Self-generating patch advice

Taken from a thread on the Doepfer Yahoo group:

From Alan
Hi, sorry if I'm showing my ignorance here, I'm not particularly well informed
in all things modular, but I've a question maybe someone on this group could
answer.
I've been hearing some really interesting recordings using self-generating
patches lately. What are the most useful modules to invest in if I want to go
down this route?
I realise these things don't completely write themselves and a lot of learning
is required in order to set up such pieces, but any advice on where to start
would be helpful.

From David
I tend to use sequencers being driven by slow random clocks (Sample
&Hold or Track &Hold) in to logic module with slow LFO's being mixed
together and sequential switches fed from voltage sources to get as much
randomness as possible. Once the patch starts it will evolve over time
and quite often never repeat.
A number of sequences of different lengths helps here as well as then
the start and end of the patterns also change over time.
It may sound like a lot of modules but you can start with only a few ,
say two LFO's and a mixer and a S&H running at slow speeds driving a
A155 with two different sequence lengths.

From Ernst
I use shitloads of Sample & Holds in tandem with various LFOs and several
A118s to generate random values.
And at least one A149-1 is very useful.
This is one of my patches from my setup link.

From Chris
I enthusiatically second the recommendation of the 149-1. it's random without
being purely entropic (as S&H from white noise is).
I also recommend getting the 149-2 sub-module as well. i have the individual
outs from the 149-2 going into the individual cv inputs of the lower row of
steps on the 155 sequencer. then you clock the upper section of the 149-1 with a
slow trigger from a clock divider, thus each sequencer cycle or x number of
cycles the sequence itself will change semi-randomly. it can be a little tricky
to tune in a sequence on the 155, since the lower row was intended for cv
modulation of steps, not note generation (and the outs from the 149-2 only
generate on/off cv signals), but the whole point of modular synthesis is the
ability to utterly disregard what something is "intended to do" ;-)

Alan again
Thanks for all the useful suggestions, folks. I'd started looking at the
149-1 and figured it might be a major player in such patches. This has
confirmed it for me. It also looks like I'll be getting a S&H and VCLFO,
to augment my 118 and 145. I don't know whether I can afford the rack
space or moolah to run to a 155 just yet. Maybe I'll see what I can get
happening just with a 160, 161 and 166.

More Manuals

Back from Edinburgh, and back to work on TI.
The first few modules are in the rack and so I'll start with the manuals:

Doepfer A164.1 Manual Gate
Doepfer A150 VC Switch
Makenoise Wogglebug
Plan B Heisenberg
Malekko NoiseRing

Previous instruction listings here.

I'll simplify back to the Doepfer Dream Machine variant then try the different generators.

Happy Endings

The kit arrived today from SchneidersBuero. It took me three attempts to get the rails the right way round (I imagine that not many would find two incorrect ways to assemble it, but so it goes). Once understood it is nicely done. The initial load will be all the random note generators to play in contrast with the SoU in the Dream Machine, Wogglebug, Noisering and Heisenberg. Instruction manuals to follow.
I also plan to build a Mondrianesque wooden surround.

Outs

Outs

Happy Endings

Remarkably, the Pittsburgh Outs arrived from Australia on Tuesday - 7 days from order.
Thanks to Rhythm Active.
I have ordered Schneidersbuero's house version of the TipTop Happy Endings. I wonder if that will be quicker than the PO from RA.


Some lovely designs from goike here. But don't forget Ross.