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Interview – Neutron Sound

This interview is from the February issue of DivKid’s Month Of Modular. Check out that issue HERE.

Hi Jim, first of all let’s pretend we’ve never met. Who are you and what do you do?

I was born in Canada, but the majority of my school and youth was in
Oxfordshire, U.K. that is where I became interested in synthesizers when our music class visited EMS on a field trip and they gave us a loaner synthi.

After coming back to Canada I worked with a few more local bands, and have had many different jobs from bicycle mechanic to 3d rendering admin.

The first product I’m aware of from you is the Duofonik Dual SSM2044 Filter. Was that the first module you designed?

I had built other musical electronics, but not in modular format. it was mostly one off audio things. I also had a few DSP synthesizers that were mildly popular in the small sonic core scope community.

So how did the Orgone Accumulator come to life? It seems to blend multiple ideas over wavetables, crossfading, digital FM and AM, unison oscillator swarms etc.

I had made an arduino synth called “scarab” but it was a bit too complicated to make a DIY project for others to build, and I stopped working on it and went on to something else. then the teensy 3 was released. it is an ARM based 32 bit processor, miles ahead of the 8 bit arduino i had been working with, but i could still program it in the same environment, and even use much of my old code.

I prototyped the new version, and kept pushing it to do more. I added some ideas from my old scope synths as well I was quite happy with it at this stage and that was when thought it would make a nice DIY and started designing the panel. I went through a lot of iterations showing each design on the muffwiggler forums some of them were pretty wild! In the end knob spacing for fingers and practicality won out and (greyscale real name) helped me a lot with the 1.x DIY panel design.

1.0 boards and panels were produced and sold much better than I expected compared to the duofonik. I kept working on it after the release, adding more effects modes and tweaking controls.

orgone-1

To cut any potential confusion can you outline the differences between the first and second versions.

DIY compatible changes in 2.0 firmware from the version in your original video.
the hardware is the same, but newer panels have some different labels. 8 effects instead of just detuning – interpolation – 16 bit output – in drum effect pulsar and x mode buttons swap CVs so you can modulate decay – pulsar mode (replaces tune lock).

Retail hardware upgrades:
– 4 layer circuit board has large ground planes which lowers noise floor.
– LED indicators and momentary buttons, rather than cycling through the effects they can be selected directly.
– wave selectors can be modulated with a control voltage.
– in drum effect, pulsar and cx buttons extend drum decay tail.
– manufactured by WMD.
– different layout, tapered knobs.
– needs extra programmer to program (WMD)

Finally can you tell us a bit more about what’s to come in 2016 for Neutron Sound?

i will not make a “line of modules” so everyone can have the same thing but with “neutron sound” on the panel. there are plenty of most modules you might need. Sorry “collectors”!

The orgone drum effect is quite popular. I am working on a module with 3 or 4 instances of the orgone drum, with a few additional goodies. An analog phaser with cv able feedback. Also a hardware version of the “rotor” that is in the sonic core sdk and John Bowen
Solaris. I still have not decided if i should make a discreet ladder version of the duofonik, most of the work is done, but there are similar filters already.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: divkid, eurorack, interview, neutron sound, orgone accumulator

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Here we have the last FEATURED SYSTEMS post before Here we have the last FEATURED SYSTEMS post before we take a break for a week to open up new submissions from the DivKid community, collect those up and resume posts again the following week. 

This week we have @lukesnarl and we can see a great mix of @befacosynth , @xaocdevices , @wntrblm , @rabidelephant , @audio.damage , @4ms_company , @dnipro.modular , @intellijel , @busycircuits , @wmdevices , @instruomodular , @joranalogue , @acidraintech , @vermonagear , @noiseeng and more. It looks to be a great tidy performance style system to get music happening! 

FEATURED SYSTEMS is a DivKid community activity where each week we featured a user submitted set up then in our Discord and discuss that for a whole week. Focusing on module choices, music making, studio and performance ideas, layouts and more. 

To get involved and join the community head to patreon.com/divkid (link in bio). 

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #modularsynthesizer #synth #synthesizer #featuredsystems #divkid #sound #electronic #analogue #analog #musicmaking #beatmaking #musicproduction #sounddesign #luke #snarl #electronicmusic #featured
Wobbler2 from @rocket_not looking mighty fine alon Wobbler2 from @rocket_not looking mighty fine along with its packaging. Beep! 

#lfo #wobbler #wobble #modulation #eurorack #modular #modularsynth #module #synth #synthesizers #newgearday #rocketscience #tinrs #drums
A new Monday brings a new FEATURED SYSTEMS post. T A new Monday brings a new FEATURED SYSTEMS post. This time with have @heckseven and their studio combining the @lookmumnocomputer KOSMO format, Eurorack and other goodies all hooked together as one big performance instrument. 

Featured Systems is a community activity where we featured a DivKid community members system, be it a small case or whole studio then spend a whole week in our Discord discussing it. Talking about musical approaches, patch ideas, module choices, performance techniques, recording ideas, expression your own creativity with the gear and more.

There’s more pictures and info on this set in our Discord and if you’d like to be featured check out the patreon.com/divkid link in bio to sign up, support and get involved. 

#eurorack #featuredsystems #featured #divkid #community #electronic #electronicmusic #lookmum #kosmo #modular #modularsynth #music #analog #synth #synthesizer #metric #5U #korg #arturia #pacman #studio #musicproducer #sounddesign
Does your Eurorack case also double as a phone hol Does your Eurorack case also double as a phone holding, guitar video recording device? 

Didn't think so, mine just about does for that ropey second camera angle for guitar into modular stuff. But I don’t recommend it! 😂

This is in the @steady_state_fate state fate Steady State Gate video on my YouTube channel if you want to see the results. 

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #guitar #video #recording #cameraangles #telecaster #videocreation #videomaking #divkid #videoproduction #hack #camerahack #iphonevideo
Thanks to all involved that made the first SYNTH E Thanks to all involved that made the first SYNTH EAST event last weekend a great success which will hopefully be a new annual event going forward for the synth calendar. 

@robinv00 alongside @norwichartscentre , @stevesnookerone47 and others did a great job of creating a community focussed event with performances and companies in the same space. 

Here’s a quick video to show some of the gear, feel free to go new module spotting! 

Featuring … @danwahlbeck @thonksynth @voltagevibes @somasynths @soma_laboratory @bastlinstruments @befacosynth @lookmumnocomputer @apolloviewmodular @venusinstruments @beepboopelectronoicsworkshop @expressive_e @sourcedist @moogsynthesizers @pwminstruments @arturia_official @eventideaudio @korguk @electronicsoundmag @gorman662 @modularperfection @ryk_modular @blickensynths @expertsleepers @knobula @busycircuits @gazwilliamsbass and @nikcolkvoid apologies those I didn't grab a quick video with @finlayshakespeare was a huge highlight too! 

For the curious, the track in this is ‘Digifunk’ by me DivKid.

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #live #arts #music #norwich #syntheast #synth #synthesizer #norfolk #5U #lookmum#analog #sounddesign #event #oscilloscope #electronic #electronicmusic
It was great to see William Basinski @musex1 last It was great to see William Basinski @musex1 last night at the @belgravemusichall (great venue, where we hold the @modularmeets Leeds events). He put on quiet a show, telling the audience that Leeds is responsible for David Bowie, and giving us not 1 but 2 puddings as we'd eaten our mushy peas ... 

Great support from @penelopetrappes who brought a more haunting reverb’d out vocal quality to looping and drones as well as Yorkshire Modular Society @oxynucid who was fading in swells of bass and textures throughout. 

What are some of your favourite ambient gigs? Got any stories to go along with them? 

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #basinski #tape #reeltoreel #ambient #drone #drones #tapeloop #ambient #leeds#yorkshire #gig #electronic #electronicmusic #sounddesign #music

And yes I know these are truly terrible photos 👏
Hello, happy new week, happy new Monday and happy Hello, happy new week, happy new Monday and happy new FEATURED SYSTEMS! This week we have a system from DivKid community member @cat_bondage 

It’s a tidy set up with the pair of @weareelektron units and 7U of Eurorack. Tight and tidy patch cable management too, it all looks very accessible and performable. 

There’s modules from @intellijel, @shakmatmod, @expertsleepers, Ladik, @doepfer_musikelektronik, Music Thing Modular, @dannysound_synthesizers, @ericasynths, @twohpmodular and @befacosynth 

Featured systems is a week long activity of discussion around a single system submitted my community members and chosen at random. Over in the DivKid Discord we’ll be discussion performance ideas, musical backgrounds, module choices, module layouts and plenty more. 

If you’d like to get involved, submit your system and discuss others head over to patreon.com/divkid to support and gain access to all exclusives! 

#eurorack #featuredsystems #elektron #modular #modularsynth #synthesizer #sounddesign #music #performance #musicproducer #voltage #electronic #electronicmusic #musictech #divkid #community #sounddesign
Got a favourite waveform? Or just like watching th Got a favourite waveform? Or just like watching the waves go by like people watching … but voltage watching, in your own in a dark room? Just me?!?

This is the PWM Saw from the @apolloviewmodular Allscillator (video on YouTube) 

#darkroom #eurorack #mordax #dats #scope #oscilloscope #pwm #saw #analog #modular #modularsynth #synthesizer #wave #waveform #music #electronic #apolloview
JOIN ME TONIGHT* for a quick 10 minute hangout goi JOIN ME TONIGHT* for a quick 10 minute hangout going through over 100 patches and 31 videos as a roundup of the past year. 

2 mildly annoying cuts of things from a year of videos which aren’t included in tonights video just for fun.

*Link in bio for the live chat and hangout for the video premiere. 8pm UK time, the link shows you the time in your location.

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #letsdivein #dive #hello #premiere #divkid
Happy Monday and Happy FEATURED SYSTEMS day! Fea Happy Monday and Happy FEATURED SYSTEMS day! 

Featured systems come from members of the DivKid community and it’s not only about large sprawling modular and studio set ups. With that in mind todays small system comes from Kyle at @signal_sounds 

We can see a heavy @4ms_company leaning in the great looking @nano.modules case with some added control from the @makenoisemusic pressure points and mixing from the @futuresoundsystems MX1.

FEATURED SYSTEMS is a week long initiative where in the DivKid Discord we discuss multiple topics around the submitted system, such a making module choices, module layout, performance and workflow approaches, musical intentions and more. 

If you’d like to get involved head over to patreon.com/divkid where you can support my work, gain access to exclusive videos and PDF patchbooks and also join the Discord server. Link in bio.

#featuredsystems #eurorack #modular #modularsynth #smallsystems #rigrundown #divkid #4ms #makenoise #futuresoundsystems #pressurepoints #delay #looping #resonator #sounddesign #featured #musicproduction #musictechnology #synthesizer
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