buzz
15
12.5mb
Buzz is a freeware modular environment for making music that shares some functional elements with trackers.
::|CONTENTS
- Tools
- Tips
- Recommended Machines
- Restrictions on submit
- Playback (for voting)
- Rendering
- See also
Jeskola Buzz is a freeware modular synth environment designed by Oskari Tammelin that dates back as far as the 90s. It shares some elements in common with
trackers as well as automation that will be more familiar to DAW users. The "modular synth" aspect involves routing plugins into one another via virtual cables to produce sound and effects, like
VCV Rack,
SunVox, or even
PureData. However there is also a pattern sequencer that resembles a tracker, similar to SunVox but without the typical tracker effects column.
While Buzz's built-in instrument and effect modules (called "machines") are limited, there is an extensive collection of third-party machines available
here (or through the "Machines" link on the official homepage). Most of these can be downloaded from within Buzz itself (through the "More Machines" tab).
Tools
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Jeskola Buzz (Windows)
It may be possible to run Buzz in WINE with some setup (see
this thread or via Virtualbox (or similar virtual machine software). If you research this please add more info here on the lyceum!
Tips
- Buzz has built-in help, accessible from Help->Contents. This will give you an overview of how the program works and keyboard shortcuts.
- Change the pattern editor! In the pattern view (F2) choose Editor: "Jeskola Pattern XP" instead of <built-in>. It has important features such as Undo&Redo, and allows you to put multiple machines in a single pattern! You can choose additional machines to display in the same pattern via the "Columns..." button.
- Right-clicking in the pattern editor gives some important options: Add track (Ctrl++), which lets you use multiple notes on a single machine, and New pattern/Create copy (Ctrl+Return, Ctrl+Shift+Return).
- The key for clearing (removing) things in both the pattern editor and sequence editor is: . (period)
- You can automate tempo changes! In the sequence view, right-click->add track->Master. Create a new pattern on this Master track and you can automate master volume, BPM, and ticks per beat.
Recommended Machines
It is recommended to download more machines via "More Machines Tab" -> "Download...". Some useful machines:
- Matilde Tracker 2 - a traditional sample tracker with tracker effects. Load waveforms for the tracker via the wavetable view (F9)
- Joachims compressor v4
- Please add to this list if you find more useful machines!!
Restrictions on submit
Submission should be playable in Jeskola Buzz. A submission can use any of the third-party machines available from
the official database. However, use of external VSTs is not allowed (much like other BotB formats where source is submitted).
If your entry uses third-party machines, especially ones that are not included in the automatic "More Machines" download, you may choose to submit .zip instead, containing both your project file and the third-party machines - this is easier for voters and also future-proofs your entry in case those machines were to ever disappear.
Playback (for voting)
Open buzz.exe and hit the play icon near the top left!
Rendering
You can use the built-in machine "Loop Recorder" to output to .wav. Select "Master" from the list, set the length to a number greater than or equal to the number of rows in your song (you can see this on the left side of the sequence view), press Start, play your song, press Stop.
See also
-
SunVox
-
vcv_rack (format)
-
pd (format)
-
Buzztrax, a Linux clone that aims to function like Buzz but has no cross-compatibility. (on Ubuntu and all Debian-based distributions it can be installed from the repository, like entering "sudo apt install buzztrax" in the terminal)
