Friday Fun - Nifty Case Modular Synth Jam

[@BosseCory]

"That one's going...where is that one going? I'm not sure" -every person who has ever tried to explain their modular patch

[@boethius8114]

I've been pacing around the modular pool for a while, I think this unit just convinced me to finally jump in. Great video as always!

[@Zinfidel1]

Great to see Nick on the modular again! Cre8audio have a nice set-up on their hands. It's one thing to provide a powered case at that price but throwing in 2 modules and midi-to-cv/gate functionality is pretty damn good. And i like that the oscillators morph waves. Good stuff.

[@BigBadWolf..............]

Thank you sonic state for being honest about the quality and price of products. I trust you because even when you have a rep right in front of you you criticize price and decry missing features. I appreciate your reviews and time. I almost never pre order stuff. I did the kickstarter for the skulpt because I wanted my own modal. This and the keystep are the two things I’ve preordered. They are both a great deal for a great product.

[@fjfrancois]

Synth is not reviewed until Nick does it 👍🏻

[@tomax2578]

Yes wanna see more eurorack stuff from you guys. Great video :)

[@DJFonzi]

I'm very much looking forward to getting mine. Ordered yesterday. I've got a pretty hefty MU rig, and 6U of Euro so far, but this little sequencer/controller looks cool, and it'll be a nice little portable synth

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

The A-111-5 is the star. Sounds MASSIVE

[@ShakaCthulu]

Wish Doepfer hadn’t discontinued it

[@slother93]

@@ShakaCthulu They brought it back. I picked up two at Christmas.

[@phillipdugas8250]

I'm excited for this thing, looks like a great starting point for modular!

[@tylersmith7925]

Wow the very first jam is beautiful

[@nodz007]

A lot of other reviewers really made a pigs ear of showing off Chipz and made it sound really cheap and awful, but what Nick did with it was beautiful and the music would have sounded incomplete if it was missing the character imparted by the chips oscillators.

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

I think the clouds module has a lot to do with it

[@nodz007]

@@LoVeAmBiEnT yeah , chips is rubbish once you hear the BIA

[@paulyearley1084]

Within the last week, I just picked up a NiftyBundle, and I love it, despite the limited time I've had to mess with it. This is my first bit of modular gear, and I love it already - it looks and feels great, the price is reasonable for what you get in the box, and I'm having a lot of fun with it already.

[@MUNRO13]

It’s finally happened.Nick with Eurorack on Sonic State. Only a matter of time before Gaz gets into Eurorack!

[@opwave79]

Just saw this and I think it might be a good jumping off point for a modular drum and bass setup. I’m working on some configs at ModularGrid right now just for fun.

[@Jimbo386000]

I love the characterful and almost shitty sound of Chipz.

[@zefsku3206]

Shitptz

[@Andor.]

Great for percussion, always contemplate taking it out of my case but it’s so fun and the lfo is handy so it has stayed in so far!

[@InkyDaCaT]

Yum. Thanks Nick! Actually for a beginner into modular that looks ideal.

[@fincorrigan7139]

Fancy taking a modular dip then? If I hadn't bought a bleedin' camera drone on Monday this would have really had me itching to empty the shopping basket :) One vice at a time........

[@InkyDaCaT]

@@fincorrigan7139 I dont know boyz and toyz lol...here I am thinking about how to make washing machine drum and a river could create enough power for a studio typical...tbh yeah get why you got FUN FIN FUN!

[@phillytee9106]

I'm getting La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream's Lets Get Ravey Remix) vibes from this Friday jam.

[@s90210h]

If you like how this sounds around 6:45 check out the album Lucky Cat by ISAN

[@Psionetics]

These cases are great!

[@claytonlevibrown]

nice melody nick

[@DivKid]

I keep hearing Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol "let's waste time" .... "chase-ing cars". Unintentional of course but same melody notes and bass notes in places.

[@andreashorlen7847]

I actually played that song on Spotify at the same time and it was pretty damn close in tune! Super fun!

[@triplebacon1]

Nice one Nick! That Clouds makes everything sound great ;-) a good price for the Nifty! clearly a good size also

[@williamhemy23]

Beautiful.

[@tencentcat]

Sounds fantastic! I preordered one. Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the case? I’m thinking of fitting it on a pedalboard.

[@laciep837]

that fulsome clouds holy shit

[@Temporalmixproductions]

I got the Nifty Bundle as well. Nick makes it sound better than I can.

[@elefantevoladorable]

Hi! I just got a NiftyCase and I'm unable to make it sound. Can you please explain how and what do you connect it to ? Thank you in advance

[@voreshbo7031]

U need a midi keyboard, and speakers 🎉

[@michaelt_tamtam]

Alright, let's see some more modular videos like this. I just got into modular a few months ago with some thanks to Sonic State

[@DarkSideofSynth]

It sounds wonderful

[@christoroppolo8742]

Now more . Love it ! Peace Christo 🎶👽🙏🛸☮️😉💀

[@gamma_noize]

I bought a NiftyBundle after seeing this. I must say, the case is pretty sturdy, but you'll need some additional modules or semi-modular synths to make full use of it. I patch Chipz into my Behringer Neutron atm, which is a very nice combo. Just waiting for some other modules to arrive. I guess, i got hook on the modular addiction because of this. Thanks Nick! xP

[@AndrewPRoberts]

What did you get? VCA, ADSR, reverb, maybe another VCO? Cause that's what I'd do

[@gamma_noize]

@@AndrewPRoberts I bought a Klavis Twin Waves as another VCO and am still waiting for some new modules from Dreadbox to be released. But I returned the NiftyCase/Bundle to the retailer, because the MIDI/CV interface is badly calibrated... If you play an A0 via MIDI you get an A4 on the Twin Waves and the Neutron. Chipz on the other hand works fine with the interface, because its also calibrated differently. Everything above A3 were only noises bats could hear. I wrote to cre8Audio and asked, if there were any possivilities to recalibrate the interface, but as it turned out, that is currently not possible. Maybe it will be possible in a future firmware upgrade... I'm currently thinking about getting a Mantis Case from Tiptop Audio and a Hexinverter Mutant Brain as MIDI/CV Interface.

[@HotStrange]

About to buy one to pair with my MB2 until I can get some more modules.

[@Juan-jw5tf]

I was looking around this one, how Neutron works with this NiftyBundle, I want to buy one and have a Neutron.

[@glendarcey978]

Cool product, great price!

[@Cre8audio]

Thanks pal! It means a lot coming from you.

[@robertoquezada3045]

Ahhhh Just beautiful.

[@fakshen1973]

That's a pretty good deal including two modules.

[@ArtRiant]

honestly the deal seems too good to be true, anybody an idea whether this is a scam? I'm kind of suspicious because its only available on their producers website not on any other dealers page...

[@DanieleGiannattasio]

@@ArtRiant To me it's more suspicious when "they" sell a small skiff with psu for a crazy amount of money. Btw I checked on their website and yes, they also sell through dealers such as Gear4Music, Sweetwater ecc... even on Amazon!

[@ArtRiant]

@@DanieleGiannattasio oh is it? Couldn't find those today, I'll check again tomorrow because it really is an interessting offer. Thanks for the comment

[@DanieleGiannattasio]

@@ArtRiant No problem, just check out the shop section on their website

[@Daniel-ot8gg]

I got it just today, and I have to say, its a nice case. The modules are nice too but nothing too fancy. Its no scam!

[@zwo7425]

thank you nick! always fun watching your youtube vids. crack on.

[@TRaddcliff]

Fulsome Clouds? Whats the diff between this one and Clouds texture synthesizer?

[@sonicstate]

This one just had a custom faceplate to celebrate 500 sonic talk episode

[@richarquis]

Hey, Nick! I noticed around 6.00-6.30, you were just triggering one note again and again, but each time, Cellz moved onto a new note in the sequence. What's the trick there? I'm going to buy this as my first case, before I move on to bigger stuff, and I have a keystep amongst other things, so I can replicate the base setup, even if with different modules as I go. And, as others have noted - Those modules sounded ratty on other videos, but sounded good here. Nicely done. PS, I've been watching your clips for a few years now, and when I discovered you were a part of Goldfrapp... Well, I just liked you a whole lot more. It was also your review that convinced me to buy my 0-Coast.

[@cybermortal1983]

looks like cellz is getting gate from the keystep to advance the sequence.

[@richarquis]

@@cybermortal1983 Thanks, I will watch this again and see if I can figure it out.

[@Philtho]

@@richarquis yah, the cellz has two gate inputs to advance the sequence on the "X" axis, and the other on the "Y" axis. So you can program each pad to be whatever note, and then you can manually kick off the sequence with a clocked gate trigger, or even more fun is a random trigger on both. I use my Digitakt to midi trigger out on say steps 1/4/8/12 for Gate 1 into Cellz, and then midi channel 2 i use steps 4/8 to trigger Gate 2 into Cellz. Then I add probability into those 4/8 triggers and you get some nice sequences.

[@mmturner89]

The left and right inputs on the top gets summed to 1/4" mono on the back, which is a shame I think as it would have made sense to give you 1/4" left and right out or a single TRS out. It kind of limits this part of the package and directs you towards traditional mono synth applications. Still, a great value option with plenty of connectivity! Another thing, which is a bit of a shame, is the available power for -12v is only 500mA. This is very limiting if using digital modules as this will quickly run out and a problem I've come across with a lot of cases/power supplies. I guess this also directs you towards mono synth applications as the power wouldn't really be an issue in most cases. If they made this with 1500mA available on +12v and -12v and stereo outs it would be truly nifty case! This way it would appeal to many more people and not just beginners, and give other manufacturers some real competition!

[@shpongled587]

I feel like I have blue balls in terms of my synth crave every time I watch your vids. The teasing never not disappoints.. Psycho?

[@scottarmstrong8585]

"Cellz , do they put you in a cell ?"

[@Aliketr]

What are the cv2 and gate2 ports used for? (More specifically does anyone know how to use all four with ableton)

[@Andor.]

It’s conected to midi channel two, so u can control them with two separate midi channels and have two sequences and such

[@emilyschmanks]

this is really neat (or nifty, rather. ha, ha...). i'm glad companies are coming up with new ways to bring modular to the masses (moog, arturia) and this looks like a very good starting point for building your first own system.

[@erebus9229]

Don't forget behringer! They're doing great things, the crave just released for the price of €166 which is essentially a mother 32.

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

Where did the gritty sound come from? Static gritty atmosphere

[@Cre8audio]

It's the voice in the Chipz module. It's gritty and a bit unstable by design (kind of like us). We wanted to make something that was different and had a lot of character. That said, Nick has a preproduction unit which has a little weaker output than the release version which had a few component changes.

[@nikpharesmusic5768]

It’s gritty it’s awesome!! Getting my bundle in tomorrow plus a few extra modules to add, so ready!!!!

[@DavidDeLuge]

Love that. Does the Niftycase output get sent to left and right channels?

[@jamesbtex58]

No sorry, it’s a Mono output only. If you want the output to play in both sides of your headphones or stereo equipment, you could use a TR to TRS adapter of the appropriate size to split the mono signal into an identical left and right signal . In the simplest of live settings you would place microphones on the Right and Left of the performance group at equal distances from them. Then you would record both microphones as separate Right and Left channels on recording media at the same sound level. Then if I had a good recording and player, either tape or record and good headphones, I could close my eyes and actually tell exactly where each person or instrument was physically located at in that group on stage! But with Mono Synthesizers you have to run that output signal through a module or device or series of devices to create a stereo image (separate right and left signals). You have to artificially create that stereo signal. One approach would be to center the drums, then using the Pan function you could Pan one signal thru a mixer to be on the left like a plucking instrument sound. You could pan another signal to be on the right such as a flute or trumpet sound. Or you could create sweeping signals that pan left then right, then left again. It’s all up to your imagination and equipment. Same process would be true even for Synthesizers that already have stereo outputs, Experiment, it’s fun!

[@DavidDeLuge]

@@jamesbtex58 thank you for your reply.

[@DBPawlan]

How are you separating the gates between the two modules? It seems that the gates are triggering in different instances.

[@sonicstate]

Gate going from midi to a-111-5 with cv pitch. Then gate CV out of Arturia to sequence trigger. This does not trigger played legato

[@DBPawlan]

Ah, the legato. Of course. Thanks

[@djfree5435]

Cool atmosphere, did you send pitch to chips and doepfer at the same time?

[@badfoodfeet]

Looks like he's sending pitch from cellz to chips, and then using the midi CV converter to send pitch from the keyboard to the doepfer

[@CosmosnCarnage]

Hey Nick, would you recommend the nifty case as a good beginner starting point for eurorack? I've been messing around with vcv rack and I have a pretty good grasp of modular, just wanted your input on it.

[@sonicstate]

Seems like a good value and has the midi and audio already

[@CosmosnCarnage]

Thank you for the fast response! And thank you for your input, keep up the great work man you guys are a great inspiration to me.

[@meneerjansen00]

Very nice, as always. :-)

[@johnrichardson3297]

Very Enjoyable!

[@robertkilbourne323]

So in that case, the modules give you a sequencer, VCO, filter and LFO but there is no envelope or VCA?

[@AndrewPRoberts]

Sort of, you can actually use the LFO with the retrig and use it sort of like an envelope, but yeah, an envelope is recommended. Not a big deal though, you can usually find them for like under 50 bucks. So the usual next upgrades would be a VCA and filter (I wouldn't call the one in chipz a filter). Personally, I think the Eudemonia from Dreadbox is the perfect next step. It's a VCA, Filter, and 3 channel mixer all in 10 hp, and it's like 100 bucks. But even without that, just the bundle, the fact that you can get a eurorack case that has Midi to Cv built in, plus enough modules to actually make music is miraculous!

[@promethiousb1489]

How do i play this with my keystep,,anyone..?,,what connections..from what to where?/

[@sweater7630]

there is a midi port on the back of the case! the midi signal is then routed and split into a some 3.5mm jacks at the top of the case

[@JSprayaEntertainment]

sounds good

[@robertsyrett1992]

Nice power supply! Is it rails or sliding nuts?

[@sonicstate]

pre-drilled rails

[@robertsyrett1992]

@@sonicstate Oh that is nice. It also looks like it might be deep enough to hold a doepfer module. Lovely music as well! I should say I watched this one to the very end.

[@Cre8audio]

@@robertsyrett1992 it's 55mm deep :)

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

Are using another filter for chipz because it sounds so good here it sounds like absolute shit everywhere else just saying

[@freddiefranklin1]

I just stick it through Valhalla supermassive and it sounds great! I think that's similar to what Clouds is doing here

[@Zeal808]

Just ordered

[@shinyisshiny7780]

how are you liking it? thinking about ordering

[@Zeal808]

ShinyIsShiny honestly something came up and I had to cancel my order. I’ve only herd good things though about this setup

[@shinyisshiny7780]

@@Zeal808 ah ok, thanks for replying!

[@exequiel21]

sounds lovely

[@sonicstate]

That Doepfer has some weight to it

[@jonaseggen2230]

@@sonicstate As soon as you turned it on I was thinking that exact same thing.

[@soupforare]

@@sonicstate people sleep on the doepfer at their own peril, great stuff at, especially these days, incredible prices

[@nellsonogmore5938]

Cool!

[@ionianechoes]

Audio is crackling quite a lot

[@BosseCory]

That appears to be the lofi chiptune oscillator. Part of the charm.

[@techstyle123]

Good 🤗

[@three-leggedcat6241]

Good.

[@bobrogue]

Knurlies, rule!!!!

[@xorthontech]

Scott Armstrong - all cash and no clue! What does that supposed to mean? You must not be into eurorack and into the volca bunch.

[@BoopPOPO]

these cases don't fit some modules at random, its like the rails aren't straight. Other cases, no problem - its junk, avoid.