Octophonic Etudes IV, V, VI

The Octophonic Etudes are a major project that I’ve been staging since 2024. In spite of the success I had with Bruxist’s Mesh in that year, I felt like it came together in a fugue state. From its networking aspect, I enjoyed how every performer ran the exact same patch while I manipulated what they could control. Based on that, I decided to create a series of constructive etudes with the following rules:

  • There are 8 controller inputs (In this case, the Korg nanoKontrol)

  • There are 8 sound outputs

  • The outputs come from 8 duplicate sound-generating patches (units)

  • Each unit has at least 8 macro parameters that the controller inputs are involved with

  • It should be as difficult as possible to understand what a single control does in the moment

Essentially, these etudes are exercises in incorporating physical spaces into modular electronic synthesis. The weaving together of the units in each etude creates a distinct and otherworldly soundscape. I call this   process spatial modular synthesis. These etudes are discrete spaces that become part of an acoustic space when performed. The most interesting part of performing them is that it’s like commanding an Ouija board with your fingers. 

There are 18 of these etudes that have been prototyped, 6 of which have been completed and performed. Etudes I, II, and III were performed at the 2025 SEAMUS conference in Lafayette, Indiana. Included here are Etudes IV, V, and VI, which were most recently performed at the 2025 Diffusion Festival in Baltimore, Maryland.

Etude IV Patch
Etude V Patch
Etude VI Patch

While these files are the VCV Rack patches, they will not function unless you have the dependencies (Vult, Bogaudio, DocB, Squinky Labs, Stoermelder, Count Modula, Nysthi). VCV Rack currently does not have a way to list or automate the installation of dependencies for patches.

Etude IV

Etude V

Etude VI

This sub-patch is the basis of the sound synthesis for Etude IV. The control parameters, signal inputs, and signal outputs are color-coded and labeled accordingly. The colors here only depict the inner workings of the core unit, not the relationship

This sub-patch is the basis of the sound synthesis for Etude IV. The control parameters, signal inputs, and signal outputs are color-coded and labeled accordingly. The colors here only depict the inner workings of the core unit, not the relationship with other units

This is a diagram of the parameter routings for all 8 units in Etude IV. Colors that are filled in with a minus sign (-) represent inverted parameters. This demonstrates how the mapping patterns of the control signals relates to patterns in space mor

This is a diagram of the parameter routings for all 8 units in Etude IV. Colors that are filled in with a minus sign (-) represent inverted parameters. This demonstrates how the mapping patterns of the control signals relates to patterns in space more elegantly than the lower-level diagrams that follow.

Here are the highlighted paths from every unit's outputs to other units' inputs. These patterns come naturally to me when I'm patching. In fact, I've only used red cables when I've made any of my etudes. I should learn to crochet.

Here are the highlighted paths from every unit's outputs to other units' inputs. These patterns come naturally to me when I'm patching. In fact, I've only used red cables when I've made any of my etudes. I should learn to crochet.

Output 1 is routed in stereo pairs.

Output 1 is routed in stereo pairs.

Output 2 has each unit patch into its upper neighbor (or wrap-around)

Output 2 has each unit patch into its upper neighbor (or wrap-around)

Output 3 is matches units with their upper opposite neighbor

Output 3 is matches units with their upper opposite neighbor

This was my favorite output set to draw a diagram for because it's JUST FEEDBACK.

This was my favorite output set to draw a diagram for because it's JUST FEEDBACK.

Isolated quadrants of criss-cross.

Isolated quadrants of criss-cross.

The front and rear units are paired together while the middle ones criss-cross to their respective upper/lower neighbors

The front and rear units are paired together while the middle ones criss-cross to their respective upper/lower neighbors

Each unit is mapped across and down 2 units

Each unit is mapped across and down 2 units

The front pairs and the rear pairs are locked in a clockwise circuit path!

The front pairs and the rear pairs are locked in a clockwise circuit path!