero. I'll be taking a closer look at the possibilities offered by Brains later in the week. In the meantime, if you have Pressure Points, do yourself a favour and get this module. It's … a no-brainer.