Showing posts with label 0-control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 0-control. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Strega - Make noise - getting started

 I just got my hands on a Strega.
(thanks Jonathan).
Most of the videos I've watched show it to be a great drone synth, though I hope I can get more out of it. 
It should be good for processing external instruments and generating control voltages for use with other gear.
These are my personal notes to help me get acquainted. As I learn more about the Strega I'll adjust the notes.
Do let me know if I have made any mistakes.
 
 
The Strega was designed by MakeNoise & Alessandro Cortini.
Strega is Italian for "witch" .

 
At first glance its very confusing. I think that the designers intentionally wanted the synth to be obtuse and mysterious. Maybe this was to inspire experimentation.
 
The patch inputs and outs follow the same convention used in the 0-coast and 0-ctrl
 
There are in addition lots of touch points (11) which also encourage physical interaction.
 

The circles / squares are patch points for sources and destinations.
Instead of using cables, you use your body.
 
circle = source
square = destination

Maybe I can use these patch points with external gear ???

Experiment by connecting more than just two touchplates with your fingers. 
Try using your whole hand or two hands to make connections.

Basically there are 4 components:
1.an oscillator with a waveshaper.
2. Lo-Fi Delay 
3. Multi-mode Filter
4. Function Generator / LFO / EG
 
In addition , there is an external audio input & a suboctave generator output. 
(at the top of the pic below). 
I think the various touch points with the squiggly lines are related to this output ??


I think another way to look at this synth  is to divide it into two halves.
 

The left half is the sound source with a external audio input. This feeds into the right half which is a filter/ delay, feedback.
 
Turning the blend knob fully counter clockwise , you will hear the raw oscillator Tonic side only.
As you turn clockwise, the right (filter/delay/mayhem) comes into play. 
 So its basically a wet/dry effect knob.


The sound generation section (TONIC) on the left is brought to life with the activation section
 

ACTIVATION
It's a triggered, 4 quadrant, bipolar VCA.
It can be opened up by a control voltage.
It's also responsive to the TIME control. 

Use this activate some noise.

To start things off, just turn up the activation knob.till you see the 4 leds start to flash.
 
 Increasing Activation interference adds an element of  chaos to the oscillator.
 
 
 
 
TONE
The sound generation section in addition to Activation, 
also has TONIC & TONES pots.
 
You can think of TONE as an oscillator.
It has a variable waveform control.
 
Tonic controls the oscillator base frequency while
TONES controls harmonics using PWM and wavefolding

On top of this, Strega adds a sub-oscillator derived from 
the fundamental pitch (mentioned above).
The jack at the top is one way to access the sub-oscillator.
The other way is via some of the touchplates 
(The circles are outputs, the square are inputs)





The delay is really noisy ... in a good crunchy Lo-fi way.
 
 My understanding is that it uses lo-fi chips often used in karaoke machines. PT2399-based ???

There are 3 controls:
TIME, Decay, Absorb.
Adjusting TIME  takes you from super short repeats to long overlapping, evolving delays.
The Decay & Absorb knobs give more subtle control over the 
delay signal
 
I think the absorb knob controls the amount of the delay signal that enters the filter
 ..... ????
 
 
 
It seems that the only way to tame it a bit (though this would be a shame) is with the filter & absorb control.
The filter control is for cutoff.
I think that Absorb comes before the filter in the signal chain. ???
 

 The filter's cutoff can be modulated with the Function generator.
It's hardwired, though this connection can be broken with a patch cable . Turn the knob to "+"
to see the effect.
 
The white squared input jack is where you plug external CVs to modulate the filter

In some of the Makenoise videos they call the FG an agitator.
 The Agitation Function Generator can be an LFO, a triggered function G, or a voltage-controllable sound source.
 
 
 
Don't forget that this synth can also be used  as an effect module.
Try plugging in a drum machine. I read somewhere, that the preamp is inspired by the EMS synthi.

 Links
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Wednesday, 24 February 2021

ARP 2500 & Make Noise 0-control

 Patch notes using the MakeNoise 0-Ctrl.

The zero-control seems to be really good for controlling the ARP2500.
The +8V gates seem to be fine for triggering the 2500's EGs  
The Pitch CV is OK too.


The ARP 2500's sequencer is the master clock.
It's clocking the 0-control.
The 0-ctrl's pitch is controlling the pitch of the 1023 VCO
The 1033 EG is triggered from the 0-ctrl.(I've used its gate inputs).
EG left is triggered from CV (strength channel).
EG right is triggered from #6 gate out

 To trigger the gate, the strength knobs need to be fully clockwise.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 When the 0-control is receiving an external clock, the time knobs don't influence the step time anymore, but they are still outputting a CV. 
 
This can be used to control things ... like trigger the 1033 envelope.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Both the 1033 & 1046 EG modules work well with the 0-ctrl.

Possible combinations:
Use "strength" to control one EG and "time" to control the second.
If there are 4 EGs, then  use the individual gate outputs.
Of course the 1027 sequencer can also make more gates.
 
 
Links
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Saturday, 3 October 2020

Make Noise - 0-control / 0-coast Patches 3

 This is a continuation from patches 1 & 2

10. 


Strength to control ratcheting.
Interupt is on. 
Start the sequencer.

Use the O-control's inverter .. this  inverts the voltage making it speed up
as we press harder.
The inverter's LED should glow red when you touch a plate.
The 0-ctrls main time knob sets the number of ratchets.

Thanks to MakeNoise for their great videos

 

 


11. Overtones & envelop 1 control (of Time)


Strength is modulating overtones
Time is modulating MLTPL
Pressure is modulating Time ( of envelope1)
Set this envelope to self cycle


 

 

 

 

12. Subharmonics & analog quantizers

These are harmonics having frequencies below a fundamental frequency
You can think of them like suboscillators that play one or more octaves below the main oscillator.
This allows you to play notes in various frequency divisions

Connect the square output of the oscillator to the slope trigger.
Pitch modulates time.
(You can also modulate time with "strength" & "Time")
The EG 1 settings are impt. 
Rise (attack) @ 12 o'clock. 
Fall (decay) fully left. 
Exponential curve.

The big main pitch knob is @ 12 o'clock

Balance knob fully left

He describes it as an analog quantizer.


Of course you can use both envelopes
for double the fun.

Make sure the settings are exponential, a fastish attack, and decay is zero.

You can transpose the sequence by plugging a keyboard into the 1v/oct input of the 0-coast.









Thanks again to loopop for this patch
Creating a subharmonic oscillator.

The idea is to clock the 0 ctrl at audio rates by plugging an external oscillator.
You can use any square wave oscillator.
 
 We are using the dynamic gate outputs. They are modulated with "strength"

Turning these strength knobs up and down will change harmonics

Experiment with the Gate out/reset
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is another patch which will work also.
 
















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Sunday, 27 September 2020

Makenoise 0-coast/0-control - Patches 2

The 0-Control is a very flexible controller.
I love it. Responsive, tactile & beautiful to behold.
It's good to remember these voltages when you're patching it into a modular
It can be clocked really easily. any rising edge trigger/gate above 2V.
The Clock Output is complex : it contains both internal and external clocks, and is affected by the Time parameter. You can of course use both internal & external clocks simultaneously to create really complex rhythms.
The Clock out consists of 0/8V gates.
 
The reset is unusual as it resets to the last touched plate (not the 1st step). 
 
 
1.

  Master clock : clock 0-coast.
  Time controlling multiply .
 
If the speed knob is fully to the left, then the time knobs will have little effect on tempo/speed.  
(but it seems to add  tiny bit of slide between notes ???)
This frees up CVs from "time" to control other parameters such as "multiply"

The strength knobs effect the envelope ... 
(left = 0 strength, fully right = full strength)




2.
Rather than using the dynamic envelope out of the 0contrl, use the dynamic gate.
 
The 0-control's 2nd envelope has more controls allowing  for greater variety of envelope shapes.






2a

 
Connect strength to either  (not both) normal gate or dynamic gate

I prefer using the normal gate since it triggers env 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.


Random controls direction.

Random can also be used with overtones, etc









4.



Square wave triggers envelope 1 , which modulates the balance (0-coast mixer)

The "strength" modulates "time" of envelope 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5a

Balance
Time modulates balance 
or
Dynamic envelope modulates balance
 
Of course, balance can be modulated by random, EG 1 , etc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5b. 

Balance #2
A variation of patch 5a
Using the mixer to blend between random and the dynamic envelope.
With a stackable cable you could also add in CVs from the O-control's time section. 

Or you could modulate overtones/MLTPL on the O-coast
with CV from the 0-ctrl or random, Envelope 1 or 2.
So many options 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. Direction

The 8 gate outputs are really useful.
Use them to trigger envelopes, clock other sequencers,
 change sequencer directions (use a stacking cable)



7. adding rests


The main strength knob needs to just be open enough to let 8V in.
This eg adds rests on step 2 & 6.










 
8. 

Resetting from different gates


 
 
 
 9a.

One Shot sequences

 Turn interrupt on.
You can play different length sequences on the fly.
Experiment with changing direction
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9b. 

One shot #2
Gate 8 --> stop
Pressure gate  ---> reset
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9c .

One shot #3
By patching the pressure CV to time we can  
slow down the sequences by pressing harder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Links
+ 0-control / 0-coast Patches 3

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Saturday, 6 June 2020

Make Noise 0-Coast - Basic Notes

Since my recent purchase of a 0-Control, I've been falling back in love with the 0-Coast and all things Make-Noise. These are some basic revision 0-Coast notes

The O-Coast can be divided into 7 parts or modules.
If you look at the synth this way, and study the internal wiring it's not as intimidating as it first looks.
The basic modules are:
1. Midi to CV
2. Utilities
3. VCO
4. Sound Processor (waveshaper)
5. Envelope 1 (Slope).. AD
6. Envelope 2 (Contour)... ASD
7. VCA - Mixer / LPG
It's a excellent example of the bare minimum of modules needed to make a "complete instrument".
Personally, I feel it's more West Coast than East. The lack of a dedicated filter
(apart from the LPG) and the extensive use of wave-shaping remind me of a Buchla Easel.


Though the 0-Coast has just one oscillator, the 1st EG (Slope) can be cycled at audio rates, and can be thus used like a Modulation Oscillator.
The recent addition by Makenoise of the 0-Control makes it even more Buchlaish.

 1. Midi to CV
    Plug your midi sequencer/ DAW here
    It will convert Midi / CC data into control voltages & gates
    It also has an arpeggiator & LFO

2. Utilities
     The upper half has a Clock, Clock divider, S&H & Random voltages (Source of Uncertainity)
     The lower half is the CV processor section comprising things like a
     Mixer, Attenuverter, Inverter & Mults

3. VCO
    Basic oscillator with triangle & square waves.
    Both waveforms are internally pre-routed to the waveshaper/sound processor, but the triangle
    is also routed to the Mixer/LPG (you can break this connection with a jack).
    This module also has linear FM control & a 1V/Oct socket.
    The 1V/Oct socket is where you'd most commonly plug the pitch out from
    your Keyboard/sequencer.
    
4. Sound Processor
    This adds harmonics to make the sounds from the oscillator more complex.
    It can be though of as a timbre module that processors sound in two stages
    a. Overtone Stage
        This mixes 3 waveforms - the two oscillator waves & the slope EG.
        It adds sound that is higher in frequency, yet still harmonically-related to
        the Fundamental.
       !! is where the slope is blended into the audio signal path.
    b. Multiply Stage
        This takes the output of the Overtone Stage & multiplies it, .... this creates additional
       overtones & adds harmonics. This is the opposite of what happens in a LPF.
  
5. Envelope 1... AD "slope". 
     It has Attack / Decay stages and can me made to self cycle.
     This EG is routed by default to change the harmonics of the VCO
     It's internally connected to both the overtone & multiplier sections.
     The EG1 output can also be patched to other modules such as the Linear input of the VCO.
     (it would thus act like the Buchla Mod Osc).

6. Envelope 2 --- ASD "contour"
     This EG is routed by default to change the VCA
     It acts like an ADSR even though it only has a Decay pot -- this seems to represent both
     Decay & Release.
     The Gate input is where you'd most commonly plug the gate out of your keyboard/ sequencer.

7. VCA - Mixer / LPG
   This mixes the outputs of the triangle wave Oscillator with the Sound Processor
   (Overtone & Multply)
   The LPG is a combination of a VCA + low pass filter. (Very Buchla)


vIDEOS:
O-Coast and Metasonix D-1000 drum







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video 2

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Instagram 3 Roland Demora delay


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 Insta 4 with eurorack


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Insta 5 with SQ 1 Korg


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Insta 6


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Links
+ mAKEnOISE - 0 cONTROL - bASIC pATCHES
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