Bastl Aikido is a clever dynamic VCA mixer eurorack module that combines a classic 4 channel VCA, a sidechain envelope for your kicks and a spectral envelope follower that responds to different frequency bands of sound. It also has faders and clickless mutes which makes it ideal for mixing down audio in your patches. In this video I explain how Aikido works, and show you 5 patch ideas (plus a bonus patch!) for you to try.

At first I wasn't that excited about the idea of a four channel VCA, but the more I played with Aikido the more fun I had. The sidechain and spectral envelopes are really useful modulation sources. They add movement to your music but in a way that is triggered by the sounds themselves, so it is more organic. The VCA faders are really useful too, I'm a big fan of faders on modules that process audio levels. To me it just feels more natural to slide a fader than turn a knob.

Bastl were kind enough to send me an Aikido module to use for this video but have not provided any payment for this video.

Bastl Aikido: https://bastlinstruments.com/eurorac...

(EU) Thomann have the Aikido in stock here: https://thmn.to/thoprod/563212?offid=...
(US) Perfect Circuit have the Aikido (and many great Eurorack modules!) in stock and if you follow this affiliate link it helps my channel: https://bit.ly/3R8lg5c

Here's a link to the setup I used for this video: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Overview of Aikido controls
02:17 Patch 1: sidechaining
04:53 Patch 2: use the spectral envelope to ping a filter
07:20 Patch 3: rhythmic drone mixing using Aikido envelopes
10:53 Patch 4: clocksynced stereo panning your sounds
15:42 Patch 5: slicing drum beats using Aikido
18:30 Bonus patch 6: combining Aikido with Bastl Timber wave folder
20:30 Closing thoughts on Aikido

Modules:
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Ornament and Crime (TB3PO applet)
Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis
Klavis Quadigy quad envelope generator
Joranalogue Filter 8
Happy Nerding FX Aid XL
Befaco STMix
Oxi One and Oxi Pipe
Bastl Pizza
Bastl Ikarie
Bastl Timber
Klavis Twin Waves
Befaco KickAll
Bastl Aikido
ALM Squid Salmple

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