Quick test patch, to see how we can control the ES-1 module from Expert Sleepers using Max/MSP.

Usually the ES-1 is controlled by Silent Way (which has a ton of awesome functionality; calibration, quantizations, LFO’s etc. But i really wanted a way that I could quickly get up to my neck in craziness using max/msp to control the ES1, so this is my first quick test.

Is it just me or does it seem exponential the sound (and Hz increase on the toptop z3000) as you slide the amplitude slider to the right?

More coming soon…

Patch Attached Below:

----------begin_max5_patcher----------
657.3oc0W0ziaBCD8L4WgkOVklZa9HPus8P+CziUqpHfSVWA1Tvnlrq17auF
CjjskDbBDz1KfX.m48dya737xLK3JwVZAD7Yv2AVVuLyxRGpJfUyyVvzvsQI
gE5OCReNNLZObd8q3koLdBUpeG4XPQorMJpIZVnL5IFeyOxoQx5LZ6u.MGPr
WVcyws8J3wlkvh0oTr5meD6Aqh85rYUWlaHXiDooTtrEsR5VclgeSTxiAB9m
DqW2IUvMAWK3xB1yTcLxBzUyPMoHXb0MrKR+D5LTzEdRV4go5rBeHmElLlj+
gzrDlrLldWYNwknIqmALe4zP7ulS+UIkGs69VxqM0tFva6wk2JHthlObxQNO
4bH0DxKn5VGrq9mQtKiVu.HqpP.fqB4afc55cFWQnHRjQuk8mVUttUY7sOuB
fQZpais0bO3Xmcmry9l3PBKtmB4a4.9B1QcCnSPckRCZa6KUv5tJQNTkRDgR
0hxJkml4CRGBojhaw7R+sJQ+SOaNnpq8KcpEnqwTeAIB6oG.Enu5h62S2sDg
+uqaF6p2qBW6QFktYzHKBc6JJXa1ObkA2ux3421vzmxnfDWwwtDkfwUSTcfJ
dbWMFj.2S5HLvWn2U3hNC+IwX7g8.7E26enFCR63cGswfrvc.FCuQdzW+iMR
KSzDQg3qdRRyI5F5nDWCmjfG2AIQ6hRn6UlYzc0efcVVehes7Tu8wM6OHl4O
zKElv3+8+jSiup3uUtJDk4Qsou8LXfiPLlVHY7PISvO8iTmVEfO7QOwhio7S
GCmxhyDpADMf.7XmEOSwjmoPBMYPp5PP8iIzjho.CfDYZUIjAPJXZgD98Wgy
2.H4MocbtFfH+IUiHFpQn2W6JMDHod30Y+waXj2r
-----------end_max5_patcher-----------

Ever since buying a couple of modules, I’ve fallen in love with analogue modular synths, they are addictive beyond belief and I’ve yet to find anything as engrossing as standing in front of it twiddling knobs for no apparent reason generating all sorts of swirling modulating filtering noise. I can loose hours very easily. As always though I’m never satisfied and I want to tinker. One of my projects I’m most actively researching is the idea of an arduino based Step Sequencer.

There are a million threads online with people desperately trying to get their trusty arduino’s to generate control voltage. The problem you have is that the arduino doesn’t live in a real analog world, it’s all about the digital. The only smooth it can do is PWM, and even then it’s really not go lovely to listen to. There are huge threads about people applying filtering, or faking analog with complex software, or powering 8bit, 12bit 16bit DAC and the huge amount of arduino sketches needs to handle them, and to be honest it’s totally terrifying for something that is as easy as turning a pot. So I decided to take a different approach. (if you really want to make music with an arduino, go see midivox, I just got a couple and they kick ass)

I want to keep the analog signal pure, and only handle the step side of the equation using the arduino. So the initial idea would be 8 pots, 1 thru 8. a single CV in, a single CV out. The arduino would be hooked up, so that when messages are sent down the USB connection, current passes thru 1 specific pot and comes out the other side.

So I can set up my “notes” with the analog pots, and then just trigger which one, when, how long and what order they get “played”.

After this initial prototype, I’d shoot higher and aim for 3 or 4 rows of 8 each with their own dedicated CV in and out, and gate outs, and tempo outs, and LED’s flashing, and a front accessible USB port, and way to store sequences on a memory chip that is slotted into the front and sequences chosen using nothing but the power of the mind, etc etc etc.

It seemed like a no brainer DIY project, that maybe one day would lead to PCB’s and kits and open source and all that stuff I aspire to do.

Due to my limited real knowledge thought I’m already overflowing with questions. First of which is how I do this, and what’s the best “switching” mechanism should I use. Should I use relays, optoisolators, Voltage controlled resistors, transistors or just good old plain Jane relays. I have some open question on the arduino forums so hopefully I’ll get some validation for my madness. Any suggestions feel free to jump in.