Yeah, I don’t understand the benefit except for that Ring mod can have its own out via mix since it’s normaled.
Otherwise it’d just be on the summed vca out
Not a full reply, but it can nice do clean tones. The thing is that it overdrives quickly so if you want to use both voices cleanly, then you have to keep the gain low for both.
Getting bell tones is very easy.
The range for each vco is different and likely because (mod) vco 2 is meant to modulate vco 1. Then there’s the knobs for fm and ring mod and you can come away with it being designed for noise.
It does play well with other gear. I’ve got it working with the Moog semis and make noise desktops. Having separate options for the sequencer outs (sequencer cv1, sequencer cv2, sequencer trigger 1 and sequencer trigger 2) means you can happily plug away while still using labyrinth internal voices.
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i love that it overdrives so easily. It absolutely stands out in a mix and has a super wide pallet of fm goodness. it 100% sounds like a moog and the wave folder is just mint. i cant seem to put it down. it just works for me and my set up. i am still deeply in love with/ enjoying it.
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I’m guessing for use as an attenuverter? Possibly some other utility functions via ring mod. Since it’s DC couple it will allow for some things that aren’t typical audio rate ring mod. Gives a manual panel control to it as well, so nice for inversions of signals, and possibly DC offsets if you patch a steady voltage in. Analog ring mods are great for bipolar CV control aside from usual bell and robot clangery. 
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You might very be onto something here but I fail understanding it.
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I don’t get it how you can invert the signal (which is a thing atenuverters do, don’t they?)
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using Ring signal as a modulation is a thing I haven’t tried yet, feels obvious now. I must have tried almost all outs but not this one. Good point.
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I have put the Labyrinth in a case with Plaits, sequencing it and getting Plaits outs back into the Moog, using filter and wavefolder, was much fun.
Using the Labyrinth’s CV to change Plaits engines and parameters gives crazy rhythms.
Moog Labyrinth is a beast.
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Could you explain how you patch in external audio to be processed by the wavfeolder? I’m having a few issues with that…
I put Plaits out in the utility mixer to attenuate it, then mixer into wavefolder input, with routing WF > VCF or into the filter input with routing VCF > WF.
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By the way, outputting MVCO into VCF with parallel routing is a good way to have both OSC1 and MVCO of the Labyrinth louder and clear.
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Thanks. so I’m a newbie to semi-modular/modular stuff - is it possible to just use the Labyrinth as a sound processor? Unless the Labyrinth is running there is no sound from the external audio input. I’m assuming it’s because the amp envelope is not triggered if the sequencer is not running?
You have WF and VCF inputs, and Mixer output, so you don’t need to go through the Labyrinth output VCA.
Plus you have ENV2 trigger input if you really need to go through the VCA.
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What are people’s opinions after having them for a little while?
I’ve never really been drawn to generative stuff in the past, but more than looking at it for making finished tracks, I kind of have this crazy idea of using it more as like background music at home. Having it run generative sequences on my Grandmother or together with the Grandmother. Sort of like a living music gallery space kind of a vibe as I’m doing stuff around the house. Maybe even for meditation background music.
That said, it sound really nice for traditional beat stuff in this video.
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It’s definitely not a do-it-all synth, but I love the sounds, the dual generative sequencers are nicely done.
I would have preferred a static bit flip though, or even an Elektron way of choosing values. And some patch points are really missing, but with extra modules you can get around this.
A delay and a reverb are kind of mandatory, but my DTII or A4 offer these ^^
So if you like the sound, want to explore generative sequences, have gear to pair with and the money for it, I believe it’s a very satisfying piece of gear. Not perfect, far from it.
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Thanks. Good points. Yeah, I don’t have a modular system, so would just be looking to pair it with the Grandmother, but I do have plenty of nice effects.
The Moog semimodular offerings all do seem to be just not quite a home run (for me) for the price, which is why I haven’t yet picked any up so far. The Labyrinth seems very modular like in the sense that I find it sounds awful in lots of videos, and good in some, so perhaps I should keep lurking on the sidelines for a bit longer to make 100% sure the sound will work for me.
It would definitely be a luxury purchase since it isn’t really a bread-and-butter piece of gear, so I’m hoping I wouldn’t tire of it too quickly. That said, I’m listening to a lot of old synth library music and old experimental ambient stuff lately, so having something modular-like in the studio might be good to have in the toolkit, especially since the Grandmother also has sort of that old Moog modular vibe about it, and it would be meant to expand the Grandmother’s capabilities.
I even picked up this old Buchla museum performance by Suzanne Ciani recently for some West Coast inspiration.
Also for anyone interested, a kind person on the internet made this video at my request to demonstrate some of the Grandmother/Labyrinth patch possibilities.
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Pairing it with your Grandmother should certainly be plenty of fun.
I would suggest to find a dealer and try the Labyrinth in person if you’re unsure.
I don’t see one second hand Labyrinth for sale on AudioFanzine, which is usually a sign that people rather enjoy it. But if you’re not in a hurry, you might as well wait a bit so that you find a good price second hand, so that you can possibly resell it with zero loss.
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I got Labyrinth 2 weeks after its release and after first few days I was so convinced this will go back. It just did not click, it was very frustrating experience. Nothing good came out. Been rocking DFAM and Swarm for years so this was not expected. Then, out of nowhere it clicked. I do not know how to explain it but I somehow tuned into sweet combination of pots and within 3 hours I had like 20 amazing loops / patterns sampled in my balckbox. Even I am not eurorack/patch cable guy,. I really dig what I am getting out of Labyrinth and for sure its a keeper. If you can, give it a try in a shop, it takes time but I can tell you once you click with it . . …
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Thanks @LyingDalai and @mp.
I know what you mean, it’s hard to know if you gel with something until you have time with it, and have it in your own setup, which is why I sometimes find it hard to test gear in the shop (except when I know immediately that I hate it).
These aren’t even released in Japan yet, and it appears that the first batch may have sold out. Not sure when I will be able to get my hands on one if I decide to buy. The good thing with Moog gear is that it really holds its value in Japan, so even if I buy new I don’t think I would lose much if I decide to sell.
That said, I’m really leaning towards getting one as I’ve sort of convinced myself of all the use cases. The bigger danger is wanting to add a second one of these semimodulars if I like it, as these things aren’t cheap. 
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I know what you mean, I’ve thought of it because for real this Labyrinth sounds awesome.
I had a Slim Phatty in the past and you can’t deny Moog knows how to make synths.
Even GASed very hard for the Moog Muse.
Fortunately, I don’t have money anymore 
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Has anyone attempted to build a pseudo Labyrinth in VCV Rack? I’m guessing the main ingredients are all in there — Turing Machine, wavefolder, ring mod, other stuff? — and probably some more open-ended patching capabilities compared to the real deal.
Could be a fun project and/or GAS suppressor if anybody wants to take a whack at it.
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You could also try Mutable/Audible Instruments Marbles, which offer interesting generative sequences as well.
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I haven’t tried that. However, I did order a bunch of panels, so I can build my own as soon as I have some time to do it. 
My shift registers will behave a bit differently. I don’t have plans to quantize them. Otherwise, it will have pretty much the same functionality with more patch points though.
I still kind of want the Labyrinth though too.
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For those interested by a continuous live take of an impro session with the Labyrinth, @DoS is broadcasting it on Sept. 1st
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