>Step by step

1. Modular synth ambience

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In this tutorial, we’ll create an ambient patch using Cherry Audio’s Voltage Modular Nucleus. Combining the flexibility of a modular synth with a systematic approach like those used by Brian Eno can yield great results to be enjoyed alone, or serve as the stimulus for a more complex production. Let’s fire up Voltage Modular Nucleus and click ‘New’ to wipe the slate.

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Our goal is to create a patch that allows some control over the notes and sounds, but still offers some element of chance. We’ll do that in a way similar to that used by Eno on Discreet Music, by combining slow sequences with different tempos. Start at the module browser on the left and find the Eight-Step Sequencer module, then click the Add button.

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A sequencer needs something to sequence, so drop the Oscillator module into your rack. Next, find a Filter module and bring that in, too. Find the Square/Pulse output at the bottom of the Oscillator and run a cable from that into the Filter’s Audio In jack. You’ll need an Amplifier module to hear your sound, so bring one of those in as well.

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Stick with the traditional low-pass filter for now, running a cable from the Filter’s Low-pass Output (bottom-left) to the Amplifier’s Input jack. We want echo; grab a Delay module and patch the Amp’s “+” Output to the Delay’s Input. Route the Delay’s “+” Output to the 1L(M) jack in the Main Outs to host panel up top. Give the Amp’s Gain a nudge to hear the sound.

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Turn the Amplifier’s Gain back to nil for now. Let’s bring that Sequencer into play. Patch its CV Output jack up to the Oscillator’s Pitch CV input. This will cause our sequencer to control the notes played by the osc. Deselect all of the Sequencer’s Step On/Off buttons, save for 1, 3, and 7. Nudge step 3’s slider up to E3, and step 7’s value to G2. Step 1 will remain on C2.

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Find the Sequencer’s Rate knob and turn it all the way down to 3.8bpm. Slow. Very slow! Click the Sequencer’s Start button to set the sequence into motion. You can give your Amplifier’s Gain knob another nudge to hear your handiwork. It’s not too interesting, is it? Crank your Delay’s Time full, and set the Feedback to 66% or so. Still not great!

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Set the Filter’s Cutoff to 66Hz and nudge Resonance up to 40% or so. The sound all but disappears. Add in a Mini LFO from the module browser, dragging it to the left of the Filter. Patch the LFO’s topmost Triangle wave to the Filter’s Freq Mod 1 jack, and set mod amount to about 80%. Next, reduce the Mini LFO’s topmost Rate knob to 0.08 Hz.

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Disconnect the Delay from the Main Outs and stick a 6-Input Mixer in, with the Delay routed to input 1 on the Mixer, and the Mixer’s Master to the 1L(M) jack on the Main Outs panel. Add another Seq, Osc, Filter, Amp, and Delay module below. Patch the new modules as before, sans LFO. Route the second Delay’s “+” Output to the Mixer’s second input channel.

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Set the new Sequencer’s Rate to 4.7bpm. Deactivate its Step On/Off buttons, save 1, 5, and 7. Set step 5’s slider to G3, and step 7’s slider to C4. The new Osc’s Range should be 8’. Set your new Filter’s Cutoff to about 165Hz and its Res to 60%. Route the existing Mini LFO’s bottom-most Triangle out to the Filter’s Freq Mod 1 and nudge its Amount knob.

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Set the Mini LFO’s bottom Rate to 0.05 Hz. Bring your second Amp’s Gain knob up a bit and start the second Sequencer. That second Delay’s Time needs a push up to, oh, around, 1600ms. Your sequencers should be colliding gently at unpredictable times, with the LFO shaping their timbres. Our notes were selected to ensure harmonic coherence.

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Let’s add another Osc, Filter, Amplifier, and Delay. Route the Osc’s Sawtooth wave into the Filter, and the Filter’s Band Pass output into the Amp. The Amp’s “+” Output goes to the Delay, and the Delay’s “+” Output into Mixer channel 3. Now, add another Mini LFO and route its topmost Triangle Out to the new Amp’s CV Amount jack. Set the LFO’s topmost Rate to 0.11 Hz.

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The new filter’s Cutoff and Resonance should be around 206Hz and 20%, respectively. Route the new LFO’s bottom Triangle output to the new Filter’s Freq Mod 1 and nudge the Mod Amount knob. Set the LFO’s bottom Rate to 0.03Hz. Adjust the new Delay’s Time, and tweak your Mixer’s levels until you’ve got the perfect mix. We could listen to this all day!