Can we talk about modular synths?

[behndy]

NOW KISS.

[Invisible Man]

This phase does seem batshit crazy to me, too, but so does a lot of stuff around here. Wear your diseases loud and proud, I guess.

[actual]

Like he said, he has the money to support this habit. It's not like he's taking loans and shit to do this. Some people buy cars and jewelry, I guess Ruiner buys musical equipment.

[Ruiner]

Ruiner : I didn't mean that in a bad way, but you mentioned before starting getting modules that you would go slowly enough and learn to use it along the way, "not to reproduce past mistakes" (roughly paraphrased). I'm just being that annoying, whiny part of your conscience .

You obviously do what you want with your money, but you could probably get things that would be more useful to you if you paused the acquisitions train for a bit and focused more on what you already have (which is a badass but maybe not focused enough system). Now, if you're happy with it then it's good but I can't see how you could learn how to use all of that at the same time properly unless you spend your whole days in front of the thing...

Also, for the record : I'm kinda jealous of your Fraptools case (though I would prefer the 84HP one I think) .

It's all good man, i didn't take offense. I KNOW i'm batshit crazy when it comes to gear.... always have been and never been shy about that fact. I honestly don't remember saying what you paraphrased because i know myself and know i'd be lying to myself, haha... maybe i was drunk? I did this same thing with pedals and i feel i know and understand pedals far better than the average guitar player. I enjoy effects more than playing guitar... of course i need to be good at both but i spend more time with effects than practicing guitar. I regret specific purchases like most people do but I love the way i went into pedals and the hands on approach of trying everything under the sun was suuuuuper helpful for me... It was also a TON of fun. I know what kind of effects and modulation I like. I'm sure i'll flip a bunch of these modules like i did pedals and that's fine with me. It makes it easier to keep going with out spending additional money in the long run.... just a much bigger up front expense. That's why I still need a lot of utilities because those are the ones I don't know which i'll like the most because that's what i'm still wrapping my head around hence why i asked for specifics in my Ruiner Diaries thread (and you're the reason i just picked up the Cinnamon!) I honestly haven't had but a couple hours with my setup between my job and life I haven't had much studio time in the past couple of months and i also divide that up with guitar and pedalboards so it's not a focused learning experience. I love hands on and i love learning this way. I'm still learning one module at a time for the most part. Haven't touched a bunch of them. I'll pick one and read the manual and watch videos and play with it through other modules to better wrap my head around it. I use my time at work to read the Synth Secret series to better understand the concept of synthesis. I'm getting there and my purchases will far outweigh the speed in which i'm mastering / learning the modules i buy and i'm totally ok with that and expected it from the beginning. It's all good. I work hard and a lot of hours and being able to do things the way i like, such as my purchase habits with gear, make the work worthwhile for me. I appreciate all the feedback everyone has given me, it's been SUPER helpful as it always has been on this forum. I'm just gonna continue being that crazy bastard that buys too much shit though.

[Ruiner]

Also, these purchases aren't random. If you look at that big batch i just bought... the cinnamon was a recommendation from oscillator as a necessary utility as many people said i need more filters so i looked into it heavily. The 333 is a summing mixer which oscillator said i need more mixers and multipliers and this acts as both. The Sapel isn't necessary but i understand what it does and i love random source modules like wogglebug and chance so i know i'll enjoy this and I do enjoy being one of the first to get a pedal or module so it's no surprise i picked it up. I've wanted the Dunst since the beginning after hearing how R Beny uses it and it's not easy to come by so I had to scoop it up when i had the chance. The Swoop was the only random one i bought but it can act as an envelope so thought it might be good to have anyways.

[Dark Barn]

I haven't even looked at the feature set of the Sapel but every time I see it pop up my reaction is; I want it, what does it do? Such a pretty module!

[Strange Tales]

It's a random function module. I know it has the n+1 and n^2 you'd get from Buchla's Source of Uncertainty.

[Dark Barn]

Yeah I just went to the Frap tools page to skim the overview and then saw the spectral mixer they have coming:

[Ruiner]

I haven't even looked at the feature set of the Sapel but every time I see it pop up my reaction is; I want it, what does it do? Such a pretty module!

I can't say that part of it was a turn off.

This video explains it well and is what sold it for me:

https://vimeo.com/199225134

[D.o.S.]

The Sapel isn't necessary but i understand what it does

[oscillateur]

The Cinnamon is a wonderful little module. It's so good at fucking shit up in a wonderful way when you put all the switches up and it's a nice clean filter when it's all down. And a sine oscillator when needed.

I recommend a slow and subtle (i.e. well attenuated) modulation of the cutoff frequency, all switches up and volume just so that it clips a bit and then find a sweet spot with the base cutoff frequency. This can make a sinewave sound awesome, and can be even better with a more complex sound source.

And that metal panel for it looks tasty. I like the wooden one but the alu is more easily readable. Like, I just noticed by looking at it and looking at my modular that I'm currently using the bandpass out when I though I was using the lowpass . So yeah, use bandpass output for what I mentioned above.

[D.o.S.]

Also to be less snarky, I think the 3U is finalized (still missing the Cloud and the Verbos)

[oscillateur]

Actually, the top switch is down for my Cinnamon recipe above. I blame the wood. Pre-emptive twss.

D.o.S. : interesting... I don't know most of these well enough, especially the Verbos module. I suppose both SynthTech modules work in low frequencies too ?

[lordgalvar]

Verbos stuff is great. I love my multi-envelope (I've had it for a while...it's great, good little 4 step trigger sequencer too). Picked up the dual four pole cheap used a while ago too...it's cool, but a bit hard to use (not much into filters though).

The verbos is the same as SOU except it has the fortune shift register with outs at ever stage and a longer string of random (SOU has a shorter set of numbers....I think verbos said it would take a weekend or something for the string to repeat).

I like my A-149 though. Works well and cheap.

Toppobrillo TWF and Doepfer a-101-6 are my recents....the 101-6 is great...can be used as a quick close lpg like Borg 2.

[Strange Tales]

I wish I could fine a A-149 used. I might just buy a new one