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Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:36 pm
by franklinstower
I have a Moog Sub 37 and I play bass in an improvisational country, folk, jam band. We often do extended spacey improvisation where I use drones and such. I want two more analogue oscillators to add to my sub 37. I don't need or want another key-bed and I also don't need a lot of sequencing options. What I do need is Phat bass and the ability to play in the upper octaves as well also controlled by my Sub 37 via MIDI.

I am considering getting two Mother 32's from Moog but am looking for other suggestions for really good sounding analogue synth drones. What do you guys suggest? I am open to high and low end ideas but don't want anything too big size wise.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 5:59 am
by Bald Eagle
You may want to consider a Sub Phatty. It's only a 2 octave keyboard so it doesn't take up that much space. Less expensive than 2 Mother's.

I have both Sub 37 and Sub P and they work well and sound well together.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:18 am
by stiiiiiiive
...or a Slim Phatty.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:35 pm
by Vsyevolod
Two Werkstatt's.

Stephen




.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:46 pm
by franklinstower
Vsyevolod wrote:Two Werkstatt's.

Stephen




.

I had not thought of that and size wise it would fit right on my effects panel which I can run with my left hand. The only problem I see is that it seems like you cant control them via midi from the Sub 37. Is that not right?

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 12:33 pm
by EricK
Well this is the modular forum so perhaps your subconscious is telling you something. 8)

My first choice would be a moslab 8a because those 921 oscs are tremendous but that doesn't cover your midi interface, they are expensive, and there is a long wait time. You wouldn't even have to pay for the full 8a, you can just get the 921abb setup and use a dotcom midi interface. That is 2 oscs taking up 3 spaces whereas two dotcoms take up 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMTouJJP51A
Want deep bass?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAeQ9GC3-eQ


So to get you more immediacy and satisfy your needs, I've attached a small dotcom based system: Midi interface, mult, 2 oscs, the stg mixer, and a vca so you can articulate them.
You could probably do without the mixer and sub the dotcom osc aid, but considering the ability to mix the oscs, to get the Moog style distortion (cp3 clone) and using them as midi controlled LFOs, that mixer is especially nice. The VCA will allow you to articulate them as a voice or will let you drone away, though that can also be done with the stg mixer (minus the articulation). I wanted to throw in a 1u filter like the STG Post Lawsuit LPF just so you would have a complete voice.

These could be put in a dotcom box 11 or their small 8u tolex portable cabinet. Or there is a forum member here who could build you an enclosure if you want to get some modules like the moslab with the deeper pcbs.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 8:06 pm
by franklinstower
EricK wrote:Well this is the modular forum so perhaps your subconscious is telling you something. 8)

My first choice would be a moslab 8a because those 921 oscs are tremendous but that doesn't cover your midi interface, they are expensive, and there is a long wait time. You wouldn't even have to pay for the full 8a, you can just get the 921abb setup and use a dotcom midi interface. That is 2 oscs taking up 3 spaces whereas two dotcoms take up 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMTouJJP51A
Want deep bass?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAeQ9GC3-eQ


So to get you more immediacy and satisfy your needs, I've attached a small dotcom based system: Midi interface, mult, 2 oscs, the stg mixer, and a vca so you can articulate them.
You could probably do without the mixer and sub the dotcom osc aid, but considering the ability to mix the oscs, to get the Moog style distortion (cp3 clone) and using them as midi controlled LFOs, that mixer is especially nice. The VCA will allow you to articulate them as a voice or will let you drone away, though that can also be done with the stg mixer (minus the articulation). I wanted to throw in a 1u filter like the STG Post Lawsuit LPF just so you would have a complete voice.

These could be put in a dotcom box 11 or their small 8u tolex portable cabinet. Or there is a forum member here who could build you an enclosure if you want to get some modules like the moslab with the deeper pcbs.

Modular seems to complicated (and expensive for my needs) Probably the mother 32 or even two of them would do me fine. I just need to be able to make drones (2 oscillator thick drones) and be able to play keys at the same time.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:02 am
by stiiiiiiive
franklinstower wrote: Modular seems to complicated (and expensive for my needs) Probably the mother 32 or even two of them would do me fine. I just need to be able to make drones (2 oscillator thick drones) and be able to play keys at the same time.
Often, pulse width modulation on only one oscillator plus a filter can to the job…

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:17 am
by franklinstower
stiiiiiiive wrote:
franklinstower wrote: Modular seems to complicated (and expensive for my needs) Probably the mother 32 or even two of them would do me fine. I just need to be able to make drones (2 oscillator thick drones) and be able to play keys at the same time.
Often, pulse width modulation on only one oscillator plus a filter can to the job…

I will toy with that on my sub 37 and see of it would work out. If so that would be the easiest and most simple solution. They had me at calling it Mother to be honest-- just sounds so freaking cool. :D

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:24 am
by stiiiiiiive
Well, it depends on what exactly you’re planning to achieve.

With the Sub37, you can have an oscillator droning while the other one is playing melodies. But you’re limited… huh stimulated by “paraphony”, i.e. envelopes and filter are common.

With another synth, you can play both independently of course. And you can also send the signal into the Sub37 input so that you get a 3 osc + sub synth. In that configuration, envelopes and filter are in common too.

With one oscillator, modulating the pulse width (or the continuous wave form alla Moog for that matter) can do the job, really. Try with the Sub37 and see if you really need two Mother 32 afterwards.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:52 pm
by franklinstower
So I spent an hour or so messing around with one oscillator on the Sub last night based on your suggestion. It seems pretty close and just in the name of simplicity Id rather just get the one Mother 32. I don't think I know what you mean by modulating the pulse width though-- how do I do that?

My plan is to build a custom stand for my gear (once I am reasonably certain that I'm done. It will hold the Sub and the Mother and some pedals in such a way that it all looks like one sub 37 but with a higher knob panel. I've got some very expensive pure black material from a friend to make it all out of-- it ought to be beautiful. A 4 by 8 sheet of it is like 800 bucks and I got one for free. :D

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:09 pm
by EricK
franklinstower wrote: My plan is ___ once I am reasonably certain that I'm done.
I don't think there is a "done" when it comes to the event horizon you are about to approach.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:29 pm
by stiiiiiiive
franklinstower wrote:I don't think I know what you mean by modulating the pulse width though-- how do I do that?
The principle is that when the pulse width of a rectangular shaped oscillation is moving (i.e. modulated), the sound gets "thicker".
On the Sub 3, that would be something like using a MOD BUS with :
- Source: LFO triangle at moderate rate
- Destination: waveform of the oscillator your listening to
- Modifier (I'm not sure of the name of that parameter): ON, or modwheel to try several depths.

Set the oscillator wave form a little bit after the square, and adjust that and the modulation depth.

Here is what it sounds like.

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:22 pm
by franklinstower
Ok good news. I did know how to do that! but did not know what to call it and I had never done it with a pulse wave. Tonight Ill have time to really explore it but I am thinking that 1 oscillator would work out for my purposes. Now I only need a theramin and Im good (kidding) kind of......

Re: Need two more oscillators.

Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:17 am
by stiiiiiiive
Yeah, kind of ;)

Here is another example precisely with the Mother 32. It occurs at the end of "section 1".