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Modular Synthesis

How Can Delay Time and Feedback Be Modulated in Generative Music?

Delay Modulation in Generative Music: Creating Evolving Rhythmic Accents

Delay Modulation in Generative Music: Creating Evolving Rhythmic Accents

Delay effects are among the most common processing tools in electronic… read more

How Can Delayed Beats Create Evolving Polyrhythms?

Polyrhythms and Delayed Beats in Generative Music

Polyrhythms already create tension because multiple rhythmic cycles coexist.

Adding controlled beat delays introduces an additional layer of instability.

What Is a Polyrhythm?

The… read more

How Can AND, OR, XOR and Other Logic Functions Generate Rhythms?

Using Logic Modules to Create New Rhythms

Logic modules are often overlooked as rhythmic tools.

Yet they can dramatically expand the possibilities of a generative patch.

Combining Existing Rhythms

Logic modules… read more

Should Rhythms Switch Abruptly or Blend Gradually?

Crossfading Between Rhythmic States in Generative Music

Generative music is not always about continuously changing rhythms.

Sometimes two stable rhythms can create more interesting results than a constantly evolving one.

Switching… read more

Which Synth Parameters Can Be Modulated Rhythmically?

Rhythmic Modulation Beyond Drums

Rhythm is often associated exclusively with percussion.

In reality, almost any synthesizer parameter can participate in rhythmic structures.

Rhythm as Parameter Movement

The chapter emphasizes… read more

How Can Random Melodies and Random Drums Share the Same Rhythm?

Synchronizing Random Events to a Beat

Random events do not automatically create coherent rhythm.

In many situations they need to be synchronized to a common timing structure.

Two Independent Random Processes

The… read more

Should Generative Rhythms Use Clocks Instead of LFOs?

Why Generative Rhythm Needs a Master Clock

Many beginners use an LFO as the timing source for rhythm generation.

While this works for isolated patches, it often creates problems when several rhythmic systems must cooperate.

The… read more

How Can ADSRs Create Smooth Transitions Between Voices?

Dynamic Voice Morphing with ADSRs and VCAs

Simple voice switching often creates abrupt transitions.

Many musical situations benefit from smoother changes.

One effective solution is to combine ADSRs with VCAs.

Beyond On… read more

How Can Multiple Voices Be Switched On and Off Automatically in a Modular Patch?

Voice Switching in Generative Modular Synthesis

One of the most effective ways to change the character of a generative patch is not by changing notes, rhythms, or timbres, but by changing which voices are… read more

How Should FM Parameters Be Modulated in Generative Patches?

FM and Phase Modulation in Generative Music

Frequency modulation and phase modulation are among the most powerful methods for creating evolving timbres.

They are also among the easiest techniques to push beyond useful limits… read more