Quantise all the Things! Ornament and Crime Quantermain deep tutorial and patch examples

[@kitespongan]

Thanks Dad! Ornament seems more intuitive than Expert Sleepers Disting line.

[@orangethecolour6015]

Great tutorial, just like the others! I've had my O_c for over a year now but still learning so much for your tutorials!

[@SynthDad]

Great to hear!

[@TheNimasan]

indeed his tutorials are the best…no question. disting ex and O_ c with the stock firmware might be the most complex modules. at least to me. but they are so damn great. once you wrap your head around, the possibilities are endless!!!

[@JohnoWells]

I'm not sure what you could do to make this video better. I definitely learned some new tricks with Quantermain. Thank you so much!

[@elm_assembly]

this was one of the first modules i purchased - there's always something new to learn. thank you!

[@SynthDad]

Thanks!

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Just got my first o&c and the seller on eBay recommended your channel. I replied to him that I was already a subscriber. Very helpful explanation once again. Thankyou. Just tried Piqued app with an ADDAC T-106 and Euclidean sequencing. I don't pretend to understand any of it, but found some "interesting" generative rhythms. Paired with Brains.

[@SynthDad]

Thanks for watching and enjoy exploring

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

Thank you for such an in-depth tutorial, I thought by the title, what’s the big deal, I had no idea all the nifty tricks there are to be totally unique! I love modular!!!

[@scottmacey]

To further echo the other comments... Thank you so much for this series of videos. I thought I knew a lot about synthesis...until I recently got into modular! This series has enabled me to go from random button pushing to getting melodic sequences from this amazing module and have a grip on what I'm doing. From one SynthDad to another, thank you so much

[@SynthDad]

You're very welcome! It's always great to get positive feedback, but more importantly to know that I've helped others on their modular journey just as I was helped myself.

[@Larry30102]

I have watched your whole OC series…some multiple times ;) You are the OC Master! I’m convinced. This is a module I must add. It’s crazy all the stuff this can do. A big thank you! I think some of the menu diving bums out some folks. But for me, being an old guy, coming from old hardware synths with those small LEDs, the OC is a breeze.

[@SynthDad]

Thank you Larry - really appreciate it! Menu diving doesn’t have to be so scary after all :) What old synths did you used to play?

[@TheNimasan]

ok got 2 O_c one with hemisphere one with the standard. now i need to learn ALOT. so all these amazig videos are like GOD's present. thank you so much!

[@SynthDad]

Thank you! You have lots of exploring to do! I’ll be making more videos over the next few weeks so stay tuned

[@TheNimasan]

@@SynthDad of course. there is no better tutorials outthere, imo!

[@kdsf12]

I have purchased an OC. I based that decision upon many of the tutorials you've made for us. I want to take the time to tell you I really appreciate your time and effort. You are doing a good thing for people! While I was in the throws on making the decision to buy an OC, to be frank, the menu diving was a big concern. I hate menu diving. But, I said to heck with it and bought it. For the first time yesterday, instead of watching one of your tutorials upstairs in the computer room, I went downstairs to my studio space. It makes a BIG difference to watch with you while sitting in front of the thing and work with it. Again, thank-you for what you do! I know that the editing must take a lot of time ... but please know: it is SO worth it!!! You make every single step perfectly clear. It's fantastic. Edit: when you use a pen to point at things: that's a really BIG deal. We can SEE what you're doing and what you're pointing out. That helps us... A LOT.

[@SynthDad]

Wow thank YOU for taking the time to write such a wonderful comment and share how my videos have helped you on your modular journey. It is so encouraging to me to hear from people who find my work beneficial to them, and gives me that little "push" I need when stuck on something. Enjoy your OC!

[@kdsf12]

@@SynthDad You are doing a good thing. The world needs more of it.

[@NoxBoxdy]

I have honestly never even used quantermain in it. Very cool use of it you show here! Thanks! Hope all is well!

[@SynthDad]

Thanks, you too!

[@firstandlast4415]

I cant believe how well you explain this and at a good pace. Thanks so much !

[@SynthDad]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewnancarrow]

Great video again. One quick tip about Pam’s though is you don’t need to attenuate the output with a separate module, simply adjust the output level in Pam’s.

[@SynthDad]

True but it’s more playable to have an external attenuverter for faster adjusting

[@oldsoulsound]

Super thorough and wonderfully explained. Quantermain is my favorite app in OC. Now I have an even better understanding of its capabilities. Great set of tutorials on the OC apps.

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@Almanacs]

I've never explored my Oc this deep! Thank for the amazing exploration.

[@SynthDad]

You’re welcome, I’ve been really enjoying making these tutorials on O_C

[@mistersixhundred1957]

I got my o_C a couple weeks ago and it's been really fun exploring it with these videos. Thank you and looking forward to more!

[@SynthDad]

Great to hear that - enjoy the exploration!

[@3str]

Fellow synth dad here. Just wanted to say thanks for doing this!

[@SynthDad]

Thank you - appreciate it!

[@djstayhome]

Love it! Great super clear explanations and handy tips - thank you

[@SynthDad]

You're very welcome!

[@el_dani]

9:07 ok, you sold me (I already have all the tone stuff but was asking myself why getting a sophisticated quantizer, now I know)

[@SynthDad]

Thanks :) The power of Quantermain comes from modulating the scale mask to create progressions

[@seanspartan2023]

I just picked up an o_C module by Tall Dog. There's so much going on, it's a bit overwhelming. These tutorial videos come in really handy!

[@SynthDad]

Great to hear!

[@chatolars]

Man that was a brilliant tutorial on such a Complex module as Ornament. Please keep up with these. 👏👏👏

[@SynthDad]

Thanks, will do!

[@MARTINORMANCV]

Thank you for a suite of excellent videos. Your presentation is very accessible and choice of modules to help the explanations really work well. Thanks for your hard work putting them together. (Pedant alert! Pi isn’t an integer)

[@SynthDad]

You are welcome and I'm happy to hear that they are helpful! And yes, you're right that Pi is not an integer in mathematics, but of course the O_C has to limit the representation to a fixed precision set of integers

[@MARTINORMANCV]

@@SynthDad I have three O&C and a Temps instead of the Pams so I'm all over these videos.

[@SynthDad]

Wow 3 O_Cs! I only have two of them (one is standard firmware, one is Hemispheres). What do you use them for? Happy to take suggestions for future videos

[@MARTINORMANCV]

@@SynthDad I just checked and I have 4! (Most of my rig is DIY so I do a run and sell odd ones off). I use them for generative patching primarily, usually to modulate other modules to make those modules have new functionality. It’s an ideal way to unlock stale modules and prevent GAS!

[@xTheOxx]

Holy moly this module is brilliant. Thank you for your crystal clear demos.

[@SynthDad]

Thank you - appreciate it!

[@pedroeustache5511]

BRILLIANT! Thanks sir... this was extremely insightful! God bless you!!

[@SynthDad]

You are very welcome

[@alexdenicola]

I just received mine today! Can't wait to try this and much more! Yours videos are going to be so useful! Thanks a lot🤟

[@SynthDad]

Enjoy!

[@tanksmoonchild]

Perfect. I was considering getting an O_c for the quantizer. This was very helpful. Now let me check the other videos too. Looks like you have more helpful vids. Cheers.

[@SynthDad]

Thank you! Yes I’ve covered five of the other apps in detail in the standard firmware with more videos planned. Stay tuned!

[@LeonTrimble]

Perfect! I just reracked and I have pams, mimetic & O_c next to each other in the rig!

[@SynthDad]

Great choice of modules!

[@robertosalcedo2506]

Excelent tutorials. Thanks so much sir!

[@SynthDad]

Thanks for watching!

[@calbars]

Top notch tutorial, as usual. Thanks you for these videos!

[@SynthDad]

My pleasure!

[@ricksanders]

Good tutorial again, as all your O_C vids (and as bonus we even get to see the deejay 🤓) ✌️

[@SynthDad]

Glad you like them! Figured I show my face this time :)

[@ResAffolterSoundproductions]

Danke!

[@ritec]

Thanks for these tutorials, they are very well made with some wonderful examples.

[@SynthDad]

You're very welcome!

[@shane_l8085]

Great concise tutorial as always, thanks. Didn't know the scale mask could be modulated, thats going to be very handy, granted I've only had the 0_c a couple weeks so not done a deep manual dive yet.

[@SynthDad]

Thanks - rotating the scale mask is a great feature for making melodies evolve

[@JohnLRice]

Very excellent tutorial! I REALLY want to love

[@effiksmusic]

Nice video. I use Quantermain as a quad S&H for pitch cv. I’m decoupling gate and pitch and long notes would otherwise change pitch while the gate is high. It’s also woks as a buffered multi for picht cv. For me it’s the cheapest module to achieve this. And still all the other algorithms are there, if I like to use it differently.

[@SynthDad]

That's a good approach; running long gates into the quantiser and then modulating the scale mask rotation at a faster rate creates interesting movement separate from the gate rhythm

[@BenGeorge77]

This tutorial series is awesome. Any plans to do any videos on the Hemisphere firmware?

[@SynthDad]

Yes I do plan to do some on Hemispheres. I’ve a few more of the stock firmware ones to cover as well

[@mwmacp]

Another excellent tutorial, cheers! I'd be interested in any videos on the 4ms SWN if you were looking for suggestions for content. Definitely looks an interesting/powerful module.

[@SynthDad]

Great suggestion! I'd like to do more explorations on the SWN soon

[@mwmacp]

@@SynthDadI will start saving my pennies in the meantime. I just know you are gonna make me need to buy it! Haha

[@Lewp77]

thanks I just got one, trying to figure it out. this helps fasho

[@SynthDad]

Glad I could help

[@kalubandali2241]

My hero, Thanks for the video

[@SynthDad]

Any time!

[@elluisito000]

Hi! Thanks for the video, I will search this module on google to quantify its value, and see if i can afford it :D

[@SynthDad]

I think the O_C is one of the best value modules; so much functionality in a small space

[@borkkorb]

incredibly clear. thank you!

[@SynthDad]

Thank you - glad you found it useful

[@eurotium]

amazing video ! thank you very much !

[@SynthDad]

Thank you for watching!

[@rainerd9890]

thanks again for your in depth look at o_c. i was especially curious about my problems with the LFSR turing machine, i.e nothing much seems to be happening even when playing with the modulus, range, and probability values and discovered - as you pointed out, they just get stuck! very annoying. i don't really understand why my cv going into the above mentioned parameters doesn't get it moving again.

[@SynthDad]

I think there are some 'dead spots' as best I can tell in the LFSR (and byte beat) algorithms where no new values get generated. It confused me at first too

[@chitlun]

I like the cut of your jib sir! Consider me a new sub 👍 Excellent video, cheers. As a modular newbie, I’m looking at essential modules to get and this seems like a no brainer really. If you were going to buy one or the other, would it be one of these or a Disting Mk4? Eventually I want both but hey… Edit: I just ordered an O_C!

[@SynthDad]

Welcome aboard the modular train! Given a choice (and it's a tough one) I'd go for the O_C. Disting can do audio processing though (e.g. delays, reverb) that the O_C can't do. Also, top Simpsons reference Mr Snrub!

[@chitlun]

@@SynthDad Hahaha! Cheers man. Been messing with synths on and off for many, many years and played around with VCV Rack for a couple of years but, this last couple of years have found me getting some semi modular hardware and now I’ve finally taken the plunge into modular. It’s a big old lake and I’m treading gently but I’m into generative systems so the O_C seemed a safe bet. I’ll definitely get a Disting at some point but I’m ok for delay & reverb because I splashed out and bought me the Strymon Magneto & Starlab modules and, my goodness, those things are incredible! Great channel you got here man, cheers for imparting some valuable knowledge to us ‘fledgling moduleres’ 👍

[@racalik]

Hi, is the quad-quantiser available in Hemisphere as well, or only 2 quantiser channels there?

[@SynthDad]

No, Hemispheres is an entirely different firmware so has different apps available. However it does have a few quantiser applets: Scale Duet Quantizer , Dual Quantizer and Squanch Shifting Quantiser. They are different from Quantermain, but achieve the same outcome

[@racalik]

@@SynthDad Thank you for the answer. I'm currently on the fence with buying this module, I might give it a go soon, as I require some quantising options + there's a lot more stuff to come with it! Thanks for the video

[@HumanMotives]

Crazy good explanation! Was looking for insights on how to perhaps tune my voices to root dominant and subdominant for some Reich action. My theory knowledge is poor. Can I achieve that via o_c masking or do I need to tune my vcos individuallly?

[@SynthDad]

I think it’s always better to tune your VCOs individually either by ear or using a tuner. The References app in O_C will help you with tuning by generating fixed voltages and then autotuning your VCO. Take a look at the manual for how to use it!

[@TallerFence]

hi ,where did you find the quatermain mode PLEASE??

[@SynthDad]

It's in the list of apps in the main menu. What version of the firmware are you running?

[@TheNimasan]

hi synth dad. thx again for all theses great video. a question: Which module could you use instead of the switch?. that little module between o_C and joreanalog. and what’s the exact name? sequential switch, no?! from which manufacture is that?! you use it in almost every patch tutorial. so i consider to get one of those.

[@SynthDad]

Hi - thanks for watching! I think the module you are referring to is a ST Modular PUSH - a 4 value sequential controller. You can dial in 4 different values on each step and a button press jumps between them. Very handy for controlling things; www.st-modular.com/push.htm

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

You made case to have a few O&C as they do so much!

[@SynthDad]

They are really powerful modules!

[@orphic-trench]

Hey SynthDad, which hardware version of O_c is this? I like the minimalist design and the knobs. :)

[@SynthDad]

I bought it used and now that I check it doesn't say who made it! But both After Later and Tunefish do lovely 8hp builds

[@xnaut_g]

Hello. I have a question. I notice that there are a bunch of cables running into and out of the o_c module. Could I please learn what the green cable is running into the o_c from? In other words, what kind of module is the green patch cable coming from? Thank you!

[@SynthDad]

Well that depends on what point in the video you are looking at. I'm sending a clock from Pams New Workout into a mult and then into trigger input 1 on O_C using one cable, and then at one point I have a green cable from O_C going into Klavis Twin Waves, a digital oscillator module

[@xnaut_g]

@@SynthDadoh okay. I wasn’t sure which part of the video I was looking it.

[@xnaut_g]

@@SynthDadThis is a great tutorial. The content is over my head a lot. That’s a good thing because I am still a beginner.

[@xnaut_g]

what is a mult?

[@SynthDad]

@@xnaut_g Oh sorry - mult is short for ‘multiple’ which basically makes multiple copies of a signal so you can easily route it around your patch. Typically you might mult a clock, or envelope, to send to different places in parallel

[@Half_Plus_Seven]

Hey SynthPapa! I'm fascinated by this module, and I was looking at getting one. But it's not the same as just looking up Plaits and ordering it! There's so many people making different ones!! How do I know which one to buy? Any suggestions???

[@SynthDad]

There are indeed many people who make them. Depends where you are in the world as it’s easier to buy from someone local. Or check your secondhand marketplace groups on FB as they come up for sale a lot there

[@marcdebroey2276]

Thanks for all this. Is there a way to rest all values in Quantermain ?

[@SynthDad]

If you push the up and down buttons at the same time during the startup screen when powering on it will reset all the app settings

[@marcdebroey2276]

@@SynthDad Thank you ! There is just one thing I still can't figure out , even watching the fragment all over again, that's "Rotating the scale mask using the output of a quantizer". Is it possible to write out the way it is done? Would be highly appreciated !!

[@SynthDad]

Sure: the trick is to use a CV input on the pitch quantiser that is not the standard one. So for quantiser A it would expect the pitch CV input to be CV1. However if you set it to CV2 then the CV aux menu appears. Then go into the CV aux menu in Quantiser A and set it to 'mask'. This means that a CV value on CV1 will rotate the scale mask for quantiser A and change the pitch of the notes quantised. So where does the CV going to CV1 come from? I use the output of Quantiser C for that. I set quantiser C to one of the generator modes so it will output CV values on output C, and then patch that into CV1 input. I also set the range and modulus of Quantiser C to 36 so it outputs a broader voltage range to create more movement in the scale mask on quantiser A. Hope that helps.

[@marcdebroey2276]

@@SynthDad gonna give it a try !!

[@boydw1]

Is there a way with Quantermain to have the scale mask of a particular channel change based on the quantized output of a different channel (both channels receiving their own unique pitch CV & gate inputs, but one channel's scale mask is dependent on the note that the other channel is playing)?

[@SynthDad]

I don't think so without some additional external CV processing. You could take the output note from channel A, mult it and process that CV and use it to modulate the scale mask for channel B which would have the effect you want

[@WayneInBlood]

There have been so many O_c firmware releases that I have no idea what version you are using and where to find that firmware.Drat

[@SynthDad]

So this tutorial is based on the original firmware. But that is no longer actively maintained, so the code ofr it is now in the Phazerville firmware available here: github.com/djphazer/O_C-Phazerville/wiki

[@xnaut_g]

Hello Synth Dad, I have a 2nd question and I know you are a busy man! What way is there (if any way) to limit how low the o_C quantermain goes with its melody? Or high up for that matter. If you cannot answer this question simply, then its okay. ill continue learning.

[@SynthDad]

I don't think you can limit the output on Quantermain, you'd need to use an attenuator before the quantermain to reduce the voltage range going in to be quantised

[@blerkh]

During that section starting @2:50 I'm a bit unclear about what the LFO from Pam's is doing. Is it spitting out random pitches?

[@SynthDad]

Not exactly random - it’s a sine wave output from Pams that I attenuate through Mixwitch to reduce the amplitude of the waveform. Then I send the sine wave into CV1 on O_C so that Quantiser A can quantise it to the scale I select. Does that make sense?

[@blerkh]

@@SynthDad But if Pam's LFO is the same constant pitch, shouldn't O_C be sending out the same repeating note (voltage) each time it's triggered?

[@SynthDad]

Pams is sending a sine wave so the voltage is changing constantly over time. That voltage is what is quantised by the quantiser in O_C

[@blerkh]

@@SynthDad Does the LFO have a pitch envelope (is the frequency sliding up and down)? Otherwise I don't get it. If it's constantly sending out a drone corresponding to, let's say, 1.5V, why would there be any variation coming out of O_C? Maybe there's some fundamental thing I don't understand.

[@blerkh]

@@SynthDad I was hoping you would comment further.

[@JohnTrasher]

Hey dad! ;) I am building a polyphone module section with the doepfer quad vco which outputs 4 voices. Can this module act as a pitch stabiliser for all 4 (different) voices? Like quantizing each voice to the next semitone?

[@SynthDad]

Yes it could definitely do that. If you set the quantisation to Semitone on all 4 quantisers. For fun though you can edit out some of the notes and rotate the scales to create melodies between the 4 voices. Have fun!

[@Larry30102]

I do have one question. Do you have any experience with the OCplus version? The additions would be welcome, but I'm not necessary. Thx!

[@SynthDad]

Hi - no I haven’t used that version (though I have seen it online)

[@BenGeorge77]

I notice you use Pam's--but given your expertise in O_C, are you also a Temps Utile user?

[@SynthDad]

No, I went straight to Pams over Temps Utile.

[@Desolaire]

Very well done.

[@SynthDad]

Glad you liked it!

[@VinceFinemMusic]

Can someone help this music theory-less wonderboy with something: I've scrolled through every available scale in Quantermain (there are a ton!) but if I want just a simple major or minor scale, I'm guessing that's the semitone setting? What are the note selections that I should choose for maj, min and harm min? And why aren't they simply pre-programmed in? Thanks.

[@SynthDad]

I often get lost in the scales too! I think Dorian is a minor scale. There is a way to update the scales but I've never tried it so can't help on that.

[@VinceFinemMusic]

@@SynthDad I didn't realize that the scales had different names for the same thing! I was scrolling through looking for major but the only thing was blues maj. Wikipedia says that Ionian is maj. Dorian and Aeolian are both min but slightly different. Feeling slightly less dumb now. Thanks!

[@joshuabpolys]

Hi. My o & c is only giving me trigger clicks and no notes. I’m feeding it triggers and CV’s. It was working and then it did this for a day, then it started doing this again. I try all of my CV’s and triggers that I have and tried unplugging it. I hope it’s something dumb that I am doing. Any ideas? Thx!!!

[@SynthDad]

That's very strange indeed. What have you changed on it? Perhaps try re-flashing the firmware to reset it? Did you change any settings in Quantermain?

[@joshuabpolys]

@@SynthDad I think I figured it out🤔. Thx for your videos!! And thx for your reply!

[@aestheticsignificance]

is this the same in emisphere ?

[@SynthDad]

No the Quantermain app is in the standard firmware. There are other options in the Hemispheres firmware for quantising like the ScaleDuet applet

[@pablocovarrubias4431]

YAS! thanks dad

[@SynthDad]

You’re welcome!

[@emptycoast420]

Thanks Dad.

[@SynthDad]

You’re welcome!

[@martintaylor9205]

Wonderful demo again but I get brain baffled by all of the cable patching out versus in routes between all various modules, I’m new to modular but try to follow🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕

[@SynthDad]

It can get crazy at times. But that's why I start each video with a blank patch with no cables and then slowly build up over each part. I take lots of pictures to remember how I patched things weeks later!

[@joshuabpolys]

Thx!!

[@boblove2912]

Plates?

[@SynthDad]

LOL I know I was saying it weird

[@freddibna2081]

thanks dad

[@SynthDad]

You’re welcome!

[@nathanshubert]

attack of the giant pen

[@SynthDad]

No one knows where it will strike next!

[@indigocotton4187]

Why call it plates?

[@SynthDad]

That's how we pronounce it here in Ireland. We're odd that way...

[@indigocotton4187]

@@SynthDad live in Ireland myself.

[@SynthDad]

So have I been saying it wrong this whole time?!?!

[@indigocotton4187]

@@SynthDad kzbin.info/www/bejne/lau8qJeZjqp2msk

[@robbybobbyhobbies]

Another wallet-emptier :). This looks like an ideal tool to pair with my 0 Coast and Pico III.

[@SynthDad]

For sure - that would give you a lot of modular horsepower.

[@uliseslabaronnie]

Mindblowing! Love Pamela + O_c. Pamela got attenuators for their LFOs, why you use external ones? Amazing ideas

[@holmmusic1232]

I would listen to this man read a dictionary.

[@SynthDad]

Lol, I think I would fall asleep eventually!

[@kospia0music]

And I was hoping to get away with just a 2hp Tune...

[@pablocovarrubias4431]

I have both... Use them for different things, no complain there

[@SynthDad]

Well O_C can do so much more than quantisation I think you’ll really enjoy it

[@kospia0music]

@@SynthDadThank you anyway for the best tutorial on Quantermain out there!