TONAL DROP THURSDAYS: MOOG Subharmonicon Patch - "Dark Prism"

Welcome to Week 4 of Tonal Drop Thursdays!

We are switching gears to the Moog Subharmonicon to explore the depths of polyrhythmic harmony. This week's patch, "Dark Prism," generates a swirling vortex of sound. It uses the Subharmonicon's unique sub-oscillators to create a thick, dark chord, while the sequencers dance around the filter cutoff to create movement that never feels repetitive.

 

Patch 4: Dark Prism (Polyrhythmic Ambient Texture)

 

This patch creates a dark, heavy atmosphere where the rhythm and timbre evolve independently.

 

1. Front Panel Configuration

 

Set these controls exactly to start.

Control Setting Purpose
VCO 1 FREQ 12 o'clock

The melodic center.
VCO 1 WAVE SQUARE (Up)

 

Crucial for the Advanced Tweak (PWM) to work.
SUB 1 / SUB 2 12 o'clock Adds sub-octave body to the sound.
VCO 2 FREQ 12 o'clock Tune to Unison or a 5th above VCO 1.
FILTER CUTOFF 9 o'clock

Starts dark and muffled.
RESONANCE 1 o'clock

Adds a resonant peak that "sings" when swept.
VCF EG AMT 12 o'clock Neutral (we are using the sequencer to modulate this).
VCF ATTACK 10 o'clock

Short, percussive attack.
VCF DECAY 2 o'clock

Long tail for atmosphere.
RHYTHM 1 12 o'clock (/4)

Standard quarter note pulse.
RHYTHM 2 2 o'clock (/3) Dotted feel creates the polyrhythm.
QUANTIZE 8-ET

 

Vital: Locks all notes to an 8-note scale so you can't hit a wrong note.
EG BUTTON ON (Lit)

 

Required: Allows sequencers to trigger the envelopes.

 

2. Polyrhythm Buttons (The Engine)

 

  • Under RHYTHM 1: Press SEQ 1 (Lit). Ensure SEQ 2 is Unlit.

  • Under RHYTHM 2: Press SEQ 2 (Lit). Ensure SEQ 1 is Unlit.

  • Result: Two independent rhythmic cycles running simultaneously.

 

3. Patch Bay Connections

 

Step OUT (Source) IN (Destination) Purpose
1 SEQ 1 CUTOFF

 

The Prism: Routes Sequencer 1 voltage to the Filter Cutoff. The melody now rhythmically opens and closes the filter.
2 VCO 1 VCO 2

 

Cross-Modulation: Feeds VCO 1 audio into VCO 2's frequency input. This adds a metallic, industrial "shimmer" to the drone.

 

⚡️ Advanced Tweak: The "Breathing" Texture

 

Make the synth feel alive by modulating the pulse width.

  1. Locate the VCF EG output on the patchbay (Row 6, Jack 1).

  2. Patch it into the VCO 1 PWM input (Row 1, Jack 3).

  3. Result: The filter envelope now simultaneously expands the width of the square wave with every hit. The note starts thin and nasal, then "breathes" open as it decays.

 

Your Turn: Tweak and Share!

 

Because we set QUANTIZE to 8-ET, you can twist the knobs wildly during playback without hitting a wrong note.

To keep the vibe evolving, tweak the Step 1 - Step 4 knobs on Sequencer 2 while the patch runs. Since Sequencer 2 is controlling VCO 2 (your harmony layer) on a different rhythm, changing these steps will create a constantly shifting counter-melody on top of the main sequence. It turns a static loop into a performance.

Production Note: In our audio sample, we processed the Subharmonicon through Valhalla Delay and Valhalla Future Verb to add massive texture and depth. We highly recommend adding your favorite spatial effects to let this patch truly breathe.

Record your mesmerizing loops, tag @sonalsystem, and use #DarkPrism so we can get lost in your sound.

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