Another quantizer that is worth mentioning considering price is the Penrose. It has no inbuilt scales and only one note and trigger output, but it got keys. It's diy only, but rather simple to put together. www.sonic-potions.com/penrose
Saw this video years back and went out and got the Doepfer quantizer. Never fully grasped all the possible applications other than just using it for melodies. Now, 2 years down the road I came across this video again and now things really begin to click. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear 🙌🖤
Long-time viewer and proud new Patreon member. I'm a guy in my fifties who always wanted to learn about how synthesizer music is made, especially the genres of my youth that relied on modular synthesis techniques. I started with a number of solid semi-modular instruments a few years ago and along the way I put together a utilities skiff to augment the studio's capabilities. I've recently started building my first modular instrument in a Doepfer 9U travel case and I'm having an immense amount of fun. I have little previous experience with making music. I have a strong STEM background, so that has helped on this journey. But, Monotrail Tach Talk makes clear a host of interesting and subtle uses of the technology that are necessary for rewarding live playing and recording, topics that would have otherwise taken longer for me to add to my repertoire of techniques and understanding. All of this takes me back to being a kid, listening to the old Kosmische Muzik and Berlin School for the first time and being transported. Or feeling the floor shake in the movie theater at midnight to Wendy Carlos' take of The Funeral March of Queen Mary. Or being entranced by Maestro Vangelis's magic spells. Thanks for making my trip back to that place much more fun and relaxing and productive and stimulating than it may have otherwise been. It really means a lot.
Hello! That's a lovely story to hear, thanks for sharing :) Also a huge thanks for your patreon support. It's really the only reason I can spend a lot of time on these videos! Very happy you picked this up. I think making music and tinkering with sound is a very fulfilling activity. I got 'lucky' starting this channel in Covid, as I think a lot of people picked up new things during that time. I'm turning 40 in few weeks, and my youtube stats show I'm about my average viewers age. Most between 25-65. It's a lovely community! All the best, and enjoy the journey :)
I've been using a trick recently feeding the same LFO through 4 attenuators, and then to a quantiser. Using different scales, and the trigger out, you can get drum-like rhythms quantised - really crazy!
Chapeau, your videos are packed to the brim with useful info. That's why they're not really suited for one-off viewing but for returning and re-watching, picking up something new every time. My takeaway this time is the tempo-synced + free-running + random into quantizer. Such wealth of musical phrases to mine from right there, thanks !!
Hey, thanks for letting me know! Really motivates me to get comments like these. I still use that trick a lot, and might do another more in depth video on it one day. Cheers!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Great thanks, look forward to it ! Personally, I'd be interested to hear how you made that canon/organ like motif in this video th-cam.com/video/rviOanKymWI/w-d-xo.html .. specifically how does one restrict the voices ? Reminds me of Palestrina we used to play in a brass quartet ..
This is kind of video i was searching in all TH-cam thank you for explain in this way it is excellent way i am new in eurorack and this is a very approachable way to learn 🙏🏻 thanks 🤩
@@MonotrailTechTalk yes I fall into the category of beginner euro rack guy. I haven't seen anybody put things the way you do. It's almost like people want to show off their gear and their ability, under the pretext of a tutorial while keeping everything as complicated as possible.
This is the only channel where I can understand immediately what is going on. Other TH-cam channels about eurorack stuff I am most of the time big ??? Thank you.
Nice explanation! A favorite way for me to construct an organic sequence is using the Doepfer A-143-4 quad VCLFO: (Self patched for complexity) A-143-4 square signal outs> Mixer > (optional offset/ polarizer) > quantizer. This can be made more involved by having the 143 >mixer output share channels with a second mixer. Quantizer triggers > clock divider- outs> Other channels in second mixer> already feeding quantizer.
I had some success using the E350 as an lfo into a quantizer and then just nudge the settings to change the output wave slightly every now and then. So basically a wavefolder and attenuation can shape a simple "boring" low frequency wave into something rather useful for making repeating but interesting patterns. Thanks for what you do. You are a supreme pedagog. Also kudos for using relatively cheap modules and showing that you don't need a wall of eurorack to make good music.
Hey thats very intersting indeed! So you can set the waveshape to make an interesting pattern, and then use subtle waveform modulation to make variations. I like it, thanks for the tip! And you're welcome! I am afraid the wall will grow a lot faster now I started this series, there's a lot of interesting things Id like to talk about I don't onw yet. But I do hope to keep that philosophy alive :) All the best!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Hey and thanks for the reply. Yes as the E352 has some "strange" modes like morph + wavefold, morph + phase etc, that can be used below audirate you can get some really strange lfo's. So there are probably loads of other funny shapes to find with a combination of other modules, as long as you get the frequency low enough. I haven't got a wavefolder but guess they can fold lfo's to, and that together with a filter with a fm input is in this context probably worth exploring to.
hi, wouldnt it be cool if you could have one of the quantisers set to say a minor scale and the other to chords so that you could feed the chords in the scale to play chords that are in a scale? as far as I know the a-156 can't do that or is there a jumper setting on the back for it? Thanks
Love your videos. Also love quantisers (well, analogue sequencers which usually need a quantiser). I have an A-156 (shame they didn't include an offset) and a Ladik Easy Quantiser. I prefer one control per knob where possible. DO you use any other quantisers?
Thank you! And an offset would be nice indeed, but also like Doepfers simple, and to the point affordable aproach. I use the Disting mk4 some times, but would like a quantizer with easy to adjust manual scales. Maybe one day ;)
Thanks! Metropolis can output great quantized sequences, so no 'need' to create melodies! But of course you could still have fun with a quantizer to do other stuff, as shown in the video :)
I see you use the erica synths Black Wavetable VCO. I'm at the point of ordering a wavetable VCO and am in two minds about Plaits or the Black. Which one would you recommend?
Hmm tough one. Plaits is more than wavetables, offers a lot of other modes, and in general I'd say a wider range of sounds. The Black wavetable feels very dedicated, no mode switching, and I like the wavetables. Key point for me is the -1 or -2 sub oscillator output, that has the same shape and morphing power as the main oscillator!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Okay thank you very much for your feedback. I think I'll have to listen to more videos about both to make up my mind. In the mean time I just ordered a Hertz Donut as my main digital oscillator because I saw they were back in stock. I realize it's a totally different beast but I think it will give me a lot of variety too and lots of weird sounds. I want to style my case more in the industrial direction. Do you have any experience with the Hertz Donut? Any tips or things to look out for?
Great stuff! But one question: Is it not correct that the 12-step staircase signal refers to the range from 0V to +1V and not to the range from 0V to +2V? (at 3:00)
Very interesting, as always!!! I just haven´t figured out the transpose-function yet - when I put in a gate signal, I just hear a very high pitched noise, and with CV nothing really useful happens either :( Or is it only for keyboard-connection?
Thanks! And the key there is attenuation. If you patch a gate directly to the transpose the pitch goes up so much you just end up with a high noise. In my video I use the gate from the Beatstep Pro through an attenuator, then adjust the atenuator to determine the amount you want to transpose.
@@MonotrailTechTalk man, thank you!!!! You don´t know how long I tried to find out..!!! Will try that right away! P.S: I bought the DUAL LFO after I saw your other video, its great haha ;)
Thank you for this one, thoroughly explained! And it came right in on time I was looking for a Quantizer! Oh and a question: have you found yourself missing the beloved infamous pentatonic scales?
Glad to hear it! And I do miss the posibility to create some custom scales on the Doepfer, but its very affordable for a dual quantizer, which is great for performing.
Yes indeed that was the spot. BTW I respect that your videos are focused on actual practical usable synthesis techniques using modular and not just listing function X function Y function Z of the modules or bleep bleep noise examples. By far my favorite modular content on youtube, and I thank you very much for that.
From now on patch & block diagram illustrations are available to Patrons ;) www.patreon.com/monotrail
Another quantizer that is worth mentioning considering price is the Penrose. It has no inbuilt scales and only one note and trigger output, but it got keys. It's diy only, but rather simple to put together.
www.sonic-potions.com/penrose
Saw this video years back and went out and got the Doepfer quantizer. Never fully grasped all the possible applications other than just using it for melodies. Now, 2 years down the road I came across this video again and now things really begin to click. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear 🙌🖤
Hey, thanks for sharing, that's nice to hear! Glad it found it's way to you twice :)
super clear tutorials. massively underrated channel.
Thank you so much! :)
You sir, have here one of the most thorough, to the point, and beautiful approach to this genre of video.
So glad to hear it! Really excited about this new channel, hope it will bring a lot of joy this year :)
Long-time viewer and proud new Patreon member.
I'm a guy in my fifties who always wanted to learn about how synthesizer music is made, especially the genres of my youth that relied on modular synthesis techniques. I started with a number of solid semi-modular instruments a few years ago and along the way I put together a utilities skiff to augment the studio's capabilities. I've recently started building my first modular instrument in a Doepfer 9U travel case and I'm having an immense amount of fun. I have little previous experience with making music.
I have a strong STEM background, so that has helped on this journey. But, Monotrail Tach Talk makes clear a host of interesting and subtle uses of the technology that are necessary for rewarding live playing and recording, topics that would have otherwise taken longer for me to add to my repertoire of techniques and understanding.
All of this takes me back to being a kid, listening to the old Kosmische Muzik and Berlin School for the first time and being transported. Or feeling the floor shake in the movie theater at midnight to Wendy Carlos' take of The Funeral March of Queen Mary. Or being entranced by Maestro Vangelis's magic spells.
Thanks for making my trip back to that place much more fun and relaxing and productive and stimulating than it may have otherwise been. It really means a lot.
Hello! That's a lovely story to hear, thanks for sharing :) Also a huge thanks for your patreon support. It's really the only reason I can spend a lot of time on these videos! Very happy you picked this up. I think making music and tinkering with sound is a very fulfilling activity. I got 'lucky' starting this channel in Covid, as I think a lot of people picked up new things during that time. I'm turning 40 in few weeks, and my youtube stats show I'm about my average viewers age. Most between 25-65. It's a lovely community! All the best, and enjoy the journey :)
I've been using a trick recently feeding the same LFO through 4 attenuators, and then to a quantiser. Using different scales, and the trigger out, you can get drum-like rhythms quantised - really crazy!
Hey, cool idea. Nice way to get these little variations in patterns I imagine. Have fun!
It's difficult to _quantize_ how incredibly useful this tutorial is. Thank you for making and sharing it!
Haha, so glad to hear it, and you're welcome :)
Chapeau, your videos are packed to the brim with useful info. That's why they're not really suited for one-off viewing but for returning and re-watching, picking up something new every time. My takeaway this time is the tempo-synced + free-running + random into quantizer. Such wealth of musical phrases to mine from right there, thanks !!
Hey, thanks for letting me know! Really motivates me to get comments like these. I still use that trick a lot, and might do another more in depth video on it one day. Cheers!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Great thanks, look forward to it ! Personally, I'd be interested to hear how you made that canon/organ like motif in this video th-cam.com/video/rviOanKymWI/w-d-xo.html .. specifically how does one restrict the voices ? Reminds me of Palestrina we used to play in a brass quartet ..
The production levels of your videos keeps getting better and betters. Cheers!
Thank you! With some people finding their way to Patreon I'm able to invest more time and equipment! Thanks for watching!
This is kind of video i was searching in all TH-cam thank you for explain in this way it is excellent way i am new in eurorack and this is a very approachable way to learn
🙏🏻 thanks 🤩
Thanks for letting me know, makes me happy you got value out of it, cheers!
Great you're a breath of fresh air in the confusing fog that is modular!
Thank you so much! Im a bit swamped atm, but plan to make a lot more beginner friendly videos in the near future! cheers :)
@@MonotrailTechTalk yes I fall into the category of beginner euro rack guy. I haven't seen anybody put things the way you do. It's almost like people want to show off their gear and their ability, under the pretext of a tutorial while keeping everything as complicated as possible.
This is like, college class level content. Very clear and informative and a really excellent practical demo
Thank you so much! Cheers!
Thanks for the explanation
It helped clarify a few things
Glad to hear it! Cheers :)
This is the only channel where I can understand immediately what is going on. Other TH-cam channels about eurorack stuff I am most of the time big ???
Thank you.
Hey, that's nice to hear, glad it's clearing things up!
I like your video. The effectiveness of a module video depends upon the shrewdness of the patch and composition.
Those are some nice and understandable illustrations.
Glad to hear it!
Excellent- useful information in a clearly understandable form. One to cut out and keep…
Much appreciated!
Straightforward useful. Danke!
Glad to hear it, thanks!
Nice explanation! A favorite way for me to construct an organic sequence is using the Doepfer A-143-4 quad VCLFO:
(Self patched for complexity) A-143-4 square signal outs> Mixer > (optional offset/ polarizer) > quantizer.
This can be made more involved by having the 143 >mixer output share channels with a second mixer.
Quantizer triggers > clock divider- outs> Other channels in second mixer> already feeding quantizer.
Thanks! And a great trick indeed. The A143-4 is a great module, really love that one for it's diversity and power :)
Really learning a lot from the format of these videos. Thanks!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching :)
I had some success using the E350 as an lfo into a quantizer and then just nudge the settings to change the output wave slightly every now and then. So basically a wavefolder and attenuation can shape a simple "boring" low frequency wave into something rather useful for making repeating but interesting patterns. Thanks for what you do. You are a supreme pedagog. Also kudos for using relatively cheap modules and showing that you don't need a wall of eurorack to make good music.
Hey thats very intersting indeed! So you can set the waveshape to make an interesting pattern, and then use subtle waveform modulation to make variations. I like it, thanks for the tip! And you're welcome! I am afraid the wall will grow a lot faster now I started this series, there's a lot of interesting things Id like to talk about I don't onw yet. But I do hope to keep that philosophy alive :) All the best!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Hey and thanks for the reply. Yes as the E352 has some "strange" modes like morph + wavefold, morph + phase etc, that can be used below audirate you can get some really strange lfo's. So there are probably loads of other funny shapes to find with a combination of other modules, as long as you get the frequency low enough. I haven't got a wavefolder but guess they can fold lfo's to, and that together with a filter with a fm input is in this context probably worth exploring to.
For sure, I'll get into exploring simple LFO through wavefolder shapes for melodies :)
Great tutorial again. The graphics you add are (as in all your vids) super in understanding in detail. Top! Helemaal goed 🙏
I'm happy the illustrations add to the experience! Dank je wel :)
Excellent work as always dude
Thank you!
Amazing video again, thank you so much
Thank you! And you're welcome :)
thx for u work,
deine clips sind eine stake inspiration.
und haben mir sehr geholfen
thx Bro
Hallo! Das ist schön zu hören. Ich bin froh, dass du etwas Wertvolles daraus gemacht hast. Alles Gute!
hi, wouldnt it be cool if you could have one of the quantisers set to say a minor scale and the other to chords so that you could feed the chords in the scale to play chords that are in a scale? as far as I know the a-156 can't do that or is there a jumper setting on the back for it?
Thanks
Love your videos. Also love quantisers (well, analogue sequencers which usually need a quantiser). I have an A-156 (shame they didn't include an offset) and a Ladik Easy Quantiser. I prefer one control per knob where possible.
DO you use any other quantisers?
Thank you! And an offset would be nice indeed, but also like Doepfers simple, and to the point affordable aproach. I use the Disting mk4 some times, but would like a quantizer with easy to adjust manual scales. Maybe one day ;)
Great video as always! Is there still a need for a quantizer module if you have a sequencer like Metropolix?
Thanks! Metropolis can output great quantized sequences, so no 'need' to create melodies! But of course you could still have fun with a quantizer to do other stuff, as shown in the video :)
Hi, I am looking for new studio speakers. Which ones do you use for your studio? Thank you in advance!
Hi there! I use the Yamaha HS7
@@MonotrailTechTalk Thank you for the information and your work on Patreon. It is absolutely helpful for me and for many others too I guess! Good day!
I see you use the erica synths Black Wavetable VCO. I'm at the point of ordering a wavetable VCO and am in two minds about Plaits or the Black. Which one would you recommend?
Hmm tough one. Plaits is more than wavetables, offers a lot of other modes, and in general I'd say a wider range of sounds. The Black wavetable feels very dedicated, no mode switching, and I like the wavetables. Key point for me is the -1 or -2 sub oscillator output, that has the same shape and morphing power as the main oscillator!
@@MonotrailTechTalk Okay thank you very much for your feedback. I think I'll have to listen to more videos about both to make up my mind. In the mean time I just ordered a Hertz Donut as my main digital oscillator because I saw they were back in stock. I realize it's a totally different beast but I think it will give me a lot of variety too and lots of weird sounds. I want to style my case more in the industrial direction. Do you have any experience with the Hertz Donut? Any tips or things to look out for?
YAZ!
:)
Great stuff! But one question: Is it not correct that the 12-step staircase signal refers to the range from 0V to +1V and not to the range from 0V to +2V? (at 3:00)
Ouch! Thats a big one on my side, well spotted! Indeed it should be 12 steps per octave, and thus per 1volt increase!
Starting from random voltages into the quantizer you can select the scale but...how about the root note?
By tuning the oscillator!
@@MonotrailTechTalk or with offset, isnt it?
Very interesting, as always!!! I just haven´t figured out the transpose-function yet - when I put in a gate signal, I just hear a very high pitched noise, and with CV nothing really useful happens either :( Or is it only for keyboard-connection?
Thanks! And the key there is attenuation. If you patch a gate directly to the transpose the pitch goes up so much you just end up with a high noise. In my video I use the gate from the Beatstep Pro through an attenuator, then adjust the atenuator to determine the amount you want to transpose.
@@MonotrailTechTalk man, thank you!!!! You don´t know how long I tried to find out..!!! Will try that right away! P.S: I bought the DUAL LFO after I saw your other video, its great haha ;)
Thank you for this one, thoroughly explained! And it came right in on time I was looking for a Quantizer! Oh and a question: have you found yourself missing the beloved infamous pentatonic scales?
Glad to hear it! And I do miss the posibility to create some custom scales on the Doepfer, but its very affordable for a dual quantizer, which is great for performing.
Hello. I have the Doepfer A-156, but the Disting MK4 is smaller... and have 80 more functions... Have fun!
Thanks! I have one to, and indeed very compact and flexible. Just thought the Doepfer would be more clear to explain the concept :) Cheers!
Appreciate the video, but the graphics should show blue (CV) going into the VCO and quantizer, not pink (audio)
Hey! If you mean the graphics at about 2:40 you are absolutely right, saw that mistake to late when the video was already uploaded.
Yes indeed that was the spot. BTW I respect that your videos are focused on actual practical usable synthesis techniques using modular and not just listing function X function Y function Z of the modules or bleep bleep noise examples. By far my favorite modular content on youtube, and I thank you very much for that.
Hey, glad to hear it! I'm happy to make them if I get such nice comments back from it! All the best :)
Showing diagrams is useless, w3 need you to show one step to another on the hardwear gear