The Make Noise MultiMod, a cutting-edge addition to the world of Eurorack modules, is not just a module, but an entirely new way to approach complex modulations. With the ability to derive multiple modulation signals from a single input, MultiMod is a tool that every modular enthusiast should incorporate into their sound design arsenal.
Make Noise MultiMod stands apart due to its ability to take a single control signal, copy it eight times, and then modify each of these copies by adjusting their relative phase and speed. The result is a multitude of related modulation signals, each varying in phase and speed, but all deriving from the initial input.
The MultiMod module has three crucial adjustable parameters: Phase, Spread, and Time. 'Phase' sets the signal copies' spacing in time, with each progressive channel getting progressively more out of sync with the original signal and other copies. 'Spread' is responsible for vari-speeding the copies, making each successive copy faster or slower. 'Time' determines the range of time captured at the input and therefore the depth of modulation across the set of copied signals when Phase and Spread are manipulated.
For temporal system integration and arrangement of input signals, Make Noise MultiMod also includes features like Tempo, Hold, and Reset. These features allow for flexibility in controlling the copied signals and their interplay with the rest of your modular system. When no input source is present, MultiMod swings into LFO mode, producing an internal LFO signal that is then copied and manipulated eight times.
One of the major strengths of the MultiMod module is its foundations in advanced DSP hardware. Developed specifically for the New Universal Synthesizer System, it boasts high-resolution outputs, with signal input and output ranges that approach the maximum capabilities of an analog Eurorack modular system. Moreover, all I/O in MultiMod is capable of managing a 20V range at +/-10V, far surpassing the typical 0-5V CV input ranges found in conventional digital modules.
In summary, the Make Noise MultiMod module represents a dramatic leap in modulation potential within the modular synthesis world. With its highly customizable parameters and powerful DSP hardware, it enables users to inject complex modulations into their patches with ease and precision. Whether you're a seasoned modular user or just getting started, MultiMod is a game-changer for crafting intricate modulation paths and expanding your creative possibilities in the wild world of Eurorack systems.
Example Usage
To start exploring the Make Noise MultiMod, patch a simple LFO or any control voltage of your choice into the Signal Input. Observe how MultiMod takes this single input and instantly multiplies it into eight separate outputs. Each output represents a different phase or speed variation of your original signal. Begin by adjusting the Phase knob, which affects how these copies align over time. You will notice that as you turn the Phase knob, the outputs spread out, with each one becoming increasingly out of phase with the original signal.
Next, introduce complexity using the Spread control. Turning this knob will vary the speed of each output relative to the original. You can create a kaleidoscope of rhythmic modulations by experimenting with different Spread and Phase combinations, each uniquely rearranging your source signal.
Experiment further by using an external clock signal to sync up these modulations with your patch’s tempo. The Tempo input allows for precise integration into your setup, ensuring that your MultiMod generates rhythmically cohesive patterns.
When no signal is patched into the input, MultiMod automatically switches to its internal LFO mode. In this configuration, use the same knobs—Phase, Spread, and Time—to sculpt a series of dynamic, ever-evolving modulations perfect for adding movement to your patches, even without any external input.
Make sure to use the Hold feature creatively. By capturing signal slices, you can loop interesting segments and further integrate these loops back into your modular environment. The result is a rich, texturally diverse landscape of modulation that enhances any patch you are working on.
As you grow more comfortable, challenge yourself by manipulating these controls in real-time or via additional modulation sources, expanding the boundaries of your sonic palette. No matter your level of expertise, the Make Noise MultiMod is a powerful tool for transforming the simplest modulation signals into a complex modulating matrix, offering endless possibilities for the adventurous synthesist.
To delve into the intermediate usage of the Make Noise MultiMod, let's consider a scenario that involves enhancing the complexity of a rhythmic patch using its unique modulation capabilities. Start by patching a slow, evolving LFO into the MultiMod's signal input. This will serve as our primary modulation source, providing a foundation upon which MultiMod will build its multiple, intricately interwoven modulation signals. The crucial parameter to adjust initially is Phase. By tweaking this parameter gently, you spread the time spacing of the copied signals. This adjustment creates a ripple-like effect across your modulation landscape, each signal progressively more out of phase than the last. Pay close attention to how this impacts the rhythm and movement in your patches, introducing a sense of depth and evolving texture. Next, turn your attention to the Spread parameter. By increasing its value, you vary the speed of each modulation copy. This step can introduce a fascinating interplay between your rhythmic elements, as some signals speed up while others slow down, providing a constantly shifting dynamic without needing multiple LFOs or modulation modules. Try routing these signals to different destinations such as a filter cutoff, VCA, or wavefolder to appreciate how Spread changes your patch's tonal and rhythmic characteristics. The Time parameter further adds to this by altering the duration over which your modulation signals unfold. By experimenting here, you can stretch or contract the modulation cycle, creating either languid, sweeping modulations or sharp, percussive pulses. Don’t forget to interact with the Read Shapes, which allow for temporal rearrangement of the input signals. This adjustment provides another layer of complexity, influencing how MultiMod traverses through your copied signals, offering fresh textures and articulations to your soundscape. Moreover, engage the Tempo, Hold, and Reset functions for advanced temporal manipulation. Tempo synchronizes with your modular system's clock, ensuring rhythmic coherence. Use the Hold feature to loop a particularly compelling phase-spread combination, creating a foundation around which other sound elements can orbit. Reset, on the other hand, offers an opportunity to synchronize or restart modulation cycles, a handy tool for live performance scenarios. By the end of this exploration, you've not only expanded the modulation capabilities of your system but also gained an intuitive understanding of how the MultiMod can transform a single LFO input into a vibrant tableau of rhythmic and textural possibilities. Embrace this module’s power, and let it propel your patching into new sonic territories.
Further Thoughts
In this expert-level exploration of the Make Noise MultiMod, we'll dive into its capabilities for creating intricate modulation landscapes in your Eurorack setup. The MultiMod doesn’t just copy a control signal; it reinvents it across eight outputs, each uniquely phased and vari-speeded, offering a diversity of modulation possibilities from a single source.
To harness this power, start by feeding a dynamic LFO or an evolving envelope into the MultiMod. As the input processes through the module, use the Phase and Spread controls to alter how each of these eight outputs progress in relation to each other. Phase will manipulate temporal spacing; think of it as setting a staggered march for each signal, where none are in lockstep but all are derived from the same pulse.
With Spread, you introduce temporal elasticity, giving certain outputs the gift of speed, and others a meditative slowness. This feature lets you paint across time with broad swathes of modulation or fine brushstrokes of variance. Crucially, these parameters are fully modulatable, meaning you can change them on the fly with external CV, turning the MultiMod into an interactive modulation sequencer that reacts contextually within your patch.
Consider experimenting with the Read Shapes, which offer multiple ways to traverse the input signal, akin to a novelist who can choose any narrative structure. Reinvent the flow of modulation by switching between these shapes, ensuring each output gains a unique character.
When the module isn't fed with an external input, its self-generated LFO becomes a playground for internal exploration. Here, the same modulation principles apply, enabling you to create complex, autonomous modulations directly. The module's integration features, like Tempo, Hold, and Reset, allow you to sync this complexity within larger system architectures effortlessly.
The MultiMod's interface, designed with vibrant aesthetic feedback, makes visualizing these changes intuitive, turning modulation into a dynamic, performative act. Its ability to accurately pass critical control signals ensures it fits seamlessly into precision-requiring contexts, like quantized pitch CV paths.
Ultimately, the MultiMod is more than just a modulation module; it's a sculptural tool that carves out new dimensions of sonic expression within the Eurorack ecosystem. Embrace its versatility to transform mundane modulations into intricate evolutions that push the boundaries of your sound design.