Post by cpruby on Dec 9, 2023 8:43:04 GMT
Hi all!
I was chatting on the Discord group about how I did my Aetherwaves track (Unplanned Vacation), and people seemed like they wanted to know how I did a few things. The track features a 2OSC/d module doing bass duties and a VCO module doing the upper voice. I was able to record the entire performance in one take and maintain stable tuning across the range of the piece. I figured that I should walk through how I did what I did and show how I integrated my DAW into my AE system.
Prerequisites
The setup
The results
The downsides
My conclusionsIf you tend to do a lot of your music within a DAW, this can be a great way to have that analog signal path with precise digital control. Workflow wise I enjoyed that things just worked. I also liked that I could use track spanning automations and dial specific parts in. I'm also trying to craft a stand-alone rig for jamming, but for more through composed music, this is a great workflow. I went from a big rack to a rackless setup to return of the big rack. This workflow is making me think about going rackless again and really just pulling the modules that give that analog signal path as needed.
For those who have no qualms about being connected to the DAW, then this can be a great thing. It is an investment of money and time, but it is pretty cool what happens with it.
For those who want to stay DAW-less, keep up the good work.
I was chatting on the Discord group about how I did my Aetherwaves track (Unplanned Vacation), and people seemed like they wanted to know how I did a few things. The track features a 2OSC/d module doing bass duties and a VCO module doing the upper voice. I was able to record the entire performance in one take and maintain stable tuning across the range of the piece. I figured that I should walk through how I did what I did and show how I integrated my DAW into my AE system.
Prerequisites
- An audio interface with DC-coupled outputs - Most audio interfaces have a filter on the outputs so that a steady voltage is not being outputted since they're supposed to be outputting audio-rate signals. There are a few interfaces that have DC-coupled outputs, I have a Ferrofish Pulse 16-DX with the CV-Out option. MOTU interfaces tends to have DC-coupled outputs as well.
- A DAW that can send CV signals - I use Ableton Live and then make use of the the CV Tools pack. Basically it functions like a plugin. It takes the MIDI data and will then convert it to CV and output it through the interface. I believe VCV Rack can also do this as well, but I haven't played with it. The CV Tools pack with Ableton Live is pretty great and allows for things like sending envelopes, LFOs, and other CV signals beyond simple pitch and gate data.
- Connections - The final bit of gear are cables that have a 1/4" TRS going to a 1/8" TS routed from my interface to my AE rack through some 4i/o modules. This type of cable is called a floating ring cable.
The setup
- Scaling - In sending CV signals like LFOs or envelopes, I needed to scale them correctly so that it does not exceed the 0-5 volt range used by AE systems. Luckily both the 4i/o and Master modules protect against this being damaging to the system, however it means that negative values are clipped to 0 volts and values greater than 5 volts are also clipped. Therefore, scaling (basically attenuating) the signal within the DAW is required. There's also the ability to bias a signal. It is a little bit of trial and error, but I was able to get usable LFOs and envelopes out of my DAW and into the rack.
- Oscillator calibration - A trickier problem is working with pitch CV. Yes, oscillators will drift, but this is beyond that. There is documented issues with modules not receiving an accurate ground signal, which can compromise the tracking of an oscillator - even digital ones. The CV Tools with Ableton have an oscillator calibration mode. This plays various CV signals to an oscillator module and then listens to the oscillator's own output and then determines a relationship between CV and an in-tune output. I've even been able to run this calibration on a self-oscillating filter and get stable tuning over several octaves.
The results
- Several octaves of in-tune oscillators (and other stuff that oscillate)! I'm spending minimal time dealing with tuning.
- Track automation across a piece that then gets outputted as a CV.
- Ability to potentially free-up some modules - I can patch an oscillator to a filter and then to a VCA, then use the CV controls to send pitch information to the oscillator and an envelope to the VCA. Also you can control the overall amplitude of the envelope with velocity! So that enters the picture.
The downsides
- Cost - It does require money to have an audio interface that has DC-coupled outputs and enough outputs in general. This then balloons as you need the correct cabling and then input into the AE ecosystem too. An AE 2LFO module is cheaper than sending LFOs from the DAW. Also note that the CV Tools within Ableton does require the pricier editions of Ableton or purchasing the pack as an add-on.
- Being tied to a DAW - I know being DAW-less is a goal for the many of us who work in front of computers all day, so the idea of making a system that can exists independently tied to a DAW can be very off putting.
My conclusions
For those who have no qualms about being connected to the DAW, then this can be a great thing. It is an investment of money and time, but it is pretty cool what happens with it.
For those who want to stay DAW-less, keep up the good work.
