Unleash Your Inner Drummer: Exploring the Unique Capabilities of WMD Kraken Eurorack Module
The WMD Kraken Eurorack module is an exceptional snare drum synthesizer that employs physical modeling and digital synthesis to generate realistic snare drums of various sizes, materials, shapes, and colors. Unlike using samples, Kraken utilizes a sophisticated network of classic synthesis blocks like noise, delay, and digital filters to create a unique resonator that conjures vibrant and vivid snare drum sounds.
With Kraken, you can dive into the snare drum sound that you love most by fiddling with parameters that replicate physical drum properties like head tightness, shell size and type, overtone intensity, and snares' brightness. The module generates sound with digital noise, allowing you to produce perfectly repeatable snare sounds like a sampler. The decay knob enables you to curtail the sound at the desired moment, while varying gate lengths can simulate gate-mode style sounds in samplers.
For a more authentic sound, you could switch to analog noise, mimic the nuances generated by drummers who hit the snare slightly differently on each hit. The Pitch shifter knob on the output widens the frequency range, introducing an extraordinary character reminiscent of old-school samplers and pitch shifter pedals. You can take command of the pitch shifter by using the pitch knob or the CV input.
The Wreck switch and CV input are designed to take the experimentation even further. The built-in distortion function adds analog-style gained up hard clipping, wavefolding, and bit-depth reduction to the mix. At certain shell settings, the gain is high and produces feedback like running a snare mic through a distortion pedal. The wavefolder mode sounds like compression with a lot of high-frequency content. The bit-depth reduction system lets you regulate a desired amount of vintage digital artifacts. Moving the Wreck switch to different modes is a minor preview, and using the Wreck CV input will enable you to take control of your sound and shape it as you see fit.
Kraken pairs wonderfully with other Eurorack modules like Crater, Fracture, Chimera, and Crucible, allowing you to create an utterly unique set of drums for your Eurorack Modular Synthesizer. It begs to be sequenced, and with the Head, Rim, and Accent gate inputs, you can create basic rhythms of hits, rimshots, sidesticks, and accented sounds. Using a variable CV source, you can sequence the Velocity input to breathe life into the pattern and imitate the drummer behind the kit.
In conclusion, the WMD Kraken Eurorack drum synthesizer module exhibits an unrivaled range of features that allow you to unleash your inner drummer and explore the unique capabilities of sound design with a snare drum modeling module. Whether you're a producer, a performer, or both, Kraken is an excellent choice for anyone seeking to create and experiment with innovative drum sounds.
Example Usage
If you're new to using drum synthesizer modules, WMD Kraken is a great place to start. Once you have it installed in your eurorack, try adjusting the parameters based on the physical properties of a snare drum, such as shell type and size, head tightness, amount of overtone, and the snares' tightness and brightness. You can experiment with using digital noise to generate the "snare" sound, and even switch to analog noise for greater realism. Don't forget about the built-in distortion types and how it can widen the sonic palette. Use the Head, Rim, and Accent gate inputs to get started with sequencing. Hit two trigger inputs simultaneously for a realistic "rimshot" sound.
An intermediate-level usage example for the WMD Kraken Eurorack module is to use its Wreck switch and CV input to create unique distortion effects while playing a snare drum sequence. Start with a basic rhythm pattern using the Head, Rim, and Accent gate inputs for hits, sidesticks, rimshots, and accented sounds. Adjust the parameters of the Kraken module to dial in the desired snare drum properties such as shell type and size, head tightness, amount of overtone, and snares sound. Then, experiment with the Wreck switch and CV input, switching between the three different distortion characters of analog-style gained-up hard clipping, wavefolding, and bit depth reduction. By using the Wreck CV input, you can have greater control over the sound and create unique, customized, and distorted snare drum sequences that can add character and excitement to your music production.
Further Thoughts
Kraken by WMD is a powerhouse of a drum synthesizer module that can generate snare drum sounds of all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. With its network of classic synthesis blocks, Kraken produces 100% digital sound with no reliance on samples and offers users a wide range of sonic palette to work with. By adjusting parameters that correlate to physical drum properties, you can create realistic snare drums that emulate the sound of an acoustic drum. But, Kraken's unique feature is its built-in distortion types - analog style gained up hard clipping, wavefolding, and bit depth reduction, which can push the envelope even further. It also comes with digital and analog noise sources, a pitch shifter, and two trigger inputs. Users can pair it with Crater, Fracture, Chimera, and Crucible to create a unique set of drums for their Eurorack Modular Synthesizer.