Make Noise Maths - Beginner's Guide with Visual Demonstrations

Make Noise Maths is a quintessential eurorack module many consider to be one of the best. It certainly has a great reputation! But it can be very intimidating for beginners. It has an unconventional layout and cryptic labeling. It's not always clear what it's doing or how to use it.
In this video, I give an introductiion to Maths using the Mordax Data Oscilloscope to illustrate what is going on inside the module. The Mordax Data was extremely helpful in helping me understand the module and I hope it helps you as well.
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[@ReductioAdAbsurdum1]

After doing modular for 5 years, I finally 'get' Maths because of this video. Thanks

[@braintree56]

You got it! Glad it was helpful!

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Had the Maths for years and only now am I beginning to understand it and this video really helped.

[@braintree56]

Awesome!!

[@edgardvera3132]

I’m new to modular and of course I was totally overwhelmed in my first attempt to use Maths. Your video is the best beginner’s tool on KZbin at the moment. Thank you !

[@braintree56]

Thanks! That's quite a compliment. Appreciate it.

[@vonk369]

This definitely is a great way to explain to beginners, very insightful. subscribed!

[@laciep837]

I was nearly 400hp deep before finally deciding that I just need to buy and learn maths and stop ignoring it. Like you, it lives next to a Data and that has been super helpful for me.

[@braintree56]

Maths really opened up Modular for me. Once I got it - I felt like I could get anything and just naturally understood how everything worked. The DATA was essential in that process.

[@andrewchalsma]

Super helpful to see the scope. You made it a lot less scary just with the basics.

[@braintree56]

Glad it was helpful! Awesome!

[@alexanderfpv6655]

yes! this was just what I needed to jumpstart my exploration into my new maths module. now I know what I'm listening for and more about the signal flow.

[@braintree56]

Awesome! Glad you liked it.

[@rhampton1914]

ok,,,im gettn one...after all these years being into modular gear, i now see the benefits of owning one.....Thanks for your Video........😊

[@braintree56]

You won't regret it. Super fun!

[@TaylorThomasVideo]

I held off for two years after building my first modular rig, I FINALLY purchased it and am excited to integrate it right away thanks to the help of your video. Thanks so much!

[@braintree56]

Awesome! So glad it was helpful!

[@ThMntnst]

Hey, a nice overview of the mystical Maths! One thing about the input of channels 1 & 4: Mangling is of course not wrong. But for any new users (like I once was...) it's maybe interesting, that this makes a "Slew-Limiter" for CV-Signals, which will for example flatten the curve of a Gate with increased values on Rise & Fall (creating an Attack-Sustain-Release instead of the triggered Attack-Decay). In other scenarios, it can give you that nice sliding with a pitch-sequence by the same principle and to a certain degree, it even can act as a crude filter on audio. Another thing about the OR/SUM/INV: It may be "unfortunate", that the attenuverted outputs get subtracted from them while patched, but a really fortunate event is, that the "unity-outputs" on channels 1 & 4 still are patchable without being subtracted. So you can play around with the summing-logic + two unipolar LFOs or even AD/ASR-Envelopes to use with voices while spicing up the modulation of the summing-bus. You can for example invert the waves from 1 &/or 4 to use as a weird ducking-effect on another module (VCA, Filter whatever). I see that this is supposed to be a beginners-guide, but aside from the more advanced stuff with interlinking channels, I thought, my mentions are among the "basics" :)

[@braintree56]

Great comment! Lots of useful info here. It's sometimes difficult to gauge how much info to include without letting the video become too much. Posts like this can help fill in the gaps. Thanks.

[@dimensionalbleedthrough2040]

Useful. Keep comments like these coming!

[@ThMntnst]

@@dimensionalbleedthrough2040 For Maths especially, you best learn from discussing the possibilities. It's one of those "patchprogrammable" units, that don't show their full potential just by looking at the controls and/or manual (which is also greatly done, to be quite honest!).

[@TheAdamMalcolm]

I’ve been in and out of modular for years and had maths a few times but never used it properly, literally watched this and I think I get it now, immediately went to my new shared system to try to work it out! Liked and subscribed, thank you so much for slowly explaining things in a way that makes sense.

[@braintree56]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks!

[@renekasbergen]

Great video, thanks! I’m still trying to find a good reason to get Maths. After watching this and a lot of other videos on it, I understand what it can do. It’s cool; I can imagine how I could use it, but still don’t feel the need to get one. It’s so much HP for stuff my other modules can already do. Nothing has given me that aha-moment yet.

[@РинатСитдиков-ф9в]

I've watched a bunch of tutors of Maths and yours is the cleariest one and most helpful! Thank you, sir!

[@kelvindodd5577]

Thank you. This really helped to understand the scary module that everyone told me I needed. Yes, I did heed the advice.

[@braintree56]

Now I use it almost every time I start patching.... The more I use it the more I like it.

[@jonesthestone]

best rundown of maths ever, everybody else's just confused me more,

[@braintree56]

Thanks!

[@chitlun]

Excellent rundown of this essential beast! I listened to advice and Maths was the very first module I bought and spent a week with nothing more than that, a Pam’s and my semi modulars (MB2S, Neutron, DFAM, SubH & Matriarch)… 7 months later and I doubt there’s ever a patch it’s not used in and I still get blown away by discovering yet another crazy thing it’s capable of! I have, to be fair, become a bit of a Make Noise fanboy and have a few of their modules now, I like their particular brand of lunacy!

[@braintree56]

Yeah, I probably should have jumped in from the beginning. I'm definitely curious in getting more Make Noise now... Any recommendations? I was thinking about Mimephone.

[@chitlun]

@@braintree56 Where to start? The René sequencer is exceptional, I have the MK1 version but will probably get the MK2 at some point. I nearly bought the Mimiophone but I went for a Strymon Magneto instead, which is awesome. I also have the Richter Wogglebug (insane random mod beast), ModDemix (ring & AM mod etc), Maths of course and an STO VCO. I’ve recently got the Morphagene and that thing is likely to end up being my most used module. I’m still getting my head around it but wow! What a source of absolute inspiration and creativity. I tend towards the experimental ambient side of things so the Morphagene suits that perfectly. In a perfect world, I would have a Black & Gold Shared System on my desk but I ain’t got £4.5k lying around to buy one so I’m building one up piece by piece.

[@Half_Plus_Seven]

Maths is great! This is super helpful. I've had Maths for 1 year, and I just got the DFAM.... Your help is appreciated!

[@braintree56]

Great to hear!

[@TurtleVisionStudio]

BEST BEGINNER OVERVIEW VID TUTORIAL ON MATHS BY FAR 👏

[@HousePlant_Ambient]

Makes Noise. Brilliant Modulars, but SUPER complex, definitely a learning curve. I had the same issue with Morphagene, had no idea, and had to sit to read the manual lol

[@braintree56]

Manuals... Psshhhtt! :)

[@Mafangoolio]

This was incredibly helpful and easy to understand with the visuals, thanks so much!

[@braintree56]

Glad it was helpful!

[@voflondor]

Thank you so much for this video! My Maths finally arrived and (even though I did manage to get interesting stuff thanks to it already) I really did not understand the possibilities before watching this~

[@braintree56]

Awesome! So glad I was able to help. Thanks for letting me know! :)

[@rantonerik]

The symbol you thought might be function is actually the integral symbol. Like from calculus.

[@braintree56]

Ahhh yes! (Flood of memories are returning from senior year of high school...) [Cue distant thunder sounds]

[@braintree56]

Thanks

[@mgbaron]

Taking the integral means to measure the area under the curve, so the knob actually makes a lot of sense because you are controlling the area under the curve.

[@Hellseeker1]

Maths is so amazing 4MS just came out with their own version with some added features, it's called Shaped Duel Envelope VCA. I have both, no lie though you need this module, it's just too powerful of a tool and it won't break the bank.

[@braintree56]

Cool. Seems like there are two versions of it. The "shaped one" at $339 20hp and the linear one at $225 16hp. Which one do you have?

[@Christopher_mason]

Most helpful video of Maths I've found so far. Thank you. You are an angel 👼

[@braintree56]

Wow! That's quite a compliment! Thanks.

[@alexandrenavarro]

Very nice first approach to Maths, indeed ! With the scope things go clearly 🙂 thx !

[@SuperAcademie]

Best video there is About Maths basics!!!

[@anachronemusic3534]

thanks to you i understand more how the basics fuctions are made, thanks !

[@braintree56]

Awesome!

[@brutusmuerto]

Thanks for the help! Much appreciated!

[@braintree56]

Glad it helped!

[@Zenkman]

This is a really good „other“ MATHs Video , good to learn the Module , cool !

[@braintree56]

Glad you liked it!

[@yourdebtisunpayable9614]

This video was so helpful - I would love to see videos on the a-135-2 as well Fantastic job - keep creating good content

[@dspiri]

Awesome stuff. Thanks a lot!!!

[@dimensionalbleedthrough2040]

Very useful! Please make more videos.

[@braintree56]

You got it! If there's anything specific you want to see - let me know!

[@HousePlant_Ambient]

The scope is a savior when figuring shit out lol. I may need to invest one cause that was super helpful. I’ve under utilized the modular, but I learned on the go, and was able to do so much shit. I remember I accidentally created like an arp/LFO patch and was like oh shit that’s cool. Totally forgot how now, haha.

[@braintree56]

Ha. Yeah, I got the Mordax Data when I was having trouble wrapping my brain around Maths and it made it click for me. Definitely helpful!

[@MarteenMayjer]

This was such an awesome tutorial! Had this module for awhile and was stumped. Thank you ☺️ Also, that symbol that you said was the function symbol in math is an integration symbol. It basically means summation. Only mentioning it since I was gonna comment anyway hehe 12:23

[@braintree56]

Thanks! Yes! Integration!

[@gabekarp3008]

Good explanation. Thank you.

[@braintree56]

Glad it was helpful!

[@db_illin]

Thanks for making this video!

[@braintree56]

My pleasure. Thanks for the comment!

[@iamseeingdots]

Great video, that’s really helped our understanding of Maths! Thank you :)

[@braintree56]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful! :)

[@Indianabones007]

Thanks for a great video, well explained..hey I understood it lol!! Just getting into modular, got my case and a few modules and Maths was first on with Plaits.

[@braintree56]

Awesome! Make sure you get the newest firmware with Plaits and load it up with some DX7 sounds you like!

[@Indianabones007]

@@braintree56 I’ve done the update and just had a look at the sites with the files, got the editor to send them to Plaites, will hopefully try them later, I want to mess about with the ones that came with download first and since it’s new to me, the other sounds lol, a lot of sounds from one module

[@goingmodular]

Watching this new video, I told myself that you would probably love playing one of the recently marketed Arp 2600 clones. I, for one, own a Blue Marvin limited series by Behringer, but as you surely know, Korg also released their own 2600 clones under the Arp brandname (that they purchased). Indeed, your video here made me realise that MakeNoise Math's functionalities were already all present in the Arp 2600, distributed between the Ring Modulator and the (often under-used) Voltage Processor. As a matter of fact, the more I dig into Eurorack modules and/or semi-modular synths, the more I realise how Alan Pearlman and his team pretty much got it all, back in 1970. The 2600 is definitely a difficult machine to master, but once you have used it for a while and start figuring out all it can do, you rarely get to be impressed by new fancy products on the modular/semi-mod market. I wish the name of Alan R. Pearlman would be more well-known to the general public: what he brought to modern music is truly astounding, in retrospect.

[@braintree56]

I definitely want to get an Arp 2600 clone at one point. Herbie Hancock and the headhunters was one of the first synth focused albums that really captured my attention. That synth was a big part of his setup. I still love that album.

[@goingmodular]

@@braintree56 Oh dear, don’t get me started on Chameleon ! I played that one on keyboard in various jazz/fusion ensembles more than I remember. I remember I used to play it on a worn-out Rhodes with a missing lower F (!), but that was before I started dabbling into analog synthesis. Nowadays, I would proudly bring my 2600 to such gigs ! 😀 Along the same vein, you may be interested in an impromptu interview of Pedro Eustache praising the two modified Behringer 2600s he brought to the Hans Zimmer Tour he was playing in. VERY interesting talk, half music - half technical geekery. Right along our alleys ! 😉 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGraaXmnqdOEqq8

[@braintree56]

@@goingmodular Perfect! I'll watch it.

[@SuperAcademie]

Thanks a lot!! Keep up the good work

[@ohbravasura]

Nice video! I'd love to see some subharmonicon with maths patches!

[@braintree56]

Yes! I'll definitely have to explore some ways to use it with the Sub.

[@chitlun]

One can turn the SubH into an absolute filth monster with some audio rate FM from Maths. Get channels 1&4 cycling at different audio rates and feed them into SubH VCO 1&2 and boom, you have some serious filth!

[@stephencrane561]

NOW I gettit! Thank you.

[@braintree56]

Glad it was helpful!

[@antoniostramaglia1316]

thanks a loro....very useful video

[@braintree56]

Glad you liked it

[@BachelorMachinesTV]

Stopped after 4 minutes when I realized this video was going to make me get into Eurorack.

[@braintree56]

Ha! Too Funny. Resistance is Futile...

[@pcprobot]

This is a pretty good explamation.

[@braintree56]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@Loki6669Alpha]

Excellent video

[@braintree56]

Thank you very much!

[@iamstorii]

Thank you!

[@braintree56]

Glad you liked it! :)

[@warrenjinksyorke1495]

Hello, excellent review, I would be interested to know if I can use the Maths alone, I have a monophonic synthesizer, a drum machine and a midi controller, it helps me to be able to intervene in the signal and modulate or modify it, I have just started with the machines, greetings!!! !

[@braintree56]

Overall I'd say no. But you can definitely make it do some things all by itself. The LFOs can go audio rate and make noise. But, in general, it's really best as a part of a system. Does that make sense?

[@antikytheramechanism7909]

What I have noticed is that beginners get Maths, use it for a LFO, use it for a not so good envelope and then never use it again because they buy an LFO and buy and envelope. I also see my favorite artists with it in the case and never, ever hooked up. It's one of those things people buy because they don't know what they want.

[@braintree56]

I can see that. It's one of those things that if you are using it for a specific function (like LFO) all the time, it would make sense to then go out and buy a dedicated module for that. Offset. Envelope. Etc. I guess it's nice to have in the rack though just in case something comes up? Maybe? But I guess that's the same as not knowing what you want.... I've actually debated getting two or three and just using those as my main modulation sources... Rather than having different LFOs and such... (But I never do...)

[@McEnroe911]

Maths is brilliant as an envelope... If you know a better analogue envelope tell me what it is so I can go buy it 😅.

[@fonitronik]

The MATHS combines a copy of the old classic Serge DUSG from the 70ies with a 4-channel Attenuverting Mixer (or a CV PRO as it is called in the Serge-world). That's almost it. So it existed since the 2nd half of the 70ies.

[@braintree56]

I've read some about this. Good info. It's fascinating how these things can be redone and reworked.

[@IsntItIronic-j3d]

Great one! One question, qhat scope are you using? I really understand things when I can "see" it

[@dgoldmd]

please explain when to use the trig input vs the cycle input? dan

[@braintree56]

A pulse at the trig input will make the envelope start (go up) once. The cycle will make it start immediately after it falls, over and over. So if you want to use the envelope at specific times - like to a specific beat or maybe a non-steady rhythm, the trig function would be best. If you want an LFO where it's going constantly, then the cycle is best. Hope that helps!

[@brhodes0]

Braintree is a place in Essex UK and it's rough as f**k. Good vid.

[@braintree56]

Thanks! Yeah, I've heard. I live on the east coast of the US and there are a lot of Braintrees around here. Streets. Towns. Etc. I'm assuming the name comes from that place! I just liked the name. :)

[@marco_movie]

(unrelated comment) Every time I watch you in video, you remind me of the Dick character played by Todd Louiso in the (musical) movie "High Fidelity"!

[@braintree56]

Ha! I can see the resemblance.

[@KenSwanson-p4i]

Hey man, .. nice presentation. As you, .. up to this point, I've ignored the "buzz" concerning Maths. I do have a pair of Stages, .. that I would say, accomplishes several of the same things, as Maths. In some recent conversations .. I've asked if Maths could assist with Stages, .. and I've received "yes" answers. One other thing .. I've wondered about why Data is often used in demonstration videos, .. instead of just hearing it .. and well, I think I'm coming around on this, too .. where I've just been using it mainly as a tuner.

[@braintree56]

Yeah, really you can do anything Maths does with combinations of other modules. I've just found it so useful and for the money, well worth it. Once you understand how it all works, it's often just so easy to go to when you need anything. Stages I imagine is very similar in that regard!

[@KenSwanson-p4i]

@@braintree56 Yes, I think so too, about your Maths, from what I can tell. Who knows, .. IF I had purchased Maths, before Stages .. ? .. would I have being getting Stages? But, .. overlap is inevitable. The mixing ability of Maths, .. pretty valuable, in itself.

[@KenSwanson-p4i]

You know .. I take that back about getting Stages, or not .. the sequencing, and sub-variations of the sequencing, and with newer firmware now, .. that module's a champ, in this regard, alone.

[@Ryannaut_g]

Cool! At 7:04 I feel like it ought to be further understood how this wave shaping knowledge can be utilized to it’s utmost and PACKED potential for making electronic music. How can someone fit audio/ cv signals so perfectly within these custom waveshapes that the audio resonates and is like most define? The trouble I recognize is that it’s so accurate, that a small error in logic seems like it can de-rail completely an artist wanting to create music but doesn’t understand how!

[@sideefxtv]

I can watch Maths vids for hours.. and I think I have to try on my own. I think the symbol next to ch1 output is "the integral"

[@braintree56]

Yes! The integral! The more I use Maths, the more I like it....

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

Great tutorial. I do not (yet) have any Eurorack modules, yet this was very intriguing....and....make me question.... BTW, in math, the integral sign ∫ represents integration. Though not sure how Maths module uses such.

[@braintree56]

Thanks... I'm not sure how the integral relates to the unity output... I'd be curious if there is an actual mathematical reason for placing the symbol there other than just decoration. Glad you liked it!

[@samelocurrente3929]

@@braintree56 Hey! See your example of the triangle wave. The integral of a pulse wave is a triangular wave. Check "pulse wave integration" in Google! Loved the explanation!

[@skunkman777]

I have a matriarch and the sound studio (plus labyrinth) and I finally bought my first case. Obviously MATHS is the first and only module I have at the moment. Does anyone have some recommendations or hidden gems to suggest? I'm hoping to add functionality instead of worrying about OSCs and filters etc. And yes, I will be getting Pam's next

[@braintree56]

Yeah - definitely add Pams! The things that I would probably start with are more buffered multiples and attenuators. Things like that. You already have them on the Matriarch, but I use a lot of those. I also like switched multiples like Doepfers, that way you can switch on and off lfos and things like that. Switches are fun!!!! :)

[@Toughinger]

Hmmm , is it usable or even useful without scope? If u can’t see what it’s doing I think it’s verry difficult to knowvwhat its doing , no. . .

[@braintree56]

I think it's really hard to learn it without a scope. I also think it's difficult to demonstrate without a scope. But there are LEDs that can help. And when you know what to expect, you can use your ears. I find that it's my go to for so many things. One of my favorite modules and I've even considered buying another one. Now that I'm very familiar with it, I find it extremely intuitive and well designed.

[@matthewcooper9136]

Im new to all of this seem like every one say that you need maths could this be my first module? can I do stuff with it by its self or do I need other bits?

[@braintree56]

You would need other things - it should not be your first module. To get started you need to have a few modules - or you could buy a semi-modular like the Mother-32 (Which I'd actually recommend). There are some great deals used. Otherwise, you should get - an Oscillator, Envelope Generator, and VCA. Then get a Filter. At that point, you'll have a decent sound source that you can control with a sequencer and you'll be off and running. Maths could serve as the Envelope Generator if you would like. Hope this is helpful... There are so many options it's easy to overwhelm people with information.

[@s-u-m-a-i-r]

is EOR or EOC triggers or gates in maths? i heard they are fall and rise gates..

[@braintree56]

Gates. I think I showed how they worked somewhere buried in this video

[@jeffwise8398]

Great work! This is really helpful! Love your videos!

[@TheRoomboom]

12 : this is the symbol of integration

[@braintree56]

Bam! That's it!

[@theberndsen]

🙏❤️🙏

[@braintree56]

😀❤️👍

[@emollme]

Stop playing Music in the background please, Tutorial is good though

[@braintree56]

Ha, funny you mention this, I rewatched this video yesterday and thought the same thing...

[@StaticSkyTV]

∫ means Integral

[@braintree56]

That's it!!! :)

[@wylepeyote]

The math symbol you refer to is Integration not function.

[@braintree56]

That's it! Thanks!

[@walrtbstudios5430]

I’ve had Maths twice and sold it twice. Both times I saw it as a) a pair of AD envelopes with cycling options, b) a pair of attenuators, and c) er… that’s it. I’ve just watched this video very carefully, and I now see it as two AD envelopes and two attenuators that can also be half-wave rectifiers. That would be a useful package in 8hp- but dammit, it’s still 20hp, and it’s still nothing special. I’ve watched every video out there, and while everyone maintains that it’s all-singing all-dancing, no-one can demonstrate it. Good video though. No-one else had managed to get over that it was a rectifier. Did you ever make that second video?

[@braintree56]

I hear you. I think there's a lot of mystique around it, like there's some sort of secret sauce there. When really it's just a sort of swiss army knife of functionality. But - realistically, I think the smallest you could get two Envelopes is 8hp and the smallest you could get a dual attenuverter is 8 hp. So that's 16hp. Plus you do get CV control over the Attack and Decay. With the other bonuses of the additional outs and the ability to mix things. I'm still in the camp that it's worth it to have as opposed to a collection of smaller modules that do the same thing. BUT - I do think the mystique is a little bit over the top.

[@annedeoedipus7849]

Just bought a DFAM and the first thing you say is about Maths and DFAM. Goddamn poor house, looks like I’m never getting out.

[@braintree56]

It's a giant hole! Just wait until I put out my DFAM and Pam's Workout video! You'll have to get that too! :)

[@annedeoedipus7849]

@@braintree56 I’m doooooooomed. But yep, been eyeing Pamela too. This is how it starts, right? I am in trouble.

[@WithTheGrain]

Don't make me want to buy Maths, don't make me buy maths..

[@braintree56]

Hate to break it to you... You already want to buy it! :)

[@AboveTheTrees00]

maths 4 life although if you don't know what's going on you won't use it a lot. Watch this video and buy maths.

[@chitlun]

A case without Maths is like a camping trip without a Swiss Army Knife.

[@GeorgeLocke]

QARV, Rampage, delta V, lots of excellent competing options.

[@zorancalic65]

No sound? 20 minutes and only technical info? I do not realy understand this... Do you have video with audio poss, without osciloscop, only sound?

[@braintree56]

The reason I chose to do it without sound is because Maths doesn't produce sound. There are many videos with people using it with lots of other modules, but I wanted to show what this one could do and explain it without introducing other modules into the equation. An LFO can impact just about anything, so I thought it was important to show it's shape with a visual. And because I hadn't seen any other videos that do that. But... I can definitely do a video that uses sound too. ;)

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

The music makes it hard to follow the info, its super annoying

[@braintree56]

Yeah, this was one of my early videos and the music is way too loud. Hope you were still able to get something out of it. Thanks for the feedback.

[@phpn99]

Maths is just a ripoff of the Serge DUSG, which itself is a take on the Buchla 251 and 287. It doesn't really innovate over them, except for the horrible graphics silk-screened on top.

[@StaticSkyTV]

Right. And Uli did nothing wrong, eh?