MOTM

Since this list can be used for voting on future modules, I'd like to list 
my wish-I-had's.  One aspect of the my setup I'd like to see well developed 
is the capability to interface to external stuff.  Right now it interfaces 
well to other synths but I'd like to see some modules that interface well 
to guitars, mics, drums, etc.

So I guess that would mean I'd like to see a voltage follower, a pitch 
follower (if it's technically feasible for an MOTM format and price), and a 
vocoder.  I can't think of any other others but I'll bet there are.  Of 
course I'd like to see the full complement of core modules first.

Can any one second my vote?

John Speth
Object Engineering, Inc
mailto:johns@...

There will be 2 1U wide modules in July: a triple pre-amp (1 "guitar"
channel, 2 "synth" channels)
and an envelope follower.

A vocoder is interesting from an engineering point. Maybe next year. This
year is about
filled up!

Paul S.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Speth <johns@...>
To: MOTM List (E-mail) <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 11:07 AM

Subject: [motm] Future module vote


>From: John Speth <johns@...>
>
>Since this list can be used for voting on future modules, I'd like to list
>my wish-I-had's.  One aspect of the my setup I'd like to see well developed
>is the capability to interface to external stuff.  Right now it interfaces
>well to other synths but I'd like to see some modules that interface well
>to guitars, mics, drums, etc.
>
>So I guess that would mean I'd like to see a voltage follower, a pitch
>follower (if it's technically feasible for an MOTM format and price), and a
>vocoder.  I can't think of any other others but I'll bet there are.  Of
>course I'd like to see the full complement of core modules first.
>
>Can any one second my vote?
>
>John Speth
>Object Engineering, Inc
>mailto:johns@...
>
>
>
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>So I guess that would mean I'd like to see a voltage follower, a pitch

Oops, smack me sideways :)  I meant an envelope follower.  I've already got a bunch of voltage followers.  I call 'em patch cords.

JJS

At 08:52 AM 5/11/99 -0700, John Speth <johns@...> wrote:
>Since this list can be used for voting on future modules, I'd like to list 
>my wish-I-had's.  One aspect of the my setup I'd like to see well developed 
>is the capability to interface to external stuff.  Right now it interfaces 
>well to other synths but I'd like to see some modules that interface well 
>to guitars, mics, drums, etc.

One thing I like about using Korg MS-series gear is that all the triggers
are S-trig, which means that any standard footswitch that closes the
circuit between the two conductors can be used to trigger envelopes, step
the sequencer, etc.  It would be nice for a MOTM module incorporating
external signal processing features to include an S-trig -> gate/trigger
converter.  I like playing synth with my feet!

>So I guess that would mean I'd like to see a voltage follower, a pitch 
>follower (if it's technically feasible for an MOTM format and price), and a 
>vocoder.  

I'll definitely agree!  A preamp (as Paul already indicted) would be pretty
essential, since most of the MOTM processing modules do not work well with
guitar- (or Rhodes/Clavinet type keyboard-) or microphone-level signals.
And I'd love to see a pitch->voltage converter that works as well as the
MS-20; I've become quite impressed with that unit's tracking for bass,
guitar (including playing chords to get that "Baba O'Riley" arpegiated
effect), violin, etc.

	-Doug
	 ceres@...

Ooh! Ooh! I'd like to see a rudimentary sampler a la doepfer's. Maybe this
isn't terribly feasible to do on a small scale since it probably requires
more R&D than other modules, but it's still a cool idea. Does anybody have
this module and can share experiences? (respond privately please) 

Other than that, more filters and a midi-syncable sequencer are up there
on my priority list. 

later
Andrew

-| Andrew Schrock | aschrock@... |-

I already talked about this to Paul (and he kind of had me convinced on the
phone that it was rather pointless), but I'd still like a VC ADSR. This came
up again because I realized I'm often tweaking envelopes in realtime.
Modulating attack time with a slow sine LFO... ahhh, that would be nice.

I would use it (I'd probably use several, actually). Would anyone else?

David (who needs to get off his ass and build more than just a power supply)

The VC DADSR design is 95% done. It's just not as important in the global
scheme of things
as the filters BUT...it's up and running in the lab!

Paul S.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Bivins <david@...>
To: motm@onelist.com <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [motm] Future module vote


>From: "David Bivins" <david@...>
>
>I already talked about this to Paul (and he kind of had me convinced on the
>phone that it was rather pointless), but I'd still like a VC ADSR. This
came
>up again because I realized I'm often tweaking envelopes in realtime.
>Modulating attack time with a slow sine LFO... ahhh, that would be nice.
>
>I would use it (I'd probably use several, actually). Would anyone else?
>
>David (who needs to get off his ass and build more than just a power
supply)

>
>
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>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Schreiber [mailto:synth1@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 3:59 PM
> To: motm@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [motm] Future module vote
> 
> 
> From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...>
> 
> The VC DADSR design is 95% done. It's just not as important in the global
> scheme of things
> as the filters BUT...it's up and running in the lab!
> 
> Paul S.

*D*ADSR! Oh, you are too much. Time to start ordering the rest of it!

David.

I have a lot of module ideas; I've discussed quite a few of them with Paul
already.

The ones that are currently getting me most excited are BASS and SNARE
modules.

These are pretty straight forward analog panels.

1U each

Volume knob

Pitch (tuning) knob

Snappiness (for SNARE)

Decay (for BASS)

CV in (possibly)

Gate in (unlikely)

Trigger in

Voltage out

Perhaps there are some other unique controls to be added by using pots for a
few resistors here and there or adding a couple of controlled funky caps.  I
am not the expert for this, but the idea is there.  Once again, try to
create a unique MOTM sound or method of playability.

Yes, you can make these types of sounds, but it takes a lot of modules.

808 and 909 emulations quickly come to mind.

Handclap module!!!!  Oh yeah!

Perhaps a white noise-based cymbal module?

Perhaps a unique percussive module?

A module for toms, claves, congas?

This will be incredible when the sequencer comes out.  I invision the
sequencer having 4 - 8 trigger outs.  Each step could send a trigger to any
out (actually I have much more complicated idea in mind).  Essentially send
a trigger to TRIGA on steps 1, 5, 9, and 13.  Send triggers to TRIGB on all
16 steps.  Send triggers to TRIGC on 3, 7, 11, and 15.  Send TRIGA to IN of
MOTM BASS, TRIGB to HIHAT (or something high, short and chirpy) and TRIGC to
MOTM SNARE.  Instant analog drum machine!!!!!!  (The outputs can go into
your mixer or the MOTM mixer.)

The ideas get wilder from here.

--Todd

IMO I think that dedicated percussion modules are a poor choice for a
commercial modular. 

Why? Because they are in most cases simply modules hardwired to act in a
certain manner. You can construct these modules (kick drum, high hat,
snare, toms, etc.) from standard modules (VCO/ADSR/VCA/VCF/ringmod). A
better idea might be to build a digital noise / drum voice module a la
doepfer... and perhaps a quad AD envelope generator triggered via pulse or
gate so you can trigger the sounds as you describe. Then just add a MAP
midigator (or analog sequencer) to trigger the sounds and you're in
buisness. 

later, 
Andrew

-| Andrew Schrock | aschrock@... |-

In a message dated 5/11/99 11:20:40 AM, synth1@... writes:

>There will be 2 1U wide modules in July: a triple pre-amp (1 "guitar"
>
>channel, 2 "synth" channels)
>
>and an envelope follower.
>
>

Hi Paul:

I'm wondering what the difference is between the guitar and synth inputs 
(level? impedance?) -- do a lot of synths have only a low level output? I was 
thinking I'd almost never use these types of inputs (now Larry, on the other 
hand ....), but I would actually use three guitar (or mic) level inputs. 
Maybe this could be either a switched feature or just a mod to the standard 
design (???).

And Paul, the reason there is so much talk about future MOTM modules is 
because everyone is having so much fun with the VCOs, but too embarrassed to 
let you know how cool they are!

Keep up the great work!
John B.

>From: Doug Pearson <ceres@...>
>And I'd love to see a pitch->voltage converter that works as well as the
>MS-20; I've become quite impressed with that unit's tracking for bass,
>guitar (including playing chords to get that "Baba O'Riley" arpegiated
>effect), violin, etc.

I've found that the motm 120 works as a pitch to voltage converter. I've
plugged my bass into the A input, set the MIX A switch to Square, turn the
A input all the way up and all the suboctaves all the way down, the output
is a square wave that follows the pitch of the bass. Plugging the 120
output to the sync input of another oscillator lets me get other waveshapes
from this patch. Tracking on this is about as good as the old
Electro-Harmonix Bass Synth (ie, not so great), but it can work. I'm
thinking about trying this with some massive compression on the bass before
it goes into the 120, to even out the attacks and decays.

________________________________________________________
Dave Trenkel : improv@...  : www.peak.org/~improv/

"...there will come a day when you won't have to use
gasoline. You'd simply take a cassette and put it in
your car, let it run. You'd have to have the proper
type of music. Like you take two sticks, put 'em
together, make fire. You take some notes and rub 'em
together - dum, dum, dum, dum - fire, cosmic fire."
                                            -Sun Ra
________________________________________________________

.>
>I'm wondering what the difference is between the guitar and synth inputs
>(level? impedance?) -- do a lot of synths have only a low level output? I
was
>thinking I'd almost never use these types of inputs (now Larry, on the
other
>hand ....), but I would actually use three guitar (or mic) level inputs.
>Maybe this could be either a switched feature or just a mod to the standard
>design (???).
>

There are several BIG differences that don't lend easily to "flip the
switch". Actually,
guitars, mics, and syths ALL are so different that very liitle is common.

I still want to do a good mic pre: I bought all these high $$$ Burr-Brown
instrumentation amps
and AD820 super whiz-bang FET op amps for the servos.

The guitar pre has a VERY high input impedance (like 1M) and uses a VERY $$$
Linear Tech
current-mode op amp (like $12ea!) with a LT1010 current booster for pure
Class A excitement.

Paul S.
BTW: ^@%$^@$ power cables are back, all fixed and shipments resume tomorrow.
&^#&^$&#^$

Not that the percussion modules will ever happen, but...  Yes, as I said in
my original post, they are somewhat duplications because you can essentially
build the same things with other modules (one at a time--unless you have a
huge setup).  I may build some of the perc. modules on my own.  For those of
you interested, what controls/inputs/outputs do you think they should have?
Does anyone have schematics to get me started (other than the Thomas Henry
stuff)?

The perc. modules would do a lot for the MOTM even though 2 individuals said
they wouldn't want them.  They would be relatively inexpensive--$89 or under
for the kits.  They would only be 1U.  It would generate additional press
for the MOTM--something fairly unique and in demand.  It would bring new
purchasers into the MOTM family which wouldn't have existed otherwise.  IT
would be fairly easy for Paul (I would think) to design and produce.

And most importantly, a great performance feature.  I have the feeling the
majority of modular owners (and MOTM owners for that matter) typically do
not drag their equipment out and perform live.  Yes, I know a few people do.
Perhaps it is easy to loose sight of what performing live can mean to have
such control--not just over a single sound--but a whole army of sounds (yes,
I am stretching here!).

Thanks!
Todd

* External Ribbon Controller (great sales potential outside of MOTM too)

* X-Y Controller (joystick?  something else?)

* Button Box (module for manually generating triggers since Paul won't let
up have them otherwise)

*LED Box (Since Paul is stingy with these too.  Ha!)

* Trigger Converter

* Keyboard (although I don't want one myself)

* Frequency Divider (although I am not sure what all it can do--same as a
pulse divider?)

* Boolean Processor

* Panner/Stereo Processor

* Lag Processor (not sure on this one either)

Just wanted to throw these out...

--Todd

> From: "Tentochi" <tentochi@...>
> 
> * External Ribbon Controller (great sales potential outside of MOTM too)

Oh Oh !!  Me too !!

Also, for those that might be interested, I hope to have in my hands soon,
a controller that will work "like" a ribbon that is being made by a fellow
fromt he Theremin list.  Not an actual Theremin controller, but one with a
knob or button that you slide along to a certain position to obtain a
certain pitch (and output a control voltage for modular control).  Once I
get my hands on it, I will report to the group the success of this
alternate controller.  It should be < $100 too.

Larry Hendry

In a message dated 5/11/99 8:28:21 PM, jlarryh@... writes:

>> From: "Tentochi" <tentochi@...>

>> * External Ribbon Controller (great sales potential outside of MOTM too)

>Oh Oh !!  Me too !!


Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! Me three!!!
JB