Creative stereo image processing with Xaoc devices Minsk

[@BlackMan614]

I hope you realize you are the BEST eurorack reviewer out there. Because you are!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you :) I'ts really nice to get kind responses about these videos. Cheers!

[@Ellende]

XAOC devices are great, Odessa is our favourite oscillator. I’ve been considering Minsk for a while, this video made the decision easy. Really love the possibilities of manipulating of the stereo field. Looking forward to your review of Drezno!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice, that Odessa is a monster! Glad to have made the decision easy, think you will have fun with it! Also happy being in touch with the friendly folks at Xaoc, indeed more videos on their modules will follow! :)

[@dimensionalineage]

Candidly, I am not typically that easily impressed with much of anything. Beginning at 12:02 left me astounded, that a mono signal could be attributed with such space! I replayed that segment of a few seconds many times where you adjust the pot from mono to 12 o'clock with Dimension B activated. For me, smoothly imbuing a tasteful stereo width to a mono signal is alone worth its price, as I am a minimalist who works predominantly in mono. Additionally, the effect sounded natural to me over my Genelec 2.1 system, no strange phase-shifts or imparting equalization to the original signal timbre! Huh! WOW. Would you or anyone else agree with that assessment? Of course, extreme M/S processing will result in drastic effects and potential phase issues, but the aforementioned clip at 12:02 is my main interest. the 3D implications are cool as well, not limited to a horizontal linear image. I was unaware that this is possible in the modular world. Berlin! I have some tasty Clausthaler beer in my fridge... Cheers from Oregon USA.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, glad you liked it! And I agree. In my opinion the module has the 'give the user options from minimum to way to far' approach. It means you definitely have to use your ears and keep an eye out as well. It's easy to push the stereo effect so far it starts to hurt the sound when summed back to mono. But in between no-effect. and pushing it to far is a world of subtle detail and stereo fun! Enjoy the beer, and cheers from Berlin! :)

[@festuswilliams654]

Great review because it is very comprehensive. Really helped! Thanks

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers :)

[@johncuba1612]

Klasse Video & Inhalt wie Immer :) Vorallem habe ich heute noch überlegt ob ich Mir einen Minsk zulege. Hatte ihn schon im Warenkorb aber noch nicht die Bestelltaste gedrückt. Vorallem geht es bie Mir um die Phasenstabilität bis 150 Hz die ich damit kontrollieren möchte. Es gibt ja dutzende Anwendungsmöglichkeiten alleine mit dem M/S Modis. liebe Grüße :)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! It's a fun module to explore! Not sure about that low frequencies, in general you'd like the base frequencies in mono though. Danke!

[@james43774]

I look forward to seeing you use Drezno. I love both of my Dreznos, and I hope that you're getting good use out of it. Great video on Minsk!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And happy to dive more into it, there a few videos on lovely Xaoc modules coming up :)

[@acefstripe]

Great choice of module to review!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you think so!

[@yaveeya2992]

This device is wild.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, I like it to :)

[@daniel_mana]

pretty cool module!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

True! :)

[@johnnymidnight2982]

Great video. One question: can this be used as a line-to-Euro interface or preamp? I noticed you alluded to that when you added the Syntrax synth. Did you use any other modules to interface with that, or did it go directly in to the Minsk?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! You can send line level from synths directly to any eurorack module. With thigs like this processor, or digital FX modules that can work. In some cases you'd want to bring an input level to eurorack level. Minsk doesn't amplify an incoming signal.

[@GeorgeLocke]

Smash button! Hulk angry!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, no angry hulk, not the modulars!

[@alxdpo6471]

Can I use this in a mid position with my master sound and just use the side hicut filter so that it basically functions like the ableton utilty „Bass Mono“? I have problems in my rack, that even when the kick and bass is mono, I have a little bit of sound under 300hz that stays in the side

[@gmmc_central]

love this video! Have been thinking about getting this one or the WORNG LRMSMSLR for added stereo depth. But I have to say, I'm really intrigued by you getting your hands on Drezno. The Leibniz Binary subsystem seem like such interesting devices but unfortunately there are few videos that exist that really give me an idea of how to use it. The SchneidersLaden workshop XAOC did was cool but the modules still seem mystifying. Hoping that you will be able to break it down for us!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! And yes, happy about the Drezno to, will dive into that as soon as I have some time after superbooth! Cheers :)

[@stevenplawecki6685]

@@MonotrailTechTalk I was also excited to see a Drezno in your case. Would def enjoy a tech talk on it and the rest of the Leibniz Subsystem... Really looking forward to it.

[@zauwee]

Excellent demo. Inspired me to get one. What module did you use to play the drum sample at ~ 14:45 min? Cheers

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And happy to hear it, hope you'll enjoy it! I use the 4MS stereo triggered sampler for all the drums in this video :)

[@xavierxeon]

What is the LFO modulated panner you use in the video?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Papomi, from Metabolic Devices. Did a video on that a while ago! :)

[@jawns]

What frequency shifter is being used at 13:57?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Sorry, I don't know! It's off camera. There's no shifter in sight in the entire video if I'm right :) At that time I owned the Doepfer A126-2, as well as the Xaoc devices Kozalin. I did videos on both modules if you like to learn more.

[@AntoninComestaz]

Hi Everyone! One question about stereo in modular: I just got the SSF Stereo Dipole, and I love it! The poles are dancing around beautifully but as 2x mono (same problem with my other stereo modules (Monsoon, Data Bender, Desmodus Versio). I can't hear the stereo image. Do I need an extra stereo module/mixer? Also, patch cables are typically mono, so how do you get stereo? Atm, my routing is poleA/dipoleA & poleB/dipoleB (or R & L outputs for that matter) into two channels of Veils, out to soundcard -> Ableton via Optx ADAT. What am I missing? The answer might be obvious, but I don't know. Thanks for any help!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello! Don't have any experience with those modules, but indeed patch cables are mono. To get a stereo signal you need to keep a left and right signal separated all the way to your speakers! Inside the modular it sounds like you got it right. Use two mono cables, one for the left and one for the right signal. Send each to a separate VCA, and use their individual outputs to your soundcard/interface. So that's where the problem might be. Quite some interfaces are set up for two 'mono' inputs. For example a guitar and a mic. Meaning both mono signals will be recorded / played / heard in the dead center, effectively mixing a stereo signal back to mono. Again maybe it's not the problem in your case, but if your speakers are connected to your interface make sure the inputs used are panned hard left and right. (most interfaces come with software to set up internal routing). If the speakers setup is confusing, see if you can define what inputs are recorded when recording in Ableton. Either multitrack input 1 and 2 on two tracks, and pan them hard left and right. Or see if you can define input 1 and 2 as a stereo recording.

[@AntoninComestaz]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Thank you for your personal reply, Monotrail! You were absolutely right! After a whole day of investigation, I finally wrapped my head around it (in stereo this time 😃). I just had to set 2 channels of my Optx as a stereo pair instead of 2xmono (in Ableton). I m now hearing all my stereo modules the same way a deaf person would hear for the first time after a bionic surgery. I almost cried. Modular stereo is a beautiful thing! However, I can't hear the stereo while jamming. I only hear it when I play back after it's been recorded since I set my recording channels to "monitor off" cause if you set it to "in," you will hear the incoming + Ableton signal with the latency. I've done some research but didn't achieve that breakthrough yet. If anyone has a tip? (I see people doing it all the time with the benefit of using their vst effects mapped to a controller. How do they do that?) I hope this comment can help others too! Thanks to the community!

[@erfwtf]

Maybe a bit late, but from what I can tell, you need and output mixer in your rack. Checkout 4ms Listen 4 It has 2 mono and 2 stereo inputs and outputs stereo over balanced cables to outboard devices.

[@blindianajones]

This kind of module is one of many reasons why I enjoy modular. Question... I have this and the XAOC Praga mixer. Im debating about getting a compressor to process beats and to have a sidechain. Do you think eurorack compressors are any good or is it better to have a separate piece of hardware handle those duties? When you play live, do use a separate mixer outside of eurorack and any other outbound gear to process your sounds live? Thanks

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Hmm, that's a tough one, really comes down to your personal preference id say. In general I'd give most people the advise to experiment with compression in a DAW. Record your modular multi track and clean. You also save a lot of cash, as compressor modules are expansive. If you do know what you are doing and really want a solution live it might be interesting, but you can for sure wonder if you won't get more bang for your buck getting a compact outboard compressor. Also depending on using a compressor for pumping sidechain on sounds, or as a end of chain compression for max volume is different. For sidechain have a look at the new Knobula Kickhain. I mostly do more soundscapy melodic performances, so I don't use outboard compressors atm. I do use an outboard mixer so I can EQ different voices from the modular, which is crucial in my opinion!

[@blindianajones]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Thanks for the reply. Totally get what you are saying. After I wrote my message, I came up with what I want is to really hit sounds hard with a compressor to create a big sound vs a glue for a track. Im seeking more of a cinematic sound that can be super puncy and squished.

[@NickHchaos]

There are some great analog compressors both in and out of euro, it can add a lot to how your individual sounds and mix come across, it’s like salt-it won’t replace the main ingredients, and too much can destroy the cuisine, but a little bit used effectively can make everything a good deal better!

[@blindianajones]

@@NickHchaos At the time I wrote that question, what I was really after were affordable compressor options. I got that covered now.

[@johncuba1612]

Mir fällt gerade noch ein dass man evtl mal diverse Ringmodulationen damit extremst modifizieren kann. Ringmod basiert ja auch die Seitenbandmodulation eines VCA´s (ganz primitiv erklärt)!? Somit kann man die Seitenbänder in ihrer Amplitudenmodulation ebenfalls modulieren oder irre ich Mich ?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hmm, a ringmod is basically a VC polarizer, inverting the polarity of audio signals with another audio signal. But you would be right of course you could run either mid or side (or both signals) though a ring mod, which could lead to interesting results! Havn't thought of that during the video :) Cheers!