Envelope generators

Tips and techniques for Minimoog Analog Synthesizers
Post Reply
MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Envelope generators

Post by MarkM » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:46 am

With the VX 351 could one interface with an external filter generator? If so, who makes one? Could you put one together from some MOTM or DotCom components?
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

User avatar
GregAE
Posts: 1590
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: In the studio, of course

Post by GregAE » Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:09 pm

The VX-351 allows the Voyager to interface with ALL voltage controlled equipment - that's the reason it exists.

As for EG's (I assume you mean envelope generators when you said 'external filter generator') they are available from a good number of sources. For a fairly complete list of modular manufacturers, go to

http://www.modularsynth.com/

Greg

MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Post by MarkM » Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:42 pm

Sorry, I meant "external envelope generator". I wish Moog Music would make a Moogerfooger envelope generator. I don't always want to readjust the filter and volume EG's in the V'ger to modulate something other parameter.
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Post by MarkM » Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:15 pm

I don't own the VX 351, but how would one use an third EG to modulate the V'ger? For example: Pitch. What goes into the EG and what comes out?
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

User avatar
GregAE
Posts: 1590
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: In the studio, of course

Post by GregAE » Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:34 pm

Using a third EG to modulate pitch is an excellent example. Plug the EG output into the Voyager Pitch input, and use the Keyboard Gate output on the VX-351 to trigger the EG.

Set the EG for no attack, quick decay, no sustain and no release. Set the EG amount fairly low. With this configuration you're going to get a slight pitch instability with every note. This simulates the pitch instability of some acoustic instruments (horns for example). If the EG output is bi-directional, send a negative amount instead of a postive one and increase the decay time a bit. Now the pitch swoops up on every note, ala Keith Emerson's GX-1.

I agree that having a third EG would greatly expand possibilities with the Voyager. You could, for example, mix the output of the filter EG and third EG to create a multistage envelope that would go way beyond a typical ADSR. A third EG opens up a whole new set of possibilities.

Until Moog makes such a device, you'll have to look elsewhere for a third EG.

Greg

MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Post by MarkM » Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:47 pm

Thanks Greg. I guess I would have to buy a module and power supply and put them in a box or rack.
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

User avatar
CZ Rider
Posts: 586
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:13 am
Location: Southeastern, PA

Envelope generators

Post by CZ Rider » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:59 pm

Hey Mark,
I have added the VX351 to my Voyager to interface with an old
model D and some extra modules. I ended up with an absoultly
flexable system, possibly the coolest synth I ever played. As Greg
pointed out, something as simple as adding an extra envelope
generatot to the filter, makes some really interesting sonic possibilities.
Not to mention controlling external filters, EG's, oscillators, with the
touch pad, way too much fun! Here is a pic of the Voyager with the added
modules:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6s1hi/mini ... nthesizer/
Does that guy playing the Voyager look familiar?
Terry

MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Post by MarkM » Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:21 am

Terry! Hey, how are you? Yes, I recognize him. Did you guys have a good time at the planetarium in P'burgh? I would have loved to have been there.

Boy, that is one tough looking setup you have there! Well, as you can see I have added a V'ger to my setup now, and I absolutely love it. What a tremendous live performance synth! It's maiden voyage was last month at the MEMS in Indy.

I would love to have an extra EG. I've been looking at the Blacets and the dotComs. But I guess I've got to get the VX 351 first.
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

User avatar
CZ Rider
Posts: 586
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:13 am
Location: Southeastern, PA

Envelope generators

Post by CZ Rider » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:33 pm

Hey Mark,
Congrats on getting a Voyager. I only recently picked one up this July.
I enjoyed listening to your podcast interview, some great music on there,
and some insight to Amaranth Signal, nice!
So the VX-351 is quite an expensive add-on. I found mine at
Humbuckers.com. I have so much modular gear around here, it would have
been crazy not to get it. I figured just to have the touch pad outs alone
was worth the expense, and it turned out to make the Voyager one of the
best analog controllers I have here. It does have some quirks, but that
makes it fun. For instance the aftertouch is like a switch, on or off. But
you could use that feature to trigger an extra envelope generator to the
Voyager filter. Just press down harder on the keys to trigger it. Endless
fun, with great bunch of outputs. I had a patch going from the touch pad
to the Model D, X to the oscilators, Y to the filter, and touch gate to trigger
the envelopes, while the rest of the Voyager played un-affected by the
touch pad. Nice addition.
I also just broke in my Voyager with a gig at the Fels Planetarium in Phila.
It was a Bob Moog tribute concert entitled "Moog on the Moon". Mark Jenkins
and Xeroid Entity were there with us. We had a few Moogs in our setup for
the tribute. It went really well, nice place to play.
A few pics here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6s1hi/mini ... r/id3.html


Our next gig is a live radio concert October 30, late Saturday night for
the "Back in Time 2" concert. We start the show at 1:59, when we warp back
in time to finish the set at 1:58 a minute before we started? Daylight saving
time! I'll be playing almost exclusively old analog 70's synthesizers.

See you at ElectroMusic 2006?
Terry

MarkM
Posts: 909
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee, USA

Post by MarkM » Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:02 pm

Wouldn't miss EM06! Boy, I would love to pick your Mod/analog brain! The VX 351 isn't too bad price-wise. I've got to get one. When I get some more cash I think I'm going to put together an EG which will probably be the beginnings of a Mod system. I've got the Moogers 101, 102, 103 (soon 104) as well as the CP 251. So there are some more modules. Add those and the V'ger. . .
I would think Moog Music could probably have some success selling an Mooger Fooger Envelope Generator if they made it. I've not been able to find a stand alone EG. I'm going to have to put one together myself.

PS Check Orbital Decay's email.
Mark Mahoney
http://www.reverbnation.com/markmahoney
www.cdbaby.com/cd/mmahoneympeck
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmahoney

Post Reply