MOTM

I work within the following self-chosen limitations:  no keyboard, no 
MIDI, no sequencers.  The challenge is to generate interesting rhythmic 
patterns, melodies, chord progressions, and timbre changes without any 
of these traditional devices.  The basic tool for this is the clocked 
sample and hold.  But it needs taming if it's not to be overly chaotic.

You have the basics for a simple self-running patch.  Use your LFO 
square wave as a clock to the S&H, and also to trigger the EG.  Patch 
the S&H output to control the VCO frequencies.  Mix the VCOs through a 
filter into the VCA, controlled by the EG.  It would be nice to have a 
second EG on the filter frequency, too.  You'll get a random sequence of 
notes.  Very basic, but the heart of a self-running patch.  If the LFO 
has voltage control, try controlling it with the S&H output also, to get 
a chaotic rhythm.  If you use a second LFO as input to the S&H instead 
of noise, you can produce repeating patterns.  To make this very musical 
requires more modules.   Instead of a regular or chaotic beat, you can 
rig up some syncopation.  John Loffink posted a patch a while back that 
uses the MOTM 700 for this.  I have that patched up right now in fact.  
If you want scale tones, you will need a quantizer.  The Blacet Miniwave 
does a nice job here.  For complex chords, you will need several sample 
and holds or a special purpose module such as Ken Stone's Infinite 
Melody, which I personally use a lot.  The IM has four stepped outputs.  
I will typically run two of these through two Miniwaves to get two 
quantized CVs, and then shift-sample them to produce 4 CVs to drive 4 
VCOs.  That can produce very nice complex chord progressions.  I often 
use the IM outputs directly, too, without quantizing.  The final touches 
involve timbre changes driven by LFOs, EGs, or more random sources.  
When I patch up somehing like this, it usually takes a while, fiddling 
with all the knobs and switches, to get it into a sweet spot.  But the 
result often amuses and amazes me.

-Richard Brewster

Chris Walcott wrote:

>Speaking of self running patches, can you share a basic concept for 
>doing this?  I have a pretty basic setup.  2 x VCO, VCA, EG, LFO plus 
>several filters.  I also have the 120 S&H/Noise module.
>
>- chris
>
>On Apr 12, 2004, at 5:19 PM, Richard Brewster wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I got this idea yesterday while relaxing and not thinking of anything 
>>in
>> particular.  Why not publish a synth running in real time by streaming
>> it from a server?  Radio stations can be tuned from the web, right?  A
>> speech or concert can have a live webcast, no?  So why not a synth.  
>>The
>> audio output would be digitized and then encoded in real time to be
>> streamed.
>>    
>>
>
>
>  
>