Fragment of a Degree | Selestra | Harsh Noise Modular Synth

I was watching an interview with Caterina Barbieri recently where she describes working with a modular synth as sculpting sound. And I feel strongly that such a phrasing describes quite accurately what I do as well. Sound is a material, just like clay or canvas or computer code, and in the modular our sculptor's tools are the cables and knobs.

Here I have a few modules in a 64hp palette case that I purchased so that I could take a small modular rig with me while traveling. The patch that I came up with heavily used, you guessed it, Viol Ruina. I'm completely enamored with this module, as you move the knobs just a fragment of a degree your entire sonic state can shift from pinged warbling to screetchy harsh noise. Some may see such sensitivity as a drawback, but to me it makes me feel like the system is alive, that I have to treat it with respect, learn how it behaves, and work together with it. Just like an acoustic instrument.

The patch uses the same 16 note pattern in the main voice, and 4 note pattern in the bass, throughout the entire piece. I adjust the speed of the pattern, the triggering of the BIA, the clocking of the delay, the speed of the waveform modulation in the WFM, and the amplitude modulation of the WFM, all through Stages. The remaining sculpting comes from me subtly adjusting the frequency cutoff, resonance, and mangle of the Viol Ruina. So this patch shows how a simple, almost techno-like riff, can turn into extremely harsh noise, just through moving the knobs a fragment of a degree, and then return to this same riff, clean, the same, but different, in the end.

Modules used:

Basimilus Iteritas Alter
LA67 WFM
Mimetic Digitalis
Stages
Viol Ruina
Disting MK4
Veils
uZeus

Minor EQ and mastering in post

Music by Selestra

[garaughty]

Gorgeous tones & sequence... awesome work on this Selestra !