Can we talk about modular synths?

[Strange Tales]

Apparently they're doing another revision of the Bishop's Miscellany after the 4 Bricks. Do you know what version of the BM you have? Apparently there is a "V2" with new chips.

[MrNovember]

Apparently they're doing another revision of the Bishop's Miscellany after the 4 Bricks. Do you know what version of the BM you have? Apparently there is a "V2" with new chips.

I have the V1 chip still. V2 is supposed to improve the quantization, so I'm tempted to try it out for sure. I was planning on ordering a V2 chip when I order a Knights Gallop, but I'm not sure that will still be my plan

[resincum]

From what I can find, there's no reason why you couldn't? I finally bought one today, I'll try that out when it shows up.

heya buddy, have you received the SV-1 yet?

[oscillateur]

Pico DSP is a very, very good use of 3HP.

[Ev_O)))]

So a place local to me has the new Tip Top Mantis cases available on pre order and I think I'm gonna dive in. 6U of 104HP seems like a great starting point. I've been sketching out things on modular grid for a while and whatnot and I think I'm going to start with some FX modules and some I/O so that I've got something useable while I build an actual synthesiser.
I was saving for an Analog 4, but I'm pretty sure this is where my heart truly lies. Gonna deliberate for another week or two.

[01010111]

From what I can find, there's no reason why you couldn't? I finally bought one today, I'll try that out when it shows up.

heya buddy, have you received the SV-1 yet?

I just got it today! I had just ordered from a local when I'd posted (they had the module and I wanted the blackbox version). I just tried running my minilogue into it, and it definitely works. It is MUCH quieter than the internal oscillators, even with the minilogue at full volume. I haven't tried running my guitar into it yet, but I definitely want to attenuate the signal more before I try that....

[raj007]

Well...I ordered a Microbrute as my first ever synth earlier this week. Since then, I've watched I Dream of Wires, watched videos, read articles, forums, etc. about Synth and modular synth. I feel like I'm being pulled into the void.

The goal of getting the Microbrute was that if I fall in love I can expand with another machine (0-Coast, Mother 32, Erebus) or perhaps try Euro/Modular. I will admit it seems very overwhelming. Just learning about basic function and patching seems like a steep learning curve but I'm in no rush

Working my way through this thread as well as the noob sticky on Muffwiggler.

What were some of the learning avenues you guys used when you were brand spankin new?

[echorec]

What were some of the learning avenues you guys used when you were brand spankin new?

This is for synthesis in general.

1) familiarize yourself with terminology & what each item does (VCAs, VCOs, LFOs, et cetera)

if you don't know what something stands for or have a rough understanding of what it does, then you're limiting your growth and understanding of your instrument.

blogs, YouTube, user manuals, FAQs, forums

2) through trial & error you'll learn how to prioritize your adjustments (should you alter filters, waveshaping, resonance, or something else first). even if you familiarize yourself with terms and concepts (tip #1), you still need to put this stuff into practice in order to have an auditory reference of how these elements are affecting a sound.

ex: I saw a video recently where Dave Smith commented on how many people come into the DSI offices, select a preset on a synth, and reach for a pot that has minimal impact on the patch. Many people just don't know enough about what they're hearing or how the elements of a synth interact, in order to make faster adjustments for optimal results.

3) acquaint yourself with what other people are doing and how they're doing it, in order to plan your own projects. this will help you to avoid buying gear that doesn't take you where you're hoping to go.

YouTube, forums, fan/gear blogs

[resincum]

From what I can find, there's no reason why you couldn't? I finally bought one today, I'll try that out when it shows up.

heya buddy, have you received the SV-1 yet?

I just got it today! I had just ordered from a local when I'd posted (they had the module and I wanted the blackbox version). I just tried running my minilogue into it, and it definitely works. It is MUCH quieter than the internal oscillators, even with the minilogue at full volume. I haven't tried running my guitar into it yet, but I definitely want to attenuate the signal more before I try that....

awesome to know! so I guess you need a massive boost to the guitar signal for it to hang?



had the pleasure of hosting Curved Light (https://curvedlight.bandcamp.com/album/reversion) on friday. super beautiful stuff.. had some awesome visuals to match. he has a record coming out via holodeck records soon, I highly suggest you check his stuff out!

...and after that, I am finally ready to make the plunge going to start with a pittsburgh desktop box and clouds, since I can boost outside sources with the gain and plug straight into my mixer.. wish I realized it was so simple to begin with >_< excited & obsessed already

[MrNovember]

So I'm hopefully selling a few modules to upgrade my power supply. I've been planning on the Intellijel TPS80W supply, but am I overlooking any others that I should be considering? I think I need a minimum of 2A on +12, 1A on -12, 250mA on +5.

I'm currently powering my system with a Make Noise power supply (1.4A on +12, 1.0A on -12, and 250mA on +5) and a uZeus, but I am planning on splitting my system into two smaller systems and the Make Noise won't be able to handle everything on it's own

[oscillateur]

I've got an Intellijel 7U case, works fine for me (I have a lower load from my modules than you). One thing to note is that there are only 20 connectors so you'll likely need to add something like a 4ms bus stick (I did that, anyway). The modules connected through this won't benefit from the star grouding and this kind of things, but then most other supplies don't have that anyway.

[01010111]

From what I can find, there's no reason why you couldn't? I finally bought one today, I'll try that out when it shows up.

heya buddy, have you received the SV-1 yet?

I just got it today! I had just ordered from a local when I'd posted (they had the module and I wanted the blackbox version). I just tried running my minilogue into it, and it definitely works. It is MUCH quieter than the internal oscillators, even with the minilogue at full volume. I haven't tried running my guitar into it yet, but I definitely want to attenuate the signal more before I try that....

awesome to know! so I guess you need a massive boost to the guitar signal for it to hang?

Unless you're using an OHNOHO Blowing Up I doubt you'd be able to find something that can boost the guitar enough without using one of those eurorack audio-input attenuator modules.


Also, does anyone else get a little confused by the use of the word "normalized" in eurorack stuff? I'm used to normalized applying in mathematical sense (i.e. normalizing a variable so the domain is between 0 and 1). But I've been seeing a lot of stuff in euro land that says control X is normalized to Y. Which I guess is consistent with the mathematical definitionbut, but I think it's a little misleading?

[lordgalvar]

It's just one part is normally contracted to another part of the module unless something is patched in.

Think of it as the normal pathway that can be broken. It works a lot like battery power on pedals (normally battery unless plugged in)

Ex: there is a stereo module but you only use the left channel. If the left is normaled to the right, both channels will process the same signal unless something is plugged into the right.

Sometimes they normal an LFO to a filter cutoff but left you bypass it with another CV signal and break the normalization.

If you look at a 0-coast, the gold lines tell you where one part goes if no patch cable is present which is the normalized path. It doesnt need any patch cables other than control and output to be functional.

[D.o.S.]

What were some of the learning avenues you guys used when you were brand spankin new?

This is for synthesis in general.

1) familiarize yourself with terminology & what each item does (VCAs, VCOs, LFOs, et cetera)

if you don't know what something stands for or have a rough understanding of what it does, then you're limiting your growth and understanding of your instrument.

blogs, YouTube, user manuals, FAQs, forums

2) through trial & error you'll learn how to prioritize your adjustments (should you alter filters, waveshaping, resonance, or something else first). even if you familiarize yourself with terms and concepts (tip #1), you still need to put this stuff into practice in order to have an auditory reference of how these elements are affecting a sound.

ex: I saw a video recently where Dave Smith commented on how many people come into the DSI offices, select a preset on a synth, and reach for a pot that has minimal impact on the patch. Many people just don't know enough about what they're hearing or how the elements of a synth interact, in order to make faster adjustments for optimal results.

3) acquaint yourself with what other people are doing and how they're doing it, in order to plan your own projects. this will help you to avoid buying gear that doesn't take you where you're hoping to go.

YouTube, forums, fan/gear blogs

Yeah I'd cosign all of this, but I also think it's pretty important to allow for as much trial and error on a given piece of gear as you can, even if you're not "getting" it in the way described above.

[oscillateur]

Also, using a software modular to have a better idea of signal flow is a good idea. I started with a Nord Modular ages ago (hardware but the patching is done in software) and that definitely helped for quite a few things.