Ambient Patch From Scratch // Eurorack Ambient // Innesti
Some of my favorite modular videos on YouTube are the ones in which artists build a "patch from scratch" and describe their thought process while doing so. For example, if you watch Tom Leclerc's patching videos (e.g., • How I Patch 3 // Live patch from scratch a... ), you get a chance to watch Tom build a synth patch from the ground up. You also get some unique insights into what he's trying to accomplish and the way he thinks about sound design. Lightbath has some wonderful patching videos too. I've watched and re-watched their videos on numerous occasions; I learn something new every time.
As a way of paying it forward, this video documents the creation of an Innesti-style patch. What is an "Innesti-style patch?" Well, I tend to create drifting, floating, ethereal ambient soundscapes. And, although I love complex layers of sound, I tend to lean more towards a minimal approach that uses a few basic sounds and re-synthesizes those to create spacious movements and drifting textures. Because most modular synth music leans toward the techno or experimental sides of the genre, this kind of video might offer a unique perspective on the patching process. And, because I'm speaking off the cuff throughout the video, you might also get a chance to hear some of my controversial hot takes (e.g., we need more melody in ambient music), in case you like a bit of drama with your ambient videos.
Please be warned that this video is not professional. I rigged an excessively wobbly overhead stand for my iPhone and ultimately recorded my voice using that phone in real time. And, by "real time," I also mean while the air conditioner was cranked to full and while the neighbors were seemingly trying to launch a space mission to Mars. Sigh. I hope to make another "patch from scratch" video in the future that is more professional in appearance and sound. But, this will work fine as a casual first step. :D
If you have comments or questions, please drop a note below. And, if you have alternative thoughts on how to implement some of these ideas, I'd love to hear more about how you'd approach things. Enjoy!
Chapters:
01:05 A Blank Slate: Starting the Patch. XPO, O_c, Oxi One.
05:44 Filtering the Sound: QPAS
07:28 Constructing a Melody: Oxi One
11:25 Adding Layers 1: The Qubit Nautilus
15:25 Adding Layers 2: The Instruo Arbhar
22:48 Adding Layers 3: The Qubit Nebulae
30:05 Adding Layers 4: The Panharmonium
39:05 The Final Patch
The video for the final version of this patch is available here:
• Ethereal Eurorack Ambient // Innesti
That version is the same patch, but with a little bit of extra tweaking. And presented in a way that is more typical of my videos.
If you would like to support my work, please like and subscribe. You can purchase or stream my ambient albums here:
Bandcamp: https://innesti.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6vjQz...
#eurorack #modular #ambient