Intellijel’s Modular Groovebox: Atlantix at the Heart of a Patchable Beat Machine

The patch builds up rhythmic elements with a modular twist. Atlantix’s sine output is used for the kick, shaped by both its internal envelope and additional modulation from Quadrax—a nice touch for dialling in punch and transient control. Routing Steppy’s track outputs into Quadrax and Atlantix allows for independent shaping of amplitude and pitch, a classic modular drum technique that’s as flexible as it is familiar.

For snare/tom duties, the ring mod output from the Atlantix expander is pressed into service, with noise from Atlantix providing the essential sizzle. The hi-hat leverages Atlantix’s phaser-mode filter and clever use of dummy patch cables to separate the noise signal, keeping the kick clean while generating crisp percussive textures. Modulation is again key—C-Legs modulation output is routed to FM inputs for animated hi-hat tones. Every drum voice is given its own VCA and envelope, demonstrating textbook Eurorack patching discipline.

Once the core drum and melodic voices are in place, attention turns to effects and macro control. Signals are fed through Sealegs for drive and delay, and Swells provides reverb, with sidechain ducking triggered by the kick—classic pump for rhythmic cohesion. The patch demonstrates how to use aux outputs and the Swells’ sidechain input to create this effect, and attenuverters are used for fine control of the reverb’s response.

Macro control enters via the Planar 2 joystick, which is routed into aux CV inputs and Metropolix pitch control, allowing real-time morphing of mix levels, pitch ranges, and even wavefolding parameters. This highlights how macro controllers can transform a static patch into a performance instrument, with Planar 2’s X and Y axes mapped to multiple destinations for complex, hands-on modulation. The overall result is a groovebox that’s anything but rigid—dynamic, interactive, and open to improvisation.

Throughout the video, a range of patching ideas are demonstrated, designed to push the boundaries of what the setup can produce. For example, Tangrams is used to modulate Quadrax’s envelope parameters, injecting evolving movement into otherwise static drum envelopes. Assigning CV to specific modulator destinations in Quadrax is shown in detail, underlining how deep envelope modulation can animate a patch without manual intervention.

Flurry is brought in for bonus percussion and experimental noise, with rainbow mode and morphing under sequencer CV control. The Planar 2’s outputs are multed to modulate both pitch and wavefolding simultaneously, showing how one gesture can reshape the patch’s melodic and timbral content. These tips aren’t just for show—they’re practical demonstrations of how to get more out of your modular rig, especially when you’re aiming for maximum flexibility and live tweakability.