Mutable Instruments - Clouds

[@countorringtonludlow5211]

Bit of a brilliant touch using counting as the source material. Makes it much easier to tell where in the sample it's pulling from with this type of thing.

[@wooki321]

Reasons to get a job #1 Eurorack #2 Food and Shelter

[@DivKid]

wooki321 there's some serious power in a lot of the modules now. Even a small case with some modules to integrate other gear can offer a lot :)

[@wooki321]

DivKidMusic yeah i know, wasnt really serious ;) i keep finding something new everytime i turn on my poor-man's single row of euro that ive had for more than a year now. One Question regarding the vid though, is there/what is the difference between the second blend mode and the past-3-o'clock texture knob?

[@DivKid]

wooki321 yes the second blend mode is a stereo randomisation. Each grain sewn goes through a randomisation section to chose whether it pans left or right. The past 3 o clock texture knob is a diffusion, some similarities but they sound very different in practice.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@DivKid agree in fact I found that Noise Engineering and Mutable Instruments pack tons of features in a small single module. Same with IME the Kermit MK3 and Bionic Lester have crazy amounts of features.

[@TripleTruthRuth]

After all these years I still think there is something really special about the original Clouds module. A stone-cold classic! Thoroughly deserves the required 18 HP.

[@PeaceDub]

What about the Clone Monsoon? Not good?

[@rayaline1407]

I have owned this module for about 3 years now. I kind of enjoy not knowing what my modules do, but now I am like blown away by knowing exactly whats going on. I think I may have to watch more videos for the rest of my 50+ modules lol.

[@rayaline1407]

oh man thank you again for this video, I totally rediscovered my clouds today!

[@Moerkie]

3:55 what are you calling me?

[@vincentdanopoulos]

Hahaha, always gets me.

[@user-ph2yo9zc9d]

6:26 "it shouldn't work... input is frozen ...clever coding going on... reverb algorithm... feedback style drone that adds into the sound..." WOW mind blown.

[@els1f]

Man , I NEED one of these things! I love anything granular. That sound of sweeping through a frozen sample never gets old to me.

[@DivKid]

Elsif yeah it does sound gorgeous, amazing what it can add in more subtle ways to drums and acoustic insturments as well.

[@JASONROLF]

clouds was the first module i ever had or played with. its like 2 months ago and yet i'm highly addicted to the modular world. thanks so much for your vids man, awesome!

[@DivKid]

+JASONROLF sorry for adding to the addiction! haha. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@DubsteadyMusic]

5:30 Well now i know how Slipknot did the intro to the Heratic Anthem

[@Hummelsbusch]

These sounds will haunt me for a while... Got one, love it!

[@Ghoopty]

Modular synth units are fascinating & have such great fidelity. I haven’t pulled the trigger on them cos I’m already hugely invested in guitar pedals and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars building an arsenal, but I love checking out the YT videos. Completely unrelated note - I love your accent!

[@DivKid]

haha thanks RE the accent. Not often it's a desirable thing I have to say. Pedals were the first thing for me gear wise that I really got invested in. Got rid of lots of them as I needed to over the years but still enjoy what's here and they're great to use with synths and the modular.

[@tomgreaney1901]

how to synthesize a stroke

[@DivKid]

a little stroke or a big stroke?

[@tomgreaney1901]

Um, I was making a joke that when you put your voice through clouds it sounds like your having a stroke.

[@thewolfin]

12:30

[@noption35]

wow thank u very much for having made all the tutorials on your Tube i think that video with your voice as a sound source is helping me a lot to understand all the specific functionality of that great module... Thank U!!

[@DivKid]

Cheers Lumo

[@Fluidstructure]

Such a bizarre module for me. Your vid helped to clear up a lotta thinngs for me......i wasnt sure if my uburst was busted, but now I see, okay thats what it does! Excited for what Olivier is cookin up!

[@DivKid]

Great to hear thanks Danny.

[@centraal22]

DivKid, New to eurorack through guitar (4 months). This was my 1st processer module thanks to your vid, and still referencing it. Thank you, Already subbed.

[@DivKid]

thanks, appreciate it!

[@nateh2665]

this is actually crazy. endless possibilities. thx.

[@HECKSFX]

sound at 14:20 was a delight to hear!

[@DivKid]

Wazdorf just listening back to it, pretty daft sounding thing :)

[@banyek314]

+DivKidMusic had a bit of hokey pokey song vibe to it :))

[@canecreek00]

Superb video, got a big hole in my rack that just happens to be the same size as a clouds.

[@DivKid]

:D it needs filling then!

[@mankismelbournejay]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Very well explained and interesting. Subscribed!

[@DivKid]

Thanks, there's loads of stuff on the channel so feel free to comment and ask questions. Cheers!

[@filipponunziale9790]

epic demo as always! my fav eurorack related YT channel so far ;)

[@DivKid]

Filippo Nunziale cheers!

[@JapanoiseBreakfast]

Looks pretty cool. Dunno if it'll become popular though. Only time will tell.

[@et__fy]

😂

[@darksideothetune]

Looks like so much fun. As always, your reviews are great.

[@DivKid]

cheers mate!

[@Visualpollutionboy]

Almost like the red panda lab particle but in modular form super cool!

[@DivKid]

some similarities definitely.

[@brianrodman1033]

I’m surprised they don’t make modules. The Tensor could be a killer eurorack module.

[@TomasBodin]

This is just a must have! Thx for the demo.

[@DivKid]

+Tomas Bodin nice one, cheers for watching!

[@sduck409]

Great demo of an amazing module! Need one!

[@DivKid]

Stephen Drake thanks Stephen, appreciated.

[@mikesegarra869]

I just got the idea that i need a clouds because i made the mistake of watching this

[@DivKid]

check out Beads, the follow up module and final module to be released from Mutable Instruments.

[@mCKENIC]

Bloody Hell! Great video Ben - thank you for taking the time!

[@DivKid]

mCKENIC thanks mate. You get my email?

[@BadChizzle]

Great job understanding these units you review. This stuff gets complex, to say the very least. I do try to follow...

[@jedgould5531]

Remarkable demo Ben. I think I will try the module, or the calsynth version of it. If anyone is daring enough to do a 2001: A Space Oddity remake, this would be key HAL 9000 sound design tool. Great choice using voice.

[@TRaddcliff]

your video are going to make me BROKE. awesome demo thanks!

[@DivKid]

TRaddcliff haha my bad! Your favourite euro-crack dealer haha!

[@TRaddcliff]

exactly

[@kevinrixmusic]

Great video! Very inspiring!

[@DivKid]

cheers RIX

[@thetimebeing6117]

This demo deserves more upvotes than it has received. Just sayin'.

[@keinemacht23]

nice demo, thank you!

[@DivKid]

keinemacht23 cheers!

[@asciisynth]

Great, no nonsense explanation, as ever.

[@drinks_menu]

14:30 sounds like Micachu

[@tutatis96]

Dat stereo through my monitors.

[@DivKid]

+Tutatis :D

[@tutatis96]

do you have a Jupiter storm? It will be awesome to see this two work together, also with some maths maybe. So Dark ambientish and huge. Eaten by noise lol.

[@DivKid]

+Tutatis I don't have a Jupiter Storm but I would love one. Having played on one it's wicked!

[@darkfaerytales]

the reverberations coming out of these new modules are so sweet, mutable instruments should consider do one stand alone!

[@DivKid]

darkfaerytales It's a lovely Reverb, a stand-alone one would be great.

[@darkfaerytales]

DivKidMusic one thing that i'm not sure i have understand: the 4 blend modes values are indipendent, from each others?

[@DivKid]

darkfaerytales Yeah that's right. So when you twist the blend knob the four LEDs show the blend "level" of each blend mode. The first LED and first mode is dry/wet. The LED colours works towards a strong orange colour as the value gets to 100% on the blend knob. But while doing this if you've been in the other 3 modes with various blend levels you can see those too. Check out 6:42 in the video, you can see as I turn the third blend mode up (feedback) the third LED lights up to show those values but you can also see the first LED (mode 1 dry/wet) is still lit. Showing the values of that blend mode as well. Hope that makes sense.

[@darkfaerytales]

DivKidMusic cool, so you can always set a patch with a touch of reverb or feedback indipendently to what's going on, to the other processing, so technicallt can be used as a reverb and delay units at alla effects

[@DivKid]

darkfaerytales yeah you could just run it a stereo send FX with some feedback and reverb and barely any (or a lot of) other processing too. Up to you :)

[@antfactor]

I have the free software version, and this demo is VERY useful. Now I understand why it was/is such a popular module. Pretty fascinating stuff... even with counting(!) Thank you. :)

[@DivKid]

great cheers!

[@Elfaki19]

9:54 Naw naw naw naw naw naw no no no no no no

[@KentuckyMusic]

This is my homework right now.

[@DivKid]

+KentuckyFitz not bad homework to have.

[@djemel1]

May I call you Professor ? You are amazing...Thank you very much

[@DivKid]

haha you can indeed call me professor if you wish haha!

[@satanoid8689]

Thanks for the great demos! This sounds a bit if Phono and Echo were fused, but Phono can't really do all that granular goodness. Is it a bad idea to get this along them or would it be waste of space for something different?

[@DivKid]

+SATANOID a no waste of space at all, the resounding view of the community is that there is very little cross over with the phonogene and Clouds (I don't have a phonogene to compare myself). The Echophon I do have and really like though. A little bit of crossover in a small system maybe but as usual ... get both! :)

[@wotmate1440]

Random into the freeze makes it sound so creepy!

[@DivKid]

+Wot Mate yeah very cool! My favourite random is the SSF URA if you're looking for some random modules :)

[@wotmate1440]

DivKidMusic thanks for your suggestion! I'll check it out... thanks for these videos btw, very helpful!

[@TroyBlackford]

What are your thoughts on the After Later Typhoon, a take on this open-source module with the SuperParasites firmware?

[@Creolegumbo]

Newb here. Dont know squat. How did u get the voice into the modular? Did you patch in sample from an external source? Great video.

[@matijamikovic5756]

Why does my modular ste up (Rings + Clouds) fluctuate in volume so much whereas here it's even? Compressor/limiter?

[@kosmikmusa]

This is just amazing module. It´s not available anymore. Why? Could you re-released again please...

[@DivKid]

Olivier has said that Clouds showed him the importance of granular in the modular environment and is working on a follow up module. I think that's due later this year.

[@rucasm]

Very nice!!! What lfo are you using?

[@DivKid]

+Rui Miguel no idea as I don't remember what I've used outside of the videos with the amount of them I make. Which part of the video were you curious about? I can break it down for you by watching back but I can't remember exactly which LFOs I used.

[@mariocarmona5654]

cool Vid, good job. Where did you get those LED patch cables?

[@DivKid]

Mushi.one is the website, if you contact them they have a small amount left I believe.

[@simonharris2577]

good explanation...... difficult, well done (seeing as you don't get paid for this) So the guy below can PISS OFF with confidence

[@DivKid]

Simon Harris cheers Simon, all feedback is welcome so I don't mind what anyone wants to say.

[@rogerhuxley4409]

Hi Ben, thanks for a great video. It has really helped me get my head around the module. I have the small HP microbursts one along with the Batumi LFO in a Minibrute2s/RackBrute setup (gotta start somewhere). One question I have is what voltage does the Trig input need? It responds to an output from the Batumi, but doesn't appear to respond to triggers I send out of the Minibrute sequencer. The Minibrute sends anything up to 8v, but nothing seems to trigger the trigger (!). 'Thanks

[@peamarte]

which "vca" you are using to use the module in stereo? thanks a lot :) I forgot ... your reviews are the best, congratulations

[@DivKid]

Emiliano Pennisi it has a stereo input and stereo output. Or do you have a specific point in the video in mind that does something with a VCA?

[@peamarte]

yes, I've just taken. to take advantage of the random pan of the Clouds, i connected directly to a stereo channel into the mixer. I've a mono VCA. but I think if I want to use as a stereo VCO, I must have a stereo VCA correct? Where you connected the outup of the module in this video? Thanks:)

[@DivKid]

Emiliano Pennisi The output just went straight to my sound card. You don't need a VCA as an output. Are you thinking you would need a stereo VCA to use as the final module in the chain? A VCO straight in (you wouldn't have a stereo VCO as there aren't any, but possibly two different waves as left and right) wouldn't be that exciting. As it reacts best to more dynamic input with both tonal and amplitude changes.

[@beatnickaudio]

Great video! Very helpful. Do you have Mutable's Edges... would love to see a similar video on that!

[@DivKid]

Nick de Friez Hi Nick, thanks. I don't have an Edges module though. But I'll have videos of Warps, Frames and Tides coming in the near future.

[@Gavinshortall543]

Just got a clone today. So lost, so intrigued..

[@Unifono2012]

best clouds video! got a µClouds today and this video perfectly shows the features. Thanks

[@DivKid]

great, glad to be of help.

[@rucasm]

Well, i am planning to get a lfo to modulate a mini clouds system in a little frame ;). Like: clouds, ura, an attenuator, and a lfo. Any suggestion for the lfo?

[@DivKid]

+Rui Miguel the LFO itself won't have been important whatever I was doing with it. The Octocontroller from Abstract Data would give you LOADS to modulate a clouds based processing set up with. LFOs, gates, triggers, sample and hold, random etc. Attenuators are a must as Clouds doesn't have any. Maybe look at an RYO Ampmix or Fonitronik Cascade for scaling and controlling all your CVs.

[@Hut-181]

I thought the audio buffer was only up to 80 secs 🤔 [edit: that should read 8 secs!]

[@DivKid]

80? It goes to 8 maximum. That's the lowest quality setting at a 16kHz rate, 8 bit resolution and in mono.

[@Hut-181]

typo on my part... I meant 8! I was wondering how you managed to get such a long sample in.

[@DivKid]

it's constantly processing a live input, which can be of any length or material you want. But it's 8 seconds of buffer you can access at one time. So you couldn't scrub back through the buffer to make grains from something further back than 8 seconds. Or if it was frozen you could only have that amount of time frozen to work with.

[@Hut-181]

@@DivKid aah right that makes sense. Thanks 👍

[@buzzfunk]

Im still confused about the blend knob. Its not wet/dry?

[@DivKid]

buzzfunk the blend knob corresponds to one of four modes. Which you press a button in the top right to move through and LEDs move through the four modes (wet/dry mix, stereo randomisation, feedback and reverb). You can see each 'blend level' by the colour and intensity of the LEDs while moving through the blend modes. I go through it at 4 minutes in - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5vGdaGXrZ6sgrsm1s

[@ryanhallyyc]

where can i get those funky translucent led patch cables? Great video demo

[@DivKid]

Ryan Hall I should do a video just on the cables! :) The cables are here - www.utopb.com/category/led-patch-cables/

[@outaspaceman]

🤔.."Oooo Arrrr..."

[@DivKid]

:)

[@pyrox2518]

hoar hoooooaaaaaarrrrr

[@handwoundpickups6555]

Amazing video thanks

[@DivKid]

thanks for the comment. I see you're into guitar and making pick ups hope that's going well (I play guitar too).

[@handwoundpickups6555]

@@DivKid Hi yes I’ve been making guitar pickups for a few years now. I need to push it more as a business. Keep up the great videos.👍

[@DivKid]

I've only ever done a stock to Noiseless v4 swap on my Telecaster, pick ups aren't something I know much about, despite playing for 20 years.

[@handwoundpickups6555]

@@DivKid Yes I got into building pickups when I made a guitar from a kit during lock down. I built my own winder it was hand cranked😀but it did the job. Ive got an electric machine hand guided now.

[@DivKid]

I was listening to the Dipped In Tone podcast and they spoke about it a bit, Zack from Mythos Pedals has been making his own pick ups.

[@Richie086]

great demo tyvm!

[@stevenrempel]

whoa whered you get the signal light cable ?!?!?!

[@DivKid]

mushi.one they're great.

[@aliasghar907]

how can you get to certain position using CV? what kind of CV signal would you need to input to get sample at certain time of it?

[@DivKid]

well you can move the position knob to find the position you want. To do that over CV a sequencer would work well. So you can set the sequencer step to exact position then move each step of the sequencer to address different positions would work well.

[@aliasghar907]

DivKidVideo I gotta system1 and the aira efx modules... just wondering would you reccomend a beatstep pro or a eurorack cv sequencer?

[@DivKid]

First thing to think of is space and budget. Does the BSP need to integrate with anything else? There's no and well documented issue with the MIDI sync side. However I use a BSP standalone and enjoy it. Tend to reach for modular sequencers for for pitch based stuff though.

[@dinraum]

Nice Demo. But what is this Cable?

[@DivKid]

dinraum haha, I'm starting to get asked that a lot. They cables are available here - www.utopb.com/category/led-patch-cables/ - very good for seeing what's happening in your patches.

[@rhampton1914]

Can this be used in a Eurorack with a Synth instead of Voice? is it practical for that?

[@DivKid]

Yeah works well with direct oscillators, filters, voices plugged in etc. But the voice is such a familiar things to our ears that it makes the processing easy to hear.

[@maxrott3345]

really nice video!! and also thats a really cool cable you use for the lfo! Where can i get one?

[@maxrott3345]

+Max Hasser nevermind jsut found them!!

[@DivKid]

+Max Hasser ok good. I think they're out of stock or no more to be made at the minute (this is from what a couple of others said in a Muff Wiggler thread recently).

[@danielsolomon63]

Hello, is there a way to factory reset this thing? I am interested mostly in wiping saved buffers. Another question: When you make a save does the module save parameter values or just the audio in the buffer? Thanks. I just bought this module and decided to go and play with it blindly and i don't know what have i done cause now i can only hear just the granular part, looping delay won't work, neither the feedback and always i hear a high pitched sound over my original. I turned all the knobs but nothing.

[@DivKid]

have you got a factory made module of a DIY version? I'd get in touch with Olivier at Mutable Instruments who has fantastic customer service. If it's a factory made "official" module I'm sure he'll help.

[@danielsolomon63]

thanks for the reply. the problem was that as a noobie that i am i accidentally de-calibrated the module. after re-calibrating it all went fine. too bad i need an Echophon more than a Clouds so i returned it to the shop. maybe i will get one again eventually in the future.

[@DivKid]

worth exploring if you get chance again.How are you finding the Echophon?

[@eddiefa]

Sick vid!! love your accent too :)

[@DivKid]

+eddiefa haha thank you

[@fantasyproduct1042]

just bought this eBay after watching your vids :)

[@feytus]

sweet video, once again! thanks a lot! :) one question though - when you modulate "blend", will it affect all the blend modes simultaneously or just the blend mode currently selected and store the knob position?

[@feytus]

yes, so it seems. just had to watch more of the video! nice! this thing looks completely mad. looking much forward to the kinds of sounds people will come up with with this one. :)

[@DivKid]

Milkpiece it just affects the currently blend mode.

[@zwerty007]

May I ask what's the minimum delay time in looping delay mode? on the website it only lists the minimum delay time for granular mode which is 16ms, is it the same?

[@DivKid]

Chartre Khan absolutely no idea, sorry. It does go very fast so 16ms maybe the same minimum time. If you head to the Mutable Instruments site and email Olivier directly he always replies quickly and in detail. Amazing service so drop him a line :)

[@tylerduncan3476]

Can you post the link for the light-up patch cables you're using?

[@whiterottenrabbit]

Thanks for all your videos! I am a noob and your explanations are very helpful. Clouds (as well as other Mutable Instruments modules) has a stereo output. What would be the best way to use such stereo output? Do I need a special mixer module or is a simple Y-cable (2 mono -> 1 stereo) sufficient for sending this stereo output to my main stand-alone mixer?

[@DivKid]

+whiterottenrabbit What inputs does your stand-alone mixer have? You can come straight out of Clouds if you want. Output modules are really convenient but not a "must".

[@whiterottenrabbit]

DivKidVideo Thanks for the answer! I am using a Behringer Xenyx 802, which accepts ballanced or unballanced XLR or 6.3 millimeter jacks, both mono and stereo. I was under the impression that audio signals coming out of Eurorack modules are too hot, that's why I need a mixer module, I thought. So, I can just come out the Clouds into the mixer and attenuate the Clouds' signal in the mixer, right?

[@DivKid]

+whiterottenrabbit Some mixers will clip before you hit the pre-amp gain control so even with no gain you get clipping. It's worth just "trying" though I think and then you can just use a simple attenuator, or even just a passive attenuator device before the mixer will work. Of course there's output modules which are massively handy, but not essential. The WMD Pro Output is really nice.

[@whiterottenrabbit]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

[@tysonwood9488]

Where did u get ur counting sample from?

[@UokiToki]

Крутой модуль!

[@DivKid]

heading to google translate ...

[@Roland808]

DivKidMusic I believe he's saying your demo is f**kin' bitchin'! And some reference to Superman's home planet as well.....I think..... :)

[@UokiToki]

Да, именно это я и сказал!

[@DivKid]

J Clever let's hope so! :)

[@nateh2665]

8:14 durkadurrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@airfrankenstein]

yeah keep talking and keep up the good work...good comprehensive demo video.

[@DivKid]

airfrankenstein Thanks.

[@els1f]

Well Done, btw

[@DivKid]

Elsif cheers

[@ndf3]

terrifying

[@DivKid]

in what sense?

[@darkfaerytales]

60 is the number of grains?

[@oliviergillet3552]

Max number of grains depends on a bunch of things (recording quality, number of channels, value of the other settings), but it's typically 40 and can go up to 60.

[@thewakz]

+Olivier Gillet Loving your work! Can't wait to see what's next!

[@inevitablecraftslab]

ok, so who in hell votes that down?

[@DivKid]

haha dunno! but cheers.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

i dont know, voting someone down demoing stuff seems bizarre :)

[@DivKid]

Yeah does seem odd. Hard to think whether it's a vote down for the presentation, module itself, or examples. Doesn't matter anyway.

[@jonridley]

People from Lancashire.

[@blankspace0000]

It sounds so silly with a human voice xD xD

[@validcore]

Talk when you're not moving the knobs pls.

[@chickenbonelives]

5 people must just have really fat thumbs.

[@DivKid]

haha cheers

[@AlphaToEpsilon]

Your constant speaking over the top of the sound pisses me off. sorry

[@DivKid]

CHISWELL آرامش ریتم Fair enough, some like voice overs some don't. I try not to talk over any keys bits such as "turning a knob does this" while turning the knob and missing what I've done. Appreciate the comment and honest opinion though, I'll try cut voice overs down or say what's happening then play around with longer open passages of modular audio. Cheers!

[@Spasmomen]

DivKidMusic Nah, keep talking :-)

[@jonp4846]

DivKidMusic I wouldn't care it the same demo took 40 minutes instead of 20. You already had me at the sounds ;) I know the tendency to want to 'play around' is irresistible, and believe me you went through some great range of sounds. Personally, I think if you just slow it all down a bit overall (pacing), the demo would be more enjoyable. Then again, I'm old. Kids may want you to iterate over all 2^64 possible combinations in 10^-20 picoseconds :P

[@DivKid]

***** thanks!

[@DivKid]

Jonp Cheers, they could be longer but most would switch off. Barely anyone watches the videos fully (the stats tell me this) so I try to keep them to the point then I can follow up with questions, more audio another video etc. I get asked to workshops a bit here and there and that's a possibility and a better environment to tailor the pace of the whole patch to who ever is there. I think much longer a lot would switch off. Not going to go any shorter the though. I'll bear in mine the idea of a slower pace though, got plenty of ideas for "patch creating" and "making beats" etc where I think I'll go through at a slower pace. Appreciate your input. :)