Mutable Instruments - Peaks

Another hugely feature packed module from Mutable Instruments! Peaks has 4 modes with envelopes, LFOs, Tap-LFOs and drums then an additional 4 'hidden' modes which are a mini step sequencer, trigger delay and repeater, trigger stream randomiser and a dual Anushri style synth drum generator.
As always all comments are welcome!
As mentioned in the video here is the Branches overview video so you can check that out as it's used for several patches in the video -
• Mutable Instruments - ...

[@lisbonlion1967]

Really love the thought that went into this module, feature packed as is the standard with MI modules. Sick!

[@DivKid]

Greg Gibbons thanks Greg.

[@richarquis]

I know this is an old video, but I've been wanting Peaks for a while, and one just popped up in my local used market, I'll be buying it in a few days if nobody else snakes it first, so I came back to go over the functions. My rack is already mostly MI, I think it will work nicely with Marbles. As always, thanks for all the informative videos!

[@sysexstudio]

Just ordered this as my first MI module using a gift certificate I received. Can't wait to get it after rewatching your demo! Braids will be my next module from them. So much stuff packed into so little HP! :D :D

[@DivKid]

+Sysex|Studio yeah Braids I think is a total no brainer. Does so much stuff and sounds great!

[@sysexstudio]

+DivKidVideo just got my Peaks installed tonight. Such a great module. You can tell Olivier your demo sold it. This is my first MI module and I love the build quality, graphics and look and feel to the module. Like that the knobs are bolted on too. Might get another one. :) thanks again for the demos.

[@thearrayprojectmusic]

Great demo and explanation as always! I bought Peaks on the strength of this video and it's a brilliant module although I've only barely broken the surface of what it can do at this stage. I've been using the Peaks drums in conjunction with an ES Pico Drums module all triggered independently from the Beatstep Pro drum triggers which has been fun. But watching your clip again I thing I need to really dig in deep and try lots of the other functions. Thanks again for your great clips!

[@DivKid]

Thanks for the comment appreciate it. Yeah Peaks is great I tend to use the drums (as it's the only drums in my demo case) and LFOs.

[@forehead84]

Third time watching this as its been so helpful getting the most out of my peaks, however it's not obvious that you can have out 1 and out 2 as different functions in expert mode eg 1 an adsr and 2 an Lfo. Great value module for the money.

[@DivKid]

+Forehea d yeah it's great. Does take a bit of learning though to be fair. I keep forget about the probability gate stuff and the gate delay. Which are really useful.

[@aeropilot4419]

Forehead lol, hello Moomin Papa

[@psychomafia]

I've had a peaks for 6 months and watching this video (again) made me realise it can do that from actually watching the screen. Oddly enough i've never seen this mentioned anywhere except here.

[@ToysintheStatic]

Clicked to see how the drum part was, but decided to buy by the time you got to tap! Nice video!

[@MUNRO13]

Wow. I never knew peaks could do so much! Will be getting one.

[@DivKid]

Yeah it's a densely packed little module.

[@H4NDCRAFTED]

This module is amazing, got one, but I really want about four. It is like Maths, so many uses! The MI stuff is all superb a lot of of my modules have been kicked out of bed for them, I simply don't have room for them all. Finally London Mod have Clouds in Stock, grabbed one luckily. Your videos have been a massive help! Although I have to admit to having to watch certain sections again and again, my concentration is terrible and I'm prone to day dreaming :)

[@DivKid]

+H4NDCRAFTED hey, no worries about day dreaming. I can only begin to fathom what I'd get done in a day without day dreaming. Matttech Modular has some clouds left too for anyone looking for one. Glad to hear the videos are useful. Feel free to send any questions my way or message to chat.

[@H4NDCRAFTED]

Did he just get some in ? I looked there first because I thought I'd try him out for a change, bought from nearly everywhere now, amount of places that sell modular now seems to be ever increasing! seems as little as 2012 I was having to order from Germany, now mainstream places sell it, , anywayI didn't see any last night, maybe I missed them ? Keep keeping on, I don't have questions atm, mainly bc as soon as I think of one you seem to answer it in your next sentence ;)

[@DivKid]

+H4NDCRAFTED Yeah Matt has some in, 4 left yesterday. That's good RE questions. Always happy to chat though, spend a fair bit of time discussing set ups and stuff so let me know if there is anything.

[@H4NDCRAFTED]

DivKidMusic Well I had already bought Clouds and Yarns , but I did check. They either came in straight after or I just misread the stock info, oh well. Will you be doing a vid on Yarns ? I Sonic did one but I like the way you explain things tbh. What I really want is somebody to do a deeper look at TipTop's CR sequencer, ,lke get into the details of how the swing etc sounds. It is a lot of money when the BSPro does similar, but knowing TipTop they have some decent tricks up their sleeve. I have all the drum modules I need for now. Modular is the ultimate analogue drum machine really. Even if you are not into patching it has to be the best options for drums right now.

[@onpatrolforthejuice]

just bought one cant wait for it to get here!!

[@DivKid]

+マキュージャス good buy :)

[@MrHihowryou]

I wish I could Matrix-style upload the knowledge in your brain about all these modules you've covered.

[@JohnLRice]

Excellent review as always! :-)

[@sokoleski]

briljant presentation .....as allways Many thanks

[@DivKid]

sokoleski cheers

[@SnoopLazeranake]

So yeah, you've completely sold me on getting one of these. If not two!

[@DivKid]

gary morrison haha nice one Gary. Two really does make sense, dual envelope and dual LFO or 4 voice drum kit. Opens up some good options. Especially when triggering each other.

[@darksideothetune]

Nice, well-rounded review.

[@DivKid]

darksideothetune thanks

[@beak_on_bong]

Wow, the snare on this thing sounds nice

[@feytus]

fucking hell, will need a handful of these. super useful. and great demo, as always! cheers!

[@DivKid]

Milkpiece yeah pretty nuts the amount that gets crammed into the Mutable Instruments stuff. I'm really like a second one! :)

[@nothingtospeakof2570]

kind of easy to imagine a future where we just have racks full of multi-functional modules like Peaks and Disting that can do everything….

[@DivKid]

D U B K A yeah certainly, the Disting in interesting, haven't got one yet though.

[@TRaddcliff]

your vids are awesome

[@DivKid]

TRaddcliff cheers

[@fo76]

Seems that you can't have too many peaks modules... 🤩🤩🤩 good overview BTW...

[@VictorSteiner]

I would love an LFO what can do what peaks can do in LFO mode but SHOW what it does. Many MI modules are so good but overfilled with stuff. If I only use them as ADSRs to ot totally get confused, can they be as snappy as Doepfer 140s set to medium?

[@bennelongbicyclist5246]

Try three long (1 second) presses in succession on the top function button, and listen to the output when you trigger it. Twiddle the knobs. Then decrypt the coded message.

[@DivKid]

Bennelong Bicyclist Thanks, when I get back to my set up at home I'll be trying this. Cheers!

[@darksideothetune]

Peaks rules! Yes you do need two!

[@DivKid]

darksideothetune I don't need any encouragement!

[@rynelively5377]

I’m on firmware v1.9 and would like to know how you set Braids to “sync” mode.

[@Johanthegnarler]

This module is so under rated, not as much as the Befaco Rampage, but this thing is killer. This is definitely a twofer if you're not afraid to mess around with firmware.

[@DivKid]

i think Streams is underrated. That's great too. You're right about Rampage.

[@Johanthegnarler]

DivKidVideo in Detroit, a lot of us rock streams, but now that you mention it.. i don't see much talk about that or kinks online.

[@DivKid]

no not much talk about either.

[@pabloduranseoane8825]

Hi! Thansk for such an amazing video! I've been experimenting with the two minisequencers, but I m not sure how they work. I am sending two triggers, both from my midi2cv (one from the clock out, other from one gate). If only one sequencer is getting trigger, everything works fine, but the moment theres something on the second trigger the first one just stops going, same happens if I start off with the second sequencer and then I triggered the first one; the second stops everytime theres a trigger on the second. Is this normal? thanks!

[@DivKid]

Pablo Duran Seoane Thanks Pablo, glad it's useful. I haven't experienced much with the mini sequencers as I use them for other things mainly (got other sequencers I use more regularly). I've heard issues with that as I think the first trigger moves through steps while the second is a reset. So trigger the second channel also resets the sequencer. Effectively turning it into a one channel device. That's just "what I vaguely remember seeing" on some Facebook threads. I'd email Olivier directly if you're having issues.

[@mustang_66]

in the env mode, the out1 goes to braids/timbre, can you tell where is trig 1and 2 patched to?

[@seanspartan2023]

So in the Square LFO Mode the Peaks acts as a trigger to gate module with the 3rd knob controlling the gate length? I've got 2 After Later Audio μPiques and didn't know they did all that! I've just been using split mode as a quad A/R envelope between the 2 modules.

[@DBPawlan]

Pretty much works that way, yes.

[@alanc6752]

Noob question. at 5:24 VFOF setting on Braids. Does the Plaits do this kind of robotic vocoderish stuff as well as the Braids? I have googled it but just trying figure out if one is better than the other?

[@DivKid]

You have three vowel modes on Braids Plaits as one. But Plaits refines and pulls in modes so you can morph between wider sound sets and internal patches.

[@BlinkyBillz]

what clock do you use for the trigger in? for instance @ tap LFO beyond basic clocks, with swing etc..

[@DivKid]

It's happy with a wide range of clocks. MIDI into a MIDI - CV module, 4ms SCM or RCD, sequencers, logic etc.

[@DrGeta666]

where did you get those flashing led cables?!

[@tomb-X]

Great👍

[@DivKid]

thanks

[@fafafafafaafafafaafaffafaa4530]

Can you get one input signal trigger both ADSRs without splitting?

[@DivKid]

No that doesn't work. A green stackable would do the trick though.

[@vertigev]

I wish this module wasn't discontinued, seems super useful..

[@stolencoats63]

After Later Audio has 3 versions of the Peaks clone. Rainier being the best as they've added attenuverters on all knobs and two outputs. Also added an alternate firmware that adds even more functionality which comes stock on all their Peaks clones (doesn't interfere with original functionality).

[@divineaccidents4374]

Is it possible to split modes between channels ? For example trigger one is a drum and trigger two an envelope ? If so how does one do this and does it also work the same way with the hidden modes ? Apologies if this was covered and i missed it.

[@DivKid]

Hey, yeah you can split the modes and have a drum on channel one and LFO on channel two etc. These aren't made any more though so if you want one I'd snap it up when you see it.

[@OctavianTech]

Just press and hold the top button so that its' LED flashes. It will either flash once to indicate "channel 1" or twice for "channel 2" from there you just have to pay attention to the flash pattern to know which channel you're modulating.

[@510th]

You explain this well, thanks. So I must have purchased a peaks with a firmware update because when I press and hold mode I get one solid light and one blinking light.. no step seq. with blinking env. light.. Or I can get 2 blinking lights and one solid! It blew my mind what was happening, lol... any guesses?

[@DivKid]

You'll have the Dead Mans Catch alternative firmware on it. I'd speak to who you bought it from to check. You can get the default firmware back onto the unit, so it's nothing to worry about.

[@510th]

AS always, thanks for your quick response! I have some reading to do..

[@DivKid]

No worries, cheers for watching and the comment.

[@ArguZ72]

I need three more it seems :)

[@DivKid]

+Sascha Haber haha

[@ArguZ72]

Seriously, if my GF catches you, you got a problem ;)

[@yanneckgaensebluemchen1107]

Hey, my second comment on your channel. :-) My girlfriend was at Doepfer in Munich and bought me a Doepfer Wasp for x-mas (my first eurorack module). And now I have to build a case. Second module on my list is peaks and the third is Pittsburgh Modular in/out, cause I have a Desktop-Synthesizer that I would like to run into the wasp. Do you think this is a good starting point? I'm able to send trigger via laptop and hardware. So with these 3 Modules I'm able to filter my synthesizer, play it back to my computer, drive my filter with lfo and have a small drum computer on top plof that. Right?! Sry 4 bad english. Peace.

[@DivKid]

+Yanneck Gaensebluemchen hey, thanks for coming back with more comments! :) Rather than the In/Out module have a look at the XAOC Devices Sewastopol. It's an FX insert module (Doepfer make a cheaper similar module the A-138d, but you loose some functions). That would take your audio in (be that a desktop synth, laptop software, drum machine or whatever). Then take the audio input from the module (the return) to the Doepfer Wasp filter and take the Wasp's output to the output on the Sewastopol (the send). You can treat that like an in and out. But you also get a Envelope follower which is great for adding a modulation source that's tied the dynamics in your input signal. That would be a good modulation source for the Dopefer Wasp. Regarding modulation you'll need some midi to CV functionality so you can patch LFOs into the Wasp. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[@yanneckgaensebluemchen1107]

+DivKidVideo Back again. :-) I now have Peaks, Clouds Warps and Wasp with some mults and 2 iouts running. I now think I want to buy makenoise moddemix because it can act as attenuator and vca (for warps int.osc). Do you think that this is a good idea? I have a fairly small case atm. My other idea is to replace Wasp with ripples.

[@aliasghar907]

any idea how similar this is to WARPS and Corgasmatron?... also how did you get the vowel/voice sounding effect?

[@DivKid]

Hey, all three modules are very very different. So there's no comparison really. Warps processes two inputs (audio and/or CV) and offers lots of processing (Ring Mod, Crossfading, Vocoding etc - check my video) Korgasmatron is a dual analogue filter and Peaks is a modulation source. Which vowel / voice effect? If you can tell me the timing in the video I'll listen and try to figure it out.

[@sidsuperstar]

Formant type @ 4:44...thx

[@TheSynchronon]

Did not know that I want Peaks until I watched this vid. Well then...:D

[@DivKid]

TheSynchronon haha my bad! Feeding the addiction.

[@TheSynchronon]

DivKidMusic Yeah cannot disagree...I want moaaaar! But hey Eurocrack might be the hardest drug I've ever been on but since it only destroys my credit card and not my health I can live with that ;) Keep up the good work!

[@DivKid]

TheSynchronon Yeah it's definitely "eurocrack"

[@ErazedFX]

What are those led cables on the output?

[@SonnyBrown1965]

After a bit of searching: www.utopb.com/order/ £10 a cable plus pp

[@ErazedFX]

Sonny Brown Thank you.A bit expensive but kind of cool

[@DivKid]

Sonny Brown yeah those are the ones. All hand made, not in bulk I understand hence the price. But well worth it, especially in bigger patches where lots of modulation is routing and feeding back in a patch. Good visual indicator that not all modules have.

[@turquoisehexagonsun]

Should the step sequencer mode give you two independent 4-step sequencers? Mine seems to only give a 2-step on one channel and a 4-step on the other, not two 4s.

[@DivKid]

it can do if you're in the advanced split mode. The standard split mode is 2 2 steps. Read the manual to see the difference between standard split and the advanced split mode. Hold the split button to get in and out of it. Flash once for channel one advance split and flash twice for channel two advance split. You have to bounce between one and two flashes to move between channels as the 4 knobs can only control one thing at once.

[@turquoisehexagonsun]

Thanks for the reply. From what you describe and from having read the manual as well, I'm thinking something is wrong with my Peaks. I have it in advanced split mode with channel one sequencing a VCO but as soon as I input another clock to channel two and try sequencing another VCO, channel one changes to two steps and channel two becomes four. The same vice versa - that's why I was thinking you can only have a two on one channel and a four on the other, but not both. Baffling!

[@DivKid]

That's strange, is it a factory module with the default firmware?

[@turquoisehexagonsun]

It's factory with default firmware yes. Looking at the manual again, I noticed channel 2 resets channel one, so maybe that's what I'm experiencing, i.e. channel 1 is constantly being reset so only playing 2 steps.

[@DivKid]

so does channel 1 clock both channels?

[@cardlads]

so let's say you were using Peak's drum sounds to trigger Braids, would you need two Peaks, one for each sound? If not, how would that work? Sorry I'm a nooberino

[@DivKid]

SirCat Hi, don't hesitate to ask any questions nooby or not. I don't quiet get your question though? Whatever you were using to trigger Peaks would make more sense to trigger the Braids trigger input (which can be a sync in, set of internal envelopes etc). Peaks has two trigger ins to trigger the two internal functions (say two drums) but that isn't tied to Braids in anyway.

[@cardlads]

Oh, I didn't see at first that Peaks had 2 outputs. Oops. One more thing, do you need an external clock for Braids to work or no? Thanks for your help!

[@DivKid]

SirCat you don't need a clock for braids to work. It works completely by itself with your 1v/oct input for pitch and that's it. With the trigger input and timbre and colour you can take things further but they aren't essential for use.

[@cardlads]

cool thanks!

[@cardlads]

DivKidMusic lol I'm reading this old conversation and I said Braids...I meant Grids. Dear god....

[@PWMaarten]

The money i spent beause of your videos.. :)

[@DivKid]

PWMaarten haha sorry, I keep getting called the Eurocrack dealer! Feeding the addiction.

[@PWMaarten]

DivKidMusic Different from other dealers I came across in my life, you give full and honest information about the product at hand... ;)

[@DivKid]

cheers! Appreciate that. Yeah, I'm trying to just give my views and what I've been using the module for while trying to make it a professional overview of features at the same time. Still, I get all sorts of ideas speaking to others as well. Glad it's useful.

[@polo657X68]

Where are the triggers coming from? Sorry I'm a noob.

[@DivKid]

Kellen Majcher tough one, long time back when I did that video. But it will have been clock or square wave LFO signals from around my system. If it was clock it could have been the clock outputs on my Vermona qMI (if I was using midi) or from the 4ms RCD and 4ms SCM modules. But the trigger in can be from anywhere it's not something to really worry about. Are you considering building up a system or getting a Peaks module? Feel free to message me for any help.

[@blave549]

Maybe I missed it but what is your quantizer?

[@DivKid]

The only one I had at the time was the ADDAC 207, which I still use a lot. So must have been that.

[@FemiFleming]

12:24 popcorn!

[@h0lx]

where do you get these illuminated cables? :O

[@DivKid]

Mr Mürk Hi, they are here - www.utopb.com/category/led-patch-cables/

[@h0lx]

Splendid!

[@canecreek00]

Wow thats a swiss army knife indeed, i want……..

[@DivKid]

cane creek yeah it's nuts, one of those "I need more than one" modules.

[@neutron7]

wtf are those self illuminating patch cords?

[@DivKid]

neutron7 They are from "Igor Berlin" on Muffs here's his site for the cables - (argh! can't find site but here's a video directly from him) LED Patch Cables - get Enlighted

[@spaceman103]

It's a Swiss Opinel or a French army knife?! If you only have two of them in your rack, you can stop collection modules ;-)

[@DivKid]

spaceman Yeah it's pretty crazy how much it does.

[@Thinwhiteduke1185]

What are you doing step-triangle? ....I'm sorry.

[@DivKid]

Hi Nathan? Sorry for what? Which step-triangle? If you can give me a time stamp (such as 11:13) for where this happens in the video I can take a look and answer for you.

[@tiouip]

Woah... slow down dude! Great overview, but i have to watch this over and over to grasp the essential. I guess it caters to the Modular Initiated... I'll just keep on watching.

[@DivKid]

this video is over 4 years old I think things have improved since however yes ... this caters to the modular crowd and not particularly beginners, I can appreciate that.

[@ElectronicazMusic]

I need to stop watching your videos.... They're proving to be far too expensive.

[@DivKid]

Paul Johnson haha my bad!