PATCH BETTER! with Dual Slopes & Function Generators // with ARC from NANO Modules

[@borisborisov500]

amazing library of ideas and reminders of how powerful my rampage is. Thanks. And loved the batman wave :D

[@DivKid]

haha I too love a Batman wave! :) thanks

[@Nick-kb6jd]

Love the VCA integrated into the function generator. All FGs should have this.

[@DivKid]

Yeah you have the bipolar VCA and an offset at the output, really flexible.

[@joshcomeau1365]

Your videos are incredible. No idea how you produce so many of this quality!

[@DivKid]

Wow, thank you appreciate that. I work hard, videos take a long time but it's a pleasure to be able to work with good people and good gear.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

@@DivKidI always appreciate that you’re also giving lessons on techniques to be used with these modules. It elevates your videos from simply being hype. For example, every once in a while i re-watch your Ona video (think it was the Ona one?) because it has a great segment on AM synthesis that reminds me that AM is a great option that i rarely think to patch.

[@DivKid]

it might have been Ona with the ALT quad VCA, I remember saying to Jorge at NANO that I would make that one a video that's really all about VCAs and their usefulness, I enjoyed the AM stuff in that one. Thanks again!

[@blbrookscom]

Love that they released this on vcv rack already.

[@DivKid]

Good move from them! I hadn't seen that, nice to know.

[@TheIst0NE]

Great video as always. Not just a good product demo but a bundle of study material for patch notes as well! Thank you Ben! :)

[@DivKid]

thank you, that's always the goal. To put out a load of ideas/tutorial etc that can be applied to not just the thing on show but lots of other things too. Appreciate it.

[@TheIst0NE]

@@DivKid definitely doing a great job on YT then, because you were and are one of the most important people online for me on my ongoing modular and synthesis learning journey! so huge thanks and keep up the great work! :) Oh, and ...hard sync!!! 😄🙌

[@Jon-BEDM]

One of your best imo, so clear, and articulate. MATHS is one my fav tools, and I love functions overall. I want to try them all! This module looks really well thought out and fun to play. Bravo all around.🤟

[@DivKid]

Awesome, thank you! Really appreciate that.

[@musicgeek99]

Hard Sync! Incredible video. I learned so much. Many thanks!

[@DivKid]

Glad to hear it, thanks!

[@L-xir_hadra]

love this thanks for this complete video , this module is so powerfull and clear !! and price !!:)

[@DivKid]

Glad it was helpful, it's definitely really well priced. There's loads of other examples/uses to these sorts of function generators too

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Nano’s stuff is so solid, value for money. This looks like a good fit for me… I don’t own a Rampage or Maths, do most of my voltage processing with some Buchla-style stuff from Pittsburgh, and the 4ms pingable dual env. I do quite a bit of generative stuff with krell-like amplitude control over textures, so this would hit the spot.

[@DivKid]

absolutely well price, I think this is €239 euros, built well, performs well etc. Sounds like a fun mix with Pittsburgh and 4ms at the backbone of it.

[@L-xir_hadra]

Same for me , this module is really a good challenger beetween math and rampage

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

I love how the Nano Arc FG has Bipolar VCAs!

[@DivKid]

me too

[@QuimFont]

que buen trabajo Nano, diseño de primer nivel!

[@DivKid]

thank you

[@boydw1]

14:15 Banger! Screw the demo - just wring that one out a while longer...

[@DivKid]

haha thanks! I did enjoy that.

[@kaiserclicker8479]

again good video div! and nice module ;)

[@DivKid]

thank you, I always appreciate the comments

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

The clock division part at 32:25 is so damn cool! is this possible with other function generators? Such as Fraptools Falistri, Befaco Rampage or Maths?

[@DivKid]

Absolutely, you should be able to do nearly all of this on any function generator.

[@michaelgerdau5418]

Hard Sync Neat Module and due to it's size probably very performative. Except for the VCA I'm strongly reminded of Rampage.

[@katiebarber407]

woah. it's like vital irl. got some cool inspiration here

[@DivKid]

Interesting angle (Vital is great!). The software builds upon the history of these things and devices like this are modern hardware recreations/inspired by devices that build upon those things too but in a similar hardware and often analogue form.

[@PWMaarten]

21:05 what VCO/Filter combo am I hearing here? Sounds like a 70’s Korg.

[@DivKid]

I believe that was the Joranalogue Cycle 5 (nothing special in this case, just a thinner pulse wave) into the NANO Modules Font (filter). The other filter in the case was the Stereo Dipole from SSF but it doesn't sound like that to me.

[@GeorgeLocke]

One thing I wish my QARV had is an end-of-cycle output. As I write this, I realize I could patch one up on Arc but not QARV: send the Fall gate output to the Input on the other channel, then the fall gate output on the other occurs when the fall stage of the first ends.

[@DivKid]

end up outputs are fun for patching up those chains. I like them for oddly timed flams but mainly the double peak envelope stuff I do in this video.

[@robertmcmurry5489]

hard sync .. long one but a lot of great demos Ben, thanks!!

[@DivKid]

Lot to go through! Thanks.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

I've had my eye on Frap Tools Falistri for so long now, mainly because it has the ability to maintain rise and fall time when changing the curve shape, and it has a 4QM (Ring mod/biploar VCA). But now I see that Arc has 2 bi-polar VCA's, I am very tempted to reconsider. But damn I wish more function generators had the ability to maintain duration of the rise and fall regardless of the rise/fall curve shape. Is there another FG that maintain's timing like the Falistri?

[@DivKid]

Contour 1 from Joranalogue is compensated but there's still some shift in time with the curve. This happens as the curve is feedback, on the original Serge DUSG you'd split the output and patch it back into the time CV inputs and that is what curves the slopes. In practice it's often easy to caught up in these details and I don't find it to be an issue in use if the time changes a bit or if I have to compensate turning another knob. That might be different for your use though.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

@@DivKid i used to own the contour 1. Joranalogue has been a favourite of mine for ever but I found the resolution was too sensitive in the faders so got rid of it. I was actually thinking about a getting a bunch of modules including contour 1, to build a “modular maths” so to speak. Using joranalogue’s compare 2 for the EOR/EOF part. But then realised contour one doesn’t have an input to toggle looping mode. :/ I know building a function generator in seperate modules would likely add up to more money than buying a maths, rampage etc but I’m finding myself drawn to “single function” modules for the freedom (& HP isn’t really an issue for a studio rig) Id absolutely love to see you make a video on how you would do this, because I suspect you would know how to get it done with all the functions that are featured across maths, rampage, fallistri etc while keeping costs down to a degree.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

@@DivKid oh and regarding the time changes associated with changing rise/fall curve shapes, I do actually find it to be a pain for specific tasks like making bass plucks that I want to be snappy but maintain perfect 16th note lengths while I adjust the shape of amp/filter cuttoff. For experimental stuff, having the timing change is pretty pretty awesome though.

[@DivKid]

@PspiralifeTutorials there's a lot of merit in going the modular building block route and building something yourself. It's often at a higher expense and a definite big expense in the HP needed but it really helps learn how everything works and to be able to customise everything to suit you. Gotcha RE the time changes with plucky clocked bassline stuff. When I'm doing that I usually have both hands on the curve and the time knob and adjust both in opposing ways to dial things in or to vary them over time. Not ideal for everything and ties up both hands of course.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

@@DivKid I appreciate and value your input mate and your efforts in general 🙏

[@latenightfortunecookie]

which oscillator did you use in the beginning?

[@DivKid]

Which bit of the "beginning"? Give me a time stamp and I'll explain what's going on. It will most likely be in the patching and not a specific module, whatever the thing/sound you're looking for is. From memory there was the Erica Synths Graphic VCO, Plaits and the Cycle 5 from Joranalogue across the demo. I don't do anything 'fancy' with them as that's not the focus of the video though.

[@latenightfortunecookie]

@@DivKid 0:15 the first sound example :)

[@DivKid]

that was a wavetable from the Erica Synths Graphic VCO.

[@johnnybeaver8351]

Is there a simple way to get an EOC out this?

[@DivKid]

for end of cycle you could take the fall gate that's active during the fall stage and invert (and offset) it. That way you'd have a gate that was high as the gall gate ends and would remain high until the fall stage again.

[@johnmahoney5393]

I had the same question. That’s what I like about MN Function.

[@johnnybeaver8351]

@@johnmahoney5393 I am kind of curious as to why function generators don’t have this feature more often. Seems by far the most useful to me.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

Hard Sync!

[@DivKid]

hard sync!

[@Chaosbar]

Hard sync! 😉

[@DivKid]

oooh a cheeky unlisted comment! :)

[@TMeier]

So I guess that would be more like a soft sync then? 😂

[@DivKid]

haha

[@latenightfortunecookie]

how is this comment 6 days old and the video 36 minutes old?

[@DivKid]

The video has been complete a while but set privately and shared with the company and stores for it's release. So someone in that chain has watched and commented.

[@larsgustav.gudbrandsen]

I wish someone would make a more compact dual function generator... 24 HP? What? I guess one could always buy a couple of Pip Slopes...

[@DivKid]

depends on how much you want to actual manually play and control things or not. Everything can't be micro all the time. Though some things can be. It's also the stack of all the things, two functions, the bit of logic and mixing and then the two bipolar VCAs ... hard to make that from other modules in less HP.

[@larsgustav.gudbrandsen]

@@DivKid Yeah, I agree. I was just thinking that there are actually a lot of big FG's, with Maths and the B-clone, Rampage, Serge DUSG, Arc, the Buchla/TTA 281... but literally not a single compact one. And I don't really mean micro either, but maybe around 10-12 HP? There's the Eowave Volcan, or 2x Pips... There's also loads of dual ADSRs that are 12 HP or less.

[@TheIst0NE]

Use two Endorphines Airstreamer. The two is 8 HP together, sans the logic and mixer functions

[@tillawilderreturns3342]

@@larsgustav.gudbrandsen Is Delta-V missing something since it’s not mentioned?

[@GhostKitchenBand]

I have the Cosmotronic Delta-V. It’s a 10hp dual function generator with built-in VCAs, level control, sum output, shape, EOC triggers, and cv control over the rise and fall time. It packs a lot into a small space, but it’s very cramped. I often have to mount it upside down in my case to be able to access the attack/decay knobs. When the envelope fully completes it’s decay stage, the EOC output fires a trigger that’s too short to be recognized by some modules. There’s a switch for cycling the envelopes, but the functions often freeze up and need to be restarted. If you use the built-in VCA, the envelope outputs become the VCA outputs, so there’s no way to access the cv from the envelope anymore. For example, you can patch an oscillator directly into the delta-v, and the envelope will act on the VCA with the result at the output, but there’s no way to use that same envelope to modulate a filter. There is a link switch so both sides can be triggered by the same input. 24hp is a lot, but it looks to have all the features I could want in a function generator which saves me from having to use extra helper modules. Thanks again for the demonstration and all the useful patching tips!

[@alexgrunde6682]

HARD SYNC

[@DivKid]

hardest of syncs!