Intellijel’s Atlantix: A Modular Techno Loop Generator in Action

The video opens with Matt from Intellijel introducing a patch built around the Atlantix synthesizer, designed specifically for generating techno loops. The approach is methodical, with each step broken down to demystify the process for viewers keen to follow along or adapt the ideas to their own setups.

Central to the patch is the use of Metropolix and Steppy as sequencers, driving the Atlantix voice through a series of carefully orchestrated modulations. The aim is to extract a wide palette of analog timbres from a single voice, using modulation sources and sequenced envelopes to keep the sound evolving. This is classic Intellijel territory: practical, modular-focused, and always with an eye on how each element contributes to the overall sonic result.

The patch’s character comes alive through a network of envelopes and modulation sources. Quadrax provides four envelopes, each assigned to a distinct role: modulating filter cutoff, oscillator pitch, index modulation, and injecting bursts of noise. These are triggered by different tracks on Steppy, ensuring that each modulation event is tightly sequenced and can be independently shaped.

Routing is handled with surgical precision: envelopes pass through the Quad VCA and Quadratt for attenuation and mixing before hitting their targets on the Atlantix. This setup allows for both manual and CV control over modulation depth, letting the user sculpt the patch’s dynamics in real time. The result is a techno loop with constantly shifting timbres—proof that even a single synth voice can sound vast when modulation is king.

The workflow hinges on the interplay between sequencers, VCAs, and envelopes. Metropolix’s mod lane is brought into the mix to sequence the depth of modulation for the first three envelopes, adding another layer of movement to the patch. By assigning the mod lane to CV output B and routing it to Quad VCA, the patcher gains hands-on control over how much modulation is applied at any moment in the sequence.

Manual attenuation and CV modulation are balanced to taste, allowing for subtle or dramatic shifts in the loop’s character. Quadrat’s assignable CV inputs are used as macro controls, letting the user adjust envelope full time and level across all modulators simultaneously. This macro approach is a clever way to keep the patch performative and responsive, ideal for live techno or studio improvisation.

With the core patch in place, the video shifts to creative possibilities and performance tweaks. Matt demonstrates how quickly the sequence can be transformed using Metropolix’s offset, pulse length, and stage length functions. Randomising the mod lane yields fresh modulation patterns on the fly, while uncoupling VCOB from pitch input allows for static bass notes—a classic techno move.

Further tricks include bypassing the filter for deeper tones, syncing oscillators for evolving timbres, and engaging Atlantix’s drive circuit for added grit. The video encourages viewers to experiment with envelope shapes and modulation types, highlighting the flexibility of Quadrax and the patch as a whole. These suggestions are less about rigid recipes and more about sparking ideas for users to adapt and mutate in their own racks.