Why We Bleep Podcast 011 - Tom Whitwell/Music Thing Modular

Thanks to episode sponsors SignalSounds.com for your modular/synth purchasing needs and thonk.co.uk for your DIY needs!
On the one year anniversary of Why We Bleep, we decided to return to revisit our very first guest, the immense and fascinating Music Thing Modular-making journalist, consultant and all round thought-provoking person that is Tom Whitwell. In it we generally hang out and chat discuss all manner of music technology, gear, people, things and ideas.
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BUY TOMS THINGS: www.musicthing....
Shoutout to the work of the Yorkshire Sound Women's Network at the end of the podcast and the #audioequitypledge - Read about the Audio Equity Pledge and perhaps you might like to take it in 2019: drlizdobson.co...
Read about the Yorkshire Sound Women's Network and the word they do here: yorkshiresound...
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Recorded and Produced With:
RODE NT5 (www.rode.com/mi...)
RODE WS9 Wind Covers (www.rode.com/ac...)
Rycote InVision 7HG Table Stands ( mymic.rycote.co...)
Zoom F4 (www.zoom.co.jp/)
Processed with Izotope RX6 (www.izotope.co...)
Things we discuss:
Andrew Nonlinearcircuits - nonlinearcircui...
cellF - brains in a petri dish making music guybenary.com/w... (kill it with fire please thanks)
Eurorack module with soil in it - www.1010.co.uk...
Cerith Wyn Evans - Composition for 37 Flutes hepworthwakefi...
Pow! Academy - m.facebook.com...
The Pure Data Musican was called Aimee-Sofia Brown: • Video
Tom’s Strange Music you can and should purchase on Bandcamp: tomwhitwell.ba...
Dave Bristow on Programming the DX7 • Dave Bristow: Programm...
Even longer Dave Bristow talk on the DX7 • MMTA Spring SYNTHFEST ...
Tom’s DX7 MKII www.vintagesynt...
Whimsical Raps Modules that are obviously amazing but are explained in a way I find baffling (whoops, “Mannequins” is their module, shows what I know) www.whimsicalr...
W/ ‘tape loop’ module www.whimsicalr...
Cold Mac module: www.whimsicalr...
John Cage Bot / botwhitwell
John Cages Diary sigliopress.com...
George Antheil - The Bad Boy of Music en.m.wikipedia...
Hedy Lamarr & George Anthiel Inventing Spread Spectrum Radio www.women-inven...
Gottwood Festival (highly recommended) www.gottwood.c...
Houghton Festival (also highly recommended) www.houghtonfe...
Moog DFAM www.moogmusic....
The New Sound of Music Documentary which includes Synthi 100: • The New Sound Of Music...
David Vorhaus: www.soundonsou...
Hainbach’s youtube channel: / @hainbach
Fourtet Live on Spotify - open.spotify.c...
Eiko Ishibashi - The Dream My Bones Dream open.spotify.c... h/t to @frozenreeds on twitter
Zoo Look Album open.spotify.c...
Aphexs New EP open.spotify.c...
Sequentix Cirklon Sequencer www.sequentix....
Ableton Push 2 www.ableton.co...
Yamaha A4000 Sampler www.donsolaris....
HxC Floppy Emulator hxc2001.free.fr...
My album of 2018 - Susumu Yokota - Sakura open.spotify.c...
Susumu Yokota - Symbol (Tom’s pick) open.spotify.c...
Prince - Piano & a Microphone open.spotify.c...
Beardytron’s amazing new music making rig - • Highlights from last n...
Thonk Prok Drum Modules www.thonk.co.u...
Arturia Analog Lab www.arturia.co...
Pygmy Gamelan pauldemarinis.o...

[@JAkoGreyshire]

Wow! This episode is so relevant to me right now! I just uploaded a video showing the Nonlinearcircuits Delay No More Module. The video is just the Delay module and nothing else!! It oscillates all on it's own with the two PT2399 delay chips and feedback energy. NLC modules are amazing. Crazy, but amazing!

[@robertsyrett1992]

Nice! I just made a video on the Turing Machine, one of my favorite modules ever! edit: Node-based patching environments are great! I keep meaning to lean Max/MSP, but I am just stuck on Audulus. edit-2: I love how Tom describes "w/" like a food critic explaining why expensive sushi is worth it and why it may not be for everybody. edit-3: Wow, BeardyMan is worth checking out. Another one following in the footsteps of the great Reggie Watts. edot-4: This is taking forever to listen to because I keep looking up the stuff you guys are referencing and it's good enough I pause the video and listen a but. That Prince "Piano and a Microphone" is amazing!

[@skunksmisery]

Capacitor manufacturing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXeoiqiXjphojNE

[@Alphastare23]

Been currently listening to a bunch of Susumu Yokota, I just acquired "Sakura" "Grinning Cat" "The Boy and The Tree" and 'Magic Thread" all very different and all very good.

[@depaffect]

Such a great episode! BTW the famous Fairlight orchestra stab is "orch2", but often misidentified as "orch5". And it was sampled from a Igor Stavinsky record by Peter Vogal himself!

[@alanc6752]

Lol the intro advert. 😀

[@tombola2004]

Someone asked about SMD component storage box at 56:44 - it's an AideTek BOXALL aidetek.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Category_Code=Encl&Product_Code=BOX-ALL&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A

[@faithwyar]

I'd love to see Aimee-Sofia Brown on your pdcast!

[@AndyVonal]

You know what, Alex... I just want to listen to your introductions...they're hilarious - I love them! If you get bored with knob-tweaking and Male-Bonding with Jack from Andertons, you could have a career as a stand up comic! Please keep being silly... I just love it!

[@7177YT]

I never get tired of listening to this kind of conversation between this kind of ppl. ((: thx for sharing, and yah someone else noticed but absolutely brilliant job of collecting those links and references in the description. I had to compulsively check all of 'em. so very much appreciated. since it came up at the beginning, there are instruments marrying the hands on tactile element of hardware with the flexibility of pure data. I wonder what you guys would've said about critter and guitari's organelle, and such. (;

[@thawkil]

Listening back in 2023 and it’s very wild to see you predict Korg and behringer remaking the 2600 lol

[@SootySweep22]

The difference between analog and digital is easy. Anyone can count to 1.

[@ph0enixr]

"....=[with modular] you can't say 'give me 96 sine waves'..." Look Mum No Computer would like to know your location...

[@mcshafty1]

I've got a B Odyssey and love it - love the way it's a rehash, love the way it's got fs keys, love the way it sounds and plays as I imagine an ARP would. And, most importantly, I could afford it😀. Just my opinion. Tom hit it on the head with the Gibson/Fender comment. My #1 guitar is a 50s style partscaster. A total clone!

[@ferment4life]

as a nonbinary maker of noise I will be making an #audioequitypledge ~ thank you for sharing that - it's absolutely brilliant ❤️

[@mylarmelodies]

Yes! Still working out what to do. What’s your thoughts?

[@ferment4life]

@@mylarmelodies The first thing I'm doing is making my way through the incredible list of 50+ All-women and feminist sound/music tech collectives, co-ops, nonprofits here drlizdobson.com/2018/02/18/feministsoundcollectives I'm familiarising myself with what they do, as well as, following them on various social media platforms so I can stay informed, participate, support and help to promote their work. Basically I'm doing all I can to follow the first action item “Collaborate - offering support to the feminist collectives who are already helping girls and women in sound. Adopting new interventions. Also, understanding and addressing unconscious bias.” I am also checking out Soundgirls’ book recommendation Balance the World it's free on Issu and can be purchased here www.shiftbalance.org/book As someone who puts on events as well I'm always looking for ways to develop more inclusive strategies. Even though our events are queer, gender forward and culturally diverse I know we can always do better. Also, just because one is doing the work doesn't mean there isn't more to learn. It's good to get new perspectives and reminders on how to improve and help others to do the same. Beyond that I'll be making some images for Instagram that promotes the pledge and may do something sonically as well 🤔 #womeninaudio #breakingtheglassfader

[@blinkymouse]

As far as 'data' synthesis is concerned I used csound (csound.com/) in the early 1990s to create very experimental compositions at Keele University - very versatile but need a programming background

[@buyukberber]

Man you guys made me homesick for my good old DX7...

[@alanc6752]

Thonk code used! . Thank you.

[@chemicalBR0]

55 minute ish, this is also what CPU manufacturers do. Intel for example don't set out to make a batch of 4ghz chips. All of the CPU's are made equal ,it is the quality of the silicon wafer they are etched onto that determines the clock speed they finally sell you. (the quality changes for the same reason as in a capacitor.. silicon is a natural material) they test the chips after manufacture to determine what speed it will be... a K class cpu will be on exceptionally good silicon (these are the chips they sell as overclockable chips) and they charge a higher price for a 4ghz K class chip than a straight 4gz i7 (because you could maybe bump your K class to 5ghz with sufficient cooling)... the better quality silicon has better thermal properties so the chip is far less likely to fry when you bump the voltage up. if a chip turns out to be on quite bad silicon they may even disable some of the cores to keep temperatures down and sell it in a cheaper line.

[@tombola2004]

MostlyRandom thank you, I didn’t know that!

[@chemicalBR0]

@@tombola2004 I'm guessing you own an iMac ;)

[@stumeek6825]

Another great interesting interview!! Great work!!! . Look forward to the next one "ACE MAN"

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers Alex, interesting and thought provoking as ever, did have a nasty flashback to SMPTE code bleed through on a 4 track mind. :)

[@mrsulcus674]

Music + art thing... If anyone's near Birmingham (UK), the ikon gallery has an amazing exhibition of light and sound and sculpture by Haroon Mirza on until the end of February. Absolutely worth a trip.

[@Nathanisupinhere]

Alex the cold mac would be the perfect module for your live case for macro control of changes across the whole system

[@nicholasroos3627]

Quick note: feedback (and more importantly positive feedback equal or greater to the original input signal) is what creates oscillation in an amplifier circuit.

[@KirkeGodfrey]

Such a brilliant conversation, takes me back. (I'm old and sold my Korg Mono/Poly to buy a DX7. :+) I learned to create DX sounds from scratch, and made money being THAT GUY! and LOVED FM from that point onward.

[@deejaydubla]

I wish you two could talk every week...even if it was just about frogs and books.

[@OblivionRatula]

Those Drift tracks . . . wow. The sawtooth one started off abusing the hell out of my tinnitus, but settled in quickly, thankfully.

[@BlueSB017]

Great show!!!! Got my Triple Sloth on the back of the last CVFreqs, BEST Lfo ever! Really want to go for Chaos next.

[@BlueSB017]

I love the Neurons story!

[@edengrey5090]

13:13 Just a quick response after I've considered it for awhile, I must quickly mention, that CV Freqs has always been an international modular synth meet/showcase event and concert. I'm not British, and I've invited guests from other countries so this isn't really a correct statement. I've been really honored to have Tom Whitwell host his talk series in the cinema space in this venue, for editions VIII, X, and next is XII. CV Freqs XII is Dec. 7 2019 at House of Vans in central London is going to be extra special!! facebook.com/events/899653290390029/ Hope you can make it down, Alex!

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

I have an old Pioneer reel to reel i like the idea of using. I probably never will, but it looks cool in the studio. That bit with the Nagra was the highlight for me! Great episode!

[@fosferus]

dude you are blowing up! how did you get Bill Nighy to do the signal sounds ad 😆?!? tom is so insightful, i could listen to 2.5 more hours. thanks for this series.

[@sarmism]

Re:diaries. I've been doing a '3 good things' diary each night. Excellent for focusing on the positives in life.

[@RuneWarhuus]

The shortage, and thereby price jump of ceramic capacitors is mostly due to the insane jump in demand for these components in the car/battery industry. They have completely dried out some manufacturers to the point that some of them can't take on new orders. The manufacturers are slowly catching up, but there will most probably be another year with limited availability on certain components. We are seeing delivery estimates upwards of 50 weeks for some ceramic capacitors right now.

[@tombola2004]

Ah, that's really interesting. Thank you

[@atkmodular904]

What a Fantastic Episode! I could listen to the two of you talk for days. I also discovered Susumu Yokota this year, as well as Hiroshi Yoshimura and Satoshi Ashikawa, so when i heard you bring up Sakura it made me very happy! Personally I think Hiroshi Yoshimura is my favorite of the 3, but man i've been listening to them all non stop for the past few months. Ace!

[@localtechnique]

The Powcademy that Tom mentions have a channel here on KZbin with modular performances from around the world. Very cool. I don't know if I can post a link but if you search for "powwow modular" it should be the first hit.

[@brittonwalker7341]

Great talk @mylarmelodies. You really produce quality work with quality conversation and a level of intelligence and curiosity that I'd like to see in many other areas of created content in the world. Cheers from NY my man!

[@Timossachenverschick]

I actually touched that EMS synthi 100 in Belgrade! That thing is amazing and gigantic! It´s in use at the electronic studio at radio Belgrade.

[@rumblin_cynth_rampo374]

The rest is like Lego only louder! Brilliant!

[@modularcafealdershot5321]

Cheers for the shout out Alex! You can find the Audio for Aimee's Pure Data Madness on our channel! :) - Ben

[@LoudPaul1]

Uh, I don't see anything on your channel. What happened?

[@MODCAF]

@@LoudPaul1 This channel :)

[@jsleeio]

I attended all three nights of the cellF performance here in Sydney, a couple of years ago. Pretty wild. I think Guy Ben-ary said somewhere that the cells used came out of his arm, not his brain.

[@delta-9969]

Yeah its not like they have a brain in a jar... it's just a simple organic semiconductor basically. a few cells... Not like it's conscious or anything

[@flaminggarlic]

Hemisphere suite firmware on O_c!

[@OB1techno]

Awesome as always. Tom really is one of the most interesting people I’ve met. Brilliant.

[@Brdo666]

Grinning Cat is the best Susumu Yokota album. Listen to Flying Cat it rules

[@mylarmelodies]

Ah that’s the slightly more technoey one isn’t it?

[@Richard-Sauce]

'my wife' - someones been listening to adam buxton

[@mylarmelodies]

Of course.

[@vlenda]

What is the tape recorder being use around 1:43 ?

[@tombola2004]

Dylan Bolink that’s a Nagra 4.2 reel-to-reel

[@mgscheue]

This made me happy!

[@DuncanFoster]

With your on the Mannequins modules (I have Mangrove, Just Friends and W/). The W/ was particularly frustrating when it came out first. The combination of an obtuse manual, a slightly fiddly UI, and some bugs in the firmware (now mostly resolved) made it hard to know whether it was user error or a bug when it wasn't behaving as expected. I would have gladly given up a few more HP for a more friendly interface. And would love to have seen the code open sourced which I think would have (a) helped with identifying the bugs, and (b) made it easier to add Teletype commands.

[@DuncanFoster]

And I’m very fond of ZooLook, coz Laurie Anderson.

[@unslept_em]

thoughts on the new bitwig studio 3 announcement?

[@brentcody]

Miller Puckette is the creator of Pure Data and max/msp--Tom was trying to think of his name.

[@tombola2004]

Yes, sorry!

[@jamesesmith9439]

The flute sculpture at the Hepworth was Composition for 37 flutes (in two parts), 2018, by Cerith Wyn Evans. I was literally de-installing it from the gallery today. Noticed when I was taking it down it had an Arduino and some sort of Orgautomatech board which I think was doing something with Midi. Very interesting work. Also a big fan of Andrew's work at NLC and the CellF project.

[@mylarmelodies]

Ahhh amazing! Yeah I could spot an LCD screen glow but would have needed a stepladder to grok it properly! Do you know anything about the program that was in it, it was a loop of data rather than generative etc?!

[@jamesesmith9439]

@@mylarmelodies I think the piece was composed and being played from an SD card. I don't know loads about the work but from what I can gather, literature referring to the physical space altering the work refers more to the experience the listener has each time the work is installed in different paces. The Hepworth is incredibly reverberant and all those little solenoids opening and closing over the flutes' embouchure holes definitely creates some unusual and varying timbres/chords(?) depending how close you where to it. I was de-installing Mona Hatoum's work in the other gallery when the technician was running some final checks on it before we dismantled it and the sound was coming into that space and floating around, it was great!

[@machmar]

about the SMDs. The size gets down to about 0.01mm in lenght and sometimes ewen smaller. Also, I feel like SMD is easier to solder and also almost two times faster. There is no bending legs, no snipping legs. You just hold it with one hand and solder it on one side. Than the other and done. Nothing else.

[@mylarmelodies]

Yeah totally agreed! Once you get the knack

[@machmar]

@@mylarmelodies also because I design modules tht (standart Throught Hole Technology) and SMD/SMT (Surface Mount Design/Technology) , I really like using smd - its smaller; a machine can do it as well; you can use an smt stencil wich is basicly a sheet of metal with holes for the pads for the SMD stuff - just put it on the pcb, apply soldering paste, take it off, place the components and bake it - the components solder them self (thats how I did my circadian rhythms copy with 72 leds and 72 buttons); generaly faster and mainly smaller.

[@machmar]

BTW I also discovered your sound cloud *cough* sorry I mean the gold mine of yours

[@Calverhall]

Pronounced mannikin, as in the clothes shop mannequins

[@deejaydubla]

Switched from the audio version to the KZbin version just to confirm you were talking about the Mannequins module that I suspected you were talking about. And of course you were... I had the exact same reaction to the instruction manual when it was released.

[@XiXora]

What journal app do you use? Is it Notes or something Day One?

[@mylarmelodies]

Just inbuilt iOS notes app in a dedicated folder!

[@gabrielmanzanedo]

Great episode again. I completely agree about the Mannequins stuff. I can't do it simply for the poor documentation.

[@mylarmelodies]

Thing is everyone says the modules are apparently really truly amazing tho, so it’s probably worth making an effort to try them!!

[@gabrielmanzanedo]

@@mylarmelodies Definitely. I have a friend who owns some, and loves them. I'm just weird about documentation.

[@Quantumspace23]

@@mylarmelodies I found it interesting how dismissive of WhimsicalRaps stuff you were and yet the fascination for a Cirklon where you extolled the virtues of its bizarre complexity.

[@DBCisco]

I kind of find it humorous that Brits think modular synths are something new. I built my first modular from kits in 1978 !

[@dementionalpotato]

r/gatekeeping

[@ThonkSynthDIY]

1978 isn't long ago, Tom Whitwell and I went to visit the RCA Mark II at Colombia University in 2016, THAT's old ;)

[@sarmism]

Tom and Alex are very well aware of the history of synthesizers and experimental electronic music in general! Some fascinating talks elsewhere on the Mylar Melodies channel about it all.

[@DBCisco]

@@sarmism I wonder sometimes because I built my first synth in 1973 and have been involved in music ever since. None of this stuff is new to me.

[@sarmism]

@@DBCisco fantostic. You must have a lot of wisdom to share! Must be gratifying seeing so many others starting to share your passion.