A CHOICE SELECTION OF MODULAR GOODNESS FOR GENERATIVE MUSIC
1
An envelope generator is key to using the other tools in your arsenal, as it helps shape the signals passing between them. We love the Roland 540 as it has two envelopes and an LFO with various waveshapes, external or manual trigger and sliders for the ADSR, which are way better than rotary controls for this use.
2
Pamela’s New Workout is a fantastic basis for any modular setup, with options for generating clock, LFO, Euclidean rhythms and even sequencing, over eight channels and it can easily be synced to other hardware with the Pexp expander.
3
Marbles by Mutable Instruments is a solid foundation for many generative patches, as it outputs both pitch and triggers, with a wide range of controls for clocking, quantising and randomisation.
4
Ochd is a small module of eight free running LFOs, that sounds very musical and can be used for all manner of things. We use it to add subtle variation to voices, tweak filter values over time and to add natural sounding volume fluctuations via a VCA. It’s one of our favourite modules and we use it in every patch.
5
We have a couple of favourite VCAs. Veils is a great quad option with its exp/linear morph but for generative music making we’re going to say we prefer L-1’s Discrete Blacksea VCA/Mixer, as it offers individual, paired and summed outputs at the same hp cost.
6
Solid State Fate’s and DivKid’s collaborative module RND STEP is an excellent source for random voltages, either generated internally or from an incoming source. It has three channels too, so multiple sample and holds are available in a small package.
7
A second module from Instruo is Harmonaig, a four output quantiser. What makes it so special is its musicality, with CV controllable options for generating chords, including voicings and spread. It’s capable of some beautiful results.
8
Z-DSP from Tiptop Audio is a fantastic, although large, module which takes cards that house various reverb and delay algorithms. It’s a stereo module capable of some incredible spacious reverbs from small room types, to almost endless shimmery type soundscapes.