Make a BUCHLA MUSIC EASEL in Eurorack Modules: Suggested Systems 1
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- Today I'm going to make a tiny Buchla Music Easel-inspired modular and show you how to patch it from scratch! LOADS OF FURTHER READING BELOW. IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SUPPORT ON PATREON: / mylarmelodies ⚡
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Suggested System Series Concept Introduction
04:26 Buchla Music Easel System - Limitations/Issues we'll face
06:47 Real Buchla Music Easel Panel Design/Features Explanation
10:08 My Suggested System Design Walkthrough
18:26 Sound Design/Basic Patch from Scratch, building up to mad FM noises
30:22 Sequencing 'Velocity/Loudness, creating groove
34:16 Introducing the MicroFreak/external CV keyboards and making tuned sounds
41:41 MicroFreak sequenced riffs/noises
42:45 MicroFreak Arpeggiator jam
46:00 AM modulation between oscillators
47:31 Techno jam with DrumBrute Impact
51:17 Sum up/Closing thoughts
REFERENCES AND LINKS TO CHECK OUT:
• Intellijel Palette case: intellijel.com/shop/cases/4u-...
• Arturia MicroFreak: www.arturia.com/products/hard...
• Here's the system on ModularGrid: www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...
• Many many thanks to the amazing Todd Barton for his inspiration and the resources on his site which I have shamelessly pilfered in this video: toddbarton.com/
• You can support Todd's teachings on Patreon here: / synthtodd
• Here is my bonus research skype chat with Todd (obvs ya gotta be a Patron! Todd also has it on his too): / 30310920
WHATS IN THE RACK/BONUS MODULE THOUGHTS/ALTERNATIVES
Someone asked me to list what's in this system and alternatives. Again, here's the system on ModularGrid: www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...
SEQUENCER
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/ladik-s...
You really want a sequencer capable of 3, 4 and 5 step sequences and especially gate sequences too, a massive and essential part which I did not have at all (I cheated and used the MicroFreak sequencer). Any sequencer that can do that would do, but Ladik S180 plus one of the S180 family knob expanders would be ideal as they are cheap, and pair them with a Clock Divider for sequencer reset at 3/4/5 step (I love the 4ms Rotating Clock Divider), and you'd be in business. But they are deep and wide collectively. Ladik's S184 uses faders, highly appropriate!
RANDOM VOLTAGE SOURCE
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/make-no... as it gives randomness with vibe, and much much more.
I think it's worth experimenting with using slow/medium speed LFOs (NOT white noise - too random) fed into Sample and Hold generators in order to create 'randomness with personality' from scratch, something I need to try. Apart from this you should check out the Doepfer A-149-1 and probably the Richter Noisering. Also the Turing Machine, of course! Goes without saying.
ENVELOPE GENERATOR
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/alm-bus...
I would absolutely loved to have shoehorned a Make Noise MATHS in there (snappiest envelopes in the business), but any Envelope generator with an Exponential curve to their response is what you're looking for. And a 'gate'/held input as well as a 'trig' input. And CV control of the A & R time!
VCO 1/2
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/feedbac...
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/intelli...
Any decent VCO will do. You do need a sine wave output on one, and look at the Easel Panel for which waveforms you also need.
VCA
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/intelli...
Any fast, clean VCA will do. The more the merrier of course, since you can use voltages to control the amount of voltage you're feeding to other voltages...
WAVEFOLDER
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/steady-...
There are lots of wavefolders and they all wavefold with a slightly different tone. There's one in the Disting too. But I must say, tonally, the WMD Ultrafold is one of the best I've heard.
MIXER
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/2hp-mix
Any small mixer will do. Mutable Veils is a great one as you get VCAs to boot! Bigger tho.
ATTENUATOR
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/intelli...
Abstract Data ADE60 is another good one I own, didn't have enough room for it. You just want one that will output voltages with nothing plugged into the inputs.
LOWPASS GATE
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/future-...
Makenoise Optomix, LxD, Rabid Elephant Natural Gate - or make one from VCA, Lowpass filter and an exponential curve Envelope Generator.
SPRING REVERB
I used: www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer...
That was pure excellence. Your videos are so inspiring. It's what got me into eurorack years ago and now you owe me $6,000.
Honestly, this fking guy..
Hahaha
Lol 😂
I am back on this Quest again. I should have watched this video again first. And liked it very, very much again.
“Money incinerator.” Best Eurorack definition ever. Thanks for the clear explanations.
that is why it is called Eurocrack. I know guys with 50k plus in modular gear. I just have 0-coast and the free VCV Rack. Saves me from financial ruin.
If you always buy used at around 70% of the retail price, you can make it low loss....problem is convincing yourself to sell modules😅
@@GuitarsAndSynths How's that going for you buddy?
It's more like a money placement if you have A PLAN in mind. It remains an instrument, make music, sell music, buy more, make music, sell music et ainsi de suite.
@@paultuffy The vast majority of private owners selling used modules in the US sell them for around 90% of the retail price.
the blasser reference just literally made me snort coffee out my nose, so thanks for that. excellent video as always
62HP may be all that I need but you're the only one who makes me feel like 62HP is all I want! 😝
loved the little ciat lonbarde callout. always wanted some of that lunatics kit.
“Do enough acid and you’ll design a synth that’s laid out like a trumpet too” 😂😂 amazing. Thank you, can’t wait for this whole series!
Check out Cary Grant. Probably made his best movies tripping!
Love the little smiley-baggie too!
@@octopappa5694 ALM gives out screws in them :) I definitely had a good chuckle when I saw that the first time I bought one of their modules.
Hm more acid eh? Gotcha👨🚀
Don was laid back.He loved the instrument, the creation.
Fame, nah.
Back then:
West coast - acid, shrooms, weed
East coast -alcohol, heroin, speed and weed.
Listen to 60’s music.
It’s all in the production.
The philosophy behind this sort of intentioned module selection is how I'm approaching my compact build inspired by Serge. Thank you for the informative and engaging insights, it means more than words can adequately convey. 🖖🏾
Most inspiring modular video that I've seen in months. I'm done with tutorials to be honest. This is next level stuff. Thnx!
This is so great - thank you for this! These suggested systems is a brilliant idea and I look forward to more of them in the future. Thank you for putting all the work into this - such a valuable resource.
"You can do a hell of a lot with a little" - words to live by
I love these Suggested Systems videos. So many great patching ideas in them!
LOVE this! Please keep this series going!
Love this new series! West Coast has this Free Jazz quality to it, with its emphasis on timbral variations. Thanks for making me want to hit my LPGs particularly hard this week!
I want more of these! Without following the suggestion itself, reflecting on the purpose is a hard exercise, and I genuinely appreciate the approach you've taken to attempt to solve this. Keep it up!
Crazy good sound, crazy good series, looking forward to see the next one mate!
Even if I don't understand it I'm excited about the hell in a cell match between you and Ricky Tinez for the title of only man to read the manual.
Love this! Tiny but powerful systems are awesome and trying to recreate seminal synths with my collection of modules on modulargrid is one of my all time favourite hobbies. Really helps knowing what your system lacks and it's super fun to discover new ways to use parts you already know like that!
This was an amazing watch. As a beginner my range of modules was super limited but with a bit of trial and error managed to patch something up in the spirit of this with what I had available, even two different ways of getting there. Was a lot of fun and good inspiration for future patching. Thanks a lot!
this is such a great idea this new serie of conceptual videos , and not only for beginners. congrats
incredible and inspiring. very excited for the future of this series. i think it will push many over the ledge to modular :)
Glad to see and hear you again, good Sir.
Hooray, new Mylar! Today is good!
Dude, I just LOVE that video. I already watched it like three times and sometimes come in and look into specific parts....
Amazing demonstrations. It was really helpful and inspiring for my west coast inspired approach of my rig. I am currently replanning some things actually. Now I just got the Pittsburgh Double Helix as my Complex Oscillator, I am really excited about where that one will take me now :)
So yeah, again. Awesome video, keep 'em coming ;).
And I like the idea of those suggested systems a lot.
Cheers!
(I also loved the ciat-lonbarde reference :D)
This is one of my favorite videos by you, fine sir. Super inspiring - I just made a version of this in VCV Rack. Thanks for the ideas!
Probably your best work. Been a fan since your FM (the mag not the synthesis) tutorials but as someone else noted below kinda tired of tutorials. This is amazing!
Loved this. Very excited for the rest of this series
What a genuine treasure you are! Thanks for this- brilliant
Great video! Really dig the idea of strictly following a set idea for building a system. looking forward to the future episodes
Yay! A tiny systems series. I just got a Palette case last month and I’ve been researching what to add to it after I’m done filling the 1U row.
Man, your videos are just so excellent in every single way!
Great video! Excellent advice to have a plan for your modular - really looking forward to future episodes. I'd love a VCS3/Synthi-inspired one...
Great idea for the series, and awesome execution, looking forward to more!
Your explanation of the Music Easel gives me a better understanding of my DPO. And tons of ideas!
this new series is a radical hybrid of all of your videos + bob ross + carl sagan. woke up this mornin' wanting to redesign my set up. mocked it up on the modgrid and then while moving modules about i watched this video. best way to describe it all...ace
Love this series idea! Looking forward to more!
I love this series, please make more! :)
What fun! I love the idea of the theme based micro ER setups. Alex, you so clevah.
can't wait for the next suggested system. these videos really helps
Those hollow plucks at beginning hooked me right away ((: Thanks for the awesome build! Cheers!
I have literally been wrestling with selling it all to get an Easel. Thanks for helping find one in my own rig!
@@jerod-s-rivera yeah the originals arent in production but you can find people making clones.
3500-4000 that's actually cheap.
I love what you did here! I also liked the performance. Great video.
This is some much needed inspiration. Thanks mate.
The patch using the microfreak as controller was excellent mate 👏 Such a warm sound
Really interesting and well done video - just got into Buchla - and going to tear into my collection of Euro to make something work with it
Fantastic, thank you - I feel like I understand the 0-Coast and 0-Ctrl more as a result of watching this.
Your videos are a constant source of inspiration. 👍
That was awesome from start to finish
Quality content as always. Love it!
Please continue this series! I'm planning on getting into eurorack by building a 62hp minimalist system. I'd love to know more about making the most of that format!
Excellent job and a lot of fun. When I close my eyes, I hear an Easel (or a MakeNoise Shared System).
Recently I did something similar, as I was looking to create an entire Buchla voice with my system and even if I reached that goal with different modules, a lot of the same spirit can be found here and it is great to see it was not the idea of one crazy person. Folie a deux, mate! ;) Everything Todd Barton does is an inspiration in this area of synthesizers, so he deserved the shout-out without question and everyone watching this should follow him. His latest experiments with Elements as a Buchla module are brilliant!
Edit: EMS or ARP system would indeed be great!
same here. you mind sharing what rack you came up with?
Thanks so much for these videos. Feels like I'm watching them on a weekly basis 😄
Thanks Kyle!!
I really appreciate the thought and effort that you put into your tutorials. They're invaluable and we owe you massive gratitude! I have a constructive criticism - coming from a place of deep appreciation - that I hope will make your future videos maximally useful to people like me, who are still learning the patching theory & techniques involved in modular.
Sometimes you begin patching and tweaking settings very fast, understandably excited, getting into the sound and playing .... but you don't always eventually slow down to adequately explain what you've done & why, in terms of the signal flow or the thinking involved in the cabling/settings, at even an intermediate level. It just flies by, between the tweaking and sound exploration. Or you'll occasionally cut to an already patched (even partially) without patiently explaining what *exactly* we're looking at. I'm not saying you NEVER do this slow, patient walking through - you do and you're great at it! But we - especially beginners and intermediate modular synthesists - would get more from the time you put into making these vid and we put into studying them if you'd do more slow steady hand-holding along the way.
Hope the gratitude and appreciation comes through in this suggestion/request.Thanks a jillion.
made my sunny sunday. you're a genius, thanks a lot!
If Top Gear did modular tutorials it would be this one. Seriously though thank you for this video; I was considering incinerating my money on Eurorack and your comment on it needing a purpose was spot on. Very much aligned to how I think about everything else in my tiny studio; what is it adding to the sonic palette? The wave-folding stuff reminds me a lot of how the 0-Coast sounds too. Good job - you’ve just earned another Patreon subscriber!
LOVE IT. Great idea for a series; creativity ❤️ constraints.
Would be interested to see an ambient/drone design. On one level potentially simple, but squeezing in audio, and a couple of voices would take it up a notch.
Loving your presentation and your brilliant cymatic beer mat.
Thanks for this! I have a better understanding of Buchla now. I don't have a dedicated wave folder but I do have a Disting and a couple of low pass gates. I'm going to see if I can get some of these concepts to work on my current system
Ace! Thanks for sharing, nice to hear something other than techno.
I keep watching this video and on my 5th viewing I’ve realised I should patch Complex-1 in Reason in a different manner. Now I have 3 totally different sounding voices to explore anew.
There is value in leaving a patch alone and exploring it thoroughly for a few weeks and then revisiting the original premise and seeing where it can take you in a new configuration. Wonks and bonks got the win!
Ace! Hope to see some more video soon!
You just blew my mind man 😮
Inspired me to patch something like this with my rig.
Man I want to see more of these inspiration systems. 1 year late I still refer to these and watch them for fun ! Maybe 104hp palette series next haha
Great video! Love that you always have a good time -:)
This is an awesome tutorial on West Coast patching. It allowed me to follow along using the Complex-1 instrument in Reason and make a very credible sounding Buchla-esque slather of wonky bonks. Cheers!
👍👍👍
Fascinating tutorial! Liked!
All I can is DAMN!! The little jam in the middle was so incredible. So many “techno” dance beats are so abrasive and monotonous that it’s unbearable. Your beat was none of that. So one of the coolest beats ever!! The other thing that killed me about the middle beat tune, there were just a few cable to get such a great patch.
Brilliant video ! Love it. 👏👍🙏
Awesome! This is a great video!
Incredible knowledge. Such a great video. Thank you
Ta, it was just research! x
Nice! 22:00 is as fun as Buchla (or more!). Enjoyed and understood more of Buchla too :)
Thanks for your creativity!!!
Really nice demonstration! Really keen to explore some of these ideas in my system. I don't have a dedicated wavefolding module but I have Plaits which has a wavefolding mode FM and also BIA which has wavefolding. Like you pointed out in the demo, use what you've got right!
very cool idea, very cool video as always! I actually had a similar attempt last year and created my version of the easel, but it was in a 7u intellijel case, however it did include the touch controller inside of the case (the nightly MiniHorse by Verbos!) which is relatively similar to the actual size of the easel as far as I know. Challenging yourself with the limitation of the palette case is very inspiring though. I just wish Intellijel made the power sockets a bit easier to have acces to...
I’d be super curious if you could actually come close to something like the DFAM within those limitations. Anyways, keep those videos coming, and I will be waiting here with much anticipation and admiration!
Omfg minute 32. I could listen to that for a very long time. Well. I know what my next patch is gonna be!
Super brilliant! I learned a ton from this, and was inspired enough to purchase a TWO59.
I ordered one a week ago, how are you enjoying it!?
@@joelkulesha8284 love the sound of it. The output level is a bit low as it’s designed to work with the Feedback systems TWO59 Shaper. I have. NLC TIMBRE that I sue with it so it’s rather complete for me. I also have the Danny Sound Cali Osc which complements perfectly for me.
This was great. Thanks!
I'd prefer this setup to the Easel although I would never use a spring reverb in real life I understand the use of it from the imitation standpoint. Good video as always, thanks !
DUDE , I Owe you !
So inspiring, thanks Alex! A suggested system, the ultimate drum/percussive machine...
Thanks Mark!! For sounds or for sequencing?
@@mylarmelodies Cheers! Actually, maybe both, could imagine a pair of Steppys in the 1u row :)
That’s a thunk, hmmmmm
new mylarmelodies upload just in time for stimulus checks 😭
Smashed it BTW. Sounds totally on point x
Thanks mate, did wonder if the Easel experienced would approve or not (or attempt to lynch me)...
@@mylarmelodies I thought you trod that line really, really well. You were clear from the start that you can't clone an Easel in euro but got right into the synthesis principles underpinning it and came up with the goods. Really enjoyed this one.
Wow, this is a tv level of quality for a youtube video :)
Why Why Why ???
Why do I keep ending up at your channel when looking for good stuff 😆
My go to Easily system - Woggle, rene (5 stages only) optomix, DPO, PPoints and Erbe! Sounds more nasal than the easil but it's the mindset that's fun! As a concept the easil is brilliantly simple yet complex at the same time! We thank you Don (and acid)
Pip slope if being true to the easil but can always throw maths into the mix:)
Yeah the Ciat-Lonbarde reference was epic! Ideas for systems. 4 Voice ANALOG Drum machine, w/ no drum modules. Sequencer by midi is fine. Bonus points for extra voices.
actually now that I see that Intellijel has a 1u Steppy. You should totally do this. Steppy and Optomix get you like 1/2 the way there.
I'd really like to see you design a 'modulation expander' system for those looking to add more modulation or more creative modulations to synths like the Arturia Minibrute 2S and Behringer Neutron. I think you could really take these synths from something quite basic and tradition to powerhouses with a few well chosen modules.
this is a great idea. I recently got a 0-coast and Loopop has done not only a "hacks" video for it (exploring workarounds to its limitations and weird tricks) but also a "pairings" video recommending modules you may want to add to it, to really unlock its capabilities.
I'm always eager for Mr MylarMelodies insights along these lines. I love this series. I think he really breaks down the directions you can take a rack at a level that keeps things affordable, portable and useable without being totally overwhelming.
My advice to someone getting into modular [after trying to sell them on the benefits of fixed architecture synthesis, instead, which I think makes more sense for all kinds of users, especially beginners] would be to start with one of these cost-efficient semi-modular synths (we could add the Moog mother-32 or its Behringer knock-off, the Pittsburgh Lifeforms, and some others) because you get a lot of bang-for-buck, and then branch out to a case where you can add one module at a time, master it and all the possible interconnections with the semi, all the while still having the basic music-making patching capabilities of the semi at the basis.
Great work, Alex. A TB-303 or DFAM mini system would be ace.
There's already a 303 module. Acidlabs m303.
Seconded! Not quite mini but my current 2x104 case is built around the DFAM
@@night_speed That's not the point, though. I'm talking about building a 303 clone out of multiple modules.
@@patchandrelease8285 i love this idea
I absolutely love your 'An Intro to Making Generative Music on Modular' video and I'd be happy to see you building a compact rig like this! A swiss knife of generative music, small Autechre machine, and a backpack-sized pandora box of randomness.
It's in the list! Small Autechre machine sounds fun tho...hmm
@@mylarmelodies Steal one of their MaxMSP patches maybe and recreate it in modular?
Thanos F How do you get hold of their patches?!! Would have to wait for them to do some patching in a Cafe then go for a wee and nick em. Annoyingly that’s not happening anytime soon
@@mylarmelodies Or you can ask them politely. Got nothing to lose AND you have a good reason to talk to them.
That Techno beat in in the beginning man..... you aced it ;)
Love it
that was the way i designed my first eurorack 10 years ago ;)
sick video!
great video and concept, looking forward to more. and still I dare to say most of what I hear could be done with an 0-Coast and 0-Ctrl.
Thanks universe, just ordered a 208c last week.
The moral of this story is the real thing is more fun to jam with. Proper instrument!
Video starts: "oh wow what reverb is he using? It sounds so splashy and spring-like"
Minute into the video I actually notice the tank at the top of the screen: "ooooooh".
1.57 mins in I wish he would switch it off...
Awesome system! Good advice at the start too, your system needs a purpose, mine doesn’t really have a strong purpose so is a constantly recycling source of confusion.
Great stuff! I second the Ultimate Drum / Percussion Machine and EMS Synthi ideas. I think it would also be interesting to see something like The Impossible Moog or MS-20 or (Insert Typical Monosynth Here), that takes a relatively common synth architecture and “does stuff” to it, makes it more wild and unpredictable.
profdazzle just get some AJH and a few other modules. Sounds as good as any minimoog ever made and does a lot more.