MOTM

I have a few concussor drum modules and they are a very fun way to throw some percussion into your modular mix. Highly recommended! (though patterns can get a bit repetitive.. (where are my logic modules?)) 
Im sure you can rigup a few vc'd parameters..  There are a few knobs on each module so Im sure it can be done (not by me, but someone with ee experience)
1U dedicated drum modules would be fantastic!!  Bass (kick, toms, blocks, etc..), Noise (hihats, snares, etc..),  maybe another.  4 control knobs, trig in, drum out and two vc'd params..  MOTM drum modules would be awesome!!  I'll do a bit of research on this..

But I would definitely be looking out for a MIDI-Trig converter..
Check out the EFM site for TomG's design.  Would make a great MOTM addition!!  Only downside is the dip switch to select MIDI channel (Maybe put it on the back of the panel or directly on the PCB..

Here's my vote for a Midi/Trig stooge panel!!


LARRY!!!!
I like the 2rack space panel ideas..  powersupply, mults etc...  The sideways screened mixer module would be cool too for the rack guys out there..  
Hmmmm.. do I want to keep my modules in my rack or make a cab?  youve just complicated this decision, thanks again Larry!!   ; )

~Steve

At 1:21 PM -0400 10/17/01, revtor@... wrote:
>
>I have a few concussor drum modules and they are a very fun way to throw
>>some percussion into your modular mix. Highly recommended! (though
>patterns >can get a bit repetitive.. (where are my logic modules?))

Logic modules certainly would make things more interesting.  I assume that
Concussor offers a gate sequencer.  Regardless, even without the sequencer,
trying to replace a drum machine like an 808 or 909 with modular would take
a cabinet full of MOTM modules.  Yet, having that kind of flexibility would
be analogue heaven for anyone doing minimal techno.  Otoh, it would be
sheer hell for someone trying to produce psy-trance.  It depends what you
are trying to do, and how you work.

While I sample percussion sounds synthesized or processed with my little
MOTM setup, this loses the ability to modulate percussion sounds over
several bars with a slow envelope or LFO.

>1U dedicated drum modules would be fantastic!!  Bass (kick, toms, blocks,
>>etc..), Noise (hihats, snares, etc..),  maybe another.
>4 control knobs, trig in, drum out and two vc'd params..  MOTM drum
>modules >would be awesome!!  I'll do a bit of research on this..

I'm not enthusiastic about MOTM modules dedicated to individual percussion
sounds, like having the equivalent of one channel of a Tama or Simmons
brain in a MOTM module.  However I think that modules could be designed
that would make percussion synthesis more efficient, while maintaining the
spirit and flexibility of a modular.

For example, an EG (ADS) and VCA combined in one module, with jacks for
trigger in, envelope out, audio in, and audio out -- four knobs and four
jacks in 1U just like an 800.

Another module might be a tintinnabular audio source, in order to produce
metallic sounds without having to use a large number of modules.

For drums, the TR-808 uses a "bridged T-network" in order to create a
waveform similar to an oscillator decaying in amplitude.  Rather than using
the trigger to trigger EG's controlling separate VCO's and VCA's as in the
606 and 909, it seems the trigger itself is transformed into the sound.  In
my limited understanding, it's like a VCO that runs out of steam.  Like the
skin of a drum, it oscillates after being hit, then tapers off into
silence.  For the 808 toms, this circuit is modified with diodes such that
the frequency decays as well.  Perhaps this technology could be rolled into
a  MOTM module with increased flexibility such that it could produce more
than just drum sounds.

> Another module might be a tintinnabular audio source, in order to produce
> metallic sounds without having to use a large number of modules.

Mark, I'm not familiar with "tintinnabular audio sources."  Can you tell us more?  

    Eric

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At 8:42 AM -0700 10/19/01, alt-mode wrote:
>
>> Another module might be a tintinnabular audio source, in order to produce
>> metallic sounds without having to use a large number of modules.
>
>Mark, I'm not familiar with "tintinnabular audio sources."
>Can you tell us more?

Tintinnabular audio sources were discovered during the Bronze Age after
someone accidentally dropped the first bronze container.  Later,
self-actuated devices were developed for bovine telemetry, and to announce
the presence of reindeer and large Christian buildings.  Modern
tintinnabular audio sources are used to summon school children and regulate
boxing tournaments.

While most tintinnabular audio sources used in music are made by Turkish
people, they can also be synthesized electronically.  Typical methods use
amplitude or frequency modulation.  Similar sounds can also be produced by
combining the output of a large number of oscillators -- the 808 and 606
use an oscillator bank built from a hex schmitt trigger.  In a similar
fashion, one could use harmonic synthesis -- modulating the amplitude of a
number of sine waves (one for each "harmonic").  While both harmonic and FM
synthesis are usually implemented digitally, it is much easier to produce a
sound that follows a scale than trying use a ring mod or frequency shifter.
It depends on what you are trying to do.  While it's not that difficult to
make single tintinnabular sounds using filter FM (the MOTM 410 is
surprisingly good at this) or some other method on an analogue synth,
trying to synthesize a realistic set of tuned bells is almost impossible,
imho.

Another method used in analogue drum machines is a "swing type VCA" which
modulates the output of an oscillator with an envelope.  This produces a
jagged damped waveform not unlike the output of a ring mod through a
separate enveloped modulated VCA, except from what I can tell, it saves
parts by using the same "multiplier" for both functions.  I'm sure there
are other methods.

Mark,

Thanks for expanding my vocabulary today ;)

BTW, on a trip to Switzerland, I discovered the source of mad-cow disease.  I noted
that anything that had a bell (aka bovine telemetry device) that size strapped
around its neck would certainly go mad <snicker>.

  Eric


--- mark@... wrote:
> At 8:42 AM -0700 10/19/01, alt-mode wrote:
> >
> >> Another module might be a tintinnabular audio source, in order to produce
> >> metallic sounds without having to use a large number of modules.
> >
> >Mark, I'm not familiar with "tintinnabular audio sources."
> >Can you tell us more?
> 
> Tintinnabular audio sources were discovered during the Bronze Age after
> someone accidentally dropped the first bronze container.  Later,
> self-actuated devices were developed for bovine telemetry, and to announce
> the presence of reindeer and large Christian buildings.  Modern
> tintinnabular audio sources are used to summon school children and regulate
> boxing tournaments.
> 
> While most tintinnabular audio sources used in music are made by Turkish
> people, they can also be synthesized electronically.  Typical methods use
> amplitude or frequency modulation.  Similar sounds can also be produced by
> combining the output of a large number of oscillators -- the 808 and 606
> use an oscillator bank built from a hex schmitt trigger.  In a similar
> fashion, one could use harmonic synthesis -- modulating the amplitude of a
> number of sine waves (one for each "harmonic").  While both harmonic and FM
> synthesis are usually implemented digitally, it is much easier to produce a
> sound that follows a scale than trying use a ring mod or frequency shifter.
> It depends on what you are trying to do.  While it's not that difficult to
> make single tintinnabular sounds using filter FM (the MOTM 410 is
> surprisingly good at this) or some other method on an analogue synth,
> trying to synthesize a realistic set of tuned bells is almost impossible,
> imho.
> 
> Another method used in analogue drum machines is a "swing type VCA" which
> modulates the output of an oscillator with an envelope.  This produces a
> jagged damped waveform not unlike the output of a ring mod through a
> separate enveloped modulated VCA, except from what I can tell, it saves
> parts by using the same "multiplier" for both functions.  I'm sure there
> are other methods.
> 
> 
> 


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