Author: BenHex

Mutes – the first DivKid Eurorack module!

Well well, here we are a DivKid Eurorack module! I’m totally chuffed to have this brought to life after first drafting out a quick line drawing years back. By the time you read this the module will be available as both assembled units and DIY kits and PCB/panel combos at a range of great stores around the world. I teamed up with Befaco who have worked behind the scenes to bring this module to life, the PCBs say “powered by Befaco” which I’m proud to have on there and have them be involved. The Eurorack scene is such a wonderful, supportive and amazing group of people with a wide range of backgrounds. The scene has been great to me in getting started and supporting the videos I make. I’m proud to have a module out that I hope people find useful that’s been made by and will be sold by even more of the great people involved in the scene.

Add the module to your modular grid here –https://www.modulargrid.net/e/divkid-mutes

DIY build guide and images here – http://bit.ly/mutesfiles

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION

“Mutes is my dream compact performance tool.” Sir Divward Kiddery

But Mutes goes above and beyond basic muting by allowing you to split groups of signals to multiple destinations, making it great for FX dub performing and varied signal routing.

You also get a three position switch giving you: MOMENTARY signal pass through (it springs back to the centre when released); OFF (or muted) in the centre; and ON to the right. We’ve also added vactrols to the circuit giving the switching a pleasing decay for both audio and modulation as well a totally click free muting. This module can add mutes to anything, your mixer, module inputs or outputs, modulation signals, sequencers, gate sources and more.

Mutes was developed by Befaco on behalf of DivKid. Special thanks to Glow Worm Cables for their free cables in the package too.

Key features 4HP // LEDs to visualise signals // 3 way momentary – off – on switching // buffered and cascading normalising of inputs // black metal panel // Vactrol based muting

Stores stocking Mutes (click store names for links) NOTE many of these ship worldwide.

Australia – Tin Shed Modular

Europe –  Analogue Zone (Hungary) (sold out) // Escape From Noise (Sweden) // Modular Square (France) // Raw Voltage (Austria) // Schneidersladen (Germany)

United Kingdom – Cymru Beats (sold out) // Matttech Modular (sold out) // Rubadub // Signal Sounds // Thonk (DIY Kits + PCB/Panel)

USA – Control (Brooklyn, New Work) (sold out) // Midwest Modular (Minneapolis) // Modular Addict (Wisconsin) // Patchwerks (Seattle)

DIY Kits + PCB/panels – Modular Addict // Thonk

Here’s the famous magic hands himself Mylar Melodies having a switch wiggle with a pair of Mutes modules.

A huge thanks to my friend Bo, Mr. BobEats BoBeats for checking out the module (I didn’t buy him that Lambo) and making a video about it alongside the some other great modules.

Molten Music built up the DIY version and had a jam on Mutes too.

Thank you to the websites that have posted about my module too. FACT Mag // Gear News // Muff Wiggler forum // Top Music News

BlueWolfSe7en at Modular Meets Leeds 2018

Hello all, here’s another update RE Modular Meets Leeds 2018 (all info HERE) and just wanted to share some previous performances from Phil “BlueWolfSe7en” who is performing at this years event. Over the past few years we’ve seen him go all Elektron, to hybrid Elektron/Cirklon/Modular to all modular performances. Having embraced 5U with a Hordijk system since his last performance I’m keen to see how his music and approach has developed. Head to the thread about the event below for all information and check out the videos of his previous performances.

Modular Meets Leeds 2018

 

 

Building a Eurorack synthesiser for kids

I recently worked alongside Mylar Melodies showcasing and exhibiting modular synths (specifically Eurorack) to children (and some adults / parents) in the Science Tent at Deer Shed festival. Deer Shed is a family friendly festival with a large number of kids and parents and the Science Tent gives them a chance to come and try soldering, make slime, chemistry workshops, build raspberry pi units and come and make music and play on euro rack synthesisers or try out making music on a Ableton with guys from a local Ableton group.

For the event I tried to put together the best Eurorack synthesiser that I could that was a mean little groove box of beats, melodies, bass, FX and some more out there fun stuff. So here’s what I used, how I patched it and how it went.

Below you can see some images (click for full size) and my Modular Grid set up for the event as well as a patch set ups. Any questions let’s chat! Find me on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

More videos to come from the event, include my first modular live gig, that set up, the 16n controller I was using and more. 

Modular Meets Leeds 2018

So here’s everything you need to know about Modular Meets Leeds which is the event I hold with help from a few friends in Leeds (who’d have thought) mid August each year.


Modular Meets Leeds is an independent community driven event for modular (and general) synths, drum machines and all things electronic music making. It’s a community get together that’s grown into a key event in the “synth calendar” with a mix of both users, artists and performers showcasing their equipment for people to try out as well as manufacturers and designers in attendance exhibiting their equipment. The event is inclusive of everyone from any background, experience is not necessary to come along and try out some synths and check out what’s going. The whole event is FREE!

Please show interest in the event and let us know if you’d like to attend with gear to exhibit at the Facebook event or MW Forum. You can follow Modular Meets on Twitter or Facebook

DATES / TIMES

These are times are estimates and will run as close to this as we can through the day.

Saturday the 11th of August
Main gear exhibit and short performances

Exhibitor load in from 10.30am
Doors at 12pm
1.15pm iPassenger
2.30pm Owen Canivet
3.30pm BlueWolfSe7en / BW7
4pm Raffle
5pm Ian Boddy & Nigel Mullaney

Sunday the 12th of August
Talks, presentations, DIY workshop (time TBC) and live 3 module challenge

Exhibitor load in from 10.30am
Doors at 11am
11.30am DIY Workshop 1
12.30pm Instruo – presentation/demonstration
1.30pm Rob Hordijk – presentation of synth design and synthesis techniques
2.30pm Future Sound Systems – presentation/demonstration
3.30pm Live 3 module challenge (“open mic” style).

LOCATION / VENUE

As with previous years the event will be held at the Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen located at the address below. We are on the first floor with stairs at the back of the ground floor, there’s also a back entrance for people loading in equipment.

Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
1-1a Cross Belgrave Street
Leeds, LS2 8JP

There is some on street parking close by that is pay and display and there’s also parking in the multi story Merrion Centre round the corner which you can find at this address.

Merrion Center,
Merrion Way,
Leeds, LS2 8NG

If you’re coming into Leeds on the train it’s a 12 minute walk away.

Here’s a video playlist from last year including all the performances from Chris Carter (of Throbbing Gristle), Scanner, d’Voxx, Ebcidic and more.

WHAT IS IT!?! Qu-Bit Electronix Pulsar

The new Pulsar sees a rather swish new black panel design from Qu-Bit Electronix (it’s nice to see them engaging with the dark side!) Pulsar looks like it builds upon the foundation of random and burst generation from the Nano Rand and Chance and takes it to a whole new level. It’s a galactic clock for euro rack (read the product description below) with 4 burst outputs, euclidean, random, binary, fractal and more! It’s looks ace and I can’t wait to have a play on it.

Information and product video at qubitelectronix.com

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION FROM QU-BIT

Pulsar is a burst generator inspired by stars that output beams of electromagnetic radiation in space. Once keyed, a stream of triggers are dispersed across four outputs. Environmental factors like absorb and gravity alter the behavior of each burst and affect its movement through time. Eight unique dispersion modes provide a range of stream types including euclidean, binary, random, and fractal. Galactic clocks for the Eurorack system.

· Burst generator

· Four unique outputs

· Eight dispersion modes

· Physics simulation with gravity and absorb

· Black anodized aluminum front panel

· Galactic clocks

Colin Benders and Noisia at the Modular!

By now I’m sure many of have seen Colin Benders on fine form with his live streams usually jamming several hours of acid techno creating some seriously head bobbing stuff. However for this video he has Thys from Noisia round for an exploratory modular play around and walk through.

The video goes through Cwejman modules, resonators, audio rate modulation, creating and sampling sounds, the Make Noise Erbe Verb and loads more. It’s definitely one for the casual viewer as it’s just free form playing around but I’m sure you’ll pick up a few tips and tricks.

Jupiter 6 Filter for Eurorack

Click images for larger versions

A few months ago System 80 announced plans to make a eurorack 808 drum machine clone. Fast forward to now and they’ve announced an open source Jupiter 6 filter module. Files are available on GitHub as it’s all open source but you can purchase them from System 80 on the site – http://system80.net. Check the filter out on Soundcloud.

So what exactly is the filter? Not too hard to figure out but it’s a modern recreation of the Jupiter-6’s multimode filter that has the original 24dB low, band and high pass filter types as well as adding a 12dB mode hinting towards the Jupiter-8.

So what’s happening with the drum machine I hear you ask! Well it’s voice circuits are exact TR-808 clones, the step sequencer is “enhanced” and they reckon it will be ready this year. Like most things though setting dates early on seems silly as nearly everyone misses them.

 

BASTL Documentary

Cuckoo recently spent some time in Brno in the Czech Republic with the community that is BASTL. Lucky for us he’s filmed the whole thing and made a documentary. There’s some great moments showing how the company started, the community that they are as opposed to a totally set in stone business model, the vibe and overall ethic of everyone involved etc etc. I’ve a lot of time for BASTL, I love watched HRTL’s live streams and every conversation I’ve had with Vaclav has been great. Head to the BASTL interview I did right HERE for more from Vaclav.

Check out the video below or click HERE to head to YouTube.