How does the ARP 2600's Prancing Raindrops patch combine ring modulation, Sample & Hold, oscillator cross-modulation and internally triggered envelopes to generate a continuously changing sequence without playing the keyboard?

The ARP 2600 Patch Book contains a… read more

How can you patch Kitchen Sink and Pigeon Plink in VCV Rack for evolving FM sounds, feedback loops, ratio modulation and generative sequences?

Kitchen Sink and Pigeon Plink are especially interesting when you stop treating frequency modulation as a… read more

How does Pigeon Plink's continuous carrier-to-modulator ratio control work, and how can it be used for experimental FM synthesis in VCV Rack?

Pigeon Plink is an FM-oriented oscillator for VCV Rack based on Kitchen Sink. The two modules share much of the same general approach to… read more

What does the Kitchen Sink oscillator in VCV Rack do, and how can you combine linear FM, through-zero FM, exponential FM, feedback and wave folding?

An oscillator is often presented as a relatively simple sound source: choose a waveform… read more

What is the difference between linear FM, through-zero FM and exponential FM, and how do they affect the sound spectrum of a synthesizer?

Frequency modulation is one of the most versatile ways to create complex sounds… read more

How can you patch the Voltage Modular Zeroscillator for basic FM, through-zero effects, morphing and complex two-oscillator sounds?

The Voltage Modular Zeroscillator is an excellent playground for experimenting with frequency… read more

How does the Voltage Modular Zeroscillator work, and how can you use its linear FM, through-zero FM, exponential FM and wave-morphing functions?

The Zeroscillator is an unusually versatile oscillator for exploring frequency… read more

Best Ways to Use Mutable Instruments Clouds in Generative Modular Patches

Clouds becomes especially powerful when integrated into generative systems.

Rather than serving merely as an effect processor, it can become an active… read more

What Does the Blend Control Do in Mutable Instruments Clouds?

Clouds provides several operating modes that affect both audio quality and effect processing.

Depending on the hardware version, firmware version, or software implementation… read more

What Do Position, Size, Texture and Density Do in Mutable Instruments Clouds?

Understanding four primary controls is the key to mastering Clouds:

Position

Size