I bloody want one now I know that it's audio-in capable. The list of synths I'm lusting after is getting bigger by the day. Great review and very well explained.
In some cases you don't have to pre-amp a Piezo if it's big enough. The 25mm ones don't need a pre-amp according to Simon the Magpie (he has a lot of Piezo experimentation stuff on his channel.) I do think he runs it straight into FX pedals or an amp, I'm not sure if it's enough signal for a Volca Modular. I used a smaller piezo and made a pre-amp based on a circuit shown in the video titled 'DIY Contact Mic - Collin's Lab'. Then I ran the audio into the NTS-1 for effects, I don't have the volca modular. It was fun, but when sticking the Piezo to something like a Kalimba I thought the output was a bit too high and it sounded a little bit overdriven. I don't know if the Kalimba is too loud, the pre-amp circuit boosts it too much or if the input of the NTS-1 expects a weaker signal, but it was a líttle bit rough. Maybe using a partially drained 9v battery would have even fixed it. With some tweaking you could get pretty good results on the NTS-1 though, you can turn down the Reverb Mix and that takes away some of the harshness. This info might not be exactly what you were hoping for, but if you can find a big Piezo it can't hurt to give that a try and if you don't mind trying a pre-amp circuit that could be a bit harsh sounding it's still a fun little project. Hope this is useful.
Guys... Please, make some option in the FX module in the next firmware! The reverb bores anybody pretty quickly. If it could be tweaked or replaced by a delay (not fixed time of course) then it could become a new dimension in this synth. My complaint is that here is a serious flaw in the design of the FX module. The panel has a free space and it could be crowded with 2-4 pots to control the FX section. Plus patch points of course. BTW, if you will re-make this synth (who knows?) then this part, the better wavefolder (more stages) and expo/linear control in envelopes could be the ideal addition. Not mentioning the skipped MIDI input of course :)
So, the other day, I tried inputing external audio as described here. I tried a phone and a computer playing songs. I tried both trs-cables an mono-cables both with the same result: Sadly, the external audio had a very low volume (even with the phone/computer set to max volume). How did Nick get it that loud? Cause if you simply raise the level post Volca Modular (i.e. on the mixer/interface/...) any sounds played from the Modular´s oscillators would obviously be way too loud...
the phone/computer is stereo, the CV input is trs left CV and Passthrough trs right, if you bridge it with a mono cable you are probably adding resistance from the CV signal path which is probably why the break out cable is important and you are only going to get a mono input.
Is it still possible using the internal sounds of the Volca Modular, when pluging in external audio? In the example with the water and the straw there are no synth sounds available anymore, if you patch it like that
Miss so much this kind of small tutorials
Nick is the Bob Ross of synthesizers.
I bloody want one now I know that it's audio-in capable. The list of synths I'm lusting after is getting bigger by the day. Great review and very well explained.
"...and we're going to place a glass of water on our Ears module".
I'm dead. This is awesome!
This took a weird turn. I love it! I should get out my Piezo element and pre-amp and see if I can get similar results.
Did you do that? I'm trying to emulate the video with my piezo but I don't know how to preamp it...
In some cases you don't have to pre-amp a Piezo if it's big enough. The 25mm ones don't need a pre-amp according to Simon the Magpie (he has a lot of Piezo experimentation stuff on his channel.) I do think he runs it straight into FX pedals or an amp, I'm not sure if it's enough signal for a Volca Modular. I used a smaller piezo and made a pre-amp based on a circuit shown in the video titled 'DIY Contact Mic - Collin's Lab'. Then I ran the audio into the NTS-1 for effects, I don't have the volca modular. It was fun, but when sticking the Piezo to something like a Kalimba I thought the output was a bit too high and it sounded a little bit overdriven. I don't know if the Kalimba is too loud, the pre-amp circuit boosts it too much or if the input of the NTS-1 expects a weaker signal, but it was a líttle bit rough. Maybe using a partially drained 9v battery would have even fixed it. With some tweaking you could get pretty good results on the NTS-1 though, you can turn down the Reverb Mix and that takes away some of the harshness. This info might not be exactly what you were hoping for, but if you can find a big Piezo it can't hurt to give that a try and if you don't mind trying a pre-amp circuit that could be a bit harsh sounding it's still a fun little project. Hope this is useful.
Love the glass synthesising into a cup.
Audio in! Volca Modular gets better and better...
Guys... Please, make some option in the FX module in the next firmware! The reverb bores anybody pretty quickly. If it could be tweaked or replaced by a delay (not fixed time of course) then it could become a new dimension in this synth.
My complaint is that here is a serious flaw in the design of the FX module. The panel has a free space and it could be crowded with 2-4 pots to control the FX section. Plus patch points of course. BTW, if you will re-make this synth (who knows?) then this part, the better wavefolder (more stages) and expo/linear control in envelopes could be the ideal addition. Not mentioning the skipped MIDI input of course :)
I now have 1/4 inch adapters in my ears and they are bleeding and I cant hear anything. Please send help.
When Nick introduced that water it made me VERY nervous! 😕
The cup of water, proper daredevil !
Can't we avoid using the TRS splitter by just having the patch cable hanging out a bit!? Can somebody let me know please!
Can we!?
If I were to plug a 3.5MM mic into the Volca Modular's CV-in, could I turn it into a vocal ring mod or a vocoder?
AWESOME !
Can somebody tell me what to search for when looking for that TRS adapter, splotter cord!?
This is amazing!
Hey! Is it a regular splitted TRS cable? Or I have to buy something specific to repeat this tutorial?
got to be a standard y-cable 1x stereo -> 2x mono
Can do with a stereo to stereo also
What? This was cool.
So, the other day, I tried inputing external audio as described here.
I tried a phone and a computer playing songs. I tried both trs-cables an mono-cables both with the same result:
Sadly, the external audio had a very low volume (even with the phone/computer set to max volume).
How did Nick get it that loud? Cause if you simply raise the level post Volca Modular (i.e. on the mixer/interface/...) any sounds played from the Modular´s oscillators would obviously be way too loud...
even mind I'm not entirely sure, but I would think something like mutable instrument's ears or bastl's Hendrickson could bring it up to modular levels
the phone/computer is stereo, the CV input is trs left CV and Passthrough trs right, if you bridge it with a mono cable you are probably adding resistance from the CV signal path which is probably why the break out cable is important and you are only going to get a mono input.
Wowwww ❤️
Do I need a case to be able to use the ears module? Currently i have the volca modular but no euro rack gear.
I guess, but I just use the Koma Field Kit for doing things like that. It is cheap and you can do a lot of things with it
It is really impossible to get one of these splitter cables
Is it still possible using the internal sounds of the Volca Modular, when pluging in external audio?
In the example with the water and the straw there are no synth sounds available anymore, if you patch it like that
yes just patch the sources to the second lpg and set to the second envelope
@@123Andersonev Thank you :)
So can I send my guitar through this?
yes
😍
This is amazing but it's a cup of water not a glass lol
hahahaha wtf, its so fun! hahaha