Can we talk about modular synths?

[Ruiner]

Dear DIYers,

What’s a good resource to learn to build your own modules. I have a music box I want to secure to a blank module. I want to attach a contact mic to the back of it and connect that to a 1/4 inch output on the front. Here is the music box going through a piezo mic to give you an idea of what I mean:

https://instagram.com/p/BZ2FnLNHV8g/

.

Super cool. You could just wire the output of the piezo to an output, you'd need to drill 1 hole in the blank and have minimal soldering to do. Make me one, I wanna bleep my own rolls.

I’d like some kind of preamp in there too though... hmm. Gonna keep it minimal though. Eventually make a motorized one controlled by cv

[MrNovember]

Dear DIYers,

What’s a good resource to learn to build your own modules. I have a music box I want to secure to a blank module. I want to attach a contact mic to the back of it and connect that to a 1/4 inch output on the front. Here is the music box going through a piezo mic to give you an idea of what I mean:

https://instagram.com/p/BZ2FnLNHV8g/

.

Super cool. You could just wire the output of the piezo to an output, you'd need to drill 1 hole in the blank and have minimal soldering to do. Make me one, I wanna bleep my own rolls.

I’d like some kind of preamp in there too though... hmm. Gonna keep it minimal though. Eventually make a motorized one controlled by cv

Buy a Music Thing Modular/Thonk Microphonie kit and build it on a larger blank panel?

[behndy]

another diy questionarino or two -

kinda want to grab a Zlob Dual VCA, but want it in silver. if they don't make it that color (they just have black with some silver pattern on their site), is it a bitch to do the dyi? i can solder a TAD. would i just grab a blank aluminum panel and drill it?

[Strange Tales]

Dear DIYers,

What’s a good resource to learn to build your own modules. I have a music box I want to secure to a blank module. I want to attach a contact mic to the back of it and connect that to a 1/4 inch output on the front. Here is the music box going through a piezo mic to give you an idea of what I mean:

https://instagram.com/p/BZ2FnLNHV8g/

.

As others have said, the Thonk Microphone kit is a pretty good starting place. Another great starting place is this Befaco Preamp kit:
https://modularaddict.com/befaco-inamp-kit

Befaco stuff is well made, and their build guides are super, super detailed. As always with starting out DIY, the most important part is just taking a deep breath and taking your time moving through everything. If you're doing DIY in the US, Modular Addict (and Synthcube!) are going to be indispensable.

Also I think this guy is pretty good for showing off reviews of kits.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTca3 ... sfYkrg2R9w

[Strange Tales]

another diy questionarino or two -

kinda want to grab a Zlob Dual VCA, but want it in silver. if they don't make it that color (they just have black with some silver pattern on their site), is it a bitch to do the dyi? i can solder a TAD. would i just grab a blank aluminum panel and drill it?

You talking about just doing your own panel? I'd imagine this one specifically would be a real bitch to do since it's only 2HP, so you're going to be have to be as precise as possible getting every hole correct.

[behndy]

lol. i've been up for almost 24 hours and airporting for the last 6, so i'm a little fuzzy.

i guess i was assuming i could drill a panel (i have access to precise drilly stuff. or at least, have friends/fam that work with machinery that can be precise.), label it myself, have a ghetto version of buying a replacement panel? would it be as easy as swapping a Magpie panel onto a Mutables module if it's drilled correctly?

[Strange Tales]

If everything is drilled precisely it's really not that hard to replace panels. I find the nuts on factory stuff are fucking nigh-glued on to the module. Handy tip I learned from Muffs is to get pliers and put electrical tape on the tips (so you don't fuck up the old panel), and use that to loosen the nuts.

[behndy]

jia jia. i've swapped panels a bunch of times, Magpie sometimes you have to exacto-knife scrape the paint off the holes some, but that's easy.

oh yeah. i've looked at plastic tipped needle noses and they're like $40? i just go SUPER careful and pinch and twist.

[Ruiner]

Thanks guys, i'll check out those suggestions. Cheers!

Also, unrelated, i know a lot of us are always looking for mixers not in the rack but also for our guitar setups and other things and while this is made specifically to accompany the Volca series it looks pretty damn awesome and compact for a mixer solution at $219 and available this December

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5idY_u9DeQ[/youtube]

[MrNovember]

If everything is drilled precisely it's really not that hard to replace panels. I find the nuts on factory stuff are fucking nigh-glued on to the module. Handy tip I learned from Muffs is to get pliers and put electrical tape on the tips (so you don't fuck up the old panel), and use that to loosen the nuts.

Yeah I just scratched up my old O_C panel because I wasn't careful. Should have taped my pliers first

And didn't watch the video, but that mixer does look pretty useful, Ruiner

[baremountain]

I broke down and bought a Rings

I've been starting to explore the realm of modulating stuff on Rings at audio rate. Green mode with a square wave in, Damping around 9 o'clock, and Brightness and Structure modulated makes some awesome sounds.

heck yeah, i will certainly try this!

MrNovember that is a beautiful looking setup

[Strange Tales]

People who have 1U rows, how useful do you find them? I'm going to get a 3U (or 4) case specifically to put all of my tactile control modules, and trying to decide if spending the extra $100 to get a 4U from Intellijel is worth it.

As it goes, I have something like this planned for 4U. Not sure if having the extra Random and Attenuverters is worth it. It probably is but I feel like I'm trying to talk myself out of this for no reason.

SPOILER : show

[oscillateur]

Intellijel 1U and Pulplogic 1U are not the same format.

I have the Intellijel Noise Tools and Quadratt, both are super useful.
The Noise Tools had basically 4 things in there (pink/white noise source, fixed/random clock generator, S&H/T&H and slew) and the normalization makes it great for all kinds of random.
The Quadratt is simple but useful and the mixing normalization makes it into a usable submixer too.

Very plus, yes recommend.

[Strange Tales]

That'll seal it for me then.

Yea, I've heard about Intellijel's 1U being slightly smaller in size or something like that, compared to Pulp Logic's which is sort of annoying but I can work around it. I'll have to look at the other 1U stuff Intellijel offers and see if anything is nice looking.

[MrNovember]

Yeah I don't think I'll ever go back from having a 1U row in a smaller setup. It's really great for utilities that you don't really want taking up the main hp. I have Noise Tools and Digiverb, which are both great. Noise Tools is incredibly useful. I'll get the Audio I/O and Quadratt when/if I upgrade to a 104hp Intellijel case