ARP2600 - Fundamentals of Music Technology - Cyborgstudio.com

SECTION14PATCH DIAGRAMMINGTHE MEANING OF LIFEWhy devote an entire section of this book to patch diagramming and analysis? This question can bestbe answered by discovering the purposes of diagramming and analyzing patches. One reason whichhas probably become obvious throughout the course of this book is that patch diagrams can be anexcellent way to learn about how each module functions in a particular patch, and how modules areconnected together to make a patch. Another useful aspect of patch diagramming is that it allows usersto plan sounds ahead of time, as well as notate the sounds they have created when they are finished.PATCH DIAGRAMMINGThere are many different styles of diagramming patches. There is not a single ‘best’ way to diagrampatches because the purpose of the diagram should dictate how the diagram looks. For instance, thisbook uses a very complex diagramming scheme, complete with colors to indicate which modules arecarriers and modulators, and specially colored arrows to indicate control and audio signals. This styleof diagramming is great for relating a lot of information about a patch, and helps people who are tryingto understand the relationships of different signals coming and going in the 2600. However, for aseasoned professional who is trying to quickly document a patch he or she has made, using specialcolors and paying close attention to which side of a module a particular signal exits from is a colossalwaste of time.THE 2600 MANUALThe 2600’s manual contains many patches to illustrate its abilities and to introduce the reader to whatwas presumably a new concept. The manual presents these patches in two general styles. First, simpleblocks are connected with lines and arrows. Audio signals enter and exit from the side of these blocks,while control signalsenter and exit from thetop or bottom of theseblocks. One examplecan be seen in Figure14-1. The writers of themanual preferred to indicatethose connectionswhich were notnormalled by notating“P cord” next to each(not shown in Figure14-1) rather than indicatingthose which arenormalled with a large“N” as this book does. Figure 14-1: Block-style diagramming from the ARP 2600109