U-he Hardware - CVilization Eurorack Module

[suthnear]

@Urs does this retain state over a power cycle? I have given up on digital modules that don't

Yes it does. But as an EEPROM-preserving feature, it saves its current state whenever you don't touch it for 1 minute (and even then it only saves the changes). This should keep the EEPROM alive for a few dozen decades.

(this feature can be switched off if you don't want/need it)

Great, thanks

[vurt]

There's a page now about CVilization, with mode descriptions and a manual and a cheat sheet.

Based on reading the manual, the impression I get is that it should actually be easy to use for the most part, with a cheat sheet only really being required for config stuff. Honestly, the matrix mixer mode seems like it might be friendlier than the AI008 I have now -- deliberately choosing an input and then dialing in the output levels (or vice versa) clarifies their relationships.

Mode 2 seems easy enough to use too. It might be the mode I'd park it in if I just wanted to quantize something without further processing.

Mode 3 seems like something I'd love -- a different take on Marbles, which would probably complement any sequencer. Nice one.

Mode 4 isn't grabbing me right away, but could be a nice occasional gizmo.

I like the addition of the "voltage map" style scales for the quantizer

ive been testing cvilization.
i received the manual a few days prior to the module, and have to be completely honest, i was a little worried it was going to be a bit complicated and take some time to get to grips with.

when the module arrived, got it all racked up and decided to take the manual, step by step, no rush...
however, i was up and patching in no time, manual only being returned to for some checks, no need to follow step by step anymore. and the cheat sheet, asyou say, is for choosing specific functions. of youre in no hurry, easy enough to click through and find one you like. but if you know you want mixylodian or whatever, you can just choose the colour bam! done!

after i think it was two days, i decided i was going to see how far i could get without the manual, and was easy enough to get patches going (again, in a more relaxed way, not looking for this or that scale or clock div, just listening till i liked).

so really not complicated at all, and it bloody should be! theres so much can be done, with 8 knobs, it really should be more taxing mentally to use!!!

i would agree with you on the modes too, 3 being my favourite and 4 being a more rare use, for me personally.
modes 1 and 2 being pretty much useful in any patch, when not being used on mode 3

which leads me to, i definitely think there will be a second one at some point here.

[justin3am]

I have also been testing for the last few weeks.
Like vurt, I found the learning curve much less daunting than expected. The way that functions are color coded makes it really easy to remember what is being selected as you turn the encoders. During initial setup, I had two or three presets for each mode which covered common use cases and from there I rarely needed to dive beyond the performance and programming pages.

I think most folks who get one of these will want more that one. Seriously. The Matrix Mixer and Sequential Switch modes are so freaking useful for performance based sequencing but then also for complex feedback loops, effect routing and many other applications. I've been having a lot of fun using the Mucoder as a step input sequencer from a keyboard and for creating glissando effects with a burst generator (clock source) and a triggerable slope generator. I was surprised to find that you can clock it at rates close to 1kHz, so it can do neat things with drones as well. At first I didn't really know what to make of the quad panner but it's so useful as a modulation router. Smoothly multiplexing an LFO to multiple destinations is a great example or routing an oscillator through 4 parallel filter/effects paths is also a lot of fun. People are going to classify this as a utility but I have a feeling it will change the way a lot of people patch their synths.

Select Bus support has been a huge deal for me. I use a Expert Sleepers Select Bus MIDI breakout module to send MIDI to compatible modules (Voltage Block, Tempi, Rene v2, Disting mk4) but any device which can send messages via the Select Bus can be used as a clock source or to change presets. If you have a complex sequencing setup, like I do, being able to change the settings on multiple modules by sending a Program Change message, is (at the risk of using a cliche) a game changer. CVz is definitely the kind of modules which benefits from patch recall being able to initial patch changes from another module or external MIDI input is becoming extremely important for the way I use my modular.

Since CVz can sync to Bus Clock or MIDI Clock via the Select Bus, you can have up to 3 independent clock sources or free up the CV-B input for other stuff and still have two different clock sources. Each output has it's own clock divider, so you can get different synced rates from a single clock as well. Lots of possibilities for adding rhythmic variation to modulation signals or sequences.

Still, I have barely scratched the surface of what this thing can do. I hope to have a video or two ready in the next few weeks but right now, I'm just having fun exploring the possibilities. I try not to go overboard with the hype/hyperbole but it's hard to understate how awesome I think this module is.

Great work Urs and everyone one involved.

[SLiC]

It certainly looks interesting (having now looked at the manual and cheat sheet)
I have MI Frames taking up a lot of HP and a couple of other utilities now looking threatened....
I bit more than I was hoping for @340,20 € may have to sell a few modules that this would replace first (not least as I have no space currently and I have four 84HP cases!)

[foosnark]

Okay then

[justin3am]

It certainly looks interesting (having now looked at the manual and cheat sheet)
I have MI Frames taking up a lot of HP and a couple of other utilities now looking threatened....

Yeah, that's the thing, CVz instantly replaced my precision adder, two S&H modules, a few attenuator modules, a muting mixer and it frees up my Disting mk4 and O_c modules for other things. Not only that but, I'm able to get more from the modules I already have because of how much this one module does. I often use a Matrix Mixer to route modulators to modules which don't have their own CV mixers. Well with CVz, I can have store those routings to quickly change how things are modulated.

And where many multi-function modules kinda force you into working a specific way, CVz is much more patch programmable. I keep finding several uses for it within a patch and then wanting another one.

[vurt]

. I keep finding several uses for it within a patch and then wanting another one.

this!
its bloody dangerous

i still cant get over size to function ratio, yet without it becoming a chore to use, where some menus rely on tiny screens. a simple colour change!

and as you said, you dont feel like you have to work a certain way.
take the matrix mixer, you can go the usual mixing on the fly all levels, just pushing buttons for channels.
or you can go to performance page, and mute channels with one click.
or presets for diff routing...

in 10 hp!!!!!!

and yes, hats off to urs and the team, genius!
can totally see this being very successful, especially once a couple of the youtube people get to work.
unless you have a pure analogue rig, i can see this having a place in anyones rack, it either replaces or enhances other bits.

and like you i dont really want to sound like im just talking hyperbole, but its very difficult not to talk it up.
i really found no downsides to it.
but, i do have plenty of space and so far fewer utility functions than i might want. so it did add to my rack without feeling like any part of it is redundant or useless. ymmv.

look forward to your vids

i need to get something done too, not got much recording done recently, all time on this and getting to know bidule a bit

great days

[pekbro]

Wow nice! Hardware beta testers, what a nice way to be recognized for your work in the modular
synth world. Super jealous here

[vurt]

Wow nice! Hardware beta testers, what a nice way to be recognized for your work in the modular
synth world. Super jealous here

was an honour and a surprise to be chosen.
and have to admit, is somewhat exciting now its being released.
feel like ive been a very small part in something that is going to be big news in the modular world.

[pekbro]

Wow nice! Hardware beta testers, what a nice way to be recognized for your work in the modular
synth world. Super jealous here

was an honour and a surprise to be chosen.
and have to admit, is somewhat exciting now its being released.
feel like ive been a very small part in something that is going to be big news in the modular world.

Super cool definitely, your work is so unique, you are certainly a good candidate for that. I hope to get
there at some point. I have gotten some dev attention for a demo I did, so chances are good I think

[vurt]

. I have gotten some dev attention for a demo I did, so chances are good I think

well thats cool even if it doesnt lead anywhere

its weird, ive never aimed for any kind of success, and im not saying im some huge star but the comments i get from you guys, odd bits ive done with various software devs and now this, i got credits on an album that made a top 100 list (in its genre, weird proggy stuff hehe) and ive even been interviewed by a few mags, mostly local fanzine stuff, but twice in computer music
so ive actually been very lucky
if id had any get up and go, i might have capitalised on it and be a huge youtube star, entertaining the masses during these messed up times.

id forgotten most of it, or rather, not collated it all at any point, but after i first read these posts from you i started thinking about it all.
and you know what, im still not even sure, what it is i do? i know how to do it, just no idea what it is!

[pekbro]

@vurt
I shouldn't really say it's an ambition for me, but everyone likes approval for what they do. I do think it
particularly cool that someone wanting to develop cool and interesting modules would see your input
as being beneficial towards that end. If it was an ambition, I would probably do the you-tuber thing to try
to get to where folks automatically send me stuff to try out, though I do regard some of those guys as
undeserving leeches on the industry, and tend to lose respect for devs that support them. Fortunately,
many of them are knowledgeable / talented and fully deserving of that imo. If I do have one ambition
for modular, it would be to develop my own unique style and approach, in that at least, I do try very
hard. Whether you agree or not, I think you definitely have that going for you. You may see it as only noise, rather than music, but imo interesting noise is far harder to come up with than interesting music.
Music has rules and set methodology and above all a certain logic that you can use to create it. When I try
to think about making some interesting noise along similar line as your work, I don't get very far towards
even imagining how I would go about it (regardless of the amount of weed I'm smoking at the time).

[vurt]

ah, i wasnt having a go at youtubers (although some are annoying its true) i was having a go at my being a bit unorganised
again, not that id expect to be huge, or even have more views than i get listens now, i have been intending doing videos/livestreaming.
more the livestreaming, then id have a video record of patches and how they sound, on their hard drive space
but alas, i havent got round to even buying a camera

[pekbro]

Weird, Schneidersladen refunded my money for some reason, some delay maybe.

[Urs]

Hmmm, it's on green...