Make Noise Skiff Systems: Compact Powerhouses in Modular Synthesis

Make Noise kicks off with a playful introduction to their two current Skiff systems: the Tape & Microsound Music Machine and the New Universal Skiff System. Both are designed for modular synthesis in a single-row, portable format, but the video quickly makes clear that these aren’t just starter kits—they’re fully-fledged sound laboratories in their own right.

The presenter highlights a bit of redundancy between the two systems, notably with duplicate modules like the XO and Cupa, but frames this as an opportunity rather than a limitation. By filling spare HP with a Jumbler and creatively routing signals between the two cases, the video sets the stage for a patching session that’s all about exploiting overlap for greater sonic complexity.

The patching demonstration begins in earnest with the Morphagene’s outputs routed into the top Cupa, and then all three classic filter types are sent into the Jumbler. This module acts as a hub, shuffling the filtered signals and distributing them to various destinations across the two Skiffs.

Two outputs from the Jumbler are patched into the second QXG’s aux inputs for a mixdown, while the QXG’s outputs are sent to the bottom XO. Meanwhile, the first QXG’s outputs are routed through another Cupa and then into the Mimeophon for further processing, before landing on the other XO channel. The result is three distinct parallel signal paths, each with its own filtering and processing chain, all originating from the Morphagene.

This intricate web of connections isn’t just for show—it allows for a blend of filtered and unfiltered channels, with the odd and even NUSS channels treated separately. The video’s approach demonstrates how even a compact system can deliver layered, evolving textures when modules are patched with intention.

Clocking duties are handled by the Multimod, which is distributed via a Mold module to multiple destinations, including the Multiwave’s activate input and the Mimeophon. The presenter toggles between round and accumulated modes, using the clock to synchronize various modulation sources and effects.

Randomness is injected into the proceedings with the Wogglebug, which is clocked from the same master source. Maths is brought in for more advanced manipulation: channel four receives a clean clock, while channel three is fed stepped random voltages from the Wogglebug, set to negative output. By summing these, the patch introduces a probability element to the clock gates, effectively randomizing when certain events are triggered.

This probabilistic gate stream is used to activate the Polymaths, turning a steady flow of notes into a rhythmically unpredictable sequence. The video also demonstrates pitch sequencing by attenuating random voltages with Maths and sending them to the Multiwave’s volt-per-octave input, showing how modulation and randomness can be harnessed for both rhythmic and melodic complexity.

The video wraps up with a reflection on the experience of patching two Skiff systems together. While Make Noise has offered multiple Skiff systems before, this is the first time the presenter has used two in tandem, and the verdict is positive. Viewers are encouraged to share their own approaches to combining small or medium cases, highlighting the communal and exploratory spirit at the heart of modular synthesis.