Sample and Hold
Scot Solida helps us get to know this modular synthesis staple - and how it can do way more than the robot noises it’s famed for
#08
The sample and hold (S+H) effect was at one time probably the most familiar of synthesised sounds - not because it had appeared in chart hits (it had), but rather because it was Hollywood’s de facto sound effect for all things electronic. Shots of computer terminals, satellites, and unmasked androids were invariably accompanied by a rapid-fire rhythm of random bleeps and bloops that told the
viewer that what they were seeing was what the so-called space age looked like.
In truth, an S+H circuit is capable of far more than signifying an android invasion. It’s a versatile utility that belongs in every modular system, never more so than now, given the modern modular musician’s enthusiasm for random, self-generating patches.
When used as a modulation source, it is all too often used to convey a retro vibe, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for more modern sounds. Used subtly, an S+H module can add a touch of motion to an otherwise static patch. It might also be employed to create a sense of dynamism in an otherwise lifeless rhythm.