Kastle Arp: Tutorial 1 + Bonus Ending
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- This video is the first in a series of tutorials about the Kastle Arp (a semi-modular synthesizer made by Bastl Instruments). This is a pretty long one! It starts slow but ramps up by the end, and it leaves us in a great position to do some complex patching in the next video of the series. I decided to do it kind of like an old series I did on the MakeNoise 0-Coast: constrain the number of patch cables. So, the first part of this video is with no cables at all, and then a lot of the rest of it is done with just 1 patch cable. This approach might be overly methodical, but it helps you understand exactly what effect the patch is causing. I'm trying so show some of the Arp's potential: different sounds, melodies, and quite a bit of NOISE. If you're new to modular synthesis then it might be worth watching, even if you don't have a Kastle Arp. I hope that even experienced synthesists and Arp users will get something out of it too. Thanks for watching!
TIMELINE
00:00 STARTER
One of the many noisy patches that the Kastle Arp can do. It's going through the Walrus Audio Slö reverb pedal.
00:27 INTRO
I hope the clip in this part doesn't give the wrong idea. The Kastle Arp sounds very "music box"-ish (tinkly major chord patterns) when you first hook it up. But that's just a façade. Also, I very optimistically thought I could do no cables, 1 cable, and 2+ cables all in this video. Nope. So now this series has become: VIDEO ONE Tutorial Part 1 (this video; no cables and 1 cable) VIDEO TWO Tutorial Part 2 (unlimited cables, hooking the Arp to other Kastles) VIDEO THREE Glitching the Arp (interesting niche cases) and VIDEO FOUR surprise.
03:46 INTERLUDE
I don't think I've ever paused the "Gary" clip before (our old snail's name, of course). It has a click in the repeat, but I feel like it sort of fits the video.
04:10 NO PATCH CABLES?
You can do the basics by hand - make a note, change that note's pitch, change that note's decay, and change that note's waveform. I also introduce a type of glitch here, setting the Decay at some sort of self-stimulation point. I don't fully understand it (and don't have to!). One thing, it seemed to depend significantly on the tuning of the Arp (lower seems better). See below.
14:58 SEEING THE SIGNALS (SCOPE)
Time for the Korg NTS-2 oscilloscope to shine
23:46 HEARING THE SIGNALS (tiMOD)
There is an inclination to start in with Note Modulation, but I decided that exploring Timbre Modulation makes more sense. It's a simpler continuous audio response that is directly relatable to the scope results.
30:46 MELODY & NOISE (nMOD)
This is pretty much the core functionality of the Arp, quantized notes on a chord across multiple octaves. It was sort of a tough decision to break apart nMOD and Chord in this video, because they really go together. But it will make the patches in the next video easier to understand. The basics of melodic variation. Some of the NOISE sounds are really nice!
44:30 TONAL DIVERSITY (CHORD)
And I'm glad that I did break them apart. I'm so used to thinking of the Chord patchpoint as a sort of note modifier and supplemental trigger source that I think I didn't fully understand it. Yes, it changes the arpeggiated chord's root in a I, IV, V progression framework. BUT, what are the notes that are actually triggered by changing the Chord's input? It's not just sending out root notes: i.e. patching the LFO to it doesn't just make it play C, G, C, F repeatedly, or something like that. The notes triggered by Chord input changes seem to depend on what the Note (plus nMOD) setting is, and it's not just parallel note, note+5th, note+4th sequences either. I'd say that it certainly triggers a note WITHIN the expected root chord, but in some complex way. I even wonder if it has a "direction of crossing" equivalent like the Note knob. So I'm saying the LFO causes (C, E, or G), then (G, B, or D), then the same (C, E, or G) as before, then (F, A, or C). It seem like something like G, B, G, A happens for some Note settings, and maybe E, G, E, F for others? I will try to figure it out for the next video.
55:04 TUNING & GL1TCH (BOOT MODE)
Boot Mode is pretty straightforward until it isn't (see below). This part also has the more fully-formed, automated, version of the 'thrumming' patch I showed in the Intro.
01:00:18 OUTRO
Just teeing up the Bonus part below.
01:01:37 BONUS PATCHES
This was an eye-opener, even while doing it. One thing to really appreciate about the Arp being used like this - these sequences are quantized and can be written down, used in DAWs, or on other instruments. A lot of this part comes down to auditioning the Pattern sequences and making your own choices about the sound. Any reverb-fueled melodic groove that makes me feel like I'm soaring through space is the right one. This clip has at least two of those, making all of the other fiddling around well worth it. Time to fly. 
Видеоклипы
That bass / synth patch at 3:09 is a beast! Wasn't expecting that from this little box. Great video
Thanks very much for checking it out! I'm getting together some patches for the next video, hopefully some good demos. Agreed that the Arp has been pretty surprising!
I dismissed the Kastle line when I first saw them but now that I’ve gotten them, I am completely fascinated. Part of that fascination comes from these amazing videos. Thank you for taking the time to break down each element so thoughtfully. Great stuff.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. As someone struggling with the modular concepts of these Bastl synths, your clear and concise demonstration has put everything into context for me. Without your assistance I’d have been floundering always. Thank you again for your time and effort is very much appreciated. The final patch session with the Drum and NTS-1 is superb.
Thank you again for another great video! I had hoped you would do one with the Kastle ARP, and you’re doing a whole series!! I like the ARP, but find it somewhat limited compared to the other Kastles, so I’m really looking forward to your insight and sonic explorations
Another great video. The last section in Boot Mode was icing on the cake so inspiring! Thanks Doc!
Been looking forward to the Arp video from ya. Of course i had to add the Arp to the Kastle/Kastle Drum/Microgranny family.
I hope you enjoy(ed) it! Thanks for taking a look🙏🏼!
@@undulations sure did. Like all your stuff, it'll be my video reference manual.
Thank you Sir; a very clear and concise demonstration which I found extremely helpful.
always stoked to see a new undulations video come out
Many thanks🙏🏼!
❤.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thinking you would enjoy the Pluto synth by Modern Sounds, a mini modular with 2 voices and 2 sequencers (and a lot of clock divisions). I just ordered one 😊
Have you used the Korg Volca Modular? Same patching system, but it's more based on West Coast synthesis. Would be cool to see it cross-patched with all the Kastles into one mini modular Frankensynth 🙂
Hey, yes! In fact, I have a video called "Kastle Volca". I need to get the Volca Modular out for one of the next Kastle Arp videos. Thanks for the reminder! And thanks for checking out the channel🙏🏼!
@@undulations yes, I did a bit of rummaging around in your older videos and found it. Also the bit ranger one. I was going to mention that too but you're way ahead of me 😀
You should do a tutorial on digitakt 2 , like you did for MC.
Those tutorials were epic.
I'm not modular. I know your examples are amazing
Thanks🙏🏼! I really enjoyed making the M:C videos. The D2 looks great, but probably a while before I buy one🤔. I guess I could sell my D1 and Digitone, but sort of attached to them. I saw that Cuckoo just put out a tutorial for it, bet that's packed with a lot of details👍🏻!
Is it possible to sync the arp with a drum machine? Like roland tr06? Sync tempo?
@@ShawnBrandon888 Yeah, it has a Clock In patchpoint that works like the Kastle Drum's. I've synced the Drum to Volcas, Pocket Operators, and other stuff. You can send the sync into the Arp's I/O port (aux) and then patch that to CLK IN. This basically hijacks the Pattern lfo's tempo, so the melody can sync to the xternal tempo. Then the other lfo's (pulse and triangle) get sort of "captured" if the two tempos are close. That said, a lot of it comes down to the actual sync signal details - voltage, timing, type - so it can take some experimentation, maybe changing sync settings on the external box.
Thanks that's great, love the stark beautiful sounds
what do you think about roland synthesizer sh-4d?
reminds me very much of an old 'photo theramin' synth box thing (arp with a photocell and an led, modulating all). EXCEPT this one is way more listenable, versatile, and less annoying. Price tag?
i bloop with it here, it was called 'thingamagoop' (lol, really)
ruclips.net/video/3FUi6vfIZP4/видео.htmlsi=qmKppMb0OeYuT-zH
Wow, that is a super cool gadget😀! The responsiveness looks very nice.
The Arp looks like it's currently going for $132👍🏻 I recall paying something like $140 but might just be misremembering. Thanks for checking out the video!