Noob modular advice

KOTARE · 2014-12-07T04:33:12.000Z

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Hi all. My modular knowledge is pretty basic, yet my GF has a Tereshkova (above) semi modular and I’d like to use my OT and AK to control it creatively.

We’ve used the OT to send MIDI notes as it has a MIDI-CV convertor. Looking at the specs, how would you use the AK to creatively control it? I’ll send note information via the OT.

I know I just have to dive in but I’d be interested to hear your opinions also!

mcbeth · 2014-12-07T08:36:12.000Z

Well, Id like to ask a question first: where can i get a GF like that??

I’d use the AK to Control the Tereshkova via cv track,
using the octatrack with Synths that have loads of CC’s to be controlled, like waldorf microwave XT

If you need something to spent money on, get a cirklon

analogback · 2014-12-07T09:06:35.000Z

Id say, depends on the patch you create… so by that i mean make a patch you like then start tweaking gently each parameter and take note of the most useful or musical results then set your ak cv outs to modulate those params. its very difficult to recommend which ones to modulate because there are so many variables in a modular patch. Enjoy!

KOTARE · 2014-12-07T09:38:48.000Z

""mcbeth"":

Well, Id like to ask a question first: where can i get a GF like that??

Sigh - a common question that I get asked
I got mine in her honors year of jazz school and then proceeded to demolish everything she’d learnt. I think these women need to start a FB page though…

KOTARE · 2014-12-07T09:42:45.000Z

Thanks for your replies.

I guess I just need to dive in. I’ve never been able to P-lock CV values so this will be something new!

t · 2014-12-07T09:46:40.000Z

[quote=“” mcbeth""]
Well, Id like to ask a question first: where can i get a GF like that??
[/quote]

You won’t ever “get” one “like that” with that kind of sexist attitude.

t · 2014-12-07T09:53:26.000Z

Assuming you get/solder the correct cables, you can get 4 channels of CV out of the A4/AK, as you probably already know.

Apart from p-locking CV values, you can also use the A4 to effectively add up to an additional 2 LFOs and 2 envelope generators to this synth.

I would certainly also experiment with CV gate and V/Oct output from the A4/AK instead of using the built-in MIDI-to-CV, esp. with slides.

To sunnarize; experiment!

avantronica · 2014-12-07T10:14:10.000Z

If you had a slightly limited semi modular you might like to explore creative usage of low voltage sources, like the cue outs from the OT

Elektron’s Troberg used the OT to sync a monotribe for example, some analog components, like resonant filters are nice to ping, plus some gates will work at lower levels that 5v, even in the 1v range

Using audio level noise as a mod source gives very nice fizz to certain mod destinations and you could even use an iphone with an LFO to give good levels for vibrato duties

The A4 cv tracks are good for all sorts, especially if you use Value Lin and get busy with LFOs and ENVs

The A4 even lets you modulate the source track for cv info, that’s nicely experimental, plus they recently enabled MW/AT etc as control params which your own midi:cv may not have

Experiment, but be careful with where you put the high voltages

metalfalcon · 2015-06-11T20:26:49.000Z

I’m considering the millions of options for starting my own modular with my AK as the controller/hub. Here is a hypothetical starter. The idea would be to get a very basic system going to at least sequence some melodies and have fun with a different style filter then the AK. There of course could be flaws in my thinking so feel free to point out any issues

Analog keys (own already)
Purchase:
Powered case
Osc module
Filter module
patch cables

Signal route would be:
AK CV-A–> OSC module gate
AK CV-B–>OSC module pitch
AK CV C–> send an envelope to the filter module
AK CV D–> send LFO to osc or filter

Osc Module out–> filter module in
Filter module out–> audio left in on AK

Set one of the wav sources on an audio track as “audio in left” to use AK as the VCA amp/env and then route the track back AK effects. That last step is where I’m a little washy. I’m thinking I might still need a VCA module and/or something else before sending to the AK.

I figure instead of trying to get a complete basic synth voice out of the gate I could spend a little more for a unique OSC and filter (i.e.mutable instr braids + some cool filter) and let the AK do the nuts and bolts lifting to start. Let me know what you eurorack/AK vets think.

PaleSkinnySwede · 2015-06-11T21:17:27.000Z

Well, the oscillator in the Eurorack world would output a constant signal so you’ll need a VCA, or a low-pass gate, to tame it a bit. To use the AK together with a modular synth, you’ll need to open the AK’s VCA hence you’ll need a VCA in the Eurorack.

I’m using my AK as the controller synth for both my Eurorack and other stuff. The only thing it really lacks are a sustain pedal controller pedal input.

Depending on what you’re planning to get for the Eurorack the routing you’ve written in your post looks fine to me.

Let us know how it goes for you.

metalfalcon · 2015-06-11T21:28:22.000Z

That makes total sense. The VCA stage was where i thought things might be funk with that set up. Thanks!

invisible_acropolis · 2015-06-11T21:45:15.000Z

""metalfalcon"":

Signal route would be:
AK CV-A–> OSC module gate
AK CV-B–>OSC module pitch
AK CV C–> send an envelope to the filter module
AK CV D–> send LFO to osc or filter

you can get away with more than this… you can use buffered mults to make one CV input into 4 or more outputs… so you can use the same trigger out for gate, env, lfo retrigger, etc. etc. and you can send the pitch out to multiple oscs and detune them, etc.

and you can use dividers to change the cv clock in multiples, etc. etc.

modulars are crazy dude.

tedopon · 2015-06-11T21:51:32.000Z

wow

Well done, sir.

metalfalcon · 2015-06-18T19:56:26.000Z

Well, I chickened out. I used the extra cash to buy a sub 37 for a solid deal of craigslist. The new moog firmware allows the CV in to be routed to almost any parameter (including gate trig-> adv seq step which should allow for some crazy stuff) so the four cv outs on the AK can do a lot of damage. Someday I’ll take off the training wheels and go full modular

ipassenger · 2015-06-19T11:26:03.000Z

""PaleSkinnySwede"":

Well, the oscillator in the Eurorack world would output a constant signal so you’ll need a VCA, or a low-pass gate, to tame it a bit. To use the AK together with a modular synth, you’ll need to open the AK’s VCA hence you’ll need a VCA in the Eurorack.

Not really true, you don’t really need a VCA tbh.
If you use the inputs on the AK and feed these to the track sounds (tracks 1-4), so the eurorack sound goes through the filter and VCA of the AK then you have a full voice with just an OSC and Filter from the eurorack.
Track VCA and two more envelopes from the AK, plus pitch CV (CVA), a filter Envelope CV (CVB) and a couple of lfos (CVC + CVD) from the AK to the eurorack.
You can set the source on the pitch CV and envelopes on the CV track to that of the same track your routing the inputs to (rather than it taking info from the CV track), so it behaves like one instrument.

2old4shit · 2015-06-19T12:34:41.000Z

this sounds very cool and tricky,
what osc and filter do you chosse from modular
market for a real enhancement of sound.

cheers Darius

ipassenger · 2015-06-19T13:09:11.000Z

""2old4shit"":

this sounds very cool and tricky,
what osc and filter do you chosse from modular
market for a real enhancement of sound.

cheers Darius

Not as bad as it sounds to set up tbh.
I have 4 osc in my case and 3 filters, they’re all pretty different, so it depends really on what sounds you feel your missing from the A4 palette.

Current OSC:

Intellijel Shapeshifter - Crazy dual digital oscillator, can do FM, wavetables, wavefolding and more. Great sound, only just got this one.

Intellijel Rubicon - Analog Thru Zero Fm beast, very precise sounding with lots of inputs and outputs, probably want at least another oscillator though to get the most out of it.

Mutable Instruments Braids - Digital multi function oscillator, can be many different things.

TipTop Z3000 - Analog flavoured beast, got a great raw and rude sounding saw wave and the sync sound on it is great too.
Of the four I’d say the Shapeshifter is probably the most interesting and different from the A4/AK sound but I like em all for different reasons.

Current Filtes:

Toppobrillo Multifilter - really nice multi output filter, so can output lp, bp, hp and notch at the same time, with a mixer you can mix the results to get different shapes (really good if you have a bi-polar mixer)

Synthesis Technology E440 - Really creamy old school LP filter, based on the Seq Circ Prophet topology. Has outs at different curves, again a bipolar mixer can allow you to get different shapes.

Malekko Borg 2 - Weird one this, really screamy resonance, can be lp, bp or notch. Uses vactrols for filter response, so it doesn’t snap to values like the other two. Can sound organic.

I did have a Doepfer A124 Wasp filter at one point, that is mental really odd, breaks up and goes nuts as you approach self oscillation.

Abhoth · 2015-06-19T13:44:26.000Z

I midi sequence my modular from the OT and often use the A4 CVs for tempo sync’ed modulation and to p-lock all sorts of parameters.

Kind of like if the OT handles notes and the A4 what would have been CCs, if that makes sense.

ipassenger · 2015-06-19T14:09:56.000Z

I used to sequence my modular this way but swapped my kenton midi-cv for expert sleepers ES3 and ES5.

On the down side it is not as immediate as a midi/cv interface but its probably more powerful than all but the most expensive converters. TBH though I am using the AK for notes and stuff at the minute.