New Modular Bits - an early Christmas!

I posted some images of new EndCheek designs on the MW forum last month (here)

The parts have now come back from the metal work shop and look fantastic!
(great thanks to Steve Bell at PEM Sheetmetal - they do all my metal work and are great to work with)

My new personal 4FrameBomber setup (click any image for HiRes):

There are a few new & prototype modules hidden within there.

The modules are (from top left):

2 x SYN2A rev1 XR09VCO // 3 x SYN2A rev2 Utility VCO // E350 Morphing Terrarium // DD1 rev2 Modulator / LPG // 2 x PRC3A rev1 SV Filter // UTL1 Dual Preamp (rev2 which doesn't work properly! to be replaced!)

SYN1 Weevil beta (really early one) // 2 x ENV1 rev1 Attack Decay // ENV1 rev2 Attack Decay // 2 x DD2 rev2 LFO/DCMixer // PRC2 BugCrusher // UTL3 Dual VCA // PRC4 Dual LPG // DD3 VCA/Drive Beta

SYN3 Digital Shift Prototype //. CLK2A Divisions // CLK2B Binary Division // CLK3A Triple Logic // CTL3 8 Stage Preset Proto // 2 x PRC1 PT Delay // UTL5 Fade/Pan Beta

CTL2 rev2 Joystick/Touch // CTL1 rev2 Touch Panel // UTL4 Dual DC Mixer // UTL2C Matrix Mixer // UTL2 Output Mix // UTL2B Outputs

At the same time I received some 'Boot' style EndCheeks too in 3 and 4 Frame sizes:

Some of the EndCheeks were powdercoated in Blue Leatherette finish:

And to finish up here's a pic. of a BugModular user's update setup newly updated:

First views of the new MicroCrusher

Coming along shortly:::

This is pretty similar to the old version MicroCrusher

SynthTech E350 in BugBrand Banana Frac

Making use of the E350 Morphing Terrarium kits from Synthesis Technology, I've made my own BugModular version with a few additions to the standard Euro module - inclusion of Mod-depth controls for X/Y/Z inputs and switches for the two option jumpers on the module rear (for Interpolation and Phase Mode).

It is great to have the wonderful power & sonics of the E350 in my system!

BugTester - Audio from RAdams

One of the new 1Frame users just sent me a link to a collage of sounds he'd made since receiving the initial setup of 8 modules - I'm pretty amazed at how he's coaxed such a varied range of sounds out of such a small setup.

Here's the SoundCloud player for it::::

BugTester 1 by radams

EDIT: & here's another one but more rhythmic! Really great again:::

Bugbrand Rhythm Patches by radams

Check my repository of BugModularNoodles

A place to store that which I play::::

http://virb.com/bugbrand

Since I never get the chance to 'record properly' any more, but I quite often record my playings with the BugModular, I wanted a place to store recordings that was super easy to use. So I chose Virb and have been uploading bits over the last month.

Have a listen!

What you'll hear is almost entirely:
- just BugModular
- recorded in one take, no preparation, in Mono and with minimal edits

There are a few bits that creep in with some quantizers and I've recently been hooking up a keyboard for Midi to CV -- but the vast majority of the tuning and rhythm is simply created with the modules and fine tweaking.

Granted, they're rough'n'ready, warts'n'all, but I hope this gives some idea of the sounds and flows of the BugModular and how I play the system.

BugModular - Standard Racks

Newly updated::: Rack Frames and Endcheeks.

Details are now given on the BugBrand Modular Accessories page for four standard setups - 19" RackMount and three desktop setups. No, they're not 'generally' available yet... (more info soon via the Modular Mailing List)

The racks have been redesigned from last year's work - now they're fabricated in 1.5mm aluminium so that they're not as heavy (good for shipping). The new EndCheek options allow very easy assembly and give really stable results - EndCheeks are plain 3mm alu for the RackMount and 4mm alu for the desktop setups.

As an initial proof-of-concept, racks can also be joined together to form larger units with a single EndCheek in a mid position:

Here are a couple of pics of my new personal setup in 3Rack-Desktop::

Some Modular MP3s

Has it been a while since I posted some audio?

Jan2010 - CLK2A plus PRC3
A couple of VCOs with rhtyhmics generated by the CLK2A Division.
After a while I turned up the resonance on the PRC3 VCFilters and it went all swirly.

Feb2010 - SYN2A Wobble
Demoing a pair of the new SYN2A VCOs -- but does it give a clear picture? Not particularly...!

Feb2010 - SYN2A Straight Sounds
This gives a better idea of the pure SYN2A sounds -- pure outputs with FM modulation from another VCO.

Feb2010 - More SYN2A and the wrong-proto CTL3
Something tuneful (quite) again using the new SYN2As but also with pitching from a proto CTL3 8-stage-preset module which needs some more TLC before proper announcement. This is driven by divisions from CLK2A modules. I let the recording run on into .......... plinks etc. from PRC3 VCFs.

And a couple which I can't remember much about - they must have been recorded Nov2009 and Jan2010 or there-abouts.. Kind of elongated, warts and all.. Some FM sounds in the Nov one for sure::
Sometime November
Sometime January

[[all are in mp3 format - downloadable if you wish // recorded with mic near pretty basic speaker setups driven straight from the 2rack porta-case // minimal or no edits!]]

BugModular - rev2 Updates

As shown in the recent CLK2A Divisions post, I've been taking on some new techniques for Modular production. Along with the move towards Surface Mount I've also sourced special potentiometers for the new designs. I'd been wanting a vertically mounted type, but nothing quite fitted my requirements, so....



The module designs from last year will gradually be updated to incorporate these changes - and there may be some alterations along the way..

For example, the update of the SYN2A changes name to the Utility VCO and replaces the sine wave with a new ramp(ish) wave with waveshaping (same control as for PWM). See below for scope shots of the ramp wave shaping - note that the waves at either end are 'squished' to maintain the standard 10v p-to-p waveforms - still sounds great!

Waveshape dial anti-clockwise

Waveshape dial middle - gives double-freq ramp

Waveshape dial fully clockwise - gives out of phase ramp

The UTL4 Dual DC Mixer has also undergone an update (no real changes to the previous version):

These modules aren't available for sale just yet, but it won't be too long - and there's more updates coming. Stay tuned!

New BugModular format? -- CAKE!

Even better than last year!
Liquorice knobs, strawberry rope patch cables and lots of fondant icing.
[I probably should have repatched before taking the pics..]

Based on this setup from last year:

CLK2A - Divisive Video

I did a YouTube run-through of the new CLK2A

CLK2A - Divisions

Introducing the new CLK2A Division module. This is the first of a range of CLK Clocking modules - yes, it does seem strange to start with CLK2A but that's because CLK1 will be some form of 'Master' VC-Clock and there should be a CLK2B with binary divisions.

This show-cases two new setups:

1. The Clocking 'Bus' - internal connections are made between CLK Clocking modules allowing 'Master' controls of Clock and Reset (eg. with CLK1 VC-Clock as Master)
2. SMD (Surface Mount) construction - in a bid to make designs easier to fabricate many parts are being moved to surface mount and thus eliminating hand-wiring. New banana sockets now securely fix the front-panel to the two parallel-mounted PCBs and the result is an incredibly compact module. (this also, for now at least, rules out the possibility of mini-jack modules -- a whole new PCB footprint would be required)
   

[Not shown in the images above: - one IC has vanished from the 2nd picture (?!!) and mounting pillars are not fitted to join the PCBs together -- these are initial Proto pics!]