Elementally
Channel: Dave Phillips
Date: 2019-08-24

Further exploration of the capabilities of the Modal Synthesizer module - aka Elements - from the Audible Instruments plugin for VCV Rack.

Two Alienz signal generators produce random bursts that are sent directly to the modal synth's audio inputs. The synth is configured to process audio input while handling its own percussion synthesis for the main drum parts. A bass line is played by the Functional VCO, and an overlay of randomly selected samples is added by the Radio Music module.

Processing is relatively sparse beyond the global plate reverb. The modal synth includes its own reverb, compression has been added to the bass, and pitch shifting is all over the radio station output.

The ALAN and Volts modules generate pitch material to be combined with the rhythm patterns created by the uGraph rhythm sequencer and a Random Gates module.

As usual in my patches, modulation is extensive. All sound producers are modulated to some extent, either by CV or uMap modules sourced to the BPM LFOs. The ALAN and uGraph sequencers are also modulated in the same manner. The splendid Caudal module has been meagerly deployed here, but its use is specific and it is the right module for the job.

Submixing is also extensive, but everything - minus the original Dronez output - feeds directly into the master mixer for pan positions, channel levels, and global reverb amounts. Tact controllers are used for level control but only to fade parts in and out of the mix, i.e. they are not automated otherwise.

Great gratitude to the great community of VCV Rack developers and users. Especial thanks to the following developers for the plugins used in this patch:

Impromptu Modular - Clocked, Tact-1
SynthKit - Clock Divider
RJModules - Button
SubmarineFree - TD-202 (vertical text display)
Bogaudio - DGate, ADSR, Pressor
Audible Instruments - Modal Synthesizer
Stoermelder - uMap
Vult - Caudal
Frozen Wasteland - BPM LFO
Autodafe - Multi 1x8
VCV - 8vert, VCA-2, VCA, Mixer, Audio-8
Skrylar - ALAN, Volts
HetrickCV - Random Gates
Modular80 - Radio Music
Squinky Labs - Booty Shifter, Mixer8, Functional VCO
AS Modules - Flow
mscHack - Alienz
NYSTHI - mVerb

Plus a shout-out to the awesome developers of the Mutable Instruments hardware, their generosity has enabled some wonderful sound creation with the equally awesome VCV Rack. All blessings upon you all.