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ian
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for Britt/Modular Synth learning tool

Caustic Song file (optional): 

Hey Britt (anyone else),

I put this together to help you understand the Modular.

It set up in two areas of concentration

The first is a series of modulars all with slight variations, easy to play around with.

The second is 3 machines and 3 different modulars that can control them using the machine inputs.

First group:

put in three different kinds of generators

Each generator is effected by it s own DADSR envelope 

First is an FM Pair: it sounds at the start of the note 

The next two generators can be heard in the middle and the last part of the note played.

So now you can hear each "machine" all in one note press.

I did this by adjusting the "delay" on each DADSR and by making them each have short "sustain"

Play around with these settings and you can "blend" the sounds in different ways.

There is one LFO.

I Show it plugging into different parts of each machine to change them. I only did a couple because there are so many variations. Play around with this.

 

2)

Here there are the 3 different machine input masters and the 3 slave machines.

You will see on the mixer the slaves are set to zero volume.(can change to taste but later)

2 of the "master mods" are muted. You can mute and unmute each alone or in combinations.

OK, have fun.

Ask questions.

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

Britt
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Ian, this is awesome! This

Ian, this is awesome! This means a lot to me, I´m so grateful! heart *sniff*
I just downloaded it and had a look, and with this description I think it is not as frightening as before. Now I´m encouraged to give it a new chance!
I´m so happy right now, you have no idea! (((((((BIG Hug)))))))

 

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
Awww shucks. Welcome :)
Awww shucks.

Welcome :)

And please: turn all the knobs ( esp on the mixers inside the modular and the "rate" on the LFO)
Plug the LFO into everyrhing thing that lets you and listen to the changes.
Delete and add new components once you get the hang of it, too.

It s really very fun stuff!

Another hint for later: try plugging the "output" of one of your generators into the "FM" and/or the "feedback" mod inputs of the FM Pair...

Change the "octaves" and "semis" on the modifing generator.

Change the "attack" and "decay" etc. On the DADSR that is connected to the generator you are using to modify the FM Pair.

this when you can start to get wild sounds, even more so if you start using more than one FM Pair; but do this once you get the basics down.

Britt
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Quote: "put in three

Quote: "put in three different kinds of generators"
Question: Is generators the things in the Mod Synth slots?
 

Pan65
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Joined: 12/02/2012 - 12:04
I think he means sound

I think he means sound generators such as FM-pairs, Pulse generators and so on.

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
Yes, what Pan said.

Yes, what Pan said.

The things in the first menu on the left of inputs choices, labeled "Gen." ... These are the things that create ( or generate) the actual sounds.

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
Have you downloaded one of

Have you downloaded one of the skins that shows all the names of the inputs?

Very helpful

Britt
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There is such a skin? where?? (Edited)

Cool, it´s the Night skin! :)

Britt
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Oh, okay! :)

Oh, okay! :)

ian
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http://www.singlecellsoftware

http://www.singlecellsoftware.com/caustic/skins

Mindfool made this one, super cool.

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
Don't be shy to ask about

Don't be shy to ask about anything that is unclear.

Britt
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I found the skin. Good for

I found the skin. Good for the eyes this late at night.
...and I made this from your setup. I don´t know exactly what I did, maybe I touched something wrong, because something was muted and suddenly it was not. You know, I just dived into the ocean of machines and twisted the knobs. :D
Maybe you can listen/look at it, and write some wise word later?

Caustic Song file (optional): 

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
Ahahahahaha ...

Ahahahahaha ...

awesome!

If this is a hit we are splitting the money, Britt!

 

 

Britt
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LOL! Yes, of course!

LOL! Yes, of course! cool
Oh... I really should go to bed, it´s 3:40 am here... but i´m so excited and happy! Maybe a cup of warm milk with a squirt of Baileys will get me sleepy.
G´nite, Ian!

ian
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Night.

Night.

Yr new song made me smile.

derrtiblu
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Joined: 03/08/2014 - 23:00
Thanx ian!

Thanx ian!

Britt
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Hi Derrit, good to see you.

Hi Derrit, good to see you.
Isn´t this a good way to become friends with the Modular synth? I bookmarked this page so i can read the text while practising. angel
 

Britt
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Note for learning and url for

Note for learning and url for study:
DADSR stands for Delay, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release (envelope generator; music synthesis)
http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/computermusic.co.uk/QAFEnvLFO.pdf (PDF)

derrtiblu
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Me too!!

Me too!!

ian
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Welcome!

Welcome!

sea
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Joined: 02/02/2014 - 20:49
Really useful file, can see a

Really useful file, can see a lot of effort went into it, thanks Ian!

Between this and a few handy links posted on the form lately about synth theory, I'm using the modular a lot more.

Britt
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Ian, I *must* brag to you

Ian, I *must* brag to you here!
I recently made a real tune with Mod synths and all! It´s in Show & tell, I´m so proud now, even if it could sound better. cool

ian
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Duh. Knew you could do it ;)

Duh. Knew you could do it ;)

Hey, 

I just threw another quick file for you because I thought I might have overloaded the first one with too much stuff.

This one has only one generator and I added a filter this time. Figured it might be a little easier on the eyes. 

I put some reverb on it.

Enjoy.

Caustic Song file (optional): 

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
That one above is pretty

That one above is pretty plain jane, so just to show you that it can be more fun here s one I'm using in a song... Its nothing amazing at all but a little more interesting...I don't want to scare you off the mod with all these bland "teachy" files, you can get funky with it. 

Caustic Song file (optional): 

Britt
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Thanks again, Ian, for the

Thanks again, Ian, for the time you´ve spent with all this, and for passing it so I can learn! These will come in handy. I´ll have a look at them later.
It´s kind of weird that I´m not that scared of the Mod anymore. I´m not madly in love yet, but it´s intriguing and challenging, that Moddie. laugh
 

ian
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Thanks, nice of you to say.

Thanks, nice of you to say.

ian
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Yr welcome. Wasn't that much

Yr welcome. Wasn't that much time really, glad to. 

 

derrtiblu
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Think after these demo

Think after these demo samples from ian it makes going back two the drawing board with the original caustic stock utube videos, plus what jason has really open my mind alot more about electronica. But i'm still buggin' about vocalizing caustic. I guess once i get a interface. And software two support this mobility of production. .. dammmn!!!! Hummmm brain is on fire!!! With all the possibilities.

ian
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Well, it's under $20 bucks to

Well, it's under $20 bucks to get Audio Evolution including the USB mic plug in they sell, after that its just finding a decent inexpensive USB mic.... You can import WAV mixdowns from Caustic straight into Audio Evolution and record as many  vox as you need live... There is always the vocorder work around that a lot of people here do but that is too unnatural a flow for me... 

I know you would like to use the Caustic FX for your voice, so I don't know about that... 

derrtiblu
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Re-thinking alot about the

Re-thinking alot about the many android apps, re-loops, n-tracks, g-stomper, electrum, audio, evolution, i've downloaded alot. But no funds really two invest in all at once and i'm really sea potential of all. But geeeeeeezzz tricking out a 64gig sd card tablet?? but one style of recording has been done extensive as can 32 gig sd card external 8gig internal i can't wait for black Friday for the holidays. Something has got two give.

Britt
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Ian, I made a new song with

Ian, I made a new song with the Mod snyth, Circle Sight. (Bragging, because i don´t want you to miss it!)

Britt
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You can only use one machine

You can only use one machine at the time in the mod synth, right?

derrtiblu
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only one machine at a time

As, u use machine input i believe if i'm correct.ask someone else!!

derrtiblu
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I'm glad u got more handle on

I'm glad u got more handle on the mod synth compare two me.

Britt
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Ok, thanks, I will try,

Ok, thanks, I will try, Derrti.

ian
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Do you mean one 'machine

Do you mean one 'machine input'? 

Britt
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That´s we should make a

That´s we should make a little tune together, Mr. D.
Because: You know more than me about sound and tech stuff. I need you to work with me.
If we study the mod together, both will learn more. Because it´s hard to learn everything alone.

Think about it, maybe we can start the 1st of November (I´m kind of busy with my b.day coming up and mom´s coming down to celebrate)?
But no hard feeling if you don´t want to.

G´nite, Mr. D

Britt
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But there´s only one line out

But there´s only one line out in the machine input? So if I use more of them, where do the other cords go? Can I fill the slots with, let say 3 machine inputs and  match them with 3 other "effect modules" (or what we call them)...?
 

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
so, if we stick with your

so, if we stick with your example of 3 machine inputs you can...

add a mixer and run all 3 machine inputs into the mixer and just one line out

actually hold on... i will just make a file for you... 

be back soon...

 

 

 

ian
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ok heres a few simple ideas..

ok heres a few simple ideas...

Caustic Song file (optional): 

Britt
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Ok, I tried Subsynth with

Ok, I tried Subsynth with DASR thing, PCM with the AR thing and Beatbox with another thing.
It didn´t work, because theres only one place to set the pattern. And with 3 Machines..??

I need some sleep, Ian, it´s soon 4 in the morning (How could that happen, it was 11 just a while ago).
I´ll check back tomorrow. :)
 

Britt
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Thanks, Ian!

Thanks, Ian!
I will try tomorrow. You are such a patient and gentle soul.

Britt
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OMG!! A *bunch* of Modzillas!

OMG!! A *bunch* of Modzillas! LOL! I definately have to sleep before I do something there! laugh

ian
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ok.... second one is the same

ok.... second one is the same 1st 4 modulars as the one I just posted .... it starts getting more complicated with more combinations on the new additions....

I also started to add filters to modify the 'cut' and 'res' of the filters that the machine inputs are passing directly thru ...

 

please keep in mind that I just made these very quickly for you to 'see' the connections.... feel free to try them out with real machines but no promises that they will sound cool at all... 

the reason i started to add the modifying LFO's and Filters hooked into the filters that are running to the output is because they often don't do much without influences acting on them.

.I also put a 'pan' at the end of one of the examples , just to show that...

sorry if there is too much info at once....

 

I hope you can see the progression and also start to see how you can modify things along the path.

Caustic Song file (optional): 

ian
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Joined: 02/13/2014 - 21:23
ha... sleep well.... 

ha... sleep well.... 

Thanks.... 

feel like I want to do a better job of explaining but I think hands on is best... have fun.

derrtiblu
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Heh heh heh hi mr. Ian i will

Heh heh heh hi mr. Ian i will be able two do alot more now don't u guys love early holiday gifts? If i can get sum better headphones! Crrrapp!!!

ian
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I gotta say that I'm by no

I gotta say that I'm by no means an expert when it comes to the mod synth.... I hope someone else steps into this thread soon to answer questions because cats are creepin on me...

Edit: that was a lot of slang and english isn't everyone's first language; no one is creepy. ha.  I just might run out of knowledge to share if people using this thread progress beyond capacities; and I could stand to learn a thing or two, as well. 

Pan65
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Look like you already know

Look like you already know your way around the modular, but if something is unclear just ask away:). I'm sure someone will have the answer you seek, I try to answer as much as my ability and time allows.

Britt
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Hi both, Pan65 and Ian.

Hi both, Pan65 and Ian.
I made a leap fwd in self confidence and lost the fear of the Modular synth after I got this lesson, and I have bookmarked this page. I´m so grateful and happy for what I have learned, and I really, really want to keep the new (little, but notable) knowledge of the Mod Synth - so, in order to stay hungry for it, I have kept myself away from it the past few days.

Learning these things is like learning math. I´m not good at mathematics, but it has fascinating beauty to it, that keeps me in awe. Always!
It needs time to sink in. I´m clinging to it by my fingertips - I might soon have a major breakthrough, I had the same feeling back at school, and about to solve the mysteries of fracture functions for the first time. It was beautiful. smiley

So this thread needs a bump from time to time, so others can use it

Have a good one! heart
 

derrtiblu
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I love this thread. Main

I love this thread. Main reason... so i clean out my own brain-garbage of what i think i know and really "learn two - know" the modular better.

Kilyjay
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Joined: 02/19/2014 - 18:16
*bump*

*bump*

just cuz it's a really good thread and want to say thanks to Ian for his efforts to enlighten us all! Plus, it might encourage any further tips on the modular to be added. Hehe.. wink

Britt - well done on cuddling the modular with your new found confidence! yes

Kilyjay

​"sometimes it snows in April..."

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