ModWiggler Odd Meter Remix Challenge

I'm no stranger to participate to some Internet forum challenges or contests.  Some of them are being illustrated in this very blog.  I participated in about ten One Synth Challenge sessions, some other KVR contests and more than my share of Audiofanzine contests.  Lots of these can be found in this Soundcloud playlist.

But this was different.

Some admins from the site ModWiggler decided to have a contest between them to create an odd meter track.  The challenge here was be to ‘remix’, or ‘re-mangle’, or ‘reimagine’ the winning track (whatever that means) and use at least two of the provided multitrack files in some sort of manner. 

The principle gear used must be modular or semi-modular and patchable with pins or cables. 

It was fun and I learned a lot. I had to do things I was not used to. Performing a track and not arranging clips in my DAW being one of them.

Synthesizer in action with both sequencers

Mixing section with the old synth suitcase

I assembled and looped the two files I selected on a computer and kept them in synch with the sequencers as best as I could.  They can be heard untreated at least once.

I really stretched myself here. Literally, as I brought another table to support the mixer and my old synth suitcase.
I went out of 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapters.
I used modules that I previously stored because they couldn't fit in my main rack.
I allowed myself to have the kick drum out of modular but I used an analog mono synth anyway : a Novation Circuit Mono Station.

 

 

My main concern was sequencing. I do not own a lot of sequencing capacities. I used my Korg SQ-1 as well as the main sequencer and the third auxiliary sequencer on the Mono Station. The later has the possibility to directly output control voltage and gates signal to a modular synthesizer.

Anyway, I'm not used to use only the modular and to mix outside the box. For the sake of the challenge, I refrained from arranging and mixing in my DAW, so the mixing took place inside my good old Berhinger MX802. It's written 'eurorack' on the faceplate, so that counts I guess.  

Only treatments in DAW are a bit of EQ, compressors and a limiter.
To be fair and accurate, I did a little copy-paste to correct a technical issue at the end. The issue is present somewhere else on the track but it was too loud and clear on the ending.

So enjoy :

gen-xtargetmarket · RRC116

Full documented patch :

Facing the Tides

 Tides was the new module I slipped in the new case.

Tides unboxed

Now that I have more space in my case, I reckon I can accommodate another Mutable Instruments module.
Some might argue that this was the main reason to get the new case in the first place.

Cause or effect ?  Whatever.
 

The Mutable Instruments modules in the rack.  Tides on top.

Mutable Instruments Tides checked a lot of boxes.  

I felt I needed more modulations.
Tides is a LFO and an envelope generator at the same time.  Waveform parameters like shape, smoothness and slope are modifiable via control votage.  So there are a lot of waveforms available.  The module accepts an external clock as well.
It has multiple outputs and, depending on the mode, they are either different shapes, different amplitudes, different times or different frequencies.
Frequency range can go up into audio range, making this my third VCO.

In action

 

In the following piece, Tides plays the role of LFO, envelope generator and oscillator.  I have displayed the patches to demonstrate how it is done. 

Jay F. · Facing the Tides

The first part is a four-track drone. Each animated by a dedicated LFO from Tides in « different frequencies » mode.  Lots of effects (from Reason rack) added in the DAW (Reaper) as well.
Then two « bass » tracks played with the Korg SQ-1.  Tides is now the VCO.  Same patch, different settings.  The variations are either the Ripples filter frequency or the shape and smoothness parameters from Tides.  These have a dramatic effect on the sound obviously.
Finally, Tides serve as one of the Attack-Decay envelope from the drum part.

A bit of cut-paste in a sequencer and voilà …

The patches...

The four-part drone waves :

Drone

 The basses :

Bass

The drums : kick, snare, hihat :

Drums

HiHat