Two random gate/trigger generators drive ten harmonic inputs of a Chebyshev oscillator to create a bouncy little improvisation. Add some low-key percussion and special effects and we’re off to the islands.
The core CV generator is a pair of sample & hold modules with multiple I/O ports (eight ports total). Four noise sources drive the S&H units, all of which are triggered by one of the random gate/trigger modules. The generated CV is routed to a single quantizer to throw everything into a single major pentatonic mode. The quantized output controls most of the parameters of a macro oscillator in pulse-train mode. The unquantized CV controls the amount of the Chebyshev’s linear FM.
The macro oscillator provides the occasional strange burst of strange sound. A small percussion group provides an understated rhythm section. A sampled kick drum maintains steady beat while a synthesized tom/conga plays a more active part, complete with pseudo-random frequency shifting for pitch variety. Other more typical effects include global and inline delays, global reverb, and channel panning and level control.
The harmonic movement is controlled by the 8Face module from the Stoermelder plugin. Note that no oct/V value is provided for the Chebyshev oscillator, the 8Face module records its settings for sequenced recall, including the oscillator’s tuning by semitone.
Many players in this patch. In alphabetical order, they are :
Alright Devices – Chronoblob2
AS – DelayPlusFX
Autodafe – Kick, 1×8 Mult
Befaco – Slew Limiter
Bogaudio – Noise
Count Modula – Clocked Random Gates
Frozen Wasteland – BPM LFO
HetrickCV – Random Gates
Hora – Toms/Congas (Vult)
Impromptu Modular – Clocked, Tact, Tact-1
JW-Modules – Quantizer
ML_Modules – Sequential Switch 8to1
NYSTHI – 4DCB
PdArray – Array
RJModules – Button
Skrylar – 4×4 Jack I/O
Southpole – Sssh
Squinky Labs – Booty Shifter, Chebyshev, Comp, Form, ExFor
Stoermelder – 8Face, uMap
SynthKit – Clocki Divider
Valley Audio – Plateau
VCV – Merge, 8vert, VCA-1, ADSR
Xenakios – Macro Polyoscillator (aka Braids)
My thanks to them all. They were always on time for rehearsals, always sober (or at least apparently sober), and they played from their hearts, they did their best. If you enjoy this music it’s because of their contributions. Whatever faults you might hear belong to me alone.
Dave Phillips
1 August 2021
