The History and Future of Eurorack Modular Synths with Doepfer by @DivKid and @Flixxx

Early contributors to this blog DivKid and Felix from the Tuesday Night Machine finally had the time to have a talk with Dieter Doepfer at a  recent Thomann event... 

" A rare moment of free time and having great people in the right place at the right time here's an interview with Felix of Tuesday Night Machines talking to Dieter Doepfer, THE CREATOR OF EURORACK at the Thomann Synth Reactor #TSR19 event. 

Felix and I wanted to chat to Doepfer about both his history (the history or Eurorack), his current polyphonic modules, future module sand ideas and a quick look at what the future of the Eurorack might be. 

We also talk about the Elektor Formant DIY synth, the new Frequency Shifter module coming later this year, CV controlled LED lighting, Dieter was also the EU distributor for Doug Curtis' Curtis chips/components, Raul's World of Synths, favourite Doepfer modules and plenty more. "

Check these people out - http://doepfer.de 

http://nightmachines.tv/youtube 

Subscribe for more DivKid videos: http://bit.ly/DivKidYTSub 

Be awesome! Support DivKid on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/divkid 

https://twitter.com/divkid 

https://www.facebook.com/DivKidmusic/ 

https://divkidvideo.com

MusicMesse Reports by @Flixxx (Playlist)

MusikMesse 2015 in Frankfurt took off today, with the Roland modulars/modules as the most talked about eurorack releases. Read all about that on the other blogs ;-)
Pretty refreshing to see this year are Felix' (The Tuesday Night Machines) excellent video-reports from the floor... Here's his playlist, enjoy!
(it looks like he is still adding episodes at the time I write this, so feel free to chech this blogpost again tomorrow or later this week)

MusikMesse 2015 playlist by +The Tuesday Night Machines

" OFFICIAL WEBSITE:http://nightmachines.tv
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Flixxx (@Flixxx)
Ello:
http://ello.co/nightmachines
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/nightmachines
Instagram:
http://instagram.com/tuesdaynightmach...
Bandcamp:
http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com
My other YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2"

The Benjolin Explained by The Tuesday Night Machines

Felix (The Tuesday Night Machines) uploaded a cool demo in which he explains Rob Hordijk's Benjolin module.

But first some info about the Benjolin, gathered from various sources;

" A darling of the DIY synth community for years now, Rob Hordijk's benjolin circuit is really like no other synth/noisemaker out there.

The Benjolin is the smaller sibling of Rob's now legendary Blippoo Box, the subject of his 2009 article in Leonardo Music Journal (Vol. 9). 

Both the Blippoo Box and the Benjolin emerged from Rob's attempts to design a circuit that was, as he puts it, "bent by design". 

 As such both modules function according to the basic principles of Chaos theory, where short to long sputtering patterns spontaneously alter themselves over time, at times gradually and at times quite suddenly, morphing into new pattern doublings and bifurcations. 

 The result is two incredibly unique instruments that function in a sense autonomously or can "play themselves" if you like.

Klangbau Koln Benjolin by Rob Hordijk

Both the Blippoo Box and the Benjolin are based around similar "chaotic cores," which in the the case of the benjolin, is comprised of two vcos and a unique circuit designed by Rob, which he calls a Rungler. 

 The Rungler is basically an 8 step shift register that takes its serial input from the squarewave of one oscillator and its clock input from the other. 

 The digital outputs of the shift register are than put through a primitive digital to analogue converter to create stepped voltage patterns, which are then wired back into the oscillators.

The effect of this arrangement is to create a complex interference pattern that gives the Benjolin its unique, aleatoric character."*

Rob Hordijk's Benjolin as a Eurorack module,(This version is made by made by Klangbau Köln) consists of two VCOs, a VCF, the famous "Rungler" and an audio mixer, which can mix the classic PWM sound with the dry VCO waveforms for added fatness. 

The VCOs can cross-modulate each other, VCO2's triangle wave can control the filter cutoff (if no external cutoff CV signal is plugged in) and the Rungler CV can of course modulate everything too. It's a complex instrument, which doesn't necessarily need any other modules to be enjoyed.

Outputs:
- Rungler CV
- OSC1 Triangle
- OSC1 Pulse
- OSC2 Triangle
- OSC2 Pulse
- Audio Mixer (VCO1 + VCO2 + PWM)
Inputs
- OSC1 Frequency CV
- OSC2 Frequency CV
- Filter Cutoff CV
A switch lets the Rungler run free, or locks its current pattern.

Video: The BENJOLIN Explained (w/ sound demo) #TTNM

" Wanna know more about this BENJOLIN instrument thing? Then watch this video demo! ... and subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Chaos, noise, drones and sweet music, all from one device!

The Benjolin is an instrument designed by Rob Hordijk and built and modified by a lot of DIYers, as well as some synth manufacturers. I explain the Benjolin's basics with a Klangbau Köln Benjolin Eurorack module. Don't worry though, you will easily understand all other versions as well, after watching this video.
The cool thing about the Benjolin is, that it has some amazing feedback loops built in, which can be used to modulate the sound to the Moon and back ... well, some people say "to Hell and back" ... you decide. There is also the famous Rungler circuit of Rob Hordijk, which generates random, looping or evolving CV sequences via a shift register design (similar to the Turing Machine Eurorack module).
It's tons of fun!

Some links:
https://www.facebook.com/rob.hordijk (Rob Hordijk on Facebook)
http://www.klangbauköln.de (Klangbau website)
http://nightmachines.tv/noiserack (Noise Rack video diary series with the Benjolin and others)

Got questions or comments? Go ahead and post them below! I try to reply to all of them :)
Thanks for watching! Check out my channel for more Synthesizer Music and Tutorials:
http://nightmachines.tv/youtube
Filmed with a Canon EOS 550D (Rebel t2i).
If you've read this far, post a comment with the words "rungle all night long" in it :D

LINKS / SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://nightmachines.tv
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Flixxx (@Flixxx)
Ello: http://ello.co/nightmachines
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nightmachines
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tuesdaynightmach...
Bandcamp: http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com
My other YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2 "

Rob's Benjolin design is also available as a Eurorack modular module by Epoch Modular

Sources: http://www.modulargrid.net/e/klangbau-koeln-benjolin-rob-hordijk

* via http://www.epochmodular.net/benjolin.html

Noise Rack Diary by @Flixxx

Felix from The Tuesday Night Machines is slowly putting together a standalone Eurorack Modular Synthesizer for noise music.

In this playlist you will find some experiments with it along the way.

Video Playlist: Noise Rack Diary

New episodes will be added on a regular basis...

SUBSCRIBE:

http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

http://nightmachines.tv

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/Flixxx (@Flixxx)

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/nightmachines

Instagram:

http://instagram.com/tuesdaynightmach...

Bandcamp:

http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com

My other YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2

A Patch From Scratch Series: Simple self-playing synth voices by The Tuesday Night Machines

Video Playlist: A Patch From Scratch: Simple self-playing synth voices

" In this video series I create random Eurorack modular synthesizer patches from scratch and talk you through them. :) "
" Subscribe for more :http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

MORE INFO: Eurorack Modular Synth Modules used in this video:
- Doepfer A-138 Exponential Mixer
- Intellijel Dixie 1 VCO
- Music Thing Modular Thonk Turing Machine & Pulses Expander Sequencer
- Intellijel uScale 1 Quantizer
- Malekko Wiard Anti-Oscillator VCO
- Klangbau Wavetable VCDO
- Erika Polivoks VCF Filter
- Synthrotek EKO Delay
- Make Noise Function Generator
- Intellijel Quadra Quad Envelope Generator

SUBSCRIBE:

http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

http://nightmachines.tv

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/Flixxx (@Flixxx)

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/nightmachines

Instagram:

http://instagram.com/tuesdaynightmach...

Bandcamp:

http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com

My other YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2 "

Music Thing Mikrophonie DIY Build & Demo by The Tuesday Night Machines

Felix from The Tuesday Night Machines uploaded an interesting video about the building of his latest Eurorack module, the Music Thing Mikrophonie contact microphone.

Video: Music Thing Mikrophonie DIY Build & Demo #TTNM

"I set up a camera and built the Thonk Mikrophonie Contact Mic Eurorack module kit.

At 1:36 I test it in my rack, together with the Synthrotek EKO DIY delay module.

Subscribe for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Questions or comments? Go ahead and post them below! :) Thanks for watching! Check out my channel for more Modular Synthesizer Music.
Filmed with a GoPro HD Hero."

Uploaded by https://www.youtube.com/user/flx04

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/Flixxx

The Tuesday Night Machines - Experimental Modular Synth Soundscapes by @Flixxx

A new episode of The Tuesday Night Machines for a change... this one is nice...

Time for some experimental sounds! Felix started with pinging his two Eurorack filters (uVCF & Voice of Saturn) and went patching from there.

The Vermona DRM-1 drum synth is routed through the Kaoss Pad Quad and sequenced with the MPC 1000.

The rest of the sounds are from the modulars doing their own thing, while only receiving the MPC's clock.

Video: Experimental Modular Synth Soundscapes (Eurorack, Tinysizer, DRM-1, MPC 1000, etc

" Pinging filters, grain-shifting drums, droning drones and making whale sounds with the analog modular synthesizers :)

MORE INFO:
Gear used in this video:
- Eurorack Modular Synthesizer (with Vermona qMi, Klangbau DCO, Malekko Wiard Anti-Oscillator, Intellijel, Koma Kommander, Sound of Shadows, Plague Bearer, Ataraxic Translatron, Voice of Saturn VCF, etc. see: http://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/vi...)
- Anyware Tinysizer (modular synth)
- Vermona DRM-1 mkIII (drum synth)
- Korg Kaoss Pad Quad (drum FX)
- Akai MPC 1000 (MIDI sequencer & Clock)
- Zoom R16 (recording & mastering)

Filmed with a Canon EOS 550D (Rebel t2i) and a GoPro HD Hero 1.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

GET MY ELECTRONIC MUSIC AT BANDCAMP:

http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/Flixxx

MY OTHER YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2

Modular Synth Basics Tutorial series by The Tuesday Night Machines

Felix, known for his earlier Eurorack videos and perhaps better known as 'The Tuesday Night Machines' has started a completely new video series.
The first videos in his "Modular Synth Basics" series, show what a Eurorack Modular Synthesizer is and tells all about the basic control signals.

Modular Synth Basics #01: What's a modular synth?

" What is a modular synthesizer? What is the Eurorack format? Subscribe for more videos

Modular Synth Basics #02: CV, Gate, Trigger & MIDI

" What are Control Voltages/CV, Gate Signals, Triggers and MIDI data? You'll need (almost) all of them to control your Eurorack modular synthesizer! Subscribe for more videos:

Modular Synth Basics #03: How to start?

" Some thoughts on how to start building a Eurorack modular synth system? Subscribe for more videos "

Let me show you my rack... by @Flixxx

Felix from Germany (@Flixxx) was asked to make a video of the Eurorack gear that he uses to make his music and videos.

Here's his narrated studio-tour...

Don't forget to check out the other links below the video for more interesting stuff.

Video: Let me show you my rack ...

" I was asked to show my Eurorack. Here you go.

Please show me your's and subscribe for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
If you have any questions, post them as a comment below :) Thanks for watching!

____MY EURORACK MODULAR SYNTH ON MODULARGRID.COM:
http://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/vi...
____MY WHOLE SETUP EXPLAINED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7yb2r...
____MY OTHER EURORACK VIDEOS:
Doepfer Clock Divider as Sub-Oscillator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5FnhF...
Make Noise Function as Sub-Oscillator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKtQ-_...
Turing Machine as VCO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoNGHV...
Circuit Abbey Invy as Waveshaper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCr5xn...
Intellijel uVCF as Saw Wave Oscillators:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e92Yi...
____LeBEAT GRAPHIC DESIGN (who painted my case):
http://lebeat.de/

____TIMECODES FOR EACH MODULE:

1:03 Doepfer A-160 Clock Divider & A-161 Clock Sequencer
1:31 Rebel Technologies Stoicheia
1:54 Doepfer A-162 Dual Trigger Delay
2:02 DIY OR Gate based on Doepfer DIY Page (http://www.doepfer.de/DIY/a100_diy.htm)
2:29 Doepfer A-151 Quad Sequential Switch
2:50 Doepfer A-180 Passive Multiples
3:07 Make Noise Function
3:25 Doepfer A-142-4 Quad Decay
3:36 Doepfer A-132-2 Dual Lin/Exp VCA
3:46 Doepfer A-132-4 Quad Exp VCA
3:58 Doepfer A-138 Exp Mixer
4:13 Din Sync Modseq
4:39 Music Thing Turing Machine & Pulses Expander
5:06 Doepfer A-175 Dual Voltage Inverter
5:17 Circuit Abbey Invy Attenuverter
5:37 Intellijel uScale Quantizer
5:50 Intellijel Dixie I VCO
6:09 Noise Engineering Ataraxic Translatron VCO
6:28 Intellijel uVCF
6:46 Doepfer A-125 Voltage Controlled Phase Shifter (Phaser)
6:55 Flame FX6
7:07 Flight of Harmony Plague Bearer v4
7:22 Flight of Harmony The Sound of Shadows Delay
7:45 Manhatten Analog mix
7:58 DIY Quad CV/Gate Generator
8:29 DIY Switch It/Push It
8:53 Doepfer A-183-1 Dual Attenuator
9:07 The Voice Of Saturn VCF
9:27 MFB OSC-02 Triple VCO
9:48 Monotron Blind Panel
9:57 Koma Kommander
10:23 Anyware Tinysizer Modular Synth

____MORE LINKS:
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
GET MY ELECTRONIC MUSIC AT BANDCAMP:
http://nightmachines.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/Flixxx
MY OTHER YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/flx04part2 "

Modular Analog Music and Tutorial Videos by @Flixxx

Felix from Germany (@Flixxx) has uploaded several highly interesting tutorial-videos last week, showing the more interesting/alternative/creative ways of using Eurorack modules.
They are not all about Doepfer, but he shows modules of all kinds of Eurorack brands and he does some nice and clear narration with it.
He even plans to do more of those quick looks in the future, so keep an eye on his YouTube channel.

Video 1: Doepfer A-160 Clock Divider as Sub-OSC/Frequency Divider (Eurorack Modular Synth Demo)

" A short video, showing the Doepfer A-160 Clock Divider Eurorack module being used as a frequency divider/square wave sub oscillator. This works by feeding the trigger input a VCO signal (either a square wave or saw wave) and using the division outputs (/2 /4 /8 etc.) as square wave VCO outputs. If you have any further questions, please post them below :) Thanks for watching!"

Video 2: Intellijel uVCF as Saw Wave VCO (Eurorack/Doepfer Modular Synth Demo)

" Another Modular Synthesizer video! This time I'm talking about how to use the Intellijel uVCF multimode filter module as a sine, saw and spike/rectified wave VCO. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below :) Thanks for watching!"

There's more...
Check out the full Music and Tutorials playlist on his YouTube Channel
Get his music at Bandcamp and/or follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Flixxx