Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator Revealed!

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:01 am

I can hide the Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator no longer!
Patch (output) 1 into EXTERNAL (input)
Patch (output) 2 into something you want to modulate (filter, oscillator..etc)
GO!
This turns the Generator into a crazy self cycling CV generating/sample and hold/sequencer/freak out thingy.
Start with the knobs and switches set as below and make small adjustments slowly one knob at a time.
Please report back with your results. I've always thought the Generator is a classic, with a lot of untapped potential.
I have calculated 1,438 Billion potential settings.
Place a VCA in the internal patch and that number is multiplied by 237 million.

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:57 pm

Anyone tried this yet?
It basically slows the Generator down into cross modded
LFO/Wogglebug territory.

Hi5 · Post by **Hi5** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:01 pm

I would love to hear the results directly into an expo input of a VCO. Been looking for a woggle-type modulator so if this could double for this function I would be very interested.

Hosaka · Post by **Hosaka** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:01 pm

I did something similar with mine when I had one. I sent the modulation output through CVP first to slow it down even further and maybe added some glide and it became nice pattern generator.

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:12 pm

Here's a mix of sounds and methods.
No time to record something new,
see if this helps:

http://soundcloud.com/soy-sos-sweet-sou ... ving-3-osc
http://soundcloud.com/soy-sos-sweet-sou ... enerator-1
http://soundcloud.com/soy-sos-sweet-sounds/2600-wood1
http://soundcloud.com/soy-sos-sweet-sou ... qmmg-wood1

matttech · Post by **matttech** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:16 pm

Soy Sos wrote:I can hide the Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator no longer!
Patch (output) 1 into EXTERNAL (input)
Patch (output) 2 into something you want to modulate (filter, oscillator..etc)
GO!
This turns the Generator into a crazy self cycling CV generating/sample and hold/sequencer/freak out thingy.
Start with the knobs and switches set as below and make small adjustments slowly one knob at a time.
Please report back with your results. I've always thought the Generator is a classic, with a lot of untapped potential.
I have calculated 1,438 Billion potential settings.
Place a VCA in the internal patch and that number is multiplied by 237 million.

that sounds like one of my posts - i'll have one of whatever you've been having!

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:19 pm

Haha Mattech!

Have you tried this exact setup?
I'm curious to see if other people find it as much fun as I do.

matttech · Post by **matttech** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:36 pm

Soy Sos wrote:Haha Mattech!
Have you tried this exact setup?
I'm curious to see if other people find it as much fun as I do.

not got a Generator actually - have looked at it a few times, but never got my hands on one. i think i always just thought i'd be able to do that kind of chaotic FM cross-modulation with normal oscs. but i'm always open to hearing what makes a module unique. fill me in - what's its USP?

matttech · Post by **matttech** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:36 pm

i know a lot of people use it for percussion, sending it through LPGs etc..

thetwlo · Post by **thetwlo** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:41 pm

thanks! looks great, will try it in a bit!

Hainbach · Post by **Hainbach** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:30 pm

This is so great, thanks soy sos!

I am modulating a Korga right now an the rhythms are straight up Noisering + Maths territory.

In you opinion, is the expander a necessity or obligatory?

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:29 pm

I'm glad you're digging it Hainbach.
I wouldn't say the GenXpander is crucial but it gives you a bunch more stuff. Sometimes I'll patch additional outs through attenuators back into the Generator for extra craziness.

Hainbach · Post by **Hainbach** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:41 pm

Allright! I'll leave the expander for a while, still got more to patch with the Generator as it is.

FetidEye · Post by **FetidEye** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:17 pm

woah great tip!!!!
very cool
got an expander on the way, so more fun coming

Entrainer · Post by **Entrainer** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:24 pm

Neat patch!

May have to nab one and play around.

hollowman · Post by **hollowman** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:21 pm

Now I need to buy one!!!!

Rotating_Tree · Post by **Rotating_Tree** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:04 pm

I'm going to have to give this a try tomorrow. Possibly similar, but I was percussioning it up with the genny and using either the OE or the DIF output on the expander to modulate the freq cutoff on a filter and it sounded rather lush.

Has to be said, I've read a lot of things about the hidden treasures of the Generator but no matter how I use it I always get the feeling there's more to figure out with it. This is a start but to be honest I'm a complete simpleton so any and all discoveries, hints or tips are always gratefully received!

SYN7HOR · Post by **SYN7HOR** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:41 am

I'm gonna try this later tonight. But I don't get it... FM 1 with 1, and patch 2 with whatever you'd like to modulate? Won't 2 just send out a simple triangle?

reppiks · Post by **reppiks** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:07 am

SYN7HOR wrote:I'm gonna try this later tonight. But I don't get it... FM 1 with 1, and patch 2 with whatever you'd like to modulate? Won't 2 just send out a simple triangle?

The bottom knob determines how much 1 modulates 2

SYN7HOR · Post by **SYN7HOR** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:23 am

Aha, that explains things! I always thought that was just a VCA for both oscs.

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:00 am

SYN7HOR,
patch it just like in the picture.
Plug a cable into 1 (out)
the other end of same cable to EXTERNAL (in)
All switches and knobs in the position as in the picture.

Plug another cable into 2 (out) and the other end to a modulation destination.
An oscillator is the easiest example to see/hear what's going on.
If you're going into the 1 volt per octave, maybe use an attenuator first
so the pitch swings aren't so drastic.

Start by adjusting INDEX, SHAPE and EXTERNAL knobs
one at a time, returning them to their original positions
and trying the next. The trick for me is finding those
different combinations that will slow it down and create
these crazy CV/modulation sources.

DG Tom could explain why it works, but I just know that it does.

FetidEye · Post by **FetidEye** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:35 pm

i made a recording:
http://soundcloud.com/martijn-verhallen/genfeedback

I used the Pittsburg Generator as a CV source
to control the rate of 'the sound of shadows' module.
(with maths channel 3 as attenuator/invertor)
I sequenced a few notes, to an A-143-9 Quad LFO at audio rate setting.
(maths envelope to an A-132 VCA)

Reverb = Alesis Microverb 3
recorded with ableton

pipwilliams · Post by **pipwilliams** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:35 pm

Quick demo of the Generator modulating Tip Top Z3000. Madness follows. Reverb from Eventide Space.

http://soundcloud.com/preston-flex/pitt ... -generator

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:51 pm

Great sounds guys!
My favorite threads are about sharing techniques.

dropthedyle · Post by **dropthedyle** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:07 pm

Here is my try...
I layered three takes of that mystical patch and add some reverb and light delay.
In each one the generator is modulating the amp of a double andore at audio rate:
http://soundcloud.com/dropthedyle/pgh-g ... sos-secret

MUFF WIGGLER

MUFF WIGGLER

Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator Revealed!

Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator Revealed!

Re: Mystical Secret Patch of the Pittsburgh Generator Reveal