Modulations (Ep. 1 - Branches)

This is the first video in an ongoing series about modular synthesis called "Modulations". I focus on the Branches "dual Bernoulli gate" from Mutable Instrument, but strive to discuss general modular synthesis concepts along the way. Thanks for watching! My next video will be back to the Kastle DNA project, and hopefully have some conclusions about a genetic algorithm approach to patching the Kastle and some good patches!
ps Shoutout to Rodent at Make Noise for being kind to a customer on a super-rainy day and loaning me your umbrella to keep the modules dry!
TIMELINE
00:00 STARTER
I set this up in Part 1
00:10 INTRO - Overview, unboxing of Branches module
01:36 PART 1: A or not-A
This part shows some uses of Branches as a "disruptor" or "thinner" of a stream of gates, giving statistical control over how frequently the gates occur. I use the Pittsburgh Modular Micro Sequence sequencer to generate the gates and Akemie's Taiko from ALM Busy Circuits is the voice. Make Noise Rosie is the output module for all of this.
08:53 PART 2: A or B
This part shows the fundamental behavior of Branches, whereby a stream of gates gets sent to one destination (A) or another (B) with control over the random preference between the two. Same sequencer and Akemie's Taiko but with the Black Wavetable VCO (Erica Synths) being throttled by the Intellijel Micro VCF module.
12:45 PART 3: Audio Frequency
This part takes the speed way up and shows that Branches can be a tool for sound design as well. The Wavetable VCO becomes the signal source, then through Branches, and out to ping the Micro VCF. I added the Walrus Audio SLÖ reverb as a send/return effect on Rosie here.
15:40 OUTRO - It's a nice module. Pretty cheap too.
There are some great features (latch mode and toggle mode) that I didn't cover in the video. Maybe another time in a video about generative patches. The next video will be back to the Kastle DNA.
16:38 ENDER - 0coast
I actually did this shot fairly early on in the video-making process. I started exploring Branches with the 0coast (I've spent far more time with the 0coast than my modular setup, but working on that via these videos). This clip points out some interesting, very general, concepts about Branches as a module. A lot of it has to do with timing and signal routing. You can have A out and B out do completely unrelated things (that then become related, in that they occur exlusively), you can have A out and B out do similar things - such as each trigger a voice in some way - but, there likely needs to be some way of bringing the "branches" back together. In the voice case it's a mixer. In this clip it's done by using the 0coast mini-Maths utility, mixing the envelopes from the Slope and Contour sections of the 0coast. Those envelopes are tuned differently (Slope more plucky, Contour more smooth) and the Slope is still normalled to the overtone/multiply section (so it gives timbral changes too). And Branches can do so much more, particularly with the normalled input in the lower half of the module, giving a lot of ways to diversify the sounds.
LINKS
mutable-instruments.net
busycircuits.com
pittsburghmodular.com
www.ericasynths.lv
intellijel.com
www.makenoisemusic.com
www.walrusaudio.com

[@thefoxfamily341]

Very Informativ Video, please make a second with MI branches,jes and thanks for this! Best wishes from Vienna 🇦🇹 🖖

[@williamandrejko2740]

There were several Bernoulli brothers who liked to challenge each other with coming up with solutions to mathematical problems. In addition to fluid dynamics they also demonstrated the unique properties of isochronous curves. Thanks for the info on this cool module.

[@undulations]

Thanks for checking out the video🙏🏼!

[@testtextures4970]

I like that way you explain stuff.Perfect voice and a calming vibe in the crazy world of noise

[@undulations]

Thank you very much for the feedback🙏!

[@am5790]

I have to stop your module series...I learn so much from it it almost compels me to get in a rabbit hole of GAS I cant afford. Great tutorials and clear instructions. Top class.

[@undulations]

Thank you🙏🏼 (and sorry). I guess in theory all of us learning more about specific gear means we would need less gear to do what we want - but I can't say that's really been my own experience🤔

[@Zenkman]

Very Good Video ! It helps a lot Thanks

[@HighWigsell]

Thanks for doing this. Looks like an interesting module.

[@undulations]

Altruistic Ctrl Thanks for watching🙏🏼

[@randomlygenerated84]

nicely explained. thanks!

[@undulations]

careful_with_that_axe_jane_jane Thanks for checking it out👍🏻!

[@EfeuWinterfest]

Great video! Thanks!

[@undulations]

Efeu Winterfest Thanks for the feedback🙏🏼

[@fincorrigan7139]

I enjoyed that, thanks for sharing :)

[@undulations]

Fin Corrigan Absolutely! Thanks a lot for the feedback👍🏻

[@greasyrailman]

Yes, very interesting 👍

[@undulations]

Steve Dennis Thank you🙏🏼

[@guiom77]

hello! you! monsieur ! vos videos sont claires, completes, originales, passionneés, interressantes dans tous les sens du terme !!! traduction en anglais : wonderefull perfect video like the others !!!!!

[@undulations]

guillaume le bayon Merci beaucoup d'avoir regardé🙏🏼

[@angelovdweerden6585]

Very cool

[@undulations]

Angelo vd Weerden Thank you🙏🏼

[@m.abrill.7407]

Hi, i'm right now deciding on Shopping BIA or AT, have you noticed pitch tracking problems on AT? (I read on muffwiggler some issues about that).

[@undulations]

Hey, I can't say that I've ever noticed that sort of thing with the AT module - but - I should say that I haven't really been looking for that issue and a lot of what I do with it might tolerate some small pitch errors (microtonal stuff, DIY synths, etc.). It does have a huge pitch range, so it wouldn't surprise me if there is some sort of "sweet spot" range where it is well-tuned and then drifts when outside of that. Sorry I couldn't be more help on this. I will say that overall I think it's been a really nice module with a lot of great sounds.

[@fincorrigan7139]

At 8:30 I'm thinking.....delay, delay, delay :)

[@undulations]

Fin Corrigan Understood😀! I will try that at some point (I should move my multi-fx module into that box for future videos)!

[@undulations]

I decided to just reprocess the audio through Ableton (with delay) - posted on Instagram👍🏻!