|
|
Post by spacedog on Apr 28, 2019 21:41:44 GMT
OK, so I'm really intrigued and confused in equal measures.
There are a few choices in the DIY world of audio at the moment and they all look exciting and I could easily spend all of my time playing with them, probably to the detriment of actually making (what I call) music 
A while ago I bought some PatchBlocks and they looked interesting and there was a reasonable community. That appears to have been a mistake as the company rapidly moved away from those products, and their graphical programming language, to make what were like mini-Volcas. Then they moved away from those, sold out and left everyone adrift with a stub of a website and a lot of patches that don't seem to work because of the poor version control on the software.
Well, that's how I see it.
So, I do have a useful few of the blocks that can do some basic things, but I wouldn't really call it professional audio. It's more of a diversion than a real tool, in my opinion.
Now, I see all of these really interesting propositions, such as Bela and the Axoloti for starters, and I would really like to dip my toe into the waters, but I don't honestly want to develop a lot of code. I would be willing to do some coding (or programming as it used to be called when I was a youngster paddling in the waters of Z80 and 68000 machine code, sometimes via Assembly Language) and I can still know which end of a soldering iron to hold, but I am really wanting an extension to my setup that will offer some new possibilities. This includes the AE Modular, of course.
My idea for this thread was to generate some opinions on what has worked for some of us (and why) and what hasn't worked (and why). I've come really close to buying some of these items and I'd just like to hear some thoughts. I've seen the good things via YouTube, but these are success stories.
My hope is that this thread can sit here and accumulate thoughts, opinions and interfacing success stories as the AE Modular develops, with break-outs to further great examples such as those from thetechnobear and NightMachines, both of whom have me inspired. |
|
|
|
Post by NightMachines on Apr 29, 2019 5:10:33 GMT
The Axoloti has been my go to platform for several years, when I wanted to try out synth or sequencer ideas quickly. www.axoloti.comThe visual, modular-synth-like, software editor does not require any coding at all (although you may code if you like) and the Core DSP board offers pretty much anything you’d wish for when it comes to features and connectivity (DIN MIDI, USB MIDI, USB MIDI Host, DC-coupled stereo audio in & out, soldering pads, microSD slot, 9V and USB power, LEDs, buttons, etc.). The community is active (thanks a lot to thetechnobear ) and there are lots of examples to get you started. Due to its MIDI capabilities you don’t even need to solder, you can just connect any controller and map its knobs and buttons to software features you put together. So prototyping ideas is super quick and easy. Things I’ve built: - LED light & sound synth and sequencer - Contact mic synth incl. an audio looper delay - Complete performance drum sequencer and sample player - Various stand-alone synths, noise boxes and effects - MIDI and audio effect sequencers for MicroGranny 2 and Elektron Octatrack I’ll gather some example media later |
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on Apr 29, 2019 8:13:13 GMT
The Axoloti has been my go to platform for several years, when I wanted to try out synth or sequencer ideas quickly. www.axoloti.comThe visual, modular-synth-like, software editor does not require any coding at all (although you may code if you like) and the Core DSP board offers pretty much anything you’d wish for when it comes to features and connectivity (DIN MIDI, USB MIDI, USB MIDI Host, DC-coupled stereo audio in & out, soldering pads, microSD slot, 9V and USB power, LEDs, buttons, etc.). The community is active (thanks a lot to thetechnobear ) and there are lots of examples to get you started. Due to its MIDI capabilities you don’t even need to solder, you can just connect any controller and map its knobs and buttons to software features you put together. So prototyping ideas is super quick and easy. Things I’ve built: - LED light & sound synth and sequencer - Contact mic synth incl. an audio looper delay - Complete performance drum sequencer and sample player - Various stand-alone synths, noise boxes and effects - MIDI and audio effect sequencers for MicroGranny 2 and Elektron Octatrack I’ll gather some example media later Many thanks, NightMachines. The Axoloti did appeal, especially as I really enjoyed using my Nord Modular as a development tool (I still have it, although it's been boxed for a while), sharing ideas with a bandmember and then being able to take them to rehearsals and gigs and hook them together as a monster sequencing machine. He was (and still is) also an ace sound designer, so I learned a huge amount by examing his patches in detail. As an aside, I did spot that he still uses his Nord, athough it is in asscociation with both his Fenix and Dot Com modulars - and I know he's just bought a Moog Grandmother as well as we're in touch to start collaborating again. I'm looking forward to showing him what my little AE Modular can do The PatchBlocks did rather sour my spirit of adventure, not only as it ended so poorly, but also because it was always quite clunky to use. It was awkward to mount and then the software went through many revisions with patches made in old versions just not working. The idea of building blocks didn't really work that well, something I see the Axoloti appears to do well. You had to buy different modules to build a working system - which does present a lower price barrier to entry, it does mean that you were paying a reasonable amount for a simple system. I still think about digging it back out just for the idea of producing CVs, but then I may as well invest my time in something new (like the Axolti) and consign the PatchBlocks to storage. I'm sure I'm not alone in being on the brink of jumping in, so your thoughts are helpful. So, browsing the Axolti website and YouTube, as I have been for quite a while now, is proving persuasive. I should just dive in and get wet...  |
|
|
|
Post by thetechnobear on Apr 29, 2019 13:11:42 GMT
indeed we are spoilt for choice each has it advantages and disadvantages... a few important decisions: - does it have to be in (and powered by) the AE case - as space is very short in AE  or can it sit outside? - do you want CV in/out? or are you happy with midi and audio? - what software, visual programming or a mix? from there... arduino (etc), it tends to be low level coding, but advantage is its tiny, so fits in AE case, uses little power, there are some 5v variants. axoloti is cool, because its simple to program, lots of examples - but you can also get low level if you wish. its also a microcontroller, so is also low in power consumption BUT the board is just a little too big to fit in the AE case. also its GPIO is 3.3v, so you need to scale up/down voltages - not hard, but extra work. has both midi host and device , and midi din … so really good in that area. bela comes in two forms: bela mini - is just about (=not quite ) small enough to put in case, but draws a lot of power, so I had a lot of fun making sure it didn't create noise on the power bus. has 5v tolerant cv in, but not cv output , but you could add with a codec. (similar to what I did with ardcore) full fat bela - too big for ae case, and again draws a fair amount of power - so ideally its a small box outside the case... has cv in and out that is 5v tolerant so can be connect directly to ae modular both are microcomputers running a real time Linux - so you can run PD (visual programming), supercollider or whatever (there are other things, but these are probably the main contenders due to IO e.g. you can use a rPI, but you'd have to add your own analog IO) conclusion? depends what you want really, and how much time you want to spend on it... I think axoloti is cool - assuming your not doing heavy lifting dsp, where bela would be better. bela is a little quicker if you CV I/O is really important, and you want to keep the electronic diy to a minimum. whatever you choose, theres lots of opportunities, and really what you get out will largely depend how much energy you put into it. (imho) have fun |
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on Apr 29, 2019 13:49:00 GMT
Thanks both NightMachines and thetechnobear , helpful words and thoughts. I decided to roll my trousers up and I bought an Axoloti. Now, that doesn't mean that I won't buy other things later , but for now that looks like it could provide fun and quality output... and a little adventure as well as I splash about in the shallow end. Thanks again. I believe that the words from both of you (and maybe others still to come) will help those undedcided to jump in as well. Update (one hour later): I got bored waiting, after all I ordered it an hour ago, shouldn't it be arriving by drone by now...? So, I installed the software and had a play and the patch builder is just like having my old Nord Modular software back. It took an age to load on my old gas-powered laptop and I did worry, but it got there in the end and it gave me a chance to make some coffee. Now I really do just have to wait for the hardware to arrive and let the fun begin |
|
|
|
Post by NightMachines on Apr 30, 2019 5:53:00 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on Apr 30, 2019 12:07:00 GMT
Wow, thanks, NightMachines. I appreciate the effort to put that post together. There was plenty to feast upon there and you have completely whetted my appetite for the arrival of my Axoloti now. My partner was very disappointed as she thought I was buying an Axolotyl for our big fish tank when I sent her the link - the picture is right, anyway. It was also interesting to see the Akai MIDIMix in action. I do have a spare Korg NanoKontrol2 in one of my storage cases that I use sometimes for mixing in Reaper, so that may get some use. Also, thinking about my somewhat crowded music area, I may have to sort out some insulated covers quite quickly as I can see myself shorting out the board as I shuffle things around. I deliberately separate my "creation" area (synths, effects, etc.) from my "recording and processing" area (laptop, audio interface, DAW, etc.), so this will need to move between the two areas I think. Usually, the only link between the two is a stereo output from my mixer so that I can be live on my "creation" side. The urge to experiment is rising fast within me, and I have a load of contact mics that I bought incredibly cheaply that I started to play with as well... I've already tried pouring water into a glass for that "Aqua" sound, and trying to capture the wind moving things outside my window). Before you know it I'll be making videos as well... I had considered it, but that is for much later, I feel |
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on May 1, 2019 8:28:29 GMT
As if by magic, an excellent video appeared on YouTube by NightMachines that covered, amongst other things, his Axoloti experiences in 2017. This video can only be described as total "snazz", so I've copied it here. As I've said before, these Synth Story videos are a must watch, although I know a lot of you already subscribe. Enjoy, if you haven't already. |
|
|
|
Post by NightMachines on May 2, 2019 6:20:42 GMT
Haha, yes, the timing of your post and the video was spot on Regarding enclosures, here is a vector file by another Axoloti user: community.axoloti.com/t/anyone-planning-to-make-and-sell-an-enclosure/140/24I’ve used a modified version of this for my above MicroGranny 2 sequencer. There are a bunch of online services or fab labs(?) that let you upload a vector graphic, which they will laser cut from acrylic then for a fee. |
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on May 7, 2019 9:05:37 GMT
Thanks both NightMachines and thetechnobear , helpful words and thoughts. I decided to roll my trousers up and I bought an Axoloti. Now, that doesn't mean that I won't buy other things later , but for now that looks like it could provide fun and quality output... and a little adventure as well as I splash about in the shallow end. Thanks again. I believe that the words from both of you (and maybe others still to come) will help those undedcided to jump in as well. Update (one hour later): I got bored waiting, after all I ordered it an hour ago, shouldn't it be arriving by drone by now...? So, I installed the software and had a play and the patch builder is just like having my old Nord Modular software back. It took an age to load on my old gas-powered laptop and I did worry, but it got there in the end and it gave me a chance to make some coffee. Now I really do just have to wait for the hardware to arrive and let the fun begin My little Axoloti arrived. I think it would have taken only a week, but we had a Bank Holiday yesterday in the UK, so no deliveries. That's good service. I am really going to have to make a case for it quickly, it is quite raw as delivered - I'm thinking two pieces of perspex with some spacers, just whilst I think about what I will do with it. I've already had requests to know how it sounds from ex-Band Members, who are eager to hear it in action. From looking at the on-line videos, these things do a LOT, so it's down to me now really. Damn, no excuses. |
|
|
|
Post by NightMachines on May 9, 2019 5:02:08 GMT
What helped me to get started, was to limit myself to using the stock modules only for a while. There are so many community-made ones available and opening that long list can be daunting. I did not know where to begin at first. I also use the search field to find a module with a specific feature most of the time. Oh, and a VCA is a multiplication module (x * y). I was searching for “VCA” and got nothing and was stumped for a while until I figured that out. Might be obvious though, but it wasn’t for me at first  |
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on May 11, 2019 18:11:07 GMT
What helped me to get started, was to limit myself to using the stock modules only for a while. There are so many community-made ones available and opening that long list can be daunting. I did not know where to begin at first. I also use the search field to find a module with a specific feature most of the time. Oh, and a VCA is a multiplication module (x * y). I was searching for “VCA” and got nothing and was stumped for a while until I figured that out. Might be obvious though, but it wasn’t for me at first Thanks, NightMachines. Having wandered through the community modules, my mind popped. I have now made a quick 'n' dirty drone machine to learn a bit about it.
To make up for missing SUPERBOOTH, I spent some time making a very simple enclosure. Works well and it's sitting on the "digital" side of my little studio being programmed. When I use it as an instrument, it will get transferred across to the "analogue" side (I know it's not, but humour me).
Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by NightMachines on May 11, 2019 18:48:24 GMT
Sweet! Let's hear that drone machine =)
|
|
or can it sit outside?
