Ambiguous Ambience
Here is a relatively simple VCV Fundamental patch that demonstrates usage of 4 of my constructs. It is actually fairly large because of the Fundamental limitation, but the concepts are simple.
VCV Fundamental Walk Valhalla.vcv (10.9 KB)
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The Random Walk CV (3rd row right) is the source of a random quantized “melody” spanning 2.5 octaves. The yellow scope trace is the raw output of the random walk.
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The Bernoulli Toggled Flow/Gate (top row right) randomly toggles between quantizers set to pentatonic D major and D minor scales for the “melody”. I chose to switch to add interest, but also to challenge myself when I jam with my flutes. The lack of a fixed key is the source of the name for this patch.
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I use the Clock Divider Ints 1-8 (bottom row) to generate two complex polymeters to drive two voices
- Divisors of 3 and 4 are ORed together to control the timing of the high voice (2nd row right): Low pass filtered square wave with doubled sine wave 1 octave up
- Divisors of 5 and 7 are ORed together to control the low voice (2nd row left), pitched a perfect fifth down: Low pass filtered saw wave with doubled sine wave 1 octave down.
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Lastly I use the Compact Countdown Timer (top row left) to automatically fade out the piece after 5 minutes. I use this when I jam along with my Native American flutes for a live performance.
Another significant component is a pair of RANDOM modules with a VCA (3rd row left) generating a second random walk to control the filter cutoffs, shown in green on the scope.
Everything is pure VCV and free, except for the premium VCV Host FX module that applies the free Valhalla Supermassive Delay/Reverb VST plugin using the Darkhorse preset. But you can substitute any free reverb of your choice. I’ve included a version that uses Valley Plateau instead.
Pressing the PULSES top button resets the timer to 5 minutes, and pressing the 2nd button starts the patch.
Here is the same patch with Valley Plateau substituted for the Host Fx / Valhalla Supermassive delay/reverb.
VCV Fundamental Walk Valley.vcv (10.5 KB)
Lastly, I made the identical patch substituting 3rd party modules for the Fundamental Constructs:
- Bogaudio Walk for the Random Walk CV
- Audible Instruments Bernoulli Gate for the Bernoulli Toggled Flow/Gate
- Holonic Systems Gaps for the Clock Divider Ints 1-8. Note there is a bug when run in VCV rack 2 that causes the Trigger/Gate mode in the bottom right to lose its setting when the patch is opened. It should be set to “as is”.
- Nysthi Janneker Timed for the Compact Countdown Timer.
Obviously dropping the Fundamental restriction enables this version to be much smaller.
Press the Jannekr Timed RESET button to reset the countdown to 5 minutes, and the ACTIVE button to start the patch.
VCV Non Fundamental Walk Valhalla.vcv (7.6 KB)
And here is the same using Valley Plateau
VCV Non Fundamental Walk Valley.vcv (7.1 KB)