022//Electric Dust - Mother 32s modulating Eventide Space (ambient)

A melodic, self-generating modular patch using 2 Mother 32s sent through an Eventide Space shimmer reverb and an Eventide Timefactor on vintage delay setting.
While I'm on holiday, here's a video I recorded before I got my DFAM in which I finally got around to modulating the Space with my modular! To do this you have to send both the input and output of a VCA to the expression pedal input on the Space (I used a headphone splitter), and then moving the VCA knob is like moving the pedal. On the Mother 32s I used Mix 2 in and VC Mix out as the VCA in/outputs, and VC Mix as the VCA knob. The main Space parameters being modulated are the shimmer pitches and the pitch decay time (basically the amount and the tone of the 'shimmer'). I'm using a random stepped voltage for this, giving the lovely random shimmer-y notes. Credit to the video that showed me how to modulate the Space safely: • Eventide Stompboxes Co...
As an extra touch, I recorded at a low volume to get more noise, adding to the ‘dust’. Note also that the lower Mother 32’s sequencer is glitched so that it runs at 1/12 of the external clock.
If you want to recreate this patch, you can find it here:
www.modulargri...
Have feedback, or want me to make a particular video? Tell me in the comments!
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[@julesgemini9812]

Soothing randomness is similar to observing acoustic instruments mixed with naturally generated sounds like an analog forest with digital breezes,instant fan

[@julesgemini9812]

I’ve never had more reasons to invest in an Eventide Space pedal as a guitarist than after experiencing these vibrations,you should have an endorsement deal 🤘🏻

[@jamessusbilla]

amazing. thank *YOU*

[@MikeUIibarri]

Nice!

[@nthirteen]

Like a living thing. Beautiful.

[@enc_5203]

sounds lovely.

[@jonaseggen2230]

Great underwater feel. I get the space my self soon so tnx for safe patch link : )

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

You're gonna love it ;)

[@synkrotron]

Yeah, lovely soundscape here... Loved all thirty minutes :-)

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Another great experience.....I see what you mean about the ambient outcome with the Eventide involved but nothing wrong with that. Brilliant soundscapes.....

[@Benzla1]

Captivating. What a magical moment.

[@agerven]

Awesome audio track!

[@YannGuillermou]

Totally beautiful

[@soundslikepdm]

amazing as always

[@GeminiAmbience]

I'd really love it if you created a video to show how one creates a self-generation patch on the Mother-32. :)

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

I don't currently have plans to but I'm always happy to answer questions when people message me :)

[@girlinagale]

Wow, using exp pedal jack as a modulation is imaginative. I may attempt it.

[@edwardprue]

Just check the link he provided before you try anything...or maybe you already know, you can fry your Space with the wrong voltage input to the expression pedal jack. A fried Space would be a very, very sad thing indeed!

[@SyllixMusic]

I am so glad I clicked on this... that first clean, pure, watery sound drowned in eventide reverb. I quickly shut the door, dimmed the lights and cranked up my krk rokits to really enjoy this. Can I ask something about this self-generating patch? How is it done? And how is it done in a musical way? Was this done with the two mother-32 sequencers with pre-programmed notes? I'm just diving into the modular world and am hoping to learn as much as I can! Thanks in advance, and such a wonderful video!

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Both M32s are playing pre-programmed sequences which repeat throughout - as far as making it self-generating, it's a case of using random voltages (as well as every other bit of modulation available) to modulate different parameters so that every note is unique. The Space is being modulated by a random voltage, for example, which is why it swoops around in such a chaotic way. Making patches like this musical comes from understanding things like harmony, arrangement, timbre... not necessarily modular-only considerations! I would advise you learn as much as you can about how whatever modular you have works (youtube videos are great, also go visit MuffWiggler.com and ModularGrid.net), experiment with every input and output, and once you know how to make it do what you want it to do, you can make whatever music you like with it :)

[@SyllixMusic]

@@AlastairWilsonMusic thank you so much for your detailed explanation. I understand routing basics, as well as the basics of synthesis. I've been producing music for years and a couple years ago I got my first synthesizer, the KORG Minilogue. I still have a lot to learn about what every knob does. I hope to master that first before I fully dive into the modular world. For now, I'm excited where this journey will take me. :)

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Modular opens up so many new creative possibilities than hardwired synths, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

[@pabloabehsera]

Easily his best choon

[@ChristopherCaouette]

Need to figure out how to create something like this with just one M32.

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

The key to this sound is the modulating shimmer reverb - should definitely be possible to get close to the same sound with 1 M32!

[@Brain4Zombie]

Wow, that is so stunning beautiful, the right music to relax to. After ordering a Minibrute 2S (still have to wait) I am pretty sure that modular synths will be a hobby for me. I am still learning, reading forums, watching videos, playing with VCV Rack. @Alastair You're using "extern" reverb and delay, could you make the same music with reverb and delay as modules in your rack? Or are the externs special for your desired effects?

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Thank you! The Minibrute 2S looks like a great starting point, I started out with a Microbrute and always wished it had more patch points. I'm using an Eventide Space reverb and Timefactor delay pedals, but there's no reason why you can't use modules. I prefer pedals for effects because you get a lot more for the price. You can use any delay really, I just happened to find the Timefactor at a good price, but the Space is definitely necessary for my particular sounds. It's got a very unique sound which lends itself to dark, eerie ambiences really well, and you couldn't recreate the same tone using a Big Sky for example (you'd get some beautiful ambience out of that still). I don't know if there are any algorithms made for eurorack modules which copy the Space, but it might be worth looking into?

[@Brain4Zombie]

Alastair, thank you so much for your answer :) I don't know yet exactly what kind of music I want to make with my synth(s). As I like your music or music by Ann Annie, Lightbath, R Beny et al. it might this way: Ambient, PsyChill etc. Slowly changing music. But I like other styles too... and that's the downfall (or advantage?) of modular synths, you can buy tons of modules :)

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Definitely sounds like you're mainly into ambient modular music - if you want help making that, go to MuffWiggler because there are 1001 threads about making ambient setups there! Just because a setup is made for ambient music though doesn't mean that's all it can do, that's the beauty of modular! The same modules that might make beautiful, evolving tones in a subtractive synthesis patch might make amazingly brutal industrial drums when you patch them into weird feedback loops and control the feedback amount with envelopes. The setup you can see in this video (the 3 tier rack) is built to be a monosynth. I have 3 oscillators, hard sync, 2 filters, plenty of modulation, and the M32s can interact with Ableton via MIDI to allow me to sequence the setup from my computer, and use both velocity and a mod wheel. But it turned out I can also use it for self-gen patches, as well as distorted SFX, etc. With the DFAM helping I've made some pretty heavy techno loops too. See which modules you love on VCV rack, play around with your MB 2S, and see what direction your fingers end up taking you ;)

[@soundpalette2438]

These are so inspiring, this makes me want a similar setup when I get into modular, although I don't have the heart to copy yours! Do you think a similar thing (detailed, self-generating patches) could be made with two Korg MS-20's instead of the mother 32's?

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Thank you! I think you would struggle to make self-gen patches with MS20s because they don't have a sequencer, which is the core of all my patches. I'm sure you could make some really good ambient patches, but you'd have to actually play them rather than let them generate themselves. The basics you're looking for are 1) a sequencer, and 2) a way to modulate things randomly. You'd be much better off with a Neutron and a Minibrute 2 or something along those lines.

[@soundpalette2438]

I have an electribe I would use for sequencing. I am not familiar enough with Modular synths to really know if the MS-20's patch bay has the type of routing to produce something exactly like what you are doing but different is good. I just want something that sounds this varied, and this layered. I am going to look into the Neutron. Thanks for the quick response, tips and great videos.

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

No problem - have fun with whichever synths you choose!

[@-Vuce]

I wish I could afford an Eventide Space. It has always been my dream since a child to own a Moog. I have a Mother 32 and a DFAM but that broke the bank but I would really love to have a quality real-time effects rack. Anyone willing to donate? =D Oh and this is fucking amazing!

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

Second hand is your friend, I've saved hundreds by checking eBay a couple times a week...

[@Seekthetruth3000]

You can buy a Zoom MS 70-CDR for around $100.00.

[@jamiefullerton]

Very cool idea. Can you explain the routing between VC MIX & MIX 2 (top M32) and MIX 2 (bottom M32) to Veils and where Veils is sending output? You lost me there.

[@jamiefullerton]

Ah, got it. Don't know why that confused me. :-)

[@AlastairWilsonMusic]

No worries, if you have any other questions let me know! :)