Muff's Modules & More

kindredlost

I built one of Ken Stone's CGS01 module for a 2U space dotcom style module. The initial build was problematic due to my error but it is now working fine. I screwed up the front panel pretty bad by having the engraving program off center. Too late after I drilled the first hole so I just went with it. I'll make another later. very frustrating

Anyway, the module when used as a multiplier with two fairly low frequency VCO's (Q106's in 32' and 16') will generate a series of voltages out of the normal and inverted outs that are killer when run through a quantizer then to a pair of VCO's. This is the magical "Harmonic Sequencer" function. Lotsa Love

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:05 am Post subject:

indeed. david, that is fantastic. just listened to the whole 6 inches.

makes me consider building this one even though i have no space nor a panel.

Zeitdehner · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:07 am Post subject:

This is pure magic...love it ! thumbs up

diophantine · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:09 am Post subject:

This is fantastic! thumbs up

Parts of it reminded me a bit of Chris & Cosey, but turned upside down and sideways.

This is I think the one CGS module that I don't understand at all - I should really try reading the full documentation.

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

diophantine · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:20 am Post subject:

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:22 am Post subject:

yeah every time i go up there, which is a ton these days, i scratch my head in wonder over a bunch of things. afaik, this one is a freaky two channel divider of some kind?

e-grad · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:25 am Post subject:

sduck · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:39 am Post subject:

Any sufficiently advanced technology will be perceived as magic. And this is that! All I know is that it sounds great. I wonder if I had one of these if I'd get the same results, or just the usual noise?

Orbless · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:49 am Post subject:

think I'm sold on this, sounds great

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:51 am Post subject:

how easy was the build? seems like i noticed some trouble on the cgs yahoo list? and do you by any chance have a file for the panel you might be willing to share? i see the bridechamber panel is giant plus it involves extra mixer pcbs. which way did you go?

kindredlost · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:03 pm Post subject:

Essentially it is a dual suboscillator module. There is an additional circuit added which is decade counter 4017 chip that can be used for dividing by 3, 5 or 7 divisions (pre-scale). Also the two channels can be multiplied or ring modulated. These combined functions lead to a very complex set of functions. Imagine having one VCO input, prescaling, dividing and then ring modulating against either the same vco or another one. It sounds pretty nice or nasty as you would expect in plain audio range but also can be used with slow moving voltage sources for trigger/gate functions as I did in another video.

The difficult part of Ken Stone's designs sometimes lie in the fact that they are open-ended somewhat. This particular one was fairly well documented and a panel layout was offered for two different designs. That helps someone like me to decide how to use the module in a meaningful way.

I did find it confusing to wire up properly in this revision 2 format. The B Channel pots are double-duty with the multiplier functions. A switch chooses between the functions. If anyone needs a primer on how to wire it I'll be glad to further elaborate. I also have an fpe design which works pretty well (I think). The only thing I'd change would be the spacing between the jacks. They are too close. I'll attach it here.

I know a lot of people have this module on their list. I'd highly recommend it. It is really an easy build once you get the wiring idea squared away. There are ways to actually output each division and bank separately but it takes a few more buffer circuits. There is only one mixer designed into this board but the CGS mixer boards are very small and easy to add. In other words there is a way to make this a monster harmonic sequencer or suboscillator.

I like this one so much I may just build another one too. I really is magical ina way. It makes you want to sit there and tweak the knobs endlessly. A very rewarding module.

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:14 pm Post subject:

thanks for sharing everything david! i have no more space atm but if case 4 ever becomes a reality, which is likely inevitable once the current giant projects are compete, this one is on the list.

kindredlost · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:16 pm Post subject:

voicetospirit · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:17 pm Post subject:

Wow, that sounds awesome David. How much are you going to start building these for? applause

dude · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject:

kindredlost · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject:

BTW anyone and everyone has persmission to use the panel layout in any that suits them. If someone wants to make their own or a run of these for others and likes the panel layout I made - go for it.

A CGS01 for every household I say! This is fun!

7thDanSound · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 1:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks for sharing, this was really cool! I'm amazed. I wish I could do this as a DIY project but I never get around to finish those. So thanks a lot for sharing as I wouldn't have seen one otherwise! we're not worthy

doctorvague · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

WOW

REALLY beautiful David!!!!
Might be my favorite synth video ever, no shit.

wmonk · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:23 pm Post subject:

Wow, excellent video! I've always skipped the CGS01 on their page... now I wonder why I did that... sounds like something I need! cool

kindredlost · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject:

voicetospirit · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject:

David, is there any FX processing on the modular? Like a reverse type thing or is that all the new module?

sduck · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure there's a strymon blue sky using the shimmer setting. David likes that one a lot.

ziopad · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject:

Wow, I loved this video. Just got back from watching Werner Herzog's Cave of Forbidden Dreams and these sounds fit the magic of the film perfectly. I'm seriously in awe of these sounds... exquisite. Thanks so much for posting this!

kindredlost · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:44 am Post subject:

kindredlost · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:53 am Post subject:

spinach_pizza · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:38 am Post subject:

I'm not a DIYer, but this video makes me want to be one.

JohnLRice · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:42 am Post subject:

Fantastic, David! we're not worthy

rezzn8r · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:50 am Post subject:

magical!

kindredlost · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 11:47 am Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 1:11 pm Post subject:

LOVE that!

Maybe I missed something, but... show us the patch or it never happened!

dslocum · Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject:

kindredlost · Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject:

spinach_pizza · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:35 am Post subject:

That's interesting, David, thanks for the patch information. But I confess, even after reading about the module on the Catgirl site, watching your video some more, and looking at the panel you made, I'm still rather hmmm.....

!

kindredlost · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 11:52 am Post subject:

I posted this in the "your Tunes" section but it could be regarded as a continuation of the same general patch.

I built a ChaQuO chaos generator and quadrature oscillator yesterday (Ian Fritz design - The Bridechamber kit) and decided to see what kid of mayhem I could impart upon the Harmonic Sequencer by sending the two input vco's some chaotic voltages. Of course one thing led to another and I ended up re-patching this one quite a bit & adding an additional drone in the background.

[s]http://soundcloud.com/david-ryle/whatbedoit[/s]

I'll admit some of these modules are pretty deep and I have only a limited understanding of the full function sets. It's nice to have some headroom for learning and exploration. I've always had an interest in generative patches and anything that helps bring a little unexpected variety is welcomed. Ian Fritz has a knack for chaos designs and it's fun going where his mind has been (though it's a little scary). J/J razz

PS - @dslocum: don't even ask how this patch was done. I can't begin to draw that one out. Hint: the background drone was with an STG Time Modules combined with one quadrature of the CHaQuO affecting a few outputs from a Yusynth quadrature LFO to some vco's (& stuff). dizzy

mirri · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject:

Two excellent patches. Nice work sir! I like the galloping horse in the chaospatch very much smile

drewtoothpaste · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 12:58 pm Post subject:

It sounds really nice - couldn't you feed any CV to a VCA and send the +/- outputs to two quantizer inputs to get two voices playing selected notes in a major triad? Doesn't seem like you need the suboscillator - what is it doing here that makes it necessary for the patch?

Not a criticism, just wondering. It sounds awesome.

kindredlost · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 3:09 pm Post subject:

The way the two sub oscillators work together as a ring modulated multipliers I think is the real difference.

There are (on this build) four dividers for each osc input (channel) and each of the four will work against the other sub oscillator's corresponding divider in a multiplying fashion (ring modulation). In turn these are sent out (again on my build only) through a pair of outs, one normal and the other inverted.

So in essence this is possible to do with say, 8 dividers or sub oscillators, four ring modulators, a four channel mixer and a pair of vca's. And that is not counting the pre-scaling that can be done on the B channel - which I haven't tried to incorporate yet.

Ken Stone has made a pretty feature-packed module from this board. There are a few builders who have made some rather large panels and stand-alone boxes with up to 24 control knobs and outputs. Mine is fairly lame in comparison.

EDIT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS;
The idea that any cv could be used with a quantizer to create a series of triads is true. The difference might be hard to explain but lies again in the way the two channels work against each other for patterns that would be difficult to come up with in the simple patch mentioned.

Any fairly complex deviation from a straight LFO or EG cv to the quantizer adds complexity but the use of sub oscillators on an LFO naturally creates rhythmic and long term cyclic events that are still sequential (or repetitive) in nature. The ability to have each "pair" of dividers multiplied together and then mixed makes it kind of unique. It quickly becomes hard to predict the pattern but it still repeats nicely in a way that helps to be musical (for me at least).

The sub oscillator effect might be a place to start experimenting for anyone with a few extra oscillators and the quantizer etc.. I tend to make demos that are too complex to demonstrate the real module function. I apologize for that. Your question is entirely valid due to the way this demo evolved. It's difficult sometimes to understand the steps I went through to make the events happen and in turn what indeed the module is doing for the patch. I'm glad you asked Drew so I could try to clear the cob webs about this rather dense patch. I hope this helps a little. I know in a month or two I'll be wondering what I did too. hihi

bwhittington · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

I just bought an MOTM build of the CGS01 that was on eBay. It's funky panel layout seemed to simplify things in a way that helped my understanding of what was going on, but it appears to be missing the Bx2 function. Am I going to kick myself for that very much? I assume I may be able to add the a mult/divide switch as on your build if needed.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't take a very close look at your panel when comparing their features. I thought the multiplier switch was a replacement for the Bx2 pot on the original CGS layout, but it's just to engage the a*b function, isn't it? In that case, this build has it all covered and then some. But what's the missing Bx2 do, double the B frequency?

I'm very excited to finally get to play with one. I'd been wanting to build one, but I promised myself I would finish my other projects before staring anything new.

Cheers,
Brian

PS. This module is crying out for a chicken head knob on that switch.

Mine:

The CGS layout:

russma · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:50 am Post subject:

Dang, I was looking hard at that one, bWhit.

Good on you for snagging it.

thumbs up

bwhittington · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:00 pm Post subject:

Sorry!

The work David's done with these has been amazing, so I can't wait to try one.

Cheers,
Brian

tuanuibi · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject:

F*ckin' awesome!!

kindredlost · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

Great find Brian! love

The B/2 division isn't going to be that important in the general scheme of things considering simple division by 2 is easily done with more general dividers. The B/16 division is very deep and will allow for some of the harmonic sequencer realm much more than the suboscillator function. I've been finding the ultra high frequencies out of the DDVCO to be great with these modules and a divsion by 16 will be even better. You're module is interesting how it allows continuous attenuation of the multiplier as well as the divisions simultaneously. Nice. I'll admit I don't fully understand the Bx2 thing and didn't include it on my build design. Do a demo of this if you get a chance, (after you get a chicken-head knob). hihi

@tuanuibi: thanks for the positive comment. The engraving was my own silly effort on a milling machine. It looks as bad in real person as the photograph. I have replaced all the panels (I now have 3 of these modules) with panels from Re:Synthesis panels by Big Blue Wave (Ben Marshall). He made these look very nice. They are featured in an intro video clip on my newer videos now. BTW, these hand-made front panels are just laying around now in case someone wants to build their own MU module. You'll be constrained by my design though. The panel is pretty crowded.