Spectral Microsonics: Make Noise Dives into Modular Microsound

The video opens with a nod to the noisy ambience of the day, setting the stage for a session focused on complex sound design. Make Noise references their earlier “Microsound Workshop” video, bringing back techniques inspired by Curtis Rhodes’ seminal book “Microsound.” This establishes the Spectral Microsonics patch as a continuation of that lineage, aiming to explore the granular and textural possibilities within a modular system.

Rather than starting from scratch, the patch uses the previously created Morphagene reel as its foundation. This reel, available for download, acts as a sonic canvas for further experimentation. The approach is pragmatic: build on proven microsound techniques, but push them into new territory using the latest Make Noise modules and creative routing.

A key focus of the patch is on dynamic control and transient shaping. The video walks through patching the Maths’ thumb output to the DXG’s control input, allowing for manual or CV-based adjustment of the sound’s presence. This hands-on approach is classic Make Noise: encourage users to sculpt their sound in real time, not just set-and-forget.

Further nuance is introduced by using the Morphagene’s envelope follower output, patched to Maths channel 4. This enables the system to respond to the amplitude of the incoming audio, emphasizing transients and high points. By tweaking the Maths’ fall time and offset, the patcher demonstrates how to fine-tune the envelope response, giving precise control over how much of the microsonic content pokes through the mix.

The patch expands as outputs from the DXG are routed through Brusa and then back into the system, using Brusa as a send effect with full wet blend. This introduces another layer of processing, with input level controlling the send amount—an approach that mirrors classic studio techniques but with modular flexibility.

Simultaneously, another DXG output is sent to both inputs of the Spectrophone, running in Spectral Amplitude Modulation mode. By taking the odd outputs from Spectrophone back into DXG channel 1, the patch achieves spectral resynthesis of the micro sounds. This interconnected routing exemplifies the Make Noise ethos: treat the modular as a living ecosystem, where each module feeds and transforms the others in a continuous loop of sonic evolution.