MOTM

At 1:21 PM -0400 10/17/01, revtor@... wrote:
>
>I have a few concussor drum modules and they are a very fun way to throw
>>some percussion into your modular mix. Highly recommended! (though
>patterns >can get a bit repetitive.. (where are my logic modules?))

Logic modules certainly would make things more interesting.  I assume that
Concussor offers a gate sequencer.  Regardless, even without the sequencer,
trying to replace a drum machine like an 808 or 909 with modular would take
a cabinet full of MOTM modules.  Yet, having that kind of flexibility would
be analogue heaven for anyone doing minimal techno.  Otoh, it would be
sheer hell for someone trying to produce psy-trance.  It depends what you
are trying to do, and how you work.

While I sample percussion sounds synthesized or processed with my little
MOTM setup, this loses the ability to modulate percussion sounds over
several bars with a slow envelope or LFO.

>1U dedicated drum modules would be fantastic!!  Bass (kick, toms, blocks,
>>etc..), Noise (hihats, snares, etc..),  maybe another.
>4 control knobs, trig in, drum out and two vc'd params..  MOTM drum
>modules >would be awesome!!  I'll do a bit of research on this..

I'm not enthusiastic about MOTM modules dedicated to individual percussion
sounds, like having the equivalent of one channel of a Tama or Simmons
brain in a MOTM module.  However I think that modules could be designed
that would make percussion synthesis more efficient, while maintaining the
spirit and flexibility of a modular.

For example, an EG (ADS) and VCA combined in one module, with jacks for
trigger in, envelope out, audio in, and audio out -- four knobs and four
jacks in 1U just like an 800.

Another module might be a tintinnabular audio source, in order to produce
metallic sounds without having to use a large number of modules.

For drums, the TR-808 uses a "bridged T-network" in order to create a
waveform similar to an oscillator decaying in amplitude.  Rather than using
the trigger to trigger EG's controlling separate VCO's and VCA's as in the
606 and 909, it seems the trigger itself is transformed into the sound.  In
my limited understanding, it's like a VCO that runs out of steam.  Like the
skin of a drum, it oscillates after being hit, then tapers off into
silence.  For the 808 toms, this circuit is modified with diodes such that
the frequency decays as well.  Perhaps this technology could be rolled into
a  MOTM module with increased flexibility such that it could produce more
than just drum sounds.