Realms - with Knobula Poly Cinematic | feat. Vangelis' BladeRunner

In this video I am going to take the Poly Cinematic for a spin and visit 2019 Los Angeles in the BladeRunner timeline. This is also a tribute to Vangelis, another hero we've lost in 2022...
I've been playing with the idea of having my own eurorack module one day - which is most probably never going to happen. But it's been great fun to test 'the design' with existing modules. I love working with a 'soundstage' where there's a stereo field and a near/far depth. So this imaginary module has a stereo input that can be panned left, right, near and far. Near and far have their own FX chains. Finally, the near and far each have environmental loops so you get some idea of your location in time and space.
Edit: Realms is now a custom instrument for Nebulae V2, currenly in Beta 0.3 so not available yet for public release. But 'probably never going to happen' is no longer true :).

[@joefrost01]

Simply stunning piece of work

[@spaceman2791]

Very nice

[@orsheeboo]

That's a wonderfully lucid description of how to situate a sound within an environment. I think you're on to something with the Realms idea!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks! Realms for Qu-Bit Nebulae V2 coming soon. Currently Beta 0.3. I also heard somebody is working on a ZOIA patch too! So who knows where this will go. I just finished preparing a 'Dune' inspired set with the Neb...

[@I.O.M.]

Wow. You created quite the picture for us. Thanks!

[@Stue007]

Absolutely fantastic!!

[@mick3950]

Great sounds thanks for sharing

[@jaiden033]

Just brilliant

[@seancraig5373]

Awesome sounds-love it! Very cool concept for a module!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

It's time to take Realms 1.0 for a spin. It's now a custom instrument for Nebulae V2. I'll hopefully post it next week.

[@lafemmedevastation]

omg you TOOK me there! absolutely *perfect* soundscaping.. when I get money I'm gonna be _soooo_ broke🤣

[@kostantinosmag2986]

Great one

[@quantumcadillac4748]

this is awesome! Really cool patch. Love the blade runner ambiscapes. Totally got me inspired to patch and explore new environments …….and do some shopping.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks for sharing! I hope you find one!

[@martintaylor9205]

Robert as ever Thought provoking,have you a Modular shop you seem to have a never ending Plethora of Modules😄love the Realms module idea WHEN is ever the right time This creation had Orwellian overtones 1984 loved it 👍🎶🆒🎶🎶🎶🔱🕸⚡️😎

[@CinematicLaboratory]

No, but my eurocrack dealers love me :). I decided to specialize in eurorack in 2018 so my collection has been growing for the last four years. The C19 times ruined vacation plans so plenty of budget to expand and go on exciting headphone trips!

[@dwp2659]

really like the functional graphics approach to explain your patch - more of that please. don't see much of "Frames" being used - love mine, a very unique module - really happy to see it make an appearance. well done!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks! I think I'll do that graphic explanations a bit more! Frames is amazing, but probably a bit underappreciated - and now officially discontinued. They're still around at local dealers so I think I'd get a second one next week to be able to work in dual mono / stereo. I am running the Parasite firmware, btw...

[@Bfredproduction]

Great 👍🏽

[@brittjones4433]

Hey brother could you possibly make a war track with your technical technique and use war sounds - real life guns or science fiction, I leave it as your decision. But using your wrap around - overhead - super far - left channel - right channel - up close and personal one on one interview technique could you do the same with WW2 battle sounds or Sci-fi battle sounds!!!! But this would be great for some drum and bass raves - you should look up let it roll festival!!! But this sounds awesome I can see these objects making the noises mentally like I'm actually there this is THX - DTS SURROUND SOUND ON DRUG'S!!!!! ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! PLEASE CONTINUE AND I HOPE YOU GET A JOB IN THE FILM INDUSTRY TV OR FILM OR BOTH!!!!

[@symbiat0]

So like Dolby Surround with CV ? I also have been noodling with the Knobula, so nice 😁

[@janfansen]

super cool concept, you might want to consider some additional phase shifting to provide an even more spatial effect

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Indeed! I am waiting for the Neuzeit Quasar to add 3D binaural sound to the mix.

[@KattKirsch]

Gosh, just what I needed for my early Friday morning.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Well, to be honest, this module is so powerful it only needs power and a cheap midi keyboard like the keystep.The built in reverb is cool, but I'd add a Typhoon to expand it to a Universal scale. Also, modulating the built in filter is amazing so something like Maths or the Tiptop Buchla 281T would make a strong addition.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Oh, and you'd need an end of chain mixer that can connect to your ears. Noise Engineering has a small output module you can connect to the daw and headphones. I am not sure, but the Intellijel palette case also has outputs.

[@mpingo91]

The question will be off-topic, but that's why I have to ask it because you probably never talked about it. :P Are you using any of the resonant equalizer module, something like Serge Resonant EQ etc.? And if so, what is it and do you consider such a module valuable at all?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Always feel free to ask anything! But unfortunately I have no experience with any equalizer in eurorack except the Total Recall which I use for correction if needed. I always feel the value of any module greatly depends on the music you love to make and the other modules that need to team up with it. Personally my ears don't like resonance because of a damaged ear drum so I tend to cut the highs a lot. Equalizers are great tools for creative and corrective use, but you may already have some high/low/bandpass filters you can also use. I am waiting for the Frapp Tools Fumana. I think it will be very valuable.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Fantastic! Just ordered mine. So how would I get multiple sounds from the module with using a sequencer?

[@yongamusic]

Use a sequencer that outputs MIDI, such as the Vector or Black Sequencer. Then sending several sequences (or a chord sequence) via the same Midi channel to the Poly Cinematic will give you what you desire.

[@dedodan1]

Beautiful, atmosphere here is huge Help: Where can I get good samples for the 1010?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Basically any sound service like sounds.com etc. can get you really good samples. I use Envato Elements for my stock footage, but they also provide a lot of Audio Jungle sounds in the same subscription.

[@briangardner5053]

Amazing vibes!! What is that beautiful bass around 5.20?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks! I think it's a low note played on the Knobula Poly Cinematic. It's polyphonic over midi.

[@ancow1]

How does the Knobula compare to the Demon Core/Expander? Have the latter, eying the former and curious how they stack up against eachother in terms of polyphonic sounds (particularly for ambient purposes)

[@CinematicLaboratory]

The Knobula has a built in ADSR envelope generator where the Demon+Exp has AD. Knobula has a very cool built in reverb and an organ sound. I also feel the 'spread' on the Knobula sounds amazing and it has a very useful built in filter. So to be honest, the Poly Cinematic provides a huge array of features in a small package and I don't think there's anything that can compete - except 1010Music Synthbox.

[@studio48nl]

@0:22 , ha, so it's not just me ;) I did get it I think... Let's build this in the Nebulea 😅

[@ietsutashu]

It'd be pretty easy to build your "Realm" patch with the Poly Effects Hector. I have a semi similar patch that uses crossfades, a high pass filter and convolution reverb to basically emulate a DJ mixer with 6 inputs on it. I'm just running to stereo out, but you could easily have 4-8 outputs.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks for the tip! I lost track of the Hector after seeing it having laggy UI and performance issues with a complex patch. How does it perform with such a patch? A friend of mime is coding the realms idea in Nebulae V2 and it's amazing so far.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Pre-ordered :)

[@ietsutashu]

@@CinematicLaboratory Poly Effects fixed the laggy UI a while ago, so it’s been great since that update. The total DSP of the unit is hard to quantify, as it depends on the patch. As an example my main patch has a 4 in 2 out crossfader, 2x 1 in 4 band out filters and 2x stereo convolution reverbs and it runs around 70%. If I took out one or both of the convolution reverbs the DSP demand would be significantly less.

[@masonarcher2998]

Very cool patch idea, initially I was thinking as you did, that you’d need stereo outs with panning on some type of mixer and some way to modulate the panning. In your patch experiment, did you use primarily amplitude/volume as the stand in for near vs far? I’m just thinking the first part of your patch I may be able to try to pull off. I’ve got nothing for thunderstorms or commercials though! Having said that, you use the 1010 modules quite a bit in your patches, definitely worth having a bitbox then?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

For the 'far' mixer I turned the volume down a bit, added some low pass filtering and more space. I also narrowed the stereo field a bit. The 'near' side is a bit louder, wide stereo and no filter.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

About BitBox - I can't be objective about it. I have two MK1's, a MK2, a micro and a Toolbox - and I use all of them all the time.

[@symbiat0]

Have you looked at the Quasar module from Neuzeit Instruments ?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Yes, arriving tomorrow:)

[@symbiat0]

@@CinematicLaboratory Loopop just dropped a vid on the Quasar 😉

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

Poly Cinematic…..I liked it so much I bought the company! (well, I didn’t buy the company, but I did buy a 2nd Poly Cinematic) 🤪

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Well, they're out of stock bow so the community did a good job for them :). But I also have to show off with a very strong competitor that's been around way longer. Coming soon!

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

@@CinematicLaboratory Nice! Looking forward to it.