PULSAR-23 . Yellow Andrew Huang Edition

I had a play with a mates Pulsar-23 a few weeks ago and loved it.

His was a standard version.

SOMA Laboratory, has however recently collaborated with musician/video producer 

Andrew Huang to produce this exclusive edition PULSAR-23

It has a loud yellow exterior with custom knobs which is accompanied by an exclusive 

alligator clip-emblazoned hat.

The Pulsar-23 is a semi-modular drum 

machine with an open-ended approach 

that sidesteps and outright rejects 

classic drum machine tropes. 

Described by its creator Vlad Kreimer 

as "organismic," PULSAR-23 is all 

about building living, breathing, 

evolving rhythmic structures using 

alligator clip patch points and 

physical interaction....

 Like other SOMA devices, Pulsar-23 creates a seemingly organic connection

 between the musician and instrument, tapping into the deepest parts of your 

subconscious to rely on instinct and reaction rather than conscious decision-making.

PULSAR-23's four voices are tailored to produce kick, bass, snare, and hat sounds,

respectively, all of which can be controlled using the built-in recorder/sequencer or external

MIDI or control voltages. But by patching together its many control voltage utilities and

effects, it reveals a unique life of its own.

This Perfect Circuit exclusive PULSAR-23 includes a custom colorway, knobs, and hat

 — all developed in collaboration with Andrew Huang to complement his unique take on this experimental drum machine.

The PULSAR-23 Andrew Huang Edition is available here:

www.perfectcircuit.com/soma-pulsar-23-andrew-huang-edition.html

Cost: $2250 USD

Modulisme Session 083 by VA. Serge-O-Voxes --- voices for the Serge 5. v.1

 Modulisme Session 083 by VA. Serge-O-Voxes --- voices for the Serge 5. v.1

...

Welcome to Serge -o- Voxes # 5 celebrating 50 years since the creation of the SERGE « the People’s Synthesizer».
Gathering compositions made playing the system to compose an hommage, secretly, as I wanted to prepare a surprise for Serge Tcherepnin... The first 4 volumes of the « Serge -o- Voxes » series gathered 80 compositions forming the largest hommage-testimony ever made…
This time offering 60 short works divided in 2 volumes, this is v.1,

Arp 2600 - Envelope Follower & pre-amp

The APR 2600's envelope follower is a often ignored module.

However, its really useful and with clever patching, can greatly enhance the use of the 2600.

Found on the extreme left, the module is grouped with a pre-amp & ring modulator.

It tracks the amplitude of an incoming audio signal and generates a control voltage (CV) up to +10 V that can be used to modulate other parameters of the synthesizer.

The envelope follower is most often used with external instruments

such as using a guitar as an input signal to modulate the filter cutoff frequency of a synthesizer. By controlling the filter with the guitar's amplitude, the synthesizer can create a more expressive and responsive sound that mimics the characteristics of a guitar.

The Envelope Follower can also be used in place of an envelope generator

if you have an external signal. Thus with little more that a external sound source you have an extra envelope to modulate VCO's VCA's or filters.

The Pre-amp is important when imputing an external audio signal.

It can amplify signals up to 1000 times.

Use a guitar, mic, voice, keyboard , tablet, MP3 players, 

drum machines, Kaoss pads, etc etc 

Really versatile.

The pre-amp is normalised to the envelope follower.

Thus you don't need a cable to connect the two.

Note, that there is now no connection going from the Env Fol output

to any other part of the 2600.

In practical terms, the EF converts amplitude into voltage.

So the louder the signal, the greater the voltage.

Also, remember the EF's output is hard wired to the input of the lag processor.

Interesting! Why would you want that?

I think, if for example we plug in sounds with quick attacks like drums, we can control how responsive everything is.

Before connecting any external instruments it a good idea to check levels first.

You may want to connect your mic for example into the pre-amp input and set the 

gain to the lowest.

Patch 1

Control the pitch of a VCO with an external instrument.

Always use one of  the module's "control inputs".

Patch 2

Controlling the filter.

Remember you'll need to plug it into one of the Control inputs , not into the Audio section of inputs.

Basically, we are replacing the ADSR with a new envelope.

Patch 3

Say we want to hear the guitar / external drum but also want that instrument to impact the filter

By tweaking the envelope follower slider, you'll be able to change the effect amount on the filter.

Patch 4

VCO & filter modulation

Patch 5

Feedback & distortion

Using the Pre-amp (keep the gain down).

The pre-amp output goes into the VCA (replaces the VCF input).

In this example, Ive taken a saw waveform and plugged this into vco 2

Play around with the different knob and sliders -- pre-amp gain & filter cutoff & res is fun.

Patch 5

Voltage controlled Resonance.

1. Plug the output of the ring mod into the input of the envelope follower.

2. the output of the pre-amp is plugged into one of the inputs of voltage processor 1

3. VP (inverted) ---> ring mod input on the VCF

4. The filter output, goes into the left input of the Ring Mod.

Patch 6

Ethereal Phase-shifting on an External Source

p.96 - Original ARP 2600 patch book.

Patch 7

"Ow" on external source.

p.98 - Original ARP 2600 patch book.

Check out the 

Drum-controlled ADSR & S/H

PWM ???

p.99 - Original ARP 2600 patch book.

(I haven't tested this out myself).

Greece - Rhodes 2

 Some pics of Rhodes island. It's in the eastern Aegean Sea.

The island has a long and rich history that includes Eastern, Western & Islamic influences. 

In the early 7th century, the Arab armies of the Rashidun Caliphate began to conquer the Eastern Roman Empire, including the islands of the Aegean. Rhodes fell to the Arab forces in 654 AD and became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.

Under Islamic rule, Rhodes became a major center of commerce and trade in the Mediterranean. The city of Rhodes, known as Rodos in Arabic, became a hub for Islamic scholars, scientists, and artists. The famous Arab geographer and traveler, Al-Masudi, described Rhodes as a city of great wealth and beauty.

Mosque of Suleiman in Rhodes

The Suleymaniye Mosque or the Mosque of Suleiman (Turkish: Süleymaniye Camii) was a mosque originally built after the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes in 1522 and reconstructed in 1808. It was named by the Sultan Suleiman to commemorate his conquest of Rhodes.

In the 10th century, Rhodes came under the rule of the Fatimid Caliphate, which was based in Egypt. 

During this period, the island experienced a cultural and artistic renaissance, with the construction of many new buildings and monuments.

In the 13th century, the island came under the control of the Knights Hospitaller, a Christian military order that established a stronghold in Rhodes. The Knights Hospitaller fought against the Ottoman Empire, which was expanding into the eastern Mediterranean. In 1522, the Ottomans successfully captured Rhodes from the Knights Hospitaller.

Part of the battlements of the Grand master palace is to the right.

It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The site was previously a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller that functioned as a palace, headquarters, and fortress.

...

Coat of arms ... wall of rhodes .. old town.

During the Italian rule of Rhodes, the Italian architect Vittorio Mesturino restored the damaged parts of the palace between 1937 and 1940. It became a holiday residence for the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, and later for Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, whose name can still be seen on a large plaque near the entrance.

...

MINARET OF THE IBRAHIM PASHA MOSQUE 

Knightly coat of arms on the wall of a house of Ippoton street in Rhodes

..

Roloi Clock Tower. 

The Clock Tower is the highest point of the Old Town of Rhodes.

Visitors climb 53 steep wooden steps to reach a low-ceilinged chamber with 360-degree views.

The clock tower is a Byzantine structure that originally dates back to the end of the seventh century. It was reconstructed after the heavy damage caused by the earthquake of 1851.

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* Greece

   - Patmos - Greece

   - Kos- Greece Part 1

   - Kos - Greece - part2

   - Greece - rhodes 1

   - Greece - Rhodes 2

ARP 2600 - Ring Modulator

The basic principle of ring modulation involves taking two input signals and multiplying them together. The resulting output signal contains a series of harmonics that are the sum and difference frequencies of the two input signals. 

We are basically combining two frequencies to create sidebands.

This technique is commonly used in electronic music synthesis and sound design to create complex, dissonant, metallic or bell-like sounds and timbres.

The ring modulator on the ARP 2600 is particularly interesting because it can also be used as a frequency multiplier. By sending a single frequency into one input of the ring modulator and adjusting the frequency of the other input, you can create complex and evolving harmonic patterns and evolving sounds.

The left and right inputs are normalised to VCO 1 & VCO 2

though these signals can be over-ridden by patching into the jacks.

You can also use it as a very unusual CV mixer.

Notice the Audio/DC switch.

The Ring-Mod module is normalised to both the VCF and VCA.

This means you can have both a filtered and a non-filtered ring-modulated signal

Patch 1

Since VCO1 & 2 are already hard-wired to the ring-mod its 

good to start experiments just by tweaking the frequencies of the two VCOs.

You don't have to do any patching.

Just open up the connection to the VCA and listen.

Results can be pretty wild and unpredictable.

It's a sound designers dream. ;-)

Patch 2

Adding different wave-forms into input 2

Play around with the Audio/DC switch.

You can also change one of  the inputs to a LFO, and keep the other as audio.

Patch 3

Using the ring modulator to create CVs

Set both inputs to Low frequencies.

Thus the Ring Mod won't produce sound ... instead  it will produce control voltages.

So the ring modulator is now converted into an unusual CV mixer.

It's output can now be plugged into anywhere that accepts CVs.

In this example the inputs to the RM are LFOs.

The output of the RM is modulating the Fc of the filter.

Patch 4

Ring Mod as a VCA

The ARP's ring mod is kind of "super" vca because it is a "4 quadrant" multiplier vs the normal VCA which is a 2 quadrant multiplier .

Set the control switch to DC.

I'm using noise as a sound source.

Plug this into the left input

The right input are various waveforms ... all LFOs 

The output of the ring mod is plugged straight into the mixer.

+ ARP 2600 - Envelope Generators

+ ARP 2600 - Sample and hold (& electronic switch)

Greece - rhodes 1

 Some pics of Rhodes.

Rhodes is a Greek island located in the eastern Aegean Sea.

It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and has a rich history dating back to ancient times.

The island was an important center of the Minoan civilization, and later became part of the Roman Empire. It was also a stronghold of the Byzantine Empire and was conquered by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century. The Knights constructed the famous Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, which still stands in the island's main town.

This is the entrance to Rhodes Harbour.

According to legend,  it was on this spot that was erected a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios,

by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate the successful defence of Rhodes city against an attack by Demetrius Poliorcetes, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy.

The walled city of Rhodes, also known as the Old Town of Rhodes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The city is located on the northern tip of the island of Rhodes and is surrounded by a massive defensive wall, which was constructed by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century.

..

The walled city covers an area of approximately 200 acres and is home to many historic 

buildings and landmarks. One of the most famous landmarks in the city is the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, which was built in the 14th century and served as the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller.

D' Ambrose Gate, City Wall entrance, Rhodes, Greece

St. Anthony’s Gate, or the Gate of St. Athanasios, is a popular historic entrance to the walled city of Rhodes. The locals also habitually refer to it as Saint Francis' Gate due to the church of Saint Francis of Assisi, built by the Italians in the first part of the 20th century, located just outside.

The coat of arms displayed above the entrance, dates back to the times of Grand Master Jean de Lastic (1437-1454), 

The Street of the Knights, which is lined with medieval buildings and served as the main street of the Knights' quarter.

The walled city of Rhodes is also home to many shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as several hotels and guesthouses. It is a popular destination for tourists who come to explore its rich history, admire its architecture, and soak up its vibrant atmosphere.

Lawrence Durrell House (villa Kleobolus).

Durrell set up house with his partner, Eve in the little gatekeeper's lodge of an old Turkish cemetery.

The Goverors Palace.

This is modern.

The palace, which overlooks the Porto del Mandraccio on one side and the Foro Italico on the other, was built in 1926 - 1927 to a design by the architect Florestano Di Fausto , taking up the Gothic style of the Doge's Palace in Venice .

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