New Stuff 4 Modular

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:00 pm

Man Or Myth,...John Bowen,
It seems as though Modular is going to get a kick in the britches soon. I see lots of action in the device thread, and in Scope Creativity. From several people including John Bowen and the ModGodz. What a name 4 a teched out ensemble. If I am busting anyones balls too much I apologize, and shift all blame on GaryB. It is his fault. he's the one. I'm just a patsy.

I'm Afraid That All We Have Done Is To Awaken A Sleeping Giant, And Fill Him With A Modular Resolve.

johnbowen · Post by **johnbowen** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:56 pm

Hey, Jimmy beat me to it!

I sort of 'caught fire' with this idea the other night, and I'd like to know if there's any interest out there in the Modular community for such things. Here's my first effort:

<IMG SRC="http://www.johnbowen.com/images/picture ... us%202.JPG">

As you can see, not all the additional connection points are in the lower section - I put the MIDI In, MVC Frequency Control Output, Gate Output, External Input and Audio Outs across the top, mostly for a little less messy look when I was connecting these things, but it would probably be better to put (most of) them in the patch bay area.

This screenshot shows the following arrangement:

1) The MultiSegment Env B is set as a looping envelope connected as the modulation source in the PolyMod section that normally is Osc B (so, PMod Src2 replaces Osc B as a source). Since I had to use some switches to make this work, you see the green Active LED next to that connection.

2) The normal Amp Envelope is being replaced by the AHD vintage module.

3) The Flexor LP-8 Butter filter is replacing the Prophet's internal filter - the patch point connected is the Mixer output, though you could take the oscs or noise directly out into the LP-8. Then the out of the LP-8 is fed back into the Prophet's Amp Input, with the Active LED ON.
Also, I have the Prophet's Filter Env coming out and modulating the LP-9's cutoff through its Mod input.

The points in the patch bay currently are:

a) PolyMod Source 1&2 inputs
b) Wheel Modulation Output
c) 2 frequency controls for each Osc (A & B). (These are the same as the pitchModifier B module, but built in for each Osc.)
d) Amp Envelope Input
e) Filter Envelope Output
f) Direct outputs for Osc A, Osc B, White, and Pink Noise
g) The Mixer output
h) Input into the Amp

Across the top, you have the Frequency output from the internal MVC, to run other modular oscs, etc., as well as the Gate, of course.

The EXT just feeds any audio into input 3 of the mixer, and it is then switched from Noise to EXT on the ADD page.

I'm sure there could be more connection points

This was pretty fun to do, actually, and I'm glad Jimmy started "poking around"....I hadn't thought too much about doing stuff for the Modular, but this could be a fun approach, however, it also was fraught with frustration at times, so...I need to know if this is a kind of project that might be something people would purchase.

Please send me emails directly if so...I have some other ideas as well that don't present the entire synth as a module - the obvious problem is screen real estate, which is always at a premium with these Modular things.

Cheers,
John b.

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:16 pm

i really like the idea as well

(heh, totally coincidence, but have a look here as well

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... forum=35&3 )

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: piddi on 2006-06-08 19:17 ]</font>

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:07 pm

amazing

but probably impossible without all the 'pre-design' on the RD module system, isn't it ?
eventually a great work will pay off as people demand a 'modular extended version' of devices

cheers, Tom

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:29 pm

I had to copy the thread and study it. But I like experimenting with all modules. I'm not sure what would work until I try it, but I have had great luck even on my mistakes. Take us to another level JB, as I will follow.

To Us, And Those Like Us,

spacef · Post by **spacef** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:51 pm

hi john,
very clever !
But what about presets ? can you load the old synth presets inside the modular shell?
presets are the only reason why i didn't go deeper into modular so far (especially recalling different cabling for example). that's why, on my side, i was going to build mods producing modulations, to use with synths external inputs (unless i too receive a lot of email aszking for this kind of designs.... eventhough, for the moment, i'm into doing another type of oscillators).
anyway, thanks for opening a new way, and best of luck with this new concept.
mehdi

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:17 am

Very nice indeed John.
Would it be possible to have all OSC & Lfo waveforms available at once at a bunch of new patch points? That would be killer

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:23 am

I'm not so sure why 'screen real estate' is a problem in the modular window John, as it has scroll bars providing scrollable virtual screen space. Or do people prefer not to scroll?

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:39 am

"I'm Afraid That All We Have Done Is To Awaken A Sleeping Giant, And Fill Him With A Modular Resolve."

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:02 am

I have to say that this stuff looks very sick indeed. I may have to break down and finally buy one of the Prophet series.

johnbowen · Post by **johnbowen** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:13 am

...But what about presets ? can you load the old synth presets inside the modular shell?
mehdi

The presets work completely as usual for the synth, and then you have another preset list for the Modular which stores all the settings of the synth plus all added modules! It's pretty cool, actually.

Any other suggestions for patch points? Please let me know...

cheers,
john b.

Shroomz, the waveshapes in the Prophet are not individually accessable, but come out as a pre-determined 'mix' (that's what comes out of my individual Osc A/B outputs). This is true for the LFOs as well. (I also have a standard multimode oscillator in there for additional LFO work, but this only produces 1 waveshape at a time. Creamware never developed an oscillator that could produce simultaneous waveshapes separately available, so to do this, you have to build a custom oscillator block with all of the oscs inside. Perhaps we can get Assaf/Adern to build one from Flexor?).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: johnbowen on 2006-06-09 09:37 ]</font>

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:58 am

Ok

I was wondering if it would be possible to tap into the waveforms pre-mix stage, but I understand what you're saying.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:59 am

Still looks AWESOME though

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:21 am

Some more patch point ideas John:-

LFO Freq In
LFO Mod Out
PW Mod In A
PW Mod In B
Filter Env Mod Ins
Amp Env Mod Ins
Filter Freq Mod In
Filter Reso Mod In

Not in any order of preference, just a few suggestions

johnbowen · Post by **johnbowen** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:11 am

Some more patch point ideas John:-

LFO Freq In
LFO Mod Out
PW Mod In A
PW Mod In B
Filter Env Mod Ins
Amp Env Mod Ins
Filter Freq Mod In
Filter Reso Mod In

Yes, those are all good! The WhMod Out is the LFO Mod Out, so that's there already...the others would be mostly easy - just making room in the patch bay!

Unfortunately, so far no one has written about actually wanting such a device as this, so....I'm thinking maybe to do something else instead that (hopefully) will generate more interest.

Thanks!
John B.

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:06 pm

I am interested in anything you make. The RD Flexor stuff was a good start 4 Solaris. I will be building a 45 DSP box 4 Solaris and Modular only, no Giga or other Scope synths. It will be a Bowen box. Afterall it's all of your creations in it.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:09 am

I think you'd surely sell a handfull of these at least John. There's already 2 or 3 people who've posted on this thread that might just put their hands in their pockets for this device if you pimped it to the max with I/Os.

Either way, I can't wait to see what you come up with next !!

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:15 am

I share Shroomz enthusiasm also.

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:57 am

Yep, I can confirm that this would make me buy the thing. The only problem is I'm confused about the different synths in the Prophet/Proph@t range.

I also own Pro One Solo - would there be any kind of upgrade path?

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:56 am

JB,
You're killing us, don't stop.

I'm Afraid That All We Have Done Is To Awken A Sleeping Giant, And Fill Him With A Modular Resolve.