Detailed overview and patch ideas for the Erica Synths Black Joystick 2

The Erica Synths Black Joystick 2 is a bit of a Swiss army knife of CV generation. It comes with four channels that each can be either a joystick CV, a sine wave, or stepped random voltage. In each mode you have the possibility to record joystick movement with the single press of a button, and have that motion looped. Also the sine and random modes come with audio rate variations. The module is great to get control over your patches, and add interesting modulation to them.
In this video we start with a detailed overview of the functionality of the Black Joystick 2, and its different modes. Then we dive into a series of patches for the joystick, sine, and random mode. And finally we combine the different functions in more complex patches.
This video is sponsored by Erica Synths
www.ericasynths.lv
Timetable:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Overview
02:05 - Joystick mode
03:41 - Sine mode
04:48 - Random mode
05:29 - SNEW mode
06:36 - Joystick patches
10:51 - Sine & random patches
13:18 - Combined patches
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#eurorack #ericasynths #blackjoystick2

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Patch & block diagram illustrations are available to Patrons: www.patreon.com/monotrail

[@Jaysusitsme]

I was deciding whether to buy a BJS 2 and this video sold it to me, you've added some really creative patch ideas too. I thank you, my bank account doesn't 😂

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear it helped! And sorry to your bank account ;)

[@oldschoolebm666]

I had no idea the black joystick had so many features or ways to interact. Your detailed overview has sold me, specially me being a huge fan of Erica Synths. Cheers.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad the video helped out! Indeed it's a very powerful modulator with lot's of features :)

[@EleniEliades_]

It actually helps me to watch someone use a Module if I'm having difficulty with just written instructions. Now I understand the Joystick 2 so much better. Your diagrams are extremely helpful as well. Thanks💡Ciao~🎵🔥🐾🦎🤙

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear you got some use out of it Eleni! All the best!

[@quantum_ocean]

what a great demo! I really apprecaite the effort and diagrams to share so many possibilities

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it!

[@mosonic]

I own the joystick and love it. Just one important feature is missing: a trigger to restart a recorded sequence to be always tight to beat.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear you like it! And indeed, would be nice! But also understand every manufacturer has to balance features/size/price, and can also understand this choice. But more is always interesting, haha!

[@mikegeary8056]

I have one also. Very much wish it had a trig input as well. I use mine to scrub through start points on samples a lot.

[@flourfree2K]

You might be interested in Doepfer A-174-4 3d joystick (3 axes: Z axis is given by the stick rotation) with a button on top.

[@Phlow]

@@flourfree2K I know about it. Thank you. But it looks so ugly 😥

[@flourfree2K]

@@Phlow Does it? But probably Doepfer will make it also in BLACK (they use to call the black versions "Vintage Edition"), if you like it better.

[@dubmaverick69]

Thank you so much for all the videos, beautiful and comprehensive. Cheers!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

My pleasure! All the best!

[@pepejul]

Very clear and concise. I bought this module today on a whim and your video is the best I found.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there, happy to hear you liked it! Great module to, it's a great modulation power tool, enjoy :)

[@jonaseggen2230]

Impressive that thing at the end. Beautifull, and what you did with the drum recording!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks, glad you liked it, Cheers! :)

[@SnakesofRussia]

Such a great walkthrough. Thank you!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers :)

[@proxymerchant]

Awesome! I'll be using these tips with my Intellijel Planar 2!!! Your work is a masterful gift to the cosmos!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glat to hear you like it! Thank you so much, and enjoy patching the Planar 2!

[@pault4249]

thanks for the excellent tutorial, it has some very useful features

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! I'm enjoying this one quite a lot :)

[@jean-sebastienlantz9164]

Excellent and very didactical. Very useful. Many thanks from Provence

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! I like this one a lot. It's such a powerful modulation source in a compact case. (or big one of course) And the cv recording is great for subtle semi-random modulations as well. All the best!

[@MaxRichardsonMusic]

Great vid, as ever! Tangible Waves have just brought out a joystick for the AE system, great tips for the future!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear you liked it, enjoy!

[@mr.apartment]

great video, btw there is a second mode when you switch from one channel to another where you don’t have to” find “ the old joystick position, it will automatically “jump” to where the joystick is

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And thats true, forgot to mention the setup modes I guess :/

[@mr.apartment]

@@MonotrailTechTalk still super helpful :) really love your channel. it's the one i'm always excited to see new content on. feel free to check out some synth/gear videos i've made if you're interested :)

[@andydollerson8205]

Hey great video ThNks. Question - does your joystick fall down to the bottom when it’s placed vertically at all? I just got one and I’m not sure if it should be strong enough to hold its position or if it will just fall down naturally? Mine always sinks straight down.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it! And yes, this is a very light one. There's pros and cons to both. I like it a lot for light motion cv recording, and generally play live with my case flat, or an angle. But indeed it sinks when horizontally.

[@el_dani]

90 degrees sine is not inverted but a cosine (which is a good thing)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

True story! Did I say inverted? Sorry! This is better indeed, an inverted sine can easily be created with an multiple and inverter, the cosine gives more interesting options and possibilities!

[@somberville3351]

Intrigued! How long is the recording memory?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

From the top of my head, I think it was 8 seconds recording per channel.

[@somberville3351]

​@@MonotrailTechTalk Slightly on the short side! Nonetheless - I just bought one 😂

[@marcburch1163]

How do you connect the Erica Black Joystick 2 to a Moog Mavis? I saw you had such a setup on one of your Mavis vids ? I am new to semi modular but think that would be a great match with Mavis. Thanks I find your videos very helpful and informative!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, yes. Just have a look at the video I did on Mavis. There's no special connection or trick to it. But you need a modular case to put the joystick in and power it. Either on it's own, or with the Mavis. Then use patch cables to connect the jacks :)

[@mus0rmus1c3]

Death by SNEW SNEW

[@flourfree2K]

You might also be interested in Doepfer A-174-4 3d joystick (3 axes: Z axis is given by the stick rotation) with a button on top.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Indeed, Doepfer's take on the joystick is also an interesting one! it's nice to see these variations in modular land :)

[@flourfree2K]

@@MonotrailTechTalk The A-174-4 acts quite differently, in that it returns to zero (it does the same on the z axis as well). The X and Y return springs can be removed, if so you wish. But it lacks the recording feature. Therefore, they could be used both for different purposes in mind.

[@flourfree2K]

@@MonotrailTechTalk I still find the multiple modules much overpriced. I built some using a doepfer 2HP blind panel and 10 (twice 1 to 4!!) plugs I ordered on banggood (also find bargains on eBay/Aliexpress,... you name it). Total price (including some wire and solder): about 4€ each. For the ground, I used the panel itself, cutting away the ground pins on the plugs (they are grounded anyway). And the lower section is NORMALLED to the upper section. So you can have up to 1:9 connections. EASY PEASY and cost effective.

[@flourfree2K]

@@MonotrailTechTalk I've seen a video from Alex4 (official Doepfer distributor for Eurome) demonstrating the A-174-4 (he's got 2 - one per hand, of course). Really impressive, even for me, who am more on the generative side of the synths.

[@flourfree2K]

Another thing which is outrageusly overpriced is: CASES. The lowest priced of which at the time I started was the Doepfer "Low Cost" one (if 350€ can be called a LOW price). This thing is ILLOGICAL and SHOCKING. Instead of encouraging you to enter in their business, they discourage you from the very beginning.

[@charlesbronson2806]

Man I'm looking at this or the planar 2. The only thing I'm wondering is does it get out of sync when you record movement, being it doesn't have the sync like the planar.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey there, yes thats a hard choice :) Indeed the Back Joystick does not sync. The Planar has a bunch more options when it comes to stretching/looping/syncing recorded movement. But if im right it only has one channel, while the Joystick 2 has four, as well as the different modes. So you can use multiple cv recordings, some noise movement, and a xy joystick all at the same time for example.

[@Digiphex]

I wonder how it compares to the Intellijel Planar 2?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

There really quite different. Planar 2 is a lot deeper, with inputs and loopable cv recording. I like the Erica Synths because it has four independent channels. Each of those can be LFOs, noise, joystick, cv recording etc. Make sure to check the manuals :)

[@kristofersknesis]

i just got mine today and upon turning it on all the X & Y output lights went bright green and and they are not responding to the joystick movements. also the voltage out of those outputs seems to be the max value. am i missing something re:setting up or is it just a faulty device?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Make sure to read the manual / power instructions etc. Make sure to set the mode for the channel you are using. Clear a possible recording etc. But I can't say from here :)

[@kevindewinter8235]

Hi i bought one, but is it being quantized in a way or possible? There is no cv in to clock or sync!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello! I think it's a great module for all sorts of modulation, but there is no input/clock/sync indeed.

[@kevindewinter8235]

@@MonotrailTechTalkthx for your reply. To be Honest i wish i had know that. I was so enthousiast i bought one.. but i really need to quantise loops. Now thinking to change for Planar2 or ad Krait+Ewa or Mnemonic Juniper. What would you do? Thank you :)

[@zerodreaming]

Did I miss something or is there no way to clock the recorded loop(s)?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nope, no inputs on the module.