I have been coming back to this video for roughly 6 -7 years dreaming about finally owning a Buchla. I’ve finally got my hands on an Easel and proud to finally say I’ll be beginning an 18U system this month! Piecing it together module by module and hopefully completely full a year from now. There is not a lot of non-easel Buchla content on UA-cam, and most of it is from 8+ years ago and random noodling or grainy technical explanations. Your short patch embodies the spirit of what this instrument was designed for. I hope to one day soon make similar videos that may also inspire someone.
There might be that conversation- The Wife: "What the HECK happened to all your money? Are you on drugs?! Me: Well, no not exactly, but listen to this! Wife: .... Me (pulling the synth on a cart behind me, holding a sign) WILL PATCH FOR FOOD
Its a wireless ring that can control 3 different cv parameters using x, y, and z dimensions. There are two rings that can be used. Anything that has a cv input can be controlled with the rings.
I've been coming back to this video for about 10 years now probably. It's the only modular patch I've ever listened too which I found interesting and musical. I'll never own a Buchla due to their insane cost but man, a boy can dream! ;)
I keep coming back to this particular video year after year, dreaming of the day I can own a Buchla 200e System (I did finally manage to get a new Music Easel at least!)
I love the whole mystique of this synthesizer and this specific piece. to me it sounds a little bit like a middle eastern electronic suite ( I picture Qatar or the UAE) mixed with a high tech sound. It's been two years and I always come back to listen to it.
Yes. The black square is really a window in front of the IR receptors. Normally, that module is intended to reside in a more vertical position so that it can detect the rings better. I found that it worked adequately this way since I was using the rings up close.
I which I would be able to buy a Buchla one day...apart that and this is the purpose of my comment I just love the sound design and the music.Bravo !!!
you aren't the only one. i've always thought moogs are mostly boring & only do fat bass and screaming leads well with a lot of cheesy 70s sci-fi junk in between where buchlas are more like ARPs with attitude
In my opinion, the build quality of Buchla is top notch. I have read the SOS review as well as Don Buchla's response to the review. I'm limited by space here, so I will just say that anyone that is disappointed with their systems quality has not spent enough time with it, or perhaps received a system with unusual problems. I have more to say, but I will send you a message with the rest of my response.
That's an IR ring that allows control of 3 different parameters. It also has a pulse switch. I have 2 rings so I could control 6 parameters and two pulses from two hands without touching the instrument. I'm glad you are enjoying my videos. I always thought they probably were GAS-inducing. :-)
This is straight from the Buchla with no overdubs. Just a bit of delay and reverb were added. Everything is coming live. The panning of two of the mixer channels can be controlled by a CV source. That is where the panning effect is coming from.
Starting in 2010 Buchla switched to a firm pot. It took a couple of years to work through their entire inventory, but today all new 200e modules ship with firm pots.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. My Skylab is similar to the system #4 on the Buchla site, except instead of the 285e, I have a 254v and instead of the 223e I have the 222e. I had gotten only 3 modules with the Skylab case and I added the rest from my 18-space cabinet. Don't feel too bad for missing the discount, I think it was only $1000 rather than $5000. Still, $1000 is a good discount, but not as good as $5000 would have been :^)
Second reply: As far as the SOS review - I was in the room at Big City Music when the person who wrote that article saw the 200e for the first time. From his comments after ten seconds of looking the machine over I had a feeling what the review was going to turn out to be. He didn't 'get' the 200e, didn't seems to like it the second he laid eyes on it.
No, no Eurorack. I have seen custom Eurorack cases that are similar to Buchla cases. Buchla is expensive, but you get a lot of functionality in one module. You can do quite a lot with just one or two modules.
This is just like the Skylab system shown on the Buchla wesite, except instead of a 285e, I have a 254v and instead of a 223e, I have a 222e. If you would like me to explain the modules in more depth, send me a message and I'll get back to you with more detail.
Is the gestural control coming with skylab? I didn't see this stuff before! Anyway, it's a great vid. I love the Buchla sounds and this demo. Thanks for your sharing.
This is completely untrue. The build quality of the 200e system is exemplary. Re: the pots he specd, Don used them for their electro-mechanical characteristics with a secondary concern on how they felt, if any. High resolution pots were essential for accurate patch recall via the internal A/D, D/A pairs. Once you spend 3 seconds with the 200e, the wobble of the plastic shaft knobs is completely removed from your consciousness. There were reasons for everything w/ the e - nothing was accidental
Very cool! The gestural control was a nice surprise; I didn't know it had that capacity. What parameters does it control exactly? Do the x,y,z-axes all control different aspects of the sound or do their coordinates just refer to one specific change in the sound? I'm sure some people would be able to tell by listening, but I have no idea!
Yeah, the wireless rings are really cool. The 3 axes control anything with a control voltage input. You have two rings and they each have a button that produces a pulse output as well as the 3 axis cv outs. You could, for example, use one ring to control the pitch, bandwidth, and amplitude of a filter, and use the other ring to control the pitch, wave shape, and FM index of an oscillator while still having the two buttons to trigger envelopes or sequencers or whatever. Great fun!
Jonathan Fetzer Thanks! No, this one isn't posted anywhere other than this video. I do have a Soundcloud, though, also Oxix52. I'm planning on releasing a couple of albums on Bandcamp soon too.
There are 2 Buchla oscillator modules in this system, a 261e and a 259e. Each is a dual oscillator, so there are 4 actual oscillators but I don't think I am using all 4 as sound sources. I believe I used 1 from the 261e and both from the 259e. So it would be 3 oscillators involved in this patch.
What's that fingering wiggling thing going on there? Some kind of thereminesque effect? Nice random rhythm sequences going along the way. In the pocket as the trad jazz daddios used to say.
Thanks! The finger wiggling is part of the 222e. There are 2 finger rings that emit IR signals. 222e module can sense each ring in 3d space as well as receive pulses from triggers on the rings. Each ring can control 3 different voltages. It can get pretty wacky quite quickly.
+Cuda FX From the Buchla website on the 222e: "Trigonometric detection of 2 wireless rings provides spatial information in three dimensions, with additional data provided by ring-mounted switches" There are 2 rings, they let you wave your hands around to generate CV in 3 dimensions for each hand.
Gonzo Axiom It's the Multi-Dimensional Kinesthetic Input. It is a very sophisticated controller that connects to the 222e(or 223e) module via a ribbon cable. No midi involved. It can be very expressive and is highly customizable.
One of the modules is a 6 channel mixer, the 206e. It has left and right out on 3.5mm jacks. From there you can go to a mixer, speakers, audio interface, or whatever you need. There is also a headphone out. I'm going in to an audio interface for this recording.
It is one of the rings for the 222e. You can control 3 different parameters with the x, y, and z dimensions. There is also a trigger to send a pulse out. It is controlling a couple of parameters from the oscillator but I can't remember which ones. There are 2 rings, so you can get some pretty crazy stuff happening!
9/10 small system Buchla videos out there excuse themselves for making shitty music with the instrument by calling the title of the video "experiment" or the like. I guess because you have to know what you are doing to get something interesting out of these synthesizers. This was not that though, this was musical and great! Thanks for that - good job!
Yes. If the system contains the 225e MIDI module, it can be used to sync to midi clock or you can send MIDI notes that the 225e will then turn in to pulses for the system to use. The 250e and 251e sequencers can sync to MIDI coming through the 225e via the internal bus. You can also send a transient sound such as a snare or tom hit through the mic pre of the 207e mixer or the 227e mixer and use the envelope out as a pulse to trigger sequencers or EGs etc.
Oxix52 It feels great to speak with someone who owns an instrument like this. Thanks for the answer. I was curious if there is a possibility to do that. I will buy Analog Keys and Analog Rythm from Elektron. I Hope it will come a little close to the sound of your toy. (I think I know the answer). Do you record your sounds, do you add other instruments/vocals, where can I hear them? Have a nice time with your Buchla!
I love talking about this stuff! I usually don't add other things to my Buchla recordings. I enjoy using it as a self-contained solo instrument. Maybe someday I'll use it as the centerpiece of a larger production. I have a soundcloud channel with more things that I have done. It's mostly Buchla but there is some other stuff there too. Just search for Oxix52 on soundcloud. Thanks!
+Gabriel Solá Yes, all sounds and sequences are from just the Buchla Skylab you see in the video. One take, no overdubs. A computer was used only to record the stereo audio.
Seems it's incredibly dense compared to Euro then. I guess, since it'sall in the same mind and towards the same goal, it's mroe packed in without becoming unorganized and inefficient, like tends to happen with euro.
Mitchell Austrian I can, but I usually don't. For me, part of the appeal of the Buchla system is playing it as an instrument with the touch surface. It just doesn't feel the same using a keyboard controller.
Hello, cann anyone explain how to use a 225h & 226h Buchla module properly " in action" and any example of its capabilities? there´s no any information rather than those three raw pages of the "Allegedly Manual "; i think they should show a bit more how to use their products since its not an easy thing and its a bit more complex than most eurorack´s. ANy comment is highly appreciated. (^_^)v. BTW: unfortunately are Buchla h Series modules the ones that are not very well explained or described in action.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I have been coming back to this video for roughly 6 -7 years dreaming about finally owning a Buchla. I’ve finally got my hands on an Easel and proud to finally say I’ll be beginning an 18U system this month! Piecing it together module by module and hopefully completely full a year from now. There is not a lot of non-easel Buchla content on UA-cam, and most of it is from 8+ years ago and random noodling or grainy technical explanations. Your short patch embodies the spirit of what this instrument was designed for. I hope to one day soon make similar videos that may also inspire someone.
I am glad to hear that my video has inspired you. Congratulations and enjoy the adventure!
and the wife thinks we're saving for a house....
Houses are overrated :)
There might be that conversation-
The Wife: "What the HECK happened to all your money? Are you on drugs?!
Me: Well, no not exactly, but listen to this!
Wife: ....
Me (pulling the synth on a cart behind me, holding a sign) WILL PATCH FOR FOOD
@@robertrasczak2212 BUCHLA SYSTEM > house
Its a wireless ring that can control 3 different cv parameters using x, y, and z dimensions. There are two rings that can be used. Anything that has a cv input can be controlled with the rings.
I've been coming back to this video for about 10 years now probably. It's the only modular patch I've ever listened too which I found interesting and musical. I'll never own a Buchla due to their insane cost but man, a boy can dream! ;)
I keep coming back to this particular video year after year, dreaming of the day I can own a Buchla 200e System (I did finally manage to get a new Music Easel at least!)
Keep the dream alive! The 200e is a wonderful thing! Thanks for the re-visit!
I love the whole mystique of this synthesizer and this specific piece. to me it sounds a little bit like a middle eastern electronic suite ( I picture Qatar or the UAE) mixed with a high tech sound. It's been two years and I always come back to listen to it.
Those wood side hinge/cam things are artful and elegant.
I'm not going to deny the awesomeness of Buchla, but there's no way that I could justify spending that kind of money.
It's art...a sculpture. Beautiful instrument.
The sound is absolutely incredible
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched this video. Classic stuff.
Thanks. I'm glad it is still getting some attention.
REALLY great sequence !! congratulations Mr Oxix!
Yes. The black square is really a window in front of the IR receptors. Normally, that module is intended to reside in a more vertical position so that it can detect the rings better. I found that it worked adequately this way since I was using the rings up close.
That was absolutely incredible!! Thank you.
I which I would be able to buy a Buchla one day...apart that and this is the purpose of my comment I just love the sound design and the music.Bravo !!!
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you will be able to experience a Buchla some day.
really nice - I have always imagined them as rather big setups - not portable for sure.. this one rocks ! sounds really pleasant.
I really dig the uniqueness of the fidelity.
you aren't the only one. i've always thought moogs are mostly boring & only do fat bass and screaming leads well with a lot of cheesy 70s sci-fi junk in between where buchlas are more like ARPs with attitude
In my opinion, the build quality of Buchla is top notch. I have read the SOS review as well as Don Buchla's response to the review. I'm limited by space here, so I will just say that anyone that is disappointed with their systems quality has not spent enough time with it, or perhaps received a system with unusual problems. I have more to say, but I will send you a message with the rest of my response.
I love the sounds it makes.
That's an IR ring that allows control of 3 different parameters. It also has a pulse switch. I have 2 rings so I could control 6 parameters and two pulses from two hands without touching the instrument. I'm glad you are enjoying my videos. I always thought they probably were GAS-inducing. :-)
lovely, please post more, we on this side of the screen enjoyed it very much
Super le petit capteur au doigt !
Great video! I'm trying to figure out how I want my first Buchla setup. Really wanting one bad! Thanks for sharing!
This is straight from the Buchla with no overdubs. Just a bit of delay and reverb were added. Everything is coming live. The panning of two of the mixer channels can be controlled by a CV source. That is where the panning effect is coming from.
This totlly sounds like something ricardo villalobos would do. Beautiful, congrats
What a beautiful machine.
Starting in 2010 Buchla switched to a firm pot. It took a couple of years to work through their entire inventory, but today all new 200e modules ship with firm pots.
even a small buchla can probably produce sound more interesting and high quality than pretty much anything else on the market
Yes but they are difficult to find and expensive.
yeah, Buchla are like the [insert expensive car here, my knowledge on car brands is small] of the Synth industry ay
Rasterbayne It's not really that difficult to buy something Buchla.
how to delete old silly posts :'c
Unfortunately you can't delete outlet peoples old silly posts!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. My Skylab is similar to the system #4 on the Buchla site, except instead of the 285e, I have a 254v and instead of the 223e I have the 222e. I had gotten only 3 modules with the Skylab case and I added the rest from my 18-space cabinet. Don't feel too bad for missing the discount, I think it was only $1000 rather than $5000. Still, $1000 is a good discount, but not as good as $5000 would have been :^)
Very cool video :), love he portability. Nice melodies!
nice - one of the more musical buchla vids around here. more please!
Great stuff! Beautiful sound.
Your really good at playing it!
nice little sequence.
what a sweet sweet sound that thing makes
This is where Arturia goes for ideas for cases ;) great tune ...like those ratchets/triples.... but don't know which module is sequencing those
awesome....absolutely...it kicks me away...perfect..
Second reply: As far as the SOS review - I was in the room at Big City Music when the person who wrote that article saw the 200e for the first time. From his comments after ten seconds of looking the machine over I had a feeling what the review was going to turn out to be. He didn't 'get' the 200e, didn't seems to like it the second he laid eyes on it.
That is the case it comes with. This was an out of the studio excursion. Playing a Buchla on the floor is great fun!
No, no Eurorack. I have seen custom Eurorack cases that are similar to Buchla cases. Buchla is expensive, but you get a lot of functionality in one module. You can do quite a lot with just one or two modules.
you are sooooooooo lucky!!!! congratulations!!
This music is so beautiful...
Fantastic sound!
Damn! Nice jam!
A very cool track!
This is just like the Skylab system shown on the Buchla wesite, except instead of a 285e, I have a 254v and instead of a 223e, I have a 222e. If you would like me to explain the modules in more depth, send me a message and I'll get back to you with more detail.
Absolutely fantastic.
Instant NIN. Beautyful.
:)
buchlas look really fun and yur jams are tight. im not even going to bothering looking at the price of one of these machines:(
Coolest Buchla video I've seen!
Is the ring data receptor/interface that small dark square on the left side of the unit?
I'd like to see the ring(s) hung in some way that air movements would generate random motion and just let the wind have at it for a while.
That would be some nice natural randomness.
Costs of the buchla synths: Small buchla, small fortune. Big buchla, big house!
Is the gestural control coming with skylab? I didn't see this stuff before! Anyway, it's a great vid. I love the Buchla sounds and this demo. Thanks for your sharing.
Very cool.
This is completely untrue. The build quality of the 200e system is exemplary. Re: the pots he specd, Don used them for their electro-mechanical characteristics with a secondary concern on how they felt, if any. High resolution pots were essential for accurate patch recall via the internal A/D, D/A pairs. Once you spend 3 seconds with the 200e, the wobble of the plastic shaft knobs is completely removed from your consciousness. There were reasons for everything w/ the e - nothing was accidental
Very cool! The gestural control was a nice surprise; I didn't know it had that capacity. What parameters does it control exactly? Do the x,y,z-axes all control different aspects of the sound or do their coordinates just refer to one specific change in the sound? I'm sure some people would be able to tell by listening, but I have no idea!
Does the case hold any Eurorack or just the Buchla... because I really like the case but don't have enough for a Buchla
I love this patch.
Yeah, the wireless rings are really cool. The 3 axes control anything with a control voltage input. You have two rings and they each have a button that produces a pulse output as well as the 3 axis cv outs. You could, for example, use one ring to control the pitch, bandwidth, and amplitude of a filter, and use the other ring to control the pitch, wave shape, and FM index of an oscillator while still having the two buttons to trigger envelopes or sequencers or whatever. Great fun!
251 is really awesome, i don't understand its function yet
Wow, so much wires and knobs, so technical-looking, so expensive, so expressive ... I understand why there is so much emphasis right here...
What's is these panning-space effect? Is it additional multi effect device or just Buchla itself?
What's that on your finger. .and what are you doing with it? Is it some sort of theremin
probably some kind of gesture performance modulator, not unlike a theremin, but for control voltages or something programmable
It looks pretty similar to source audio's hothand expression controller. I want to know too!
maybe its just a magnet lol
He's monitoring his oxygen levels because those tones are breathtaking.
I envy you, Lol!
Nice demo !!!
Just awesom how to record your porject with this ?
cool "toys"
love the synthesis...
Is this track posted anywhere? I'm in love! Definitely want to check out more of your music!
Jonathan Fetzer Thanks! No, this one isn't posted anywhere other than this video. I do have a Soundcloud, though, also Oxix52. I'm planning on releasing a couple of albums on Bandcamp soon too.
Damn release this! This makes my speaker cones dance
I will happily accept one of these in the name of charity!
who makes the IR rings and how does this interface? thanks
Amazing sounds - some of the nicest Buchla stuff I've heard! Is that all running from a Quad Voltage Source, or is there some MIDI coming in as well?
Thanks! Yes, all of the sequencing and triggering is coming from the 251e. No external pulses or MIDI involved.
Do you have any recordings available? I like what I hear here, and would love to be able to play something on my internet radio show.
Great video.. HOW MUCH IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS RETAIL?
It's such a beautiful thing, so neat, Buchla are great at this stuff and it's still available to order, right?
How many oscillators are involved? Thanks.
There are 2 Buchla oscillator modules in this system, a 261e and a 259e. Each is a dual oscillator, so there are 4 actual oscillators but I don't think I am using all 4 as sound sources. I believe I used 1 from the 261e and both from the 259e. So it would be 3 oscillators involved in this patch.
Hi Oxix52,
Can you explain each Buchla model you showed here? thanks.
What's that fingering wiggling thing going on there? Some kind of thereminesque effect? Nice random rhythm sequences going along the way. In the pocket as the trad jazz daddios used to say.
Thanks! The finger wiggling is part of the 222e. There are 2 finger rings that emit IR signals. 222e module can sense each ring in 3d space as well as receive pulses from triggers on the rings. Each ring can control 3 different voltages. It can get pretty wacky quite quickly.
so, how much would this one cost?
The coolest.
I've just checked how much these synth cost. Two words =Forget It=.
Hi,
I'm really impressed with this system.
Can you tell me how much was your skylab?
Love this video!!
15k well spent
cool, thanks!
Dang. I want one.
what is the model of Buchla?
This is mostly Buchla 200e in a Skylab cabinet.
@@Oxix52 thanks
:-) Sometimes they end up too short. Once the patch is taken apart, its gone(usually).
Photograph it!;
what is that finger mounted device you are moving around? looks intriguingly fun
+Cuda FX From the Buchla website on the 222e: "Trigonometric detection of 2 wireless rings provides spatial information in three dimensions, with additional data provided by ring-mounted switches"
There are 2 rings, they let you wave your hands around to generate CV in 3 dimensions for each hand.
+Kemal Gürüz Someone's bitter.
What is the pad board in front of the modular? A kind of midi, I'm guessing?
Gonzo Axiom It's the Multi-Dimensional Kinesthetic Input. It is a very sophisticated controller that connects to the 222e(or 223e) module via a ribbon cable. No midi involved. It can be very expressive and is highly customizable.
That Is So Cool!!!
great stuff
Anybody mentioned Tangerine Dream’s and their No Man’s Land from Hyperborea yet? ;)
very cool! how do you line out the sound from buchla? through mixer and then it goes to speakers? or other way?
One of the modules is a 6 channel mixer, the 206e. It has left and right out on 3.5mm jacks. From there you can go to a mixer, speakers, audio interface, or whatever you need. There is also a headphone out. I'm going in to an audio interface for this recording.
Oxix52 thank you so much!
What is that on the index finger on your left hand and what are you doing with it?
It is one of the rings for the 222e. You can control 3 different parameters with the x, y, and z dimensions. There is also a trigger to send a pulse out. It is controlling a couple of parameters from the oscillator but I can't remember which ones. There are 2 rings, so you can get some pretty crazy stuff happening!
Dope AF
9/10 small system Buchla videos out there excuse themselves for making shitty music with the instrument by calling the title of the video "experiment" or the like. I guess because you have to know what you are doing to get something interesting out of these synthesizers. This was not that though, this was musical and great! Thanks for that - good job!
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
is it possible to sync it with a DAW?
Yes. If the system contains the 225e MIDI module, it can be used to sync to midi clock or you can send MIDI notes that the 225e will then turn in to pulses for the system to use. The 250e and 251e sequencers can sync to MIDI coming through the 225e via the internal bus. You can also send a transient sound such as a snare or tom hit through the mic pre of the 207e mixer or the 227e mixer and use the envelope out as a pulse to trigger sequencers or EGs etc.
Oxix52 It feels great to speak with someone who owns an instrument like this.
Thanks for the answer. I was curious if there is a possibility to do that.
I will buy Analog Keys and Analog Rythm from Elektron. I Hope it will come a little close to the sound of your toy. (I think I know the answer).
Do you record your sounds, do you add other instruments/vocals, where can I hear them?
Have a nice time with your Buchla!
I love talking about this stuff! I usually don't add other things to my Buchla recordings. I enjoy using it as a self-contained solo instrument. Maybe someday I'll use it as the centerpiece of a larger production. I have a soundcloud channel with more things that I have done. It's mostly Buchla but there is some other stuff there too. Just search for Oxix52 on soundcloud. Thanks!
its possible to convert control voltage to midi. you'd probably be fine just sampling off youtube tho.
All sequenced and patched in what is visible???
+Gabriel Solá Yes, all sounds and sequences are from just the Buchla Skylab you see in the video. One take, no overdubs. A computer was used only to record the stereo audio.
Seems it's incredibly dense compared to Euro then. I guess, since it'sall in the same mind and towards the same goal, it's mroe packed in without becoming unorganized and inefficient, like tends to happen with euro.
Gabriel Solá Functional density is a characteristic of most Buchla 200e modules. It can pack a lot of power in to a small portable system.
can you/do you ever use a different keyboard controller? just out of curiosity
Mitchell Austrian I can, but I usually don't. For me, part of the appeal of the Buchla system is playing it as an instrument with the touch surface. It just doesn't feel the same using a keyboard controller.
Hello, cann anyone explain how to use a 225h & 226h Buchla module properly " in action" and any example of its capabilities? there´s no any information rather than those three raw pages of the "Allegedly Manual "; i think they should show a bit more how to use their products since its not an easy thing and its a bit more complex than most eurorack´s. ANy comment is highly appreciated. (^_^)v. BTW: unfortunately are Buchla h Series modules the ones that are not very well explained or described in action.