This module makes infinite music | Stochastic Inspiration Generator Demo

Being a demo of a unique and inspiring 4-part generative eurorack modular sequencer, the Stochastic Instruments SIG+.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 Hello.
00:23 Choosing Notes & Probability
02:28 Choosing Octaves
03:25 Looping
04:47 Looping Tricks
08:09 Force Barline
10:24 Linearity
11:25 Repeats
12:24 Ascend/Descend
14:52 Ratcheting
15:59 TrEG Attack/Decay
18:13 A pause for thought
19:32 Making a multimbral Orchestra!
23:13 Ambient Outro

[agentb]

I have owned the Vermona Melodicer, two SIGs (one currently), and the AntiKulture Precision Disrupter... they each have strengths and weaknesses, but I have come to some conclusions on their relative merits. 

I owned Melodicer first, and it is the easiest to use of the three, but by "ease of use" I do not mean better or more controllable, but consider the learning curve to get started and confident with the controls. But easier can and does mean less control and capability. For instance, it is quite easy to specify a continuous range of octaves for one's melody to populate on Melodicer, but on SIG, one selects from five octaves individually, so one can mix the lowest bass notes with the highest notes while leaving out the octaves between them (and this is not an uninteresting approach). Without comparing all their various controllable functions, it can still be said that what one gets roughly twice as many, at a cost of multiple button presses to get there and a somewhat crowded panel. Definitely harder to get facile on SIG, but there are very useful inscriptions on the panel to guide you. As for the congestion, that is always a double-edged sword in modular, and I appreciate the compactness. That being said, I wish SIG had pots with taller shafts.

Let me give Melodicer its due, most notably, I got some good results without too much effort. Just as the same could be said of any sequencer operating with randomness as one of its essential capabilities, this is the "why" behind the "dicer" half of the Melodicer, where two buttons are employed for "tossing the dice" to change up to a new melody or rhythm... I assume/guess they generate a new seed to begin recalculation, and that this seed does serve to assert itself over the interpolations that follow. The Precision Disrupter employs what appears to be a very similar capability with its two "disrupt" buttons, though the module is very different in most other respects. The SIG just keeps on cranking, not being capable of some reset to the character of its interpolations, as long as it is in "stochastic mode" (as opposed to when looping). Melodicer will change the course of its interpolations... though I would be hard pressed to define them as a specific "style" or "character, ' but rather a restart, after which the Melodicer also just keeps on cranking. It's been a while though, I could be wrong. And this function on the Precision Disrupter is far more important to its function, because it only lays down a new 16 step pattern that will repeat indefinitely, absent the operator playing the module via its various controls, multiple memory locations, or using its limited CVs; (there's only two, which is two more than SIG or Melodicer.

One of the most distinct advantages of the SIG over either of the other products is its ability to manage four tracks. The Precision Disrupter's having only a single melody track (not counting its slide and accent lanes) is probably its greatest weakness. This is also a distinct weakness for Melodicer, but the Disrupter's many other capabilities suggest a kinship with other performative sequencers like Metropolix, that make that specific limitation less critical - I see the Disrupter as a great sequencer for the bass lines that are so important to modern electronic music, while the SIG shines more (for me, at least) in lead lines. This is not to say I haven't built satisfying bass lines on the SIG. The Disrupter offers a clock divider, direction controls, and (less importantly), swing, all of which would be wonderful additions to SIG... I used to have a second SIG running on a modified clock, though I would definitely prefer if I could change the SIGs clock on a channel by channel basis. Swing would be less important... The SIG has done very well for me so far on a rhythmic clock, and that is one of my favorite tricks with it. I'm going to soon see how it does with more radical clock manipulations.

If it's not yet obvious, I love my SIG. I mention above how it would benefit from a clock divider, and there a very few other recommendations I would make at this moment. I wish linearity worked differently, because as it is, it overrides one's octave settings unless the SIG is closely attended to via its ascend and descend pots. I wish these two functions could be limited somehow in duration, perhaps to 16 beats or something settable. SIG is performative in a different way than a Disrupter, with a layer of "stochasticism" between each function, because it is always dealing with probabilities, so looping is one of its more important performative aspects. The Disrupter, in turn, is always a loop, or maybe any one of 16 stored and recallable loops, but for getting into the timeline and manipulating those loops, it is less (and differently) performative than the aforementioned Metropolis. The Melodicer, despite its looping ability is definitely third place in that contest.

Long post, huh? I could of on....

[RedMeansRecording]

I think this would be great at 3 times the size with a lot less shift functions. Wonderful sounding demo!

[brianbrill]

My SIG is criminally underutilized. Now I'm inspired to change that, thanks!

[MotorHolmes]

The modules on the/making up the side of the case is wild

[CinematicLaboratory]

Thank you so much, this saves me reading the manual and just enjoy an entertaining and musical masterclass.

[turbotambourine]

Ha! Incredible sequencer for sure! Especially within such a small footprint. Seems brilliant the way the probability works. I feel like this would be endless fun! Especially with the ease of moving onto something else and returning to it without thinking about needing to save.

[gaeel]

Only just started the video, and I love the Big Honking Button on the side of the case like that, really cool idea!

[tarenvegas]

Aweinspiringly beautiful music at the end; a fine, fine medicine. Thank you.

[justinwinn]

Great video! My SIG+ module does a lot of the heavy lifting in my setup and I love it! I tend to pair it with 2HP Loop in Frippertronic mode (with an oscillator inbetween) to create build lovely melodies and textures.

[freakbag]

Had SIG for a week and continue to be amazed. I now spend less time setting up trig/cv/env/etc. and more time on voice quality.

[praveensharmanyc]

Going back and forth between this and marbles trying to decide which to keep! Both are great!

[michaelfaymusic]

I cannot think of a module I own I would’ve rather had a Mylar video on. Wonderful!

[FUNKINETIK]

Great demo with really nice melodic sequences, very oriental sounding in places. A really well thought out module.

[Kompa_Music]

Loves these deep dives of yours. Inspires my own videos. Keep it up.

[Gmartin]

fully adjustable marbles on steroids. met the guy at Bristonica and instantly wanted one. really cool module and his new one.

[colorgasm]

Its my favorite "sequencer" ever. nothing can beat it

[kmakiri]

Just had to order that 4'33 Panel. Best reference I have seen in a decade or so :D

[debbie]

I love the SIG and I love your videos too! Great to see you demo this complex little powerhouse of a module.

[RabRabNZ]

I just noticed the pinball buttons, bloody genius!

[Perversion]

Love the John Cage "blank panel." I have no blank panels in my setup, as I switch things around weekly or sometimes multiple times weekly...but if I was to have one in my rack, it would be that one.