How to think more like a modular synthesist?

wim

Its also nice to be able to put FX on just the wet signal - for instance a chorus or bit crusher on just the reverb.

Svetlovska

@HotStrange: I’ve got all those others too, but MIDILFOs was my first (well, strictly, Rozeta suite was, but the LFOs in that are more limited.) and because of that, I suppose, that’s the one where the muscle memory has developed. I’m sure I could do all the things in the others, too, but MIDILFOs is my rifle, there are many like it, but this is my own.:)

tldr: if you are happy with what you’ve already got, you probably don’t need MIDILFOs.

bygjohn

@Svetlovska said:
@bygjohn : true, but I like to ride the fader for the reverb separately from the instrument it is effecting, to bring it up as a swell effect on an individual instrument basis when I’m doing my live mixdown to AudioShare, though I do occasionally bus several instruments of a similar type onto a separate single channel.

Reminds me of one of Todd Barton’s transition tips, ramping up the reverb before a change, so when you lower it again your new section has come into play.

I’m getting ideas now…

pedro

Hey @jwmmakerofmusic I always enjoy your posts, and your curious approach towards music, which I share.
My advice to you regarding modular, is to build a krell patch.
One year ago I didn’t even really know what west coast meant, then I fell in love with LPGs and EOC gates and sources of uncertainty.
Now I’m hooked beyond repair

pedro

@bygjohn said:

@Svetlovska said:
@bygjohn : true, but I like to ride the fader for the reverb separately from the instrument it is effecting, to bring it up as a swell effect on an individual instrument basis when I’m doing my live mixdown to AudioShare, though I do occasionally bus several instruments of a similar type onto a separate single channel.

Reminds me of one of Todd Barton’s transition tips, ramping up the reverb before a change, so when you lower it again your new section has come into play.

I’m getting ideas now…

If you set the LFO in Hilda to ramp and modulate a bunch of stuff you can get those dramatic section changes. Like in my patch “morning rave” if you let it run.
But we can use that approach many ways, and I believe that’s what modular is about: getting surprised!

Ps: I never even saw much less touched a hardware modular in the wild. But I have miRack and Drambo 🙏

Gavinski

@bygjohn said:

@Svetlovska said:
Pro tip: make a pair of channels, bus the output of the first into the second, with a reverb on two. Then, when the lfo mutes or swaps out the audio, you get a natural sounding reverb trail rather than an abrupt cut off.

You could keep the channel count down by just putting the reverb in the channel as normal, but moving the node post fader.

Good tip! Damn I always forget about those post fader options in aum

bygjohn

@pedro said:

@bygjohn said:

@Svetlovska said:
@bygjohn : true, but I like to ride the fader for the reverb separately from the instrument it is effecting, to bring it up as a swell effect on an individual instrument basis when I’m doing my live mixdown to AudioShare, though I do occasionally bus several instruments of a similar type onto a separate single channel.

Reminds me of one of Todd Barton’s transition tips, ramping up the reverb before a change, so when you lower it again your new section has come into play.

I’m getting ideas now…

If you set the LFO in Hilda to ramp and modulate a bunch of stuff you can get those dramatic section changes. Like in my patch “morning rave” if you let it run.
But we can use that approach many ways, and I believe that’s what modular is about: getting surprised!

Ps: I never even saw much less touched a hardware modular in the wild. But I have miRack and Drambo 🙏

Thanks for the tip! There’s a strong argument that MiRack and Drambo are as much modular as anyone could handle! But I do like my hardware, too - tactile without a lot of MIDI mapping!

dendy

@pedro

Ps: I never even saw much less touched a hardware modular in the wild. But I have miRack and Drambo

so far, my recently purchased small HW modular setup is for me still a. it disappointment, still enjoying miRack MUCH more :-))

HotStrange

@Svetlovska said:
@HotStrange: I’ve got all those others too, but MIDILFOs was my first (well, strictly, Rozeta suite was, but the LFOs in that are more limited.) and because of that, I suppose, that’s the one where the muscle memory has developed. I’m sure I could do all the things in the others, too, but MIDILFOs is my rifle, there are many like it, but this is my own.:)

tldr: if you are happy with what you’ve already got, you probably don’t need MIDILFOs.

I kinda figured that but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything unique. I didn’t buy MidiGates for the longest time because I assumed it was like other apps (Peforator, Gatelab, etc) but once I bought it I realized it’s a totally different beast and worthy of its spot.

Svetlovska

Agreed. The range of ways to structure the actual MIDI gating rather than the audio product that MIDIGATEs offers is very different from Perforator and Gatelab, though I use those too, especially for gating FX trails. Using it now in fact, several times over on an ambient thing I’m developing now that, thanks to @rottencat, I’ve worked out how to use Pianobook packs directly inside Decent Sampler.

Gavinski

@Svetlovska said:
Agreed. The range of ways to structure the actual MIDI gating rather than the audio product that MIDIGATEs offers is very different from Perforator and Gatelab, though I use those too, especially for gating FX trails. Using it now in fact, several times over on an ambient thing I’m developing now that, thanks to @rottencat, I’ve worked out how to use Pianobook packs directly inside Decent Sampler.

I liked that platoon reference. MidiGATEs is one of the most useful apps I have, pretty sure I got it on your recommendationand I'm glad you kept harping on about it so much 😂

I imagine that a creative dev (or Art himself) could take that core idea and expand on it for an even better version. Anyway, anyone who works with midi should have a copy of midiGATEs, it rocks

Aashi2

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
This might not be what you're trying for, but Eno-style ambient is ridiculously easy in AUM. Get some loops, trim them so no two are the same length, and loop them in AUM file players. The longer the loops and the more you have of them, the longer before you will hear the same combination of sounds twice.

For infinite variation, put a separate LFO on each loop's fader. Each LFO at its own speed--slower is better. No tempo syncing. Use sine or triangle waves for the smoothest mix. This will give you an infinitely varied ambient mix.

Hi guys
Creating Eno-style ambient music in AUM with looped files and individual LFOs per loop is a brilliant idea. The non-tempo-synced approach, combined with different loop lengths and smooth sine/triangle waves, ensures a constantly evolving soundscape. It's a fantastic way to achieve infinite variation and immerse listeners in a captivating ambient mix. Kudos to the innovator! 🎶🎛️🎵

pedro

Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or chatGPTrolling