Steevio gives me the exact feeling of finding something truly unique as I did when I discovered Tetrameth and Kalya Scintilla. I’d kill to groove with him playing in the audience of a festival. Bless you Steevio you absolute God of Electronic Jazz + everything else in your unique corner of this music genre, which is most of it, because you inspired most of us.. May you live on forever as a pioneer and founder of this new alien language 👽✨💛
Mastery is to create something complex and the same time engaging out of simple elements - and to make it look really easy, hahha! You’re still the best man! i watched this video 3 years ago when I started out and it takes me back to why I love this instrument so much.
@@suzybeeMINDTOURSThis is amazing to see. My two improvisational heroes collide! It was cool to see the curtain being pulled back a bit too, Steevio, your shuffles/polyrhythms make me wanna dance out of my skin. 💛✨
there aren't enough "aces" in the world to cover this. have spoken to steevio about this system and even still don't fully understand, but I'm working on it. so damn funky. so so good.
hi Rob, there's a mixture of things, closed hi-hats, open hi-hats, snare drums, and the same rim-shot/clave and tom-tom type sounds that i originally sent the triggers too. Those original sounds were created with FM'd VCOs, VCFs, Makenoise Maths env gen, and VCAs. FM is the key, usually a TIPTop audio Z3000, FM'd by a perfect 4th or 5th from another VCO. You can create almost any percussive sound with that set-up....Steevio
No worries!! Quick Q: Are you quantising the output of the A155's _BEFORE_ going into the precision adders, or do you just quantise the summed output of the adders themselves? I had in in my head you mentioned you actually precision-add the pre-quantised outputs.
Keep coming back to this one. So easy to get lost down the wormhole of modular. Steevio uses (many) basic blocks to create complex structures. Beautiful educational vid this.
I feel this is the absolute wonder of modular. Knowledge of the many different building blocks to realize the machine that complements YOUR perfect workflow. Nothing wrong with rings into clouds but it's really great to see people put a lot of thought into their systems.
This is the deep knowledge. Everything from mechanics like summing cv with switched mults, to things ethnomusicological and mathematical like Euclidean Polyrhythms. This is like a graduate course! :D
over the years I have watched this video probably at least a hundred times. my dream is to one day re-create this sequence in VCV, but still so much to learn :D legs are still twitching to the rhythm every time I watch
Really great tutorial, Steevio. Not just for people with large systems either. I'd recommend this to people without modulars as well. Interesting to apply the same concept of constructing rhythms and musical sequences to other bits of gear or even software. You'd make a lot of people happy if you did more of these.
Lost count of the amount of times I've watched this video. Super inspiring stuff especially as I cam up in the MPC Drum machine world from back in the day. Never ever was comfortable with the move into computers and DAWS despite making many tunes in that way. Had been toying with investigating modular world and this video and your tunes sealed the deal. Thank you for the good vibes and for the explanation. Really refreshing to find someone who is willing to share and give insights into what is without doubt a complicated process. So for that I big you up. Charlie Dark from Attica Blues Mo Wax days.
Great vid Steevio. I think it's left us all wanting more! As a result of your demo I have taken the plunge and bought myself a brace of A155/154s and running them at different sequence lengths is a revelation - the most enjoyment I've had with my modular! More please!!!
Altered dominants in techno! Absolutely fantastic. A perfect synthesis. And inspirational. I’ve been thinking about exactly this in my own music recently so this really helps. First time I’ve heard your music Steevio, I will definitely be searching out some more. Thanks
THAT is the best demonstration and modular patch that i have heard on the web. Bloody hell. I'm impressed. Thanks for that. It shows what is is possible. Feeling inspired :-)
Probably one of those videos Im gonna watch lot of times in moments of creative block... and lot of this knowledge can be applied onto any hardware/software instruments. In the meantime Im gonna rob few shops or a bank to afford my first modular. big thumb up for sharing knowladge !
So refreshing to hear something musical coming from a modular system. Think a lot of people get lost in making sounds sometimes and forget to make music.
steevio.. you're such an inspiration to me! I am watching this video probably for the 20th time now. To me, your approach to modular synthesis having basically a blank sheet with all routes tracing back to simple and "pure" sequencers like the a-155s, is just beautiful.. Everything hands-on ready, no distracting menus, no redundant module functionality just an insanely groovy dialog between you and the synth. keep up your great work - many are listening.
hey Vapili, thank you for these kind words... I'm so happy that you found inspiration from the video.. Yes I really do not like menus, they are counter productive for improvisation, its why i got into analogue synthesis in the first place and why my rig is fairly old school with very few boutique and digital modules. Ive tried them and then sold them on. If you have to stop to think or search a menu for even a few seconds, you've lost the flow ... peace Steevio
Thanks so much for your demonstration, explanation, and encouragement! It is as if you have command of a Detroit warehouse party, right there at your fingertips! What a wonderful way this would be to spend one's time! :) I am inspired to learn more about the subject of modular analog synthesizers! :D All the Best, :)
This is very very good. Lot of times I watch these videos and the modular synth setup is impressive but the sounds and music not so much. This is some seriously funky jazzy groove!
Wow!! I found this really interesting and a nice groove too. Thank you very much. Went to many a techno party with Jimmy and Colin back in the day in Aberystwyth circa '98 to '01. Peace.
Wow, just wow. Thank you for giving me something to wrap my head around in the way I write. Very inspiring, sir. And I also have to say, your cable management is so completely on point. I love how clean your layout is even with all that "spaghetti" potential.
thank you man ! yeah its essential in a live situation to have your cables velcroed, it would be almost impossible to tweak anything with the amount of cables ive got in that rig.
I'll answer it myself, got a Moog DFAM - now I just need a sequencer. Just that and I'll be fine. Sure. And maybe a reverb. Or a delay. Some distortion would be nice, and a couple more oscillators.....🤔
finally!! someone who can make a modular system actually listenable!! Most of the time modular stuff is just crazy noodling. This is actually something I can listen to - thanks!!
So glad I found this! I watched it a couple of years ago but couldn't find it again until recently. Thanks so much for the description of your rig and your process. You're an inspiration
Great composition, totally fun. You're rhythm patterns are insane, insanely great. It so impressive how you make complexity work for you in creating these grooves. Inspiring, way nice, please share more!
This is so rad!! I didn’t realize it was you until the groove really got going. Then I looked at your name and confirmed what I knew: I have several of your records. So cool to see you at work!! I’m new in the modular game and this was a delightful little lesson. Gratitude and respect.
Thank you so much, Steevio! What an amazing concept you've created . The creative power behind seems endless. Your shift modular synthesis to a next level. Hopefully mine too - to be honest, I always had problems creating a substential rhytmic strategy on eurorack. Actually I try to unveil the magic of your concept for my personal work. And got confused..May I ask you to explain the concept for your hihat and snare patterns deeper? (video from minute 6:45 on) you mentioned the two A-151 switches. Green cable to snare, two yellow for hats. But where is the reset for both switches coming from? The left switch is been resteted, is'nt it? And are the blue and the two black cables part of it? You mentioned that triggers are coming from the five and the seven and from the seven and the five. So do you feed the output of one switch back into the A-155 or A-154? Me, lost in translation...Thx you for your time! P.
thanks Pholcmann, yeah that was difficult to describe and make clear, its the one bit of the video i wanted to dub in a better explanation, but decided to leave. The A151s are not being reset in this case (they could be of course, but i wanted to keep it polymetric, so there are no resets anywhere in this patch. The A151 has two inputs effectively, (apart from reset) one which advances the sequence (so its a clock input) the other is the input which is fed to the 4 outputs in order as the sequence progresses. so in this example the same triggers which trigger the Moog (5 step)also clock the fist A151 and the same trigger which triggers the bassline (7step) also clocks the second A151. The input of the first A151 is coming from the trigger which triggers the tom sound (7 step) and the input of the second is coming from the 5 step rimshot trigger.
Thank you for the quick respond, Steevio! So if I got it right, you use the two A-151's O/I as input for the triggered sequences coming from the A-155 sequencers. (left A-151 yellow cable and right A-151 black cable ) And the two 'Trig IN's as the clock inputs to advance the sequ.. (Triggered by a single Moog or bassline step) The patched cables in the Reset INs are not in use. Thx for your patience, P
That was insanely fascinating to watch! Great little sneak peak into your world Steevio, thanks. Looks like you need a degree in rocket science though to put that all together! Would be great to see some more. See you Freero! :)
Thank you!!..... if you mean a blank canvass of no patch cords in, its not going to happen unfortunately, its taken me years to put this together in this way, and would take a whole day to patch up from scratch. It is effectively a blank canvass when I started the video, because rather than pulling patch cords in and out, I use switches, matrix mixers, adders etc.. to send the signals around the modular and I started with no patterns or sounds, the only thing I prepared was the tuning of the VCOs to different harmonics of the lowest bass note VCO, but the basic system is designed so that it is easy and quick to get things happening in real time, without patching or preparation. So every day I go into the studio, I start exactly like I did in this video. That is blank canvass enough for me, otherwise I'd get nothing done :)
Extremely important point right here. I thought about some of your comments in a recording I just did, a snippet here, thank you! instagram.com/p/BewS0ZHlDh2/
I appreciate these demos a lot. One thing is to understand that there is a logic to the way you sequence and to imagine a possible musical outcome. Another thing is to hear the music as you explain the logic. I don't intend to have a massive eurorack system anytime soon, but there's a lot here to apply to smaller systems with the aid of some digital modules. I guess the complexity of some digital modules results in a not-so-immediate interaction with the instrument... maybe. But anyway... Thanks a lot Steevio!
Incredible man. New to modular and so many things are clicking into place in my mind watching this. Thanks for making it. New follower. I've not looked yet but I'm hoping to find more videos like this on your channel :)
Watched your vids Steevio, got f... addicted, sold my Oberkorn to get the 155/145 combo. Girls wanna have fun! In the vid you're talking about swinging both sequencers with the dual trigger delay beside the Pamela. Could you please be more precise how its done? Too much spaghetti to see where the cables go. The 138m is used for mixing the delayed clock signals and sent back to the two sequencers? Can't wait to get it done! Thanks so much, Val
you've effectively got it. the Pamelas Workout is pumping out a 1/8 trigger, that is mult-ed to two inputs on the A138 m, and also the two inputs on the trigger delays, the outputs of those trigger delays go to the second inputs on the A138m, when theyre mixed back together you have a swung 16th clock on each channel of the A138m the delay giving you the amount of swing. so you now have two differently swung clocks to be distributed to wherever you want.
Great stuff! I've watched a lot of your videos and read your posts on muffwiggler, and you've given me lots of tips on how to get away from the linear way of sequencing that you often get stuck with using software. I'm very much a beginner with hardware synths in general, and modulars in particular, and you've been a great guide through the jungle of modules out there. Also, your music is really funky! HOLY SHIT! You're in stockholm in two days! Haha, jst saw that. See you there, i'll try to say hi!
Hello Mr. Steevio -- This was incredibly inspiring to me, and I thank you sincerely. What I think I take from it is that one can take triggers from a clock divider/multiple, and send the individual triggers to sequential switches, which in turn sequence through various sounds...in this way I think one might achieve a classical "hocketing" technique in which a composer will take a melodic line and split it up to various instruments for a colorful orchestration. I figure it will get super-friggin' hairy when you have, say, 4 different basic triggers in a shuffled Euclidean rhythm, each sequencing through a series of sounds. Is that in part what you've achieved here, excellent Sir?
Thanks James ! ..essentially yes thats what is happening, however its a little more complicated as the sequential switches can be triggered to move through a sequence by any of the trigger patterns or combination of trigger patterns, as well as any of those triggers or any combinations of triggers providing the trigger inputs themselves to be distributed. I tried rather clumsily to explain that in the video, but it was difficult to think of a clear explanation on the fly like that. Infact i still dont know how to adequately describe that :) It can create quite complex rhythms from really simple ones really easily
I'm so fantastically grateful and honored that you replied! I think we (your very loyal fans worldwide) would all be intrigued if you would graciously offer a little map of a basic signal chain for a "voice..." essentially, a little Steevio Signal Map. You're a hero, Mr. Steevio.
haha yes i once tried to draw it out, and it was so complicated that i didnt even understand it myself. most of my patching is in my head. if i find the time I will try again, but I dont really do 'voices' - 90% of what i do is sequencing, the timbres at the end of the line are all interchangeable and also fluid and flexible, and are mostly done using basic subtractive synthesis. sequencing is my thing, and it is very difficult to map out as there are many feedback loops involved, for instance one trigger in a sequence may restart another sequence which may in turn reverse the direction of the first sequence etc. etc.. its not easy to draw out
Thanks again for responding, Maestro Steevio. I did indeed mean that we seek a little guide/map to your sequencing method, if you have the time and the inclination.
Awesome!! You're teaching Modular Masterclass here. May I ask you to explain how you are directing the Doepfer 154 with ADSRs? You have been touching the topic on a forum. Thank you.
thanks Tom, the A154 has CV inputs for direction, first step, last step etc. so for instance if you send a simple trigger from a clock divider to an Adsr, then output the Adsr to any (or more than one) CV input on the A154, you can control the A155 sequence with the shape of the Adsr. example say the Adsr goes to the last step and the direction, the attack phase of the Adsr could gradually shorten the sequence in forward mode then the decay phase could lengthen the sequence in reverse mode. etc etc.. you can get some crazy sequences running from simple Adsr shapes and altering the Adsr will change the sequence. There are almost unlimited possibilities from a simple 8 step sequencer. The intention from my point of view is to get as far away from obvious linear sequences, on a regular timeline.
Sounds tempting! Will dive in immediately. You split the pamela clocks for shuffle - one straight, the other alternating to get 16th. Did you just shift one phase to 50, or use the 'delay' option? Thanks for inspiring!!
Hey Steevio, big fan of your music for nearly 10 years now. I've been building a modular rack based largely on your ideas and forum posts. This video cleared up most of my lingering questions - thanks for that! One thing I still don't understand is where you put the Quantizers - before or after the Precision Adders? In either case it seems like you would need a number of them.
Hi mate, thanks for the props ! you can put them before or after but i have them after, it gives you more options to mix scales etc.. I dont tend to use scales often, i most work chromatically and somethings harmonically, but there's more flexibility that way and you can do it with less quantizers..
Fantastic. One question: when the trigger comes out of the sequential switch to, for example, the snare sound - does that trigger just trigger the snare directly, or is it triggering another sequencer which is triggering the snare? I hear more than one snare sound for each trigger coming out of the sequential switch, but I can tell if that's just a delay or a sequence. Thanks.
Hi Chris, thanks man. In this patch both sequential switches are sending triggers to the snare which are mixed in a mixer before triggering the snare. so the bass, Moog, hi perc and low perc patterns are all interacting to create the snare pattern.
Most flexible groove machine ever seen! I have a (maybe annoying) question for you: could you please explain more precisely the routing of the 8 triggers and 4 cv sequences sent by the two a-155? I would like to understand the path followed by the signals in all those switches/adder/matrix. For example: I've seen that you send the first line of triggers of the first a-155 (together with the first and second line of the second a-155?) to a manual switch that can send it to an ENVELOPE->VCAVCA
thanks Jacopo. OK so switching upward on any of the triggers on the two A155s (they have been configured as gates not triggers actually) will go to one switched multiple which is designated as percussion gates, and switching downwards will send the gates to a different Switched multiple designated as bass and Moog gates (but of course this can be changed at any time, its just how its configured for this patch and I usually work with a configuration for a while until I feel like a change) The percussion switched multiple is effectively a matrix to pass the gates onwards to EGs and also to triggers or clocks on other smaller sequencers, in this case the 2 A151s. Its a bit complicated to explain here easily I'm afraid, but imagaine that a trigger(gate) can be used to trigger an EG or move another sequencer forward or send a gate into it to be distributed elsewhere, this way all the triggers on the two sequencers can interact in lots of different ways, so for instance any bass gate might create a bass note but at the same time move the sequential switch (A151)forward one step, at the same time any perc gate might create a tom hit, but also be a trigger input on the same A151 and be distributed to something else like in this case a snare, but it be used to do anything like maybe stop the other sequencer, or reverse itself by triggering an envelope which inputs into the direction CV input on the A154. etc etc.. it goes on forever what you could do. just focussing on this particular configuration doesnt really explain the potential. The adders are another thing altogteher, they are just being used to create note sequencers/melodies from the CV outputs on the two A155s, and are only basically related to the triggers/gates. So I may use the CVs from one A155 as the note CVs on another, or a mixture of the two etc etc.. its infinite.
I've got another question... when you say "adding some offsets" and you use the last switched multiples on the right, what is happening? That is the tricky thing! It add a real swing to the track, but I really don't understand how... Thanks in advance steevio, I don't know how many times I've seen this video, even if it is "only" a patch is soooo instructive!
can you tell me where in the video I said that ? sorry I dont want to have to watch it all again haha ! I dont remember saying that. The switched multiple on the right is for hi-hats/shakers etc.. it distributes the output from the A152 addressed switch above it to a second switched mulitple (to its left, but wired internally) to send to whatever hi-percussion required. its to create rhythms and distribute them to different places, its like a mini sequencer. the right hand one is for the sequence, the one to its left is for distribution.
+David Röttger thank you. i'm not sure what you mean about tuning the oscillators ? they have their own tuning controls. Some of them have frequency readouts, so i tune them first and then the others by ear in tune with them. I do have a boss guitar tuner on an auxilliary on the mixer if i need to check things, but its mostly by ear.
Steevio gives me the exact feeling of finding something truly unique as I did when I discovered Tetrameth and Kalya Scintilla. I’d kill to groove with him playing in the audience of a festival. Bless you Steevio you absolute God of Electronic Jazz + everything else in your unique corner of this music genre, which is most of it, because you inspired most of us.. May you live on forever as a pioneer and founder of this new alien language 👽✨💛
aww thanks man, thats so appreciated, have a fun and creative festive season...
@ Thank you for taking the time to read and reply, it’s an honour man! Long live Steevio! 💛✨
Thank you for all the kind words and positive comments guys, its much appreciated! ...Peace Steevio
Mastery is to create something complex and the same time engaging out of simple elements - and to make it look really easy, hahha! You’re still the best man! i watched this video 3 years ago when I started out and it takes me back to why I love this instrument so much.
Still watching this. At least my 1000th time. My girlfriend thinks I’ve lost it
Steevio I love your workflow laid out in this video! am taking notes, this is very inspiring!
thanks so much for the props Colin, coming from you that's a real honour, love your work too. Thats made my day... S
@@suzybeeMINDTOURSThis is amazing to see. My two improvisational heroes collide! It was cool to see the curtain being pulled back a bit too, Steevio, your shuffles/polyrhythms make me wanna dance out of my skin. 💛✨
there aren't enough "aces" in the world to cover this. have spoken to steevio about this system and even still don't fully understand, but I'm working on it. so damn funky. so so good.
I couldn't agree more - have you worked out what the A151s are doing / triggering?!
hi Rob, there's a mixture of things, closed hi-hats, open hi-hats, snare drums, and the same rim-shot/clave and tom-tom type sounds that i originally sent the triggers too. Those original sounds were created with FM'd VCOs, VCFs, Makenoise Maths env gen, and VCAs. FM is the key, usually a TIPTop audio Z3000, FM'd by a perfect 4th or 5th from another VCO. You can create almost any percussive sound with that set-up....Steevio
Thank you mylarmelodies !!
No worries!! Quick Q: Are you quantising the output of the A155's _BEFORE_ going into the precision adders, or do you just quantise the summed output of the adders themselves? I had in in my head you mentioned you actually precision-add the pre-quantised outputs.
Yes Before, that gives you much flexibilty especially with several quantisers., but it can also been done the other way round
thanks everyone for all the kind words !! peace Steevio
He so casual while dropping absolute filth lmao.
One of the most unique minds in our scene. I hope I get to see him live one day
Keep coming back to this one. So easy to get lost down the wormhole of modular. Steevio uses (many) basic blocks to create complex structures. Beautiful educational vid this.
Cheers Ben !
I feel this is the absolute wonder of modular. Knowledge of the many different building blocks to realize the machine that complements YOUR perfect workflow.
Nothing wrong with rings into clouds but it's really great to see people put a lot of thought into their systems.
Agreed! basic blocks, complex outcomes. Steevio just blurting out trade secrets for all of us
Stevvio is the Miles Davis of eurorack
This is the deep knowledge. Everything from mechanics like summing cv with switched mults, to things ethnomusicological and mathematical like Euclidean Polyrhythms. This is like a graduate course! :D
I just revisited this video. This is sooo awesome. Steevio is a musical genre in its own. 🙌🏻
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Man - that is absolutely incredible. One of the most musically valid and un-pretentious demonstrations I've ever seen. Love & Respect.
6:48 i love how the toms toms sync exactly with you saying "tom toms"
over the years I have watched this video probably at least a hundred times. my dream is to one day re-create this sequence in VCV, but still so much to learn :D legs are still twitching to the rhythm every time I watch
maybe this helps you: ua-cam.com/video/lALdtFNC2ZM/v-deo.html&ab_channel=OmriCohen Have fun :)
Thanks everyone for the kind words ! - Steevio
I love how the humble and gentle Geordie accent gives way to savage and bonkers brilliance. Just genius.
thanks for all the kind words guys ! ..Steevio
Really great tutorial, Steevio. Not just for people with large systems either. I'd recommend this to people without modulars as well. Interesting to apply the same concept of constructing rhythms and musical sequences to other bits of gear or even software. You'd make a lot of people happy if you did more of these.
Lost count of the amount of times I've watched this video. Super inspiring stuff especially as I cam up in the MPC Drum machine world from back in the day. Never ever was comfortable with the move into computers and DAWS despite making many tunes in that way. Had been toying with investigating modular world and this video and your tunes sealed the deal. Thank you for the good vibes and for the explanation. Really refreshing to find someone who is willing to share and give insights into what is without doubt a complicated process. So for that I big you up. Charlie Dark from Attica Blues Mo Wax days.
thanks Charlie, I'm honoured that you like it mate and that its been a help !
This is to me the ultimate music. I would love to one day attend a Freerotation and / or otherwise see you perform with the full setup.
Great vid Steevio. I think it's left us all wanting more! As a result of your demo I have taken the plunge and bought myself a brace of A155/154s and running them at different sequence lengths is a revelation - the most enjoyment I've had with my modular! More please!!!
Altered dominants in techno! Absolutely fantastic. A perfect synthesis. And inspirational. I’ve been thinking about exactly this in my own music recently so this really helps. First time I’ve heard your music Steevio, I will definitely be searching out some more. Thanks
Thanks so much Michael, and gives me hope that I'm on the right track .. Peace S
Mate this is spectacular, and the fact that you explained what you were doing really taught me a lot. Wish this was half an hour long at least.
that groove was an absolute delight. diving in the modular world for sure
THAT is the best demonstration and modular patch that i have heard on the web. Bloody hell. I'm impressed. Thanks for that. It shows what is is possible. Feeling inspired :-)
I've never learned so much from a modular video...
Probably one of those videos Im gonna watch lot of times in moments of creative block... and lot of this knowledge can be applied onto any hardware/software instruments. In the meantime Im gonna rob few shops or a bank to afford my first modular. big thumb up for sharing knowladge !
Great! The sequences with different number of steps is what subotnik did on his Buchla!
Thanks for this Steevio. You've always been a huge inspiration to me. Now also source of huge GAS.
+Samuli Kemppi aww you're too kind mate !!
for the GAS, i suggest eating less beans and pulses ;)
So refreshing to hear something musical coming from a modular system.
Think a lot of people get lost in making sounds sometimes and forget to make music.
steevio.. you're such an inspiration to me! I am watching this video probably for the 20th time now. To me, your approach to modular synthesis having basically a blank sheet with all routes tracing back to simple and "pure" sequencers like the a-155s, is just beautiful..
Everything hands-on ready, no distracting menus, no redundant module functionality just an insanely groovy dialog between you and the synth.
keep up your great work - many are listening.
hey Vapili, thank you for these kind words... I'm so happy that you found inspiration from the video..
Yes I really do not like menus, they are counter productive for improvisation, its why i got into analogue synthesis in the first place and why my rig is fairly old school with very few boutique and digital modules. Ive tried them and then sold them on. If you have to stop to think or search a menu for even a few seconds, you've lost the flow ... peace Steevio
Wow, V1, rotate. A modular flight simulator. Captain Steevio as guide. I watch, I learn. Thank you.
thanks!
you kept on saying, you probably recognize it... but I didn't recognize anything but pure originality.
INSANELY GOOD. WTF. Cannot believe my eyes and ears
Thanks so much for your demonstration, explanation, and encouragement!
It is as if you have command of a Detroit warehouse party, right there at your fingertips! What a wonderful way this would be to spend one's time! :)
I am inspired to learn more about the subject of modular analog synthesizers! :D
All the Best,
:)
What you have done here is simply amazing! Thanks for the tour of your rig!
This is very very good. Lot of times I watch these videos and the modular synth setup is impressive but the sounds and music not so much. This is some seriously funky jazzy groove!
thank you Andre !
*cries into my soft-synth*
Phenomenal Steevio! Just brilliant! :D
Wow!! I found this really interesting and a nice groove too. Thank you very much. Went to many a techno party with Jimmy and Colin back in the day in Aberystwyth circa '98 to '01. Peace.
Wow, just wow. Thank you for giving me something to wrap my head around in the way I write. Very inspiring, sir. And I also have to say, your cable management is so completely on point. I love how clean your layout is even with all that "spaghetti" potential.
thank you man ! yeah its essential in a live situation to have your cables velcroed, it would be almost impossible to tweak anything with the amount of cables ive got in that rig.
08:50 Love the swingy rhythm feel to this track! I love it! :)
one of the best eurorack videos
one of the best eurorack videos
yep, really cool. I'm crazy for analog synths 🎹🎧
I love your sense of rhythmic funk, man. Nice.
amazing! very inspiring, Looking forward to see you perform in Berlin Sept 29.
Amazing, thank you for a peak into your world!
Utterly amazing - my lord. Where would one even begin?
I'll answer it myself, got a Moog DFAM - now I just need a sequencer. Just that and I'll be fine. Sure. And maybe a reverb. Or a delay. Some distortion would be nice, and a couple more oscillators.....🤔
Awesome stuff Steve! I'll be watching this a few times over.
That was just bliss to listen to - Superbly executed
Sir, this is the first video of yours I’ve seen. And you’ve already become one of my musical hero’s. So. Much Yes. Peace and Blessings.
haha you're too kind man ...
You are my favourite modular composer! ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHAT YOU’RE DOING!
thanks for the kind words man!
finally!! someone who can make a modular system actually listenable!! Most of the time modular stuff is just crazy noodling. This is actually something I can listen to - thanks!!
Thanks so much for the detailed explanations... More vids please!
great stuff Steevio! Looking forward to more jamming videos.
So glad I found this! I watched it a couple of years ago but couldn't find it again until recently. Thanks so much for the description of your rig and your process. You're an inspiration
😘😜
thanks... that was awesome.... and you showed me in 16 minutes how far i haven't come in 2 years of using my modular. sigh.
Sadly don't have money for a modular... But this groove you put on the track is my new dream
Wow. Thanks very much for sharing this. Your music is amazing.
+TechtronicMountain thank you man !
Stunning demo! Amazing music!
thank you !!
Just saw this on MW. Excellent vid!
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Great composition, totally fun. You're rhythm patterns are insane, insanely great. It so impressive how you make complexity work for you in creating these grooves. Inspiring, way nice, please share more!
Thank you man! I will be doing more very soon
Wicked and a real treat for all Wigglers!
Sounds fantastic! Great videos. I just found your channel and your music and I'm really really really digging it!
Thanks Juuso !
Damn, what a setup, and a cool demo. Cheers.
This is so rad!! I didn’t realize it was you until the groove really got going. Then I looked at your name and confirmed what I knew: I have several of your records. So cool to see you at work!! I’m new in the modular game and this was a delightful little lesson. Gratitude and respect.
Excellent, very well explained.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Love this, masterpiece modular set :)
Amazing! Makes me dance cheers for the explanation.
me @ 4:30: this sounds awesome
steevio: now those rhythms are pretty obvious...
endless fun, well done
thanks for the walkthru mate, inspiring stuff
thanks man !!
Mind blowing
Thank you so much, Steevio! What an amazing concept you've created . The creative power behind seems endless. Your shift modular synthesis to a next level. Hopefully mine too - to be honest, I always had problems creating a substential rhytmic strategy on eurorack. Actually I try to unveil the magic of your concept for my personal work. And got confused..May I ask you to explain the concept for your hihat and snare patterns deeper? (video from minute 6:45 on) you mentioned the two A-151 switches. Green cable to snare, two yellow for hats. But where is the reset for both switches coming from? The left switch is been resteted, is'nt it? And are the blue and the two black cables part of it? You mentioned that triggers are coming from the five and the seven and from the seven and the five. So do you feed the output of one switch back into the A-155 or A-154? Me, lost in translation...Thx you for your time! P.
thanks Pholcmann, yeah that was difficult to describe and make clear, its the one bit of the video i wanted to dub in a better explanation, but decided to leave.
The A151s are not being reset in this case (they could be of course, but i wanted to keep it polymetric, so there are no resets anywhere in this patch.
The A151 has two inputs effectively, (apart from reset) one which advances the sequence (so its a clock input) the other is the input which is fed to the 4 outputs in order as the sequence progresses. so in this example the same triggers which trigger the Moog (5 step)also clock the fist A151 and the same trigger which triggers the bassline (7step) also clocks the second A151. The input of the first A151 is coming from the trigger which triggers the tom sound (7 step) and the input of the second is coming from the 5 step rimshot trigger.
Thank you for the quick respond, Steevio! So if I got it right, you use the two A-151's O/I as input for the triggered sequences coming from the A-155 sequencers. (left A-151 yellow cable and right A-151 black cable ) And the two 'Trig IN's as the clock inputs to advance the sequ.. (Triggered by a single Moog or bassline step) The patched cables in the Reset INs are not in use. Thx for your patience, P
That was insanely fascinating to watch! Great little sneak peak into your world Steevio, thanks. Looks like you need a degree in rocket science though to put that all together! Would be great to see some more. See you Freero! :)
Can you put out a sample pack of your modular synth sounds? I'd probably buy it.
Great stuff. Would love to see you start with a blank slate and explain step by step if you desire.
Thank you!!..... if you mean a blank canvass of no patch cords in, its not going to happen unfortunately, its taken me years to put this together in this way, and would take a whole day to patch up from scratch. It is effectively a blank canvass when I started the video, because rather than pulling patch cords in and out, I use switches, matrix mixers, adders etc.. to send the signals around the modular and I started with no patterns or sounds, the only thing I prepared was the tuning of the VCOs to different harmonics of the lowest bass note VCO, but the basic system is designed so that it is easy and quick to get things happening in real time, without patching or preparation. So every day I go into the studio, I start exactly like I did in this video. That is blank canvass enough for me, otherwise I'd get nothing done :)
Extremely important point right here.
I thought about some of your comments in a recording I just did, a snippet here, thank you!
instagram.com/p/BewS0ZHlDh2/
Then maybe showing the core philosophy in Reaktor Blocks or Modular Grid? Would love to see.
I appreciate these demos a lot. One thing is to understand that there is a logic to the way you sequence and to imagine a possible musical outcome. Another thing is to hear the music as you explain the logic. I don't intend to have a massive eurorack system anytime soon, but there's a lot here to apply to smaller systems with the aid of some digital modules. I guess the complexity of some digital modules results in a not-so-immediate interaction with the instrument... maybe. But anyway... Thanks a lot Steevio!
Thank you Guido !!
sequencers triggering sequences that trigger adders that trigger patterns that, etc. fuck. so good.
Incredible man. New to modular and so many things are clicking into place in my mind watching this. Thanks for making it. New follower. I've not looked yet but I'm hoping to find more videos like this on your channel :)
thanks man !! more coming soon.
Watched your vids Steevio, got f... addicted, sold my Oberkorn to get the 155/145 combo. Girls wanna have fun! In the vid you're talking about swinging both sequencers with the dual trigger delay beside the Pamela. Could you please be more precise how its done? Too much spaghetti to see where the cables go. The 138m is used for mixing the delayed clock signals and sent back to the two sequencers? Can't wait to get it done! Thanks so much, Val
you've effectively got it. the Pamelas Workout is pumping out a 1/8 trigger, that is mult-ed to two inputs on the A138 m, and also the two inputs on the trigger delays, the outputs of those trigger delays go to the second inputs on the A138m, when theyre mixed back together you have a swung 16th clock on each channel of the A138m the delay giving you the amount of swing. so you now have two differently swung clocks to be distributed to wherever you want.
Really enjoyed the tutorial! Very inspirational
thank you so much for the props!! ..peace Steevio
Great stuff! I've watched a lot of your videos and read your posts on muffwiggler, and you've given me lots of tips on how to get away from the linear way of sequencing that you often get stuck with using software. I'm very much a beginner with hardware synths in general, and modulars in particular, and you've been a great guide through the jungle of modules out there.
Also, your music is really funky!
HOLY SHIT! You're in stockholm in two days! Haha, jst saw that. See you there, i'll try to say hi!
thanks man, nice to meet you in Stockholm
Incredible.
cool steevio u got some talent love your tunes :)
My first exposure: WOW, sounds really great, man. Loving the feel, the chords, groove, all of it!
Happy you're into it man !
fantastic! thanks for sharing Steevio!
no problem, thank you !!!
Hello Mr. Steevio -- This was incredibly inspiring to me, and I thank you sincerely. What I think I take from it is that one can take triggers from a clock divider/multiple, and send the individual triggers to sequential switches, which in turn sequence through various sounds...in this way I think one might achieve a classical "hocketing" technique in which a composer will take a melodic line and split it up to various instruments for a colorful orchestration. I figure it will get super-friggin' hairy when you have, say, 4 different basic triggers in a shuffled Euclidean rhythm, each sequencing through a series of sounds. Is that in part what you've achieved here, excellent Sir?
Thanks James ! ..essentially yes thats what is happening, however its a little more complicated as the sequential switches can be triggered to move through a sequence by any of the trigger patterns or combination of trigger patterns, as well as any of those triggers or any combinations of triggers providing the trigger inputs themselves to be distributed. I tried rather clumsily to explain that in the video, but it was difficult to think of a clear explanation on the fly like that. Infact i still dont know how to adequately describe that :) It can create quite complex rhythms from really simple ones really easily
I'm so fantastically grateful and honored that you replied! I think we (your very loyal fans worldwide) would all be intrigued if you would graciously offer a little map of a basic signal chain for a "voice..." essentially, a little Steevio Signal Map. You're a hero, Mr. Steevio.
haha yes i once tried to draw it out, and it was so complicated that i didnt even understand it myself. most of my patching is in my head. if i find the time I will try again, but I dont really do 'voices' - 90% of what i do is sequencing, the timbres at the end of the line are all interchangeable and also fluid and flexible, and are mostly done using basic subtractive synthesis. sequencing is my thing, and it is very difficult to map out as there are many feedback loops involved, for instance one trigger in a sequence may restart another sequence which may in turn reverse the direction of the first sequence etc. etc.. its not easy to draw out
Thanks again for responding, Maestro Steevio. I did indeed mean that we seek a little guide/map to your sequencing method, if you have the time and the inclination.
Amazing , thank you very much.
Great work!
Awesome!! You're teaching Modular Masterclass here. May I ask you to explain how you are directing the Doepfer 154 with ADSRs? You have been touching the topic on a forum. Thank you.
thanks Tom, the A154 has CV inputs for direction, first step, last step etc. so for instance if you send a simple trigger from a clock divider to an Adsr, then output the Adsr to any (or more than one) CV input on the A154, you can control the A155 sequence with the shape of the Adsr. example say the Adsr goes to the last step and the direction, the attack phase of the Adsr could gradually shorten the sequence in forward mode then the decay phase could lengthen the sequence in reverse mode. etc etc.. you can get some crazy sequences running from simple Adsr shapes and altering the Adsr will change the sequence. There are almost unlimited possibilities from a simple 8 step sequencer. The intention from my point of view is to get as far away from obvious linear sequences, on a regular timeline.
Sounds tempting! Will dive in immediately. You split the pamela clocks for shuffle - one straight, the other alternating to get 16th. Did you just shift one phase to 50, or use the 'delay' option? Thanks for inspiring!!
this is so good. love that swing on the drums
rocking mate
man ...this is the best music what i heard since a long time...
Seriously reminded me to checkup on my VCV rack installation, nice work.
Hey Steevio, big fan of your music for nearly 10 years now. I've been building a modular rack based largely on your ideas and forum posts. This video cleared up most of my lingering questions - thanks for that! One thing I still don't understand is where you put the Quantizers - before or after the Precision Adders? In either case it seems like you would need a number of them.
Hi mate, thanks for the props ! you can put them before or after but i have them after, it gives you more options to mix scales etc.. I dont tend to use scales often, i most work chromatically and somethings harmonically, but there's more flexibility that way and you can do it with less quantizers..
Fantastic. One question: when the trigger comes out of the sequential switch to, for example, the snare sound - does that trigger just trigger the snare directly, or is it triggering another sequencer which is triggering the snare? I hear more than one snare sound for each trigger coming out of the sequential switch, but I can tell if that's just a delay or a sequence. Thanks.
Hi Chris, thanks man. In this patch both sequential switches are sending triggers to the snare which are mixed in a mixer before triggering the snare. so the bass, Moog, hi perc and low perc patterns are all interacting to create the snare pattern.
Thanks. That is an incredibly smart system you have created.
Most flexible groove machine ever seen!
I have a (maybe annoying) question for you: could you please explain more precisely the routing of the 8 triggers and 4 cv sequences sent by the two a-155? I would like to understand the path followed by the signals in all those switches/adder/matrix. For example: I've seen that you send the first line of triggers of the first a-155 (together with the first and second line of the second a-155?) to a manual switch that can send it to an ENVELOPE->VCAVCA
thanks Jacopo. OK so switching upward on any of the triggers on the two A155s (they have been configured as gates not triggers actually) will go to one switched multiple which is designated as percussion gates, and switching downwards will send the gates to a different Switched multiple designated as bass and Moog gates (but of course this can be changed at any time, its just how its configured for this patch and I usually work with a configuration for a while until I feel like a change) The percussion switched multiple is effectively a matrix to pass the gates onwards to EGs and also to triggers or clocks on other smaller sequencers, in this case the 2 A151s. Its a bit complicated to explain here easily I'm afraid, but imagaine that a trigger(gate) can be used to trigger an EG or move another sequencer forward or send a gate into it to be distributed elsewhere, this way all the triggers on the two sequencers can interact in lots of different ways, so for instance any bass gate might create a bass note but at the same time move the sequential switch (A151)forward one step, at the same time any perc gate might create a tom hit, but also be a trigger input on the same A151 and be distributed to something else like in this case a snare, but it be used to do anything like maybe stop the other sequencer, or reverse itself by triggering an envelope which inputs into the direction CV input on the A154. etc etc.. it goes on forever what you could do. just focussing on this particular configuration doesnt really explain the potential. The adders are another thing altogteher, they are just being used to create note sequencers/melodies from the CV outputs on the two A155s, and are only basically related to the triggers/gates. So I may use the CVs from one A155 as the note CVs on another, or a mixture of the two etc etc.. its infinite.
Thank you so much Steevio, I have understood something more. Your approach to the modular is absolutely inspiring!
I've got another question... when you say "adding some offsets" and you use the last switched multiples on the right, what is happening? That is the tricky thing! It add a real swing to the track, but I really don't understand how... Thanks in advance steevio, I don't know how many times I've seen this video, even if it is "only" a patch is soooo instructive!
can you tell me where in the video I said that ? sorry I dont want to have to watch it all again haha ! I dont remember saying that. The switched multiple on the right is for hi-hats/shakers etc.. it distributes the output from the A152 addressed switch above it to a second switched mulitple (to its left, but wired internally) to send to whatever hi-percussion required. its to create rhythms and distribute them to different places, its like a mini sequencer. the right hand one is for the sequence, the one to its left is for distribution.
Precisely at 8:00, but you actually say "adding an offbeat"...
your patch is a maze, I deeply love it!
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge Steevio, I appreciate it a lot.
What kind of tool are you using for tuning the oscillators?
+David Röttger thank you.
i'm not sure what you mean about tuning the oscillators ? they have their own tuning controls. Some of them have frequency readouts, so i tune them first and then the others by ear in tune with them. I do have a boss guitar tuner on an auxilliary on the mixer if i need to check things, but its mostly by ear.
This is incredible man! Really digging it!
Thanks man !
Very nicely set up system. Just great!
thanks mate!
thanks for this, i learnt a lot,
Yup. Mind blown.