Share your fun CV/gate ideas and tips!

Meow · 30th January 2012

Hey boys!

Ok, so I've been doing this little thing the past week or so to practice on my sound design skills in which I write a little song, then when it's done I try to make it into a totally different song but only with sound design! I don't let myself change any of the structure or anything, just the sounds/fx/etc.

So it's super fun!

Anywho, in the process of doing this I have been doing a lot of experimenting with different ways of manipulating CV and gate signals between all the synths and FX units in Reason. I can see where this is a very powerful thing and I also understand why it was used on all the older synthesizers and the like!

So, since it pretty much works in Reason just like it does in real hardware, I think users of both should share some cool ideas on what you do with it!

It could be just normalish things like making a drum machine fire notes from a synth or control a filter or something, or it could be some amazing 5000 wire modulation masterpiece!

Doesn't matter, just share away!

Xoxoxox <3

Rogue Ai · 30th January 2012

One, fun thing is to use a combinator to automate osc and filter types in Thor. Results are weird.

Meow · 30th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Ai

One, fun thing is to use a combinator to automate osc and filter types in Thor. Results are weird.

About to try it in just a couple minutes, I'll post a little example of what happens!

Meow · 1st February 2012

Nobody else?! Come on guys!

audioconsult · 1st February 2012

dont have reason.. and in reality with the real cv´s you either just have them plainly triger sequences and events..like in a 303..where you have your cv and gate... but on top of that extra trigger tracks for teh accent and slide fx...

or you do some really weard stuff with strange modules like this one..

4ms pedals: Rotating Clock Divider

where i really dont know wheter you can do such things in reason..

maybe with mutiple sequencers that trigger each other...

in the end of the day you need to find your own tricks..when it sounds good..it is good...

**Reptil** · 1st February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meow

Nobody else?! Come on guys!

I'll post some later, I'm kinda tied up atm with boring stuff to do.
Shouldn't even be here! LOL
Nice idea this thread!

Oli · 1st February 2012

I used to like having something like an LFO sweeping a note CV, and a drum machine audio out triggering the note gate. Messing with the LFO, and applying different gate rhythms is fun. Goes well with some spacious effects. Simple but fun. 101 was good for this.

edit - I seem to recall 101 could do this with the pitch controlled by portamento across the entire key range, with gate in controlling the rhythm. You can do that on a Lead, but the portamento is too fast to be of any use.

Bumply · 1st February 2012

Been awhile since I used reason, but it can be alot of fun with the back panel. Using the dr Rex gate with a chopped/syncopated drum loop (and muting dr Rex) to trig the envelope on a synth is fun.

Meow · 1st February 2012

Remember it doesn't have to be in Reason, hardware tips too!

Keep them coming!!

I <3 you guys as usual!!

moneyforsluts · 2nd February 2012

Well hardware wise a lowpass filter can be used as a slew limiter (to do glides) if you feed it keyboard CV. Reverse is true if you have a slew limiter.

bloodsample · 2nd February 2012

I like the sound of a env gen's CV controlling LFO rate and the LFO in turn controlling something audible (filter cutoff, pitch, etc). The env gen's input can come from either a sequencer, keyboard, or another LFO square wave for example.

Similarly I get cool results modulating LFO rates with other LFOs "chained". You get some weird almost random sounding patterns (that eventually repeat).

Not sure if this is possible in reason, but I'm guessing if you flip subtractor upside down there should be some envelope CV output in the back.

Rogue Ai · 2nd February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodsample

I like the sound of a env gen's CV controlling LFO rate and the LFO in turn controlling something audible (filter cutoff, pitch, etc). The env gen's input can come from either a sequencer, keyboard, or another LFO square wave for example.

Similarly I get cool results modulating LFO rates with other LFOs "chained". You get some weird almost random sounding patterns (that eventually repeat).

Not sure if this is possible in reason, but I'm guessing if you flip subtractor upside down there should be some envelope CV output in the back.

Use Thor for this. You can do all of what you said inside the matrix mixer.

ENV -> LFO 1 rate
LFO1 -> LFO 2 rate
LFO 2 -> Filter Freq, etc.

**Reptil** · 2nd February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Ai

Use Thor for this. You can do all of what you said inside the matrix mixer.

ENV -> LFO 1 rate
LFO1 -> LFO 2 rate
LFO 2 -> Filter Freq, etc.

Can you do feedback loops? I'm not intimate with Reason much.

Rogue Ai · 2nd February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptil

Can you do feedback loops? I'm not intimate with Reason much.

Yes. Just as dangerous as analog feedback.

joonebug · 2nd February 2012

One of my favorite modulation routine on my mokey is using its sequencer and I usually map out the following:

Track1 = pitch/notes
Track2 = filter cutoff
Track3 = resonance
Track4 = sometimes I map this to the other oscillator pitch

Instant 80's base line a'la Vince Clark.

Cheers!

**Reptil** · 2nd February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Ai

Yes. Just as dangerous as analog feedback.

intentional feedback loops?

Rogue Ai · 2nd February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptil

intentional feedback loops?

Yes. What I meant is to be careful so you don't fry you speakers or your ears.

**Reptil** · 2nd February 2012

it's a great trick to create feedback loops, which can be processed as well: filtered, waveshaped, modulated, and attennuated (using a passive attennuator, but also VCA) etc.
filters get more "umph" that way. I didn't have to mod my Doepfer a-124 Wasp filter clone (standard has very little resonance just like the original) because a feedback on it's own input.

I'm trying to ascertain which tricks in an analogue system (no processing delay) can be used in a modern computer running Reason. otherwise some ideas might be worthless to the OP.

eehm what comes to mind?
using a switch triggered with an LFO to switch between another instance (split) of that same LFO and a second one.
switches (with VC) are great. nice to create a funk using a thick reverb or delay on an audio file, in a non-obtrusive way.
putting an output of one VC LFO on the input of another, then take that output and feed it into the first.
then use that as a clock

eehm
throwing samples through a sample and hold. both trigger and sampled input. good for a laugh. more structured when using a step seq as trigger.
sample and holds, and ASRs are undervalued IMO. cheap and fun.
using a vocoder as a VC formant filter for an oscillator or audio sample of any kind (drumloops too)
as for vocoders: use something different than a simple oscillator as a voice
last one today:
delay VC signals (like an LFO) then mix with undelayed. a matrix mixer is great for mixing LFO's. I'm going to use a Hinton panel with some attennuators (and some tricks bolted on) for that.

I've held it off so far but a PEG (envelope which length can be determined by a clock signal) is great.
This nasty video sort of pulled me over the line, so it's now on the list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMqXK3Hq5Jw
just scored another Malekko Wiard Envelator. That's a kind of envelope shaper. it's VC-able, so is not static but can change during a performance.
is that possible? to modulate the attack or release fase on an envelope in Reason?

30th January 2012	#1
Meow Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Stupidville Posts: 246 Thread Starter	Share your fun CV/gate ideas and tips! Hey boys! Ok, so I've been doing this little thing the past week or so to practice on my sound design skills in which I write a little song, then when it's done I try to make it into a totally different song but only with sound design! I don't let myself change any of the structure or anything, just the sounds/fx/etc. So it's super fun! Anywho, in the process of doing this I have been doing a lot of experimenting with different ways of manipulating CV and gate signals between all the synths and FX units in Reason. I can see where this is a very powerful thing and I also understand why it was used on all the older synthesizers and the like! So, since it pretty much works in Reason just like it does in real hardware, I think users of both should share some cool ideas on what you do with it! It could be just normalish things like making a drum machine fire notes from a synth or control a filter or something, or it could be some amazing 5000 wire modulation masterpiece! Doesn't matter, just share away! Xoxoxox <3

2nd February 2012	#11
bloodsample Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Citizen Park Posts: 741 1 Review written	I like the sound of a env gen's CV controlling LFO rate and the LFO in turn controlling something audible (filter cutoff, pitch, etc). The env gen's input can come from either a sequencer, keyboard, or another LFO square wave for example. Similarly I get cool results modulating LFO rates with other LFOs "chained". You get some weird almost random sounding patterns (that eventually repeat). Not sure if this is possible in reason, but I'm guessing if you flip subtractor upside down there should be some envelope CV output in the back. __________________ music -> citizenpark.bandcamp.com videos -> youtube.com/user/n3bsvid misc -> thekeshanator.com

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1st February 2012	#4
Meow Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Stupidville Posts: 246 Thread Starter	Nobody else?! Come on guys!

1st February 2012	#5
audioconsult Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,474	dont have reason.. and in reality with the real cv´s you either just have them plainly triger sequences and events..like in a 303..where you have your cv and gate... but on top of that extra trigger tracks for teh accent and slide fx... or you do some really weard stuff with strange modules like this one.. 4ms pedals: Rotating Clock Divider where i really dont know wheter you can do such things in reason.. maybe with mutiple sequencers that trigger each other... in the end of the day you need to find your own tricks..when it sounds good..it is good...

1st February 2012	#7
Oli Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 1,722	I used to like having something like an LFO sweeping a note CV, and a drum machine audio out triggering the note gate. Messing with the LFO, and applying different gate rhythms is fun. Goes well with some spacious effects. Simple but fun. 101 was good for this. edit - I seem to recall 101 could do this with the pitch controlled by portamento across the entire key range, with gate in controlling the rhythm. You can do that on a Lead, but the portamento is too fast to be of any use.

1st February 2012	#8
Bumply Gear addict Joined: Jul 2010 Location: LA Posts: 488	Been awhile since I used reason, but it can be alot of fun with the back panel. Using the dr Rex gate with a chopped/syncopated drum loop (and muting dr Rex) to trig the envelope on a synth is fun.

2nd February 2012	#10
moneyforsluts Gear addict Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 316	Well hardware wise a lowpass filter can be used as a slew limiter (to do glides) if you feed it keyboard CV. Reverse is true if you have a slew limiter.

2nd February 2012	#15
joonebug Gear nut Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 145	One of my favorite modulation routine on my mokey is using its sequencer and I usually map out the following: Track1 = pitch/notes Track2 = filter cutoff Track3 = resonance Track4 = sometimes I map this to the other oscillator pitch Instant 80's base line a'la Vince Clark. Cheers!

2nd February 2012	#18
Reptil Moderator Joined: Dec 2004 Location: in a low orbit Posts: 19,384 1 Review written	it's a great trick to create feedback loops, which can be processed as well: filtered, waveshaped, modulated, and attennuated (using a passive attennuator, but also VCA) etc. filters get more "umph" that way. I didn't have to mod my Doepfer a-124 Wasp filter clone (standard has very little resonance just like the original) because a feedback on it's own input. I'm trying to ascertain which tricks in an analogue system (no processing delay) can be used in a modern computer running Reason. otherwise some ideas might be worthless to the OP. eehm what comes to mind? using a switch triggered with an LFO to switch between another instance (split) of that same LFO and a second one. switches (with VC) are great. nice to create a funk using a thick reverb or delay on an audio file, in a non-obtrusive way. putting an output of one VC LFO on the input of another, then take that output and feed it into the first. then use that as a clock eehm throwing samples through a sample and hold. both trigger and sampled input. good for a laugh. more structured when using a step seq as trigger. sample and holds, and ASRs are undervalued IMO. cheap and fun. using a vocoder as a VC formant filter for an oscillator or audio sample of any kind (drumloops too) as for vocoders: use something different than a simple oscillator as a voice last one today: delay VC signals (like an LFO) then mix with undelayed. a matrix mixer is great for mixing LFO's. I'm going to use a Hinton panel with some attennuators (and some tricks bolted on) for that. I've held it off so far but a PEG (envelope which length can be determined by a clock signal) is great. This nasty video sort of pulled me over the line, so it's now on the list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMqXK3Hq5Jw just scored another Malekko Wiard Envelator. That's a kind of envelope shaper. it's VC-able, so is not static but can change during a performance. is that possible? to modulate the attack or release fase on an envelope in Reason?