How to REALLY use your envelopes - All about envelopes - part2

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello everyone! Very happy finish this 2 part series on Envelopes. This time we dive into a lot more patch ideas! Generic Affiliate links: Perfect Circuit - US - bit.ly/3xX7ASi Sound of You - EU bit.ly/3DzdFYi Clockface - AS - bit.ly/3YkDJ1B

[@reecedeyoung6595]

Very cool, would love a video on filter character. Comparing filters of different architectures. Showing how they respond to different audio input levels. Does resonance clip or does it result in big volume increase when passing over the osc fundamental? How well they respond to audio rate cv. Things like that. I think these are important things to understand about filters, and I don't hear many people talking about them.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks! Was happy to make this series on envelopes. One on filters would be cool to! The core explanations cost me a lot of time though, and I notice the responds to more quick and fun videos and ideas is often better on KZbin. But will write it on my list for sure! Cheers :)

[@chitlun]

Man, your channel is an absolute goldmine! I think it’s about time I became a Patreon and gave something back, which I will sort out at the end of the month (payday). Thanks for your insights, they’re always enlightening ✌️

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks a lot! Happy to make these as long as people get some value out of them. And of course Patrons are always welcome. Financially Patreon is the sole reason I am able to do these videos. But of course, no stress :)

[@CatFish107]

Feeling the same here. I really appreciate all the learning to be had here. Block diagram schematics ftw.

[@youwatchwhatyouwant]

Thanks again my friend! This series has been my study guide since putting together my tiny rack

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Thanks for letting me know :) These deep dive basics videos take me more time to make than a quick fun patch idea video. But it's worth it knowing people get good use out of them! Cheers :)

[@RealBassist]

thanks! Would be nice to explore more EOR, EOF, EOC triggers and gates and chains of envelopes and its musical applications

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

You're welcome! And for sure! I wanted to keep these two videos very beginner friendly, but there's more to dive into. So many variations and options out there!

[@apeirogonmusic]

Great Idea I wonder about those thibgs as well

[@Batteruno45]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Yes a part 3 with more advanced techniques would be awesome, (this one was excellent already!) thank you very much for what you are sharing, I love your universe, I wish you all the best! Cheers

[@russ254]

EOR: end of rise EOF: end of fall (probably) EOC: end of cycle

[@RealBassist]

@@russ254 that is accurate

[@RubenSainiuc]

Wonderful little jam at 21:41, among your other wonderful jams, of course

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! Was happy to have recorded that. I look forward to experimenting with the exact same patch, but then send it a programmed midi sequence with varying note length from my DAW. Think it could result in really great stuff :)

[@RubenSainiuc]

@@MonotrailTechTalk That would be great! I'm thinking to get a 4ms WAV Recorder to keep it on always recording, because sometimes i feel it's too tedious to prepare a recording session, therefore I don't have many things to share.

[@els1f]

3:28 "sweeten the ride, black sunshine sweeten the ride yeaaah" 🙃😋

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hahaha, had to google that and admit I never heard that song. Always fun to get people associations :) Cheers!

[@els1f]

@@MonotrailTechTalk It was kinda a stretch tbh 😋 That White Zombie album was something I have burned deep in my brain, so I might just be finding it anywhere 🤣 Also, Iggy Pop did the opening voiceover! Just some fun trivia lol

[@paulhood1321]

So many useful ideas in this video, all well explained. Thanks!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers :)

[@richarquis]

This (counting parts 1&2) was probably the single most informative and mind-opening video I've seen from you yet. I started my first case with MI Stages as my EG/Function Generator, but had a lot of trouble understanding it, so I moved onto Maths and Tides, which felt much easier. This video just clicked the mental buttons that finally made Stages make sense. I've watched so many other videos explaining the module, but none of them clicked with me. Watching your video now, concentrating on the ideas rather than the module... That's what made it click. It helped me figure out Stages, but it also helped me figure out cross-patching Maths. I work as a kindergarten teacher. My job involves taking a base point, and repeating it again and again, while slowly adapting it with new ideas, so my kids can take that base point and interpret it in new ways. This is exactly how you used your video to start from that same fundamental point, and adapt it in order to reach different outcomes. You are a f***ing brilliant teacher. I'm really happy that you have found a way to make this your job, because you are seriously good at it. Thank you.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thank you! Stages is a deep module indeed, but glad you got back to it. And teaching is fun, hope you're enjoying it! That same principle applies to adults learning something, myself included. Start with a comprehensible concept, and expand from there. I just recently went full time with this channel. Before that I had a company for over 10 years with my brother where we made corporate explanimations. 1-5 minute animations explaining complex concepts like specific IT solutions, phase cancellation in high voltage power lines, import procedures, or how electricity works for kids. All that was fun, and I learned a lot. When covid hit that mixed with my love for the modular, and here we are :) Thanks for watching, and all the best!

[@russ254]

@@MonotrailTechTalk wonderful to find out more about you and your journey!

[@alebrenna441]

Thanks a lot for your videos!! May be the best modular tutorial channel!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks! That's lovely to hear :)

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

Great examples!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you like them & thanks for watching! :)

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

​@@MonotrailTechTalk I already know all this stuff quite well-literally all of it-but it’s still useful to review it. The problem with modular is so many choices. You might get all into one kind of patching and your brain will simply “forget” valuable approaches that are sitting right there in front of you.

[@nielshulgard3722]

Awesome video, thanks a lot! Really nice complex follow-up to part 1. And that patch at 6:23, that is a groove alright :D and it shows how much you can do with a simple voice and a simple sequencer if just there are a few cv inputs on the modules. Really inspiring!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, glad you liked it! Indeed, simple envelope modulation can make a patch come to life! :)

[@bengineer_the]

Brilliant examples, thank you. One so simple, but amazing tip I picked up recently was to use the inverted output of an envelope generator into a vca, triggered from the kick-drum gate.. giving one a poormans side-chain. Works a charm & so obvious in retrospect. :)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, glad you liked it! And absolutely, that works great! In fact, I use that trick a lot in my live setups, can give a really nice heavy pumping sound when you duck the base and or percussive sounds. Wanted to keep the tricks in this vid beginner friendly, but there's a lot more to do with envelopes for sure :)

[@void101com]

Great video again. Many thanks! 😃👍

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for the visit!

[@AmbientAssemblage]

great examples as always. in my practice today I think i will try utilizing envelopes to scroll through a wavetable.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And great idea :) I use that trick a lot in this video, the complex movement envelopes can generate work great with good wavetables!

[@bewusstsein7061]

now i know !!! ❤❤❤thx for sharing

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, nice! Thanks for watching :)

[@mpingo91]

Many thanks for this two-episode mini series. I think it would be useful to say more about filter envelopes. I don't understand it. I feel this is the key to many new sounds, but I can't apply the envelope this way. All I always get out is the same quacking when modulating cutoff frequency.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! Indeed there is a lot more to say. I have some ideas for a video on how to patch/expand/explore a basic synth voice. When you say 'quacking' though, make sure to start exploring a filter with the 'resonance' control - sometimes called 'Q' or 'feedback' - at it's minimum. That is often the part of a filter that makes a sound 'squeeky-quacky-snerpy' or other terms like that :)

[@Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

"... There is always more to say." meaning you will continue on and on to post good videos? In my opinion the MI Stages is still the best existing (non-complex like e.g. Zadar) envelope module, because of CV manipulation plus endless possibilities. This times two plus Zadar and you are envelope happy for at least a year or so. ^^ Keep up the good work.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, that's absolutely what it means! :) I have a very long list of topics to work with. One of them something like 'my current favorite env generators'. That would be four very diverse examples. I wish I got more of the MI stuff when I had the chance. I know there are some copies. Stages is cool for sure! Cheers :)

[@Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Tunefish Modular is still building copies of them in good quality. I could make a contact if you would like to get any of the MI modules.

[@russ254]

9:30 : you can mix envelopes?????? Mind blown!😮

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, yes you can! You can mix LFOs to, and basically anything :) One thing to note that makes it slightly more complex unfortunately, as AC vs DC coupling. You can google that if you like. But in short. To mix Control Voltages, you need a mixer that is DC coupled, meaning it can handle slow modulation voltages. Some mixers are meant for audio and are AC coupled, meaning they 'filter out' slow offset voltages and are not suitable for mixing CV. Most eurorack utility mixers are designed to handle Control Voltages though, it's one of the exciting things of modular!

[@russ254]

@@MonotrailTechTalk great to have a convo with you here in the comments! My modular system is all inside Cherry Audio's Voltage Modular software, so I could have been mixing envelopes the whole time . . . . The astounding thing about your channel is that you're constantly showing me obvious things that I've never thought of before . . . So much of my progress in modular synths has been breaking outside of the sloppy habits that I started with years and years ago! (your animations are looking great - loved the animation of adding envelopes together! ) BTW, I'm color-blind, and your "trigger/gate" and "1v/oct" colors look the same to me - higher contrast or dashes, etc, would be a treat! Best wishes!

[@AndreaArturoGiuseppeGrossi]

Hello there and friendly greetings! Your videos are ALWAYS excellent quality! 🙂 I miss some of them because IRL issues but I am happy to see you are always on the top! Some of the uses of envelopes were already in my cookbook but the most of them (like the inverted envelope) were totally new so yeah! Thanks so much! I have a totally OT question, if you don't mind. I see that you like other musicians, tend to use "color coded" cables and these codes are the same almost everywhere. Is it a non scripted rules for euroracks musicians (or maybe even a very well scripted thing! I don't know!) or is it a curious coincidence? You see, I use a software that let me dye my cables whatever I want so my patches are, speaking about cables colors, mostly an eyesore even if I do use the same color for sound, the same for clock signal etc. But they are far from the sober and pastel like as I see around so I would like to know if it is a "rule" or if it is a "do what the hell you want as far as you understand what you are doing". Have a great weekend! P.S. As far as I'm concerned, every module should have AT LEAST an EOC trigger by law!! Damn, they are so useful!!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks, that's great to hear! Was hoping this video would be useful to both beginners and people who already know the basics :) As far as cables, there are no rules! I use a very strict color coding system in my patch diagrams. I think this helps to see and understand what is happening in the patch. But IRL I just have a bunch of cables from different companies. I used the red and white ones here because I thought it looked cool. Often prefer more calm and grey tones when making a bigger patch. But you can do anything you like. I pick cables on length when patching, not color :)

[@AndreaArturoGiuseppeGrossi]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Hello there! Thanks for the answer! Yeah, I agree that on schemes and when explaining things, some sort of color code is easier to follow. See? 😄 For us software users the lenght of the cables is no issue at all, I always forgot that. I really need to get some hardware and start to deal with the "real thing" because despite how good a software is, it gives "infinite resources" and it feels a little bit like "cheating". Some of my patches cost the equivalent of 3 or 4 luxury cars, if I should make them with hardware modules... 😅

[@kaeptn]

Whats the benefit of being able to retrigger an LFO again? I remember seing something about free running filter modulation that will reset on a rythm but I can't find the video anymore amongst the others.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello! Indeed you can use something like a clock or clock division to retrigger an LFO, then it suddenly becomes a tempo synced shape. Retriggering doesn't match the speed to the incoming clock though, it just restarts the wave. So by modulating the frequency beside retriggering you can create all sorts of weird 'cut off' shapes.

[@PaulFournier]

HI, Just subscribed and loved this two parter on envelopes. I'm trying to document some of my own learnings and I'm curious about the software you use to diagram your patches. Would you share what you're using and if there are any specific templates you use?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello there! Thanks for the sub, really appreciated :) I worked a lot as a freelance graphic designer, so I work with the Adobe suite. Illustrator for the patches. It's my own design, and made a lot of templates for it, but no pre-fab solution. Drawing some lines and building blocks in any kind of drawing software is pretty easy though, especially for personal documentation. Can recommend :)

[@PaulFournier]

@@MonotrailTechTalk thanks 🙏!

[@russ254]

libreoffice draw would work well

[@stereotypegoham]

Which ES module are you using to record the joystick movement?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

The ES black joystick ;)

[@richarquis]

ES joystick has a record function. As you move the joystick, you can press the record button to capture the movement. I don't own it, but having watched the demos, from memory it records maybe 8 seconds of gestures, but those gestures are not saved, so when you power down, they are lost from memory. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ha, thanks for doing my job properly! just realized my comment was a bit to short. That's all true. The black joystick has 4 channels. Each channel can record up to 8 sec of joystick movement. I did a full video on it if you like to see more :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/boCYaYeMZqpoY5Y

[@digitalvamp]

I have a question I have the black wavetable VCO there is no gate tigger can you suggest a basic patch to get me going with this? I have Black EG and Black VCA as well as joystick and I notice the Volt per octave doesnt work correctly it seems that it doesnt respond to pitch from a normal Sequencer like other VCO's do? Please help Thank you

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Make sure to watch some videos on making a basic synth voice :) Oscillators don't have a trigger or gate input. They are aways 'on' and making a sound. For a very common synth voice you would patch an oscillator output, to a filter, then to a VCA, and then your speakers or audio interface. A keyboard or controller's 1v/oct output would go to the 1v/oct input of the oscillator. And the Gate output of the keyboard or controller to the gate or trigger input of an envelope. The envelope can be used to modulate the filter, VCA, or both. Hope that helps!

[@digitalvamp]

Thank you I just patched it to my wmd javelin and it works but it wasn’t getting my vpo pitch I had to turn the big dial all the way up then back down to zero now it works! Thanks for the reply! it must have needed a reset.