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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 14, 2019 10:31:40 GMT
What is it? Theme: Use your rack as audio processor / effects unit Background: The first question from someone that is unfamiliar with Modular Synthesisers is often 'what is that?', often the simplest response is 'a synthesiser to play music on', but modulars can be many things, and many musicians use modulars for advanced effects units/audio processors rather than for synthesis. AE Modular is no exception, it too can be a great audio processor, as the master unit has 2 audio I/O jacks, one to use for input, then the other for output. In this challenge we will explore this side, by taking external audio into the input, processing it within AE Rack and then sending the resulting audio out. You are, of course, welcome to explore the Delay/Multi-FX modules, but you are also encouraged to look beyond these, to see what other modules you can create interesting effects with. p.s. the audio you process is completely up to you : another instrument, a recording, a loop or a radio station. (just avoid copyrighted material  ) Submission window: Monday 14th Jan -> Monday 21st Jan (23:59:59)
Submissions should be made in this thread within the submission window above. Each entry should contain:- Link to audio or video example (embedded preferred)
- Short (or not so short) patch notes, explaining how you have built on the above theme
Your entry can be as short/long as you wish, a simple sound or a track, use external fx or synths, do what you can in the time you have - go wild, make the challenge yours! You are welcome to use previous entries, as inspiration, build on them to form something new, or just use in a different way. Everyone is actively encouraged to comment on entries , provide feedback and ideas... you are welcome to co continue commenting/discussing outside of the submission window. the more we discuss the more we all learn
this is part of the weekly patch challenge series - if you would like more information, or have ideas for the challenge, please post on the weekly patch challenge thread.
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bert
Junior Member

Posts: 54
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Post by bert on Jan 17, 2019 20:11:09 GMT
Can I put two entries, or shall I start with one? My first patch was a really trivial one. I'll start with my second which is slightly more sophisticated. I made a side-chain compressor that I can use to mix two (beat-driven) tracks, without touching any of the equaliser knobs on my mixer. The beat of the track that I bring in detenuates the track that is playing. The patch is very primitive, but it works quite well for this use case I think. The first audio signal goes through a VCA. The detenuation is controlled by the second audio signal which has first gone through an ENV and is then inverted.
- TRAKTOR (deck a) -> AE_2VCA (in1) - TRAKTOR (deck a) -> AE_2VCA (in2) - EXT MIXER (chan 2 send) -> AE_ENV (gt1) - TRAKTOR (deck b) -> EXT MIXER (chan 2) - AE_ENV (out) -> AE_2ATTCV (in1) - AE_2ATTCV (inv1) -> AE_2VCA (cv1) - AE_2ATTCV (inv1) -> AE_2VCA (cv2) - AE_2VCA (out1) -> EXT MIXER (chan 1) - AE_2VCA (out2) -> EXT MIXER (chan 1) * AE_ENV: timerange = FAST | sustain = FULL | attack = 60° | decay = 70° * AE_2VCA: cv1 = 320° | cv2 = 320° * AE_2ATTCV: mode1 = IN1 | level1 = 270°
The amount of side-chaining can be controlled with the "attack", "decay" and "level1" knobs.
There's no audio example atm. I had recorded a little mix, but I think it doesn't demonstrate the patch very well. To be of any use, I should also do the exact same mix but without side-chaining. I don't know, maybe I'll do that if I find some more time this week. Attachments:
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 18, 2019 14:49:33 GMT
Your welcome to post as many entires as you wish 
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 20, 2019 12:02:00 GMT
More Machines - the Krell meet AE ModularPatch Description:
Given I was exploring the Krell Patch yesterday, I thought I'd introduce the AE rack into the mix, to process the audio at the heart of the patch. The Eurorack patch is similar to yesterday using Marbles and Stages to alter pitch/dynamics/tempo. however now the primary audio from Plaits rather than going to Rings directly, travels via the AE Modular for processing, then to Rings. On the AE modular, Ive generated a fairly chaotic mix of envelopes and lfos (hence mass of patch wires!) , which are used to drive two different filters, these two filters are then crossfaded between using an envelope. All the envelope are bring trigged by the same end of cycle trigger, as driving the Eurorack Krell patch (coming via the CV into the AE Rack) In addition, Im also using the multiFX (again modulated) in AE rack to add some shimmer on the main output. It's been an interesting challenge for the AE modular, exploring how to send audio back and forth, and also using CV generated on the eurorack to trigger things on the AE rack. I'll come back later today, and adds some more notes, as I learnt some interesting things while doing this - this was actually quite a bit harder than I expected
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 20, 2019 16:09:56 GMT
so, a little more detail , and some of the things I learnt along the way Different audio processing
originally, Id planned to switch between the two filters (and possibly more) using the VCSWITCH, but that didn't work out because as its switches it clicks due to audio discontinuities. (which i thought I might be able to mask with a LP filter, or ENV/VCA but that didnt work out) Instead I chose to crossfade.... this is pretty simple, I had a envelope i wanted to use to move between the two source (but could be an lfo or anything smooth), which I fed into the 2ATT, then took out to one vca, and then the inverse to another vca . .. then i mixed the two vcas outputs - viola Chaotic 'modulation source'so if Id of had the new 2ENV what I would have done is modulate the attack/decay of the envelopes, but as i dont have one yet, I wanted something that had a bit of movement with a bit of complexity but not random. so what I did was mix lfos and env ( 2 of each) via 2 vcas. I cant change the rate of anything, but it meant it wasnt too static... (the envelopes were sync'd but not the LFOs, and all had slight different rates) Eurorack integration.
this went pretty well I took the audio from the Eurorack (Plaits module), attenuated it a bit to not distort. processed it in the AE rack, then I took 3 audio channels back to Eurorack (one via master module, the other via 4IO) one channel had the modulated signal for going into Rings (a resonator), the second was a FX signal (multiFX) to go into the main mix. the final one used as a FM source for Elements. for all except the FM modulator, I added gain on the Eurorack, to get it up 'normal' eurorack levels which are hotter. Also as I wanted this in sync with the Krell patches 'generation', I also took the end of cycle trigger over to the AE rack via CV IO, this was triggering the various envelopes mentioned above. I did have some issues with this, first i think the jack into the 4IO didn't 'connect' properly, and I had no signal (took a while to figure this out!) also it seemed to be one of my AE mults was 'acting up', triggering some of the envelopes but not others, changing the order in the mult, seem to fix it... anyway, in the end worked well, and I ended up with a spaghetti of both patch wires on AE modular, and patch cables in Eurorack you can also see its very true... You can never have enough VCAs
p.s. you might notice Ive taken the AE Eurorack adapter out of my Eurorack case, whilst this was working well in the end, I decided it was more flexible to have AE separate from Eurorack, and just crosspatch via longer 3.5mm patch cables. I quite enjoy doing this, as it means I can also focus on one rack at time
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Post by spacedog on Jan 20, 2019 18:10:37 GMT
Really interesting (and good for listening as well), thetechnobear. I was really impressed when I read through your explanation, and it was very helpful, thank you.
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 21, 2019 8:08:17 GMT
Aah, damnit, I didn’t manage to record anything this week. Been away from the music wardrobe too much. I might still post something for this challenge later this week and then hopefully also for the new one 
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 21, 2019 10:02:27 GMT
Aah, damnit, I didn’t manage to record anything this week. Been away from the music wardrobe too much. I might still post something for this challenge later this week and then hopefully also for the new one  no worries I love the idea of your "Music Wardrobe" , conjures up images of Narnia
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Post by admin on Jan 21, 2019 10:15:48 GMT
I also haven't been able to produce anything that I feel comfortable sharing. Not for lack of trying though, I had 4 failed attempts so far! It all starts out with good intentions, then it just seems boring so more patch cables get added until it all drowns in a complete mess. Then all the cables get removed (I'm getting good at this!) and fresh start with a clean slate next day...
I think am on the right track now by including my very limited and half broken Eurorack and I may be able to turn this into something usable over the next few days.
It has been a bit frustrating, but also so much fun! I just don't know if I can always deliver something in just a week, so maybe the patch challenges could be seen as open-ended?
I would love to see more people trying their hands on them in the weeks, months and hopefully years to come! And I'm sure to come back to them as my knowledge grows.
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 21, 2019 13:00:32 GMT
Ive replied to more general points here, as i think they are interesting things to discuss about format etc. but yeah, I also found this challenge a harder than I expected when I set it, I was going to do something similar to bert's suggestion, using an envelope as a kind of envelope follower and ducker. then on Friday, I got completely sidetracked by the "Krell", which I wanted to build on, but the 'ducker' was not useful for that (since few transients) , and it took me quite a while for me to come up with something "appropriate". but here's the thing, whilst I was struggling with it, I did try some different things, and learn a few tricks, also I tried a few things I have been meaning to try out (eg. eurorack integration), even though not really part of the challenge, but I personally think its a good idea to 'bend' the challenges, to what you want for me that's what the challenge is about, not the result, rather the journey, a starting point - and a means to share some part of that process. ... so yeah the fact you said, you had fun exploring - thats the most important thing! final thought: share anyway, often we think something is obvious ... but its not always to others, and even if its not "new" (is anything?) - revisiting it might inspire ideas
back to the challenge, Ive got some other ideas to Id like to share too... in particular, the cross-fading idea I used, and outlined above - I realised afterwards could be used in all sorts of different ways
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 21, 2019 18:42:56 GMT
ok, so this was the idea that came to me ... pretty much whilst I was writing up how to do cross-fading yesterday listen to this in stereo, preferable with headphones to appreciate the stereo imaging which is what this patch is about... I start pretty plain, then later start wiggling things, and messing with the delay line... which makes it a bit more, errmmm, weird  so the idea is pretty simple (though takes a few patch wires  ) I take an input signal (coming from Rings/Plaits on my Eurorack) then create pass this thru an 'fx chain' (I used wavefolder->delay, but can be anything you want) now create a cross-fade driven by an LFO, between this wet and dry signal. use this for the LEFT channel now copy the cross-fade, but this time use the invert which LFO signal you use (to make these VCAs cross-fade in an inverse relation to the ones used for the left channel) use this for the RIGHT channel what we now have is the wet and dry signals bouncing left and right, against each other.... in this 'demo' , I went quite extreme to 'show it off', but with more subtly , especially with the modulating effect, you can get a variety of effects, where the image is moving around the stereo image. (e.g. try using a delayed version of the lfo, and perhaps just a simple filter... you can almost make percussive sounds, sound like they have a 'shadow'  ) badly drawn image time 
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Post by admin on Jan 22, 2019 12:23:02 GMT
I made it, just in time  Here is my patch which combines my Eurorack mainly the Weatherdrones and Gristleizer with my AE Modular. The Eurorack is all DIY and sadly the Weatherdrones only half functional since I released the magic smoke due to crossed wires on the power supply. Anyway - I'm using two mixers for left and right channel and channel 2-3 are being copied from one mixer to the other, while channel 1 has the input from the Gristleizer which goes through the Nyle Filter and then through two VCA's that are being panned left to right by an LFO and the inverted signal of 2ATT/CV. Channel 4 is coming from MultiFX which adds some atmosphere by sending a VCO that's being pitch controlled by on of the 2ENV in loop mode. For rythm I'm just taking another VCO through the WASP filter and a snappy envelope controlled by the same SEQ16 gate (the CV goes to the Gristleizer!).
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 29, 2019 7:21:00 GMT
Way too late, but I still wanted to give it a go, doing some more distorted feedback loop stuff  I patched the iPad's audio from Korg Gadget, playing a Piano and Drum loop, into the AE Modular to the Nyle filter's LP input, then from the output back into the BP input and from the output again through the Wasp filter, Wavefolder and LoFi Delay (all CV modulated) to the HP input  On the way, I also created an inverted audio signal using the 2ATT module. I switch between this and the regular signal on every beat, synced to the iPad simply via MIDI clock (using a USB-to-DIN MIDI cable and the Apple Camera Connection Kit). This signal inversion creates a different sound inside the feedback loop. At the end I also added some MultiFX Chorus with Reverb. It all gets really crunchy. Haha!
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 29, 2019 12:55:43 GMT
nice, worth the wait
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Post by spacedog on Jan 29, 2019 16:17:56 GMT
nice, worth the wait I agree, I enjoyed that one and you've given me a thought for a possible future challenge.
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pol
Wiki Editors
Posts: 1,192
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Post by pol on Oct 31, 2021 16:40:49 GMT
Finally had time to stop and do this today....
Gradually learning more about this video lark, the reason for adding a couple of my pictures was that I didn't want to edit down the audio further.....
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