Adapting the EuroRack audio world for video synthesis

Egor · Post by **Egor** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:47 am

I'm new to the world of video synthesis, and as a starting point I purchased a Dave Jones MVP, as it seemed like the best option for getting started on my student budget.

I'm wondering if there is a way to expand my video system now. i.e If I purchased some lzx modules, such as the waveform generator and the triple multimode filter, would these input directly into the mvp, or would I still need the lzx encoder and synch generator?

I also have an expert sleepers system, and want to use it with my video system to experiment with pattern synthesis. Has anyone tried making audio max/msp patches, then using them through a converter such expert sleepers to generate video patterns before?

What are the best modules I　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｌｏｏｋ　ａｔ　ｐｕｒｃｈａｓｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｕｔｕｒｅ　ｔｏ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｐａｔｔｅｒｎ　ｓｙｎｔｈｅｓｉｓ？　

Ａｎｄ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ．．．．　Ｈａｓ　ａｎｙｏｎｅ　ｈａｄ　ｓｕｃｃｅｓｓ　ｄｏｗｎｌｏａｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｄｆ＇ｓ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　Ｄｉｙ schematics　ｓｅｃｔｉｏｎ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｚｘ　ｉｎｄｕｓｔｒｉｅｓ　ｗｅｂｓｉｔｅ？
All three sound good and I'd like to try making them, however when I open the pdfs, there are just a few random indecipherable symbols scattered across the page, it's by no means a readable schematic!

Thanks to everyone for there help and advice to a video synth newbie!

daverj · Post by **daverj** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 5:07 pm

Egor wrote:I'm new to the world of video synthesis, and as a starting point I purchased a Dave Jones MVP, as it seemed like the best option for getting started on my student budget.

I'm wondering if there is a way to expand my video system now. i.e If I purchased some lzx modules, such as the waveform generator and the triple multimode filter, would these input directly into the mvp, or would I still need the lzx encoder and synch generator?

The MVIP has a video input which expects a composite video signal. It extracts the sync information from that to create the sync on the video output. So only real composite video signals can go in there. (like the output of an LZX encoder, a DVD player, camera, etc...)

It also have CV inputs. Those are expecting audio rate and below. And are expecting standard +/-5v Euro signals. So the LZX 0-1v signals would be fairly small. And anything above the audio range won't be seen. So you can't really put video rate oscillators in those and get video rate bars or shapes.

The MVIP works fine processing the output of the LZX encoder. So to go that route you would need their oscillators and the sync gen/encoder modules to feed video rate oscillations and shapes into the video input of the MVIP.

Egor wrote:Ａｎｄ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ．．．．　Ｈａｓ　ａｎｙｏｎｅ　ｈａｄ　ｓｕｃｃｅｓｓ　ｄｏｗｎｌｏａｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｄｆ＇ｓ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　Ｄｉｙ schematics　ｓｅｃｔｉｏｎ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｚｘ　ｉｎｄｕｓｔｒｉｅｓ　ｗｅｂｓｉｔｅ？
All three sound good and I'd like to try making them, however when I open the pdfs, there are just a few random indecipherable symbols scattered across the page, it's by no means a readable schematic!

What are you opening them with? Do you have Acrobat Reader (Adobe Reader) installed? (get it free at adobe.com) I just went and checked and all three display fine as PDF files. If you just open them as text files then you'll see a bunch of strange character symbols and not the schematics.

hinotori · Post by **hinotori** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 4:26 am

I'm interested in logic modules and the LZX and have read about the LZX video logic and the Spock. But, has anyone used the Abstract data logic boss in their system, or had interesting results from other logic modules?

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:21 am

Intellijel Ã‚ÂµFold works real well for video.

nickciontea · Post by **nickciontea** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:24 pm

kjellb wrote:Intellijel Ã‚ÂµFold works real well for video.

i'd love to see what you got!

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Sun Mar 16, 2014 7:27 am

I am sorry but I do not have any recordings (and stressed out timewise). Anyway the folds and symmertry inputs can handle pretty high frequent inputs (several bars locked to horizontal) and I have been keeping a couple of these modules in my live performance case for more than a year.

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:32 am

Mungo w0 gives superclean waveforms. It reminds me a bit of the Jones oscillator which I have been testing for some time. If you buy w0 for video make sure to get the latest version.

reignbear · Post by **reignbear** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:46 am

kjellb wrote:Mungo w0 gives superclean waveforms. It reminds me a bit of the Jones oscillator which I have been testing for some time. If you buy w0 for video make sure to get the latest version.

Interesting, how high does it go?

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:52 am

Not too high, 2-3 vertical bars. It will not replace a dedicated video oscillator.

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:46 am

Mungo Enterprises send me a waveform that made the module reach higher frequencies. For me a couple of vertical bars is good enough for a music based oscillator. I am lucky enough to have a couple of the upcoming Jones oscillators which hits the sky anyway.

reignbear · Post by **reignbear** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 3:25 pm

kjellb wrote:I am lucky enough to have a couple of the upcoming Jones oscillators which hits the sky anyway.

barto · Post by **barto** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 1:04 am

piston honda mkii works well. syncs to field rate and you get some interesting results by morphing through the wave tables

kjellb · Post by **kjellb** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 3:03 am

I should test it. How does the morphing work video wise?

Cobramatic · Post by **Cobramatic** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:59 pm

Tried out the TipTop Z3000 Osc with the LZX.
Specs suggest it gets into video rates.
My trials gives 1 vertical line without syncing and upto 3 vertical lines if synced via Line rate into the 1v/octave input. For some reason the 'sync' input is a lot less useful at Line rates.
A few diagonal lines are possible also.
Horizontal lines are all good as expected - no need to sync to Field rate as the Osc is very stable.
As it has all usual waveforms out and 2x FM and PWM cv control in then it works well as a lower frequency VWG, which is damn handy 'cos there are still no VWG's out there (no stock for at least a year now.....)

Grab one if you can't get a VWG!

Been using the Malekko Wiard Anti-Osc for interesting wave folded vertical lines too via the 'Mayhem' output.

Cat-A-Tonic · Post by **Cat-A-Tonic** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 9:20 am

Doepfer A-172 Max/Min works great with LZX video.

As I understand it Max/Min is synonymous with
Analogue AND/OR,
and Peak & Through.

...but the LZX module is 'digital' Logic, right?
Just 0 and 1v, nothing in between, right?

lizlarsen · Post by **lizlarsen** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:16 am

...but the LZX module is 'digital' Logic, right?
Just 0 and 1v, nothing in between, right?

Correct. The new version of VBM has a "MAX" output (analog OR.) Digital logic serves its purpose with the LZX logic modules, but analog logic is arguably more useful for compositing video signals.

Does the Doepfer Min/Max lose any resolution on video signals?? If not that's awesome. It probably uses discrete transistor logic.

Cat-A-Tonic · Post by **Cat-A-Tonic** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:57 am

lizlarsen wrote:
...but the LZX module is 'digital' Logic, right?
Just 0 and 1v, nothing in between, right?
Correct. The new version of VBM has a "MAX" output (analog OR.) Digital logic serves its purpose with the LZX logic modules, but analog logic is arguably more useful for compositing video signals.

Does the Doepfer Min/Max lose any resolution on video signals?? If not that's awesome. It probably uses discrete transistor logic.

The Doepfer Max/Min uses 2x LM324 chips.

The picture quality is good enough for most tasks.
The same as Doepfer A-152, or Blacet Hex Zone sequential switches.
There seems to be a slight softening (loss of resolution).
When using with oscillators you wouldn't even notice.
With external footage there is a difference, but it's fairly negligible.

That's cool that the new version of the VBM has Max outs.
You should revise the description on your website and Analogue Haven.
I don't think the write up got updated along with the module.

There are also Analog Logic and Peak & Trough PCBs available from Ken Stone (CGS).
It's hard to DIY for cheaper than used Doepfer though (especially if you factor in time & effort).

It's a pretty fun way to combine images.

moogboy · Post by **moogboy** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:28 pm

I've been fucking around with the ADDAC 601 Fixed Filter Bank for about 3 hours now, using the envelope outs of each of the frequency bands (some fed into a Macro Machines Dynamic Destiny for switching) to modulate parameters on the MVIP. I suspected the Fixed Filter Bank would be a great module for video applications, and I was not disappointed. Can't wait to try the RxMx/Fixed Filter combo with it.

drumasaurusrex · Post by **drumasaurusrex** » Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:13 pm

Both of these examples are great! Thanks for posting!

drumasaurusrex · Post by **drumasaurusrex** » Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:20 pm

I have tried recalibrating the Mutable Instruments Edges to get higher frequencies and try to push into video rate (vertical lines). The control of the frequency is weird after calibration, but allows the module to generate frequencies above the audible range... but just barely... like I get to nearly the maximum frequency range before it becomes inaudible.
It is not ideal for video synthesis. However, it is a fun (for a minute) adaptation of an audio module. You get 4 separate oscillators with separate outputs or a mixed output... with some cross-mod options. Mostly pulse wave (except for osc4), but can add/substitute for some extra modulation if you've got one.

Cheers.

Dirty_Bill · Post by **Dirty_Bill** » Wed May 20, 2015 8:20 pm

Playing around with the Ciat-Lonbarde Denum and Swoop. These "Bounds/Bounce" oscillators like to fly all over the frequencies, but feeding them line and frame sync signals to their bounds makes them sync at some frequencies. This is triangle outs into the Cortex from the Denum and then Swoop (with a VWG sine colorizer over the top).

Just shot with the phone, excuse the pixels and scan lines. More experimentation is needed. Definitely not worth a video yet

Cat-A-Tonic · Post by **Cat-A-Tonic** » Wed May 20, 2015 8:43 pm

I've had some good results with audio filters and wave-folders processing video.

Wave folders look similar to filters, but with more ripples or bands instead of washes/smears.

Pulse based wave folders act kinda like keyers.

drumasaurusrex · Post by **drumasaurusrex** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 7:28 pm

I have really been enjoying the 3TrinsRgB+1c for adapting my audio modules to the video world.

The link below is 3 waveform outputs from the Pittsburgh Modular DNA Symbiotic Waves module sent to the R,G, and B CV jacks on the 3Trins. With the fine tuning knob, you can get some -fairly- stable waveforms. It doesn't show well in the video, but at low frequencies, you can see some cool digital edges in the different waveforms.

cheers!

bananeurysm · Post by **bananeurysm** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:49 pm

Is it at all possible to generate composite video with color with standard eurorack modules? color info comes from a related modulator of some sort right?

Cat-A-Tonic · Post by **Cat-A-Tonic** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:09 pm

bananeurysm wrote:Is it at all possible to generate composite video with color with standard eurorack modules? color info comes from a related modulator of some sort right?

You need some sort of Color Video Encoder and Sync Generator.

LZX has a few options.

Alternatively, you could use:
Dave Jones MVIP
or
3TrinsRGB+1c

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Adapting the EuroRack audio world for video synthesis

Mutable Instruments Edges... recalibrated

Pittsburgh DNA Symbiotic Waves