AJH Synth – a UK-based Eurorack module maker – shared this Klaus Schulze-style Berlin School Eurorack modular synth jam, featuring a modular system made up of their modules.

Here’s what they have to say about the performance:

“Inspired by the way Klaus Schulze sometimes constructed his recordings. Those lengthy, iconic performances were often partly improvised, starting with a sequenced ‘jam’, mostly with his “Big Moog” modular system, then building upon it with overdubs of other sounds and musical parts.

He would use many instruments; Arp, Moog and EMS synths among others, but here just a selection of AJH Synth eurorack modules are used, and a shorter, simpler piece of music, with just a couple of overdubbed parts.

INTRO SOUNDS: This patch used the LADDER FILTER and the FIXED FILTER BANK 914 to process pink noise independently, but both pass through the filter bank by way of its CV-controlled mixing functionality. Multiple envelopes cause the sound to evolve as it crossfades between the output of the ladder filter, and then the filter bank’s two groups of frequencies (left and right) one after the other. This creates an effect reminiscent of a long, unnatural reverb tail.

SEQUENCER PART: This patch also makes use of the FIXED FILTER BANK 914’s two groups of frequencies, both independently and combined, divided between two VCAs in a stereo configuration. This, later combined with the ENTROPIC DOOM, is modulated by synced, random voltages from the TAP TEMPO VC-LFO, and step probability from the CHANCE DELAY, so that the brighter, more percussive steps are random in tone and occurrence.

SOUND EFFECTS: This was inspired by the sound of morse code and old analogue radio communication signals. For that it uses the LUNAR MODULE to add 2 types of noise and some low fidelity to the sound of an incoming VCO responsible for the ‘beep’ tone. The DUAL RVG and TAP TEMPO VC-LFO create random ‘beep’ lengths prior to entering the Lunar Module.

VOCAL/CHOIR: This is three VCO’s modulated separately and passed through the FIXED FILTER BANK 914. See our guide to using the filter bank for these kinds of sounds here: • Patch of The Week: Choir Pad 2 – with…

BASS: This is two VCOs and white noise from the GLIDE + NOISE module going into the RING SM, where a -1 sub octave is generated and added to the mix. It uses the TRANSISTOR LADDER FILTER for that famous Moog/Minimoog warm fatness. Some of the low frequencies had to be scooped off in post as web video compression simply wouldn’t cope with it! This floor-shaker of a combo never disappoints. The Ring SM’s unique sub-bases (shaped square waves) add almost bottomless depth to an already legendary fat filter and very rich, vintage-voiced oscillators.

LEAD/SOLO: My struggling attempt to mimic just a little of Klaus Schulze’s lead style… Sorry Klaus! This uses 3 VCOs and white noise going into the TRIPLE CROSS, where an LFO is modulating the mix of 2 VCOs (pitched differently), and the output sent to the GEMINI 2412 dual SEM-based filter, which is used in a stereo configuration to separate VCAs. An LFO modulates its two VCFs in opposition to each other, creating a stereo panning effect.”