Sunday, 10 July 2016

Eurorack 303 filters

 This is a personal list of some filters which aren't too bad doing a acid version of the roland TB 303.
I actually think that the sequencer of the TB 303 is really the key to the sound but you can't really separate the parts.Trying to replicate the sound in Euro or any other format is like a dog chasing his tail
 
However, for what it's worth the filter is certainly important.
And you might get something new and interesting by experimenting.
There is magic behind how the resonance alters the cutoff. 
Plus how the envelope, slew and accent modulate
the filter is certainly beautiful to the ear. 
 
The 303 used a 24dB low pass filter - diode ladder. 
There is much dispute as to whether the filter is 18dB or 24dB.
It's definitely a 4 pole 24dB , but the last pole operates weirdly.
The filter has often been described as a "broken 24dB filter"

Re the ladder design.
The 303 used a diode ladder.

Interestingly, the diode filter was originally developed by EMS in order to work around a Moog patent. This diode filter is best known as the sound of the Roland TB-303.
 
Filters basically work by controlling current flow to a filter capacitor.
The diode or transistor, under the influence of a CV, controls the current flow to the capacitor.
 
The main difference between the two filters is that the Moog style, transistor filter 
design electrically isolates or buffers each pole of the filter.
The diode ladder filter however, doesn't behave this way. The poles interact electrically with each other.  This non-linear design contributes to the dirty, squelchy sound of the 303.
 
So when picking your filter, something like a 18 dB diode ladder should work, but don't let this narrow your choice too much. Experiment ... you may stumble on something new and interesting.
 
So here are some possibilities:
 
 
1. vcf303 - DinSync
    12HP,   It also includes the envelope generator & accent circuit.
    also features CV control over the cutoff frequency and an overdrive knob 
    for driving the input section.
2. Doepfer  a103 VCF 6
    18dB low pass , transistor ladder
3. RS500e.
    EMS synthi filter. 12hp, diode ladder, low pass.
    Switchable between 18db & 24dB
    Before 1974 all VCS3s had a 3 pole filter. After 1974 they had a 4 pole.
4. Post-Lawsuit
    STG soundlabs -  low pass, 1 pole & 4 pole outputs.
5. Snowfall.
    AM8071 - AM synths
     diode ladder low pass filter similar to that in the EMS VCS3, Roland SH-3, 
     System 100 and the PE Minisonic 2. The filter has a 4-pole ladder with an 18dB like response
 6. Doepfer A-122
    24dB Low Pass II (Curtis, Oberheim/CEM type)
7. Doepfer A-105.
     low-pass filter with 24dB/octave slope
     CEM chip (SSM2044 type) 
8. Doepfer A-106-5 
     12dB multimode filter that is based on the filter circuit of the Oberheim SEM module.
9. Blue Lantern Polivoks
10. Doepfer A-124 wasp
11. Doepfer A 102
      Diode filter design, 8HP, 18bD
12. Boogie's 18db
13. EQUINOX VCF
14. Endorphin.es - Grand Terminal 
      Digital emulation of the filter.
15. Sea Devils filter
      STG sound labs - 3pole 18dB low pass diode filter.
16. Sonic XV from AJH
      diode ladder filter with a slope of -24dB/oct.
      based on the classic Musonics Sonic V filter from 1970.
       includes a voltage controllable resonance and an extra bandpass and -6dB/oct lowpass outputs.
      Also added into this filter is a waveshaper/wavefolder.
 17 Studio electronics 3003 filter
      discrete analog 18 db/oct ladder low-pass filter, employing hand-matched transistors


Thursday, 7 July 2016

Essaouira - Morocco

Some pics from Morocco 2004



Essaouira is  on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. 





Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which were designed by European engineers. 






Old brass cannons line the walls, and there are ocean views. There are strong "Alizée" trade wind.
Great for wind surfing



Very laid back place. 












wIKIPEDIA

For more travel postcards click here:

Sunday, 3 July 2016

Track / clip View - basic controls

To duplicate a track:
1. Shift + press down Left/Right knob

To shorten or lengthen a track 
1. Shift + turn left.right knob.
    Don't press the knob down.

Change clip colour
 Shift + turn ▼▲ knob
 
Horizontal clip shift (nudge)
Push ▼▲ knob + turn ◄► knob

To move a note up or down.
 Hold down the note (grid pad) & turn ▼▲ knob

Note velocity
Hold the note (Grid pad) + turn ◄► knob


While a clip is playing, if you want to go up or down an octave
 Hold down & turn the ▼▲ knob


While a clip is playing, if you want to shift the notes up or down
1. Press play
2. Press shift
3. Press & turn the  ▼▲ knob

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUTOMATION


Parameter Automation 
1. Turn record LED on.
2. Press Play.
3.  turn Parameter knob
4. Turn off record when finished.

Per note parameter change
Note start Grid pad + turn Parameter knob

To undo or Delete the parameter automation
1. press & hold Shift

2. press the relevant gold Parameter knob 

Copy automation
Hold Learn + push Parameter knob

Paste automation
Hold Learn + Shift + push Parameter knob


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 To Load a sample
1. Press the Audition pad +  press load

 to Enter the Sound Editor
1. Press Shift.
2. Press (shortcut labeled) Grid pad or push Select knob

--------------------------------------------------------------

 To create a new Synth or New kit
1. Press Shift
2. Press Synth or Kit

 -----------------------------------------------------

To change scales
1. Shift
2. Scale 
---------------------------------------- 

Copy & Pasting


Copy notes
{To Copy the whole clip screen (what is in view)}
1. Press & Hold Learn

2. push ◄► knob

Paste notes
1. Press & Hold Learn

2. Press & hold Shift.
3. push the ◄► knob



 -------------------------------------------------------------

Zooming in & out
1. to Zoom in 
    Hold + turn ◄► knob to right

2. to Zoom out 
    Hold + turn ◄► knob toleft

---------------------------------------------

To change length of a track/clip
Hold down shift + turn ◄► knob to right
   (don't push the knob down)

---------------------------------


Probability, Percentage & Iteration

To Set Probability & the % a note plays
Hold the note (Grid pad) + turn Select knob left


Set several notes to play only when first plays
Hold all Grid pads at same time + turn Select knob left


Set iteration dependence for a note
Hold the note (Grid pad) + turn Select knob right

You will see 1 oF 2, 2 oF 2 , 1 oF 6, etc etc
(one of 2 passes, etc etc) 

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

to use an external MIDI keyboard
1. Hold down learn.
2. Press any audition key/pad
3. Press any key on your midi keyboard.
(the audition buttons will turn white)


To undo this :
1. Press learn
2. Press any audition key/pad
----------------------------------------------
Preset load interface
Press Load + synth/kit


Begin playback from current screen
Push ◄► knob + Play


Audio clip trim
Press rightmost column at end of waveform

Sunday, 26 June 2016

New Sound Waves - Synth Meet - Sunday 26 June

107 Redfern St, Redfern.

Another fun arvo with my friends from New Sound Waves.



....video 1



video 2



Korg 911 Guitar synthesizer


video 3
 These Metro Modular modules look great. They are on my to buy list.
Justin, their designer was at the meeting. Very helpful in explaining them. The filters esp sound great. Based on old Aires schematics, with oodles of modulation points.

 And, like wow... Paul A shows up with not one, but two Plumbutters. OMG.

Built by Ciat- Lonbarde its true what the blurb says ... its a drum & drama machine.

"My face is a psycho-geographical map of the cities of Baltimore and Cleveland.....
You can see my wild spaces are represented by a deer-horn,...


 and my downtown by a factory, and in between, a vast swath of suburban developments. 


It is a gradient of these three areas- urban, suburban, and rural- that informs my electronic synthesis. "

I'll upload videos soon.
J

Saturday, 25 June 2016

Buchla format 212r - Dodecamodule

Some pics of a recent build. The 212r is a awesome sounding module.
(video to go up here soon). I would love to hear a vintage one.

These aren't building instructions, just some records for future reference should I decide to
build another..

It was quite a big build .... lost count of time after the first 20 hrs., but I reckon you could knock
one off in a weekend if you put your mind to it. (I'm not a professional technician).

This is PCB 1

PCB 2 ... reverb tank sits in the middle.
Its very much like the setup in a 208r version 1.




One cap exploded while I was testing various +15v to +24V voltage regulators.
I decided to just use my system's external +24v bus.

reverb tank fitted :-)

I've mixed the knobs up on purpose to remind me of the pot values. Davies are all 10k linear.
Serge style are 50k log.


I'm very impressed with the module. I esp like the output amplifier on the right.

I finally understand why there are a mix of 50k & 10k pots. Its a beautiful sound. We have voltage control over amplitude on the top, voltage control of location (left/right channels) in the middle, and CV of the reverb on the bottom.

More videos to be posted soon here.
...

Up till now I have been using a pulse from the buchla 281 to trigger the 212r. However a question in muffs from Robbot emcouraged me to test the dodecamodule again. It actually does not need an external clock (like the vintage 212). "The envelopes will self cycle using this trick - patch a cable from the red pulse output of the Triple Env Generator section of the 212 back to the red pulse input and then set the attack / decay time to the desired speed.

If that doesn't automatically start the env generator clocking, flipping the 'sustain' switch up/down and back will do". Thanks Robbot. :-)

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Favourite Scales - minor

A standard (chromatic) scale consist of twelve notes: C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#-A-A#-B. 
Every scale is a selection from these twelve notes.
 
The most widely used scale in western music is the C major or C Ionian scale: 
These are the white keys on a piano ascending from C to C' 

C major has a specific series of intervals:
tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.
T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST
 This is known as the Ionian mode.
 
-------------------------------------
 
Many EDM songs are written in a Minor Scale
There are 3 types of minor scale- natural, harmonic & melodic (more of this later)

The step pattern of a natural minor scale is:
 (Start with your root note)
tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone. 
T-ST-T-T-ST-T-T
Use the formula starting on any note to play the minor scale in a different key.

The most common keys are A Minor and C Minor – those are hugely popular.

This is a personal list... it may not appeal to everyone 

1 – CHROMATIC, 2 – IONIAN, 3 – DORIAN,

4 – MAJOR PENTA, 5 – MINOR PENTA,

6 – SHARP NOTES, 7 – WHOLE TONE,

8 – MIXOLYDIAN, 9 – MAJOR BLUES,

10 – MINOR BLUES

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A Minor Scale (natural)



-------------------------------------------------------------

A Minor Pentatonic

Just 5 notes




---------------------------------------------------------------------

C (natural) Minor.

consists of the pitches C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭
Whole step/half/ whole/whole/half/whole/whole.
(WHWWHWW) or (T-ST-T-T-ST-T-T)
 
 
 
The C minor pentatonic is C, E-flat, F, G, B-flat.
 

The C minor Harmonic scale is C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C 
(To convert any natural minor scale into harmonic minor raise the 7th note by half a step.)

 

 

--------------------------------

D minor

D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B♭, and C
 
tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone. 
T-ST-T-T-ST-T-T 
 

The notes of the D minor pentatonic scale are as follows: D – F – G – A – C.
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------- 

F (natural) minor

 
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
 
tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone. 
T-ST-T-T-ST-T-T 




F (harmonic) minor


To convert any natural minor scale into harmonic minor raise the 7th note by half a step.

 
F - G - Ab - Bb - C -Db - E - F
 ---------------
------------------------------
 
Below is a brief summary of natural vs harmonic vs melodic
 
Natural Minor
 Start with your root note.
Whole step/half/ whole/whole/half/whole/whole.
eg : 
the A Natural Minor scale is: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
The G# natural minor scale is : G#,A#,B,C#,D#,E#,F#,G# 
The C natural Minor scale is : C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb 
 

 
 
------------------

Harmonic Minor
 Really good for building chords
To convert any natural minor scale into harmonic minor raise the 7th note by half a step.

eg

The C harmonic Minor scale is : C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,B


 --------------------------------------------

Melodic Minor
This is all about melodies .
To convert a natural minor scale into a Melodic minor
raise both the 6th & 7th notes by half a step


The C melodic Minor scale is : C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B
 

 

 
-----------
 phrygian dominant scale.
This is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant.
This scale occurs in Indian, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Central Asian, and Flamenco music. It is common in Arabic and Egyptian music,
 

The sequence of steps forming the Phrygian dominant scale is:

  • half – augmented second – half – whole – half – whole – whole
 The C phrygian dominant scale is : C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
 
 

 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 
Though most of this post covers minor scales. Here are others which I sometimes use
 -------------------------------------------------
Chromatic
 ----------------------------------------------------------
 Major
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blues
 
-------------------------------------------------------------
Myxolydian mode

The mixolydian mode is the 5th mode of the major scale
 
C: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C 
D: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D
E: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E
F: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F


The Mixolydian scales are believed to have been discovered by the Ancient Greek female poet Sappho
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dorian mode .
(Often called the second mode of which there are 7 ....Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.)
This is very similar to the natural minor scale. The only difference is in the sixth note, which is a major sixth above the first note, rather than a minor sixth.
 
Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

C Dorian: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C
D: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D
E: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E
F: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F
 
 Examples are :
'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson,
 'Smoke on the Water' by Deep Purple
 Scarborough Fair.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octatonic
An octatonic scale is any eight-note musical scale
composed of alternating whole and half steps.
 
This is a C-octatonic

Notes: C, Db, Eb, E, Gb, G, A, Bb, C 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diminished
This is a symmetrical scale that is built by alternating whole steps and half steps. 
 Diminished chords are formed by combining the root, flatted third (minor third) and flatted fifth of the major scale (1, ♭3, ♭5).
 
the notes of the C major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. 
To form C diminished, you combine the notes, C, E♭ and G♭.
 

---------------------------------------------------------

Triad on a M7 chord

Not striclty a scale .. but might be useful

-------------------------------------------------

A sharp Phygian - Favourite of Apex Twin
All sharps except B

 
 
--------------------------------------
Aeolian pentatonic scale, also known as Hirajoshi scale.
ie 5 tones


tonic (1), second (2) minor third (b3), fifth (5) and minor sixth (b6).
(This is a fav of my mate Mitch)

C, D, D#  ---- G, G# 

I like this variation:
C, D, D#  ---- F, G, G# - A#