Instruō - Saïch Overview

The Instruō saïch is a quad oscillator with super-saw functionality and built in “smart” VCA mixing. At its core are four fully analogue sawtooth waveforms that can be intervallically offset, individually and globally detuned, transformed and transposed, and mixed together in creative and interesting ways.
A perfect companion for the harmonàig quantiser, it can easily create harmonically structured chord voicings perfect for lush subtractive patching. Paraphonic patching in analogue with eurorack has now become considerably more convenient!
No quad quantiser in your system? Not to worry!
saïch includes beautifully simple diatonic modes allowing for the creation of
Ionian and Aeolian chord scales with a single 1V/octave CV source.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I just received mine :) What a beautiful sound it produces... Anyway, I'm sure that I'll come back to this video for reference so maybe this can also help others: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 - Overview Frequency Controls 03:27 - Overview 1V/Octave 05:24 - Overview FM 08:21 - Overview Fader Controls 10:06 - Overview SUB / PWM 11:53 - Overview Subtractive Patching 14:25 - Overview Oscillator Detune 15:35 - Overview Sub Indicators 16:25 - Mix Profiles Overview 18:12 - Mix Profiles (1) Cascade Crossfade 23:35 - Mix Profiles (2) Basic VCA 26:41 - Mix Profiles (3) Voice Arpeggiator 28:50 - Mix Profiles (4) Voice Subtraction 33:12 - Mix Profiles (5) Odds to Evens 36:59 - Mix Profiles (6) Smart Pairs 40:33 - Mix Profiles (7) Constant Root 43:16 - Secondary Parameters / Fader Controls 46:05 - Secondary Parameters / Interval Offset Profiles 48:43 - Secondary Parameters / Global Detune 53:31 - Secondary Parameters / CV Control 55:40 - Secondary Parameters CV / Global Detune 58:11 - Secondary Parameters CV / Interval Offest Profiles 01:00:16 - Mix Profiles CV 01:00:51 - Harmonic Patching / Super Saw 01:01:13 - Harmonic Patching / Harmonaig Quantiser 01:02:52 - Harmonic Patching / Interval Offset / Tension Tones 01:06:19 - Harmonic Patching / Global Detune / Tension Tones 01:08:58 - Harmonic Patching / Secondary Parameters CV 01:12:50 - Wavefold Overtones Examples / athru 01:16:16 - Wavefold Overtones Examples / Complex Waveforms 01:24:32 - Diatonic Mode 01:26:33 - Diatonic Mode / Ionian 01:29:04 - Diatonic Mode / Aeolian (Natural Minor) 01:30:43 - Diatonic Mode 01:33:34 - Case tuning

[@ys521wow]

Thx man

[@thesurgingmass]

Thank you, sir!

[@dedodan1]

Please Instruō you should give some module to Omri as present he his one of the most followed as KZbin and a big know how in Eurorack and vcv teacher and great mind and soul as artist

[@dedodan1]

Thank you Omri this is the minimum that Instruo should to do also because it is not chip

[@ZenMountain]

@@dedodan1 Since YOU are so grateful, why don't YOU buy it for him? ... by the way, why don't you buy my cousin a car, he really needs it, he's a good guy too, I think it's the minimum you should do...

[@weave_of_k]

instruo is probably my favorite eurorack company. their modules are always creative and thoughtful to musicians who want someone a little outside of the box.

[@index7787]

And unreasonably precise

[@weave_of_k]

@@index7787 huh? meaning it's very precise?

[@bendickson3486]

This should be shown in cinemas. It would be up for an Oscar. Beautiful oscillator(s).

[@claybyers2589]

The section on "tension tones" is absolutely amazing. That's great stuff!

[@warrenwilcock8183]

Got mine today and have to say... This module is a work of art. Absolutely stunning. Physically and sonically. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@synthanatomy]

😍 Instruō definitely knows how to develop "GAS"ing Eurorack modules 🤤

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

agree- Instruo, Folktek and Frap Tools are the most attractive looking and sound modules today in Eurorack world. Amazing artwork, aesthetics and tones.

[@Fluidstructure]

@@GuitarsAndSynths id put Joranalogue up there too, though not quite as stylin appearance wise

[@bobbfett.musiclab]

Been using it a while now, I just want to say I really love this oscillatior

[@andar2627]

What a great module! The interplay with harmonàig is brilliant. I love the way you treat harmonies, scales and modes in the modular format.

[@joostvanbunnik7646]

As suggest Jason, watching this great video again to learn about I047 beside Saich of course

[@SorchaSublime]

This is basically exactly what I wanted Troika to be when I first discovered the harmonaig

[@williamdewolfe1813]

Very well designed...I need another oscillator as much as I need another kid. And yet, I need this.

[@LostForWords]

I need to make time to watch this in full. Definitely getting one.

[@uvfactory]

Wicked! I'm seven Instruō's deep, this is by far the nicest demo video and the reference material is luscious! Serious minds at work in Scotland!

[@buyukberber]

Just got mine and I am amazed! I just can't help it but I really wish it was possible to have cv control over CTRL and mix profiles simultaneously :-) never the less, it's another amazing module, thanks Jason!

[@JohnLRice]

Beautiful module and nice demo! And it got me looking for a Harmonaig to buy! Thankfully I couldn't find one, because I can't realistically afford one at the moment! I'll just have to "limp along" with my beautiful Quad Performance Quantizer! 🥰

[@enter_me]

this is a great module with a lot of functionality and character with a few knobs, congrats

[@blaythessteuer]

timestamps in the description would help make this more digestible

[@Nokanmusic]

Hei, last month I was fortunate enough to afford myself this fantastic module, however I’ve had some difficulty actually tuning the module (case tuning) until yesterday. I have been struggling with phone apps and trying my best to do it by ear, but it has become quite obvious to me that I lack the mythical perfect pitch. Since I’m lacking any Sort of oscilloscope or accurate tuning apparatus I have been running the output straight through Lubadh into my mixer when trying to tune my oscillators and I noticed some thing really interesting. Once you have your C5 reference note on the main oscillator 1 you can set the fader in the middle position and look at the input LED on Lubadh to see if you’re in unison with oscillator 1. A rapidly blinking light means you’re off and not in tune, a very slowly beating pulse means your oscillators are in tune/unison. I found it to be a very useful visualisation tool when trying to tune it by ear. I imagine this same trick can be used with these modules: Cuír Arbhar Vínća Làrachd. Hope someone found this little tip useful. As for me I can finally enjoy this module the way it was intended.

[@instruo]

That’s a really great discovery! I’ve used this exact trick for years to demonstrate phasing and beat frequencies, but never thought to use it specifically as a visual tuning aid! Definitely the first instance I’m hearing of the Lubadh being used as a single point strobe tuner. 😂 Thanks you for sharing, and I’m very happy to hear you’re enjoying the module ☺️ Happy patching!

Very awesome sound!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@mrfister1899]

I had the impression that Instruo modules were overpriced style over content, but watching this video has completely changed my mind. Looks like this is a great oscillator module.

[@mrfister1899]

Just realised I'm only 15 minutes into an hour and three quarters 😂

[@instruo]

I like to be thorough in my videos 😉

[@TheOriginSoundtrack]

Ordered already. Was waiting for something like this!

[@ZenMountain]

Fantastic module, thanks!

[@precarious333music]

Absolutely fantastic! The last thing I need is another VCO but this module is in a class all its own. Brilliant feature set. The VCA and pitch offset modes are killer. My Harmonàig is begging for this. Any chance there will be an expander with an individual out for each VCO??? Would love to be able to pan them across the stereo field then into a stereo filter.

[@precarious333music]

Been really thinking about this. Would be amazing to have separate outs, possibly switchable between pre and post VCA. That or a stereo out with either a pan knob for each VCO or preset algorithms assigning location within stereo field. Dedicated sub out would be very useful as well for separate filtering and processing.

[@lunasspecto]

I'm really new to modular, but it seems to me like if you had separate VCO audio outs, you could patch this with a 4-channel MIDI interface and something like the Doepfer A-141-4 for uniform VC envelope generation across all four gates, and that would give you really compact 4-voice MIDI polyphony in Eurorack. Maybe not as novel as what this can do with the harmonàig but still interesting to think about

[@precarious333music]

@@lunasspecto Sure, a MIDI-to-CV able to parse polyphony into separate CV outs could already do what you describe with Saïch, but it would still only be a single mono out with all voices sounding unless you use the internal VCAs to fade between them. So not really capable of a single voice at a time without work arounds. Ideally, multiple VCOs detuned and spread by pan creates a very full sound. Acid Rain Chainsaw, for example, creates a great wide supersaw/square in stereo using 3 voices each made up of 7 VCOs spread in stereo, 4ms Ensemble Oscillator and Xaoc Odessa can do the same by separating odd/even harmonics to left/right outs, with Ensemble Oscillator being technically only a single voice as far as input CV and Odessa up to 5 voices with Hel expander. Just seems a missed opportunity not to have some stereo options with Saïch. It is incredibly complex as it is and analog, whereas the other stereo VCO I mentioned are digital, so maybe not really possible.

[@lunasspecto]

@@precarious333music Yeah, I figured to do what I described with separate VCO outs but no individual VCA CV inputs, you'd need an external VCA… but by that point we're not really taking advantage of the saïch's features. I've been trying the virtual saïch and harmonàig in VCV Rack, and there, because it's virtual, I can just clone the saïch, feed the same harmonàig CVs into into both of them, and feed their mixes into a stereo pan. If only it were that easy with hardware! 😅

[@precarious333music]

@@lunasspecto True enough. You solved the dilemma. Just buy two Saïch!

[@kidko]

Another masterwork is born. Popping it on the wishlist along with the rest of this year's Instruo haul

[@vob5753]

Incredible! Really want to see more demos of the I-ō47 Please! Sounds gorgeous, thanks!

[@wajobu]

Uh oh. The end of Mix Profile 5 is very Cluster-Eno 36:04. What an incredible module. Ordered.

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Wow! What a clever module Jason, looks and sounds like a beast.

[@nkozi]

Jason just doesn't miss.

[@busch028]

Sorry kids, Santa didnt come this year.....but listen to this!!!

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

🤣

[@akimdrml5627]

Amazing... as always

Nice wooden skiff too.

[@Nokanmusic]

One day, it’ll be mine. For now this will do.

[@miraclegrow]

After this and divkid's video I decided to buy two, no regrets! No io47 though, going to pair them with a ssf stereo dipole

[@YannGuillermou]

sounds as good as it looks

[@mutece7155]

My Saïch just arrived... all I wanted was to recreate that part at 1:09:00 ... best feature for me. Right now using an VCADSR to control it.

[@jonaseggen2230]

Killer advertisement as this module now is leading in the battle of what module to get next. Nice demo of I-o47 to. I learn a lot here that applies to eurorack in general. Would be good to hear a comparison between your oscillators, filters and wavefolders. What are their strengths compare to each other? Are some better for certain genres or styles, small systems or bigish, live or carefully planned?

[@instruo]

Thanks! :D I'm trying to keep a strong educational element to my videos. They do run a little long... but being in lockdown is a good excuse for that! I'll actually be doing another sit down livestream/podcast with Ben/DivKid on the 15th (I believe that is the planned date). Long form Q&A. I'm planning to have a system set up that I can switch view to for doing some demos etc. If you can tune in live, we'd be happy to have you asking exactly those type of questions :) Cheers! Jason

[@jonaseggen2230]

@@instruo Thanks Jason. I hope I will be able to tune in on your livestream. Yes your videos are long but I tend to take them in portions as my head has to digest the info and for some reason tends to wander of on question quests. Also your demos are invaluable when I finally buy one of your modules. Like I don't know how many times I've watched your Harmonaig video after I bought it. Have a good time and stay safe. Jonas

[@EfeuWinterfest]

holy moly...still waiting that Harmonàig is available at Schneidersladen again, but I need this, too!!

[@jedgould5531]

Great module. Two things: what if we could see it better? I like the wide shot showing the patches. How about a separate close up of the saitch itself, as you fondle it? Unless you intended it to be magical when you change mix profiles. Also, maybe we do not have every module. I mostly do, but I needed clarification on how each one was specifically influencing the Saitch. Jason! Too smart for your own hundred-minute demo (which revealed why the Moog One should also have interval offsets).

[@kokain1922]

Seriously considering adding some of your oscillators to my rack and of course just as I think I made my choice you go ahead and do this :P

[@robertsyrett1992]

A very interesting design choice to offer only one waveform and only provide a mix out. Also I like your choice of mix profiles, I think the detune and interval offsets are super musical. Was there ever a point in designing this where there were more waveforms and features like sync?

[@instruo]

Development has been long on this one. Many iterations over the years and many things learned from prototypes and my previous oscillator designs. I have actually included an expander breakout header on the back of the Saïch to keep my options open! Mixing between different waveforms is of course a very powerful tool, but in practice maintaining a more consistently musical equal loudness, and balance between the layered voices becomes less simple. The overtone content of sawtooth and square waves are very similar. Mixing in triangles and sines become much less prominent without changing the mix and increasing their gain (all this dependent on frequency range and context of course). When adding single sine waves in particular to a mix of saw/square. Only a single harmonic is being added to a wider spread of harmonics, which doesn't add much. I use the saïch most often as a rich subtractive synthesis sound source. Either in parallel unisons, perfect intervals or paraphonically harmonised form the Harmonàig. To produce the other waveforms from a sawtooth core takes quite a bit of circuitry, and requires additional calibration for the accuracy I like to maintain. Adding such waveshaping and parallel unmixed outputs would have increased the design's HP considerably, as well as the costs. And at the end of it I would have ended up with the troika again but with less independent control per voice. With all that said, I am certainly not writing off the possibility of an expander for the saïch by any means! But to meet the obvious features of independent outputs offering more waveforms it would be big and waaaay too expensive. Especially when the troika already exists! I will be keeping eyes and ears open to all feedback as the saïch gets out there into people's systems! So please do let me know what you think :) Cheers! Jason

[@robertsyrett1992]

@@instruo This reply is way too good for the youtube comment section. My initial thought watching this is I would love to not have to tune 4 oscillators before patching even starts. Your module addresses so many of my pet peeves before it ever makes a sound and simultaneously streamlines common stacked intervals. And you are right, for a rich harmonic waveform the saw is the king (especially in analog), the pulse wave is queen, and everything else is too delicate to be heard in a stack of saws and squares. But... I just keep thinking about how you could apply this interface to 4 operator FM. Especially the macro crossfader which already seems to have a bank of useful ratios that I use in FM algorithms. If I were to design your expander kit I would add individual sawtooth outs, fm inputs with trim pots, and hard sync. I would have all sorts of fun self patching those parameters.

[@elementlab41]

Absolutely fantastic! What are the first modules?

[@qyoo620]

goodbye money hello instruo just wish there was a silver/light panel option.

[@ReFractalus]

Gobsmacked on the sound and design. I have two questions: How would the Saïch pair with the ACL Sinfonion instead of the harmonàig, and in light of this how would the Saïch compare to the Cs-L? Whatever your answer, congratz on another killer module in your eclectic lineup!

[@yongamusic]

It pairs with Sinfonion‘s chord output just as well as with Harmonaig. I guess running Sinfonions mono channels into this is a bit restrictive as Saïch only has one output. Interesting effects can probably be achieved, though, with the different profiles.

[@earlsfield]

dude you need better lightning. I couldn't notice when the secondary control is on or off. Great module though, enjoying it a lot with my eloquencer. Could use Harmonaig though.

[@instruo]

Dude I’m working on it! 😉 This is an older video! I’m always trying to improve on what I do. Harmonàig does pair very nicely with the Saïch. Almost like they were made for each other 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@earlsfield]

@@instruo don’t worry i wasn’t being critical. Thanks for the fast response. I know you do so much work mate, don’t worry. Keep making amazing modules - I have a lot of your stuff already. Just struggled to figure out when the button is on, thats all:)

[@instruo]

@@earlsfield I just watched back a bit of this video and the lighting is not good! 😂 This was shot in my living room on an old lumix camera with the AWB engaged. The new videos are shot in the workshops dedicated video studio now with some substantial camera upgrades! I went full nerd during covid on video cameras and lenses!

[@earlsfield]

@@instruo lol dont worry mate, I know this is an old one. I can imagine lockdown giving you extra time to geek over tech, I mean, I doubled my synthesizer intake lol. Yeah new videos are better produced, better camera and sound, you are going full on Ridley Scott lol. Thing is, while I can appreciate the fact that of course, the most important part of your work is creating inspiring, amazing modules - which you do - videos and tutorials are also super important. Took me a minute to realize why the offset doesn't work (without detune being moved from 0 and vice versa) - although it is well explained in the manual, with full time job and all there is just so much time you can dedicate to learning curve and videos are the best way. I would be happy to do a few videos with Instruo the gear that I have, no charge or anything. BTW, riddle me this - I always considered Instruo to have probably the best design (visual, aesthetics) out of all modular stuff out there. Was H.R. Giger an inspiration, at least partially? You don't have to answer if this steps too deep into your IP, I am just curious:)

[@stephenmurphy8349]

This looks great! - would two outputs not have been useful?

[@yongamusic]

Yes! And imagine four outputs!

[@dedodan1]

definitely Instruō big reference in Eurorack modules I bought arbhar harmonaig next saïch one question: is normal when I remove the sd card from arbha dosent work as it have the sd inserted??

[@flutta_]

videos have come along way since the harmonaig overview lol

[@instruo]

Agreed!!! I’ve gotten a lot more practice, and I’m no longer shooting from my phone 😬

[@theplasticlens]

This is fantastic. I love the combination of incredible sound, functionality & aesthetics of Instruo's modules. This might be a silly question but could someone please tell me what is that cool module with the eye at the left of the rack? (I want one!) :D

[@instruo]

Thanks! :D The Sheikah module is my sample&hold and noise source which I styled in tribute to the Legend of Zelda. Only that one and 2 others exist (my own personal one and two others were gifts).

[@theplasticlens]

@@instruo - thanks for the reply! Whilst I am (selfishly) a tiny bit sad there are only 3 in existence I believe this fact also makes this module all the more special!

[@jamesbtex58]

@@instruo Bummer, I had the same question. Couldn't see a label on it even after I zoomed in. Very cool looking module. Do you plan on making any of those? You should, I think people would purchase it. Including me, LOL!

[@dpotta]

sounds immense at 1:18:10

[@dpotta]

and trippy as fuck @ 1:20:25

[@LittleMusicBoxes]

Dying to try one! (Sponsored video? ;)

[@blackknightsatellite3847]

What a great Concept and Sound. But I find the Indicator LEDs for the Mix Profiles very confusing. i.e the Mix Profile 4 is LED 3. Mix Profile 5 is LED 1 and 3, Profile 6 is LED 2 and 3. My Brain just don't get it :-) Why don't just make it like Mix Profile 4 is LED 4. Profile 5 is LED 4 and 1. Profile 6 is LED 4 and 2....ordered one anyway :-)

[@instruo]

It’s binary :) 001 - 1 010 - 2 011 - 3 100 - 4 101 - 5 110 - 6 111 - 7 MSB - LSB order: (‘’’) (‘’) (‘) What you describe could have worked as well of course, but I figured base 2 binary counting is already a well situated standard and very easy to write in code

[@dirty_steph]

great, so when will this be available?

[@ConatusModulari]

🖤

[@elvishopper4495]

What’s that module with the eye?

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

i believe its a one-off , with anything Instruo need on the fly -

[@instruo]

It’s my sample & hold and noise source. A one-off tribute to Legend of Zelda 🤓

[@bobbcorr]

@@instruo I would love for you folks to do a deep noise module a la ERD All the Colours of the Noise but with the Instruo flair - more noise==more better. Thanks for all the great work (and yes, I love the look of that one-off).

[@kosmikmusa]

Nice one. How much?

[@Leandrob13]

Hello. Any plans on offering silver panel option for your modules?

[@instruo]

No plans. I utilise the transparent nature of the FR4 material as part of many of my designs for backlighting purposes. …but if we follow the science from Star Trek IV, there is only ~110 years to wait until the invention of transparent aluminium! So there still is hope for a viable solution :)

[@Jin-Hu]

Trying to follow this 13:00 in VCV but I can't stop the drone

[@instruo]

At that time code and particular example there will always be a degree of constant drone. The “amplitude” enveloping is done by the envelope over filter cutoff of the low-pass filter. But between envelope spikes there is still a level of lower frequency content pass through. It will all be dependent on your fundamental pitch, fundamental filter cutoff frequency and depth of FM over the cutoff. To achieve silence between notes add a VCA into the audio signal path. This could be pre or post filter. (I prefer going post)

[@Jin-Hu]

@@instruo wow talk about instant and concise response thank you so much! Love your modules, and having them in VCV is a great to test drive

[@Jin-Hu]

@@instruo Thank you, I was better able to follow along in VCV, what a beautiful group of modules, genius idea to provide software versions for free, it's really making me consider a purchase..

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

What brand of patch cables are those with the cool looking braid design?

[@instruo]

They’re all Instruō ;) www.signalsounds.com/instruo-eurorack-patch-cable-30cm-5-pack

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@instruo Thanks! I will definitely order some when I get a few of your amazing modules. I just need a larger case :-)

[@bmbiz]

I was curious about the module with the eye artwork and found comments below from 11 months ago where someone asked about it. You said it was a one-off with S&H and a noise source. I just noticed, though, that it looks almost identical to tágh which has what looks to be the same functionality. So one-off became tágh? Edit: I see that on your website there's no manual and no price listed, unlike all the other modules. It's in your VCV Rack set, though. What exactly is the situation with this baby? :)

[@Shantekk]

Please give us an answer … or an led faceplate 😅👍

[@shedarfondu]

you should do your tutorials in sheikah language 🙃💫✌️

[@bobbfett.musiclab]

Yeee

[@morgan0]

so i’m curious about the offsets, do they use 12edo/tet values for the intervals or do they use just intonation pure ratios (or a closer approximation than 12edo as limited by dac resolution), or is there a way to switch between them? if it’s firmware controlling that is there a way to define them as custom ratios? looks very nice either way

[@morgan0]

as someone who works with alternative tunings, if i was to someday pick up a saïch, being able to edit the offsets to ones in a tuning i was working in would be really handy

[@SorchaSublime]

will instruo ever come out with complete systems like the make noise system cartesian or the erica synths fusion drone system?

[@RicketyBread]

In one of DivKid's livestreams Jason said they have things in the works and to stay tuned. So I would guess eventually, yes!

[@instruo]

Eventually, yes :)

[@SorchaSublime]

@@instruolooking forwards to it

[@SorchaSublime]

where o where do you get your cables?

[@instruo]

They are official Instruo cables :) I have a new run of them on order! www.signalsounds.com/instruo-eurorack-patch-cable-60cm-5-pack

[@MBLonYT]

Hi Jason. When will this be available?

[@instruo]

Today :) The first batch was completed a couple of weeks ago so then could get out to retailers in time for today’s launch. (Freight delays dependent of course) But they should be popping up in stores now!

[@stevel1731]

Ugh. Take my money!!

[@jamesbtex58]

What is the name of the module all the way to the left that has the open Eye and Tear backlighted?

[@bmbiz]

That's answered in earlier comments. (It's a one-off S&H and noise generator.)

[@jamesbtex58]

@@bmbiz Thats a shame, it is really cool looking.

[@bobbfett.musiclab]

Instabuy, löv saw

[@CWealthMusic]

Damnit, I just decided I don't need any more modules and vowed not to buy anymore. Stop making fire ass modules! Sheesh.

[@instruo]

I'll never stop!!!! :D