Daniel Miller (Mute Records) Modular Synth Masterclass at LEAF 2013

Mute Records founder and electronic music legend Daniel Miller talks modular synths and demos his own system at LEAF 2013. Subscribe :: ow.ly/siFlj
4:25 What was your first synth?
6:24 Current resurgence of modular synths
11:00 Modular synth demonstration
Featured track: The Normal 'T.V.O.D' (Mute Records)
Buy on iTunes: ow.ly/t6kwT
More info on LEAF :: ow.ly/t1Y9O
Point Blank is based in London, the home of electronic music, and has been voted 'Best Music Production and DJ School' by DJ Mag. You can learn Ableton Live or Logic Pro via our online courses or in our state-of-the-art studios in Hoxton. More information here :: www.pointblanko...

[@raymondleggs5508]

11 dislikes? why? without this guy half the electronic artists and similar record lables to mute records would not exist

[@GODenWord]

+Raymond Leggs I did not listen to his music. Maybe it is different or maybe not. But in this video he makes noise not a music. Also he uses offensive words to God. Also he called classical music old music in the way like it is the same analogy as with old computers vs new computers.

[@bennyshambles]

ⰔⰀⰞⰀⰔⰑⰎ̑Ⱐ̑ⰐⰜ̑Ⰵ̑ⰀⰎⰎⰀⰘⰑⰂⰑⰅ̑ Goddamn! You may have heard of a little group called Depeche Mode (Daniel Miller produced them and put out their records). He also was The Normal (“Warm Leatherette”) and Silicon Teens. He’s pretty much patient zero of UK Synthpop and modern Electronic Music in general. He’s not only super important, his label Mute Records have released some amazing music.

[@babyfoodserpent]

yeah. he's a real pioneer. perhaps some people just have no tolerance for dissonant modular sounds.

[@LFOVCF]

@@GODenWord Shut up you tart. Hopefully your parents had more grit about them than you, and wasn't so namby pamby when this guy was shaping music in the 70s and 80s.

[@GODenWord]

@@LFOVCF He was not shaping music in 70s and 80s as Devil too.

[@Digiphex]

This is the genius behind much of early Depeche Mode. It is said that Martin Gore brought in the skeleton of a song on his Casio and a foot tap. Miller turned those ideas into songs. And Miller's early bands sound Depeche before Depeche which show you it is he who deserved 90% of the credit for early Depeche.

[@BillVincent]

I understand the people who talk here about soft synths being able to do these sounds at half the price, etc, etc... and I came from a huge background of digital and soft synths. However, I started watching a lot of these modular clips on KZbin - and although theoretically you *could* get some of those sounds with soft synths, you won't ever - because a modular or analog synth forces an immediacy which is not present with soft synths. There is always a "save" button and a chance to start clean with no loss in time investment. With analog or modular synths, there is an investment of time involved which cannot be retrieved (without copious notes). You are forced to deal with the sound NOW. Plus you get inspired by a sound you stumble upon and it leads to other discoveries, a series of happy accidents which probably could never happen with a soft synth unless you are really motivated to mouse click your way through it all. All synths have value - it's just which bring you the most enjoyment, or which fills your needs in regards to playing out that matters. That being said, I recently purchased an ARP Odyssey remake and I can't tell you how many hours I've spent having a blast with that thing! I can't say the same for my ARP 2600 soft synth. Knobs, buttons and sliders are immediate - and they DO make a difference!

[@TRaddcliff]

+Bill Vincent so you've crated a really cool sound or patch on your mod but you can't hit save. what a drag.... not really. you can always create a sample set from you newly created sound/patch to use some other time. AND you can patch that back into your mod and mess the shit out of it even further! :) or load that into your soft synth and tweek it there. going further STILL with what you can get out of that sound. you're as creative as your mind lets you get. there really is no right or wrong way. so long as it sounds cool to you.

[@kamilkowalczyk9369]

Not entirely true - you can mimic "analog" sounds with software. Also, you can actually improvise on it, and get very unique and original sounds, which are not very possible with analog modulars - see MAX/MSP, Super Collider, MetaSynth, Reaktor and dozens of other programs, with spectral, analog, wavetable, formant and re-sytnhesis features. Besides, your modular setup is always limited by number of modules you have. Obviously, the more you have, the more possibilities are available, but then, the cost goes up. With software, I can even use various synthesis methods at once, and mix it with recorded samples. Plus, routing flexibilities are endless. But at the end of the day, it's not what you have, it's how you use it.

[@jkristos]

+Kamil Kowalczyk Yes you can "mimic" analog sounds, but nothing mimics those sounds accurately still. Having a lot of experience creating sounds in both analog and digital realms, I can say for a fact that if you know both sounds well and you want an analog sound, you will only get it from an analog device even if you do the same actions with a soft synth intended to take the place of the same modules. That said, I totally agree on the level of creativity offered for those who are more "programmer" types (myself included) in tools like Max. However I find that lends itself to a different type of sonic creativity. Also expanding on +Bill Vincent's original statement and the mention of being forced to deal with the sound now, there is another huge benefit to this if you are someone who actually needs to be productive and isn't necessarily just making sounds for fun. Often getting something finished can be a battle due to the fact that you can always go back and tweak the source.

[@Colgatelicious]

and it sounds wayyyyy better.

[@kamilkowalczyk9369]

Yes, that's right. Both analog and digital offer different sonic results - and still it is quite hard to get "analog" feel using software.

[@michael_harren]

Really great video. Thanks for putting this up!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Looks like fun! I think that the sweet spot would be to build the modular patches and sample them into something like an Elektron Octatrack and then use the Octatrack to play live sets.

[@ViRtUaLmOnKeY023]

Very cool tutorial. Nice one guys!

[@faxanadu13]

I spent ten years searching for the sound, i feel ive much in common with this guy. This makes me want to dive in and buy some new equipment.

[@firehandszarb]

I wonder if part of the inspiration that comes from using a modular is that you are physically doing something. For me sitting at a computer all day, things can stagnate so its important to take breaks and do other things.

[@kv7164]

imagine the impression a full modular wall would have, being near it would already boost creativity 100 fold.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I think so because it is more hands on and organic feeling than staring at a computer screen and using mouse clicks.

[@jxxgxx8447]

This is why Daniel Miller is a genius A&R + label boss. He is a creator. So many big labels are just listeners and number crunchers, they have no emphatic understanding.

[@tallteej]

Really interesting to find out other ways to make sounds for tracks! Thanks PB ! -TJ86

[@KarzenX]

"I'll just try putting it in here and see what happens."

[@fredhandy2063]

Brilliant! You can learn from this man.

[@schreineinAV]

on the strength of this video, i bought the doepfer a137-1 wave multiplier for my new modular system!! i'm also gonna get the mfb drum sequencer and tiptop audio matrix sequencer based on this demonstration!! brilliant stuff!!

[@clivecarter7913]

Well; done... you done well. are you posting sounds on sound cloud?

[@lolmayonnaise]

Love my 700-S so much

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

I could talk and listen about it for hours....loved all the bleeps

[@thevco]

fantastic post not a laptop in site the future is retro!!!

[@povkilla]

My first synth is a Moog MG-1. I love the synth to death lol. I also love modular now and dabble in mostly eurorack but I use some of the 1/4 inch cable systems as well mostly Analogue Solutions.

[@nsjx]

Yeah! TY4 that PB!

[@empirix]

wow - fantastic demo, thanks

[@maxmatson1578]

the beginning of that modular Jam gave me Vibes of coil's "constant shallowness leads to evil"🎧💫😵

[@chrisstrobel3439]

"You'll never make that sound again" Someone should show Mr. Miller how to use the camera in his phone ;)

[@madamewoselle]

I thought the same! They didn't have that in 1977 though haha

[@JohnLRice]

Cool interview and demo! :-)

[@DearbornJohn]

ARP 2600 LEGENDARY!

[@mulkytool]

Combining music and incredibly fun toys

[@Meteotrance]

since im using Reason, i understand more the way of modular sound aproach, you can do more stuff with the essential, no need to be a billionard to make a modular Eurorack standard synth, it's very usefull and efficient, the rack 500 for audio are also a good alternative to expensive mixing sum, you can have some real Neve preamp for an interesting price, if i have more hardware to buy i probably goes modular and win some precious space.

[@scotty]

You can get pretty creative with softsynths too. I've had both and both can be lots of fun. But there are quite a few advantages with softsynths.

[@paulkendall4593]

should be there!

[@funibaycrowhatt2937]

lovely

[@ElectronicazMusic]

Great bit of imrov Mr M !

[@lordzombie]

Man, it’s really tough to set up a complicated patch like that, nothing like struggling in front of a crowd!

[@michaelluis5271]

Master class?

[@josedealva4205]

on how to connect an lfo to a sine wave to make it sound dull boring and unappealing legendary? tbh there´s much more info on an idioteque cover video by some dude playing the drums on modules, this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/in7IiGZnpNV6mKc

[@rexterrocks]

I recreate patches by simply photographing them, I can't be the only person.

[@bigbang4906]

great !

[@DBCisco]

PAIA came out with that long before Eurorack.

[@iNuchalHead]

8:17 What's he talking about? Other than the v\o-Hz problem, couldn't those systems patch into each other?

[@BenA718]

Slacquer I think he was referring to having a case in which you can mix as match instead of having to invest in self contained systems and cross connecting them.

[@collapsingnewpunkie]

"It's a bit fucked up, which is nice."

[@coinkings]

Very smart guy, appreciate his time and excellent thoughts/reflections, but someone please tell him it's pronounced "Moag" (not mewg like the cow).

[@fleetcomm1]

I bought “Music From the Body” around 1972. Roger Waters & Ron Geesin. I assumed that Ummagumma’s track “Several Species of Small Furry Animals” was written by Roger Waters AND Ron Geesin. But Roger took sole credit.

[@helicop]

He said...... Lets just try this to see what happens..... I do the same but feel like I just don't "get it". as it turns out ,I do.

[@semjohnbiggs5946]

ARP 2600 RULES! LEGENDARY!

[@studentsmusic]

Reflection of a Modular dummie: Modular is an Instrument - VSTi is software (virtual). Psychomotorically there is a difference between mouseclicks/ubiquitous MIDI controller knobs and turning voltage potentiometer. Each Modular (even Modules of the same production line) is different from the other - meaning individual. VSTis are nice massware giving you brilliant control over sound - but one is like the other because the code is always the same and not influenced by voltage/diodes/attenuators/gatesignals/temperature etc. Plus: Hardware Synths, especially from the sixties/seventies are a touchable and visible cultural icon of mankind - comparable to cembalo or classical violins from earlier times. You might take them as an important statement of human struggle for controlling and designing sound in a touchable way. It is Material, not code and besides it is also visual design. Lucky one who owns an EMS AKS, a Minimoog or even an Moog 55 System. As software you can even own it for free - as hardware no way. Whenever you have the chance try one of these or a modular and then find your own approach to it. I believe it is the best way to understand synthesis and above that to understand interdependences of the complex effects of triggering something with/or without knowing the outcomes of it. So studying these effects of what youre patching by moduar synthesis is not only making music. Politicians, economists, teachers, we all trigger and want control in and over life. so modular synthesis might be taken also like a metaphor on our sometimes mislead struggle for control an a superb tool to reflect on this. I this "case" voltage is the katalysator for your planned or spontaneus decisions what to patch.

[@Mr2dogss]

pro one

[@EWt5lg5alQWLqPViO9vk]

sounds like a butchers saw!

[@maximilianoaguilar3723]

daniel pump deactavition

[@HarMegiddo]

Announcer was very rude to the speaker

[@MrDaigoRiki]

human beings are analog, sex too

[@mrfister1899]

A masterclass with someone who doesn't seem to know what he's doing 😂

[@jeshkam]

WTF?

[@AnT_T-]

Flipped a switch on the modular synthesizer, this guy for half an hour, and squeezed out of him only strange fart.

[@Radiohomunculus]

this makes me laugh so much. IT reads like some kind of postmodern haiku to me. way to go dude

[@sroy50]

Exactly. Musicians have a very minimal understanding of modular synths. It's a nerd thing. Even Miller seems clueless. Sorry, legend.

[@danielhresko4900]

How the hell do neither of these people know how to pronounce the name Moog????????? Shameful…

[@tachelesreden]

Sorry, but it sounds terrible.

[@personalg1217]

Miller.is.like.bastar.fletchy He.cant.not.play.nothing

[@jeshkam]

WTF??!