March 2024

March was another busy month with a lot of development work for modules which I am hoping to show off at Superbooth, which isn't that far away anymore! Currently I'm working on the the following modules:

μOSC: This is an oscillator module in the micromodule form factor; and although it has only two knobs and one button, it's quite powerful! The list of features:

• A LOT of waveforms: sawtooth, multi-sawtooth with three detuned sawtooth signals (fat!), square with adjustable pulse width and maybe an additional square-based waveform, triangle, sine wave, and three wavetables with sixteen waveforms each and with smooth transition between the waveforms
• Suboctave output for all waveforms
• Mix of main waveform and suboctave
• Switch to shift the octave range by 2 octaves
• IMDI input, to control the module via IMDI, the new internal MIDI connection; via this input, the module can be played via MIDI notes, it can learn MIDI controllers to control shape and pitch bend range, and basic waveform via program change
• ...and of course a 1V/octave CV input and CV for the wave shape :-)

Here is a short video which demonstrates the different waveforms and sounds of this little powerhouse:

IMDI MAIN: This module is at the core for the new internal MIDI system which we are calling "IMDI". The development has progressed nicely. The module will do the following:

• It receives MIDI signals, either via the TRS-MIDI input or via USB-Socket (the module appears as a "class-compliant MIDI device" on your computer and in your DAW) and splits the signal to up to 16 outputs. 
• Each output will provide the MIDI data of one or more specific MIDI channels and of a selectable note range; everything is configurable via a menu. 
• Additionally, MIDI real time data (start / stop / clock) is provided on additional outputs, the MIDI clock (96th) can be divided to other measures like 1/32, 1/16 and so on. 
• This module is based on the mb/1 module from wonkystuff (thanks a lot, John!), but extends the original with added output configuration, LED indicators for the outputs  and USB-MIDI input.

μIMDIPROC: This module acts as a flexible processor for IMDI signals; things like velocity processing, note filtering, quantization, note delay, MIDI/IMDI merge and a lot of crazy effects for MIDI data can be done! Still in a quite early development phase, but hopefully we will have a prototype to show at Superbooth in May. If you have suggestions / wishes for processing MIDI data, please let us know.

μIMDIBUF: For more complex setups where there are several IMDI related modules involved, this module acts as a signal buffer / multiplier, similar to a MIDI thru box.

​Music from the Community

Klip by tIB - tIB is back with a cool experimental album which brings together a few classics: Buchla, Serge, Emu and of course AE Modular! Check it out:
https://therapyinterferingbehaviour.bandcamp.com/album/klip 

Rays by Black Warrior Lures - Apparently there was time to compose before the fishing season started ;-) And out came this intricate puzzle of an album. If this is too busy at first, then just close your eyes … it will make sense once you slow down.
https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/rays 

FOLSOM by pt3r - patching out of his comfort zone, this album contains sounds produced by experimental circuitry via the Breadboard module among others. Check it out:
https://deofol.bandcamp.com/album/folsom

"Die Abenteuer des Professor Adalwolf Nudelhaupt" by Aditi - This is an intricate and exciting composition written for a string ensemble piano and AE modular! Check it out:
https://aditivienna.bandcamp.com/album/die-abenteuer-des-professor-adalwolf-nudelhaupt ​

VCASE-7 Live at Emom by Namke - Taking a few Wonkystuff modules in a super tiny VCASE-7 and playing a live set at the local EMOM … It's brave, for sure, but the result is also quite beautiful. Check it out:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/3084/vcase-7-live-emom 

​AEM and Volca Modular experiments by saltatempo - the Korg Volca Modular is the ideal companion to the AE modular especially when using the VMBRIDGE module to let the two systems interact with each other. Here are some interesting experiments:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/3075/brothers-volca-modular-castor-pollux  

Cloudy Sky by Running In - Check out this lovely ambient track which combines the Neutron, Eurorack modules (Clouds) with AE Modular (Cirrus and TBD).

Day in the life of a Fishing Tackle Designer … by Black Warrior Lures - This is another beautiful documentary style video by the multi-talent fisherman, tackle designer, jazz composer and videographer. ​

The Elephant and the Lagoon by Maydonpoliris - Follow the elephant as it wanders along the lagoon in this slow tempo groove with cool sounds all throughout. A real treat:

​Dragged Across by 101 - Listen to this bombastic sound scape which hides so many intricate little sounds among the main sequence:

​DIY

LED Strip Module

Apparently this module is progressing in spite of a few minor setbacks. You can follow the progress on the forum: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1810/led-strip-module?page=2
And see a prototype in action in this video:

​Meetings and Events

Zoom AE Meetup

We had a really nice March meetup on the 26th which was in the middle of the week for the first time! We talked a lot about the upcoming 1-wire MIDI standard (called IMDI) and the kind of modules which will be possible with this (see above for the first tranche of these). Overall the topics were quite technical, but it's not always like that. If you have a special topic you would like to discuss, or even something to present, then please contact Carsten aka The 5th Volt aka @admin via the forum.

Next meetup is on Sunday 28th April with more information on the forum closer to the date: 
https://forum.aemodular.com/board/29/online-meetups 

SUPERBOOTH 2024, 16-18 May 2024 in Berlin, Germany

This important event is fast approaching and it's still time to buy tickets online! This year we will host our own "SupAEbooth" inside Superbooth as we will share a big table with the 3rd party manufacturers: Wonkystuff, Kyaa, Keurslager Kurt and M4vrick! Please come and see us when you're around, it will be a fantastic event! You can find us in the great hall all the way through the left hallway right at the entrance!​