Max/MSP vs. PlanB Modular, Analog with Digital Control

I had read rumors of the MOTU 828MKII being able to send out low frequencies, low enough to be used as control voltages. So I had to try it to see if it works. Well, it does. The control signal is a little aliased, looks like a 8-16 bit signal. Not too steppy, fester than MIDI by far (but not precisxe for any real scale, need more tests to see how that is. But a very successful test to see if the MOTU 828MK2 could send out low frequency signals to control the modular synth without MIDI, a la VC. I patched together a simple little patch from the LFO tutorial on the Cycling 74 website (I'm a lazy ass programmer would would rather copy/paste). The 4 scopes on the left green side of the patch are the waveforms and clicks. The two waveforms on the scopes on the right are simple combinations of the 2 LFOs on the left. My camera sucks and the menus got overexposed. I'll cover what's going on in the annotations once again. I like watching videos for sound and music with no talking, so I make mine that way now that annotations are on youtube.

This is not meant to be a flex of my musical prowess or anything like that, just searching for interesting sounds, and testing out Max/MSP MOTU828MKII control of the PlanB modular.

Everyone who ever read those postings, but didn't want to shell out cash to test a theory, well, here's the proof it does, and now I have almost unlimited quick and dirty analog LFOs. At least good enough for almost unlimited 8 to 16 bit LFOs (that's about the resolution it looks, still better than an Arduino or other ATMEGA controller with a resister ladder DAC which is what I was going to try invstingating again next if this didn't work. It worked OK for teh theremin to Max before. Now on to integrating Max and the modular . Digital logic meets analog logic (Grenader & crew meets Zicarelli and crew). :)

I think one of my next MaxB tests will have to be making it stutter, afterall, isn't t a rule I have to make something stutter in real time as a Max user?

stereo here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-6sv-u3fDw&fmt=18

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Max/MSP
• PlanB
• analog
• control
• voltage
• VC
• CV
• LFO
• modular
• synthesis
• synthesizer
• cycling74

[bdufdiskc]

Nice. What about the inputs, are those DC blocked? If not, you could record audio tracks of analog voltages and play them back, useful! Even if it's just the outputs, with things like max/msp or plogue bidule, a lot could be done.

[dkimcg]

I'd be more nervous about sending signals back in since the control voltages can get to 5 volts. Being able to isolate a click or sending out multiple channels from the modular is good enough for me for now. I'd still have the same LFOs and information available back in Max too. I don't want information overload to explode my noggin.

[beatpoetmusic]

Excellent work, does the ultralite have the same range to pull this off ?

[dkimcg]

I don't think so. I believe they have a filter on the outputs that gets rid of the inaudible low frequencies.

[machinate]

very interesting. I would LOVE to see a video of you doing simpler modulation of sustained tones without reverb, so we can both see and hear what's going on. You know, just onwe really slow osc in max, modulating an analouge osc. Greatness :-D

Oh, and for the record, Motu advises against using their interfaces for this stuff. Just a heads up ;)

[dkimcg]

you can follow the thread in the cycling74 forums for more info.

[JonathanAschalew]

impressive!



[jimmyjoeroche]

I've ben doing some research about controlling my modular synth with max msp ( I been building a blacet for about a year now ) I'v been reading that long thread on the cycling 74 website and have watched your video on youtube. what is the plan b soft ware doing in this video? is it essentially just displaying the wave form? so you are sending LFO's out of max as audio directly into your modular? are you using 1/4 inch to 1/8 adaptors? did you have to solder special cables?

[rainbowsalads]

@beatpoetmusic hi my motu 2408 can output as low as 1hz (even lower) ....as can my emu 0404 ...as can my roland vs1680.....i think most cards can ,but the freq response is not as strong lower down..but you can of course amplify with a transistor.

nice to see max msp in conjunction with something other than an arduino!!

[LeonarddeLeonard]

Nice,very interesting!

[VCO81]

I'm sorry, you've completely misunderstood me. I was responding to what 'machinate' wrote about Motu advising against using their interface.

[machinate]

thanks mate - already there, I'm on the mailing list. Nice one for taking the initiative.