Can we talk about modular synths?

[oscillateur]

Oh boy, the second my tax refund comes in it is fucking on.

What precisely ?

[Strange Tales]

Depends on how much it is. But I'll at least be able to get my new case and a couple other modules using that. Or I might go for a Rene + Phonogene/DC2. Who knows, I'll definitely go wild though.

[Deltaphoenix]

I am thinking that I will get that Trogotronic case myself.

I have a deal for my Buchla, a Fenix II (check it out, awesome Banana Modular) + Cash. Of course, a lot of the cash is going to other things (the reason why I sold the Buchla) but I am going to put together a Euro mostly focused on processing external sounds (the Fenix II, DSI Tempest, my Bass, Field Recording, iPad, etc) plus some sounds of it's own.



Of course I have 60hp to expand with if I pull out the M32 (or never put it in )

In that 60hp I would put in some more CV generation (MATHS) and ????

The Fenix II is also well set-up for processing external sounds so I really need to spend time with it to figure out what will round out the Euro properly.

[Warpsmasher]

that vid is rad..think I want in now going to try and make a mother 32 happen

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_UGIYtcigU[/youtube]

B/S/T will never be the same...

[D.o.S.]

A) Pharcyde is great.
B) Trog case is looking pretty fancy.
C) Assuming I wasn't wild about the Mother, what other complete voices would I be looking at, hypothetically speaking?

[Strange Tales]

Intellijel Atlantis
Snazzy FX Tidal Wave (I think this is a complete voice?)
Mutable Instruments Elements
Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer Block (may or may not be discontinued I don't remember)
Drone Commander 2

[D.o.S.]

Snazzy FX Tidal Wave (I think this is a complete voice?)

[Deltaphoenix]

Yeah the Tidal wave is a complete voice, there may be some slight caveats (Oscillator is Sine wave only because it is filter self-oscillation), but it sounds awesome for sure.

Obviously some of the difference with the M32 and all of the others is built in sequencer/ midi-to-cv converter.

[Warpsmasher]

I love the Tidal Wave, coolest full voice module. You can usually find one cheap on muffs too.
CRABS.

[Warpsmasher]

...the crabs always make me remember this song -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ono9V9JT9Ts[/youtube]

[modernage]

A) Pharcyde is great.
B) Trog case is looking pretty fancy.
C) Assuming I wasn't wild about the Mother, what other complete voices would I be looking at, hypothetically speaking?

I have the Atlantis and Elements. They are both awesome. I've been thinking about picking up a M32, but I'll probably just leave that up to a buddy of mine who's has been toying with the idea of getting into this mess. It's not something I really neeeed. Delta is right though, the M32 does have a sequencer built in (and midi). That's not much of a problem, because there are some pretty affordable sequencers out there these days. Although if you're into the Atlantis I can't recommend the Metropolis enough. They're pretty much soul mates.

Another option would be Braids + an external sequencer (Korg SQ-1, Beatstep Pro) for a super affordable way to get started with some nice sounds.

But then again, how would you want to play/control you modular? Keyboard, DAW, MIDI, sequencers, touch controllers, or more random generated stuff? You might not even need a sequencer depending on your goals.

If you were open to buying a few modules to make up your voice, the complex VCO + LPG + function generator is a fairly straight forward route. For example: Make Noise DPO + Optomix or LxD, Maths or Function. There are just too many possibilities... The Harvestman Hertz Donut (one of my all-time favs) + Double Andore = another similar option.

[D.o.S.]

Yeah the too many possibilities thing is definitely something I'm feeling here.

I think most of my interest lies in the increased ability I'd have to manipulate sounds with modular, which is why the Tidal Wave looks so interesting: it looks like you can run a guitar-level signal into it... which should mean I can run my line level synths drone boxes etc into it, no?

[MrNovember]

If you're mostly interested in manipulating sounds of your existing instruments, I wouldn't bother looking at a standard synth voice. Instead I'd look into a nice in/out module like the Xaoc Sewastopol, which as a bonus has an envelope follower, effects like Clouds, Rings, Erbe-Verb, Phonogene, and some LFOs/modulation sources to get the most out of the effects. Then add standard VCO/VCF stuff later when you're ready to expand.

[Deltaphoenix]

I agree but would add that filters are good for manipulating sounds of existing instruments.

[modernage]

If you're mostly interested in manipulating sounds of your existing instruments, I wouldn't bother looking at a standard synth voice. Instead I'd look into a nice in/out module like the Xaoc Sewastopol, which as a bonus has an envelope follower, effects like Clouds, Rings, Erbe-Verb, Phonogene, and some LFOs/modulation sources to get the most out of the effects. Then add standard VCO/VCF stuff later when you're ready to expand.

This man is wise. I completely agree.
If you're mostly looking to process other sound sources you'd probably be taking an unnecessary step by buying a voice module first. Although the Tidal Wave would probably be one of the better modules for processing external sources. I'm not sure what type of level it needs for the external input, so you still might need something like the Sewastopol mentioned above to bring whatever you are processing up to Eurorack level. The Harvestman Black Locust would be worth considering as well.