Hi all,
Wanted to share my recent obsession with the Mixtur Trautonium and the way I've implemented it in my 6U eurorack case. This thread is going to be a bit long unfortunately, as I've put a lot of thought into this.
For people unfamiliar with the Mixtur Trautonium, check this page out: Doepfer Trautonium page Basically it's an early synthesizer that uses two 'manuals' (touch controllers that control both amplitude and pitch) to play two oscillators that get fed into subharmonic generators and subsequently 4 parallel filters. It looks like this:
![Image]()
I got a Mannequins Just Friends a few months ago and realized it's a little Trautonium in a module. I could have gone the Doepfer route but the A-113 subharmonic generator is extremely deep (my case is too shallow) and I wanted to take the Trautonium concept into the 21st century with more elaborate control and tonal options past the saw waves and subharmonics that the original produces. Just Friends is able to do the subharmonic thing while also offering you acces to the harmonic series or suble detuning of its voices. In addition, with Teletype, I can program any mixture of harmonics I wish by using the JF.TUNE operator. I could then use my Grid 128 to take tuning ratios from the Teletype patterns to get a bank of 'mixtures' or chords.
This is the system I ended up with (it's fully built except I need to buy the second A-198):
![Image]()
It provides me:
- Two Doepfer A-198 modules with ribbon controllers. generate envelopes, pitch and gates to control the modular.
- Two harmonic oscillators that can provide subharmonics, harmonics, subtle detune etc. (Two Mannequins JF)
- Two mixers for the Just Friends outputs (HN 3x MIA)
- Two filter bank that match the original Trautonium (A-104)
- A foot controller to octave shift up and down and have expression pedal control over overall volume.
- The Schlagwerk, making it possible to use percussive envelopes rather than the softer envelopes you get from the ribbon controller (Envelator).
- A flexible noise source as in the original (A-118)
- Mixing the pitch of the ribbon with offsets generated by Teletype (SumDif) to get octave switching.
- A hub of control for octave switching, definig the mixture to use etc. (Teletype). Can be expanded further.
- A switch to switch between ribbon envelope and Schlagwerk (WMD/SSF ToolBox). I am not using the other functionalities of the ToolBox so it will eventually make way for a simple A-150 so I can implement another switch in the system.
- A sweetener, running one voice through the Strakal Brulu really sweetened it up and added some harmonics. Can also be turned up for full on germanium fuzz.
- The VCA for the ribbon controller (Optomix). This one really works great, provide subtle loudness dependent filtering and responds really well to the envelopes from the A-198.
- Another VCA for the expression pedal (A-132-3).
- Flexible multi-effect. Can be used as a frequency shifter that Oskar Sala often used as an effect. Also a delay with frequency shifter in the feedback loop, reverb, anything you'd like. (HN FX Aid)
- An output module (Ladik A-312).
- A Neotrellis Grid 128 that allows me manual selection of harmonic mixtures and easy switching by pressing a button.
I'll try to record some audio soon and take a picture of the actual system once I have the final A-198. But playing with it now is sooooo much fun. With careful trimming the A-198 provides me a 3-octave ribbon controller that is super expressive. It really now is an instrument and fits what I want to get out of a modular system. Using two ribbon controllers, I can play melodies on one ribbon and chords on the other. In addition, I can reroute controls for specific functions. Through Teletype I could easily use the foot switches to scroll through mixtures of (sub)harmonics rather than use them for octave switching.
I have it patched with tendrils now to get a sort of semi permanent patch going but modulation can of course be introduced.
I am also exploring replacing one of the A-104 filters with a Malekko Dual Borg, which is closer to the filter set of the Volkstrautonium and would allow some filter modulation using the envelopes of the ribbon controllers. With this combination I've been able to move from more traditional Trautonium like sounds to generating Reese basses that sound immense.
Anyway, wanted to share this recent approach I've taken to my modular to make it the playable instrument that I've been craving all this time. After messing around with sequencers and generative approaches, I've found out that modular attracts me for the timbral possibilities it provides but that I require a physical, playable interface to get the most enjoyment out of it![:)]( "smile")
If anybody is interested I am happy to share my Teletype scene and talk more about the details. I'll upload some video the coming month showcasing the system and what it can do. I also posted this topic on the lines forum but I know a lot of people here don't go there and vice versa.
Wanted to share my recent obsession with the Mixtur Trautonium and the way I've implemented it in my 6U eurorack case. This thread is going to be a bit long unfortunately, as I've put a lot of thought into this.
For people unfamiliar with the Mixtur Trautonium, check this page out: Doepfer Trautonium page Basically it's an early synthesizer that uses two 'manuals' (touch controllers that control both amplitude and pitch) to play two oscillators that get fed into subharmonic generators and subsequently 4 parallel filters. It looks like this:
I got a Mannequins Just Friends a few months ago and realized it's a little Trautonium in a module. I could have gone the Doepfer route but the A-113 subharmonic generator is extremely deep (my case is too shallow) and I wanted to take the Trautonium concept into the 21st century with more elaborate control and tonal options past the saw waves and subharmonics that the original produces. Just Friends is able to do the subharmonic thing while also offering you acces to the harmonic series or suble detuning of its voices. In addition, with Teletype, I can program any mixture of harmonics I wish by using the JF.TUNE operator. I could then use my Grid 128 to take tuning ratios from the Teletype patterns to get a bank of 'mixtures' or chords.
This is the system I ended up with (it's fully built except I need to buy the second A-198):
It provides me:
- Two Doepfer A-198 modules with ribbon controllers. generate envelopes, pitch and gates to control the modular.
- Two harmonic oscillators that can provide subharmonics, harmonics, subtle detune etc. (Two Mannequins JF)
- Two mixers for the Just Friends outputs (HN 3x MIA)
- Two filter bank that match the original Trautonium (A-104)
- A foot controller to octave shift up and down and have expression pedal control over overall volume.
- The Schlagwerk, making it possible to use percussive envelopes rather than the softer envelopes you get from the ribbon controller (Envelator).
- A flexible noise source as in the original (A-118)
- Mixing the pitch of the ribbon with offsets generated by Teletype (SumDif) to get octave switching.
- A hub of control for octave switching, definig the mixture to use etc. (Teletype). Can be expanded further.
- A switch to switch between ribbon envelope and Schlagwerk (WMD/SSF ToolBox). I am not using the other functionalities of the ToolBox so it will eventually make way for a simple A-150 so I can implement another switch in the system.
- A sweetener, running one voice through the Strakal Brulu really sweetened it up and added some harmonics. Can also be turned up for full on germanium fuzz.
- The VCA for the ribbon controller (Optomix). This one really works great, provide subtle loudness dependent filtering and responds really well to the envelopes from the A-198.
- Another VCA for the expression pedal (A-132-3).
- Flexible multi-effect. Can be used as a frequency shifter that Oskar Sala often used as an effect. Also a delay with frequency shifter in the feedback loop, reverb, anything you'd like. (HN FX Aid)
- An output module (Ladik A-312).
- A Neotrellis Grid 128 that allows me manual selection of harmonic mixtures and easy switching by pressing a button.
I'll try to record some audio soon and take a picture of the actual system once I have the final A-198. But playing with it now is sooooo much fun. With careful trimming the A-198 provides me a 3-octave ribbon controller that is super expressive. It really now is an instrument and fits what I want to get out of a modular system. Using two ribbon controllers, I can play melodies on one ribbon and chords on the other. In addition, I can reroute controls for specific functions. Through Teletype I could easily use the foot switches to scroll through mixtures of (sub)harmonics rather than use them for octave switching.
I have it patched with tendrils now to get a sort of semi permanent patch going but modulation can of course be introduced.
I am also exploring replacing one of the A-104 filters with a Malekko Dual Borg, which is closer to the filter set of the Volkstrautonium and would allow some filter modulation using the envelopes of the ribbon controllers. With this combination I've been able to move from more traditional Trautonium like sounds to generating Reese basses that sound immense.
Anyway, wanted to share this recent approach I've taken to my modular to make it the playable instrument that I've been craving all this time. After messing around with sequencers and generative approaches, I've found out that modular attracts me for the timbral possibilities it provides but that I require a physical, playable interface to get the most enjoyment out of it
If anybody is interested I am happy to share my Teletype scene and talk more about the details. I'll upload some video the coming month showcasing the system and what it can do. I also posted this topic on the lines forum but I know a lot of people here don't go there and vice versa.Statistics: Posted by kauwgomboom — Fri Aug 09, 2024 4:38 am — Replies 0 — Views 22