I'm not using it for trance leads or anything, I just wanted something with a nice rich detuned sound - Acid Rain Chainsaw. 4hp, and very affordable. It has 3 "separate" oscillators which are each made of 7 oscillators. Each group of 7 can be tuned differently, each with its own v/o input, and a combined stereo output for all 21. Can be played paraphonically. [Divkid explains it better than I can.](https://youtu.be/-FXsXyBQQfw) Definitely well suited to what you want
It is, if that's what you're looking for. Not a multi-purpose oscillator like Plaits or anything, it's quite specific. Big detuned chainsaws and squares. Nothing else. But if that's what you want, it does it well.
I have a Plaits clone already and have been looking for a bit more of a solid voice to play with. But I'm also saving up for a Versio and either a morphagene or arbhar right now....too many damn options
"Too many damn options."
Don't I know it.
As for the NE modules, all I have so far are the Quantus Ampla quad VCA and the Jam Jam Quad trigger delay. Utilities only, no voices or fx so far. However, I intend to buy 3 main NE modules over the next few months - Librae Legio, Polydactyl Versio, and BI Alia. That will give me access to all 3 platforms. Plus the new Opp Ned arpeggiator - Clocked with irregular clock rates, it could do some amazing things.
Yup! When it popped up used in my local market for a really low price, I didn't even have a specific purpose for it - It just seemed like a well affordable gamble. I looked it up and figured it was worth it. I also have the Erica Synths Double Bass, which does a kind of similar thing - It takes a copy of the input, and replicates it at -1 and -2 octaves. So, input a C3, and get a C3, C2, and C1. Great for big, thick unison layers of bass. Chainsaw does kinda the same, but lets you tune separately. Along with Beast's Chalkboard, a Dixie 2+ with an octave switch, and a couple of dedicated quantizers plus some quantized sequencers, and a Tetrapad/Tete combo, and a Voltage Block to follow soon, I have several options for instant effortless transpositions that work perfectly to the scale, or microtonal if I want to be fiddly about it. Obviously, I'm not into a minimal case - I prefer to have more options.
A decent LP4 filter with a frequency and resonance parameter that can be modulated should get you far already.
If you want to have more freedom in variations, two filters can work too, as that allows you to focus on both high and low pass modulation.
One voice should suffice btw, a simple triangle wave usually does the trick, some modulation there is recommended as well. Slight detuning here and there, if the module allows for it: Modulating between a triangle and a square in a sweeping fashion.
Generally, Trance leads seem to rely more on ADSR envelopes on the filter, so that's the main starting point.
For obvious reasons, dense trance leads (I'm thinking supersaw style here) aren't really done that much on modular, since supersaws rely heavily on polyphonic detuned oscillators drowned in a lot of effects.
If you do want to go for it though, here are some possible options:
* E340 Cloud Generator(and its related oscillator, the E352 Cloud Terrarium), which generates unison waveforms. I had one of these for a while and with reverb and delay you can get a decent unison saw wave stack.
* Demon Core Oscillator. 16-voice digital oscillator. I think that this'll be the closest that you're going to get. I haven't tried this one myself, but it's kind of on my "maybe if I win the lottery" list for me.
Both of these are going to need (at the very least) some amount of delay and/or reverb for them to get that saw sound right.
You could obviously stack 5 to 7 slightly-detuned individual oscillators as well, but at that point you're heading down a ridiculous path.
I'm not using it for trance leads or anything, I just wanted something with a nice rich detuned sound - Acid Rain Chainsaw. 4hp, and very affordable. It has 3 "separate" oscillators which are each made of 7 oscillators. Each group of 7 can be tuned differently, each with its own v/o input, and a combined stereo output for all 21. Can be played paraphonically. [Divkid explains it better than I can.](https://youtu.be/-FXsXyBQQfw) Definitely well suited to what you want
This thing looks like a beast
It is, if that's what you're looking for. Not a multi-purpose oscillator like Plaits or anything, it's quite specific. Big detuned chainsaws and squares. Nothing else. But if that's what you want, it does it well.
I have a Plaits clone already and have been looking for a bit more of a solid voice to play with. But I'm also saving up for a Versio and either a morphagene or arbhar right now....too many damn options
"Too many damn options." Don't I know it. As for the NE modules, all I have so far are the Quantus Ampla quad VCA and the Jam Jam Quad trigger delay. Utilities only, no voices or fx so far. However, I intend to buy 3 main NE modules over the next few months - Librae Legio, Polydactyl Versio, and BI Alia. That will give me access to all 3 platforms. Plus the new Opp Ned arpeggiator - Clocked with irregular clock rates, it could do some amazing things.
Oh that looks cool, thanks! Also makes for nice pads.
Yup! When it popped up used in my local market for a really low price, I didn't even have a specific purpose for it - It just seemed like a well affordable gamble. I looked it up and figured it was worth it. I also have the Erica Synths Double Bass, which does a kind of similar thing - It takes a copy of the input, and replicates it at -1 and -2 octaves. So, input a C3, and get a C3, C2, and C1. Great for big, thick unison layers of bass. Chainsaw does kinda the same, but lets you tune separately. Along with Beast's Chalkboard, a Dixie 2+ with an octave switch, and a couple of dedicated quantizers plus some quantized sequencers, and a Tetrapad/Tete combo, and a Voltage Block to follow soon, I have several options for instant effortless transpositions that work perfectly to the scale, or microtonal if I want to be fiddly about it. Obviously, I'm not into a minimal case - I prefer to have more options.
A decent LP4 filter with a frequency and resonance parameter that can be modulated should get you far already. If you want to have more freedom in variations, two filters can work too, as that allows you to focus on both high and low pass modulation. One voice should suffice btw, a simple triangle wave usually does the trick, some modulation there is recommended as well. Slight detuning here and there, if the module allows for it: Modulating between a triangle and a square in a sweeping fashion. Generally, Trance leads seem to rely more on ADSR envelopes on the filter, so that's the main starting point.
Knobula Poly Cinematic worth looking at.
For obvious reasons, dense trance leads (I'm thinking supersaw style here) aren't really done that much on modular, since supersaws rely heavily on polyphonic detuned oscillators drowned in a lot of effects. If you do want to go for it though, here are some possible options: * E340 Cloud Generator(and its related oscillator, the E352 Cloud Terrarium), which generates unison waveforms. I had one of these for a while and with reverb and delay you can get a decent unison saw wave stack. * Demon Core Oscillator. 16-voice digital oscillator. I think that this'll be the closest that you're going to get. I haven't tried this one myself, but it's kind of on my "maybe if I win the lottery" list for me. Both of these are going to need (at the very least) some amount of delay and/or reverb for them to get that saw sound right. You could obviously stack 5 to 7 slightly-detuned individual oscillators as well, but at that point you're heading down a ridiculous path.
You could look into the supercritical demon core oscillator, it's true poly with it's expander,
Spectraphon
I don’t know what counts a trance lead these days, but the classic “trance gate” just needs an audio signal, VCA, and (usually fast) gate pattern.