Generative Modular Ambient Tutorial with Metropolix and Make Noise Maths
***Important*** I forgot to show one setting in the video. Both Metropolix tracks need to be set to -24 semitones so that the voltages are low enough to create long rise and fall times in Maths.
Hi. Thanks for joining me.
This is Metropolix and Maths, working together as a kind of generative computer to create an evolving set of musically related sequences.
Let me show you how it works.
To keep things simple I’ll be using Midi out of Metropolix to drive soft synths in Ableton Live.
Let’s get started by giving Metropolix it’s initial settings.
Chapter 1: Set up Metropolix
All gates to off
Choose a scale
Create a simple melodic shape on the sliders
Turn on 3 gates
Enable Accumulator on one step of each track
Lower each track -24 semitones
Chapter 2: Patch with Maths
Now we’ll configure Maths to generate the feedback we need to control Metropolix
Metropolix pitch 1 to Maths 1 rise/fall CV
Metropolix gate 1 to Maths 1 trig
Metropolix pitch 2 to Maths 4 rise/fall CV
Metropolix gate 2 to Maths 4 trig
Set Maths 1 and 4 rise and fall times to medium settings
Chapter 3: Feedback to Metropolix
With Maths and Metropolix configured it’s time to patch Maths back into Metropolix and set up the feedback levels and assignments
Maths function 1 to Metropolix X in
Maths function 4 to Metropolix Y in
Assign Metropolix X in to stages offset for Metropolix track 2
Assign Metropolix Y in to stages offset for Metropolix track 1
Display resulting offsets on screen of Metropolix
Chapter 5: Add a Third Voice
For more fun, I’m going to use a logic module and a pitch quantizer to add a third voice that’s musically related to the first two.
Patch Maths rise/fall 1 to Maths channel 2 input
Patch Maths rise/fall 4 to Match channel 3 input
Patch Maths sum to O&C cv1 in
Patch Maths channel 1 end of rise to Quadigy in 1
Patch Maths channel 4 end of cycle to Quandigy in 2
Set Quadigy to AND
Patch Quadigy out to E gate one of Neutron
Patch Quadigy out to Trig 1 on O&C
Patch O&C out A to Osc 1+2 in of Neutron
Bonus fun! Use Quadigy inverted output to alter the pitch of Metropolix track 2 through Metropolix input Z assigned to track 2 pitch pre
Chapter 6: Closing Thoughts
Performance parameters
Adding and subtracting gates
Using probability
Try it at different pattern lengths and clock divs
Change the rise and fall times in Maths
This patch provides a nice generative feedback system that can run on it’s own, but I can step in and alter it in ways that cascade through the system and create unpredictable changes.
Metropolix offers so many ways to create changes that can be sent out into a generative system, altered and sent back to create evolving feedback loops.
Maths is designed for exactly this sort of thing and I’m sure I’m just scratching the surface of it’s utility in generative music.
I’ll be exploring more in upcoming videos. Please check back often for new content, and subscribe and like to be notified of new videos.
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Patch Description
01:17 Patch the modules together
02:40 Settings for Metropolix and Maths
04:20 Deeper dive into configuration
07:20 Adding a third voice
11:24 Wrapping up
13:17 Plans for the channel
14:06 Outro