Digital Garden

Suzanne Ciani

4 min read

Suzanne Ciani is an electronic music legend. She has done so much work for synthesis in genera. Originally a student of Don Buchla, she came into her own by performing on the Buchla synthesizer.

This is her basic performance patch. That document has really influenced how I approach patching a modular synthesizer. I will write up some patch notes one of these days.

Performances:

The Patch

Sequencing, Gates, Modulation

  • 4 Parallel sequences, which are fed into the MARF.
  • Per step the MARF can choose one of the sequences (using faders), or it can output the fader voltage.
  • Per step the MARF can output on one or both gate channels.
  • Per step MARF can use a full or partial range. Same with quantize.
  • There can be two smaller sequences, using two ‘programmed outputs’ sections.
  • There are two seq outputs (time, voltage) per ‘programmed outputs’ sections.

Routing

  • SEQ1 Pulse →
  • SEQ2 Pulse →
  • SEQ3 Pulse →
  • SEQ4 Pulse →
  • programmed outputs 1
    • voltage → complex oscillator CV (modulation, to both)
    • all pulses →
    • all pulses >
  • programmed outputs 2
    • voltage → complex oscillator CV (carrier, to both)
    • time → waveshape (probably can be patched)
    • gate 1 → 281 envelope, 2nd one channel A
    • gate 2 → 281 envelope, 2nd one channel C

A variety of gate signals are generated by the quad sequencer. All the voltage outs go the MARF ext. ins

  • 1 controls s&h
  • 2 seems to be the normal clock
  • 3 goes to 1st 281, channel A
  • 4 goes to 1st 281, channel C

The s&h can do a few things (playable and patchable)

  • control sequence step (ie, random)
  • spatial LFO amplitude.
  • CV to FX

Sounds

There are five sounds. Each one goes into an input of the matrix mixer.

  • Noise
  • Oscillator with discrete waveshapes (triangle, square, saw) (292)
  • Oscillator with digital shaping (292)
  • Oscillator with variable waveshape (sine → pulse) (261e)
  • Oscillator with folder (261e)

Voicing

There are four voices. Each voice has a bandpass filter, then two buchla LPGs in series.

  • The LPGs envelopes from from the 281 envelopes. There are 8 envelopes total.
  • The bandpass modulation comes from those same envelopes, but patchable.
  • The bandpass filter inputs come from the matrix mixer.

Mixing, FX and Spatialization

  • Outputs go into a pair of Eventide H9 units
    • [DUAL] reverb

    • O. or D. EARTH

  • L/R are FX sends:
    • L 1 → Eventide 1, L
    • L 2 → Eventide 2, L
    • R 1 → Eventide 1, R
    • R 2 → Eventide 2, R

this means that v1 and v2 are sent to both, v3 and v4 are sent to both FX.

  • Each quad channel is associated with an effect:
    • Quad1 is always delay, receiving signal from L channel
    • Quad2 is always verb, receiving signal from L channel
    • Quad3 is always delay, receiving signal from R channel
    • Quad4 is always verb, receiving signal from R channel
  • What does panning do?
    • Moves voices from Quad 1/2 into Quad 3/4, but applying the same FX
    • You can mute a quad, and only get verb or delay for that voice

Modulation

  • There is a touch controller, mostly used for starting and stopping.

Control Points - Playing the Patch

  • Since programmed output 1 really only outputs voltage, it seemingly runs somewhat continuously and predicatably.
  • Gates may be programmed for 2 voice sectons (both using the same filter)
  • She may take over sequencing, choose which sequence is running per step, or randomize it.
  • Tambre control (somewhat attached tot he step, but its useful to have a 2nd timed output)
  • Possibly choose voice routing based on sound/quality
  • Move some envelopes to modulate filters or something
  • Route noise to filters
  • Change spatialization/FX
  • octave transposes per step
  • she sustains using the physical controller

Graph View