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West-Coast/Buchla/Serge Style Synths?
Thanks to Ripplemaker and Audulus, I've become more aware and appreciative of the timbres possible with Buchla-style synthesis that aren't possible (or at least not easily achievable) with the Moog/Arp/Oberheim inspired subtractive synths.
I've been enjoying listening to 0-Coast hardware demos and would love to explore this area more deeply.
I am wondering if there are synths on iOS other than Ripplemaker and a few Audulus modules that are good for this type of synthesis.
On Mac/Windows there are a few nice-sounding Buchla emulators and Aalto seems promising.
Anything on iOS?
Comments
I too fell in love with Ripplemaker and the Buchla style additive synthesis, so mich so I got a 0-Coast, which is different but the modular interface makes it feel very similar to Ripplemaker .
In terms of additive iOS, there is Phosphor 2 by Audio Damage, but personally I don’t get that same feeling as with Ripplemaker or my 0-Coast from its interface. I would give it a look though.
You could try using the WaveFolder AU, put some sine waves or drum loops through it, its great stuff.
The other aspect of west coast can be the tape music side of things - obviously historically manifested itself as "tapes" but now with apps lots of other options - I'd argue that granular is very west coast - Spacecraft, Quanta , borderlands and others fit nicely here. The RE-1 tape look app or even Kosmonaut are nice here too.
Remember as well - control is another part of West coast - getting away from the keyboard and looking at generative apps or alternative controls (TC-11 maybe)
All true, as for the granular and “tapes” aspect, I’ve got that covered. I am really looking at covering the synth territory. There are particular resonant squawks and explosive semi-harmonic kinds of sounds that the Buchla-type synth architecture can generate that I am loving that are hard to get with subtractive and phase-modulation style FM synths.
@Calverhall : thanks for the Phosphor tip. Are it’s oscillators similar to the complex oscillators in 0-Coast or Buchla?
The demos of the Arturia and Reaktor Buchla knock-offs sound pretty good to me. A lot richer sounding than the very fun Audulus west-coast implementations.
not iPad obviously but there is a fantastic Reaktor Buchla patch called Cloudlab 200t
Yes. Hoping to find something that I have overlooked on iOS.
If you have Audulus 3 there is 1-Toast: https://forum.audulus.com/t/1-toast-after-the-0-coast/415
@espiegel123 @Calverhall I know these things just depend on our own reference points, but I don’t think of Ripplemaker and that kind of Buchla style synthesis as additive at all. It’s not about adding sine waves on top of each other to create more complex waveforms. Instead, it’s about creating very complex waveforms out of the main oscillator (well, two of you turn the ad section into another oscillator) through techniques like wavefolding, fm, etc. I personally wouldn’t go to phosphor for that kind of west coast action..
@espiegel123 How much of what you are looking for is tied to complex audio rate modulation action, vs eg the kind sounds you can get out of the default wiring (or close to default)? IMO that’s the question that might get you the most mileage in terms of finding what to explore next.
I mean, IMO, a lot of the character of the default/simple wiring comes from the envelopes - their curve and speed. (YMMV..) With that in mind there’s lots of Buchla-esque fun that opens up with synths that allow you to mimic that kind of envelope behavior (eg rhe customizable slopes on obsidian’s adsr (and ad)).
If you’re into the heavy audio rate modulation thing, I was also thinking Audulus. But seems it’s not getting there for you.
On desktop, I’d say start with VCVrack since it’s excellent and free. Then there’s the Arturia stuff and reaktor. I’d personally give a serious spin to Aalto before going to the Arturia stuff, but that’s because I care less about the analog emulation side of things, and more about the flexibility, ease of use, and musicality of the design and UI.
Here’s me a few years ago doing something fairly unmusical on iVCS3 which was actually an attempt at wavefolding by using the reverb in the middle of a patch. It was kind of influenced by that Cornwall / Devon / Somerset beach type of synthesis mentioned here.
@espiegel123
I've spent some time with original Buchla modules and clone modules. I've always felt the waveshapers/timbre were responsible for the Buchla 'sound'. The vactrols also played a part. If my memory is correct, sometimes the waveshaper was even hidden in the oscillator module ( no control over the waveshaper, no mention of it, just part of the 'oscillator' ).
Modules like the source of uncertainty
were also just modules pre-patched; shift registers, logic modules, sample and hold, etc. The fantastical names made them sound deeper than they were.
You could ask brambos if he implemented vactrol emulation and the Buchla waveshaper/timbre. Does his waveshaper/timbre use oversampling
( like Aalto ) If he did, you are most of the way soundwise. The Rozeta sequencer will allow you to do some of the type of sequencing that one might do with a Buchla. sequence ripplemakers modules ....
I've gotten some Buchla 'type' sounds with DRC. Even though DRC isn't emulating Buchla, it has complex distortion characteristics built in( subtle or obvious ). It would be nice ( more flexible ) if DRC had waveshapers for the oscillator, the filter, and the resonance, but post processing with any of the existing iOS waveshapers is plenty.
iOS modulars that allow you to build waveshapers, non-linear distortions, etc. ( ideally with over sampling ) will accomplish that sound....with some research on your part. Look also for shift registers ( or ability to build them ), logic modules, noise types, sample and hold.
iOS modulars that allow the use of iaa, or AUv3, as a 'module' will save you some time building waveshapers.
Though not Buchla synthesis type , Phosphors waveforms are very interesting with post waveshaping, distortion, tube amp, etc.
Grind is also useful for post process waveshaping.
@u0421793: Nice vid.
@philowerx : 1-Toast and Rasmus and West-Cat are kind of what got me started on this kick. They are a lot of fun and can come up with some nice sounds, but after listening more deeply to people working with Buchla hardware and some of its emulations and listing to people's 0-Coast work, I feel like the Audulus versions are missing a certain something. Robert Syrette mentioned in a comment on the Audulus forum that he has learned things since creating 1-Toast that would improve its sonics...I hope he'll come out with a 2-Toast -- as 1-Toast whetted my appetite.
@ohwell: "Additive" synthesis is an unfortunately ambiguous phrase that can mean two pretty different things. I have a long background in the form of additive synthesis that the Alpha-Syntauri and such system did which is adding sine waves on top of each other to build rich waveforms. I've done a lot of work in that domain -- and while it has its charms, I also find it limiting in a lot of ways. The other sense of "additive synthesis" is those forms of synthesis that create rich waveforms from processes done to waveforms that are not harmonically rich. I kind of prefer to stay away from using "additive synthesis" for this reason.
I have done a lot of exploring the last couple of weeks of waveshaping/wavefolding in various contexts and I think there is more to the aspect of the Buchla/O-Coast vocabulary of interest to me than just the waveshaping, it is the way the multiple processes that are provided can be combined together (wavefolding, AM, FM)-- and the noise/sample-hold stuff certainly plays into that as well as the way that envelopes can do funny things (like be turned into oscillators and gates). All that combined with the low-pass gates open up a certain vocabulary that I like.
I am spending some time exploring LayR as its wavefolder, LFOs and envelopes offer a lot of possibilities.
I have no idea to what extent the actual characteristics of the oscillators themselves contribute -- there are just certain sounds that you hear coming out Buchla/0-Coast/Aalto that are different from what you get by just putting wavefolding/waveshaping in the path. Those are all good, too. Just not what I'm looking for at the moment. And while there are lots of very cool tools for doing generative stuff, the interactions that you get by having all these capabilities integrated in a system has certain specific interesting possibilities, a "vibe" that is different from sending generative output to a separate synth (which is cool, too -- just different).
I may have to go desktop to get my fix but hope maybe there is some gem that I've overlooked.
Side note: A lot of Buchla work that I've heard doesn't really make use of its timbral uniqueness but is more focused on the generative side which I think made it easy for me to overlook the special things that these systems could do.
I would have to agree with those that suggested TC-11. Something about the sound reminds me of Buchla. The specifics are different of course, being completely digital and without a lowpass gate. But listen to Doug’s demo...
Btw, my search for a more Buchla-esque synths is not a knock on Ripplemaker -- which is excellent. Maybe @brambos will bring out some more West-Coast inspired synths.
Ripplemaker would be a great platform for a dual 'complex' oscillator:
Make Noise DPO:
...and 2, 3, or 4 Lowpass Gates (VCA+LPF), but each with a resonance knob:
Make Noise QMMG:
...and a dual function-generator (envelope) with mod inputs for both Rise (Attack) and Fall (Decay):
Make Noise Maths:
...and how about a Cartesian Snake Sequencer IAP for Rozeta?:
Make Noise Rene:
I use to have one of these:
NonLinearCircuits CellF Voice:
I believe it's still the least expensive way to get the top half of a Buchla Music Easel (~$800).
2 Tri-core VCOs (Tri+PWM, Both w/ PWM+CV+CV/10, 1x w/ Sync IN, 1x w/ FM IN)
2 LFOs (Free-Running Tri+Sqr+A-B Out)
2 Low Pass Gates (Filter Mode w/ Rez, LPG Mode w/o Rez)
3 VCAs (2x HiFi, 1x Dirty/for CV)
VC Spring Reverb (2-IN Mixer w/ level IN Knobs, Wet+Mix Outs)
Diff-Rectifier - can be used as a CV mixer/mangler, waveshaper and VCA.
Jerkoff Chaos - low frequency, sync-able chaotic signal generator (X=Fast Bipolar Triggers, Y=Medium Unipolar Triggers, Z=Medium Bipolar Gates)
2 Envelope Generators based on the Buchla 281 design (VC Rise+Fall; EOC Pulse/Trigger Out)
Sauce of Unce - an updated version of the Buchla 265 source of Uncertainty
posting parts of my modular up above I see ;-)
I very much like the west coast style stuff and it's something I hope to visit at some point
My feeling is that it would be good to look at the thinking and philosophy behind Buchlas work and the iPad touch screen seems an ideal aspect to explore as well as the different sound generation modules - hence the mention of TC-11. Likewise the generative part which is an influence on my stuff as well (although like all influences I take them and do my own thing with them - not expecting anyone to look at my work and go 'oh yes - west coast' ;-) )
A complex oscillator synth for iOS would be wicked though - I use my DPO a lot. I don't think they have any interest but one dream would be for the Madrona Labs synths to come to iOS - I use those a great deal as well
Re: Madrona Labs. Which synths do you have? I discovered their site by accident. Very interesting!
I've got the Aalto - which is complex oscillator based + a resonator which is really nice - very much in the same space as the Buchla easel
And the Kaivo - physical modelling is another thing I really like (I have a mysteron in my modular as well)
both can be a bit CPU hungry but great synths
Thanks. Very exciting company.
I’m actually not clear on which iOS modulars support iaa and/or auv3 as modules for this kind of purpose + run fine in iOS 12. Which do you like in particular?
Yeah, the A-138m can be used as an inverter and offset generator too (in addition to attenuation and mixing), which I hope DRambo (and Ripplemaker + ???
) will have many of (also need lots of multiples, logic modules, comparators, switches, sample & hold with slew, etc.).
https://www.modulargrid.net/ Good for ideas. iOS touchscreen is as close as it gets for a lot less money. Looking forward to DRambo in apeMatrix.
Amazing performance! And those timbres!
Apologies, I wasn't clear.
I'm not using any of the iOS modular systems. I remember reading zmors could utilise auv3, and audulus maybe.
The only Buchla-style synth on iOS is Ripplemaker. I thought that espiegel123 might attempt making some Buchla type modules with an iOS modular. I mentioned the vactrols and the waveshaping because they ( and how they are used in the circuit - lpg ) are the what gives early Buchla it's 'sound'. I can't speak to modern Buchla modules, haven't tried them. Serge, Wiard, and others that have been influenced by Buchla all 'sound' different, unless you introduce a waveshaper and some low pass gates ( with vactrols ).
Hopefully brambos will introduce some more modules. I suppose it's time to buy Ripplemaker, as it sounds like I missing some fun ;-)
For those running macOS or windows, madrona labs aalto is worth it.
recent developments (Rabid Elephant Natural Gate Eurorack module, MakeNoise 0-Coast) demonstrate that it is possible to get good LPGs without vactrols. However, in software it still appears to be difficult. Aalto, Arturia's Buchla Easel, Reaktor ensembles, and in iOS Ripplemaker and Audulus patches, just lack that organic behaviour of hardware LPGs. They are all great instruments with great sounds, but in my opinion quite far from that typical West Coast sound.
I guess (hope) this will change one day.
https://rabidelephant.com/products/natural-gate