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Post by cowboy on Jan 21, 2019 17:41:33 GMT
A few years ago, I started into my modular journey after watching I Dream Of Wires and googling "inexpensive modular synth" with a Korg littleBits Synth kit. Well, 2 of them. And the littleBits are a lot of fun to play with, but they're very limited, and the connections can be a bit flaky.
Since then, I've been building a whole Eurorack modular rig that I regularly play and record with. So much for inexpensive, right? It's 4 synth voices through a 4-channel MIDI quantizer, powered by a live-looping MIDI sequencer, along with drums, filters, etc. See my YouTube channel for some examples of what I create with that system: www.youtube.com/channel/UCFaB1HnL2RgFgD6v9MSgv2Q
Lately though, I've been looking at expanding my synth collection to include instruments that remind me of the more "experimental" vibe I used to get with the littleBits. So I bought a Bastl Kastle, which is a lot of fun to play around with! And it turns out that the breadboard-type jumper cables are easy to use. But the Kastle is pretty limited. So, after a bit more googling, I found AE Modular.
And I just ordered a Starter Rack 2 with a SEQ16, HPAMP, 3VCSWITCH and MULTIFX!
YAY
- Cowboy
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 21, 2019 18:28:53 GMT
yeah, congratulations and welcome - I reckon you'll have a lot of fun  will check out your channel later... |
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Post by admin on Jan 22, 2019 9:17:05 GMT
A few years ago, I started into my modular journey after watching I Dream Of Wires ...
Yeah that's how it started for me as well! I went the DIY route and after I burned my modules through an act of stupidity (and wrong wiring) I despaired a bit, but then found the AE system. I checked out your youtube channel and think it's awesome! I can't wait to see/hear what you produce with the AE system. |
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Post by spacedog on Jan 22, 2019 10:08:54 GMT
Thanks, cowboy, really good and not at all what I was expecting. Very melodic and your latest ( Bona Fides) reminded me of Tangerine Dream from the early 80's, when Johannes Schmoelling was doing his stuff (e.g. this part of Logos, from 1982).
I, too, look forward to what you get from the AE Modular. I recently bought a Bastl Kastle and I found that it adds an interesting complex input to the modular, with cross-patching capability. Overall, I've found my modular great for creating the moving backgrounds to tracks and some sequences, but I have yet to try anything melodic on it.
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 24, 2019 12:05:20 GMT
Your videos are great, cowboy! You’re Eurorack is very heavy on sequences as it seems. Can you post a little bit more about your workflow when creating a music piece like in your videos? Also, that camera and live-streaming setup seems very powerful. And of course, I’m also looking forward to your AE Modular stuff |
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Post by cowboy on Jan 25, 2019 0:10:57 GMT
Your videos are great, cowboy ! You’re Eurorack is very heavy on sequences as it seems. Can you post a little bit more about your workflow when creating a music piece like in your videos? Also, that camera and live-streaming setup seems very powerful. And of course, I’m also looking forward to your AE Modular stuff
Thanks for the kind words!
My setup is (roughly) as follows:
These are the inputs to the Squarp Hermod (MIDI sequencer / looper with CV out):
* Pamela's New Workout (master clock, clock divider)
* Yamaha MODX keyboard
These are the outputs from the Squarp Hermod:
* 3 tracks corresponding to MIDI channels 1/2/3 of the Yamaha MODX keyboard, for which I've set up performances with different voices for each MIDI channel, eg. Rhodes, Piano, Strings
* 4-channel MIDI quantizer that has a toggle switch to listen to MIDI channel 1, 2 or 3
* 4 tracks corresponding to 4 pairs of CV+gate into 4 separate VCOs (Plaits, Piston Honda, Synthesizer Box, Atlantis)
For the MIDI quantizer:
* The inputs are 4 individual "turing machine" (random looping voltages) provided by the o_C (ornament & crime) Quantermain mode * The outputs go into 4 S&H, provided by the 2nd o_C, with triggers from various sources, mainly GATESTORM and Euclidean Circles
And I have a few custom switching modules that allow me to easily switch between the CV+gate from the MIDI quantizer and the CV+gate from the Squarp Hermod for each of the 4 voices, allowing me to very quickly toggle between recorded melody/bass lines and generative lines.
Usually my workflow goes something like this:
1. Turn everything on and start experimenting. Sometimes I go into it with an idea, but usually the idea evolves as I go. 2. This involves tweaking lots of knobs, figuring out what chords or single note lines I might to loop in Hermod to drive the voices and the MIDI quantizer (and thus all the generative melodies, basslines, etc)
3. I realize that I love what I'm doing! Now it's time to decide if I can't play any of the parts I've recorded, live, when I record. If I can't, I use what I've stored in Hermod. But I really like to play! So, ideally, I erase whatever I've stored in Hermod and force myself to learn it so that I can recreate it.
4. Now I fire up OBS Studio, monitor the levels, do a quick test recording, and I'm ready to go. 5. Hit "Start Stream" (live to Facebook) and "Start Recording" (file on my SSD) and get ready to play and try not to screw up! I also need to remember to switch video scenes in OBS as I'm playing. Because I'm insane, and I don't really want to do any post-production 6. When I'm all done, usually I can upload the video as-is to YouTube, but sometimes I really need to make an edit to fix a huge mistake that I made, before uploading.
That's really about it! My goal is to be able to do everything live, with as much improvisation as possible. Yes, I do have some sequences, but that's only when I don't trust my ability to play (or remember) what I had recorded!
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Post by spacedog on Jan 25, 2019 0:54:23 GMT
[...]
Usually my workflow goes something like this:
1. Turn everything on and start experimenting. Sometimes I go into it with an idea, but usually the idea evolves as I go. 2. This involves tweaking lots of knobs, figuring out what chords or single note lines I might to loop in Hermod to drive the voices and the MIDI quantizer (and thus all the generative melodies, basslines, etc)
3. I realize that I love what I'm doing! Now it's time to decide if I can't play any of the parts I've recorded, live, when I record. If I can't, I use what I've stored in Hermod. But I really like to play! So, ideally, I erase whatever I've stored in Hermod and force myself to learn it so that I can recreate it.
4. Now I fire up OBS Studio, monitor the levels, do a quick test recording, and I'm ready to go. 5. Hit "Start Stream" (live to Facebook) and "Start Recording" (file on my SSD) and get ready to play and try not to screw up! I also need to remember to switch video scenes in OBS as I'm playing. Because I'm insane, and I don't really want to do any post-production 6. When I'm all done, usually I can upload the video as-is to YouTube, but sometimes I really need to make an edit to fix a huge mistake that I made, before uploading.
[...]
Thanks for the insight, cowboy, much appreciated.
I was right alongside you up until the end of the first sentence in point 1... I just spent an entire evening firing a Bastl Kastle into my effects farm, that was fun. Tomorrow, the AE Modular is being added.
I do like the idea of streaming live, that's really exciting having played in a band that did a few electronic music gigs and improvising was how it always worked best. OK, it was with some preparation to make sure we had some scaffolding so that we couldn't fall too far. I was usually OK with agreeing the tempo (for setting my delays etc.) and keys with any changes. Once I had that, I was set and if the tempo changed, I'd just tap it in. Reheasals tended to be improvised sessions (recorded to check back) that became the basis for what we played.
I also have OBS to look at as well, I'd never heard of that. |
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 25, 2019 10:47:38 GMT
Interesting cowboy.... I think its a great idea to keep the live feel, and also to keep the post production to a minimum.... what camera(s) do you use? Ive been using a DSLR, but I was getting a bit tired of the 12 min limit, as you have to keep an eye on it, and now I have an issue with the lens I used for video. so moved to the iPhone, which is ok, but difficult to get the right angle/shot with the lens size its got. (its good as a different angle, which is what I used it for, when using the DSLR) Ive been considering a go-pro, reasonably priced, and I think you can just set it up, and go... and not think about it too much.
btw: small word of warning, re hermod and AE. the other day, I found I had a noise issue with AE , and it turned out that if I connected the Hermod directly to either the 4IO or CV on the master, I was getting a nasty hum... really noticeable. was really annoying, until I found by chance, that if I went via a passive(!) multi it virtually disappears ( so hermod -> passive mult -> 4IO/Master CV) - not sure why, Im guessing its to do with the ground signal on the sleeve from the hermod. I didn't notice this previously because before I has an AE eurorack adapter in the rack, which then connected back to AE via racklink.. this was fine, I guess because again, the ground from the hermod is not used. |
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Post by cowboy on Jan 26, 2019 4:36:02 GMT
I'm using three Logitech C922X webcams. The video quality isn't amazing, but USB is dead simple to capture, live, and they just work. I'd really like to upgrade them to better quality cameras, though!
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Post by admin on Jan 26, 2019 4:48:28 GMT
I'm using three Logitech C922X webcams. The video quality isn't amazing, but USB is dead simple to capture, live, and they just work. I'd really like to upgrade them to better quality cameras, though! Are you then capturing them with OBS? Or which software do you use? |
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Post by admin on Jan 27, 2019 3:00:05 GMT
After much fiddling with different angles, tripods and clamps I think I now found the perfect setup for filming my system and recording the audio in real time. I'm using a humble iPhone 5c which is connected to a Zoom H1n audio interface which is connected to the 4I/O of the AE Modular. And this is how it's all set up in my little music corner:  |
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 27, 2019 8:51:57 GMT
Nice! So the iPhone’s camera app records the audio interface’s audio together with the camera’s video? I knew that the Instagram app does this, but never tested another video recording app.
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Post by admin on Jan 27, 2019 8:54:22 GMT
Nice! So the iPhone’s camera app records the audio interface’s audio together with the camera’s video? I knew that the Instagram app does this, but never tested another video recording app. Yes and that's with the standard iOS camera app. It just works  |
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 27, 2019 10:36:39 GMT
great idea admin , I guess i need to grab the right dongle for the iPhone... is it still the camera connection kit thats needed? (I had this for my old iphone, but never got around to grabbing one when i upgraded to an iPhone 6) I also like your tripod , thats cool ... and your iPhone grip, also looks much more stable than mine! looks like the way forward for me, is to improve my iPhone setup... currently, Ive got an old Joby iPhone mount, but it doesn't have a standard camera mount so cant use it, with my tripods (though I guess I could wrap it around it for now) ... I also don't really like the grip it has on the iPhone, doesn't feel that secure. any suggestions? is anyone using any lighting? i think this is a real issue for my videos... as Ive quite low light levels in the 'studio', (low light = grainy videos) and i'm invariably recording late at night! suggestions for cheap lighting? perhaps tripod mountable? it'd be cool if I could improve my results using what I have, for small $$$ |
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Post by admin on Jan 27, 2019 11:09:23 GMT
In the photo above I'm not using a tripod but a "Microphone Suspension Boom Scissor Arm" with a clamp it's only $11 on ebay! goo.gl/Z8YYVVThe clamp is only $4 on ebay: goo.gl/aPCr5GBut yeah I've also experimented with a tripod for when I'm sitting outside the house:  The tripod was also super cheap on Aliexpress. |
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Post by cowboy on Feb 2, 2019 0:03:22 GMT
I'm using three Logitech C922X webcams. The video quality isn't amazing, but USB is dead simple to capture, live, and they just work. I'd really like to upgrade them to better quality cameras, though! Are you then capturing them with OBS? Or which software do you use? Exactly. They all go into OBS which I use to stream / record. Also, in case anyone was following along, I finished #Jamuary with 31 consecutive jams live-streamed to Facebook and then edited and uploaded to YouTube. It was a very positive experience, and showed me that a) I really enjoy my setup and b) 31 days in a row is an insane commitment. Here's a YouTube playlist with all 31 videos:
And once I get my AE Modular, I'm certain I'll be recording some videos with it!
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Post by spacedog on Feb 2, 2019 14:47:12 GMT
[...] Also, in case anyone was following along, I finished #Jamuary with 31 consecutive jams live-streamed to Facebook and then edited and uploaded to YouTube. It was a very positive experience, and showed me that a) I really enjoy my setup and b) 31 days in a row is an insane commitment. [...]
And once I get my AE Modular, I'm certain I'll be recording some videos with it!
Well done, although I always feel that February is the best month for these kind of challenges
I certainly look forward to hearing what emerges from your AE Modular - and if it comes quickly, you can join in with the Weekly Challenges in February.
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