Turning one oscillator into a hybrid drum machine & groovebox // BETTER BLEEPS

Welcome to the first BETTER BLEEPS video. In this video I use a single oscillator and with modulation (VCAs to modulate modulation) turn that into a drum machine / groove box hybrid. We get a percussive bass hit, kick and snare like pattern out of the single sine wave output. Using the saw wave output and a separate filter / reverb we also get an accompanying bassline. Supporters on www.patreon.com/divkid get images and detailed text notes going through intentions, the patching and the specific modules.
If you're curious, here's what BETTER BLEEPS is about - • Better Bleeps - a new ...
Better Bleeps video series here - • Better Bleeps
Subscribe for more DivKid videos: bit.ly/DivKidYTSub
Be awesome! Support me on Patreon - / divkid
/ divkid
/ divkidmusic
www.divkidmodular.com/

[@chriskelly7156]

For someone like me who is new to modular, I can't tell you enough how glad I am to have found your channel. All your vids display a depth of knowledge and passion for every aspect of the scene, and are so informative. Thank you for putting the time and effort in for the benefit of the rest of us

[@DivKid]

cheers Chris, kind words and very much appreciated.

[@mrcwalker33]

Ben, I honestly think this is your coolest new idea yet, a series of minimalist videos is exactly what the modular world needs to stop to consume every new module like it solves all problems. Work with what is there! I love it!

[@DivKid]

thanks again :)

[@bad-machine]

Omg, MOAR OF THIS SERIES PLEASE! I know this was 3 years back, but I would absolutely love to see more of these from you.

[@DivKid]

absolutely more BETTER BLEEPS coming in the future, thanks for checking these out and requesting more, I appreciate it.

[@FursAndMasksMusic]

Amazing. Making me realise what I can do with what I've already got!!

[@DivKid]

that was the point and it's nice to know that's come across. Thanks! :)

[@unkatom]

Every time i see a euro-unit that just does, say, a snare, hi-hat or a kick i think "but the whole point of a modular is its vast flexibility... just sample a drum-sound patch" ... i'm glad to see someone (the Div himself) is showing folks the TRUE WAY to modular victory! (Good on ya, LAD)

[@DivKid]

nice one Tom, thanks.

[@neildenari1007]

Ben is the genuine MVP of the modular world

[@DivKid]

haha I had to search that, urban dictionary to the rescue.

[@gerardstrik2555]

Great video, thanks.

[@DivKid]

Glad you liked it!

[@markusastrom5345]

Oh yes! The modulated noise into the TZ Fm was just great.

[@DivKid]

yeah that's a nice thing to patch.

[@RobinRimbaudScanner]

Liberating the single voices into multiple voices - this looks set to be a great series indeed. Can't wait to see and hear more Mr DivKid :-)

[@DivKid]

thank you

[@PWMaarten]

Nice patch!

[@DivKid]

thanks

[@schmooster]

better bleeps series it is.

[@marcuspearson6214]

Bravo...gonna give this a try

[@lienadreckanav]

I have been waiting for years.... and finally you did it! well done!

[@DivKid]

for some tips videos?

[@TomMadisonSoundsLewis]

Yessss Ben! This is the kinda thing I love to see from you x

[@DivKid]

YES MATE, better bleeps in the HOUSEUSEUSUEUSUSUESSEE. Got another video for next week on generated melodies AND HARMONIES for melodies with logic modules :)

[@burningdinosaurs801]

Have a good evening!!Very cool, thanks

[@DivKid]

evening was good, cheers.

[@NICUofficial]

So useful and fun! I know I'll always miss the days when a Mother-32 was all I had in the studio - this video reminds me of that, same idea of doing more with less! It's just so satisfying, like cooking a tasty meal with only a few limited ingredients :)

[@kirkyoung4147]

This new series has me so excited

[@DivKid]

cheers Kirk.

[@chrisbliss7130]

such a cool way to make the most out of one oscillator! thanks ben, this new series is ace🔊🎛

[@DivKid]

cheers Chris.

[@lukecurran5572]

You’re the best Ben! We appreciate you!!

[@DivKid]

thank you Luke.

[@fakshen1973]

Tutorial patches using stuff that the vast majority of modular synth owners would have is great... not all of your videos or a majority of them. But often enough that people can easily replicate the results using common modules.

[@DivKid]

You don't need the specific modules to apply these ideas, that's the whole point. Also when I demo something you maybe don't have or even don't want I aim to get enough tips and patch ideas in there that you can apply it to your gear.

[@tonhueb429]

this shows perfectly that (almost) all you need is a lot of VCAs

[@DivKid]

Yep! We all need lots of VCAs dotted around the system.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Bleeping great.

[@DivKid]

haha thanks Alex.

[@thom-alphaxiii-5106]

love this tip and tricks format! great! we want more!

[@DivKid]

more to come definitely.

[@Metahedron]

I love making whatever synth voice I have into as full a drum machine as I can. Thank you for going over your process, perhaps I should do something similar.

[@DivKid]

yeah share your approach, be cool to see it.

[@atkmodular904]

Nice One Ben! Great Idea for a Series, I look forward to seeing what other patches you've got up your Sleeve... :)

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@gameofdespair]

This video was so good. I patched up a sputnik oscillator while following along. Made drum synthesis make more sense and had me thinking about my system in a new way. Also saved me from purchasing a dfam. Thanks!

[@DivKid]

cool, enjoy it. Sputnik VCOs are nice. I miss my complex oscillator.

[@uplinkstudio]

Another great video mate! Gave me a bunch of ideas, thx!

[@DivKid]

nice to hear cheers Doug.

[@DJ_Merkury66]

Just experimented with these methods on the Shapeshifter. Very nice results. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@DivKid]

Hey Shawn, I bet the Shape Shifter is killer for this sort of thing. I've never used one though.

[@wrapitup46]

So useful! Thanks for posting!

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@modularoculistsynodexperim3158]

By far the best video !

[@DivKid]

cool, cheers.

[@subfusc2848]

Very neat Ben!

[@DivKid]

thanks

[@laptopolist]

Sensational! Rolling my own drum sounds has been a recent focus of mine, and this video has really opened my mind. In particular, using a single oscillator as the central audio source gives you focused control over the fundamental and tuning in general. One of the modules I've been using, which was just discontinued, is the Ladik c-510 Synare envelope / VCA combo. It has a single trigger input that feeds 2 envelopes, one for modulation and one for the VCA. So, that plus an oscillator and you're on your way...

[@DivKid]

Yeah that sounds good, lots of nice little Ladik gems in the line up.

[@palemanuk]

Wicked video - big fan : )

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@ferment4life]

Love the idea of the new series! I've always watched all of your gear vids regardless of whether I'm interested in the module, as I know I'll pick up some technique/ insight that I won't find elsewhere. Having a series dedicated to those gems of wisdom is ace! I'll still watch all the pure demos tho 😉 cheers!

[@DivKid]

That's great to hear, that's what I'd love everyone to do and try to take something from whatever it is. I watch a lot of videos for that reason too, even on things I have, have made videos for and have used for a long time. You never know exactly where you'll pick something up.

[@ferment4life]

@@DivKid exactly! There have been things that have even given me insights beyond modular as well, whether it's a bit of music theory or approaches to synthesis or sound design that I can use with my other kit - there is always more to learn! We are really blessed by the boundless generosity of this diverse community ❤️

[@thatskyfox]

This is very inspiring!

[@DivKid]

thanks, always trying to make every demo offer lots of patch tips and ideas. Even if it's a demo of a module someone doesn't want I'd hope they take a patch idea away and try that with their own music.

[@MrPeyghman]

Really good serie ! Looking forward to see more patch idea. It would be nice if you keep it basic like : what can we do creatively with only enveloppes, LFO, VCA, VCO and VCF, and not any more complex module. This way everybody can try this with the module that they have ! Cheers :)

[@DivKid]

I suggest grabbing VCV rack and building up these patches as exercises if you want to try and need additional modules beyond doing it through hardware only.

[@ikkini]

Great one !

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@cardboardmusic]

Sounds great, a little like Ryoji Ikeda, but on modular.

[@BrunoWiebelt]

this was the good news of the day

[@BrunoWiebelt]

1000 thx ... you are a master

[@DivKid]

wow thanks!

[@AmericanAstroMonkey]

Ben this is great. I'm always looking for something which inspires me away from my conventional way of thinking.

[@DivKid]

perfect, I aim to serve.

[@jackjackdaw5065]

This is totally sick. I love this shit!

[@DivKid]

nice one Jack.

[@Fluxwithit]

Nice patch

[@DivKid]

cheers mate!

[@MikeHancho663]

Some more tips on buzzy acid style vibes would be great! The envelope is so important to shaping acid and I would love some complex envelope modulation shaping tips

[@DivKid]

ok cool, noted. Cheers!

[@VCVRackIdeas]

amazing, vcv rack is already waiting for that

[@DivKid]

VCV rack is waiting for what?

[@VCVRackIdeas]

@@DivKid huh, for me and your technique. because it's awesome. I want to recreate some Alva Noto's style of drums - glitchy and snappy.

[@Neurotypique]

Very cool serie ! Maybe an episode about chords from audio rate modulating clock dividers

[@DivKid]

yeah good idea, noted that one down.

[@ludotex]

That was great! Would sound awesome with some nasty distortion on the end too.

[@DivKid]

oh yeah, compression, some distortion then EQ would be very nice.

[@AdamHj]

Great trick! I tried this with the DPO ! The sine for kick and the final output produces the perc!

[@DivKid]

Yeah even between with complex oscillators for more tone shaping.

[@ZElTGElST]

Probably your best video till date. Im going to enjoy this serie like a mad. I love the patch idea, but not so sure how to get all that modulations. What are you using, Pams, temps utile, another?.

[@DivKid]

the modules aren't important, that's the whole point of the series. So try not to worry about specifics and just go through the functions I'm talking about. Envelopes, noise, VCAs, gate rhythms. Try building it in VCV rack first maybe so you have a sort of endless supply of modules to use.

[@sokoleski]

Exxelent

[@badx001]

Top!

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@aidanvinum]

Nice job, luv. I used to own a dfam...but it was so big. I did notice that it hit really hard...loud. I tried creating a kick drum with an Make Noise STO and it didn’t hit hard enough. Not even close. Any advice on what can do what the dfam does in a smaller footprint? (Preferably analog). If you could only use 1 oscillator module to create a groove box or close to it, what would it be?

[@Rastapopoulpos1]

this is nice ! i'm maybe wrong but do you have an octatrack ? If yes, do you think it's possible to get to this kind of sound with a classic single waveform ? If yes, do you think you could explain it on a video ? If yes, thanks you so much :D

[@DivKid]

I do have an Octatrack, I'm not so fluid on it though so can't comment that much. You could probably P-LOCK that thing enough to do something similar.

[@djdozoz]

Nice #oneoscillatorchallenge

[@DivKid]

cheers

[@jm6734]

Cool tech drums! Now who’s the clever soul that manages to build this in Ableton Max4Live.. C’mon, make a Festivus for the rest of us…🤓

[@DivKid]

build it up from scratch in VCV rack.

[@delta-9969]

What envelope gen did you use for this?

[@reason2910]

Did you order a system 80 880?

[@DivKid]

I haven't.

[@mwatkins0590]

at 3:29 I thought you said "shit" in a really sassy tone

[@DivKid]

haha!