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Interview – RYO

ryo_logo

This interview is from Issue #1 of DivKid’s Month Of Modular back from October 2015. Interesting to read it back a year on.

Hi Benjamin, so we’ve been working together on promoting RYO products with my videos since RYO’s first module the Optodist. How did that module come about? Why use vactrols in it and LED based limiting?

It was a bit surprising to see how few options for distortion there was in Eurorack at the time, let alone with voltage control. We wanted to do something that was unusual even for guitar distortion pedals and would work well for synth sounds. After several experiments with different ideas for distortion designs and both OTA and vactrol based voltage control, we settled for a vactrol and TL072 based design because we really liked the way it sounded and it was indeed a bit different to what had been previously explored in this field.

It did the job for overdrive and distortion well but it also had this smudgy smooth character to it that we hadn’t heard much in other distortion designs. The vactrols response to control voltages sounded really good with the overall distortion character of the module. The idea of the limiter was to tame the output a bit but we also found that using LEDs sounded really nice, and worked fittingly together with the name Optodist.
We chose to have the limiter switchable and an input level attenuator to add as much range and usability as we could, from a gentle VCA with minimal distortion or a smooth overdrive and all the way to full crank. We find that it always add something pleasant to the sound at practically any setting.

Tell us a bit about RYO in general, who’s involved, where are you based, when did you start the company?

My interest in synths and music production much originated from softwares such as Reason and vst plugins, I bought my first hardware synth as late as 2009, a Korg MS2000R, and after that I was pretty much hooked by the fun and directness of hardware synths and not too long after I had gathered up a little synth setup. Andreas has had a background in programming and some hobby electronics and shortly after we got together he started to find an interest in music equipment as well.

We got started with modular around the autumn of 2011 when we bought a Doepfer eurorack case and a couple of modules, the whole concept of modular synthesis was quite new to us so it was an initially baffling process to get the grips of this machine, so shortly thereafter we started hanging out on music forums and IRC chatrooms such as Muffwiggler and 99musik here in Sweden. Via the Muffwiggler chat we got acquainted with hobby electronics interested Tom who have a long history with using modular and other synths as a musician and over time the ideas and plans for a company started to grow.

The company was officially launched in the Spring of 2013, here in Gothenburg, Sweden. Andreas is the main driving force of the company keeping the administration in check as well as building instructions, research, circuit and PCB designs, building/kitting modules and more. My work involves most of the front panel designs and building/kitting modules. Tom is involved in doing research, circuit designs and support. None of us are working full time with RYO yet.

I really like your VC Seq module in 10HP it’s a nice compact module that’s just the right size to jam on for me. People may have seen the second video I created using two of the sequencers and expanders together, can you tell us anymore about further expansion for chaining modules?

Thanks! Yeah the VC Sequencer has quite a journey of redesigns and revisions. It started out as the idea of something really simple but fun and interesting as a concept, basically only 8 steps and the voltage controlled mode. Soon after development of that had begun we looked into the idea of having a more classic clock mode also to make it a bit more versatile and usable in more traditional sequencing applications.

This implementation was very close to see release until we stopped at the last minute more or less, and reckoned it would be a very cool thing to have trigger/gate outputs together with the VC mode. It was a feature that we reckoned we would later regret if we didn’t add, and so came the channel expansion header into existence! Around the same time we thought that as we’d already jumped in with one expansion header, why not allow them the possibility to chain together too?

The 16 step expansion is one of the projects we are currently working on, I don’t have too many details about it so far buy we what we can say for sure it will do a 16 step sequence (of course) with clock or voltage addressing but the by far most interesting thing about it will be the both clockable and voltage addressable X/Y snake/cartesian mode, using one input to control the horizontal rows and another for the vertical, as far as we know, no other hardware sequencer allows this with both clock as well as voltage addressing, so we hope it will open up some new doors for peoples musical inspiration! 🙂 One other certain thing is that it will allow you to run the voltage control both free running like on the VC Sequencer as well as syncing with the clock input via a built in S&H.

So I’ve already probed for sequencer expansion news, what else do you have coming up? Anything you can tell us in detail or tease us with?

Except the 16 step expander we are at full throttle on a vactrol vcf/vca with the classic vcf/lpg/vca modes. Tom is finalizing it as we speak. We also have a couple more small simple but very handy set of modules that’s been finished on the desk for a while.The first one is a 4hp 5-step sequencer (basically half a Baby10) with a switch for 3, 4 or 5 step operation, clock and reset inputs and as a bonus for the homebrewer, pads on the pcb for 5 gate outputs and a sequencer hold input for those who want to make their own expansion. More of these compact “building block” type of things are just about finished as well and we just need to decide a release order.

We want to complete a full voice in 2016. Exactly what order and technology they will be based on is for the future to tell. We have almost settled for the ARM platform for some future digital modules. Oh, and some sweet percussion!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: divkid, eurorack, interview, modular synth, optodist, RYO, VC Sequencer

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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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