PATCH #9
Earlier this year, Doepfer announced its new Basic System 3 (BS3), the latest in its line of complete, pre-configured Eurorack systems aimed at beginners, experts, explorers and purists alike.
To accompany the system, Doepfer — in collaboration with Stromkult — has designed a comprehensive Patchbook with fourteen different patch ideas for the BS3. Every patch comes with custom-made patch diagrams and a step-by-step-patching manual, making it easy for anyone to recreate and play with these patches.
While the patches were specifically designed for the BS3 and its configuration, most of the patches revolve around basic "building block" modules such as VCOs, VCFs, VCAs, mixers, envelope and LFOs and thus should be able to be recreated on a variety of systems — above all, we hope these patches may inspire you!
You can download the full PDF of the patchbook with all of the patches here (link goes to Google Drive).
Every individual patch is divided into an introductory overview of the patch, a section for the audio path, a section for the control voltage path and a final "play the patch" section with ideas on how the patch could be further tweaked and iterated upon.
PATCH OVERVIEW
This is a percussion patch that synthesizes a classic drum machine snare drum sound that consists of two layers, a noise layer and a pitched layer.
AUDIO PATH
(this diagram includes both the audio and CV paths for this patch)
For the noise layer, we send white noise from the A-118-1 to the audio input of the A-121-2 VCF. Its lowpass output goes to the upper audio input on the A-132-3 DVCA.
The upper audio output on the A-132-3 goes into Input 2 on the A-131 VCA. The output of the A-131 then goes to our headphones or speakers.
For the pitched layer, the A-171-2 VCS receives keyboard/sequencer gate into its “Trig” input. The output of the VCS goes into the A-108 VCF8. The “12db LP” output goes to audio input 1 on the A-131 VCA. This way we “ping” the filter, creating a pitched and percussive sound.
You can adjust the volume relation between the noise layer and the pitched layer with the “In1” and “In2” knobs on the A-131.
CONTROL VOLTAGE PATH
The A-140-2 Dual ADSR receives keyboard/sequencer gate. The first ADSR’s output goes to the A-121-2 for a filter envelope and the second ADSR output goes to the top “CV” Input of the A-132-3 to create a volume envelope.
The A-140-1 ADSR receives keyboard/sequencer gate. It sends one output to the “CV1” input of the A-131 (volume envelope) and another to the “CV2” input of the A-108 (filter envelope).
"PLAY THE PATCH"
Instead of using the white noise output on the A-118-1, you could use the “Colored” output, allowing you to get different colors of noise by adjusting the “Blue” and “Red” knobs.
The cutoff frequency and resonance (“Emph.”) on the A-108 determine the pitch and intensity of the pitched layer. Turning the resonance all the way up, you can get a quite noticeable decay.
The “CV2” knob on the filter determines the amount of envelope pitch modulation on it. Playing with these knobs together allows you to tune the snare to your liking.
The setting of the attack time parameter of the A-140-2’s first envelope has a large impact on the sound. Try triggering the snare with a quarter note, then adjust the attack time to tune the envelope.