October 2019 - With a little help ...

Dear AE modular Community,

After all the ups and downs of the last few months, October feels like things are finally getting settled again. My health is now back to normal, and with my new helper I am getting on top of the production and will hopefully start to ship systems out much earlier than before. I really feel ashamed that some of you had to wait for over 2 months to get your system! It is now my main focus to bring this wait time down to a more acceptable time frame!

Upcoming Module Releases

The following modules were planned for release last month, but I just couldn’t find the time. But now they are finally ready and available in the shop immediately

• SLEW/EDGE - this is a combination of slew limiter and detection of rising/falling edges of CV's. You can now purchase it in the store.
• MM-DIVIDER - a multi mode clock divider with various different algorithms: Binary, Decimal, Prime numbers, Fibonacci with output shifting and rotation option. You can now purchase it in the store.
• The NYLE Filter has received an update - the resonance behaviour can now be changed with a new switch between “wild” and “tamed”.  It's now back in the store.

I’m planning to release the following modules in November:

• SOLINA - The hardware for this module has long been ready, but I needed the time to get the software done and I’m confident that I can finally release this module next month.
• ALGODRONE - Same as with the Solina module … the hardware has been stable for months, but finding the quiet time to write the software has eluded me for a long time. Now that I have help with the day to day production of orders, I can focus more on this.
• The MASTER module will receive another update, the main feature will be a method to change the MIDI channel to either Omni, 1, 14, 15 or 16 (this is so it can be used alongside the Korg Volca Sample which is hardcoded to MIDI channels 1-10).
• The LFO module will be upgraded to a new dual LFO module, the 2LFO. All starter racks will then receive this new module instead of the single LFO.

​Changes at tangible waves!
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As some of you might have seen from my post on Facebook a week ago, I am no longer working alone on the production of modules, but I now have assistance from Antonia, who is the first employee of tangible waves and has been taking to assembly of modules and starter racks like a fish to water! She really enjoys the work, as you can see from the picture below.

The workshop is also expanding! We will be moving to a  bigger room at the technology hub where we are at the moment and that will make it much easier to get more people on board in the future to help with the assembly if the demand is increasing as it is!

Module Documentation

There are only so many things that can be done in a day, and the main focus these last 12 months was on improving the modules, the patch connections, releasing new modules and above all, fulfilling the growing list of orders. Unfortunately some things fell off the side and one of those is a proper and centralised documentation for all the modules and other parts of the AE Modular system. When it was suggested in the forum to “crowd-source” this in the form of a wiki, Carsten jumped right on it and created a wiki and a structure where this documentation can take shape with the help of the AE Modular community!

From now on, all documentation and other articles will take shape and live at

http://wiki.aemodular.com

Already a few people from the forum have declared an interest to take part in the shaping of this new and exciting resource for beginners and seasoned AE users alike.

Please note that it is still very light on content, but if the forum is any indication for the strength and passion of the AE community, I’m certain it will fill up with high quality information very quickly.

There is also a new section on the forum where anyone can post questions or suggestions about the content of the wiki.

http://forum.aemodular.com/board/17/wiki 

News from the Forum

The forum has never been this active and this is mostly due to many new members that have just recently joined and adding their take on the system. The questions that are being asked are very useful and many of those and the answers that were provided by other members of the forum, will be the basis of the beginner’s guide on the new Wiki.

Here are only some of the many new and interesting threads:

• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/436/recording-aem @otakumike asked how to record the sound from the AE system with a computer. Again this is a very important part of the puzzle and will be explained in much detail in the Wiki.
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/443/sq-1-beatstep-pro @sycophante was wondering what his options were for external sequencers. This thread could have easily devolved into a G.A.S. inducing rattling down of ever more expensive hardware. Instead many of the answers were well thought out and informative.
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/440/ae-modular-ins-outs @synthsandthings is not a new user of the system, but after “lurking” on the forum for a few months he came out and delivered a growing series of really well presented video tutorials for some of the modules of the Starter Rack. Thank you! 

The creativity of artists in our community is unbelievable and not a day goes by that doesn’t see a new entry on Soundcloud or a new video on Youtube where the AE Modular is being used in so many different ways that it’s hard to keep up! Here is just the recent sample of what was posted on the forum lately:

• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/467/owwwch-starter-system-right-wrong 
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/475/modular-breakcore
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/472/first-patchs-experiments-sidechaining
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/455/synths-performances
• http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/452/arm-korg-sq1

And Arti has not stopped a beat and delivered track after track after track of pure AE Modular goodness! Please listen to his collective works here:

http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/236/arti-performances

DIY Projects

The DIY crowd in the forum is growing stronger and stronger, sometimes I feel that there are more DIY modules out there than official ones and I’m absolutely loving what you are creating! Here is a list of the most recent projects:

• Controlling CV with a joystic​
  
• A multimode LFO based on the Electric Druid Chip 
• An ambient sequencer 
• Little Bits mounting boards for AE Modular 
• CV to MIDI CC converter 

Upcoming Events

Digital Analog Munich - 19th October 2019

I will be playing the AE Modular system as part of the Dark Waves ambient performances track at this year’s Digital Analog event in Munich. This is a mega event with artists coming from a wide spectrum of audio and visual arts. Please join me if you happen to be nearby. More information about this event:

https://www.digitalanalog.org/

Synth Festival in Australia - 19th October 2019

Carsten is organising the first ever Synth Festival on the Far South Coast of NSW in Australia and will demo the AE Modular system and use it in a live performance that night. For most of us that’s probably too far away, but if you live in Sydney or Canberra, you should definitely check it out: 

https://synthsurfers.eventbrite.com.au 

Superbooth Berlin 2020 - 23rd - 25th April 2020

Early bird tickets are now available until the 31st of October, so act quickly! Although it feels like this year’s Superbooth was just yesterday, I’m really looking forward to next year. This event is getting bigger and better every year and it is incredibly fulfilling to be able to meet with so many of you in person. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

https://www.superbooth.com/en/tickets_en.html

Do you know of any other Synth Events?

Please let me know. Especially if you show off your AE Modular in public, I would love to know more about it.
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