This blog is now more than 7 years old. The case is now complete.  It’s time to look where we stand and have a bit of retrospective. It’s been three years now since I bought the Tiptop Mantis case to host my modular synthesizer.  A fine decision.  It is a nice case with a good power supply with plenty of room. Here is the current situation with what’s what.   This post is the 54th. The blog has now close to 78000 views.    Along those years, Bob was always there to help me with the Do-It-Yourself aspects. Thanks Bob.           Some ..read more

To close the 4HP gap at the bottom left of my stynth case, I added the last module to the synthesizer : an input module. It is modeled along the lines of Music Thing Modular Mikrophonie and Mutable Instruments Ears. Input module One input, an amplifier and an envelope follower for good measure. The design is based on the original schematic for Ears from Emilie Gillet.  I kept the input gain stage. Due to space constraints, I had to simplify the envelope follower. I’m still doing pass through breadboard here, so this is not dense enough to have the same features as a full fledge ..read more

I haven't mentioned it on this blog yet: I bought a second-hand Beatstep Pro from Arturia. Beatstep Pro Beatstep Pro is a triple sequencer: two melody sequencers and a dedicated drum sequencer. It has MIDI and USB inputs and outputs, but above all CV/gate/modulation and trigger outputs, which are useful for driving a modular synthesiser. My now-ancient Korg SQ-1 pales in comparison. The Beatstep Pro can be used as the master sequencer in my setup. This machine is cool, very playable and goes perfectly with a modular synth. Not much else to say about it. Synth setup Here's ..read more

This Random module, with its noise generators and sample&hold, is one of the first modules I made in 2017.  It's based on a design by Yves Usson for his Yusynth. For some time, I had been under the impression that the output of the sample&hold had no influence on the modulations I assigned it to. After some investigation, it appears that the input jack is at fault.  This jack has a switch so that if no plug is connected then the internal noise feeds the sample&hold. When a plug is connected, it opens the switch and the input signal feeds the sample&hold function. &nb ..read more

Percall is a percussive oriented module that will shape four different sound sources into percussive sounds. Percall has four VCAs with dedicated decay envelopes and a mixer so that you can prepare a percussion submix.  (Source : befaco.org) Freshly finished As soon as Befaco introduced this module about 2 years ago, I wanted to have one. However, at the time, available space in the suitcase and other priorities forced me to hold off. Using my need for a new VCO and my choice of the Pony VCO, I upped my order to Befaco with a Percall kit. This kit is qualified as "high grade ..read more

Befaco Pony VCO I decided to replace my two Mammouth Boutique modules with two new Befaco kits. The wooden front panels are very cool, but they contrast a bit with the rest.  Besides, if the modules are okay, I wanted something else. After much hesitation, I decided to replace the oscillator with the new Pony VCO from Befaco. The other alternatives were two completely different modules: Make Noise STO and Klavis Twin Waves. One for its clean sound and simplicity, the other for its possibilities. In the end, the Pony VCO was chosen for its size (only 4 HP) vs its possibilities. A ..read more

At the end of 2022, I took part in a giveaway organised by Thonk, an online shop for modular synthesizer products. The goal was to raise money for a charity for Pakistan. The prize was a Plinky, an out of the ordinary synthesizer with a very peculiar interface. Thonk also had the good idea to include 2 modules from Music Thing Modular. I was lucky to be among the 4 people who won this giveaway. And I am now the proud owner of these two modules: Startup and Twin Drive. Unboxed Startup includes a clock generator in the upper part, with a tap tempo and a split control. The lower part is ..read more

I bought this module kit from Mammouth Boutique before the shop closed. So it's been a while. I finally put some time into it at the end of 2022 to start building it. Finished Avalanche   The kit Avalanche is a rather imposing module with 42 HP (21 cm long). It consists of 8 oscillators with a filter, an envelope generator, an internal clock, a sample&hold and an effect processor.  The latter is based on an FV-1 SMD chip and is pre-soldered onto the board. It's semi-modular, so you don't need any cable to produce a sound. But you can take advantage of the rand ..read more

The curtain has fallen.  Since December 2022, Mutable Instruments has ceased its activities. It had been a while since Emilie had announced that she was stopping. No one is taken in by surprise. As stocks are running out, I found this last module second hand. MI Veils 2020 I enjoyed the previous version of this quadruple VCA.  The 2020 version offers the same features in a smaller footprint and a nice look. I've fallen for it. This will probably be my last Mutable Instruments module. Thanks for everything Emilie ..read more

Here is a short sample of what you can do with Ornament & Crime (OCP) module. I know, I was not very prolific producing music these past months. Here goes. Jay F. · Some Drums Some Bass   OCP euclidian rhythm params This five-track piece was recorded on a single session.  No detailed patch today but a light description with the links to the modules I used. Ornament & Crime with the Pique application generates the three envelopes for the drums using the included euclidian rhythm patterns.  Kick is Ripples filter pinged and modulated by OCP envelope number 1. Lig ..read more