Make Noise SpectraNoise Update: James Cigler Unleashes Chaos and Noise on the Spectrophone

James Cigler kicks off with a look at the SpectraNoise update for the Make Noise Spectrophone, introduced in firmware version 5.2 and later. This update brings two new sound generation modes: chaos (green) and noise (red), both designed to expand the sonic palette of the module far beyond its previous boundaries.

Cigler positions these modes as versatile tools, not just for classic noise or chaos textures, but as flexible sound sources and modulators. The walkthrough immediately sets the tone for experimentation, with a focus on how these modes can be woven into creative patches. The SpectraNoise update, as presented here, is less about polite utility and more about opening up unpredictable, evolving sound worlds—very much in line with Make Noise’s exploratory ethos.

Chaos mode is built around two paired sine waves, each with its own modulating sine wave at audio rate. The partial control determines the depth of this modulation, while focus adjusts the harmonic interval between the modulator and carrier sines. This combination produces a range of FM and ring modulated tones, from bell-like clarity to more complex, metallic timbres. The slide parameter introduces chaotic feedback between the sine waves, destabilising the sound and pushing it towards full-on noise as it’s increased. This mode isn’t just about chaos for its own sake—it’s a playground for harmonic exploration, offering both subtle and extreme results depending on how you patch and tweak.

Switching to noise mode, Cigler demonstrates how the Spectrophone can morph from subtle tones to full-spectrum noise. The focus and slide controls act like high and low pass filters, letting you carve out specific frequency ranges from the noise. Partials evolve the sound from a simple sine wave up to dense, complex noise, while the interplay between these controls allows for precise sculpting of timbre.

Cigler highlights the musicality hidden within the noise, showing how careful adjustment of FM and the filter-like controls can yield unstable, howling tones as well as more restrained, textural elements. The result is a noise generator that’s anything but static—ideal for those who want their patches to breathe, shift and surprise.

For the final patch, Cigler combines chaos and noise modes across the A and B channels of the Spectrophone, routing each through low pass gates for dynamic control. The envelope on the B side not only opens the gate but also modulates the slide parameter, allowing the noise character to evolve from bright and complex to more sine-like as the gate closes. There’s cross-FM from chaos to noise, adding extra brightness and texture, while pitch sequences and follow modes keep both channels musically related.

This patch illustrates how the SpectraNoise update isn’t just for wild effects; it’s a tool for nuanced performance, layering, and real-time timbral control. The integration with other Make Noise modules—Cupás, Mimeophon, Bruschia—demonstrates its potential as a centrepiece in a complex Eurorack setup, ready to inject both unpredictability and musicality into any patch.