Getting to Know Mutable Instruments Elements (Modal Synthesis)

I took the plunge and got the big bad Mutable Instrumente Elements modal synthesis eurorack module. I like it, and I want to show it to you, ok?
Elements Bouncy 4 On the Floor Performance: • Getting Funky with Mut...
Elements Ambient Performance: • creaking on an astral ...
Elements Dark Downtempo Performance: • snake charming (mi ele...
Gear in this video:
(Bitly links are through the Perfect Circuit affiliate program and support the channel)
Mutable Instruments Elements: bit.ly/3awLBGA
Mutable Instruments Plaits: bit.ly/3sGjDi1
Mutable Instruments Braids: bit.ly/3sLwL5o
Mutable Instrument Marbles: bit.ly/2QfMfBF
Multable Instruments Rings: bit.ly/pc_rings
Qu-Bit Data Bender: bit.ly/pc_data_bender
Acid Rain Maestro: bit.ly/2RKVfyP
Pamela's New Workout: bit.ly/2QRxnZO
Happy Nerding FX Aid XL: www.happynerding.com/category/...
Circuit Abbey Unify: circuitabbey.com/Unify.html
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Thank you for watching. My name is Jeremy, and this is Red Means Recording. I've been making music for a few decades now, and this channel is a place to make music and to talk about the tools and techniques to make music with. We'll use synths, drum machines, modular gear, and software.
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[@xTheOxx]

I feel Emilie might be the most significant synth creator of the last 20 years. She has created several massively influential modules, with an open-source mentality to boot.

[@johnnybeaver8351]

That's a really good point. I'm not a fan of the Mutable modules myself, but you can't deny the impact. The number of people that have been introduced to eurorack by way of Rings / Clouds is almost absurd.

[@seanp2k617]

+1, her continued contributions to the modular world cannot be overstated and I’m so happy these all exist.

[@S374PH]

+1000k most tinnovative synth make of the the 2000s

[@rickbolander7131]

Dude, you “just scratching the surface” with Elements shows me I haven’t even scratched the surface of scratching the surface! I’ve enjoyed it over the last couple years of owning it, but my application has been (obvious to me now) limited. Your very deliberate method of focusing on specific aspects as you got started, then integrating them together was super-enlightening and a very helpful way to understand what’s going on behind the scenes of the incredible patches I’ve heard created on Elements. Thanks for exposing these techniques in a way that many of us can build upon!

[@jonaseggen2230]

I was about to say the exact same thing but I said something silly instead : /

[@Splants]

I don't understand how I've had this for years and still can't get any interesting sounds out of it other than using Space on maximum

[@hairandjeromelondon]

Mutable instruments is making such a great job on Eurorack. One of my favourite sound designer!

[@aytchess]

This can be done in a DAW This can be done in a DAW This can... Oh no, its available in stock.

[@seth.graham]

There's a port of Elements in vcv rack. It doesn't have the same timbre as the real world version, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper. And still a hell of a lot of fun.

[@paultuffy]

You nailed it. I was thinking I might sell mine, but a quick look at this video convinced me to never ever let it be pried from my hands

[@richarquis]

I just got a mint condition (hardly) used OG Elements a few hours ago. So many amazing ideas here to work off. Thank you!

[@mattmar96]

Thank you for keeping the intro where you messed up. I absolutely love that.

[@navicore]

I love my Elements. Thanks for highlighting this module - I can hear the horrified gasps about its size. For me, modular is nothing w/o ergonomics and Elements' layout's well thought-out exposure of physical modelling ideas is ingenious.

[@Srcsqwrn]

It's so cool to hear how excited you are when using these! So passionate!

[@MrXNITROx]

I really wanted a big slot machine voice saying "You Win!" at 16:12

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

19:59 oh, that cat right there is throwin' DOWN, y'all!!

[@Modwaev]

Just sat down with mine after watching your video and it feels like I’ve found a new toy which has been in my system for a long while now. That thrill when you get new gear in the studio… but by only spending 20 minutes on your channel! Awesome, thanks man

[@raka9003]

Goddammit, im sold, never seen this kind of jams/sounds from Elements. Thought it was not my type. Awesome video dude 👌👌👌👌

[@francisc7350]

This hit all the inspiration buttons for today, thanks Jeremy, great video, great tunes 👌

[@wolfdesk]

Elements was my first module and possibly the only module I will never sell.. it is so much fun and versatile.

[@erynwells4606]

Some of the most fun I've had with Rings was when I used it as a percussion module. This is like that but .. bigger! Super cool! Thanks for showing it off! 😄

[@medenine4828]

Elements and Maestro, what a great team! A full band right there.

[@aaronbridgeman5634]

Would not have thought that physical modelling would be my kind of thing but damn this sounds good.

[@PocketUnv]

I've had my eye on this module for a while now, I absolutely don't understand it, but I think I love it.

[@jonaseggen2230]

It's not that hard to get. Not difficult at all. Just needs loads of play. Got a surprisingly good secret mode to. Could be a good girl or boyfriend. You just got to get the feeling for the relationship between the knobs, and the only way to do that is to play around with her/him.

[@jkuebler89]

Wow something new every day. So much content!

[@karaokeapocalypse683]

‘This thing can get fucking crazy’ got my like!

[@Autotross]

Wow, best demo I’ve heard of Elements!

[@boydw1]

Holy shit - I had no idea Elements could make such cool & interesting basslines!

[@jahmontee74]

Dope video! Elements is definitely a favorite in my rack! But...dang you make it shine! ♥️♥️

[@chaya77032]

Blow and Flow are absolutely wild.

[@5stringaustin]

Good God…. About 6 minutes into this, my wallet actually crawled out of my pocket and hit pause on the video. 🤣 This thing is absolutely SICK.

[@stompfoot5855]

The sounds you are getting out of that thing are amazing!

[@chrausis]

Really love the sound of the modelling synthesis modules, this one sounds particularly fantastic. Might have to add one of these to the rack too

[@danbocook]

Looks in wallet...*frown* Looks at VCV Rack...*this will do for now face* Wishlist updated

[@scottkinder4888]

Add a novation launch control + vcv -pretty nice, because it gives you knobs. I like elements very much but my problem is hp. Having it in vcv is a godsend!

[@TheNimasan]

@@scottkinder4888 thats right it takes lots of hp but having the elements in rack is like having 84 hp other modules, imo. its just deliver so fucking much!! and its damn good looking,too!

[@scottkinder4888]

@@TheNimasan it's super cool! Just saying for ~$120 for novation xl to turn knobs, is a pretty sweet bang for the buck, and doesn't require any hp :)

[@strobeant144]

Great demo of Elements! I always liked it but even more so now 😁

[@JK-zx3go]

I'm sold, sounds great.

[@synkrotron]

I found this while doing some research on MI Elements... So glad I did :-) I've had my Elements for three years now and I am know I am not pushing its boundaries in terms of sound design. Which is crazy, really... I tend to jump straight into composition and do not spend enough time getting to grips with the basics. Geometry is something I don't have much joy with and I generally leave it at ten o'clock, which is, I was told, the easiest position to get Elements tuned. So Geometry is something I really must spend more time with. Anyway, one thing I have been trying the last couple of days is using Elements as a drone machine by sending a voltage, of just enough power, to open the gate. Obviously, the mallet section doesn't work, but you get some amazing drones from the Bow and Blow sections. Elements is also great when using the audio inputs. All in all, one of my best modular purchases :-)

[@wildaudiosociety]

That totally sold me -so much funk! Will be picking one up this Friday....and then getting my 1st shot, at last ;-)

[@samaBR333]

loved the Maestro great review on Elements

[@theimmortalelectrogod4679]

The only module I regret selling. Awesome video!

[@NateHorn]

Very cool sounds!

[@sinemountain]

Elements is almost in every patch I use. So great as a voice, percussion, or a sound processor (using it end of change is a blast). I hope you do more of these with all the modes within Elements, including the FM mode. WHEEEE!

[@Spherical_El]

That was a beautiful tune. Man I can't go modular - but wow did you rock that. PS if that was on vinyl I would buy in a heart ❤💙beat

[@amar_paul]

So great ❤

[@NICUofficial]

Good lord this module always does 100x more than I think it will. One of the definitive Eurorack modules that got me into modular back when I started (in VCV)

[@davidjazay9248]

Very well explained, thank you :)

[@izzymonkey]

Delicious groove!

[@thebluehotel5215]

I like how RMR was supposed to be a guitarist/producer and now just thrashes techno. Soooooo good. Also love these 'long-form' demos; running the same sequence/background stuff and really exploring what each of the knobs does is EXACTLY how I learn a module on my own. Rather than have different setups for each example (as DivKid and others do) RMR just jams with one thing in the background so you can hear the range of the module; Ensemble Osc was a great demo too. Don't get me wrong, DivKid is amazing, I'm glad that there's a spectrum of 'demo-ists' out there.

[@RedMeansRecording]

I would be nothing without divkid

[@JoseRomero-yr3wl]

Thanks Jeremy for reminding me that I need one : )

[@silofuse]

I learned a poop ton. Thanks very much!

[@pixelatedbeatz]

Crrrraaaaazy man ..... sooo good

[@brentwadden_]

Thanks Jeremy! im surprised at how little coverage exists on this amazing module! perhaps its not very popular because of its size? Its still one of my fav so thank you for this/.

[@akuro2685]

Gosh darn it Jeremy!!!! Now I want to get an Elements to go with my Rings!

[@rayflux]

oh my.... i want to dance! great sound! thanks man

[@Paratekorg]

Emily is the greatest! Thanks for video :)

[@outaspaceman]

Thanks for this…👍 Helped open it (ALA Atom) up for me..

[@MikeUIibarri]

Excellent.

[@filouzagames8452]

I’ve been searching for a good physical/modal type of synth. This sound is so freaking good! I have an 0-Coast but no idea what I would need to make it work with the elements or plaits. Time for research!

[@robertsyrett1992]

The extended outro jam is gooey.

[@edgarm6017]

Love that you got the big MI one. So gorgeous and fun to play. The little ones just aren’t the same (more affordable tho)

[@AestheticStudiosMelb]

something something my dear Watson

[@TheNimasan]

great demo as alwys jeremy. Rings and Elements are both very special modules. and i love them to death. btw, you should make a demo about the blades. i thought belgrad or jove are my fav filters until I got the blades, that filter blew my mind away.....crazy!!!!

[@RedMeansRecording]

Blades is my absolutely favorite filter. I would get two.

[@TheNimasan]

@@RedMeansRecording mine as well. do you have one? if yes make a demo. cuz your demos are top notch!!

[@cyrillerobin5564]

make an album with thaaaat !!! it's awesome, i would buy it three times

[@znxster]

My personal favourite was Strike. But damn what a neat package that is.

[@kostantinosmag2986]

Nice video thank you...

[@freiksenet]

Those videos always make me want to buy the module.

[@Srcsqwrn]

I wish there were cheaper ways for me to obtain a little sound playgrpund like this in physical form! I really want to mess with racks like this!

[@freiksenet]

@@Srcsqwrn Vcvrack has all mutable modules, you can try it there!

[@Srcsqwrn]

@@freiksenet Yeah, I'm planning to mess with VCV rack. But it's just all so much easier to use these things in physical form. As well as bringing them around to places instead of relying on VCV rack. Unfortunately every time I try to get into VCV, I get really confused for some reason.

[@matthaze30]

Bah...someone beat me to it. This is so damn cool btw.

[@codarobo]

Hope you have a wonderful day too

[@timandtheocean]

I hate this channel, made me buy an OP1 and now this ;) great vid dude!

[@eyesintheskies]

Like many I have heard a lot of people rave about clouds but clearly elements is where it’s at!

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

Eh? They're completely different things. That's like saying "I've heard a lot of people raving about frogs, but ladders are where it's at!"

[@eyesintheskies]

@@OldGreyMulletTest well yes but not quite, frogs & ladders are not from the same ecosystem .

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

@@eyesintheskies You should see my ladder... 🐸

[@BackspinZX]

Sooooooo when's the Wicked-Ass Techno With Elements live set? :D Totally wanna hear what you can do with this when you're properly trying, if this is what we get when you're just poking around, because this is *insane.*

[@z0OZ00OOO]

Thaaaank youuuuu

[@verbenamusic]

Perfectly timed! I've been desperatley trying to get to know the emulation of this on my organelle

[@BobbyLachapelle]

My very first module. This module is the reason I start building a eurorack case. And with the alternative firmware is a lot of beautifull sounding.

[@FerIsella]

bloody hell!!!

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

okay!! 17:56 what in the eff is happening there!?! it sounds so damn good!!

[@i_never_asked_for_an_alias]

Dem HP's though. Nice Module anyway.

[@510th]

Oh hell yeah cat approves! On bow, when you started to go clockwise past 1 o’clock it actually starts to sound like a bow on strings, like a viola/violin... but you only let it make that sound for but a moment... as if keeping the best of blow to yourself... sounds wrong, lol. Cheers!

[@louisharkna9464]

Elements...of Life! Thank you for sharing, and my wallet is gonna hate me someday.😁

[@SorchaSublime]

Something about this makes me think of BIA. That they would pair beautifully

[@johngardener279]

i just decided that i will save up all my money on a modular synth

[@seansnyder7744]

Can't help but think of how much more depth you can get with an lfo patched as clock trigger to a sample and hold generator into some of the cv ins on the elements.

[@visisydandthevoid]

This is gonna be my first module. Trying my damndest to figure out how modular works and what I need to go with it. 😭 my eyes hurt from reading

[@tobywalsh3266]

Awesome video! How did you get the side chain pumping? Cheers!!

[@RedMeansRecording]

Ramp up out of maestro at 1/4 note into strength and a little extra in post

[@xwkshfrajerze1083]

6:16 i creamed my pants bro

[@Felitsius]

I'm thinking of it as kind of a cooler and extended "corpus" (ableton)

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yes! And tension a little bit.

[@rudiger86]

me likey

[@Autotross]

How would you compare Elements vs a combo of Plaits + Rings? This decision has been perplexing me for a while.

[@RedMeansRecording]

pretty different. elements is closer to braids + rings, but still different.

[@jonaseggen2230]

Thank You!!! Elements was one of the first modules I got and DivKid was my main source for learning how to play it. Even though I mainly do ambient stuff and lately have focused primarily on it's alternative FM mode, I really appreciate this and learned a few tricks and stuff I never thought about. Btw from watching the Brad vs Plat video I ended up buying a Brad secondhand. I like Brad. Brad is fun, Brad is good, and particularly nice to Elemental. Well played making nice when explaining to, and I love that you also make videos about old folks for balance to the young and trendy, because as much as I am interested and fascinated by all the new stuff it is pure gold to be found or made with many of the classics. (You see this grampas and grandmas?) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHPPfayCp7Z7bc0&ab_channel=Melodia When Brad don't get it he is in the "WTFM" (M=mode) Sometimes this makes Brad angry and the only thing he can think of is "HARM" When he gets it though he has a "CLOU" He once had the wrong mushrooms and thought he was a dyslexic dog "VFOF" Brad knows a few words. Not many but more than this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYDRlZhrmJyCfZo&ab_channel=RoxyMusicVEVO OK I'll see myself out and heading over to your other Elle Metal video now.

[@user-fy4qc6cj5r]

Is it third (chords) mode? I was inspired with your video and got Elemets (build DIY) and was very dissapointed, becasue it sounds not like your one. Just today tried chords mode and it seems like my one sounds very similar to your item in this video.

[@alsodan]

Nice Rack!

[@TheAtch3000]

im trying the exact same as the first simple bass sound on my side and it sounds totally different (its antumbra atom but same)... using gates/cv from muxlicer

[@xheartinhandx]

My buddy has atom and we tried setting them up and comparing, they always sounded a little different. Something about his never sound as deep or full. But some of the knobs seemed to be wildly different to get a similar effect.

[@gmodunes]

What is that black module directly to the left of the Pachinko? Thanks!

[@Epixal]

Which vax did you get? I noticed I was having issues getting words out in the right order for a day or two after my first dose (pfizer) but had attributed it to sleep deprivation.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Pfizer!

[@JamesReedy]

Reminiscent of plonk in some regards. It’d be nice to get every Mutable module ala shared system. I’ve got a few legit modules and some of those open source ones. I wish I’d seen pachinko before I bought Cara, it works but damn are the controls tight. I had to put 1HP spacers between nRings, nClouds, & Cara otherwise it was laughable.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yeah sadly the small versions are really hard to use.

[@Nick-kb6jd]

Did you keep the elements? Still use it a lot? I have a rings and I wander if I can immitate the exciter in Elements with other modules I have. Does that get close?

[@RedMeansRecording]

I sold it because of it's size. I like it but it never fit into a rack I was trying to build.

[@Nick-kb6jd]

@@RedMeansRecording Yeah, gunna try and excite my rings with various sources to get closer to elements. thanks Jeremy.

[@jimifilipovski6117]

Could I make a case with just pam's new workout, rings, and beads? Or do I need another module to send voltage?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Naw that would be enough to get going

[@Easybake_Cocktails]

How are the ext inputs? I have yet to really find anything on youtube patch wise where they are being used.

[@RedMeansRecording]

i dont ever use them

[@racalik]

Do you find the Elements to be hard to control sometimes? I mean the extreme dynamic volume spikes, harsh high frequencies... sometimes it's unbearable and just sounds.. well ... shit... :) but sometimes something very unexpected happens in a very good way! I'm struggling to bond with it, but I would very much like to. Please let me know if you have similar impressions? I recently got Rings, and does it sounds so much better!! Magic module. In terms of general audio quality. Am I missing something with Elements?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yes.

[@racalik]

@@RedMeansRecording ok I need to get back to this comment here : my Elements had a small fault (DIY unit). It literally needed one resistor replaced and now it works great, lots of fun :) thanks for the video

[@mileswaite]

Please please PLEEEEASE can you recreate this in VCV Rack 2?

[@eyesintheskies]

Do you reckon it’s actually possible to just buy a couple of modules & go no further?

[@moldythoughts4765]

I always play with it in VCV rack... the day will come when I can touch it in real life... big up... by the way, check out my project... when I am done with it I will make it open sorce for a bit diy fun...

[@SharedVision333]

What is the black module with the knob next to Pam’s new workout?

[@MarioGodoyMusic]

Clank Chaos

[@nectariosm]

@16:08 Hang on a minute...6 triangles? What firmware is this?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Stock

[@nectariosm]

@@RedMeansRecording strange. Mine is too but I don't have this wavetable...hmmm. Anyway thanks for responding.

[@neilmoffat]

@@RedMeansRecording those 6X waves are in the Braids Rennaisance firmware. You can confirm it by checking whether you have the "SAM" vocal banks after the drum banks and before the noise banks

[@TheVinn1982]

What is Modal Synthesizer by the way ?