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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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divkidvideo

Video demonstrator for modular, synths and music tech gear with a background in music composition & production alongside sound design & engineering.

DivKid
WIN AN ONA VCO!!! To celebrate the release of the WIN AN ONA VCO!!! To celebrate the release of the new Eurorack module ONA and my demo video we’re giving away a free module. Official text and info below. Go watch the demo video on my YouTube once you’ve signed up! 

💥 GIVEAWAY 💥 You can win a free ONA Analog Oscillator! 💣 I have teamed up with @nanomodules to bring you this cool Black Friday gift.
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🎹 Music was made using ONA by the incredible @rheynemusic Check out his stunning videos!
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#NANOModules #ONA #giveaway #eurorack #synthesizer #modularsynth #music #electronicmusic #musicproducer #modular #sounddesign
SYNTHBOOTH!!! @synthbooth is this weekend with per SYNTHBOOTH!!! @synthbooth is this weekend with performances starting right about now and talks, manufacturers, new gear demos and lots to check out this weekend. 

I'll be live tomorrow at 6.25pm UK BST // 7.25pm CEST central EU // 1.25pm east coast USA and 10.25am west coast USA for the panel "BUILD YOUR MODULAR SYNTH COMMUNITY". 

I'll be joined by a great bunch of people on the panel with @sonartraffic @tulpa.dusha @gloriousfrenchie @billvanloo @bradmi @sinemountain @johno_wells and @trovarsiofficial . 

Between us we're representing @modularmeets @dutchmodularfest @modular_moon_amsterdam @newyorkmodularsociety @northcoastmodularcollective @modularseattle @coloradomodularsynthsociety @modular.world and @socalsynthsociety 

I'll have a weekend hangout going on exclusively in my Discord community for @patreon supporters. patreon.com/divkid to join.

Head to synthbooth.com to check it out, grab tickets and get involved. There's loads going on, options to book time to chat with people, new products, good people, good noise ... all the goods! 

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Join @modularmeets THIS SUNDAY at 3pm UK BST for t Join @modularmeets THIS SUNDAY at 3pm UK BST for the online version of our 2020 event. 

We've got new music, unseen performances and highlights from the past 5 years to share over my YouTube channel as we hangout and discuss our own new performances and round the day out with a panel on performing with modular systems with special guests. 

The stream will include Bit Loader, @bluewolfse7en, @koshimazaki, tIB, @vileelectrodes, @ebcidic, Rob Hordijk, Chris Carter of Throbbing Gristle, @robinrimbaud aka SCANNER, @dvoxxmusic, iPassenger, @theianboddy, @nigelmullaney, @_liquidyzer_ , @finlayshakespeare, @richard_quirk_music, @jethrobagust, @theshawinstitute and more. 

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Airwaves dancing with the hynopric tones of @theut Airwaves dancing with the hynopric tones of @theutopiastrong album. Psychedelic washes of synths and fx a plenty so far. 

@stevesnookerone47 @rocket_recordings @kavus_torabi @michael_j_york 

#music #eurorack #modular #modularsynth #electronic #ambient #psychedelic
THIS WEDNESDAY LIVE WITH @sec0nd_breakfast_ AT 8PM THIS WEDNESDAY LIVE WITH @sec0nd_breakfast_ AT 8PM UK BST (more time zones below). 

For Rig Rundown episode 9 I'm joined by Second Breakfast. We'll be talking about putting together #eurorack system specifically focused on performing and composing full songs (with transitions and sections) live. 

Come along with questions for the live at at 8pm UK BST, 9pm central Europe, 12pm west coast USA or 3pm east coast USA - the YouTube live link shows the start time in your local timezone

We'll be live on youtube.com/divkidvideo

#modular #modularsynth #breakfast #secondbreakfast #animation #8bit #chiptune #electro #electronicmusic #live #livestream #sounddesign #modularperformance
I’ve been using this lovely minimal and slim #eu I’ve been using this lovely minimal and slim #eurorack case from @emitum . It’s 104HP powered (lots of amps!) 6U and super lightweight. I’ve posted more information and shared my experience so far at bit.ly/divkidblog (link in bio). 

#modular #modularsynth #emitum #case #travel #travelcase #synth #minimal
The latest @seilrecords from @jogginghouse is love The latest @seilrecords from @jogginghouse is lovely! #ambient #modular #vinyl #music #siel #eurorack #pedalfx #tape
Patching Panda Moon Phase // Mid side based stereo Patching Panda Moon Phase // Mid side based stereo Eurorack filter

Full demo video now on my YouTube channel! 

The @patchingpanda Moon Phase is a stereo filter that implements a mid side matrix to create and modulate stereo images from two filters. Loads of cool stuff to go through and lots of patches in the video as always. 

#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #synth #sounddesign #stereo #midsiderecording #panda #moon #moonphase
Looking forward to the follow up to the FEEDING TH Looking forward to the follow up to the FEEDING THE MONSTER livestream series which is ... FEEDING THE TARDIS. Chris Meyer of @learningmodular will be with me for this new series going through his Eurorack performance set up. 
Love stream is this Saturday the 27th of June at 8pm UK BST on my YouTube channel. 
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Lovely crispy waveform dancing #data #oscilloscope Lovely crispy waveform dancing #data #oscilloscope #lissajous #2d #waveform #sounddesign #modular #modularsynth #eurorack
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