Spectraphon 101 with James Cigler | Make Noise

James Cigler returns to take us on a guided tour of the Make Noise soundhack Spectraphon!
James has covered Make Noise modules many times before, check out all the classic videos on his channel! / @jamescigler
The Make Noise/soundhack Spectraphon is a dual Spectral Oscillator coded by Tom Erbe of soundhack. It uses real-time spectral analysis and resynthesis to create new sounds from those that already exist. It is inspired by classic electronic musical instruments of the past, including spectral processors, additive synthesis, vocoders, and resonators especially the Buchla 296 and Touché, but it takes a physical form more resembling the classic analog dual complex oscillator in the lineage of the Buchla 259 and the Make Noise DPO.
The Spectraphon is the first module to be built by Make Noise on its new digital hardware platform. This hardware, engineered by Jeff Snyder and Tony Rolando, provides more i/o at higher resolutions, and a lower noise floor than we have ever had access to in a digital module, allowing us to unleash Tom Erbe’s DSP code to a previously unattainable degree.
The Spectraphon has two nearly identical sides, A and B, which oscillate in one of two ways: Spectral Amplitude Modulation (SAM), or Spectral Array Oscillation (SAO). In SAM, instead of oscillating at all times like an analog VCO, sound at the Spectraphon’s input is used to modulate the amplitude of a set of harmonics. In SAM the Spectraphon can be sequenced and frequency modulated like any VCO. At any time the current spectrum can be used to create an Array for later use in SAO mode where the Spectraphon oscillates at all times, with the spectrum at the Odd and Even harmonic outputs being drawn from those stored Arrays.
The Slide and Focus controls are mode-dependent: in SAM, they determine how the Spectraphon responds to sound at the input for Spectral AM, while in SAO, they are used to modulate the Array.
In either mode (SAM or SAO), the Partials control works as a combined amplitude and timbre gate for the Odd and Even harmonic output and the FM Bus will create high definition internal frequency modulation from the opposing side of the Spectraphon. The two sides can also interact via the internal FM Bus, the Follow and Sync modes, and by patching them together.
Features:
- Dual Digital VCO with eight simultaneous outputs, as well as two audio inputs, two gate inputs and ten CV inputs
- Built on Make Noise’s new digital hardware platform, the most powerful digital module we have yet created
- Coded by Tom Erbe of soundhack
- Spectral Amplitude Modulation (SAM) creates spectral oscillations based on continuous analysis of the audio at the input
- Spectral Array Oscillation (SAO) creates spectral oscillations based on stored sets of spectra called Arrays, which are created in the SAM mode
- Each of the two VCOs operates independently in SAO or SAM, in any combination
- High definition internal Frequency Modulation Bus with easy access to Harmonic Ratios via the Tuning Beacon
- Sub-Oscillator/CV outputs give access to unique sub-oscillator shapes, envelope following, or clockable modulation sources
- Sine and Sub operate independent of FM Bus modulation.
- Follow and Sync operations on Side B for ease of use in dual oscillator patches, tuned FM, hard sync sweeps etc.
Width: 34hp
Power:
230mA @ +12V
55mA @ -12V
Module Depth (incl power cable):
36mm
www.makenoisemusic.com/modules...

[@DivKid]

Amazing to get James back into making a video, I know I'll love it!

[@mylarmelodies]

The original and best

[@vinylarchaeologist]

@@mylarmelodies I‘m waiting for the comeback of Raoul‘s World of Synths!

[@jamescigler]

🥰

[@MYGAS21]

It would be nice if videos of this kind had a dedicated section with guitar signal processing examples. I know we are not there yet, but as the pedalboard and the Eurorack world will inevitably fuse together, videos with these kind of sections (for Eurorack modules that can modulate audio from various instruments not only electric guitar) will become commonplace, I believe. It is obvious that at the moment, guitar effects are limited to a very narrow spectrum of tone colors.

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Awesome and very musical demo James! That "ultra voice" patch was fantastic.

[@StingrayOfficial]

I haven't been this excited for a new module in what seems an eternity. The fact it's also a sort of re-sampler, makes this a forever-osc, endless sounds. The true magic of this module is how crazy an idea it is, and that idea actually sounds amazing. I am going to have to make some room in my case.

[@verbosemusic]

If that's interesting to you then Endless Processor may be up your alley. It's quite different approach tho, re-sampled sounds are not modifiable.

[@StingrayOfficial]

@@verbosemusic Nice! Will check it out, thanks for the suggestion!

[@JaapV12]

Bravo! James Cigler and the Spectraphon.

[@davidleemyers7628]

I am sold! Thanks James!

[@mrotaveria]

this may be one of the best demos I've seen. thanks for that MN and James!

[@Paintopia_VR]

Can't wait, already pre-ordered mine!

[@edwardnixon1782]

Brilliant demo of a brilliant piece of gear. Congrats to all... a hit, a definite hit.

[@g0iks]

great demo james! and congratulations to the whole team, a future classic for sure.

[@Starthief]

Excellent video James, and very excellent module Make Noise!

[@fosferus]

the master at work! gorgeous patch examples as always sir.

[@darksparklermusic]

Great patches! Thanks for the demo.

[@Flohr]

Great video, some really cool patches as always. It’s so great to have James back in the Make Noise demo video driver’s seat. I’ve learned so much from you over the years man, thanks for everything!

[@jamescigler]

Thanks, that means a lot to hear! It has always been my goal for my videos to be a source of knowledge, like a video manual that hopefully is inspirational, so it always brings me joy to hear that's the case :D

[@waivestate3783]

Wonderful demo!!

[@45jimbers]

I was on the fence after Robert’s brilliant video (as always a joy of sound and vision) … James has convinced me … always practical but adventurous and sooo much knowledge and experience all brought to bear on an amazing piece of gear. Great make noise team. Thank you

[@0neTwo0neTwo]

thank you James!

[@allhandsmusic]

Fantastic presentation! This module is a bolt from the blue!

[@happystacks6715]

Nice Demo! This thing is really cool. Seems to venture into some new territories that have been building over the last couple of years in modular. First time i have ever pre-order a module. So excited.

[@Nilesong1]

Great demo. Thank you.

[@Leandrob13]

Best reviewer ever. Good to see him back!

[@denovaire]

Amazing jam at the end! got me hooked :)

[@whatintheworld6501]

Great explanation and lovely tune at the end!

[@araguet]

amazing! thanks!

[@thommysaraceno2862]

Another must have!

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

It’s spectracular!

[@DuendeSynth]

Wow!! From 29:00 was simply amazing. Just order my spectraphon today. I love all from makenoise. Thank you for the demo

[@Neuron8000]

sounds amazing,next module!

[@pmwmartens]

I really loved that ❤

[@schwajj]

Every module demo you’ve ever done is best in class. Such beautiful sounds. Major GAS.

[@robotopsyrobotopsy6486]

Awesome video! can't wait to receive mine! 🤖

[@buriedintime]

the floating hands of Jim Drones.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Great demo. Just got mine yesterday, and it's made me grin from ear to ear, and sent my eyebrows climbing up my forehead, with some of the sounds Ive gotten out of it ⚡😻⚡ Thanks for the cool gear, and best wishes for your continued success 🎶🌎☮

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the Spectraphon!! Happy patching 🎶⚡️😛

[@FairuzOsman]

DPO LEGEND

[@Grummycanader]

Gets into some physical modeling sounding territory on some of those patches. Super cool module.

[@TRaddcliff]

what ive heard/seen so far on the Sonic State vid....REALLY like it. 👍🏾 nicely done

[@andrewnancarrow]

Great video. Such a clean and detailed walk through. Excellent job. This is most def my next purchase.

[@jebbishop3]

Are you related to Conlon Nancarrow by any chance?

[@andrewnancarrow]

@@jebbishop3 I’d love to think so. I did a deep dive into ancestry and we both hail from similar area Cornwall, UK so perhaps there’s a distant link. Our surname is fairly uncommon so I imagine there’s a relationship there somewhere. And he has similar features of my grandfather and great uncles, so maybe. But yea he’s an inspiration and a pioneer!

[@jebbishop3]

@@andrewnancarrow Visited him at his home in Mexico City in 1988, he was very welcoming and charming. I've always loved his music.

[@andrewnancarrow]

@@jebbishop3 wow! Amazing! Unfortunately I never had a chance to meet him but have contacted his wife Yoko and at some point would love to chat with her in person and have a look around their place in Mexico. A friend of mine and I have had a documentary about him in the works for a while now. But life and regular jobs have kept pushing it to the back burner. And I really want to try to get more family tree info to see where we might intersect.

[@youngs_cl]

Insane review.

[@BobHodgen]

Cool!

[@redlester]

Brilliant video, thanks for this. I was thinking I had an issue with my Spectraphon because my FM Follow button lights up white, where in this video it appears green. I've now realised this is a facet of the angle at which you look at the module. If looked at at a very acute angle mine appears green like in the video. I am aware certain colours sometimes do weird things on video compared with the real thing.

[@kidko]

This video is super helpful, thank you James! Short of getting the official manual, this is an excellent go-to knowledge base. Did I miss the command for capturing spectra to the array? Excited to get my hands on it.

[@jamescigler]

You didn't miss it, I decided to limit the scope of the video to the controls and how they affect the sound generation - I knew there would eventually be other videos that covered it. While the array capture is definitely a cool feature, I found it wasn't something necessary to get a huge range of sounds out of the module.

[@VocalChainsStudio]

I love it. Would be fun to play Morphagene through it and with it.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

I am right now, and yes, it is a brilliant combination. Have so many ideas to try out, how will I get any sleep? 😆

[@alexv5138]

Okay, I will pack my stuff and drive to Asheville; I hope you have it in the shop there.

[@telegraph_hill]

8:10 what are the gold rectangular items plugged in to the 0chd and the modulation bus?

[@tonyrolando1964]

Ultra Voice patch !!!!

[@danobrien3292]

Oh Yeah! The maestro plays a stradivarius. Thank you for opening up the sonic possibilities, I'm gonna get busy now.

[@pixelatedbeatz]

That ULTRAVOICE patch is sooooooooo good.

[@alexsteinm]

Had just saved up for an erbe verb, ended up buying this instead!

[@MODUS_OP]

W00T!! 🎉

[@patchbaycowboy]

That jam at 29:00 😍 sold!

[@joshuamorganmusic]

Additive/resynthesis in a UI that is intuitive AAAAND eurorack?!?!! TAKE. MY. MONEY. NOW!

[@Ebotronix]

nice demo thanks! whats the sample of the Morphagene in the Stereo part?

[@TRaddcliff]

You guys mention in superbooth vids your new case…has the depth changed. I would LOVE to get one of your 7U cases, but have a couple modules that are too deep for the current case. Thanks.

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Case depth is the same.

[@TRaddcliff]

@@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC thanks

[@milztempelrowski9281]

shiny new toy

[@VocalChainsStudio]

🍿🍿

[@andrewnancarrow]

Just dawning on me, none of the envelope modulation is using a VCA. It appears as though all envelopes can be run through the CV of Slide and/or Focus, in order to get even plucky sounds from Spectraphon. I’m wanting to build a smallish 104hp around this module and trying to figure out the best mates for it. (Also have an 0ctrl and SQ1 to help out). Thoughts?

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Many of the early demo videos are monitoring the direct outputs of the Spectraphon, and it does have the capability of "plucky" and other enveloped sounds without the use of an external VCA. That said, I find that a low pass gate can be very useful for tempering some of the high end in a more transparent way than the Partials control will provide. VCAs, filters, low pass gates are usually seen as essential pairings with any VCO.

[@andrewnancarrow]

For sure the basics of filters and VCAs are a great call. Building (slowly, as I get the spare $) a 104hp rack around Spectraphon I’m curious what others would get as the next item that would pair well with it. Considering Quadrax, Maths or Zadar for envelopes and Ikarie or QPAS for filters. And likely an X-pan

[@andrewnancarrow]

For starters, of course

[@jacobzaval9820]

Is that a new CV Bus making an appearance?! 👀

[@chrs1968]

I really wanted to watch this, the fun never starts and I'm a manic depressive looking forward to a probable death, hopefully my eurorack will pay for the funeral 😂

[@markhamsynthsociety]

What do we got here?

[@Blender_and_Chirp]

Too much reverb can’t tell what it sounds like.

[@smartassrecords]

superb

[@roncoots3800]

stunning.....