Can we talk about modular synths?

[Mark of the Beast]

Never mind, explanation was included: " melody notes are programmed into a module based on an arduino at a set bpm with CV/Gate out, the gate is used as a clock for everything else too. that goes into the synth, the knob at the bottom right of the centre cabinet is just the filter for that synth. The drums are in the right box, mainly mixer and clock multiplyers and sounds and the trigger sequencer.
the guitar is going through a digital sample/delay which is interfaced by CV from a fair few loop able envelope generators, set on loop. some also get triggers from the trigger sequencer. to make a sudo random but fitting kind of craziness, its controlling the delay time, mix and feedback. its going through a few pedals out of shot too like chorus and stuffffffff."

[kbit]

Yo it's slow the first couple minutes but, this is rad.
(the modular, and the hilarious people)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww9VtKqprUY[/youtube]

[D.o.S.]

wait aren't your delicate vibes interrupted by the Burzum tee?

[bob the r0bot]

I'm super mad I missed that shirt

[Warpsmasher]

I got $50 off the Demora by asking for a deal through the chat on the perfect circuit site...so I tried it again for the Torcido, and got $70 off. Spent some of the unexpected extra savings on cables (es & stackables ).
Roland FX skiff completed. Now at 6u/84, and well into row 3. Running out of stuff to sell.
...but there should be some nice things coming soon.

I have extra power slots hanging out of my tabletop HEK. I could expand the roland 84 skiff that's now in front of it to 104 rails, and weave in 20 HP of other stuff, (Tempi, Mult, DPLPG, Quad Atten). Just a thought for now though, as I just stumbled across the Koma attenuator cables. I think I might rather use some of those than a dedicated module for cutting signal strength. Cheapest solution for voltage out to pedals too. Getting a couple with my next order for sure.

[Deltaphoenix]

BOOM, the Koma Komplex Sequencer is SO RAD. Sequence the sequencer that is sequencing the sequencer

[Strange Tales]

I got $50 off the Demora by asking for a deal through the chat on the perfect circuit site...so I tried it again for the Torcido, and got $70 off. Spent some of the unexpected extra savings on cables (es & stackables ).
Roland FX skiff completed. Now at 6u/84, and well into row 3. Running out of stuff to sell.
...but there should be some nice things coming soon.

I have extra power slots hanging out of my tabletop HEK. I could expand the roland 84 skiff that's now in front of it to 104 rails, and weave in 20 HP of other stuff, (Tempi, Mult, DPLPG, Quad Atten). Just a thought for now though, as I just stumbled across the Koma attenuator cables. I think I might rather use some of those than a dedicated module for cutting signal strength. Cheapest solution for voltage out to pedals too. Getting a couple with my next order for sure.

Perfect Circuit Audio makes me so hard. They give me a great deal on the Synthrotek Cheeks of Power so now I can expand my modular ever more!

[bob the r0bot]

Perfect Circuit are stand up dudes. So many great deals and so nice.

[Deltaphoenix]

I dig them but sometimes you have to remind them to ship stuff.

[codetocontra]

If a guy had $1300 and could probably only commit another $300 or so per year towards a modular setup, would you recommend to do it or not?

I think I really just need someone to tell me not to do it.

My gear money could be easily spent on either a new EGC guitar or constructing a tabletop setup. Going modular is terribly expensive to start, and the beast machine is always hungry for more modules. Feels a bit like planning a pedalboard, but backwards in that guitarists don't buy the board and power supply then add pedals. I have a sort of romanticized idea regarding modular as sort of mad scientist laboratory, where I go into the basement for hours at a time and the neighbors hear all sorts of weird noises.

IF I decided to go modular, the Mother 32 and Roland Scooper would be candidates for first purchases. Really liked the Drone Commander 2 as well. And, geez, so many other things...

What say you, ILFers?

[MrNovember]

If a guy had $1300 and could probably only commit another $300 or so per year towards a modular setup, would you recommend to do it or not?

I think I really just need someone to tell me not to do it.

My gear money could be easily spent on either a new EGC guitar or constructing a tabletop setup. Going modular is terribly expensive to start, and the beast machine is always hungry for more modules. Feels a bit like planning a pedalboard, but backwards in that guitarists don't buy the board and power supply then add pedals. I have a sort of romanticized idea regarding modular as sort of mad scientist laboratory, where I go into the basement for hours at a time and the neighbors hear all sorts of weird noises.

IF I decided to go modular, the Mother 32 and Roland Scooper would be candidates for first purchases. Really liked the Drone Commander 2 as well. And, geez, so many other things...

What say you, ILFers?

You could have a lot of fun with the Mother 32, a small skiff like the Make Noise powered skiff and a few additional modules for around $1300. That would be a pretty safe entry point to test the waters and feel if you enjoy it or not

[oscillateur]

Well, what do you want to achieve with a modular ?
Depending on your goals it could be a good fit or not.

Don't get one because it's the trendy thing right now. And do your research before buying anything anyway.

The "one voice in a module" things like the Mother32, the Pittsburgh ones, even the standalone (not released yet) Makenoise 0-coast, can once again be valid choices or not depending on what you want to do. They can be great or borderline useless depending on your needs. Think about what you want to do that you can't achieve now and from that we can try to give you some valid advice. It's got to be a personal thing, otherwise you might save both money and time getting a normal synth and just making music with it...

[Deltaphoenix]

I say yes. Even if you don't exactly have goals for your system. I know my interest has shifted around over time. The Mother 32 is a solid sounding and fun synth and worth having even if you only patch it with itself.

If you got a Mother 32, learn to use it's sequencer (it isn't that bad to learn) and then get one of the matching cases and stand, you could have some fun. Hell you might be able to have a third one partially filled once you are $1600 into it. It depends on whether you go exclusively after hyped up modules or do a mix of some bread and butter stuff and a few character/unique/more expensive modules. If you buy used on Muff's BST and the FB groups, you can catch some great deals if you are quick.

[codetocontra]

I am drawn most to the rhythmic sequences of all the blips and bloops. The interface is intriguing and always drawn to creating weird sounds. Not as interested in playing a keyboard outright, but I have considered getting something like a Bass Station 2 for arpeggiator sequences. Really though, the Grendel Drone Commander is a beautiful machine that describes a lot of what I would be after, just maybe more of it, if that makes sense. Perfectly reasonable to just say fuck it and pay out the ass for a used DC1 or wait for the "maybe/someday" standalone DC2.

Edit: Wanted to mention that the current trendiness is actually a bit of a turnoff as I'm contrarian by nature, and that fits with gear choice. There is probably already a new thread on TGP for modular stuff now that Strymon is doing it.

[codetocontra]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will focus on the 0-Coast, Lifeforms and Mother 32 for my potential starter setup. Solid advice.