Source Of Uncertainty: A Buchla Podcast 4U

About Mike Estlick: I'm an electrical engineer by day, and a Buchla player by night. I've been recording electronic music since I was a kid in the 80s. I was into raves, clubs, and MIDI sequencers in the 90s. In the 2000s I recorded quite a bit with the Nord Modular synths, and got into sequencing with modules instead of MIDI. In 2017 I got an Easel, and by 2018 had built up this Buchla system. Since then all my music is composed and performed on modular systems. I find the 248/245/216 combo very productive for writing music, and it blows my mind that this stuff all was designed before I was born.  I've since got into Serge and LZX systems as well, and have videos up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeEstlick When there's no global pandemic, I like to hang out with my friends at the Colorado Modular Synth Society: https://coloradomodularsynthsociety.com/ "January '21" Patch Notes: 0:00 - 2:10 : Start A little filter-sweep introduction with 2x258 and 212. There is a pretty complicated feedback network going with FM into the filter and the oscillators. The 248 MARF is modulating waveshapes with slow, sloped voltages. 2:10 - 7:40 : SeqVol Krell variation on the Easel, with the pulser driving the sequencer and the sequencer modulating the volume. The Easel pulser is also driving the Pendulum/Ratchet, which runs a patch on the 212 system. EHX Deluxe Memory Man provides the echo. Various parts of the patch were recorded into the Keen Association 287e. The end of this piece is the 287e playing snippets into the 212 system. 7:40 - 13:00 : Scan A 248 MARF and 245 based sequence driving 208 and 258/212 voices. The Pendulum/Ratchet divides down for drum and bass sounds. Again recorded parts of the patch into the 287e, and played that through the 212. The Pendulum/Ratchet is triggering the 287e and 212 envelopes for the end of this piece. 13:00 - 15:06 : Ival Another 248/245 sequence, with vocal percussion sounds from the 287e (recorded from the onboard mic). The filtered notes are selected by the 216 Touch Controlled Voltage Source. 15:06 - 21:28 : 9Swing Have you ever wanted to have a rhythm swing in 9/8, against a 5 chord progression in 7/4? Well, the MARF is the sequencer for you! The lead sound is the Easel, using pressure to modulate pitch and timbre. I used a 257 so I could have the pressure change the amount of modulation oscillator to timbre. The backing is from the 212 system. The second section is the patch as I originally made it. For the first section, I just swapped the envelopes around to change the levels of other voices in the patch. The third section is the 287e playing samples from the patch. 21:28 - 26:56 : Glory The lead is the Easel arpeggiator. The Easel clocks the Pendulum/Ratchet, which then drives the 248/245 and all the background sounds. The 287e is playing snippets of a reading of a Rilke poem. The 216 plays the clicky bleep sound.

Welcome to episode 20 of Source Of Uncertainty. In this episode Robert & Kyle talk about some module news, how they got into music/Buchla and the new albums they recently released. Purchase Kyle’s new album at: https://darksparkler.bandcamp.com/  Purchase Robert's album at: https://robstand.com/  Listen and subscribe to Podular Modcast: https://podularmodcast.fireside.fm/ Listen and subscribe to The Deerhorn podcast:  https://thedeerhorn.podbean.com/  Listen and subscribe to Esoteric Modulation: https://www.esotericmodulation.com/subscribe-to-podcast Subscribe to Waveform Magazine: https://www.waveformmagazine.com/ Get your source of uncertainty t-shirts at http://sourceofuncertainty.threadless.com/  Support the show and get access to exclusive videos and audio content through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sourceofuncertainty Find us on Instagram @sourceofuncertainty  Contact us at sourceofuncertainty.audio

Seven .WAVs (pronounced “seven dot waves”) is an exploration of materiality in electronic music. The album comprises seven individual compositions, each a conceptual interpretation of “waves” and a logical manifestation of waveforms. The recordings of the compositions are  materialized as .WAV files.  All of the compositions use FM radio transmissions for theme and rhythm. In some tracks, the use of the radio is logical and relatively easy to distinguish. In others, the use of the radio is conceptual and the results are indistinguishable from synthesis. Using FM radio broadcasts as a foundational element of the composition results in a recording that captures a moment in time. It is left to the listener’s imagination as to what one would hear if the recording had started a few minutes earlier or later….

Welcome to episode 19 of Source Of Uncertainty. In this episode Robert digs into the Polyphonic Tuner Model 272e, and then we chat with Benge! Show notes: Hello: 0:00 Robert explores the 272e: 16:15 Interview with Benge: 42:37 Goodbye: 1:56:40   Links for Benge: myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com zackdagoba.bandcamp.com instagram.com/memetunestudio Purchase Kyle’s new album at: https://darksparkler.bandcamp.com/  Listen and subscribe to Podular Modcast: https://podularmodcast.fireside.fm/ Listen and subscribe to The Deerhorn podcast:  https://thedeerhorn.podbean.com/  Listen and subscribe to Esoteric Modulation: https://www.esotericmodulation.com/subscribe-to-podcast Subscribe to Waveform Magazine: https://www.waveformmagazine.com/ Get your source of uncertainty t-shirts at http://sourceofuncertainty.threadless.com/  Support the show and get access to exclusive videos and audio content through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sourceofuncertainty Find us on Instagram @sourceofuncertainty  Contact us at sourceofuncertainty.audio

There are two improvisations on each system, the first two on a vintage 100 and the second two on a cloned 200  There are some significant differences in sound between the two eras, most noticeably the tone of the VCOs and the filters. I would describe the earlier VCOs as being richer, fuller and brighter than the 200 series but not as stable, and the filters being more edgy and pure in nature. The 200 system introduced the LPGs, timbre-shaping and the Spectral Processor, all of which give the system a very distinctive sound that was absent from the 100 Personally, I like the overall tone of the 100 series very much, as it has a power and richness that puts it in the same league as other early systems such as the Moog Modular and the ARP 2500. I am not sure if there is a similar power in the original 200 series modules (as opposed to modern cloned ones) as I have never been able to compare them directly, but my guess would be that various filters, VCOs and other things that Don began to introduce in the 1970s took the sound away from the more basic and simple sound of the 100, exploring and pioneering other avenues as he went towards fully digital systems in the 1980s. It is a fascinating progression, and one that is mirrored in the development of synthesisers in general between the 1960s and 1980s, as digital technology gradually took over The systems used were as follows: Buchla 100  Vintage Modules: 102 Dual Stereo Locator 106 Six Channel Mixer 110 Dual Gate 111 Dual Ring Modulator 112 Touch Control 123 Sequencer 130 Dual Envelope Detector 140 Timing Pulse Generator 144 Dual Square Wave Generator 156 CV Processor x 3 158 Dual Sine/Saw x 2 160 White Noise Generator 165 Random Voltage Source 175 Dual Line Driver / EQ 180 Dual Attack Generator x 2 185 Frequency Shifter 190 Dual Reverberator 191 Sharp Cutoff Filter 194 Bandpass Filter Cloned Modules: 110 Dual Gate 144 Dual Square Wave Generator x 3 146 Sequencer 180 Dual Attack Generator 205 Dual Matrix Mixer Buchla 200 Cloned Modules: 205 Dual Matrix Mixer 208 Stored Program Sound Source 212 Dodeca Module 218 Touch Control 224 Patchbay 248 MARF + Expander 256 Dual CV Adder 257 Dual CV Processor 258 Dual Oscillator x 2 259 Complex Waveform Generator 261e Complex Waveform Generator 266 Source of Uncertainty 275 Dual EQ / Reverb 277 Signal Delay 281 Quad Function Generator x 2 285 Frequency Shifter 292 Quad LPG 296 Spectral Processor myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com   zackdagoba.bandcamp.com   instagram.com/memetunestudio

Welcome to episode 18 of Source Of Uncertainty. In this episode Robert and Kyle talk about Kyle's new Buchla album: DARK SPARKLER - “Are You Working With Me, Or Against Me?” available at darksparkler.bandcamp.com. Kyle takes the ZORX Ribbon Controller out for a patch or two, and then they talk to it's creator Ellison Wolf.  Show notes: Hello: 0:00 Kyle explores the ZORX Ribbon Controller: 25:46 Interview with Ellison Wolf: 42:27 Goodbye: 1:48:40 For more information about the ZORX Ribbon Controller visit https://www.zorxelectronics.com/  Purchase Kyle’s new album at: https://darksparkler.bandcamp.com/  Listen and subscribe to Podular Modcast: https://podularmodcast.fireside.fm/ Listen and subscribe to Esoteric Modulation: https://www.esotericmodulation.com/subscribe-to-podcast Subscribe to Waveform Magazine: https://www.waveformmagazine.com/ Get your source of uncertainty t-shirts at http://sourceofuncertainty.threadless.com/  Support the show and get access to exclusive videos and audio content through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sourceofuncertainty Find us on Instagram @sourceofuncertainty  Contact us at sourceofuncertainty.audio

The Buchla Music Easel has been one of my main instruments for about 3 years now.   When I first got it I spent a lot of time making “Cortini-esque” patches and sharing them on YouTube.  I considered trying to do a similar thing for this artist spotlight to really highlight the Buchla sound but eventually decided against it.    I’ve gotten more and more into ambient/drone music over the last few years and feel I’ve slowly found my voice there. I’m still using the Easel as a live performance instrument, but in a very different way than my early days!   All the tracks for this EP were live to stereo recordings of my Music Easel & field recordings running through my pedal board of loopers/effects and then processed by a Ciat Lonbarde Cocoquantus & Plumbutter 2 for texture & stereo movement. Every tonal sound/melody originated from the Buchla.   The tracks were then “stereo massaged” by FernLodge (thanks Joe) and mastered by SALZ who does a ton of work for the amazing Seil Records label.   I’m considering this my first official release ever and would like to thank Kyle & Robert for giving me a deadline and an opportunity. I hope everyone enjoys 🖤   Instagram: @samule.edmoon   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBo6YNb4ExdxftqAJ_djqQ   SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/BdEo4Hra4KGNDdon8   Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-deerhorn/id1535334953   Contact: humorinerrors@gmail.com   Track list:   01 - Light Of Other Days (00:00) 02 - Long Before The End (06:52)  03 - The Evening, The Morning & The Night (11:40) 04 - Autumn Land (16:56)  05 - Deeper Than The Darkness (21:51)

Welcome to episode 17 of Source Of Uncertainty. In this episode Robert and Kyle talk to Daniel Skevington who is behind Dunnington Audio and the “revised” Quad Function Generator and Dual Oscillator clones, and Kyle takes the 258D for a spin. Show notes: Hello: 0:00 Kyle explores the Dunnington Audio 258D: 19:30 Interview with Daniel Skevington: 45:15 Goodbye: 1:57:00 For more information about Dunningto Audio visit - https://www.dunningtonaudio.co.uk/  “Through Another Looking Glass” by Wavefreq  https://wavefreq1.bandcamp.com/album/through-another-looking-glass  “Spin Patterns” by Mat Watson https://matwatson.bandcamp.com/album/spin-patterns “Gypsy” by NYVVA  https://nyvva.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR0AYgf_4HeaLNSr5l6UDUA4YIYUDZsq39QjKJt5UunqyHMn9CX8urIyT-4 Listen and subscribe to Podular Modcast: https://podularmodcast.fireside.fm/ Listen and subscribe to Esoteric Modulation: https://www.esotericmodulation.com/subscribe-to-podcast Subscribe to Waveform Magazine: https://www.waveformmagazine.com/ Get your source of uncertainty t-shirts at http://sourceofuncertainty.threadless.com/  Support the show and get access to exclusive videos and audio content through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sourceofuncertainty Find us on Instagram @sourceofuncertainty  Contact us at sourceofuncertainty.audio

Schliuuurkschplinkplonky, performed live on a BUCHLA 200 system using Dual Oscillator 258 ; Complex Waveform Generator 259 ; Rob Hordijk’s Benjolin adapted for Buchla ; Quad Function Generator 281 ; Source Of Uncertainty 266 ; Frequency Shifter 285 ; Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator 248 - 1602 ; Dual Equalizer Reverb 275 with Spring Reverb in large tanks ; Quad Lopass Gate 292 and the 207 Mixer. Dramatically Yours, performed on a Buchla Music Easel K. I am interested in soundtracks and like to be introduced as a "musical travel agent". Since the early 2000s I have been performing the world, playing festivals all over Europe, Canada, USA, Mexico, Australia & Asia... Feeling lucky to release on several international labels such as Opa-Loka, Aagoo, Southern UK, Monotype, Beta Lactam Ring, Sub Rosa, HomeNormal, Important, Staubgold, etc... I study Electroacoustic music at the CNRR Conservatory of Marseille where I am specialising in multi-channelled diffusion (Acousmatic spatialisation) and Modular Synthesis. I have initiated a platform/label aiming at promoting the genre: https://modulisme.info/sessions Relying on electricity/amplification to produce, manipulate, work on sound-material, but trying my best to explore various genres and make sure that each of my albums differs from the previous one, trying to avoid routine and surprise my listeners. Not musically trained/educated I lie outside the Classical genre but my scores incorporate traditional classical components in a predominantly unconventional manner which allowed me to being asked by Iancu Dumitrescu & Ana Maria Avram to join forces as a soloist in their Hyperion Ensemble + being invited by Jean-Paul Dessy (Musiques Nouvelles ensemble) and Raoul Lay (Ensemble Télémaque) to become in charge of electronics/turntables in their ambitious E. C. O. (European Chamber Orchestra) formation comprising of 33 soloists... Fortunate enough to work with what people call a dream-team of collaborators: joining Lydia Lunch, Murcof, Eugene Robinson (Oxbow), Edward Ka-Spel (Legendary Pink Dots), Simon Fisher Turner, Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle), Foetus, Pantaleimon, Graham Lewis (Wire), Barry Adamson, Andy Diagram, Scanner, Machinefabriek, Mira Calix, Kammerflimmer Kollektief, Justin K. Broadrick, James Johnston (Gallon Drunk/Bad Seeds), Mark Cunningham (MARS), Cindytalk, Orkest De Ereprijs,  Stephen O'Malley,  Strings Of consciousness or Faust onstage and-or in studio… Philippe Petit & Michael Schaffer: I (CD + Digital / Opa-Loka) https://philippepetitmichaelschaffer.bandcamp.com/releases Philippe Petit: A Space between spaces (Music to create space rather than occupying Space) (Digital / Ante-Rasa Records) ante-rasa.bandcamp.com/album/ante26-philippe-petit-a-space-between-spaces-music-to-create-space-rather-than-occupying-space   Philippe Petit : Deep-Sea Creatures (Digital / MUTEANT Records) ​https://muteantsoundsnetlabel.bandcamp.com/album/deep-sea-creatures​   https://philippepetitamusicaltravel-agent.bandcamp.com www.philippepetit.info

Welcome to episode 16 of Source Of Uncertainty. In this episode Kyle tries to figure out what to do with the 230 Triple Envelope Follower, and then the hosts talk to Johnny Woods about his new album and working in a solar powered studio.  Show notes: Hello: 0:00 Kyle explores the Triple Envelope Follower: 18:35 Interview with Johnny Woods: 40:50 Goodbye: 1:49:35 To purchase Johnny Wood’s album Pavillions visit - https://johnnywoods.bandcamp.com/  https://brettnaucke.bandcamp.com/album/ems-hallucinations - EMS Hallucinations, by Brett Naucke https://boscio.bandcamp.com/album/if-we-seek-with-intent - If We Seek With Intent, by René G. Boscio - Out October 2nd https://transversales.bandcamp.com/album/plein-soleil - PLEIN SOLEIL, by Jonathan Fitoussi   https://suzanneciani.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-denali - Music For Denali, by Suzanne Ciani Listen and subscribe to Podular Modcast: https://podularmodcast.fireside.fm/ Listen and subscribe to Esoteric Modulation: https://www.esotericmodulation.com/subscribe-to-podcast Subscribe to Waveform Magazine: https://www.waveformmagazine.com/ Get your source of uncertainty t-shirts at http://sourceofuncertainty.threadless.com/  Support the show and get access to exclusive videos and audio content through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sourceofuncertainty Find us on Instagram @sourceofuncertainty  Contact us at sourceofuncertainty.audio