Mutable Instruments Elements Modal Synthesizer (34HP)

Full Description

View Full Description Mutable Instruments Elements is a unique modal synthesizer that delivers beautiful and abstract sounds. Modal synthesis is often overlooked in sound design, but this distinctive form of physical modelling synthesis is perfect for achieving a varied sound palette. The Mutable Instruments Elements utilises an exciter synthesis section which can provide an enormous array of tones from raw, noisy filtered friction noise similar to a bowed instrument, pitch-controlled granular noise , striking sample playback, or bursts of synthetic impulsions. External audio signals are processed by a modal filter bank consisting of 64 tuned band-pass filters that simulate the response of a wide variety of resonant structures. This unique and under-appreciated form of synthesis creates such an immense range of sounds, and fits beautifully in any abstract musician's rig.

Impactful Parameters

The Mutable Instruments Elements delivers some truly incredible sounds, but these sounds can be completely transformed by the parameter adjustment capabilities within the Elements. The parameters that the Elements uses have a meaningful and strong impact on the sound. Mutable Instruments put a great deal of effort and care into selecting parameter ranges and control curves that would produce an extensive palette of sounds whilst maintaining a stable and well controlled sound overall. Reaching those points of noise and feedback is done gradually. The module is designed to be menu and switch-free, meaning what you dial in is what you hear.

Excitation Signal Generator

The Elements uses a unique exciter synthesis model, with three generators and a mixer on board. From bowing noise, blowing noise, and percussive impulses, the Elements is a versatile box of abstract sound capabilities. The module is equipped with a dedicated envelope contour for bowing and blowing sound responses. The bowing noise generator provides a particle-like scratching noise with a 2-pole low-pass filter. The blowing noise generator delivers a granular pitched noise with wavetable-like scanning between various tone colours. The percussive impulse generator interpolates through a collection of impulse excitations, including sampled stick, brushes, hammers, and models of damped mallets, plectrums, and bouncy particles. This percussive generator also uses a 2-pole low-pass filter and pitch control.

Modal Resonator

The modal resonator within the Mutable Instruments Elements uses 64 zero-delay feedback state variable filters, complete with coarse, fine, and FM frequency controls. Geometry interpolates through a collection of structures, including plates, strings, tubes and bowls. Brightness specifies the character of the material that the resonating structure is made of, from wood to glass, and nylon to steel. Damping adds damping to the sound, which simulated a wet material or the muting of the vibrations. Position specifies at which point the structure is excited, and Space creates and increasingly rich stereo output by capturing the sound at two different points of the structure, and then adds more space through algorithmic reverberation.

Designed For Eurorack Use

The Elements was designed with the intent of Eurorack use in mind. Therefore, all exciter and resonator parameters feature a dedicated CV input with attenuverter. The Elements is also equipped with a variety of controls such as:

• Strength input for controlling the amplitude of the exciter section
• Frequency control through a V/O input controlling the main resonator frequency
• Two audio inputs consisting of one pre-envelope and diffuser, with the other patched straight to the resonator
• Stereo audio output with adjustable width/reverbaration, with the possibility to output the raw exciter signal on one channel, and the raw resonator signal on the other

Specifications

• Input impedances: 100k
• CV range: +/- 8V. CVs outside of this range are simply clipped.
• Audio input level: calibrated for modular (10 Vpp)
• Audio acquisition and restitution: 16-bit, 32kHz
• Internal computations on 32-bit floating point numbers