Advice on using modular as audio processor?

loss1234

Right now my self built modular is mainly geared toward audio creation.
i have quite a few Vco's, lfo's slews, random cv gens.etc

but lately i have been wanting to put things THRU the modular...drums, vocals, guitars, etc.

(I do have eventual plans to build myself the main guitar to synth section of the audio ark but that is going to have to wait till i have some real time on my hands.)

the only things i really have right now for this are the comparators on my T/G/T/S/H, which can be fed into the dividers i have, or the filter i have or maybe the FM in of a vco.

But i want to go farther than this.
SO....does anyone here do processing with their modular? And if so...what do you recommend i build?

thanks!

Adam-V · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject:

Some sort of audio interface/envelope follower would probably be a good place to start. This will allow you to amplify your audio signals to modular level and also use the envelope of the incoming signal as a modulation source.

You could then look at a wavefolder/shaper, or perhaps a Stiener filter. Ken Stone offers PCBs for both of these items and I believe Elby Designs even sells kits for them.

Cheers,
Adam-V

haxster · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:

For the Amplification section I recommend using the Pre-amp design found on Ray Wilson's Ring Mod. It does 100x amplification. It is more usable then the CGS one.

jnuaury · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

loss1234 · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

can anyone recommend which wavefolder/multiplier will work with ALL audio signals? (drums,gtr,etc) i know some of them are JUST for saw or tri waves.

thanks

jnuaury · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:53 am Post subject:

CJ Miller · Joined: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 368 Location: 127.0.0.1

The first things which I'd say are essential are (a) preamp(s), envelope follower(s), and trigger-gate extractors. If you are likely to experiment with lots of different sources then I'd say variable gain and trigger sensitivity are needed. These are fairly easy circuits to experiment with compared to VCOs and VCFs. My first book on synth building was Barry Klein's, so I have a few riffs off of those circuits from his book.

Designs which I have learned about since - and wanted to try - are the Serge "Negative Slew", and also the combo of the Buchla EF+LPG.

Some other approaches which are tried less often? How about squaring your input and filtering it for use as a waveform or logic? I suspect that some of the simpler "guitar synths" worked along these lines. Also pitch-to-voltage can add another dimension to input - perhaps even regardless of how accurate it may be. And of course to make best use of your input and modular I recommend a full array of CV and logic processors.

lexvortex · Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 155 Location: Toronto

Hi,

What about the Oakley env follower/preamp/gate extractor all in one module? That module would do it all in one neat little package.

http://www.oakleysound.com/follower.htm

Cheers,
Dave

Funky40 · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

fluxmonkey · Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve

slacker · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:50 am Post subject:

The Electrax guitar synth has a good input section with a trigger generator and a decent envelope follower. I've used this with a filter, LFOs, AD generator and a sample and hold to make a guitar filter pedal.
It also gives you good square wave output.

bubblechamber · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:39 am Post subject:

i'm pretty found of the polyfusion envelope follower

Sebo · Joined: Apr 27, 2007 Posts: 564 Location: Argentina

Hi:
Here is a simple envelope follower I built. Is very simple, not the best, but
works.
http://www.electro-music.com/forum/topic-28332.html