The 'After Later Audio Auris', a contact mic envelope follower, is a whispering echo in the Eurorack cosmos. A direct hardware replica of the 'Mutable Instruments Ears', it takes the primary concept of the Ears which was initially based on Music Thing Modular's Mikrophonie, and replicates it in a subtly refined form. The Auris is cheerfully disruptive, offering unique methodologies of injecting external sounds into your Eurorack universe. Contact Microphone, a vital component of any ambient or inventive music toolbox, is presented here with even more unprecedented exploration possibilities.
One of the first impressions of the Auris is its elegantly designed faceplate. The ridges, unlike the pronounced aesthetics of the Mutable version, are less definitive. This controlled approach results in a texture that is mild yet present, and one that adds a perceptible dimension to the overall manipulation process.
At the heart of the Auris lies its primary function – to transition outside sources to modular line level. However, pigeonholing it to this lone operation would be an oversimplified understatement. The dynamic and unrestricted nature of this envelope follower invites you to incorporate unconventional sound sources, thus raising the unwritten rulebook of sonic experimentation.
Imagine the metallic resonance of a spoon stirring in your coffee cup or the rhythmic hum of your room ventilation elegantly weaving into your ambient soundscape. The underlying philosophy is the art of attentive listening and finding musical expressions in mundane surroundings. Something Mutable Instruments Ears had set forth in its days of inception, which Auris seems to carry forward with its own touch.
The Auris shines in its capacity to introduce unexpected texture and unpredictable dynamics into your modular rig. It's not just about injecting a sound, after all. It's about introducing a unique sonic personality that interacts and evolves with other modules in your Eurorack bauble.
Dig a bit deeper, and you discover the Auris's ability to offer subtle modulation derived from the incoming signal's amplitude envelope. This characteristic nudges you to think towards blending external audio sources for varied modulations, thus stepping away from traditional LFOs or Envelope Generators.
To conclude, the After Later Audio Auris stands out as a dedicated Eurorack module for its delicious unpredictability and its ability to bring the world outside into the intricate modular paradigm. Its Mutable roots blended with its individualistic persona carve out a unique spot in the array of Eurorack goodness. A creative module like this is an invitation, a door to untapped sonic explorations. Following its trail, one could unfold an enriched sonic landscape, tethering on being experimental yet accessible humbly revealing the extraordinary in ordinary sounds.
Example Usage
In this example, we will explore how the Contact Mic envelope follower of the After Later Audio Auris can be used by novice users to bring external audio sources into their eurorack setup and manipulate them creatively.
First, start by connecting the After Later Audio Auris module to your eurorack system using standard audio cables. Make sure to power on your eurorack system and the module.
Next, find an interesting object or surface that you want to use as a sound source. It could be anything from a table to a metal pipe or even a piece of fruit. Attach the contact microphone of the Auris module to the chosen object, ensuring that it is securely in place and making good contact.
Now, take the output of the contact mic, and connect it to an available input of a sound module or a filter module in your eurorack system. This will allow you to process the sound of the object you're using in unique and creative ways.
Once everything is connected, start experimenting with the controls on the Auris module. The envelope follower feature allows you to extract the dynamics of the sound source. Adjust the sensitivity control to fine-tune how the module responds to different levels of sound.
Try tapping, scratching, or interacting with the object to generate different sounds. Notice how the Auris module reacts and processes those sounds in real-time. You can also experiment with different objects and surfaces to explore a variety of textures and timbres.
To further sculpt and modulate the processed sound, use the output of the envelope follower to control other parameters of your eurorack system. For example, you can patch the envelope output to control the cutoff frequency of a filter module, creating dynamic and evolving tonal changes.
As a novice user, don't be afraid to experiment and explore different combinations of modules and settings. The Auris module's Contact Mic envelope follower opens up a world of sonic possibilities by allowing you to capture and manipulate sound from the world around you. Let your imagination run wild and embrace the unique character that this module brings to your eurorack setup.
One intermediate-level usage example for the Contact Mic Envelope Follower in Eurorack is to use it as a dynamic filter controller. Connect the Contact Mic module to a resonant low-pass or bandpass filter in your Eurorack setup. Then, experiment with tapping or scratching different surfaces with the contact mic attached. As you produce different sounds or textures, the envelope follower will track the dynamics of the incoming audio and generate control voltages that modulate the filter cutoff or resonance parameters. This allows for expressive and organic control over the filter, creating unique and evolving timbral variations in your patches. Try combining it with other modulation sources to further shape your sound and add movement to your patches.
Further Thoughts
One fantastic way to unleash the creative potential of the Contact Mic Envelope Follower module, such as the After Later Audio Auris, is by incorporating it into your percussion setup. By attaching the contact microphone to different objects or surfaces, you can capture the unique resonances and textures of those elements and transform them into expressive percussive sounds within your eurorack system.
For example, imagine placing the contact microphone on a glass bottle filled with water. As you gently tap the bottle with your fingers, the microphone picks up the vibrations and feeds them into the Auris module. The envelope follower analyzes the dynamic changes in the sound and outputs a corresponding control signal.
Now, take this envelope signal and route it to modulate various parameters within your eurorack system. Connect it to the cutoff frequency of a resonant filter module to sculpt the sound of a synth voice or a drum module. As you strike the glass bottle with different levels of force, the resulting envelope signal will dynamically shape the timbre of the sound, giving it an organic and responsive character.
To further enhance the sonic possibilities, try combining the envelope signal with other modulation sources. For instance, you can use a random voltage generator to add unexpected variations to the envelope modulation, introducing a touch of unpredictability to your percussive textures.
Exploring the Auris Contact Mic Envelope Follower as an integral part of your eurorack percussion setup allows you to harness the hidden potential of everyday objects and transform them into unique sound sources. The integration of real-world sounds not only adds depth and realism to your compositions but also opens up new avenues for creative exploration in the world of electronic music.