What's your favorite way to add distortion (without using distortion)?
Saturation can be a great thickening agent for the sound of a patch— overdriving a signal and adding harmonics to it is a timeless tradition! But what are some other ways to get to a similar place without a distortion unit on hand?
This patch relies on two of my favorite techniques: audio rate AM and audio rate timbral modulation, using the STO, XPO, DXG and QPAS (with X-Pan as a final mixer and Mimeophon as a post-mixer echo processor). Here's the patch:
To start, the STO and XPO are tuned to be very close in frequency but not exactly matching, resulting in a slight beat frequency appearing when mixed together (or modulating each other). Both are controlled by René's X-CV output.
From there, the STO's Variable Waveshape and the XPO's Stereo Pulse (mono out) are patched to their own DXG channels, with waveforms from the other oscillators patched to modulate the CTRL inputs (STO's Sine modulates the XPO channel, XPO's Saw modulates the STO channel).
The Sub out from each oscillator is patched to the Left and Right inputs of QPAS, whose LPF outs are patched to the DXG's stereo Aux ins. QPAS is being modulated by a Maths function (Freq 1) as well as the XPO's Stereo Wavefolding (right out) (Freq 2). Additionally, the XPO's Sine is patched to QPAS' left Radiate input.
The stereo outs of DXG are patched to the stereo ins on X-Pan, with the top two channels of X-Pan having the XPO's Stereo Vari-Timbre (mono out) and Triangle patched into them. All three X-Pan channels are modulated by the 0-CTRL's Pressure out.
The 0-CTRL's Pitch row is patched into René's X-CV in, which is set to modulate the X channel's position, with the XCV out patched to the v/oct in on both oscillators.
The result is a huge, overdriven sound created without the use of overdrive. Audio-rate modulation and slight detuning are all that's needed! What are some of your favorite techniques?
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