Experimental Modular Techno // Braids + Other Friends

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#modulartechno #eurorack

My submission for the #CollinBenders Groove Challenge. Please read the detailed patch notes below.

Background video:
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My Setup:
- 2*104 HP Eurorack Case
- Beatstep Pro for Sequencing
- Scarlett Focusrite 18i8 for multi-track recording
- LaunchControl XL as my mixer for Ableton Live (I am muting/unmuting channels, which cannot be seen on camera because I have limited space)
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Modules Used
- Mutable Instruments Braids
- Befaco Rampage * 2
- Pico Drums
- 2HP Hat
- Shakmat Modular Time Wizard
- Dual MS20 Filter
- A Quad LFO
- 6-Channel VCA
- Beatstep Pro
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Patch Notes:

General patch notes: This patch relies on self resonating filters and Meta mode on Braids to create a glitchy groove. All the channels on Rampages are running in cycle mode, which gives me four cycling envelopes. I am using these envelopes to modulate the resonance and cutoff of my filters.
(For those who haven't used Befaco Rampage, the Fall and Rise CV outputs are square waves or gates. This is important to understand the patch)

Shakmat Modular Time Wizard: The two channels of the time wizard are getting clock information from two independent gate channels on my Beatstep Pro. Instead of sending the Time Wizard a clock out from BSP, I experimented sending it gates from the channels on BSP. This way, I have more control over my rhythm pattern. Also, I got some interesting and unexpected results. My BSP is running at 125 BPM. Each channel is set to 16 steps long, at 16th notes, with a gate on every alternate step.

Shakmat Modular Time Wizard: I am multiplying the incoming clock on Channel A by 3. Channel B is being clocked independently. A2 divider on channel A is set to an OR Gate. It outputs a gate whenever A2 or A3 is high.

For Braids: Mutable Instruments Braids is running in Meta mode. In Meta mode, the FM knob functions as a sifter between different sound banks in Braids. I am modulating the FM with a trigger from Shakmat Modular Time Wizard. I selected Kick on Braids as my starting sound. Interestingly, for Kick to play, you need to give an input to the Trig on Braids. However, when you modulate the FM in Meta mode, you don't need to supply it any trigger. When it shifts between sounds, it triggers the sounds automatically. Thus, I didn't need to have a separate trigger for Braids. It is directly going to the VCA and then into Ableton Live. The Color of Braids is being modulated by an LFO. And I am manually playing with the Timbre, which acts as a filter for Kick and Cymbal sounds. Since FM is being modulated by a trigger, Braids mostly goes between Kick and Cymbal, with quick random textural sounds in between. I am modulating the FM attenuator manually to (sort of) control when the Cymbal sound plays. It is not an exact control, but it works.

Filter 1: The resonance of the filter is being modulated by the Fall CV of one of the channels on Rampage A (For ease of understanding, I am denoting my Rampages as Rampage A and Rampage B). My filters have two cutoff CVs. One of the cutoff CVs is being modulated by the Rise CV of one of the channels of Rampage B. The second cutoff CV is being modulated by the Fall CV of one of the channels of Rampage B.

Filter2: The resonance of the second filter is being triggered by one of the dividers on channel A of Time Wizard. The cutoff is being modulated by the envelope of Rampage A. Note that the envelope is different than the Rise and Fall CV outputs.

Pico Drum: Trigger 1 on Pico is getting a trigger from one of the dividers on channel A of Time Wizard. Trigger 2 is getting a trigger from a divider on channel B of Time Wizard. The CV of Trigger 1 is being modulated by one of the envelopes on Rampage B

2HP Hat: Hat is getting a trigger from a divider on Channel B of Time Wizard. I think I divided the incoming clock by 4. To get the hat to sit in this glitchy rhythm was the toughest bit. I had to experiment a lot to finally figure out what works.
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About Psychopanda:
Psychopanda is a modular synth artist from New Delhi, India. A proponent of free improv, he is in love with atypical musical structures that do not follow the norms of Western music. A music educator, too, Psychopanda's live sets are always a sonic adventure which can go between ambient textures and strange rhythms fit for an underground rave, depending on the audience and the mood of the synth.

Follow me on Instagram: @jack_ofsometrades
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FX Used:
Valhalla Room Reverb on Hi Hats.