Loom 4 (ft. Tides) | The Lightbath Zone - Eurorack Modular Synthesizer Masterclass

Download the music of the Loom series exclusively on Patreon → / lightbath
Watch the original modular piece 'Loom 4 (ft. Tides)' → • Loom 4 (ft. Tides) | A...
✶ TABLE OF CONTENTS ✶
00:00 The Lightbath Zone
01:52 Part 1: The Patch
23:09 Part 2: The Performance
31:38 Loom music download
✶ THANK YOU ✶
• Mutable Instruments for sponsoring this video: mutable-instruments.net
• MDR Modular for the ergonomic KOROLEV-104 case + stand with Motovilo power: mdr-modular.ru
• Hosa for the colorful + superbly designed cables + accessories: hosatech.com
Join the Club Lightbath community on Discord, plus get patch notes and lessons through my Creative Mentorship program → / lightbath
✶ GEAR ✶
Lightbath Mall → lightbath.zone/mall
Audio + Video gear → lightbath.zone/video-kit
Hosa cables → lightbath.zone/hosa
Eurorack case + stand → mdr-modular.ru
Some of the above may contain affiliate links which earn me a small commission. If you'd like a way to support me at no extra cost, please use the links.
✶ ZONES ✶
Website → lightbath.com
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Patreon → / lightbath
#eurorack #synthesizer #masterclass

[@guyewhite]

So, so good. So happy you have a Patreon so we can support. So much value in this video.

[@BillVanLoo]

This is SUCH a fantastic walkthrough of your patch & performance! I'm on my second watch-through and continuing to get new stuff on this viewing. Keep it up!

[@discolizardpatchesnstuff4142]

These are starting to play more and more like Masterclass videos rather than simple module reviews or top-level tips and tricks. I greatly appreciate the detail you go into, and thank you for taking the time to describe what you're doing.

[@Lightbath]

Thank you! Yeah, total Masterclass vibe, right? Well, don't tell anyone (because I'm far from being ready just yet) but I have the desire to create my own Masterclass-type course 🤫

[@jasonlyle3804]

@@Lightbath totally signing up for your classes. I am just now discovering the world of modular, and can't soak up enough info

[@jasoncaldwell4239]

listened to this video three times on my way home from the Moog store today, with my new tides module. By the time I got it in the rack I was primed ready and inspired. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@Lightbath]

Oh, that’s great!

[@matthewy393]

I subbed as soon as I finished watching this. I can tell this will be one of my favourite channels :)

[@therealzakkain]

LOVED this Lightbath Zone, the walkthrough of how you're using the new Tides was sooo helpful! I also love Tides, and I just picked up a new one... the chords potential you're showing here is blowing my mind. 💯

[@taiwalker7776]

This is one of the more beautiful patches I've ever heard.

[@jaystink]

"heart attack soft decay" best new song title

[@MatthewHyatt]

That's hilarious. It's exactly what I heard too.

[@debaserNYC]

LOVE the explanation, thanks so much for doing this!

[@telegraph_hill]

wow. the performance walkthrough was amazing!

[@andrewcs_]

thank you for talking about process here and not just the things. these ideas can be applied anywhere.

[@frywolny]

Superb and elevating! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@savagemessiah.]

As someone who got into modular with no prior musical experience seeing you walk through your process was really helpful.

[@JureJerebic]

Fantastic, another one for the final setup list

[@scienceroommusic]

And I thought I loved Tides before. You've just brought me to another level. Thanks!

[@rocketboyful]

one of the most inspiring eurorack videos I've ever seen. Need me some tides

[@marttymiller1686]

I have watched this so many times and have the modules and literally have no idea what he is talking about, but I do know what sounds he is making and how to make them. Will watch again and again for excitement.

[@_jurk]

Do you have 3 Tides? Seeing this I guess you really need 3 for this music to happen, 1 for the melodic divisions, 1 for the rhythmic divisions en 1 for sending envelopes to each of the voices.

[@Lightbath]

Yep! This patch is definitely a Triple-Tides exploration. That third (OG) Tides could easily be another module but the two new ones are needed for their unique way of working with melodic and rhythmic divisions.

[@shaktipad1111]

Beautiful. Inspired

[@gregdefronsac]

Exellente video, merci!!

[@KentuckyMusic]

Sounds great!

[@am5790]

great presentation...I dont own modular but I enjoy listening tutorials and this is well done demo ....quality sound.

[@dronebandofnone8430]

Your the man and thank you!

[@musicalfungus]

Thank you very much for sharing. This was a great video.

[@lewiglenismusic662]

"It's minor harmony!" Love it man. 👏

[@aeropilot4419]

Fascinating ... will need to get Tidesx2 now to expand my Mutable case ...🙂✨

[@h2o1969]

Thank you 🙏

[@yongamusic]

Thank you! Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!

[@jonridley]

Good work Lightbath. I had to sell my modular due to financial issues but I can continue to enjoy the modular world vicariously through vids like this one!

[@soejrd24978]

Get vcvrack!

[@ericyoung5960]

Really nice. Thank you for sharing your process in such a digestible way.... if it sounds nice play it twice. If it's sweet gotta repeat...

[@aeropilot4419]

Rey D'Annes lol 🙂

[@taylorzanke8263]

Really appreciate how thorough you are talking through your intention and process. Also appreciate how you separate "performance" from "patch." Something I am not sure (as a less experienced modularist) I have considered so explicitly. Thanks!

[@aeropilot4419]

Taylor Zanke the take away here is how limits are not really limiting ... and how curious intent makes sense in the exploration of modular music making 🤗

[@FastusMusic]

you make a good case for this very interesting module - a kind of "singing" Maths by virtue of it's audio-rate capability, organized by ratios

[@romanchubak8640]

Minor harmony is just magnificent here. Makes you think about infinity

[@Lightbath]

Yes! It's all reciprocal. Like Dark Matter!

[@richarquis]

Nice! Tides 2018 plus Joranalogue Compare 2 are on the list this month. The other videos I'd seen concentrated more on the polyrhythm, less on the voices. This video showed me what I needed to hear on that front.

[@vladimirussachevsky1315]

You sold me in the first 3 minutes.

[@fosferus]

Lightbath zone is love

[@2mbst1]

This video is super awesome. Very inspiring and educational! Will join club lightbath later this day. I just bought Tides mk1 a few days ago and I expected to use it as a modulator, but as you mentioned, using it as a VCO is just b e a u t i f u l. Now I *really* want another Tides, but mk2.

[@adisdizdarevic5320]

First time watching your Video..You are doing great!

[@falconrydata]

f*cking brilliant... great moves

[@tris421]

Fuck sake. Just came to watch enjoy a modular video now I have to buy 3 tides. Thanks, Lightbath.

[@psychrockvinyl]

This is way to good man. I'm a long time non modular synth dabbler and I'll admit I'm so lost here on how to wire something like this up, as I am just now digging into there mutual world, but I'm hoping to someday understand how to think like this... I see a bunch of inputs and outputs but can't decide where to send them, logically my mind is thinking output to input, then the chain is over but I'm recognizing there is more, and the chain is longer than I first thought...haha but I'm trying to get a grip on a starting point by using mutual stuff only... You're the man here this is so smooth

[@Lightbath]

Thanks. My recent ‘The Joy of Patching’ video shows more of the process if you’re interested.

[@NICUofficial]

at 5:37 this goes from "hmm interesting" to "oh shit it's a straight masterclass huh"

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@ricjai]

dream catcher

[@TheSlowGrowth]

89 Takes? Oh wow, that is some serious effort! I would have gotten so tired of the piece by that time. Anyway, thanks for the interesting patch breakdown. Really inspiring! I'll go to my modular now! :-)

[@Lightbath]

Yeah, seriously. Believe it or not, it’s just not satisfying until a good take happens. And then, I’m pretty done with it. But of course then follows hours of editing... and then shooting the Lightbath Zone video and editing lots and lots more. Suffice to say, I’ve heard this piece a lot.

[@therealpepeu]

Still haven’t taken the plunge, but this feels like what a part of my sound would be like. *sigh* Dear Santa...

[@jeremycarrillo7399]

tides is my favorite module. I used vcv rack for over a year before i got my first hardware and it was in pretty much every patch i made. So it made sense that it was basically the first module I added to my case. Love it and want to get one or two more but there are so many modules to choose from. Though It will happen eventually.

[@Lightbath]

Awesome. Before you buy the third Tides, check out Just Friends which sort of does a non-sync’d version and allows up to 6 gates to be sent to the module for each of its outputs. The two are a great pair ☯️

[@jeremycarrillo7399]

@@Lightbath will do!

[@TheSilentCartgraph3r]

This video reminded me of a Red Means Recording video

[@hoofsgrow]

🙏

[@soejrd24978]

I'm building everything in vcvrack, it sounds phenomenal

[@Lightbath]

🙌

[@nonospezial]

do you still have the vcv-rack files for that? I'd love to play around with that - would really appreciate it !

[@mike.thomas]

11:29, laff 👏. Been there done that!

[@pinupclub1765]

It’s that i’m broke after buying tides 2 after this that i won’t be able to support. I really should tho, inspirational stuff man!

[@Lightbath]

Well, you know. Priorities.

[@girlinagale]

Opportunity cost, I'm pondering Tides now and something else will have to be omitted. Life.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

you gonna cost me a fortune - just like Marc Booth and DivKid does ! I damn you to heaven !

[@Lightbath]

👼🏻

[@kristofvdc1]

The fastest pattern makes me think of The Edge’s guitar 😊

[@Lightbath]

Yes! The dotted type cross-rhythm delay is totally The Edge. Love it.

[@ParliamentLiteOfficial]

How do you feel about Tides 2 compared to Just Friends? It seems like they *sort of* had some overlap before, but the divide seems to be getting smaller. I’m interested to hear what your thoughts are!

[@Lightbath]

I like JF for its ability to smoothly move between divisions and Tides for its ability to snap directly on to divisions. I wish they both did both, but am happy having one for each approach. But that’s for modulation. For audio, Tides all the way. I like the chords (quantize style) and the tones are more my kind of sound.

[@nsrocker99]

My favorite part was "I did a lot of takes" *flashes large number* 😂 Feels good to hear an expert be honest about doing a lot of trial and error to get the best sound. It's a process!

[@ricjenner1120]

Wonderful patch. I tried recreating it, referencing the video and patreon patch notes. It wasn't my intention to make a duplicate composition, but to have a solid foundation for an intricate patch based around Tides. I found nearly impossible to get the chord intervals coming from the audio rate Tides to stay in tune with Clouds when the wet/dry was between 0 and 90% - finely tweaking the pitch on clouds,the fine tune freq on Tides and the fine tune shift/level on Tides just never got the there - it was always beating against each other and I never found that sweet spot. I eventually abandoned Clouds and went with a 4ms Dual Looping Delay. Its a totally different effect now, but it sounds nice and theres no dissonance when the chords change.

[@Lightbath]

Very cool that you went all the way with it. Hmmm... maybe Clouds is miscalibrated. It should play perfectly in tune with pitch at 12:00. Whatever the case DLD is super solid and easier to dial in on a simple delay than Clouds is. It’s an old favorite that I used all over the place on the old pieces at the beginning of this channel and on my former ‘Fourhexagons’ channels. Happy patching ~

[@ricjenner1120]

@@Lightbath Yeah, I suspect Clouds is the issue - its the "Monsoon" version, whereas the other modules are factory Mutable Instruments. I'll try calibrating it. In the meantime, I got some great sounds with Tides > channel A of DLD and Plaits in modal string mode > Rings in secret handshake mode > channel B of DLD w/ a bandpassed Ripples in the feedback path. Really appreciate your work and patch notes man. I'll be sure to check out your old channel now that Im aware of it.

[@nostalgia_junkie]

looking forward to playing with it in vcv rack.....if it comes out

[@Lightbath]

Pretty sure it will eventually 🎛🎛

[@music2me23]

Nice Tetsu Innoue like / really good...

[@Lightbath]

I just checked out Tetsu Inoue. Very cool. Thank you 🙏

[@h2o1969]

Really what I want is a loom set up with the Erica fusion Synth drone box.

[@Lightbath]

Oh that thing looks cool. I bet it would sound great. Delay, chorus, drive. That’s just what this sort of system needs.

[@pablotorres6915]

That’s great, man! Thanks. You know if there is also the Sheep firmware update for Tides 2?

[@Lightbath]

Oh, cool. I didn’t know that. I might check that out on one of them.

[@lucchaumont7510]

I have a Moog grandmother, I would love to create this beautiful harmonies and polyrhythms! Do I need the blinds, tides and the yarns to accomplish that? I'm totally addicted to your videos!!!!!

[@Lightbath]

Thanks. What I'm doing with Tides is unique to the module, so it's not possible to do the same thing with the Grandmother. Though, you could output the CV from the keyboard of the Grandmother into Tides' V/OCT input which would eliminate the need for Yarns.

[@johnrichardson3297]

I like your impression of Terrence McKenna ;) ;P

[@Lightbath]

TM is the best. But wait, did I mention Terence in this piece?

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Excellent explanation. Learnt so much from this. Question if I may. You say Tides was your first module, I am looking at my first module. Maths was top of list but would Tides be a better choice to go with my present Moog Mother 32's (I have two) as an expansion to them? Obviously the only answer is both but as a first module

[@Lightbath]

Maths is a great choice since it’s so versatile and the two main channels can act independently. If you were to choose Tides 2, I’d expect it would be because you wanted multiple envelope/LFO outs that are all RELATED. When I got Tides I used it as my main sound source and soon after, got Maths ;)

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Hi Lightbath, thanks for that. I think I am moving back towards the Maths as it is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife of a module. Tides will come later I am sure, but for now.

[@Lightbath]

Yep. With Maths summing, logic operations and offset/attenuators it’s totally a Swiss Army knife whereas Tides is like a chef’s knife. Both important, but for different reasons.

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Cheers Lightbath, appreciate your time and comments.

[@minusbacon5538]

What are you sending to the v/oct on the first tides? I set mine to the same settings you’re using and no matter what I send to v/oct I either get no sound or I get buzzing noises. I can’t get anywhere close to the sound you’re getting and it’s driving me crazy. What am I doing wrong? Edit: Now I see that it’s coming from Yarns. Yarns is one of the few MI modules I don’t have, yet. Any suggestions on how to get this kind of light transpose from other Mutable modules?

[@Lightbath]

The keyboard is going through Yarns and the V/OCT from that is going to the Audio Rate Tides. I'm playing different notes on the keyboard to transpose the whole thing. It sounds like the frequency is either too high or two low as a result of whatever you're patching to that V/OCT input.

[@hendrikborowski3764]

Very engaging discussion of your process and a really beautiful and in a way simple (in a good way) musical patch. Would you mind sharing what is between Veils and Clouds? some sort of external mixer? Thank you

[@Lightbath]

Thanks. It’s Blinds. There’s a ModularGrid link in the description and then also Patch Notes on Patreon if you’re into more detail.

[@hendrikborowski3764]

Lightbath Thanks a lot for your answer. But my question was regarding where the individual outputs of veils go. They seem to go outside of the rack, don't they? As do the inputs of clouds.

[@Lightbath]

Oh, I see. You mean signal flow. They go to a Zoom F8 multitrack recorder. And then I sum that stereo out from the recorder and send it back into Clouds for parallel processing (run fully wet). Clouds outputs then go into two more inputs of the recorder and I make sure NOT to send those channels back into the Clouds input. All this allows me to multitrack each voice plus have a stereo track with the effects.

[@girlinagale]

My Desert Island two KZbin channels, Lightbath and Loopop. I'd miss the others but only allowed two, and because limitations...

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@forehead84]

Great work. What have you done with peaks to have one flashing mode (envelope) and one solid light (drum)?

[@Lightbath]

Peaks is running DMC alternate firmware :)

[@forehead84]

@@Lightbath cheers chap, I'll check it out.

[@MisterNiles]

Star Wipe

[@Lightbath]

That’s a good idea. I need to start using wipe transitions of different shapes. And a star would be PERFECT 🌟

[@wackenthaljef]

I learned a lot of things today..Thks LB!!!..Are you an engineer or something in electronics?

[@Lightbath]

Ha. Nope. Studied music in school. Case in point: 11:23 where I don’t understand how it works.

[@wackenthaljef]

wooow...ok!

[@johnrichardson3297]

I would die to hear an Ode to SonicTheHedgehog 1&2 on Modular/Eurorack

[@Lightbath]

Ha! I’m definitely not your guy, but it’s funny that just yesterday I watched a video of a guy play that on piano.

[@hunterloiselle7666]

what case is this? it's exact hp for which i'm looking in a 1 module wide case. thank you!

[@Lightbath]

MDR case. Link in the description.

[@monoseq9797]

was the chord you were getting just from one tides?

[@Lightbath]

Yep. One Tides was doing audio while the other was doing envelopes.

[@jedgould5531]

Are we hearing polyrhythms? What module is doing what?

[@abramjsolano]

Can you please send me a link in which i can buy exactly this set. I've tried finding it your refrences but am not quiet sure if im doing it. Please let me know

[@Lightbath]

lightbath.bandcamp.com/merch • lightbath.bandcamp.com/merch/second-edition-cassette-set-selected-public-works-vol-1-4

[@Lightbath]

Oh, wait. You mean the Loom set. It's not for sale. It's a download for patrons over at patreon.com/lightbath

[@abramjsolano]

@@Lightbath I'm referring to the modulars

[@abramjsolano]

@@Lightbath And keyboard

[@Lightbath]

Oh, ha. Yeah, it’s not that easy. But if you go to mutable-instruments.net you can learn about the modules. And if you use the ModularGrid link in the description you can see what I used. Also the keyboard is linked in the description.

[@AmbientSky]

thank you for this! my wallet isn't going to be happy though

[@Lightbath]

Ha. Welcome to modular.

[@el_dani]

The module does polymeter but not polyrhythms does it?

[@Lightbath]

The ‘different frequencies’ mode that I’m using adjusts the frequency ratio between each output. So this means that some are faster than others, which would be polyrhythm. Polymeter is where parts all share the same pulse, but with different phrase lengths. I can’t brain how LFOs could be polymeter as there’s no phrase length and only a single dimension of rate.

[@alveek]

P ER F E CT.

[@raskolnikov1242]

Very nice! But... "sawtooth" was right.

[@Lightbath]

So a sawtooth and a ramp are the same? As in a positive ramp and negative ramp are both sawtooth waveforms?

[@raskolnikov1242]

@@Lightbath Those have just been named arbitrary. Saw has the "cliff" on the left => useful for kick; ramp jumps into the "cliff" from left to right. But who minds... I just found it funny cause u apologized twice though u didn't have to do so. ;)

[@Lightbath]

@@raskolnikov1242 aw, man! I had always thought it was that way (that saw was hard up that ramps down, and ramp started low and ramped up to the end) but when I was editing, I looked it up to confirm and the resource I found said otherwise, so I apologized 🤦🏻‍♂️Thanks for the help.