I never thought that being in a hardware business is hard. In fact I never thought about being in a hardware business at all! This whole AE thing started out as a crazy idea which somehow got traction on Kickstarter and it just developed and grew and took over my life. Since mid 2018 I am working full time at tangible waves and since then I’ve been joined by a great team of staff who are working diligently at producing modules, assembling racks and getting orders out of the door. Who would have thought that we would be faced by this century’s most challenging times just as we got really started? We had our ups and downs over the last few years and currently things are a bit more challenging than before and I have to apologise again to everyone who is still waiting for their deliveries … Things have been a bit shaken up over the last few months due to personal issues, but we are still working as hard as we can (even on weekends) to whittle down the immense backlog. However, I’m still incredibly inspired by the wonderful community of AE Modular users and the mostly positive feedback we receive for our work. I also have a long list of ideas for modules which I want to develop and produce over the next year, so all hardship aside, I’m mostly positive and really looking forward to what the new year will bring. My focus will most likely be on the micromodules which have seen a lot of interest from the community and also a line of Mutable Instrument clones which has now become more important since Émilie has shut down her business this month. I can’t say this often enough, but I am immensely grateful to each and all of you who have bought a system or module and have put it into your life, your music, your art. Listening to the AEtherwaves album or watching any of the many Youtube videos of your tracks is making me indescribably happy and inspires me to keep going and to create more modules for you. A huge thanks also to my team here at the tangible waves workshop. Unfortunately, Antonia is on a longer hospital stay at the moment (no worries, it’s a necessary treatment for some chronic health issues she faces for a long time), but Leonie stands in now and has familiarised herself with the non-trivial shipping and order management stuff in record time :-) All of them, Antonia, Tamara and Leonie have gone above and beyond, not just by assembling and shipping out all the orders, but by making the workshop a really fun place to work at. The tangible waves team wishes all of you a happy Christmas and a healthy and successful new year 2023! New ProductsEven though the order backlog is a constant pressure on my conscience, I just can’t help myself - I just have to make new modules! Following the sad demise of the CIRRUS module due to the global chip shortage I’ve been working for months on a replacement. I’ve also thought about new ways to mount the increasingly popular micro modules. CIRRUS CLASSIC Yes, we have the chips! This is a 100% clone of the original CLOUDS module from Mutable Instruments and I have managed to make it with a chipset which is available at the moment. It doesn’t come with as many features as the first CIRRUS module (which is based on the Microcell clone), but it can do all the things you love about granular processing. It comes with either the original firmware or the Parasite alternative firmware pre-installed and you can purchase it today from our shop. (The boards are currently in production, so the module will be actually ready for shipping at the end of January.) RAINS Finally you can patch the internet’s most iconic ambient patch “Rings into Clouds”, as this module is a 100% clone of Mutable Instruments’ Rings. It is a resonator which accepts an incoming short sound burst or simply a trigger and can apply various physical modelling algorithms to sound like a tube, a metal bar, a drum or plucked strings which can be pitched. It’s a great complement to the CIRRUS CLASSIC module and can be purchased from our shop. uCASE This is a special case for holding a row of ⅓ micro modules. It comes in the 3 standard widths and can be attached to any AE Modular case using the standard connection kits. This is a great addition to a small performance oriented rack. You can purchase it from our shop. uCASE CONNECTOR To attach the uCASE to an existing AE case with maximum space saving, we have created a new connector; similar to the hinge kit, but fixed. Works for connecting regular AE cases too! You can purchase it from our shop. |
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Flying a Chopper into an Arctic storm by @maydonpoliris is a high energy track:
Minimal Monday by @pt3r seems to have been inspired by The Peripheral, a book by William Gibson which has recently been turned into a TV series on one of the major streaming services.
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2356/minimal-monday
Old boat with a new motor is another cool documentation style video by @funbun which combines a great story with impressions from the fishing life style underlined by catchy AE Modular tunes
Distorted Growth is a new album by @glitchyfrog which you can listen to on Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Music:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2345/on-spotify-distorted-growth-album
Voices is the track @moruial made for the last AEtherwaves Album and this video adds really nice visualisations to it:
The Retreat is a new album by @funbun which can only be described as a Maesterpiece! Check it out:
https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/the-retreat
How small can you make your system and still amuse a crowd with a live performance? @namke shows us how it’s done with this super minimal live set:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2365/8-inch-beat-version-live
And finally here is a live performance with what could be the biggest AE Modular system in existence … beautifully performed by @malibuinterface
Meetups and Events
The last Zoom meetup of the year 2022 was on December 3rd with special guest Frae LaSci who runs the Future Sounds workshops for teenage girls at the Willie Mae Rock Camp in New York. The main thing that makes this school special and conducive for teaching electronic music is that Frae took much care to create a space that has a vibe that makes the girls comfortable and relaxed so they find it easier to be creative. The delivery of the workshops follows a model that is 25% speaking and 75% listening to the students (the opposite from normal school). Most projects focus on small deliverables which consist of experiments: stated hypothesis is tried in experiment and discussed in reflection. Making mistakes is OK and strongly encouraged after the Jazz saying: if you make a mistake, make it again and it sounds deliberate.
Here you can see a performance by the girls with quite a few different electronic instruments and see if you can spot the AE Modular Synth Explorer!
Next Zoom meetup will be 21st January 2023. More details will be posted on the forum.
This will feature various installations where plants interface with electronics to make art. User @tomblane from our forum will present the Organa a Biodata Sonification module for Eurorack and AE Modular. You can find more information about the module here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1908/biodata-sonification-module?page=2&scrollTo=20458
And you can sign up for the event here:
https://fb.me/e/2fD0dykL9
Superbooth, Berlin, 11th - 13th May 2023
Just putting the date in your calendars if you are planning to come to the world’s biggest synth event! Tangible waves will be there and we would love to meet you!
https://www.superbooth.com/en/
This was a quite unspectacular month and although there are always many orders outstanding and new modules to design, test and release, I took a few days off for a trip to Venice - an urgently needed break. The Biennale was in full swing and between espressos and cappuccinos I enjoyed all the wonderful things presented in the multitude of exhibitions with works from all over the world. The exhibition places alone are so amazing there! If you ever can make it, I recommend it! What would life be without art or music? For me at least it would make no sense at all! So in this case this trip gave me so much energy again that I can now positively look forward to the next few months of building synths for this amazing community. |
New Prices
New Products
The FILTERBANK914 module which was introduced in last month’s blog post is now available for purchase at the shop.
New Module Tease by Kyaa
Kyaa has been teasing his new module on Discord and at the last Zoom meetup. It is a multi purpose module which can be loaded with the Radio Music firmware (by Tom Whitwell) or the Prok drum synthesiser code from Prok Modular. This module has not yet been released for sale so check the forum for any news!
Music by the Community
AEtherwaves Vol. 4 - will be released on Friday, 3rd of November to coincide with Bandcamp Friday. The album will feature 33 completely new tracks made by members of our AE Modular Community. Again, all proceeds from album sales will be donated directly to the non profit organisation Musicians without Borders which is working with youth in war torn regions to overcome the trauma of violence with the help of making music. Once the album has been released, you can check it out at https://aetherwaves.bandcamp.com/ |
Horror Films 2022 - This is a collaborative album of Horror tracks made in the spirit of Halloween! A few of our forum members have made tracks for this album. All proceeds go towards a non profit organisation Feeding America. Check it out here: https://auralfilms.bandcamp.com/album/horror-films-2022 |
Megalithic Transport Network by @martynaudio - This album was also made completely with the AE Modular and explores classic Berlin School and Kosmische Musik. Check it out here: https://martynstonehouse.bandcamp.com/album/megalithic-transport-network |
Daisy by @thomblane - This beautiful EP was made completely with the AE Modular and is Thom’s debut on the forum. It is really quite the achievement. Check it out: https://thomblane.bandcamp.com/album/daisy |
Raptor Mating Dance by @maydonpoliris - This is a new album release on Bandcamp with 12 tracks of his very unique and interesting style. Check it out: https://maydonpoliris.bandcamp.com/album/raptor-mating-dance |
No Kooning by @krakenkraft - this little track sounds like it could belong on the Horror album above as it sounds a bit like a John Carpenter movie soundtrack.
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2286/kooning
Cccccccorona by @glitchyfrog - it’s rare, but always welcome to hear the sound of AE mixed with vocals even (or especially?) when it’s in German. https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2285/ccccorona
Ghoulish Drummer by @pt3r - this is another horror inspired track from our drone master. This comes with a very stylish and mysterious video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPaZ5N9ksJc
Vectrex and AE Modular jam by @frix - This is a cool short video with very cool drums and stunning visual effects. https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2206/hello
All the modules by @mathias - This is a very melodic generative patch using most, if not all, modules in this 2x16 case. https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2305/all-modules
Usug’s Rage by @reductionist_earth_catalog - A bit of banger with a catchy beat and inspired by a D&D game session which saw an Orc Barbarian take on two mighty Wyrms in a single round of combat: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2325/usugs-rage
Patch Challenges
#23 No Predictions - Try to build a patch that generates triggers and or gates as random as possible without resorting to the usual suspects, so no Noise module.
Show us your creativity.
#24 - Bread and Butter - Only ENVelopes and VCAs are allowed and some output so we can hear your creations. Perhaps a bit of FX to make the medicine go down? That's up to you.
#25 - There is no Spoon - create sound with “no input mixing”, but watch those feedbacks and don’t let them get out of control!
#26 - Ugly Ducklings - Build a patch with your most overlooked module and finally convince us all but mostly yourself of its usefulness.
DIY Projects
Meetups and Events
Please put this date into your calendars as it will be the last meetup of this year, so we make it special! More information on the forum (you have to be logged in to access this post)
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2319/modular-online-meetup-saturday-november
Wonkystuff at Synthfest UK
Apparently the Wonkystuff stand at this event was well received and surrounded by people interested in AE Modular and the tiny, colourful modules that Wonkystuff produces. Two new modules for the micro series were introduced: a Hihat and a Cowbell!
October AE Modular Zoom Meetup
The Zoom meetup was held on the 22nd October and this time there were 12 people present from all around the globe. A very special guest was Paula Maddox the creator of the wonderful WAVETABLES module which is loved dearly by everyone in the AE Modular community. She shared her experience of developing modules for different formats and how refreshingly easy it is to design a module for the AE format when compared to bigger formats like 5U.
Unfortunately things have not improved after the pandemic got mostly “under control”. Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine has not just caused incredible hardship to the people of Ukraine, but has led the whole world to the brink of a global recession and the repercussions of this are felt in almost every industry. Especially the volatility of currencies is making it very hard to budget and to keep a small business afloat, or even make a small profit.
So it is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to raise prices for all products again, even though it is going against everything that I believe in. After all, I founded this company with the promise of “Modular Synthesis for EVERYONE” especially for those who cannot otherwise afford the entry to making modular music. This means that I have two announcements:
1. The price increase of 15% for all products will come into effect on 1st of November 2022.
2. There will be a way to request a personal discount, if you cannot afford the increased prices.
The personal discount offers a pathway for anyone who feels strongly that they can not afford the increased prices and wishes to still participate in the modular world. There will be a special form on the website where you can request a discount for personal reasons. I hope that everyone who struggles financially, but wants to express themselves through modular electronic music, will contact me through this form, so that we can work out the best way to bring more music into these increasingly challenging times.
To all our customers, those that have been with us for years and those who have just ordered for the very first time, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your support, understanding and ideas. You are making this whole venture possible and meaningful and I couldn’t keep doing this without you.
I hope we will all get through this challenging period together and that you keep on making your incredible music while I’ll create more modules. There is a huge list of modules to build and I hope to share them with you over the next few years!
New Product
You may remember the mystery module which we showed in last month’s blog. Here is a picture of the real deal … It's modelled after the legendary Fixed Filter Bank 914 by Moog. There are 12 fixed frequencies (technically these are bandpass filters) which can be attenuated on the incoming signal and in addition the very low and very high ends of the signal can be controlled too. The filter bank works differently compared to a usual equalizer: In an equalizer, the signal bands can be attenuated or amplified by a certain amount (usually -12dB to +12dB) whereas the filter bank settings can attenuate the frequency bands completely to zero. It’s a great tool to focus / emphasise certain frequencies which is typical for acoustic instruments. Klaus Schulze said in an interview, he can create a human voice out of white noise through a filter bank :-)
Another nice feature of the FILTERBANK914 module is that there are separate outputs for the even/odd numbered bands, meaning you can use it to create a kind of pseudo stereo effect.
This module will soon be available in the shop.
Music made by the Community
Record your Music!
If you haven’t yet recorded your jams with the AE Modular and always wondered how to do this, or if you are a total pro and happy to share your workflow, please visit this thread and comment or ask questions about recording your AE Modular (and other gear):
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2264/talk-recording-music
AEtherwaves Vol. 4 Submissions by 20th October!!
The submission deadline for the 4th volume of our community album AEtherwaves is coming closer. Last year we had over 40 submissions, and it would be so amazing to replicate this again this year! More info here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2254/aether-waves-vol-submissions-wanted
Halloween Compilation Submissions by 28th October!!
If you have another track in you (after your submitted one to AEtherwaves ;) ) you might want to send it to Aural Films to have it included in their Halloween Compilation. All proceeds from that album will go to a charity that helps US American families in need. Musicians from all genres will be submitting their music, so let’s get a few AE Modulars into the mix! More info here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2250/halloween-compliation-track-request
Exquisite Corpse still looking for parts!!
The Exquisite Corpse project started by @maydonpoliris is still open for submissions. This is a fun little experiment for when you just want to do a 20 second sound snippet. Get all the information here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2192/exquisite-corpse
Patch Challenge #23 - No Predictions
After the first AE Modular Zoom meetup user @pt3r thought to rekindle interest in the fabulous patch challenges. If you are not familiar with them, they are little modular puzzles to make you think deeper about the possibilities of your modular and to stimulate your creativity by asking you gently to do things a bit differently than usually. This one is all about randomness without the usual random suspects (looking at you NOISE and RBSS). It's never to late to submit patch notes or a short performance. Check it out here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2271/patch-challenge-23-predictions
Klondike Incident
As if to prepare for Halloween comes this horror track from our mast of the drone @pt3r .. Check it out at
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2270/klondike-incident
Droning Around
Inspired by the “recording your music” thread @duddex uploaded his first song which features the DRONX, DRONE38 combo:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2267/droning
Laser Sun Drop
This acid ambience piece by @glitchyfrog is not only a great piece of AEmbient sound craft, but also started a healthy debate about noise gremlins in the AE Modular system and what to do to get rid of them…
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2253/laser-sun-drop-acid-ambience
Megalithic Transport Network Go and grab this awesome new album from Martyn Stonehouse. It was recorded live using the AE Modular: https://martynstonehouse.bandcamp.com/album/megalithic-transport-network |
Live Jam from 101 Dolittle Here is a nice dolittle jam from @101. Check out the cool suitcase which hosts and protects the AE Modular! | |
NOLS Live set in Bristol This recording is from the Exchange in Bristol where @nols performed live and almost killed everyone in the audience with a murder bass sound. You should definitely watch this, but take care to to play this too loud! | |
AE Modular Debut Jam This is not bad at all for a first try with the AE … user @frndo from Argentina shows off an interesting way to trigger video effects by hand: | |
3RGOT Collab Jam Users @maydonpoliris and @pt3r are now probably the most prolific uploaders of original content on the forum. So it’s great to see them collaborating and mixing their individual styles into this ambient-glitch-techno-horror-scenario. We need more collabs!! | |
DIY Projects Gate to MIDI converter User @reductionist-earth-catalog has shared this rather elaborate project in which a DIY module contains an Arduino Nano which sends incoming CV/Gates via USB to a USB host which then converts those to MIDI signals. There is enough hardware hacking and software fiddling to keep you occupied for a few days! https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2265/gate-midi-converter |
Meetups and Events
First Online AE Modular Meetup was a success!
On Saturday 24th September was the very first AE Modular online meetup via Zoom. There were 9 people from a wide variety of time zones, some had their morning coffee, some afternoon tea while toasted with an evening beer! The meeting went for close to 2 hours and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. You can read more about it in this thread on the forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2258/modular-online-meetup-saturday-september
(sorry you have to be a logged in member of the forum to read the post!)
8th October - UK Synthfest with Wonkystuff!!
This year's UK Synthfest will host @namke aka Wonkystuff as an exhibitor! If you're nearby (or even on the same isle) then definitely go and visit him!
https://www.synthfest.co.uk/exhibitors
22nd October - Second AE Modular Online Meeting
This will happen again via Zoom at 8pm UTC. Please see more info in this thread on the forum (only visible to forum members):
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2272/modular-online-meetup-saturday-october
While the situation with the chip shortage is still somewhat problematic, we are not too bad off and, except for the O&C and the Cirrus, we are able to produce all our modules and can fulfil all orders. In that regard we are really lucky especially when looking at a few other synth manufacturers who are struggling much more or even had to close their business.
The current energy crisis which has been caused by the Ukraine invasion by Russia is coming more and more into focus, especially here in Germany. This has given me even more incentive to work on the solar power/battery module which I talked about in the last blog. It’s not quite finished yet, but here are some photos of a working prototype. Please let me know what you think of it.
Next to the Micro:bit module below you can see another module which I'm currently working on. I won't tell you what it is, can you guess?
Shortly after our introduction of the Micro Module format John from Wonkystuff has announced his first two ⅓ sized modules for sale. You can buy these directly from his web shop at https://wonkystuff.net/ae-modular/
The first is the BD55 kick drum module which is modelled after the Roland DR-55 drum computer. The other module is the RS-55 rimshot module which is again modelled after the RD-55 drum machine.
TODAY is Bandcamp Friday, so please make sure you purchase something from the catalogue of our esteemed AE Modular artists. In addition to the releases below you can check out the list of artists on our wiki and visit their bandcamp pages:
https://wiki.aemodular.com/pmwiki.php/AeMusic/MeetTheArtists
New user @luk is a very accomplished Jazz musician and has released this album which features the AE Modular together with a Jazz trio!
https://bandcamp.for-tune.pl/album/dont-try/
@funbun aka Warrior Lures has released another really interesting albums - The Void. Check it out:
https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/the-void
Mr. Fritz going by the username @frix has made this catchy jam with his huge double system:
Our resident drone master @pt3r was recently on holidays and took only the Blackbox sampler full of AE samples. This is what came of it:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2199/ph3rn
Here is a wonderful collaboration between @maydonpoliris and @pol now going by the name Beaucarnea. The album is fabulous and definitely worth the purchase on Bandcamp Friday:
https://beaucarnea.bandcamp.com/album/walking-around-zion
And here is a very trippy video for one of the tracks:
User @davidchang aka Nublo Roboten has been working a lot with his AE Modular and has now released another fantastic Bandcamp album and accompanying video:
https://nublo-roboten.bandcamp.com/album/nublo-roboten-y-zara
This video is from one of Nublo Roboten’s live shows:
And last, but not least, this very bubbly video was made by @nols using the AE Modular, Volca FM and the Strega:
DIY Projects
“Sometimes I make flutes out of Bamboo”. What reads like a promising introduction to a Hemingway novel has been posted by user @chuck together with this photo of a beautiful bamboo flute … but we should really point out the amazing AE Modular Keyboard case in the upper right corner. Now that is a thing of beauty!
But back to flutes … this whole thread is of course about Karplus Strong algorithms and the amazing insight by @pt3r that this can be achieved by the MultiFX and a noise module - Wow! Read on here:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2195/electronic-wind-instrument
Meetups and Events
Knobcon in Chicago, US will happen this month from 9th to 11th September and AE Modular will be presented by Toms aka Kyaa with some help by Noisebug. So if you are anywhere near Chicago on those dates, then please go say hello to Toms!
The last two months have been challenging. You’ve heard me write this a few times now over the years, but it’s true, operating a small manufacturing business is quite a challenging thing and sometimes the problems tend to become overwhelming, especially in these crazy times. We’ve had to deal with illness, delays in receiving parts from China and lately the soaring US Dollar (or falling Euro?). We are now paying almost 20% more for parts than before, however we’ve decided to not pass this extra cost on to our customers. The wait list still stretches back to orders from May, but we’ve again re-organised our production workflow and are quickly catching up. As always, we are very grateful for the patience and support of our customers!
Those challenges notwithstanding, we are as happy as ever to create synth modules and to see how they are being used by our incredibly creative community!
Good News and bad News
The HEARTBEAT module was advertised a bit too early and it took me a very long time to finish the firmware, but it is now finally done and all orders will be shipped as soon as possible! This taught us a very valuable lesson to never again promise a module again before it’s not absolutely complete and ready to ship!
Inspired by the current energy crisis which is the result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I have been thinking about energy consumption and have started development on a solar power / accumulator module! More info on this once it gets past the prototype stage.
The KUZMIN Filter has sold reasonably well and we have been able to donate close to 1500 Euro to UNICEF to help children who are affected by the war in Ukraine.
The ORNAMENT & CRIME module is currently on hold. Due to the global chip shortage, we have not been able to source any more Teensy 3.2 boards, which are absolutely essential for this module. This means that for the time being, we can’t produce those anymore!
New Products
Micro Modules
After the announcement at Superbooth in May, I had to change the layout of the base and micro modules a bit and now finally the boards have arrived ready from production. The following modules are now available for purchase from our online shop - a whopping 14 new modules! (ok, some are shrunk versions of existing AE modules, but anyway…)
You can order these modules now in our shop.
I'm also thinking about a case for one row of these micro modules in the usual case widths that can be attached the same way as cases are already connected, via the hinge kit. Let me know what you think about this idea!
- µBASE- this is the base module needed to host either three ⅓ sized or two ½ sized modules
- µ2MIX - a tiny mixer with 3 attenuated channels and 4 fixed channels (at the moment the only ½-sized module)
- µOR2x4 - same as the existing AE module shrunk to ⅓ size
- µ2SIGAMP - same as the 2SIGNALAMP module, shrunk to ⅓ size
- µ2VCA - a dual VCA
- µ4BUFFER - this is an active buffered multiple, great for distributing clock signals and CV's without loss of voltage
- µ4LOGIC - same functionality as the LOGIC module in ⅓ of the size
- µATTENUVERTER - adjust signal level inverting/non-inverting plus offset; perfect for CV shaping
- µBITCRUSHER - digitising and bit-reducing + variable sample rate
- µDISTORTION - a diode based distortion with different modes
- µLFO - a tiny LFO with wave selection and PWM
- µPROBAGATE - switches between two channels according to a probability gate
- µSH-RNDM-NOISE - a sample & hold plus noise/random CV source
- µSUBOCTAVE - lets you mix 1 and 2 sub octaves to the incoming oscillator signal
- µTONE - control highs and lows with this tiny module
Just a reminder, that both Wonkystuff and Keurslagerkurt are currently developing their own micro modules which will fit into this base system! Stay tuned for their announcements!
AEtherwaves on Internet Radio
This internet radio show dedicated 2 hours of play time to showcase the awesome tracks made by our community for the AEtherwaves Albums. This is a great way to reacquaint yourself with a collection of the songs from all 3 albums:
https://www.mixcloud.com/RtSRadio/6-14-2022-harris-king-elektro-kultur/
The Demo Patch - This is Robert himself playing the “Demo Patch” at Superbooth 2022
Superbooth Interviews - Not really music, but The 5th Volt has interviewed various members of the AE Modular community while at Superbooth and you can see all those interviews in this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj8Sv1wV_p3OW2VAJNpEzzXp6qP9LzGEv
Ole Cane Pole - a new album by @funbun which is a collection of tracks which were originally made for the Black Warrior Lures YouTube channel. Imagine yourself on a boat on a river with a fishing rod … https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/ole-cane-pole
Live set by @madonpoliris - this was presented at a meetup in Wollongong, Australia:
https://youtu.be/LUVhvKsp17c
Threnody for Titan - This one is a collaboration of our two most prolific artists. @pt3r and @maydonpoliris. True to their form it is both interestingly weird and extremely atmospheric! https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2180/threnody-titan-collab-maydonpoliris
River of Electrons / Embodied Synthesis #1 - A debut from our newest artist on the forum @interstar: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2179/river-electrons-embodied-synthesis-1
Open Mic in York - This is a live performance at the Electronic Open Mic in York by our very own @namke aka Wonkystuff! https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2175/open-mic-york
Open Mic in Salt Lake City - This a short excerpt from a live performance by @matthewd: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2172/second-open-mic
Starter Rack 2 Jam - @maydonpoliris showing what can be done with “just” a starter rack 2! Pretty impressive stuff! https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2163/starter-rack-2-jam
Wellen unserer Zeit - a music video of spoken word (in German) and sounds made with the AE Modular … very mysterious and very beautiful track made by @glitchyfrog: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2134/wellen-unserer-zeit-waves-time
Of sweet Dorian - it’s great to hear from @chmeee5 again, this time with this “banger” recorded with Bandlab: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2159/sweet-dorian
Vanishing tower - This is a beautiful duet between a bass guitar and the AE Modular by @101: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2142/vanishing-tower
DIY Projects
4COMP - This is a new module made by @pt3r who is our master drone expert (see and hear his new soundscapes above). Hopefully he will make this module available for sale at some time!
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2155/4comp-ins-outs-why
This project came from a very rich discussion thread about the comparator circuit and how to build it on a breadboard: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2109/indispensible-braedboard-project-comparator You can also hear the 4COMP module in action in this drone called “Rectified” https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2164/4comp-rectifier |
Mixer Comparison - This is not a hardware project, but a great resource for anyone who may be confused by the many different mixer modules of the AE Modular. This is a great comparison matrix made by our Wiki Master @pol:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fAnq_wG-IyTYt36PenXePDh8rkmY4QD_vg1J5mIdU64/edit#gid=0
Filter Comparison - Again the works of @pol this sheet gives you a comparative overview of the different filters of the AE Modular system:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1250AgqWtZNNn6CccfdCI1xfppCxsX0bYZD0i09BeYSI/edit#gid=0
Meetups and Events
Hopefully we will see some kind of AE Modular presence at these upcoming events. If you plan to go to any of these events and would like support with presenting AE at the event then please contact us!
Leeds Synth Fest - Leeds, UK, August 14th
This meetup has free entry and is organised by DivKid. If you’re nearby, you should definitely try to attend! More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/460328272613452/
Knobcon - Chicago, USA, September 9th - 11th https://www.knobcon.com/
This year we will have Toms aka Kyaa manning a booth at Kobcon and showcasing the AE Modular and his own amazing modules! If you’re in the area, please visit him and say hello!
Synthfest UK - Sheffield, UK, October 8th https://www.synthfest.co.uk/
Please make sure to visit John at his desk with Wonkystuff and say hello when you're in the area!
Superbooth is always a great way to connect with our customers and also to show and demonstrate the system to people who have never seen it or who just couldn’t believe how small the modules are and how good they sound. We were also very happy to be interviewed by Sonicstate and Gearspace which gives us very welcome exposure on the internet:
| |
All in all we had a great team with Tamara, Toby and Carsten, all of whom were in great spirits and helped field the myriad of questions from interested visitors. Here we are saying goodbye after 4 long days:
New Products - Micro Modules
The biggest surprise for visitors to our Superbooth stand was the new tiny format for AE Modular. This consists of a base module which can hold either 2 ½-sized modules or 3 ⅓-sized modules. This is currently a prototype and modules are in development from us, Wonkystuff and Keurslager Kurt! Here are a few photos of those prototypes to give you an idea:
- µLFO - a tiny LFO with wave selection and PWM
- µDISTORTION - a diode based distortion with different modes
- µTONE - control highs and lows with this tiny module
- µPROBAGATE - switches between two channels according to a probability gate
- µ2MIX - a tiny mixer with 3 attenuated channels and 4 fixed channels (at the moment the only ½-sized module)
- µ2SIGNALAMP - same as the 2SIGNALAMP module, shrunk to ⅓ size
- µ4BUFFER - this is an active buffered multiple, great for distributing clock signals
- µSUBOCTAVE - lets you mix 1 and 2 sub octaves to the incoming oscillator signal
- µBITCRUSHER - digitising and bit-reducing + variable sample rate
- µLOGIC - same functionality as the LOGIC module in ⅓ of the size
- µ2VCA - a dual VCA
- µATTENUVERTER - adjust signal level inverting/non-inverting plus offset; perfect for CV shaping
- µSAMPLEHOLD-NOISE - a sample & hold plus noise/random CV source
You can expect them in the shop… …as soon as they are finished and produced ;-)
Keurslager Kurt is also developing a micro module called "What's Sub?" which is a DIY kit for a sub oscillator. However this module is in the early prototype stages.
Wonkystuff has been in on this new format from the start and has the following modules in the works:
- bd55 - a tiny ⅓ analog bass drum module which is modelled after the vintage RD55 drum machine from Roland
- rs55 - a tiny ⅓ rim shot drum module also modelled after the RD55
- sd100 - a ½ snare drum module modelled after the Amdek RVK-100
- there are more drum modules in the design phase already ...
These modules are still in prototype phase and we will let you know once they are available for purchase from the Wonkystuff online store.
Kyaa has already taken the AE world by storm with the ingenious Euclid Grid module. This new module is also an amazing piece of hardware and software engineering. The 2AUTO module is a dual envelope / LFO with a twist - it records the knob movements of the CV knob and replays those movements, either as a one shot envelope or looping like an LFO. You really have to see and play with it personally to understand how incredibly cool this is. The moment your fingers touch the knob, it immediately and magically switches into record mode and then records any twist and turn until you let go. There are many more features like syncing to an external clock and locking among others, but this simple idea of recording knob movement already adds a new playable dimension to your modular which is truly magical.
For now it is only available for pre-order and you can find out more about it on the forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2083/2auto
Early Teasers ...
We also saw prototypes of almost production ready modules from Keurslager Kurt and M4vrick, a newcomer to the 3rd party maker group. Keurslager Kurt will soon release a new oscillator which is based on the 555 timer design by Thomas Henry. This module is very feature rich and can produce a true sine wave, sawtooth and square waves. M4vrick has provided us with a prototype of a very beautiful chord oscillator. Stay tuned for more information!
Accessories
As more people are buying the VMIX-10 mixer and using it for connecting their Volcas, they have found that sometimes an audible noise floor can be heard. This has been reported for Volcas with other mixers as well, so it’s not necessarily a problem with the VMIX-10, but we found a solution anyway with this nifty little audio cable which has a noise filter built in (technically, it does a ground isolation for the audio connection). We also now sell a power cable for connecting power to Korg Volcas directly from the VMIX-10.
You can find the Volca power cables here in the shop. And the noise blocker audio cable is here.
Additionally we have made a very simple power cable for your AE Modular which includes a power switch! You can purchase it here.
Music made by the Community
Every month our incredibly talented community produces more synth gems and it’s not always easy to follow it all on the forum. Therefore we are listing a random selection below.
This first patch by @glitchyfrog shows that you can turn a filter into a whale if you just add a delay and lots of reverb: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2098/space-orca-recorded-real-habitat
And here is a very fun and groovy video by the same artist: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2103/sunrise-surrection-official-video
Our resident Jazz musicians and fishing expert @funbun has made another video which mixes the love for nature (and fish) with groovy AE synth tunes: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2097/cane-pole-cat-trolls
This is a wonderful jam with the AE Modular and the venerable MS2000 by @martynaudio https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2091/ae-ms-2000-live-jam
Orca is a very powerful, albeit cryptic software MIDI sequencer. We have no idea how it works, but it looks beautiful and sounds very pretty in combination with an AE: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2087/refilling-heart-containers
User @nols has released this really nice bandcamp album: https://nols.bandcamp.com/album/atop-kilvey-hill
DIY Projects
This project describes a comparator circuit which can be made with the BrAEdboard module and user @pt3r not only describes how to do it, but has also posted a video and sound demo of its use:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2109/indispensible-braedboard-project-comparator
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2096/patch-challenge-bring-braed-table
This post describes a very simple oscillator circuit and there’s also a video that shows how it can be used very effectively in a 1 minute sound challenge:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2104/simple-oscillator
Meetups and Events
Hopefully we will see some kind of AE Modular presence at these upcoming events. If you plan to go to any of these events and would like support with presenting AE at the event then please contact us!
Leeds Synth Fest - Leeds, UK, date TBA
Knobcon - Chicago, USA, September 9th - 11th https://www.knobcon.com/
Synthfest UK - Sheffield, UK, October 8th https://www.synthfest.co.uk/
We are busy with preparations for Superbooth and also with assembling, packing and shipping the absolutely amazing amount of orders which we’ve received over the last 2 months. The VMIX-10 has been especially in high demand since it was featured and shared on a multitude of Facebook groups (most of which we didn’t even know existed!) and lately it was even featured in the print edition of FAZEmag, one of Germany’s largest DJ magazine.
No new modules were released in April … but do stay tuned for news from Superbooth which is only a few nights away now!
Music made by the Community
The forum was abuzz with new releases in April and now we have the space and time to feature most if not all of the cool tracks which were posted.
If you make music with the AE Modular, then we want to know about it and listen to it and cheer you on! Please make sure to post a link to your track on the forum so we can pick it up and feature it in these monthly blog posts.
On Bandcamp
tIB - Front Toward Enemy This track takes no prisoners! You will be transferred into a dystopian soundscape of eerie beauty and auditory surprises. Check it out: https://therapyinterferingbehaviour.bandcamp.com/album/front-toward-enemy | Deofol - LAMINAE Tune in to the soundtrack of despair from the master of the dark and beautiful drones. Check it out: https://deofol.bandcamp.com/album/laminae |
Maydonpoliris - Ghost in the AE It's hard to find any album with more variety of sounds, styles and rhythms. Here you have it all, waltzing sloths, dancing mozzies, raving kangaroos and droning Kurt's. Check it out: https://maydonpoliris.bandcamp.com/album/ghost-in-the-ae |
Almost every day there is a post about a new track or composition for and with the AE on the forum. If you don’t read the forum every day then you can find a selection of these below for your listening pleasure.
@matthewd - Cosmic Urple
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2073/cosmic-urple
@maydonpoliris - Scratching an itch
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2072/scratching-itch
@glitchyfrog - Dark Clouds and Fresh Berries
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2037/stream-snippet-clouds-fresh-berries
@ampersand - Lo-Fi Raving - experiments with minimal rhythmic patterns
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2065/lo-fi-raving
@namke - Back to Basics - Playing with a minimal setup: Euclid Grid, a kæstle drum, and a pair of mystery modules with the multifx.
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2053/back-basics
@glitchyfrog - COVID Live stream - over an hour of live jAEmming!
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2036/covid-livestream
@pt3r - Quarantine Drones (this is scary good)
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2054/quarantine-jam
@rami - Jungle DnB (-ish)
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2044/first-composition-jungle-dnb-ish
@pt3r - Bite Beets (making the Algodrone do most of the work)
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2031/bite-beets
Meetups and Events
Superbooth is just around the corner! It’s not too late to grab one or more day tickets:
https://www.superbooth.com/en/tickets.html
Meet the Makers! It is our absolute pleasure to have all AE Modular makers in the same place at the same time at Superbooth! Meet John aka Wonkystuff from England who brought us the incredible RBSS and CoreAE among other cool modules. You can also meet Zeno aka Keurslager Kurt who has created Quadboost, Sloth and other instant cult classics. And last, but definitely not least, you will be able to meet Toms aka Kyaa the creator of the de facto standard module for Euclidean Sequencing “Euclid Grid”. He will come all the way from the United States to present his newest creation.
We hope to see many of you at the tangible waves booth soon!
We also had great success with the sale of the KUZMIN filter. We declared in this blog post that we would donate 70% of the sales of this module to UNICEF to help the children of Ukraine who are most affected by the brutal war inflicted on them by Putin. So far 32 modules were sold over the last 2 weeks which generated more than €960 which we’ve donated to UNICEF. If you haven’t yet decided to make the purchase, don’t worry, we will keep up with the donations in the future, as surely help will be needed even after the war ends.
We’ve decided to suspend working on new modules for a while. The process is more time consuming than I often expect (although I love it!) and made especially complicated and exhausting with the worsening chip crisis and delivery delays from China due to renewed COVID lockdowns that affect factories and delivery companies. We started the year with an almost clean order book and unfortunately have slipped behind in the production and shipping of orders due to the mentioned issues, but also because Antonia (who manages all the packaging/shipping) fell quite ill with Covid for a few weeks. Now we will all work focused hard to “close the gap” again. We will also focus more on improving the quality of existing modules, some of which may soon see improved versions.
But don’t worry, we do have a special surprise planned for release at Superbooth ;-)
New Products
Wonkystuff - Kaestle
The Kaestle is a clone of the famous Bastl Kastle mini synthesiser from Bastl Instruments. As you can see in the photo above it breaks the “rules” of where patch points should be in the AE Modular system. But as this module is almost a complete synth voice in itself, it makes sense and allows for easier patching.
You can find more information about this module at the Wonkystuff shop here:
https://wonkystuff.net/product/kaestle/
Wonkystuff - Drum
This is another clone from Bastl Instruments, this time for the relatively new Drum module, a very complex, glitchy and fun way to explore lofi drum patterns and sounds.
Find out more about the drum here at the Wonkystuff online shop:
https://wonkystuff.net/product/kaestledrum/
Patchwire Fabrication - Angular Brackets
These new 3D printed brackets are a great and very sturdy way to connect two AE Modular cases to each other. You can either buy the finished product from the Patchwire Fabrication’s Etsy store:
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1192247163/ae-modular-desk-brackets
Or you can print them yourself if you have a 3D printer at home. You can find the instructions and other information in this thread on the forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1995/new-brackets-patchwire-fabrication-available
S-Trig converter cable
So we couldn’t help ourselves and had to throw in a tiny, specialised product which we developed for a customer a few months ago. With this adapter you can convert gate/trigger signals from AE modular (or other synths) to the so-called S-Trigger. S-Triggers are used in Moog synths and its Clones, e.g. in the 911 envelope generator, and Korg synths, like MS-10, MS-20 and others.
This cable is now available from our online store.
Music made by the Community
This is a truly special album even though it’s not per se made with the AE Modular. Max has asked many people from all over the world to recount their experiences and challenges throughout the pandemic and then assembled it all masterfully into a series of collages with subtle background music and sounds which provide just the right atmosphere for each segment. To be honest, it can be challenging to engage with it as it is very personal and may open some wounds that are now slowly healing after the global craziness of the pandemic. However throughout all the accounts of hardship, there’s also always the element of resilience and strength to move on. And that is what eventually instils hope in the listener.
Please listen and purchase this amazing work on Max Richardson’s Bandcamp page:
https://maxrichardson.bandcamp.com/album/here-but-not-here
Max was also interviewed about this project on BBC radio and you can listen to the interview here (forward to 02:22:00):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0bs0rx5
Black Warrior Lures
User @funbun is so productive, it’s almost scary, but in a really good way! Here are two new albums of electronic experimentation in rhythms and sounds.
You can find both albums on his Bandcamp page:
https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/xenharmonique-2
https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/beccas-dreams
Meetups and Events
Our forum user @moruial is going and if you are also there, then maybe meet up for a mini AE Modular meetup! More information in our forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2020/synth-fest-france
Superbooth, 12th - 14th May in Berlin
We’ve talked about this a lot and are looking forward to seeing many of you there at our tangible waves booth. A small group of people has already started planning to meet up for a group event of some sort.
If you would like to meet other forum users at Superbooth, then please add your name to the growing list here in the forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/2014/superbooth-2022
The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Putin is shocking, a tragedy and most likely a crime. However it is easy to fall into the mentality of “us against them” and to succumb to hate directed against the innocent. As Sting has put it so perfectly in his song which he never thought to have to sing again: “The Russians love their children too”. So we should not mistake the madness of one man and his criminal cronies with the people of the country. While the Ukrainians fight for their lives, their freedom and their country against an overwhelming and brutal war machine, so do many Russians risk their freedom and maybe even their lives by protesting against this war on the streets in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other cities deep within Russia in an increasingly oppressive regime.
How does this affect us as artists, musicians and small manufacturers of electronic instruments? How can we help end this war and how can we give real, meaningful help to the hundreds of thousands of refugees who are leaving behind everything they love, their homes, their jobs, their families and their fathers, husbands and brothers who have to stay back to fight against Putin’s army?
In my last blog post I wrote about the filter which I have designed and which was almost ready to go into production but for the fact that its design was inspired by a Russian inventor who also developed the Polivoks synthesizer a long time ago (maybe even when Sting wrote that song?) I asked you, the community, what the name should be for this filter, and the overwhelming majority voted for “KUZMIN” in honour of this great man, an inventor, an artist, a Russian who put his mind not to subdue people, but to give them the tools to express themselves musically, a kind of freedom towards the end of the cold war and the soviet era.
- two different resonance characteristics, hard and soft
- an FM function, that adds the input signal to the modulation of the filter
- an optional overdrive for the output, making the sound even more rough and untamed.
And to directly offer my help to the people of Ukraine I will direct 70% of the revenues of this module to UNICEF, especially for the support of children affected by the war.
So please buy this filter, it sounds great, it is inspired by a great heritage and it will make a difference to the children of Ukraine.
You can purchase this module here in our online shop.
Thank you,
Robert.
For a few years now, as I’ve been dreaming up new modules and researching electronic music circuitry, I’ve been inspired by the invention of one man who created a beautiful filter with a very distinct sound. This filter, and the whole synthesizer it was part of, was designed and built in 1982 in the USSR at a time when the country was mostly shut off from the western world. Some of western music did find its way behind the iron curtain though and the inventor of this filter wanted to create an instrument that gave his fellow countrymen (and women) the same sounds as what the Beatles and other western bands had. This synthesizer was called POLIVOKS which in Russian means multi timbres and although it could only be played duo-phonically, it was revolutionary for an electronic instrument built in the Soviet Union at the time. Some people even called the POLIVOKS the Russian Minimoog, because of its sound even though it’s circuitry was very unique and not at all like the Moog or any other analog synth.
So I became fascinated by this synth, the unique and unorthodox design of the filter and its inventor Vladimir Kuzmin. For the last few months I’ve been designing a filter module for the AE Modular system which is based on this vintage design which is nowadays in very high regard and has come to a kind of renaissance as lovers of electronic instruments are rediscovering the roots of these circuits.
Finally, just about two weeks ago, the filter was finished, ready for a production run and ready to be announced to the world. I thought I would call it “VLADIMIR” to honour its original inventor (who is still alive and currently working with Behringer to bring the full Polivoks experience back to the masses).
Then, Russia decided to invade Ukraine and suddenly current affairs mingled with our beautiful cloistered world of electronic music which is usually free from politics. I did not feel confident about the name anymore as it could now very easily be misunderstood for the name of the current president of Russia and that man and his government does not currently appear in a good light in most parts of the world. It might be easy to explain to anyone who asks, which Vladimir the filter is named after and that it’s not in any way an expression of support for a regime which is inflicting such pain not only on the Ukrainians but also on its own people. But sometimes people just make up their own minds and turn their backs and don’t ask to understand the finer points. As a small business owner I feel that I can’t risk being caught in a political debate or having customers turn their backs on my products just because of politics and a misunderstanding. I have to think of my business on which my and my employees' livelihood depends. So I’m not risking it. I also can’t name it ‘Polivoks’ as this is now a trademark owned by Behringer. (see this article here)
So here we are. I have a beautiful filter for you, which has no name. What do you think it should be called? Please let me know in this thread on the forum:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1972/blog-february-2022-make-synths
If there’s a good suggestion that is free from political dangers I’ll definitely release the filter under this new name. In case you would like to know more about the Polivoks synth and its inventor Vladimir Kuzmin you should read the following article which also includes an interview:
http://analogik.com/articles/180/polivoks-russian-vintage-synth
New Products
Many of you asked for it time and time again. And finally I was able to find the right supplier for the shirts and the print. They are unisex and available in all standard sizes.
You can order them in our online shop here: T-Shirts and Hoodies.
VMIX-10 a standalone mixer made for Volcas!
As I was working on the MIXCONSOLE and the VM-BRIDGE I was thinking of those little Volcas which were my initial inspiration for the design of the AE Modular system a few years ago. I also noticed that there isn’t a suitable mixer available which fits into this Volca ecosystem. So I decided to build one. This mixer is made especially with Volcas in mind, but can be used with any audio device and is completely standalone. It allows the connection of up to 6 mono and 2 stereo sources with line/synth levels, meaning 10 channels in total. It offers level, pan and two FX sends per channel; plus a stereo headphone output The VMIX-10 has exactly the size of a Volca, therefore should fit perfectly in Volca stands that are available. It also has power out connections so that up to 4 Volcas can be powered directly from the mixer.
You can now purchase this product in our online shop.
COMPACT MIXER
This is the same design as theVMIX-10, but made to fit into an AE Modular rack. Instead of the power connectors it features both 3.5mm minijack and AE patch points so you can use this mixer just like the MIXCONSOLE but with the added benefit that each channel can now be patched in also from an external device, and of course, the integrated headphone amplifier.
You can order this product in our online shop, shipping will start in 2-3 weeks
HEARTBEAT This is the master clock for your AE system! The display allows you to select a very fine grained BPM setting which you can select either via the knob in steps as fine as 0.1 or via the tap tempo button. It has 6 outputs which can be configured individually for different clock divisions between 1/1 and 1/32 and even dotted notes and triplets. The module has its own internal clock, or it can be configured to use an external clock (e.g. the Bus clock if MIDI is plugged into the MASTER module). You can now purchase this product in our online shop. |
HEARTBEAT EXTENDER This is an extension module which connects to the HEARTBEAT module via a small cable on the rear side. It offers a quick way to switch between different clock rates via the 6 preset buttons. It also offers minijack connections for MIDI in (as an additional clock source independent from the external clock input). With the MIDI out socket you can use the AE system as the master clock in your studio as it sends standard MIDI clock/start/stop signals to other gear. Lastly the SWING/ACCLR knob allows for choosing a swing amount or accelerando/ritardando time when switching between tempo presets. You can now purchase this product in our online shop. |
??? Filter The (yet) unnamed filter is based on the Polivoks design by Vladimir Kuzmin, known for its rough, unique sound and the special circuitry that avoids capacitors which is quite unusual for filter circuits This filter features high pass and low pass output, and, beyond the original design, a distortion and FM mode and its resonance can be switched between soft and hard. Ready for production, but because of the naming issue not yet for sale. Please let me know your thoughts and idea for the name in this thread on the forum: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1972/blog-february-2022-make-synths |
Music made by the Community
When John aka @namke takes his AE on the stage he invites the listeners to join him on a sonic journey of mystery and wonder. Here is another such journey all performed solely on the AE Modular with a few extra modules of his own making! https://namcom.bandcamp.com/album/arent-we-all-on-the-edge-right-now |
Our most prolific Jamuary artist of 2022 @maydonpoliris has handed over his new work to @maximilius001 for mastering and out came this album of very engaging and interesting AE Modular tracks. https://maydonpoliris.bandcamp.com/album/hysteria |
Again @funbun has delivered an album full of intricate sequencer lines and rhythmic elements that fuse jazz, minimalism and the experimental together. The pieces in this album reflect life stories, some happy, some not, of people in @funbun's life. Or to quote him: If music cannot help humanity, then what's the point? https://blackwarriorlures.bandcamp.com/album/bonnie-the-kellog |
Other music on the forum
You may nod your head to these tracks by @p3r https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1953/head-nod-ahead
Some interesting tracks by @101 https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1942/new-release-goldair-aa
Foxermod aka @anachronmaker released a few tracks on Spotify: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1946/foxermod-1-released
And just last minute @dmoney2000 posted his latest YouTube track as usual with very cool animations https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1971/hey-everybody-neforum.aemodular.com/thread/1971/hey-everybody-neww
DIY Projects
Do-it-yourself doesn’t always mean that you have to be an electronic wiz, sometimes it’s just as well to exchange the solder iron for a hand saw and the solder for glue. These self made wooden cabinets for the AE Modular look fantastic and they are all as unique as their makers.
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1950/diy-ae-cabinet
Sometimes an unpatched modular synth can be just as intimidating to a musician as a blank sheet of paper is to a writer or painter. This new website can help you overcome the initial moment of indecision by providing you with randomised prompts about which module to patch with another. It has been designed and developed by @timothyjackman, a relatively new user on the forum. It’s simple, easy to use and absolutely brilliant, please check it out!
You can access the website directly here:
https://timothyjackman.github.io/aepatchgenerator.html
And you can leave comments and words of thanks in the following thread:
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1956/ae-patch-inspiration-challenge-website
Electronic Music Documentaries on TV
Sisters with Transistors (viewable in Europe only)
https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/104017-000-A/sisters-with-transistors-die-verkannten-heldinnen-der-elektronischen-musik/
Electronic Vibrations (this seems to be viewable from anywhere)
https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/098798-000-A/electronic-vibrations/
The following is a British documentary about various prominent inventors of electronic instruments. Luckily it’s available on YouTube.
Bright Sparks - A Side
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gXWgBEiNhs
Bright Sparks - B Side
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXPoM9s8Trs
Meetups and Events
https://www.superbooth.com/en/tickets.html
A few AE forum members have already indicated that they are planning to come to the event and that they would be interested in meeting up more formally. Please let us know if you’re also planning to come along and whether you’re interested in an AE Modular meetup at or outside Superbooth.
https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/1701/ideas-ae-meetup-superbooth-2022
Author
Robert Langer, founder of tangible waves. Here, I will share some thoughts, background infos and news about AE modular and tangible waves.
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