Channel Title: Tom Churchill Channel Description: Modular synth tutorials, demos, jams and patch breakdowns. <video> ALM Busy Circuits MCO MkII | The ultimate compact modular voice? Description: The MCO MkII from ALM Busy Circuits is a new version of the compact digital oscillator originally released back in 2018. But it’s so much more powerful that the ‘MkII’ tag doesn’t really do it justice. The original MCO is a great-sounding digital wavetable oscillator. The MkII adapts this sound engine and adds six more, along with an internal envelope, VCA, three LFOs, chord modes and user presets. This all means that it can operate as a complete voice while still only taking up 6HP. In this video, I explore each of the synth engines in context with some musical patches. Big thanks to ALM for sponsoring this video and sending me the unit ahead of release. More info: https://busycircuits.com/alm046/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5cqQt9ov3E&list=PLQ8CAGjrVm-y1h80z062JOLhaBNkZQnCV&ab_channel=ALMTV More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 02:02 Overview of the MCO MkII 03:37 Virtana: basic setup & chord mode 11:08 DigiWave: user tables & sub output 16:17 ToneSum: additive oscillator jam 22:16 BC8000: supersaw stabs 25:46 Oomph: crafting the perfect kick 30:16 Sylon: vocodered drums FTW 34:28 SID Guts: bleepy retro fun </video> <video> 3 cool Eurorack modules you might not know about Description: This video features three of my favourite modules that I think have flown under the radar a bit: the Altered State Machines Aristotle, which is a two-channel non-linear analogue ‘additive sequencer’; the Beers DAC, which is a voltage-controllable transposer/adder; and the AtoV Project cDVCA, which is a unique kind of waveshaping, distorting, VCA, filter, combo. What they have in common is that they’re affordable; they're the only modules of their kind, as far as I can tell; and I hardly ever see them in other people’s racks. NB: This isn’t a sponsored video, I’m just a fan! More info on the modules: https://alteredstatemachines.net/aristotle https://isaacbeers.square.site/product/dac/1 https://atovproject.de/products/cdvca Monotrail's cDVCA video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbBH62DAT9Q More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Preview & intro 01:37 Patch overview & Aristotle 03:53 First sequence: Plaits 06:56 Second voice: CDVCA 12:03 Transposing with DAC 14:10 Adding drums & final patch </video> <video> Patching a modular sequencer from basic building blocks Description: This is a patch with two voices playing relatively complex complementary melodies - but I’m not using a dedicated sequencer module to drive them. Instead, I’ve patched up a sequencer from scratch using a couple of voltage-controlled switches, a couple of clock dividers, a matrix mixer and a quantiser. All I need to feed in are a simple steady clock and a fixed offset voltage, and I get loveliness out. Find out how in this video! The Monotrail video I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZRkcO4ZpbQ&ab_channel=MonotrailTechTalk More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro jam 01:45 Patch concept 07:51 Basic patterns 09:26 Gate patterns 13:07 Final touches </video> <video> A deep dive with the Erica Synths Graphic Resonant Filterbank! Description: The Erica Synths Graphic Resonant Filterbank (FB) is a modern take on a cult classic of modular synthesis: the Serge Resonant EQ. The original design dates back to the late 70s, and it’s pretty simple - a bank of 10 manually controlled filter bands that can process sound sources in subtle or extreme ways. It can self-oscillate for complex drones, or you can ping it with pulses to create organic-sounding percussion. For the Graphic Resonant Filterbank, Erica Synths took this basic idea but added a bunch of digital control, bringing it right up to date and massively expanding the range of potential applications. This video is sponsored by Erica Synths, and in it I build some patches that explore what the Graphic Resonant Filterbank can do, from complex spectral animation to pinging and feedback. More details: https://www.ericasynths.lv/shop/eurorack-modules/by-series/graphic-series/graphic-resonant-fb/ More on the Graphic Resonant FB from DivKid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7iYjOBMhBI More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 03:01 Overview & basic operation 10:21 Animated noise-based percussion 13:36 Clocked preset switching 15:47 Enveloped filter band modulation 19:08 No-input resonant percussion 21:33 No-input techno groove 23:51 Multimode filter simulation 27:11 Pinged percussion machine 30:53 Spectrum analyser & dynamic EQ 33:04 Slow preset morphing </video> <video> Jamming with the ALM MFX Pedal #synth #pedal #analogsynth #effects Description: </video> <video> Some acidic tones with the Nekyia Circuits Muzzle vactrol filter #synth #modularsynth #analogsynth Description: </video> <video> Putting synths and drum machines through the MFX Pedal from ALM Busy Circuits Description: The MFX Pedal from ALM Busy Circuits is a standalone version of the MFX Eurorack multi-effects module, and it’s designed to work with guitars as well as line-level sources. I’m definitely not a guitarist, but I do have a few synths and drum machines in my studio, so for this video I thought it might be fun to try putting them through it. I don’t go through all 18 programs or demonstrate every parameter, but I pick six of my favourite effects and offer some real-world examples that hopefully show off some of its range. Thanks to ALM for sending it over! Find out more about it here: https://busycircuits.com/mfx-pedal/ Buy at Signal Sounds: https://www.signalsounds.com/ALM-Busy-Circuits-MFX-Standalone-Stereo-Multi-Effects-Processor-Pedal More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 01:53 Controls overview 03:14 Almicon Reverb on Super 6 06:05 2051 Bit Corrupter on DRM1 09:24 Digi-PCM Echo on Model D 12:26 Slinky Reverb on Mort’s Barge 15:03 TH-30 Distortion on Volca Beats 17:49 Crumbular Echo on Elmyra 2 </video> <video> Euclidean rhythms made easy | AtoVproject lx-euclid Description: The AtoVproject lx-euclid is a four-channel Euclidean sequencer made in collaboration with Swiss designer Lucas Bonvin. It features a pair of touch-sensitive rings for editing parameters like the number of steps and the number of beats in the pattern, and there’s a circular colour display which visualises the rhythms. In this video, I walk you through the interface of lx-euclid and show you how fast and intuitive it is to start making beats. I also explore a few patches based around Euclidean rhythms that go a bit beyond simple drum programming. There are plenty of things that you can try with any Euclidean sequencer, so hopefully you’ll find these ideas useful no matter what kind of device you’re using or what kind of music you’re making. Thanks to AtoVproject for sponsoring this video :) More info on lx-euclid here: https://atovproject.de/ More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 02:22 Front panel overview 04:52 Basic rhythm settings 11:01 Rhythmic patterns for modulation 15:11 Evolving rhythms using CV 18:57 Turning rhythms into melodies </video> <video> Playing a sequence with the tap of a finger #modularsynth #synthesizer #electronicmusic Description: </video> <video> Exploring vactrol filters and modular utilities | Nekyia Circuits Mezcal, Muzzle & Cadence Description: In this video I’m checking out three modules from Nekyia Circuits. Muzzle is a vactrol-based filter; Mezcal is a compact multi-utility that includes a mult, rectifier, mixer and comparator; and Cadence is a triple decay envelope generator. Between them they provide lots of really useful analogue tools for a modular synth setup, and they all have some interesting twists. I build a few patches that not only show what these modules can do but also provide some more general patching tips and tricks for modular synths. Hopefully they’ll give you some ideas for things to try with your own setup if you have modules that can do similar things. More info: https://nekyiacircuits.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Q4ZhpuWgk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRSAFYukScg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALyMpZE2M2w More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro and patch previews 01:23 Modules overview 03:08 Using 2 trigger patterns for filter animation 10:03 Using a rectifier & comparator to expand a vco 15:43 Using envelope bursts to make drum sounds 18:57 Using a comparator for sequence accents </video> <video> Something new from Joranalogue and Hainbach! Description: Unboxing Collide 4 - a Quadrature Spectral Computer 🤖 </video> <video> Hieroglyphic Plume | Pulsar synthesis for Eurorack Description: Plume is the debut module from Hieroglyphic. It’s a digital oscillator based around pulsar synthesis, which is a fairly obscure technique devised by Curtis Roads in 2001, inspired by astronomical observations of neutron stars. In this video I build a few patches to explore the range of sounds it can produce - from complex stereo leads to West Coast-style wavefolded tones to rich, modulated drones. Thanks to Hieroglyphic for supplying the module. More info: https://www.hiero-glyphic.com/plume Buy at Signal Sounds: https://www.signalsounds.com/Hieroglyphic-Plume-Eurorack-Pulsar-Oscillator-Module DivKid’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLyfUW-RuN0&ab_channel=DivKid More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Patch previews 01:01 Introduction 02:16 A guided tour of Plume 11:37 Adding a sub-oscillator 16:11 Simulating Sofia-style synthesis 22:01 Plume as a complex LFO 25:45 West Coast wavefolded tones 27:46 Evolving ambient pads </video> <video> Xaoc Devices Lublin | Dual VCA with vactrol-style envelopes Description: Lublin, from Xaoc Devices, is a dual VCA with a difference. It has Ping inputs which model the behaviour of vactrols to create organic-sounding decay envelopes. You can create snappy plucked synth tones without needing a separate envelope generator, and the exponential decay curves mean it’s great for synthesising kick drums and percussive sounds. The envelopes only control the amplitude of the signal, not its frequency content, so it’s not a low-pass gate. But it’s easy to patch one: just feed a fixed voltage into the second channel and ping that to create a vactrol-style envelope which you can use to modulate a filter of your choice. This video is sponsored by Xaoc Devices, and in it I’ll build a few patches to show you some musical applications for this deceptively simple VCA. More on Lublin: https://xaocdevices.com/main/lublin/ More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 01:24 Lublin overview 02:46 Twin VCA with pinged envelopes 07:56 Patching a low pass gate 12:07 Dialling in the perfect kick drum 16:34 Creating vintage hi-hats 19:08 Stereo plucked chords </video> <video> 8 patch ideas for 8-step sequencers feat. Glasgow Synth Guild Oct Tone Description: Two and a half years ago I made a video about 8-step sequencer techniques which ended up being one of the most popular things on my channel. So when the Glasgow Synth Guild asked if I fancied making a video about their Oct Tone sequencer, I thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit the topic with 8 more patch ideas. A lot of the things I’m going to show you can be applied to any 8-step sequencer, so you’ll hopefully get some ideas for things to try no matter what you’re using. More info / order Oct Tone: https://www.glasgowsynthguild.com/shop/p/spring-bowl-rltkk-jy5sr-fjw6l-dp8lg-fbmgj-cs6n2-zpp9a-y7ptz DivKid’s Oct Tone demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGS7rDD6j8 The Unperson’s Oct Tone demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S7OrROYRwU My previous 8-step sequencer video: https://youtu.be/xQHEkkMJgkw More stuff from me: https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://alorsmusic.com/en/artists/tom-churchill Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:09 Playing with step triggers and pattern length 05:07 Deriving two parts from one sequence 07:09 Splitting a sequence between two voices 09:43 Switching clock speeds with step gates 11:26 303-style accents and slides 16:16 One-finger pattern playback 18:28 Switchable per-step flourishes 20:36 Advancing sequences with a tap </video> <video> Xaoc Devices Berlin | The oscillator that unlocks the Leibniz Binary Subsystem Description: Berlin is the latest module in the Leibniz Binary Subsystem from Xaoc Devices. On the surface, it’s a straightforward compact oscillator with FM, hard sync, and square and saw outputs. But round the back are connectors that let you run its 8-bit saw wave through other modules in the Leibniz Binary Subsystem. And that’s where the fun really starts. It’s a great pairing for Jena or Rostock in particular, and in this video, I explore various patches using Berlin in combination with these modules. More info: https://xaocdevices.com/main/berlin/ Order at Signal Sounds: https://www.signalsounds.com/Xaoc-Devices-Berlin-Eurorack-Leibniz-Oscillator-Module Some of my other Xaoc Devices videos: Rostock & Drezno II: https://youtu.be/eaiOnZ5PNps Erfurt & Lipsk: https://youtu.be/tuXGlSHvyUc Batumi II: https://youtu.be/2gwvDL-8xjM More stuff from me: https://tomchurchill.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/tomchurchill https://www.instagram.com/tomchurchill/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro & patch previews 02:01 What is the Leibniz Binary Subsystem? 03:43 Berlin overview 06:08 Driving Jena as a wavetable oscillator 11:10 Exploring phase modulation 15:58 Complex LFOs and modulation 19:37 Digital drum patterns 22:59 8-bit data hacking 30:25 Fun with frequency division </video>

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