Like the colour overview for jams, tracks etc but would be nice to see without the colour overview regarding tutorial stuff as the video quality looks great! Good work by the way.
Hi, DivKidVideo! First, thanks for all your videos. I have found them to be super informative and useful. I use the color overlays partially because it's winter here in Chicago and it's nice to see some colors, and also because I think it helps makes the text easy to read.
It's a little more work, but typically what is done is to use an overlay only when showing the text. Another trick is to put a subtle dark (but mostly transparent) gradient under the text to make the text pop.
I have two questions as i recently bought the VB. I have it clocked via midi to cv module coming from my Octatrack. what do you patch from to the reset input so i can get sequence to start at first step after stopped and not at step where sequenced was stopped? Second, i have the division dial all the way to the left and i cant get the notes i play correctly. it is playing a note every 16 steps on the OT sequencer instead of playing a note with ea of the 16 steps. Thank you for all your videos as i watched them several times and appreciate the work it takes to produce them.
Hi, Scott. 1) I don't have an Octatrack so I can't speak from experience (maybe someone else can chime in) but the way I sync my VB up with other gear is by sending a 16th-note clock source into the VB's Clock Input and then another source that produces a short gate signal every 1, 2, 4, or 8-bars into the VB's Reset Input. 2) This might be one of two issues. One, are you setting the clock division for all sequences, or just one? Two, is the clock source coming from the Octatrack correct? My guess, only because I don't know the Octatrack, is that there is an issue with the clock signal it is generating or the module that is converting MIDI to CV. Hope this helps!
Thanks Daniel. I just got the module and was working on setting up 1 sequence only so far. the clock source is coming from the OT going into a Pittsburgh Mod Midi to cv converter which has a clock output jack. I can check the settings on that module for starters as i have not looked into that as of yet. curious as to what your source is for the short gate signal and how you set it for 1,2,4, 8 bars etc. I am obviously new to eurorack trying to implement it into a hardware set up. thanks again for the quick response and the help.
Welcome to the world of eurorack! There is definitely a lot of essential manual reading and experimenting at first to work through things like this. I use an Expert Sleepers ES-8 which is an audio interface to send/receive gate signals from Ableton Live and Bitwig. In Ableton I’ve made a few custom Max For Live Devices for creating different CV signals and Bitwig has some native devices for doing similar things. Native Instruments’ Reaktor also great for integrating with eurorack. Of course, all of these include a computer which may be something you are trying to get away from. Something that may help you make sense out of all the different signals is picking up either an old Oscilloscope or something like David Jones Design’s O’Tool.
thanks again for the reply Daniel. i pretty much work with computer all day and have enjoyed creating music without one. thanks for all your advice and your time and patience.
Scott Upright I have a Pittsburgh SV-1 which has a MIDI -to-CV converter that I expect is the same as yours. It's a great converter but I don't believe it includes the specific thing you need in this situation. Basically, in the MIDI standard, start & stop have a different CC signal than the clock itself. Some devices automatically reset back to 1 when the clock disappears for awhile and then comes back, some require that explicit signal. Looks like VB needs that explicit signal. Basically you just need to send a single gate or trigger into the Reset CV input. You could do this with all kinds of things, a drum trigger, an LFO, or just any gate or trigger output that you can manually control. For instance, the Beatstep Pro has a bunch of individual drum CV gate outputs, each tied to a specific drum pad. Connect one of those outputs to the VB Reset jack, and you've now got a button (well, drum pad) that can reset the VB sequence whenever you feel like it. Some MIDI-to-CV converters have quite a few outputs and the user can customize which CCs get sent out as CV signals from each jack. I use an Expert Sleepers FH-2 primarily and have one jack for clock output and another output jack for Start/Stop. Mutable Instruments Yarns can do this as well, as can most converters with 6 - 8+ outputs, and of course most modules dedicated to clock functionality, like Pamela's New Workout and presumably the Make Noise Tempi. Don't quote me on this, and you may want to Google it before trying, but you may be able to get a sufficient ping from a simple footswitch.
actually i find it pretty hard to create usefull melodies with the voltage block because of the response of the sliders. so i mostly use it for other controls than pitch.
Hi Boris, i just got the VB an hour ago and i thought the same thing. I will try to decouple rythm from pitch in my next patch. So when i change the VB sliders, it won't hold the note, but rather DING DING DING keep on playing the note in the rythm its supposed to be played. It will be less noticable that you're re-programing pitch.
See you have two varigate there's and later on you got an 8+... What do you think about operating two varigate 4+'s and seq switchs to do both longer drum triggering pattern, melodic sequenckng and voltage block style modulation to different patterns when neccesairy?
I like it! I have yet to get my hands on a Varigate 4+. The 8+ is definitely more powerful than the original 4, and the 8+ works really nicely with the Voltage Block. But the 4+ looks like a lot of fun and really flexible. Though not sure if I’d recommend two 4+ over one 8+. Especially if you are planning on poring it/then with the voltage block.
Fair do's. Well im not really keen to get a VB or 8+.. I feel like in my smaller system I could get that voltage block style modulation to the parameters on my drum modules (which is my main intention) sufficiently from one of the two 4+'s whilst still having the potential to do many 8 step sequences or 16 step and longer if i integrate my sequential switch. Basically I would be looking at the VB to do more articulation to timbre controls on my drum modules and I reckon that the VB might be overkill for me.. The potential that you cover in this video is great, but I wouldn't intend on having it fill that function. Furthermore I would like the potential to do some extra gate triggering when necessary (but not always) So I felt like getting another 4+ would give me these options whilst still remaining quick and malleable to my CV and modulation needs. Any more thoughts with this extra insight? Alternate modules to look at or different options, or would you still stay on the same point? Sorry for the essay, just trying to pick that brain of yours a bit
Can you make it skip a slider in one of the 16 sliders, for instance, turn one of the sliders off and jump over that slider but count it like a pause, or rest?
Yup! The only downside is no pattern save/recall with just a regular clock divider. But I'm sure you can get crafty with it. Especially with patching some of the VB's outputs to the CV controls on your SSSR. Share some videos if you come across any awesome results!
Finally have a voltage block on the way, after years of considering it. This video is great. Thank you for sharing!
Great overview video! I've had the VB for a few weeks but still picked up a few tricks from this series of vids.
+Brandon Thanks! I'd love to see/hear how your using the VB or what other modules you think it pairs well with. Share some links!
Loving this! It was such an inspiration for my future modular system
Excellent melodic demo, thanks for sharing.
Like the colour overview for jams, tracks etc but would be nice to see without the colour overview regarding tutorial stuff as the video quality looks great! Good work by the way.
Hi, DivKidVideo! First, thanks for all your videos. I have found them to be super informative and useful.
I use the color overlays partially because it's winter here in Chicago and it's nice to see some colors, and also because I think it helps makes the text easy to read.
It's a little more work, but typically what is done is to use an overlay only when showing the text. Another trick is to put a subtle dark (but mostly transparent) gradient under the text to make the text pop.
The text is easier to read, but most of the video doesn't have text on it. And the most important part IMO is seeing your patch and settings.
You are so good at explaining
Also you don’t need to jazz up the color keep it simple the content speaks for itself 🤙
this is a really great overview, I wish it went longer haha!
+Chartre Khan Thank you. More on its way soon!
Super helpful video. Thanks!
If you have the varigate does it share the gate patterns through the bus to the voltage block per channel?
Great video
I have two questions as i recently bought the VB. I have it clocked via midi to cv module coming from my Octatrack. what do you patch from to the reset input so i can get sequence to start at first step after stopped and not at step where sequenced was stopped? Second, i have the division dial all the way to the left and i cant get the notes i play correctly. it is playing a note every 16 steps on the OT sequencer instead of playing a note with ea of the 16 steps. Thank you for all your videos as i watched them several times and appreciate the work it takes to produce them.
Hi, Scott.
1) I don't have an Octatrack so I can't speak from experience (maybe someone else can chime in) but the way I sync my VB up with other gear is by sending a 16th-note clock source into the VB's Clock Input and then another source that produces a short gate signal every 1, 2, 4, or 8-bars into the VB's Reset Input.
2) This might be one of two issues. One, are you setting the clock division for all sequences, or just one? Two, is the clock source coming from the Octatrack correct?
My guess, only because I don't know the Octatrack, is that there is an issue with the clock signal it is generating or the module that is converting MIDI to CV.
Hope this helps!
Thanks Daniel. I just got the module and was working on setting up 1 sequence only so far. the clock source is coming from the OT going into a Pittsburgh Mod Midi to cv converter which has a clock output jack. I can check the settings on that module for starters as i have not looked into that as of yet. curious as to what your source is for the short gate signal and how you set it for 1,2,4, 8 bars etc. I am obviously new to eurorack trying to implement it into a hardware set up. thanks again for the quick response and the help.
Welcome to the world of eurorack! There is definitely a lot of essential manual reading and experimenting at first to work through things like this. I use an Expert Sleepers ES-8 which is an audio interface to send/receive gate signals from Ableton Live and Bitwig. In Ableton I’ve made a few custom Max For Live Devices for creating different CV signals and Bitwig has some native devices for doing similar things. Native Instruments’ Reaktor also great for integrating with eurorack. Of course, all of these include a computer which may be something you are trying to get away from.
Something that may help you make sense out of all the different signals is picking up either an old Oscilloscope or something like David Jones Design’s O’Tool.
thanks again for the reply Daniel. i pretty much work with computer all day and have enjoyed creating music without one. thanks for all your advice and your time and patience.
Scott Upright I have a Pittsburgh SV-1 which has a MIDI -to-CV converter that I expect is the same as yours. It's a great converter but I don't believe it includes the specific thing you need in this situation. Basically, in the MIDI standard, start & stop have a different CC signal than the clock itself. Some devices automatically reset back to 1 when the clock disappears for awhile and then comes back, some require that explicit signal. Looks like VB needs that explicit signal.
Basically you just need to send a single gate or trigger into the Reset CV input. You could do this with all kinds of things, a drum trigger, an LFO, or just any gate or trigger output that you can manually control. For instance, the Beatstep Pro has a bunch of individual drum CV gate outputs, each tied to a specific drum pad. Connect one of those outputs to the VB Reset jack, and you've now got a button (well, drum pad) that can reset the VB sequence whenever you feel like it.
Some MIDI-to-CV converters have quite a few outputs and the user can customize which CCs get sent out as CV signals from each jack. I use an Expert Sleepers FH-2 primarily and have one jack for clock output and another output jack for Start/Stop. Mutable Instruments Yarns can do this as well, as can most converters with 6 - 8+ outputs, and of course most modules dedicated to clock functionality, like Pamela's New Workout and presumably the Make Noise Tempi.
Don't quote me on this, and you may want to Google it before trying, but you may be able to get a sufficient ping from a simple footswitch.
actually i find it pretty hard to create usefull melodies with the voltage block because of the response of the sliders. so i mostly use it for other controls than pitch.
Hi Boris, i just got the VB an hour ago and i thought the same thing. I will try to decouple rythm from pitch in my next patch. So when i change the VB sliders, it won't hold the note, but rather DING DING DING keep on playing the note in the rythm its supposed to be played. It will be less noticable that you're re-programing pitch.
See you have two varigate there's and later on you got an 8+... What do you think about operating two varigate 4+'s and seq switchs to do both longer drum triggering pattern, melodic sequenckng and voltage block style modulation to different patterns when neccesairy?
I like it! I have yet to get my hands on a Varigate 4+. The 8+ is definitely more powerful than the original 4, and the 8+ works really nicely with the Voltage Block. But the 4+ looks like a lot of fun and really flexible. Though not sure if I’d recommend two 4+ over one 8+. Especially if you are planning on poring it/then with the voltage block.
Fair do's. Well im not really keen to get a VB or 8+.. I feel like in my smaller system I could get that voltage block style modulation to the parameters on my drum modules (which is my main intention) sufficiently from one of the two 4+'s whilst still having the potential to do many 8 step sequences or 16 step and longer if i integrate my sequential switch.
Basically I would be looking at the VB to do more articulation to timbre controls on my drum modules and I reckon that the VB might be overkill for me.. The potential that you cover in this video is great, but I wouldn't intend on having it fill that function. Furthermore I would like the potential to do some extra gate triggering when necessary (but not always) So I felt like getting another 4+ would give me these options whilst still remaining quick and malleable to my CV and modulation needs.
Any more thoughts with this extra insight? Alternate modules to look at or different options, or would you still stay on the same point?
Sorry for the essay, just trying to pick that brain of yours a bit
Can you make it skip a slider in one of the 16 sliders, for instance, turn one of the sliders off and jump over that slider but count it like a pause, or rest?
You can change the length of a sequence, or you could set two steps to the same pitch. See my other video that’s looks at this module in more depth.
Or get creative with its CV mode.
save and recall works to 8 channels the same time, so you have 16 slots, or you save and recall each channel selaretly?
You have 16 slots recording all 8 channels at the same time.
This should get som type of trig expander, cause now theres no trigs or gates for ADRS´s right?
+motoboy6666 the Voltage Block is actually kind of the CV expanded for Malekko's gate sequencer, the Varigate 8+.
DRD_Tutorials yeah, the vari8 is a bit of an overkill for me though.
Maybe you've already tried this, but you could just pair it with a small clock divider.
DRD_Tutorials thats smart! Acutally got a SSSR vc divider i could use, thanks!
Yup! The only downside is no pattern save/recall with just a regular clock divider. But I'm sure you can get crafty with it. Especially with patching some of the VB's outputs to the CV controls on your SSSR. Share some videos if you come across any awesome results!
Color overlay makes this unbearable.