Can we talk about modular synths?

[behndy]

wooooo! also, looks like Manis's will ship this Friday. NEAT.

[yeatsvisitslincoln]

So I'm all into my new case, except that I have a nice little 10hp hole. What do I put there?

I've been all over the place in terms of style, from droning noise to just trying straight up techno. So really I'm just looking for something that might inspire me or just get me outside of the box my head is in.

screenshot73.jpg (112.98 KiB) Viewed 2257 times

Also, in the long term (think 3 months LOL), I'm probably gonna get an ER101/102 and lose of the E340, MME+Exp, Ripples, and twinVCAmp because those are actually on loan from a friend. But still, I can't wait that long with 10hp of opportunity staring me in the face.

[Bartimaeus]

So I'm all into my new case, except that I have a nice little 10hp hole. What do I put there?

I've been all over the place in terms of style, from droning noise to just trying straight up techno. So really I'm just looking for something that might inspire me or just get me outside of the box my head is in.

screenshot73.jpg

Also, in the long term (think 3 months LOL), I'm probably gonna get an ER101/102 and lose of the E340, MME+Exp, Ripples, and twinVCAmp because those are actually on loan from a friend. But still, I can't wait that long with 10hp of opportunity staring me in the face.

This is a really cool and well-balanced system!

One thing that I'd find missing is a utility filter. Maybe a SSF MMF or Intellijel uVCF? Helps for regular filtering duties, cleaning up sounds with highpass fitlering, stereo filter stuff (in conjunction with the main filter), oscillator or LFO duty, etc.

Losing all of those modules will be a serious hit to your system, since you'll basically be losing a full monophonic synth voice. That's only more reason to get another filter which can serve multiple duties.

How do you like the MultiMode Envelope? Losing a powerful envelope generator like that could kill a system for some folks, but for others only simple AD/AR envelopes are needed. I think you def need more envelopes once you lose the WMD, but what kind of envelopes depends on your preferences.

Even when you lose the E340, you'll still have a substantial sound source between the Spectrum and HM VCO. Making sure that you retain enough envelopes and filters to support those sources is important.

Also, I'm curious as to why you want to pick up an ER101?

[oscillateur]

I'm going to be that guy again, but don't buy modules because there's some space in your case.
Get a module if you want to do something and can't do it with what you have...

Also, I really like pinging my Optomix while it's already a bit open. You can get nice textures that way. Don't forget to compare the pinging time of both channels, there's often one longer than the other and it's good to know how each channel reacts.

[Jwar]

Hey homies! So, I could post this in the Folktek thread but this shit get more traffic.

I was messing with my Mescaline tonight (btw this thing is just amazing. I was so wrong about it. The more I explore, the more I'm in love), I discovered that the Lightning Wave EVA BPM works just alarmingly well with the Mescaline's Clock In. I am thinking of using something more dedicated than the EVA for that however as the interfacing is a little odd sometimes.

Would I need a clock generator? Is that the same as a bpm controller? Sorry for the dumb question, I'm trying to google it but not find the info I need. Thanks!

[oscillateur]

You just need something that generates triggers.

Do you want something standalone or a module ? What type of controls (knob, tap tempo, etc.) ? Do you want to set a tempo somehow and then be able to have multiplications/divisions or just set it once and leave it as is ?

A simple box with an 555 LFO could do the trick if you're not that concerned with super precise stability.

[Dark Barn]

@jwr yeah in modular lingo you would say clock. Without belaboring too much, any regular gate or trigger signal can be used as a clock source. There are modules made specifically for the task, you would call clock generators, but also many other modules that *can* generate a clock, like LFOs for example.

[lumena]

Mescaline...
Connect mod out to cv in on lightening wave... done

[yeatsvisitslincoln]

This is a really cool and well-balanced system!

One thing that I'd find missing is a utility filter. Maybe a SSF MMF or Intellijel uVCF? Helps for regular filtering duties, cleaning up sounds with highpass fitlering, stereo filter stuff (in conjunction with the main filter), oscillator or LFO duty, etc.

Losing all of those modules will be a serious hit to your system, since you'll basically be losing a full monophonic synth voice. That's only more reason to get another filter which can serve multiple duties.

How do you like the MultiMode Envelope? Losing a powerful envelope generator like that could kill a system for some folks, but for others only simple AD/AR envelopes are needed. I think you def need more envelopes once you lose the WMD, but what kind of envelopes depends on your preferences.

Even when you lose the E340, you'll still have a substantial sound source between the Spectrum and HM VCO. Making sure that you retain enough envelopes and filters to support those sources is important.

Also, I'm curious as to why you want to pick up an ER101?

Thanks!

I have actually been looking at different filters as a whole, but I hadn't thought of just looking for a small one. I've had the Ripples in my care for about 6 months so I feel I know it pretty well but I've really missed having a high pass filter in general. I've been interfacing with my Pretty Years when I want one, but that adds distortion, so it's not the ideal application. Pretty Years is of course fantastic for just about every mangling, dream like fuzziness you'd want in a synth, though.

I've only had the MME for a couple weeks. So I was doing pretty well before it. My limitation before what that I tended to need to use one side of Maths as an AR envelope and, to be honest, I still like the AR envelope I can get out of Maths better. The MME has so much control that it has had a real learning curve for me. You can essentially have envelopes that are so fast that you don't even hear/see them on the LED. I need to explore the envelopes in Pam's New Workout more. Alternatively, if I get a sequencer or something similar, Ornament and Crime can do some envelopes.

Only had Cloud Generator for a couple weeks, too. I imagine that when I expand, I will be looking at an E352. I like it a lot so far, but I'll be able to live without it for a while.

So the ER101 is basically a combination of I like the control that it affords, especially with being able to just program your rhythm on a per step basis and gate length on a per step basis. I still need to look more into what the 102 can do in terms of the math functions is applies to the 101, but my understanding is that it can do most of what I want. I don't quite know if it can apply math to just the trigger/gates and essentially decouple them from the melody, but that couple also be done by a gate generator.

I have also been integrating modular into a couple of music projects I have, and one in particular would really benefit from having the easy ability to pull out a song. (The philosophy of using modular with other people is another conversation all together, but it's a fun challenge). My friend (who lent me the modules) has a Stillson Hammer, and we've had some interesting discussions about it's work flow. At first I was convinced that was what I wanted, but their trouble with easily getting the exact notes they want concern me compared to the control of that you have in the ER101. I realize I'm probably best off trying any sequencer out first, anyways. If I get the ER 101 and don't like, it'll be an easy sell. Finally, I'm also looking at it with the acknowledgement that I will expand more in the future.

I'm going to be that guy again, but don't buy modules because there's some space in your case.
Get a module if you want to do something and can't do it with what you have...

I guess that's why I'm asking here. I don't really have something specific in mind and I don't really feel like I'm missing anything. My OCD is just killing me with the empty space, though. I could just get a panel... That's the cheap thing.

[MrNovember]

If you have no real need for anything, I would definitely just get a blank panel (or several smaller hp blank panels as they are actually pretty handy for fixing OCD issues). That 10 hp might become very important once you give those modules back to your friend and are looking to replace them.

Also, slightly more expensive than a blank panel, but some passive mults would work too. I somehow always end up with an extra 2 hp in my systems and every time I am grateful to have a Qu-Mult

[yeatsvisitslincoln]

Yeah, some 2 and 4 hp panels could also be nice to spread out the Disting. Already have a bunch of stacking cables, but mults are probably easier on the modules from a mechanical standpoint. Thanks!

[behndy]

I have actually been looking at different filters as a whole, but I hadn't thought of just looking for a small one.

Yeasssssssssty. have you looked at the Happy Nerding HNVCF? prettttttty pimp. you can output HP, BP, LP or LP with DIRRRRRRRT at the same time. very cool, smaller, versatile as butts filter.

also, sequencers, the FLXS is odd looking (way less offensive in person than in the ModGrid pics), but mannnnnn it does STUFF. he needs to get the update out with the song mode and fix the note drop on the reset from CV, but it's pretty interactive as well as being able to sit down and plan out long 64 step patterns. x4.

[behndy]

If you have no real need for anything, I would definitely just get a blank panel (or several smaller hp blank panels as they are actually pretty handy for fixing OCD issues). That 10 hp might become very important once you give those modules back to your friend and are looking to replace them.

Also, slightly more expensive than a blank panel, but some passive mults would work too. I somehow always end up with an extra 2 hp in my systems and every time I am grateful to have a Qu-Mult

oh man. throwing a mult into an empty 2hp is the BEST.

[behndy]

also, why are there only spring reverbs in eurorack format? the 2hp VERB sounds..... okay. but not great. don't mind going up in hp, but i really don't want to deal with a reverb tank. i've tried two modules that use them, i get mad interference from something in my music yarea, don't want to deal with isolating that.

is the Aeverb MK2 worth hunting down?

any non-tank reverbs to check out?

[MrNovember]

also, why are there only spring reverbs in eurorack format? the 2hp VERB sounds..... okay. but not great. don't mind going up in hp, but i really don't want to deal with a reverb tank. i've tried two modules that use them, i get mad interference from something in my music yarea, don't want to deal with isolating that.

is the Aeverb MK2 worth hunting down?

any non-tank reverbs to check out?

Erbe-Verb? If I was to get any non-tank reverb in euro format, it would be the Erbe-Verb

Edit: actually, if I was to get any reverb in euro format period, it would be the Erbe-Verb

Edit 2: actually Clouds was a pretty decent reverb if you ignore the granular stuff. Also the Erica Synth Pico DSP or Black Hole DSP are tempting. There's also the Folktek Alter 1 and 2 on the way, which both offer digital reverbs. Oh and tons of people love the Z-DSP