Mutable Instruments Tides v2: The Oscillator

Mutable Instruments Tides v2 is a special module to me. Not only is it a multi-outputting wave-generating monster (LFOs, audio rates, and everything in between) with many variable parameters, but it was the first big name brand module that I purchased new; that is, the first one I decided to spend relatively big bucks on.

I've had it for about several months now and you've seen it in many of my videos, where its done things from rhythmic clocked modulation, to acting as a clock source. But for this video, I'd like to show everyone how you can use Tides v2 as an oscillator. 

What I'll be doing in the video below is sending a sequence into Tides, then taking the four outputs of Tides (something new in v2) and varying their parameters to produce some interesting sounds. Enjoy!

I really liked putting this patch together and the sequence sounds amazing, to me, through Tides (see sequence details below). And I love the way the sounds changes even with the slightest turn of the knobs. 

Let's break down this patch now. 

It's not a complex patch I must admit. I have my Arturia Keystep loaded with a 32-note sequence which when started will output this sequence as voltages according to the 1V/oct standard into Tides. Tides is set to "oscillator" mode": 130.8Hz frequency output (red LED), cyclic bipolar oscillations (yellow LED) with its outputs having different frequencies (red LED). The four outputs are mixed together via my DIY mixer, then sent to my DIY Dual VCA, which is opened and closed by a gate signal from the Keystep every time a note in the sequence is generated. All of that is then inputted into Clouds, mainly to add reverb to the sound.

In addition, I have Pam's Workout also receiving the gate signal from the Keystep to set the tempo; i.e. every time a note in the sequence is played. The FutureRetro Transient is triggered from Pam's and adds a bass beat to the patch, to give it a more complete sound. 2HP Arp also makes an appearance, generating a voltage every 16 notes via Pam's to shift the pitch of the sequence (so it doesn't sound like the same thing, note-wise, all the time!)

And that's basically it. Now in the video, I vary three of Tides' parameters. In order, I start with Slope, which adjusts the ratio of ascending and descending segments of the outputted waves. This is sort've like an attack/decay feature built into one and as you can hear, basically changes the sound from a triangle wave to a more sawtooth-like wave. Next, I vary the Smoothness, which depending on how its varied either low-pass filters the wave (counterclockwise) or adds "kinks and bumps" along the slope (clockwise). This made for some funky sounds! Lastly, I vary the Shift/Level. This changes the frequency of each output relative to one another to produce "intonation chords". In the video, I use my DIY mixer to adjust the volume of each output, just to illustrate the difference across outputs. As I said before, changes in a few of the parameters can produce a wide array of sounds; it's quite versatile, and I didn't even touch the Shape parameter for this video!

Before I end, I would like to point out that keen listeners will have recognized that the sequence used in this video is the intro sequence to the song Levels by Avicii (the proper non-radio cut version). I had decided to use this sequence for the video simply because I had always wondered if it could be replicated using an oscillator Eurorack module. In addition to this, last week marked the two year anniversary of Avicii's untimely death, and it was just by coincidence that I had planned to release this video with that sequence, near that date...

-Uncle Peter

Making it Work #1: Clouds, Disting mk2, FutureRetro Transient

"Making it Work" is a new series that I'm launching. It's new take on the classic "3 module challenge". What I'll be doing is picking three modules at random from my rack and find a way to make a decent sounding patch from them. It's something I'm really looking forward to, and I'm hoping I'll be able to learn more about the capabilities of my modules by doing so.

In this first episode of the series, I make a patch using Mutable Instruments Clouds, Expert Sleepers Disting mk2 and FutureRetro Transient. Here's what I managed to come up with:

Not too bad to be honest! From the start, I knew that I was going to use the Transient to make a beat and have it triggered by a square wave from Disting. But I wanted to use a different mode on Clouds just to make things sound a bit different. Luckily, the Parasite firmware I have on Clouds has a cool resonator mode, which allowed me to turn the beat generated by the Transient into a melody-like sound. Who knew!

Here's the more detailed version of what's going on:

Disting mk2 is in "4-B Clockable LFO" mode. Output A generates a sine wave that modulates the FutureRetro Transient. Output B generates a square wave that acts as a clock source for FutureRetro Transient. Both waves are oscillating at a low frequency (1.5Hz or 90BPM). 

The Transient is set to the "RANDOMeYeS" sample and is being triggered and modulated by Disting. Its output is multed to a mixer and Clouds.

Clouds is in resonator mode; an alternate mode in the Parasite firmware. Position is set to 11 o'clock, Size is set to 12 o'clock, Pitch is set to 10 o'clock, Gain is set to 4 o'clock, Density set to 5 o'clock, Texture set to 12 o'clock and Blend set to just over 9 o'clock. It is outputted to the mixer as well, which now outputs both the raw Transient beat and the "melody" generated by Clouds. 

So I think we can call that a successful first challenge. I'm really looking forward to doing more of these challenges, hopefully they all sound as good as this one!

Happy patching friends,

-Uncle Peter

Funky Electro Beats ft. Future Retro Transient, Rings and Tides v2

Most of the patches that I post about are ambient in nature. That's no surprise, seeing as a majority of the modules that I have were bought for that reason. 

There is one module that I haven't featured yet in my videos. It's the Future Retro Transient, a versatile sample-based percussion module, with over 250+ modifiable samples in its register. I've mostly used this module to overlay some low bass beats over patches and I'm pretty happy with it (from the little I've explored).

Recently, I've been thinking of ways to make the Future Retro Transient jive with the rest of my modules. I remembered from creating a few of my previous patches that Mutable Instruments Rings can produce some funky beat-like sounds when it's parameters are CV modulated over a wide range. 

So that's what I tried with this patch. Here's the result. 

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised with how cool this patch sounded. It's like a mix between funk and electro beats, maybe even some EDM? An added surprise was that changing the attack/decay of the LFOs modulating Rings acted as a way to build the beat, changing it into a more synth-like sound; I had to throw in a little pitch sweep too because of that! And the Future Retro Transient, although just providing a simple bass drum, fits in so well. 

So what's going on in this patch?

As you've seen in previous patches, I use Mutable Instruments Tides to generate my LFOs, mainly because it offers many options for waveshaping. Tides is in 1/8Hz (green) cyclic bipolar oscillations (yellow) mode and being clocked by Pam's Workout every beat (quarter notes at 126BPM). It is producing four clocked LFOs of varying frequencies (red). 

Rings is in monophonic (green) inharmonic strings (red) mode. It is being strummed by Pam's Workout every quarter of a beat (sixteenth notes) and receives CV modulation of it's brightness and damping parameters from Tides's LFOs. 

2HP TM, through 2HP Tune, sends quantized voltages to Rings, to change it's pitch every quarter of a beat (sixteenth notes). The randomness is about 50%, as indicated by the 12 o'clock position of the "prob" knob of TM.

The Future Retro Transient is set to output the "INDUSTRIAK" sample; a tight mid-pitch bass drum. It receives a quarter note trigger from Pam's Workout. I really like this sample because you can adjust the tightness and pitch of the drum, without it having a lot of structure.

And finally, both outputs of Rings and the output of the Future Retro Transient are mixed together via Shades, then outputted. I realize that this, in effect, negates the stereo output of Rings, but at the monment it's the best I ca do. 

This was a simple patch, but a real eye-opener for me. I continue to be amazed at all the features and possible sounds that can be created from my modules. It really makes me want to explore them even more.

A tip to myself for next time: perform a pitch sweep using TM's OUT dial, so the sweep is quantized by Tune.

Do you own a Future Retro Transient? What's your favourite sample on it? Let me know in the comments.

Happy patching friends,

-Uncle Peter