Strange Spectral Sweeps: A New Take with QPAS

A new take on an Allen Strange video we did awhile back. Sweeping parallel filters in opposite directions via an envelope follower. This patch is perfect for Morphagene and QPAS in the Tape & Microsound Music Machine!
The original video (using QMMG) can be found here:
• Strange Spectral Sweeps
The sounds in the video come from Kimathi Moore's "Dirty 12 String" Morphagene Reel: freesound.org/...
Allen Strange wrote the book on modular synthesizers in the 1970s. Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls. Unfortunately since the expanded 1982 edition, it has never been reprinted, and in today’s landscape where more people have access to modular synths than ever before, very few have access to the knowledge contained within. This video series will explore patches both basic and advanced from Strange’s text. Even the simplest patches here yield kernels of knowledge that can be expanded upon in infinite ways. I have been heavily influenced by Strange since long before I became a modular synth educator. Please share this knowledge far and wide.
makenoisemusic....

[@georgeredpath5394]

Thanks Walker and the MN team, always a pleasure watching these videos

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

thanks for watching! Glad you like them :D

[@yongamusic]

It would be a perfect fit if somehow Make Noise was able to attain the rights to Strange‘s book and publish it under the MN monniker!!

[@savagemessiah.]

There's someone on Muffwiggler who has negotiated rights to the book and is working towards getting it republished.

[@yongamusic]

SavageMessiah That‘s great news! I have a PDF, but a physical book is always preferable.

[@alecredfearn6525]

@@savagemessiah. I'm really glad to hear that that's happening. It's about time!

[@gay_milhouse1160]

I've been thinking I need a QPAS, it just does so much and sounds so good.

[@HoveyKraft]

You do. It's as amazing as you can imagine!

[@ethermod307]

Inspiring! Thnx. Video could be longer, it was getting more and more interesting adding modulations in the end!

[@vgermuse]

Brilliant! Excellent exploration and evolution! 💥🚀😎

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Thank you Todd :)

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I checked out the old QMMG video and could not think of any reason why Mr. Strange thought it would sound cool. 'Less Elegant' is a very friendly way to express it. However, with the QPAS it's haute sonic couture.

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

One factor is that the QMMG has a rougher sound and highly non-linear control inputs. I found the sound of the QMMG on this patch with significant resonance sounded like degrading, Disintegration Loops vibes, whereas with the QPAS I hear the sounds being transmuted into liquid. Most likely, Strange was using more "traditional" filters than either of these :)

[@mascaria1]

Love this concept you rock thanks for always keeping us satisfied 🍻

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Thanks for your support!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

Love it. So many exotic sounds !

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Thanks!

Damn cool!

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Thank you!

[@Mjygbjuytmhgy]

I am supposed to be working from home, but I'm watching MN videos instead 😎

[@Chris-gh4sp]

I honestly don't understand the radiate portion of the QPAS very well. I need to read the manual again 😂. Great sample choice for the QPAS and Morphagene pair!

[@ahzootube]

This sounds so musical. I love it! So the dry signal was just a guitar strumming right?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I think it was a piano reel available on Freesound.org

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

Yes the Reel is linked in the video description

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

freesound.org/people/makenoisemusic/sounds/418121/

[@chrismcavoy]

Any chance you could post a diagram of the full flow of the QPAS? The bits you shared in this video were super interesting, I had no idea it was routed this way. I double checked the manual, it's not there.

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

The diagrams here are based on the ones in the Allen Strange book for this particular patch. The internal routing of the QPAS is probably actually more complicated than this, but its signal flow diagram would be, ROUGHLY, two copies of the section here showing a dual filter with one inverter (two each for left and right outputs) PLUS an additional control (FREQ) whose CV is added to all four filter frequencies. There would also be three additional sets of outputs (LP, BP, HP, SP), and the bandpass output would be added back to the inputs by an amount set by the Q control (this part is actually shown on the faceplate as well).

[@chrismcavoy]

@@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC ah, got it...keep making videos then :) this one was an eye opener.

[@Braunld]

Fam, there a radiator in there? How much space between the Mimeofam and the QPAS... enough to fit a radiator? ...fam?

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

In heaven, everything is fine

[@bartmark5744]

sorry , but not for 2500euro... .

[@Braunld]

but, (fam) .. there's a radiator in there.. fam?

[@darksparklermusic]

Stunning! Reminds me to start searching for his book again.

[@MAKEN0ISEMUSIC]

It's worth the effort and expense to track down a copy!