Buchla 200e Preset Manager as a performance tool

The Buchla 200e preset manager has always promised vast and exciting performance potential, but I have struggled to integrate it into pieces in a seamless way. Here I present some techniques to use the preset manager live.
The first method is the most exciting. I have long searched for a way to use the preset manager to update the sequencer information in the middle of a piece, without losing the rhythm. This can be achieved by careful use of the "remote enable" feature, and driving the 251e using the pulse inputs to advance the notes. The key is to switch off "remote enable" on all modules except the 251e. Changing presets will then update the pitch information in the 251e, but the rhythm, envelopes and oscillators are not affected.
Melodies can be changed, key can be changed, and in fact in this piece I have actually achieved a complete retuning of the instrument on the fly. The two tunings used are both based on 77hz, and use two identical notes, so the effect is not grating. The intervals used are: 7/6, 14/11, 7/5, 14/9, 7/4, 21/11, followed by 7/6, 5/4, 4/3, 3/2, 5/3, 11/6. The first tuning sounds ominous and uneasy, and the second is much more relaxed. I cannot think of another instrument that allows seamless retuning on the fly: the musical possibilities are enticing!
The second technique uses the MIDI bus to drive the 251e. This technique is more limited, as it cannot be done on the fly (ie, while the 252e is playing), as the rhythm will be lost. However, if you find a nice rest in your music, you can change preset there. The upside is that this method allows you to use the timing information on the 251e, so not only are the melodies changed, but the rhythm is also updated.
A complete recording of the first tune is available here: • Seven Pieces of Popcorn
A complete recording of the second tune is available here: • Seven Stones
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[@danobrien3292]

You’re talent is without compare. I’m learning the 251 at you feet

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

The 251e is the finest module ever invented. Glad you are enjoying this module.

[@jericho2x2]

Brilliant as always. The preset manager is still unmatched in the world of modulars. It's interesting that you drive your 251e with 252e triggers a lot.

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

Thanks for listening. Yes, driving the 251e with the triggers is really the only way to get seamless changes. The rhythm and the steps are jumbled when doing a preset change while the 252e is driving the 251e over MIDI, which is a shame.

[@henriquematias1986]

thanks a lot for sharing! really good stuff

[@azzaipdivad]

This is interesting because it’s one of the ways I’ve been using the preset manager myself, albeit with the waveform generators being addressed rather than the sequencers. I’ll make a patch, then disengage remote enable on all modules except for the oscillators, use a gate to advance presets and thus have synced timbral changes that are independent of the structural elements.

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

Thank you! I was thinking exactly of using this technique, but haven't yet done it. It would be a great way to access different waves on the 259e! If you have a video to post, please share! :)

[@BenjaminCarey]

super powerful - thanks for the demo

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

Always a pleasure!

[@BenjaminCarey]

@@thesonnydownsquartet9340 just came back to this - I'm getting a customised Skylab system v. soon so schooling myself! 🙂

[@lilskullymane4057]

love this… so the pulse inputs on the PM aren’t useful in any kind of rhythmic scenario? also curious how well the < cv samp > mode works with the PM. cheers 😁

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

Haven't really experimented much with the pulse inputs on the PM, but you could assign a pulse out from the keyboard (223e) to scroll through the presets. What is "cv samp" mode?

[@lilskullymane4057]

@@thesonnydownsquartet9340 from the 200e manual - Pulse input modes: Push the mode switch again. You can now choose how the pulse inputs work. The simplest selection is . Pulse inputs will act the same as the button press for “last” and “next”. If instead you choose then the left pulse input acts as a CV input for random access of presets based on the voltage when the left pulse input receives a pulse. (We are overipening the orange banana into functioning like a black banana. Your results may vary. It is recommended to use when possible.)

[@lilskullymane4057]

@@thesonnydownsquartet9340 i’m curious how well ‘cell 1’ from the 252e would work scrolling through presets, etc. could be cool to do synced tempo changes in lieu of no tempo cv input on the 252e. among other possibilities 🌱

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

@@lilskullymane4057 Oh cool, didn't read that part of the manual. That would be good for timbres, and even pitches on generative patches. I don't think I'll be able to try it soon, however, as I am using the Keen preset manager. I don't use external MIDI, so I took the 225e out of my system, as the top half of the panel wasn't being used.

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

@@lilskullymane4057 I have trialled using the pulse inputs, and sometimes found that the preset manager jumped more than one preset... so ...

[@henriquematias1986]

question: how did you do the percussion ( zipper sound ) in this patch? sounds lovely

[@thesonnydownsquartet9340]

Hey, thanks for listening. That is the 261e and white noise from the SOU being filtered through the top bands of the 296e. The timbre is constantly varied, as are the envelope lengths to make it a bit more organic.