Buchla Music Easel: Q & A

Scories · Post by **Scories** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:00 am

Nice thread! Especially helpful for those like me who are not familliar with Buchla and/or the Music Easel.

1 - I'd like to know what kinds of options does the preamp detector brings ; triggering sounds/sequences, interfering with a soundscape/melody/sequence, audio processing??

2 - What type of filtering can you get out of the music Easel - lpf/bpf/hpf, pings...?

opsysbug · Post by **opsysbug** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:03 am

captnapalm wrote:
BHC303 wrote:Can external audio be routed through the verb?

Cheers
Yes, certainly. There are audio inputs which can be routed through the LPGs and reverb, and can also be modulated by the mod osc.

Well that certainly rocks!

captnapalm · Post by **captnapalm** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:47 am

Scories wrote:Nice thread! Especially helpful for those like me who are not familliar with Buchla and/or the Music Easel.

1 - I'd like to know what kinds of options does the preamp detector brings ; triggering sounds/sequences, interfering with a soundscape/melody/sequence, audio processing??

2 - What type of filtering can you get out of the music Easel - lpf/bpf/hpf, pings...?

The envelope detector simply outputs a CV based on the amplitude of the signal fed in. That CV can be routed to whatever parameter input you'd like. So for example you could have the mod oscillator go faster as the input signal gets louder.

The filtering on the Easel isn't typical at all. It's got two of Buchla's Low Pass Gates, which are a combination VCA and filter and have their own character.

Here's an experiment I did a few years ago. I ran a police scanner through the Easel. IIRC, I used the envelope follower to trigger the rate of the pulser, which opened the LPGs. The audio got AM from the mod osc. Some sections have reverb too.

Morley · Post by **Morley** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:34 pm

Glad they got Alessandro on board!

Scories · Post by **Scories** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:37 pm

@captnapalm : Thanks a lot. Nice sound clip; a lot of warmth in there.

mayanspring · Post by **mayanspring** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:44 pm

will there be any cv control over arpeggiator? ... likewise, is there any chance of cv controlled stereo effects?

blindoldfreak · Post by **blindoldfreak** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:44 pm

mayanspring wrote:will there be any cv control over arpeggiator? ... likewise, is there any chance of cv controlled stereo effects?

From what i saw, there is a CV in for the arpeggiator...I am afraid i don't know what it's for, yet.
I wouldn't count on stereo FX, since the reverb tank is mono.
It's much preferable , in my opinion, to use stereo external fx , given the variety of what's available...

Arcade Sinusoid · Post by **Arcade Sinusoid** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:07 pm

Here's
That's rad!

Low-Gain · Post by **Low-Gain** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:06 pm

megamaeng wrote:
captnapalm wrote: I'm non-FB and I was able to watch the vid.
Hmmmm, it asks me to login. Oh well...

Anyway I'll use this opportunity to ask a question. Some in the request thread mentioned wanting a ground plug and I notice that the synovatron CVGT1 and low-gain's banana to 1/8" boxes have ground plugs as well. Not knowing too much about what is involved, do you think the Easel be able to interface well with euro? Mainly sending cv out and patching audio in. Thanks!

While not an ideal grounding location you can get ground from any of the 1/8" jacks on the easel should they choose NOT to include a banana ground jack.

The easel should interface just fine w/ euro but if you're wanting the VCO's to track... if i'm not mistaken (correct me if i'm wrong, i dont own any buchla...yet) they are 1.2V/oct on buchla and pretty much everything in euro is 1V/oct. So the CVGT1 will be a great addition to interfacing buchla w/ euro if you're looking for correct tracking. Now of course if you dont care about that, then my UTL1 will work just fine as it's just a passive format jumbler.

equalpyramid · Post by **equalpyramid** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:09 pm

Apologies if this was asked before, but can the random voltage be used as an white noise source on the Easel?

blindoldfreak · Post by **blindoldfreak** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:32 am

equalpyramid wrote:Apologies if this was asked before, but can the random voltage be used as an white noise source on the Easel?

nope.

BHC303 · Post by **BHC303** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:40 am

opsysbug wrote:
captnapalm wrote:
BHC303 wrote:Can external audio be routed through the verb?

Cheers
Yes, certainly. There are audio inputs which can be routed through the LPGs and reverb, and can also be modulated by the mod osc.

Well that certainly rocks!

Yes it does

doepferiano · Post by **doepferiano** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:46 pm

Ciao Ale!

Is there any PRE DOC for the extender card ?
would be possible to export via OSC voltages from the ME to an external device ?

thanks
Antonio

dykehouse · Post by **dykehouse** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:54 pm

Found out a friend's girlfriend is helping write the manual-so cool!

kev · Post by **kev** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:43 pm

It would be really awesome if BEMI or a kind soul could provide a better pdf of the original manual. I think that should tide a bunch of people over and answer a lot of questions. I tried to read it but couldn't get past the first few pages before my eyes went

vgermuse · Post by **vgermuse** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:50 pm

megamaeng wrote:It would be really awesome if BEMI or a kind soul could provide a better pdf of the original manual. I think that should tide a bunch of people over and answer a lot of questions. I tried to read it but couldn't get past the first few pages before my eyes went

Check the BEMI Official Announcement thread in this forum:
They wrote-
ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s our intention to include an appropriately updated version of the original Allen Strange manual along with new documentation to help users unfamiliar with the Easel unlock its sonic potential.

I saw draft of this new version at NAMM and it is clear and clean!

captnapalm · Post by **captnapalm** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:58 pm

megamaeng wrote:It would be really awesome if BEMI or a kind soul could provide a better pdf of the original manual. I think that should tide a bunch of people over and answer a lot of questions. I tried to read it but couldn't get past the first few pages before my eyes went

I have an original. I could provide a good scan if somebody is willing to host it (will be a big file).

The manual is open source before that was a term. Buchla, always decades ahead of the times...

kev · Post by **kev** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:59 pm

vgermuse wrote: I saw draft of this new version at NAMM and it is clear and clean!

Nice! But I'd like something now to take to bed and

kev · Post by **kev** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:01 pm

captnapalm wrote: I have an original. I could provide a good scan if somebody is willing to host it (will be a big file).

If you would do us all that amazing service. I will optimize the size and host it!

You can also upload it to google drive and give it a public link.

incekt · Post by **incekt** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:26 pm

will it ship with enough patch cords?

REwire · Post by **REwire** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:57 pm

Hi Alessandro,

Is the Timbre Circuit the same one from the 259?

Dan

amnesia · Post by **amnesia** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:54 pm

here yo go Dan

From Mark Verbos' excellent site.
http://buchlatech.blogspot.com.au/2008/ ... lator.html

construct09 · Post by **construct09** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:22 pm

incekt wrote:will it ship with enough patch cords?

Yes, are jumpers and 'pomonas?' included?
edit : I meant shorting bars, not jumpers

sascha.victoria · Post by **sascha.victoria** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:53 pm

first and foremost, why aren't you guys worried about the sound?

djangosfire · Post by **djangosfire** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:10 pm

sascha.victoria wrote:first and foremost, why aren't you guys worried about the sound?

They've stated that the new Easel is a clone down to near same internal parts - built from the 3rd revision of the original Buchla Music Easel docs.

Based on this info, I'm willing to take a leap of faith at this point.

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Buchla Music Easel: Q & A