Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ (ResEQ) & Stereo Processing (Mid/Side)

Exploring some ideas of using mono effects for stereo processing with the Eurorack Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ.

The Serge Resonant EQ is mono, so, usually, if you want to do stereo processing, you would need two of this (expensive) module to process your signal. With just a single module, though, if we mess with the two “comb” outputs, and consider mid/side processing, we can create some compelling stereo outputs.

0:00 Introduction, I/O overview
0:47 Mono signal in, mono signal out
1:10 Using the “comb” outputs to stereoize the signal
2:01 Mid/side processing the “comb” outs of a mono signal
3:14 Processing a stereo signal, side only
5:10 Processing a stereo signal, mid only
6:20 Changing the source material, side-only processing
9:16 Closing, next steps, mid-only processing

More on mid/side processing for synthesis here:

Gear in this video (affiliate links):

Reaktor 6 Primary Resonant EQ (Faking the Serge Resonant EQ in Reaktor)

Building a resonant EQ in Reaktor Primary, taking inspiration from the Serge Resonant EQ’s unevenly-spaced frequencies and nonlinear controls.

In my regular journeys across the internet, I came across the Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ, a reissue of the resonant EQ from the Serge Synthesizer, and became a bit taken with its implementation and ideas. $400 is a bit too much for an impulse buy, so let’s see what we can do in Reaktor.

Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ

Even if we don’t end up with something that sounds perfect, we can use this as an opportunity to think more about subtractive synthesis, and talk about “parametric support” in our control schemes.

0:00 Purchase Your Way to Music Proficiency!
0:43 Random*Source Serge Resonant EQ
1:14 What’s interesting about this?
2:59 Disclaimer
3:22 Reaktor Primary Peak EQ
5:00 “Boost” vs. “Resonance”
5:53 Making Selectable Sound Sources
8:18 Throwing in an Oscilloscope
8:49 Starting the Resonant EQ Macro
9:28 Creating a Single Band
11:24 Level Controls to Avoid Clipping
13:13 One Knob for Resonance and Boost
14:28 “Funny Math”
21:13 Recapping the Flow / Fine Tuning
22:49 Duplicate! (for each frequency)
23:23 Setting the Frequencies
25:09 Adding a ByPass Switch
25:53 Sound Test
27:14 Saturator
28:04 Waveform Variance Across Instrument Range
29:38 Feedback
35:30 Next Steps