Some time ago I sold a bunch of modular after owning it for a month. It completely sent me in a GAS craze so it had to go. But I still miss the Manis from Make Noise, and all the harsh glitchy nasty tones I sampled from it, as one shots or 8step techno loops.
In the same vain I’m now GASSING for the Quadrantid Swarm, but I’m not going to cave in. I have a great OT, RYTM and A4 setup, a DN, an AS-1, and since recently the free analog synths collection that you get from Arturia with their larger midi controllers.
I tend to not achieve the “out there” kind of (wave foldy?) sounds like I got from the Manis on my other synths. Any ideas for how to achieve those? And how to write/modulate 8step sequences that become instant techno like in the Dfam and Quadrantid Swarm?
The AS-1 has a nice step recorder but misses the per-step PLOck kind of editing for modulating the 8 steps. How would you approach (re)creating these sequences?
As for which sounds, maybe start on the soft synths collection and just tweak away? Or pull out an old Overdrive pedal for on one of my synths?
If it is just for crazy sounds or short sequences I normally fire up Reaktor or toy around with VCV Rack and sample it. At least for me it wouldn’t make any sense to do this in hardware (due to its limited scope / benefits vs. costs).
To me that is a very impressive DFAM impression, takes a lot more skill and vision than I have right now, but it’s something to strive for. Obviously DFAM can be a lot more instant but on the other hand the four voices make the A4 a lot more flexible when used right.
I’m in the same boat as you as I also had a short affair with modular. Went from zero to 12U 84HP in about six months. Talk about GAS! It just went over my head, I wasn’t ready for it and I realised I loved having modular more than playing it. Was the best gear-related decision to sell it all.
My current setup is actually pretty similar with yours and although I mainly don’t gravitate towards harsh/mad/techno, that’s a VERY capable setup for something like that! Just keep digging!
That’s a great suggestion. I still have VCV I think. Didn’t try it since having had the real modular, so I should understand it better now. Plus I can just really go crazy and see where it leads me.
I had a DFAM for a while (one of many things I sold again but that’s another conversation) and I don’t think I’ve ever had a single other piece of software or hardware that had the same “wow” and immediacy factor. It was hard to make it sound bad and you could just hit play and then tweak knobs and it sounded absolutely awesome. About 99% sweet spots, hard to argue with that!
It nearly sent me down a eurorack hole as well, but I somehow managed to avoid it. I’ve been tempted again sometimes though and I think that’s where I’d start because it’s got so many modules in an affordable package. Out of the case and into a eurorack 104hp case. I reckon if you literally added a single digital multi-fx module or a cheap delay module (or a korg NTS-1 sat next to it) you’d never leave the house…
…which I’m not supposed to do now anyway because of tier 4 covid restrictions (here in London)!
Back on topic - you can get some pretty filthy/noisy/aggressive short sequences out of the Digitone. Don’t underestimate the filth available at extreme/random FM settings and with the digital overdrive. I would also add that the Elektron sequencer lends itself well to techno - just get a simple 8-step sequence (or 16 if you’re brave) and then you can just hold a few steps and tweak a few parameters as it loops over and over. It can get very noisy and very aggressive very quickly!
Also depends on how hands on you want to be. Knob twiddling is quite a different exploratory approach vs going to say Reaktor or soft modular gui.
You could get far deeper in software but not nearly have as much fun. And depending on the end goal the hatdware sometimes will tick the boxes and sometimes not come close.
+1 Reaktor and itb fx + sampling.
Perhaps though dont waste too much time trying to do on one peice of hsrdware what you managed to get from another?
Yeah I get what you’re saying, to use strengths of gear instead of work against what it’s not. I just miss certain sounds, and am looking for where to find them:) But lots of good stuff here, I think I’m going to see if I enjoy the in the box approach.
PS plus on my hardware I’m finding the best results currently by using the Rytms Dual Osc and messing with those parameters. Randomize is also fun exploring those settings
That’s not really a reason to jump directly to hardware. Mapping a few encoders, faders and/or pods on the fly (Faderfox EC4, NanoKontrol, Elektron encoders & fader etc.pp.) fulfills that knob twiddling itch when I’m using software.
I get this and so agree, it is not the only reason to use hardware and there are other reasons.
Yes there are a good number of good control options for vst these days…we know it wasn’t always this way;-)
Same. I‘ve seen this funky looking device popping up left and right recently and after I‘ve watched this video, I begin to understand why…
Impressive sound palette, knobs, sequencer and I also really like the sound. Only a few parameters accessible via midi cc which are offset to the knob position and no presets which limits planned live application a bit, but yeah, really cool!
Anyways…If anyone can recommend some „noise box“ plugins, Reaktor ensembles or anything, would love to check them out.
My current approach is also building patches in VCV Rack and sample into OT - of course dealing with samples is quite different to synthesis, although OT is flexible enough for shaping such samples. Getting the modulation right is key.
I usually stick to modules that exist in the real world, some I know already, other have been on my list for ages, so this is a great way to limit myself. Don’t want to get lost in software modular land!
