Awesome video! Made me get two stages and couldn't be happier! Wanted to share a little something that I recently discovered. You can use a solitary looping green stage as an audio subdivider to beef up a voice. It's nice and gritty and makes a killer bass out of any meager oscillator! The waveform can be chosen with the dial since it is a LFO and they all sound great but the bass from the squarewave is insane. Enjoy! Thanks again, Ben for all your awesome work!
I'm curious .. can you say if the device powers up with the 6 mode buttons/lights in the same state you powered down in? Does it save those button settings between runs automatically?
This is far too useful to pass up. I love this direction Mutable is taking. Putting the creativity into the patching and the user's brain instead of a computer and a tiny screen. Thumbs up to this new module and your excellent video on it.
So much potential with this one. 10 minutes in and a ton of ideas were already coming to mind. Olivier Gillet is a bloody genius, how does he do it? Excellent tutorial!
After a long deliberation as to what complex envelope generator I wanted to get, it came down between Stages, Zadar, and Quadigy. They all have their merits but I'm glad I went with Stages - mainly I wanted to get away from screens and I feel like as you've shown here Stages really forces you to think hard and creatively about patching without any reliance on presets or screens. I'm definitely not knocking Zadar or Quadigy, I'm just saying Stages IMHO is the way to really learn patching inside and out. Your video was so helpful in getting me up and running - thank you!
Having got Stages a couple weeks back, I think I've watched this vid either end to end or in segments about a dozen times, and I haven't really got into the real depth of the module yet. @divkid what a great community resource. Thank you from me.
Damn, Olivier knocks it out of the park yet again! Great demo too Ben, do you ever sleep man? How you get the time to do all these in depth Demos as well as interviews and Modular Podcasts is beyond me, Keep up the Great work!
This module is the work of a brilliant thinker, not only because of the simplicity of use, but also because of the many possible uses. Thanks for the video.
Thks Kid,i just got mt Stages!At first ,i patched as a 6 point enveloppe and the out goes in Tides V/oct and the fm is randomized thru a quantized random voltage source!..great sounding sequence...
At about 30:00, when you say frequency modulate the kick sound, do you just mean putting a modulation signal/ramp into the VCO‘s 1V/Oct? Because I thought that the name FMing is only used when you modify audio with audio?
Any sort of modulation of frequency is FM. FM synthesis is modulating audio with audio but 1v/oct is frequency modulation, vibrato, envelopes etc is also FM as it's modulating the frequency of the oscillator. When you want to do typical FM synthesis you can put the audio into the 1v/oct input too. Not just inputs marked FM.
Amazing tutorial. I’m trying to figure out how this has 118k views when MI probably sold several thousand of this module. Are VCV Rack and clone modules that popular? Or do people watch this who will never even use Stages? In any case, it’s an excellent guide on how different envelopes work and everything is explained so clearly.
Hi Eric, Yeah it's far from one owner one view of videos like this. People watch multiple times and lots of people watch who don't own the module. Often watching ahead of time to see if a module is for them or not. People also watch videos to take patch ideas and musical ideas to apply to other gear and formats too. That's based on me asking similar questions of people over the years. Thanks for the kind words about the video too, all the best.
i really appreciate you doing these videos, stages i think is one of my underused modules because it seems so daunting to me besides using it as lfos. trying to expand that by understanding adsr. somehow adsr seems to work more immediately with clear feedback and repeatability on a semi modular or non modular synth than on a modular, dunno why
No because that's an input, not an output. So you wouldn't be outputting anything. Unless you're thinking about re triggering or syncing the LFOs? But I don't think you can sync an LFO across two stages.
33:10 Jesus... the saturating ffilter sound blew my mind! is that all plaits or is there a LP involved? If so which one? (semi full screen of possibly involved modules at 26:10 & sneak peak at top row at 58:38) Is that just the filter or do I need a VCA that "overdrives" nicely aswell? What would be the building blocks for me to create such a fat sounding and modulated patch (clock and divider stuff included)?
After learning more about modular and cominng back to this video, I just realized it is only the morph parameter of plaits being modulated, hence the waveform morphing between less and more harmonics - no filter involved!
With apologies to all, I have a newbie question. I have a plaits and a Data, so I'm trying to replicate what you are doing here to learn. At 6:41 Plaits' output is going to what? And from there it is routed back to Data so that we can hear the audio, correct? I watch all of your videos and through lots of effort I learn a lot and I am very appreciative (I need to be make a donation for sure). But some of these "I should already know this" holes keeps me scratching my head. Any clarification will be most helpful.
In this example only the envelopes are being monitored through Data, not the sound. The envelope outputs are routed into Data via three patch cables- white, purple & orange- where we see a visual representation. They are then patched out via the yellow cables underneath to trigger three vcas. Since there is an open channel on Data (no. 3) you could visualize the end mixed sound by patching the mixer out to the channel 3 input and patching channel 3 output to the monitor. Or you could visualize just one of the sounds by patching its vca out to channel 3 and then patching to the input of the mixer.
Has anyone used Stages as sample and hold for supplying pitch to your quantiser? Does it have a voltage droop? I need a stable sample and hold that I can pair with my Shakmat Bard Quartet. Apparently, all analog sample and hold have a voltage droop, which is not great for pitch quantization. Wondering if Stages can solve that.
Great, great video! Have you tried feedback patch with that crazy lo-fi crunch? Or six of them in series? How does that sound? And how fast are those LFO modes? This might be also a complex graphic oscillator?!?
the "dummy" cables? That just means plug something in that isn't connected to anything. It's just to change the behaviour of the module not to influence it with any external signal.
Hi Ben, greetings from Puerto Rico! Love all your demos!! I was hoping you could tell me what brand of patch cables you used while filming this demo? Kind Regards!
HI Andrew, can't really say what these are looking back now but ... I can say it won't have been anything "special". Which is to say it didn't really matter, I can hear some typical analogue mono synth type stuff and some digital things which might have been Plaits as it was to hand in the case. If you can highlight a specific time in the video I can tell you what's happening in the patching, which should be reproducible with a range of similar gear.
@@DivKid all good, it’s no biggie. It just sounded so good. What’s strange is I have several not special oscillators in my Moog stuff that are square, saw, or triangle… and they don’t seem to sound like that, lol. Maybe it’s just how you have it EQ’d.
I don't EQ or "master" the videos in anyway at all. So it's always raw and true to the patching. I will use in rack compression on beats and things if say I'm demoing a sequencer, but if it was drum modules or a drum synthesis technique I wouldn't so you could hear it raw and unaltered. You'll get masses of mileage out of what's in the Moog the oscillator in the GM is great.
Well it's a beautifully simple interface for a series of simple to complex functions. It's really reward once you learn (my video should help do that of course) what each segment can do.
Great video. Getting into Eurorack do you think you could start with jut stages and plaits (plus having a 0-coast) and have a good time? Plan is to build up over time. Thanks in advance
Starting with a couple of modules and really learning them is definitely the best way. What do you feel is potentially missing from the 0-Coast or what would you like to add to it?
its more about getting a new instrument to be honest,move aware from making sounds on the computer and make them on hardware. i like the flexibility of modular, plus it will satisfy my electronic music toy buying habit ha. its not really about building around the 0coast, more about using the 0coast so i dont need to start with 10 different modules (eg midi to CV, has some maths and random voltage). I was also look at Akmies Castle instead of Plaits. Which of those would you recommend? Thanks a lot
is it weird that my shape/time pot seems to be giving me opposite shapes for what youre getting?? (Full CW = getting the whips & Full CCW = getting the more curved shapes)
it was in moments of your video here where i was following exactly what you were doing. Maybe I was too sleepy or something, ill try again. But youre saying because it depends on the order of colored "type" lights for the segments that determines the sequence of shapes from the pots?
the lights do dictate the stage behaviour. But if you're set up for a two stage envelope. Rise and fall, or attack and decay. Then the pot for shape control log-lin-expo work in opposite ways for a falling or rising voltage.
as i said it only weirded me out because i was doing exactly what you were doing but getting the opposite results. thanks for your help. ill try again =-)
amazing video, thank you! Ben, can you help me clarify something? Knowing that a single segment can become a clocked LFO that scales from x4 to /4... could 2 segments ping-ponging together also be clocked to make an LFO that scales from x16 to /16? Is that how 2 or more segments in looping mode behaves? (I've tried this in VCV rack and can't get it working but the interface of the module isn't exactly the same... ) Thanks!!
you would need to just clock the second one slower than the first. I'd use an external clock source and divider to do that. But you could patch the output of the first one (the LFO) and patch that at /4 into the second as a clock input and divide that down even further. But you'll only get /4-x4 in terms of control from the base clock rate you input to that channel.
Are my pentomiters the opposite way round or is it just the camera. For example, at 16.40 when you do AHDSR, my Decay only acts as such when the pentomiter is all the way to the right. Where in the video its all the way to the left. Am i going nuts?
It only acts as in it only does something when it's that way? The shape knob on decay stage should be expo left through linear then log shape to the right. It might be that with faster envelope shapes you're hearing a quick exponential drop that sounds like it almost steps to the next phase.
On the ADSR and AHDSR, the expo on the Decay and Release when knob to the right. Which is confusing me somewhat. If I set the knobs and sliders to match your video, and test through my DATA, that is the result i get. Go figure. The attack on the AHDSR has the expo to the left. And yes Hold and Sustain are Red (Hold mode).
This or the varigate 4+? I'm new and cant really decide on what I want as a segment gen/sequencer. I have a Piston Honda mkII, Loquelic Iteritas Percido, Maths, 2hp tm, mother 32. 0 coast, and intellijel mixup in my setup.
Hi Kirk, Stages won't do pitch and gate sequencing anywhere near the same as the Varigate 4+. The Varigate 4+ won't make envelopes and LFOs though. So you need to decide on the function first then the module that fulfils that function.
Yeah, I really need to weigh in on what I want to do. I guess its more of a personal battle haha. Do you think stages would compliment the mother 32's sequencer? Or would the expanded sequencing capabilities of having both the m32 seq and varigate 4+ prove to be more powerful?
Would this finally be a good replacement for Maths? I need a function generator, but I don't really feel like getting a Maths. I really want an ADSR capable module and Maths is only AR/AD (I know you can patch an ADSR, but actually having one is better). Also the Maths is a little too big for the system I'm making.
"Finally" - in what sense? Like it's needed a replacement for some time? There's a few other options for Function Generators around. This missing the level control in the middle of Maths and the logic outputs at the bottom. You'd have to patch an ADSR here to some extent, but as the video should illustrate it's simple. If you're not using this for envelopes though there's still plenty to go at.
Sorry, I could've worded it a bit better. I've been quite frustrated about the fact that it seems like every system must have a Maths, but at the same time, because I'm trying to make a small 3U x 84HP system, Maths seems to be a little excessive. Stages seemed to me to be a good replacement because it is a little smaller and still very flexible. Maybe I'm wrong though. I've been looking for a function generator that could work better than Maths for my specific situation for some time, that's what I meant with "finally". EDIT: I'm maybe too over-enthusiastic about smaller modules. It's not really rational.
Yeah I know what you mean "everyone must own a Maths" mentality. That's because it's very good though, it deserves the title. Tony did great work bringing the Serge DUSG into the format and tweaking and building upon that to make Maths what it is. Stages would be great in a small system. You loose the mixing and offsets/attenuversion that Maths has which is a great thing on it's own. You could add in a Shades, Triatt, 3xMIA to make up for that feature loss though. Then you'd have something really flexible.
I’m late to the party...I was looking at getting Stages for the harmonic oscillation, but then DivKid as usual, blows me away with his vids. Might have to get two Stages!
An impressive module. A bit dissapointed by the audio degradation when using it as a seq. switch. Guess it's all about those 14-bit converters... Great presentation/demo nonetheless 👍
I always have mixed emotions toward these deep, multi-function modules. I love the clever and inspired design, but I also love things that are simple to employ in the heat of inspiration. As amazing as this module obviously is, the mere fact that this tutorial is close to an hour is immediately daunting. I would love to hear what users think after this has been out a while. Once mastered, this could be a real jewel, but I have a feeling we will not see a mass exodus from Maths, Batumi or something like the Abstract Data Octocontroller. Should I buy one? I do really enjoy my other Mutable modules ... perhaps I need to consult a Chance module. Great tutorial as usual, thanks so much.
Hi Carlos, cheers for the honest opinions on this. I really love that the module is defined by the user and the patching. "heat of the moment" that comes down to experience / skill / ability with the module I guess. Like Maths, making than a four stage envelope, or envelope follower is all possible but might not be a heat of the moment thing.
Can this module attenuate itself by using those red, hold stages? I always figured it would need plenty of external attenuation in order to get the most out of it.
i went to the "Gate to trigger or trigger to gate - get length adjuster" section with the hope of finding a way to modulate the gate length, but it seems there's no built-in way to do this. anyone know a workaround? fwiw i'm using the vcv rack version
so you would patch the elements you want to link together with the gate going from the right. So a two stage envelope put the gate into segment 5 then you can loop stages 1 through 4 all as individual segment LFOs.
it's a dirty side chain, not clean audio at all. As you see on here. But it's really very good as you'd expect. It's also 6 VCOs if you want to push it! ;)
Hmm I don't like the way it outputs only unipolar voltage as a LFO. So we need to add an offset (for example via a mult) to a precision adder? I'm playing around in VCV Rack and had the MI Links in mind to do that offset adding
HI Rimar, that's not something I've tried as the unit doesn't work like that. It doesn't process voltages as inputs per say. Might be possible though, I'll have a think about that one.
DivKidVideo One more question; how small of a gate pulse can it receive? Have you tested that? I have a René and when you put it to snake mode the X-gate pulse is preeeettty slim. If it’s fine then i’m buying this thing ASAP Incredibly well done video btw, if i didnt mention that
small or slim? Small as in low amplitude output? Or slim as in a very short gate length such as a 1ms trigger. It's taken every long or short gate/trigger I've thrown at it. ... and thank you
Hello! Good video, but I can't understand why when you turn the knob to the left (counterclockwise) the shape of the curve becomes exponential, but when I turn the knob to the left it becomes logarithmic? :)
This is not only a tutorial on Stages. It's a master class on sound design. Thanks man! This is so useful 🚀
nice one, always the intention to share a lot more than just what the module does on it's own.
Awesome video! Made me get two stages and couldn't be happier! Wanted to share a little something that I recently discovered. You can use a solitary looping green stage as an audio subdivider to beef up a voice. It's nice and gritty and makes a killer bass out of any meager oscillator! The waveform can be chosen with the dial since it is a LFO and they all sound great but the bass from the squarewave is insane. Enjoy! Thanks again, Ben for all your awesome work!
I'm curious .. can you say if the device powers up with the 6 mode buttons/lights in the same state you powered down in? Does it save those button settings between runs automatically?
Yes it does
Divkid, I come back to your vids multiple times to learn and remind myself how to use modules. Thanks so much. Really excellent videos.
thanks Nick that's much appreciated. Happy to able to make them.
This is pure genius and precisely why I love modular: deconstructing every step of a sound!
Absolutely, cheers Alexnadre.
This is far too useful to pass up.
I love this direction Mutable is taking. Putting the creativity into the patching and the user's brain instead of a computer and a tiny screen.
Thumbs up to this new module and your excellent video on it.
cheers Noi
I love how simple the module is to operate but it can have very complicated uses
yeah me too, all in the patching and that's fantastic.
This module is sold on just 10 minutes into the vid, feedback patching. :) Absolutely brilliant walkthrough, hats off!
Cheers Oli.
Awesome explanation, especially with the visualization by the DATA. Thanks a lot for your effort. 😊
So much potential with this one. 10 minutes in and a ton of ideas were already coming to mind. Olivier Gillet is a bloody genius, how does he do it? Excellent tutorial!
Cheers Jerod, Olivier is great!
MI is really killing it with these new modules!
absolutely.
clearly the work of a genius! damn , want one now
:D
After a long deliberation as to what complex envelope generator I wanted to get, it came down between Stages, Zadar, and Quadigy. They all have their merits but I'm glad I went with Stages - mainly I wanted to get away from screens and I feel like as you've shown here Stages really forces you to think hard and creatively about patching without any reliance on presets or screens. I'm definitely not knocking Zadar or Quadigy, I'm just saying Stages IMHO is the way to really learn patching inside and out. Your video was so helpful in getting me up and running - thank you!
Oh yes, this is definitely on the shopping list, but I'll wait till the initial feeding frenzy is over - great comprehensive vid Ben.
Cheers, I'm sure plenty will be available in time.
Having got Stages a couple weeks back, I think I've watched this vid either end to end or in segments about a dozen times, and I haven't really got into the real depth of the module yet.
@divkid what a great community resource. Thank you from me.
Damn, Olivier knocks it out of the park yet again! Great demo too Ben, do you ever sleep man? How you get the time to do all these in depth Demos as well as interviews and Modular Podcasts is beyond me, Keep up the Great work!
It's a tonne of work, but I appreciate the support and acknowledgement especially from those that know how long this stuff takes.
bravo! ok I'm sold! becoming a Patreon patron now. you have helped me get so much more value out of modules i already have! thank you!
oh my gosh, this is about as cool as maths!
Wow what a powerful machine! Big up, this videos wicked!
Cheers Sol!
Brilliant module and great demo.
Thanks Nektar.
Oh my. This is both one of the best modules and tutorials I've seen! Cheers!
Oh man, I underestimated the possibilities of this module. Thanks for the tutorial!!!
Thank you for taking the time for this awesome demonstration of that beautiful module.
Happy to do it, thanks for watching.
Such a thorough overview Ben! Great job in putting this all together.
Cheers Matthew.
This module is the work of a brilliant thinker, not only because of the simplicity of use, but also because of the many possible uses.
Thanks for the video.
well said, thanks for the comment.
I don't know if i'm getting better at english but your voice is more clear to understand now :) Awesome videos! Awesome modules!
I take on board feedback and try to be clear and a bit slower so hopefully it's a bit of both :)
good vid, awesome module
Nice one KILP
Great demo Ben, thanks for getting the video up so quickly
Took some real work to do this so it's great to see it's appreciated. Thanks for the comment Dave.
Full on - thanks Ben - on the never ending list
nice one Derek, cheers.
like always great video, and also great module, indeed mutable & versatile but without menu diving etc, really smart concept
absolutely.
this thing looks bonkers complex! You do it great justice with this tutorial thanks!
Holy Moly! Seems like I could ditch my entire rack and just work with a Plaits-Marbles-Stages combo. MI rules the world.
You could built a mini system definitely.
Divkid, thank you for making these awesome tutorials. I've just purchased a Stages and can't wait to make music with it. Cheers!
Great job on the presentation Ben. I want three of these now. 🖖🏻
I have 3 in mind now too, seem to be magic number for them.
genius module idea. so adaptable from such finite initial rules.
(just like serge, as you mention with the dusg)
yeah exactly a real building block of any modulation you can think of.
Great module and fantastic video, thank you!!
love watching your vids. always so much great info. thank you.
Thank you so much for this video. Great work. I'm learning so much from you
nice to hear, thanks Simon.
I think this could have been more comprehensive ;3
mylarmelodies cheeky.
Lol
Chris Bennett It irony
both :^)
maths is dope!
Saw comment on facebook..came here to check it out :)
nice one! :)
Thks Kid,i just got mt Stages!At first ,i patched as a 6 point enveloppe and the out goes in Tides V/oct and the fm is randomized thru a quantized random voltage source!..great sounding sequence...
oh nice! Sounds pretty crazy sonically. Especially if you start modulating the third wave knob to bring in some folded harmonics on top.
Yeah thks K!..i just try but i this,but doesnt sound the same...thats a mistery
Hey Ben this is so super useful. Thanks Man ! great work, as usual
nice one, thank you.
Mind blown.
:)
Une vidéo très utiles. Des explications très claires.
Merci beaucoup.
Great demo! Thanks!
Cheers Martin.
MI Stages is awesome. 👍👍👍
Yep
Wow , thanks for this amazing video. The "Stages" Thesis! or Stages Bible
haha thanks Sabina!
a proper video to compensate for the facebook leak, champion!
Nice one.
At about 30:00, when you say frequency modulate the kick sound, do you just mean putting a modulation signal/ramp into the VCO‘s 1V/Oct? Because I thought that the name FMing is only used when you modify audio with audio?
Any sort of modulation of frequency is FM. FM synthesis is modulating audio with audio but 1v/oct is frequency modulation, vibrato, envelopes etc is also FM as it's modulating the frequency of the oscillator. When you want to do typical FM synthesis you can put the audio into the 1v/oct input too. Not just inputs marked FM.
Would love to see an overview of the qiemem features!
Love it just picked it up thinking of a second thanks for this video!!!! 🤙🤙
nice one
Thanks for another great video. Spoiled we are... ;)
Absolutely, another solid module.
Lovely stuff.
Amazing tutorial. I’m trying to figure out how this has 118k views when MI probably sold several thousand of this module. Are VCV Rack and clone modules that popular? Or do people watch this who will never even use Stages? In any case, it’s an excellent guide on how different envelopes work and everything is explained so clearly.
Hi Eric,
Yeah it's far from one owner one view of videos like this. People watch multiple times and lots of people watch who don't own the module. Often watching ahead of time to see if a module is for them or not. People also watch videos to take patch ideas and musical ideas to apply to other gear and formats too.
That's based on me asking similar questions of people over the years.
Thanks for the kind words about the video too, all the best.
that bass at 48:15 is nasty.
i really appreciate you doing these videos, stages i think is one of my underused modules because it seems so daunting to me besides using it as lfos. trying to expand that by understanding adsr. somehow adsr seems to work more immediately with clear feedback and repeatability on a semi modular or non modular synth than on a modular, dunno why
Woah! Better settle into this one with a cuppa i think ;)
Yeah get a good drink and your feet up.
I wonder what module did you use in the 45:10 minute that suddenly the sequence slows down and speeds up...
Great tutorial
thanks
@ 34:21 if I patch that dummy cable to a clock source do I get a 2 segment clocked lfo?? That would be super useful.
No because that's an input, not an output. So you wouldn't be outputting anything. Unless you're thinking about re triggering or syncing the LFOs? But I don't think you can sync an LFO across two stages.
Hey Ben, your third index (time 1:49) on the table of contents says "Marbles" instead of "Stages"
well spotted, thanks Mark.
both in the description and the index in the video
can't edit the video without taking it down but edited elsewhere.
Hi, thanx a lot for your explanations ! wich module does the melodie sequencing ? around 31:10 ?
That's Tuesday from This Is Not Rocket Science, video here - ua-cam.com/video/mCShOr-zQME/v-deo.html
33:10 Jesus... the saturating ffilter sound blew my mind! is that all plaits or is there a LP involved? If so which one? (semi full screen of possibly involved modules at 26:10 & sneak peak at top row at 58:38) Is that just the filter or do I need a VCA that "overdrives" nicely aswell? What would be the building blocks for me to create such a fat sounding and modulated patch (clock and divider stuff included)?
After learning more about modular and cominng back to this video, I just realized it is only the morph parameter of plaits being modulated, hence the waveform morphing between less and more harmonics - no filter involved!
The 4 and 2 sequence at 47:47 didn't work? Does it need time to adjust?
thank you!
How to get that that "more interesting gate pattern than a steady clock" (with pause) 45:05?
Wow!
Yep
The most modular of modules, it's a modular system in itself. Excellent video as always DK!
Ben very nice demo as usual. We so rely on you buddy. Could this be a Maths beater? Great module from Olivier.
It'a a great module. Each building block of modulation and you can do you want with it.
With apologies to all, I have a newbie question. I have a plaits and a Data, so I'm trying to replicate what you are doing here to learn. At 6:41 Plaits' output is going to what? And from there it is routed back to Data so that we can hear the audio, correct? I watch all of your videos and through lots of effort I learn a lot and I am very appreciative (I need to be make a donation for sure). But some of these "I should already know this" holes keeps me scratching my head. Any clarification will be most helpful.
In this example only the envelopes are being monitored through Data, not the sound. The envelope outputs are routed into Data via three patch cables- white, purple & orange- where we see a visual representation. They are then patched out via the yellow cables underneath to trigger three vcas.
Since there is an open channel on Data (no. 3) you could visualize the end mixed sound by patching the mixer out to the channel 3 input and patching channel 3 output to the monitor. Or you could visualize just one of the sounds by patching its vca out to channel 3 and then patching to the input of the mixer.
@@earthboundaudio Thank you!
Has anyone used Stages as sample and hold for supplying pitch to your quantiser? Does it have a voltage droop? I need a stable sample and hold that I can pair with my Shakmat Bard Quartet. Apparently, all analog sample and hold have a voltage droop, which is not great for pitch quantization. Wondering if Stages can solve that.
Great, great video! Have you tried feedback patch with that crazy lo-fi crunch? Or six of them in series? How does that sound? And how fast are those LFO modes? This might be also a complex graphic oscillator?!?
LFOs go up to low audio rate but can be pushed further. I'm going to make a follow up video with oscillator stuff.
37:22 where is the Gate jack coming from?
the "dummy" cables? That just means plug something in that isn't connected to anything. It's just to change the behaviour of the module not to influence it with any external signal.
Hi Ben, greetings from Puerto Rico! Love all your demos!! I was hoping you could tell me what brand of patch cables you used while filming this demo?
Kind Regards!
There's 6. Analogue Solutions, FoMu, Tiptop Audio, Glow Worm Cables, Erthenvar (out of business/closed now), Mushi.one LED cables and maybe even more.
Always incredible demos. Random side question. What oscillator do you use in these? It always sounds so fat
HI Andrew, can't really say what these are looking back now but ... I can say it won't have been anything "special". Which is to say it didn't really matter, I can hear some typical analogue mono synth type stuff and some digital things which might have been Plaits as it was to hand in the case. If you can highlight a specific time in the video I can tell you what's happening in the patching, which should be reproducible with a range of similar gear.
@@DivKid all good, it’s no biggie. It just sounded so good. What’s strange is I have several not special oscillators in my Moog stuff that are square, saw, or triangle… and they don’t seem to sound like that, lol. Maybe it’s just how you have it EQ’d.
I don't EQ or "master" the videos in anyway at all. So it's always raw and true to the patching.
I will use in rack compression on beats and things if say I'm demoing a sequencer, but if it was drum modules or a drum synthesis technique I wouldn't so you could hear it raw and unaltered.
You'll get masses of mileage out of what's in the Moog the oscillator in the GM is great.
This module makes MN Maths easy to understand ah!
Well it's a beautifully simple interface for a series of simple to complex functions. It's really reward once you learn (my video should help do that of course) what each segment can do.
Very nice! I've been looking for something comparable to the dx7's mod env's.
Yeah complex multi segment shapes are easy with it. Nicer to edit than through Casio CZ range of Yamaha DX screen.
Great video. Getting into Eurorack do you think you could start with jut stages and plaits (plus having a 0-coast) and have a good time? Plan is to build up over time. Thanks in advance
Starting with a couple of modules and really learning them is definitely the best way. What do you feel is potentially missing from the 0-Coast or what would you like to add to it?
its more about getting a new instrument to be honest,move aware from making sounds on the computer and make them on hardware. i like the flexibility of modular, plus it will satisfy my electronic music toy buying habit ha. its not really about building around the 0coast, more about using the 0coast so i dont need to start with 10 different modules (eg midi to CV, has some maths and random voltage). I was also look at Akmies Castle instead of Plaits. Which of those would you recommend? Thanks a lot
I want one. NOW!
:)
Wish the knob acted as attack in single segment envelope mode. Would have been sweet with up to 6 simple envelopes in 14 hp.
is it weird that my shape/time pot seems to be giving me opposite shapes for what youre getting?? (Full CW = getting the whips & Full CCW = getting the more curved shapes)
it's dependent on whether it's a rise of a fall. They work opposite ways with rising stages to falling stages.
it was in moments of your video here where i was following exactly what you were doing. Maybe I was too sleepy or something, ill try again. But youre saying because it depends on the order of colored "type" lights for the segments that determines the sequence of shapes from the pots?
the lights do dictate the stage behaviour. But if you're set up for a two stage envelope. Rise and fall, or attack and decay. Then the pot for shape control log-lin-expo work in opposite ways for a falling or rising voltage.
as i said it only weirded me out because i was doing exactly what you were doing but getting the opposite results. thanks for your help. ill try again =-)
can Stages do the "bouncing ball" that we can do in Maths?
yeah you can patch that up.
amazing video, thank you! Ben, can you help me clarify something? Knowing that a single segment can become a clocked LFO that scales from x4 to /4... could 2 segments ping-ponging together also be clocked to make an LFO that scales from x16 to /16? Is that how 2 or more segments in looping mode behaves? (I've tried this in VCV rack and can't get it working but the interface of the module isn't exactly the same... ) Thanks!!
you would need to just clock the second one slower than the first. I'd use an external clock source and divider to do that. But you could patch the output of the first one (the LFO) and patch that at /4 into the second as a clock input and divide that down even further. But you'll only get /4-x4 in terms of control from the base clock rate you input to that channel.
@@DivKid thank you! that makes sense 👍
Are my pentomiters the opposite way round or is it just the camera. For example, at 16.40 when you do AHDSR, my Decay only acts as such when the pentomiter is all the way to the right. Where in the video its all the way to the left. Am i going nuts?
It only acts as in it only does something when it's that way? The shape knob on decay stage should be expo left through linear then log shape to the right. It might be that with faster envelope shapes you're hearing a quick exponential drop that sounds like it almost steps to the next phase.
On the ADSR and AHDSR, the expo on the Decay and Release when knob to the right. Which is confusing me somewhat. If I set the knobs and sliders to match your video, and test through my DATA, that is the result i get. Go figure.
The attack on the AHDSR has the expo to the left. And yes Hold and Sustain are Red (Hold mode).
This or the varigate 4+? I'm new and cant really decide on what I want as a segment gen/sequencer. I have a Piston Honda mkII, Loquelic Iteritas Percido, Maths, 2hp tm, mother 32. 0 coast, and intellijel mixup in my setup.
Hi Kirk, Stages won't do pitch and gate sequencing anywhere near the same as the Varigate 4+. The Varigate 4+ won't make envelopes and LFOs though. So you need to decide on the function first then the module that fulfils that function.
Yeah, I really need to weigh in on what I want to do. I guess its more of a personal battle haha. Do you think stages would compliment the mother 32's sequencer? Or would the expanded sequencing capabilities of having both the m32 seq and varigate 4+ prove to be more powerful?
Love this module would to see it patched with variegatr as I want both
What filter module are you using for the AHDSR demonstration?
Hard to be exact as I filmed that a good while back but it could be Ripples over an already grungy tone.
Would this finally be a good replacement for Maths? I need a function generator, but I don't really feel like getting a Maths. I really want an ADSR capable module and Maths is only AR/AD (I know you can patch an ADSR, but actually having one is better). Also the Maths is a little too big for the system I'm making.
"Finally" - in what sense? Like it's needed a replacement for some time? There's a few other options for Function Generators around. This missing the level control in the middle of Maths and the logic outputs at the bottom. You'd have to patch an ADSR here to some extent, but as the video should illustrate it's simple. If you're not using this for envelopes though there's still plenty to go at.
Sorry, I could've worded it a bit better.
I've been quite frustrated about the fact that it seems like every system must have a Maths, but at the same time, because I'm trying to make a small 3U x 84HP system, Maths seems to be a little excessive. Stages seemed to me to be a good replacement because it is a little smaller and still very flexible. Maybe I'm wrong though.
I've been looking for a function generator that could work better than Maths for my specific situation for some time, that's what I meant with "finally".
EDIT:
I'm maybe too over-enthusiastic about smaller modules. It's not really rational.
Yeah I know what you mean "everyone must own a Maths" mentality. That's because it's very good though, it deserves the title. Tony did great work bringing the Serge DUSG into the format and tweaking and building upon that to make Maths what it is.
Stages would be great in a small system. You loose the mixing and offsets/attenuversion that Maths has which is a great thing on it's own. You could add in a Shades, Triatt, 3xMIA to make up for that feature loss though. Then you'd have something really flexible.
Alright, thank you for the advice. I'll look into those modules
XYdamage just sold my maths.. Dont regret it
I’m late to the party...I was looking at getting Stages for the harmonic oscillation, but then DivKid as usual, blows me away with his vids. Might have to get two Stages!
An impressive module. A bit dissapointed by the audio degradation when using it as a seq. switch. Guess it's all about those 14-bit converters... Great presentation/demo nonetheless 👍
Cheers N. Yeah not meant for audio but I thought I'd try it and push it anyway.
Could this be a real alternative to Maths and Batumi?
I believe it is the next Maths. Future best seller for sure!
I have a Batumi (and a Quadra and a Function) but ordered one, anyway. It does seem like there will be some overlap.
I have neither but was seriously looking at them. Think i'll get this instead and keep the rack small.
this one really has the potential to be a 'classic' MI module
Definitely a real classic I think.
I always have mixed emotions toward these deep, multi-function modules. I love the clever and inspired design, but I also love things that are simple to employ in the heat of inspiration. As amazing as this module obviously is, the mere fact that this tutorial is close to an hour is immediately daunting. I would love to hear what users think after this has been out a while. Once mastered, this could be a real jewel, but I have a feeling we will not see a mass exodus from Maths, Batumi or something like the Abstract Data Octocontroller. Should I buy one? I do really enjoy my other Mutable modules ... perhaps I need to consult a Chance module. Great tutorial as usual, thanks so much.
Hi Carlos, cheers for the honest opinions on this. I really love that the module is defined by the user and the patching. "heat of the moment" that comes down to experience / skill / ability with the module I guess. Like Maths, making than a four stage envelope, or envelope follower is all possible but might not be a heat of the moment thing.
Can this module attenuate itself by using those red, hold stages? I always figured it would need plenty of external attenuation in order to get the most out of it.
Hi! Does segments stays as it was preprogramed after power is turned off and back on? Thanks!
Is there modulation on your voice? For some reason I hear a chorus-y effect on your voice through the video
No chorus on the voice. Don't have the project to look back but I wonder if there's any phase issues or anything giving it that feel.
Stages, or the streamline concept's incarnation
i went to the "Gate to trigger or trigger to gate - get length adjuster" section with the hope of finding a way to modulate the gate length, but it seems there's no built-in way to do this. anyone know a workaround? fwiw i'm using the vcv rack version
Hi again ! one thing i didn't get is how to have 2 ou 3 singles LFOS running free with the segments patching ?
thanx
so you would patch the elements you want to link together with the gate going from the right. So a two stage envelope put the gate into segment 5 then you can loop stages 1 through 4 all as individual segment LFOs.
ok !! i get it ! i was beginning my LFOs from the right, that what was wrong i guess, thanx a lot !
no worries.
Gotta be honest, Stages wasn't on my radar....but FML, I can have 4 tempo sync'd LFO's and a sidechain in one module? Sold :)
it's a dirty side chain, not clean audio at all. As you see on here. But it's really very good as you'd expect. It's also 6 VCOs if you want to push it! ;)
Hmm I don't like the way it outputs only unipolar voltage as a LFO. So we need to add an offset (for example via a mult) to a precision adder? I'm playing around in VCV Rack and had the MI Links in mind to do that offset adding
I wish someone understood me the way you understand stages.
awwww there's someone out there who will look at you the way I look at modules.
I couldn't find your trademark 'slewed and bendy ' phrase...
oh I didn't know that was a trademark phrase! I'll have to use that for something.
Could Stages be used as a voltage controlled slew generator?
Or a gated slew generator maybe?
I guess
V/oct -> CV in into a stage with Step Mode set
Gate -> Gate of respective channel
Gated slew Output -> VCO
HI Rimar, that's not something I've tried as the unit doesn't work like that. It doesn't process voltages as inputs per say. Might be possible though, I'll have a think about that one.
DivKidVideo One more question; how small of a gate pulse can it receive? Have you tested that?
I have a René and when you put it to snake mode the X-gate pulse is preeeettty slim.
If it’s fine then i’m buying this thing ASAP
Incredibly well done video btw, if i didnt mention that
small or slim? Small as in low amplitude output? Or slim as in a very short gate length such as a 1ms trigger. It's taken every long or short gate/trigger I've thrown at it.
... and thank you
I meant slim! Ok nice, then I guess my dual ADSR is going out and Stages is going *in*.
Hello! Good video, but I can't understand why when you turn the knob to the left (counterclockwise) the shape of the curve becomes exponential, but when I turn the knob to the left it becomes logarithmic? :)
is this to do with the stage you're on? I think they change if the voltage is rising or voltage.