Can we talk about modular synths?

[Deltaphoenix]

Hey, I have a Happy Ending Kit, uZeus Power for it and about 15 patch cables for sale (as well as a couple of modules). PM if interested

I am starting a Serge synth so the Euro has to go (to help pay for all of this).

[MeSoFuzzy]

Hey, I have a Happy Ending Kit, uZeus Power for it and about 15 patch cables for sale (as well as a couple of modules). PM if interested

I am starting a Serge synth so the Euro has to go (to help pay for all of this).

Please do! I want this man to have an awesome Serge system, buy his Eurorack stuff now!!!!!!!!!!!

[Muse FTW]

To those of you who own Eurorack setups, how do you go about navigating the ridiculously large assortment of modules available? It doesn't help that half of these companies' sites haven't been updated in years and there aren't demos of everything...

Are there any companies to avoid outright? Companies with consistent, high quality?

Finally, how much did/does your full rack setup cost? I'm seeing ballparks around $1500, though it obviously ranges with how many parts one adds to the rack.

[Deltaphoenix]

If you are a little patient and stalk the BST on Muffs then you can make a decent little modular with $1500. First you should try and figure out what you want to do with your modular: east coast, west coast, mix, digital madness, processing other sounds, etc.

Read a lot of threads on Muffs. Look at racks that other people are posting on there especially by people with similar sound goals as you. Get an account on modulargrid and play with different configurations of modules. The standard rule for buying used modules on Muffs is they sell for 80% of new cost unless they are really desired and of course sometimes you can find absolute steals too.

Good brands...there are a lot and this is in no way a complete list but these are brands that have a lot of offerings: Make Noise, Intellijel, Doepfer, Malekko, Pittsburgh Modular, WMD, Harvestman, Mutable Instruments..... There are more good manufacturers and some that only make a few modules.
My best advice is to have a plan but make it flexible. If you want to do a lot FMing of your oscillators then look for a DPO and Rubicon/Dixie/uFold combo, buy whichever pops up first unless you absolutely have your heart set on one of those then flex somewhere else.
If you start with a Happy Ending Kit just know that you will it up quickly, then you have to decide what's next, 6u or 9u.

[MeSoFuzzy]

Are there any companies to avoid outright? Companies with consistent, high quality?

MFB can be dodgy. I had two of their sequencers and they would not stay in sync. Though, I heard that Manfred(the MFB dude) fixed the issue since then. When MFB stuff works properly, its great stuff!!. However, there are so many other manufactures that make similar modules with no issues. The MFB triple osc is super cool. Instant Juno 106 unison mode goodness

Don't be fooled by the low prices of Doepfer modules. There's a lot of gems in their catalog. I've never had an issue with any Doepfer modules.

[bigchiefbc]

If you are a little patient and stalk the BST on Muffs then you can make a decent little modular with $1500. First you should try and figure out what you want to do with your modular: east coast, west coast, mix, digital madness, processing other sounds, etc.

I still have no freaking idea what that whole east coast / west coast thing means, and it's use is so ubiquitous on Muff that I never had the balls to ask.

[Uncle Grandfather]

If you are a little patient and stalk the BST on Muffs then you can make a decent little modular with $1500. First you should try and figure out what you want to do with your modular: east coast, west coast, mix, digital madness, processing other sounds, etc.

I still have no freaking idea what that whole east coast / west coast thing means, and it's use is so ubiquitous on Muff that I never had the balls to ask.

2pac and biggy...the battle rages on

[MeSoFuzzy]

East Coast= classic subtractive synthesis ala Moog
West Coast= FM(frequency modulation madness) ala Buchla- drones/soundscapes/ and all of that razz ma tazz

Both styles can mix and mingle, but the two specialize in their respective fields.

Serge seems like a switch hitter playing both fields gracefully.

[bigchiefbc]

East Coast= classic subtractive synthesis ala Moog
West Coast= FM(frequency modulation madness) ala Buchla- drones/soundscapes/ and all of that razz ma tazz

Both styles can mix and mingle, but the two specialize in their respective fields.

Serge seems like a switch hitter playing both fields gracefully.

Can you give me an example of how the west coast stuff sounds? I'm having trouble picturing it.

EDIT:: OK, nevermind, I looked up some Buchla demo vids on youtube. So it seems to be almost entirely sequence-based, I guess.

[sonidero]

The Master Morton Subotnick...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIOdxgQurM[/youtube]

Some history of the San Francisco Tape Music Center which started the West Coast Sound...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qaju5XaGvII[/youtube]

[MeSoFuzzy]

East Coast= classic subtractive synthesis ala Moog
West Coast= FM(frequency modulation madness) ala Buchla- drones/soundscapes/ and all of that razz ma tazz

Both styles can mix and mingle, but the two specialize in their respective fields.

Serge seems like a switch hitter playing both fields gracefully.

Can you give me an example of how the west coast stuff sounds? I'm having trouble picturing it.

Can be done with east coast style, but you'll need a bigger system for those rich tones. West Coast style modules focus on multiple oscillators and wavefolders/shapers. Eastcoast is all about the VCO>VCF>VCA basic patch.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DUGwzJ0Eos[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89IY3Ss2Mk[/youtube]

[MeSoFuzzy]

Also, with West Coast, your VCA's are more for modulation index- control the amount of FM going into whatever like the pitch of another VCO. Of course you also dive even deeper with FM'ing the VCA that's used for modulation index. You just keep repeating those steps. It gets fucking absurd when you're using East Coast style modules, because you need more of them to do the same thing. Or you just get a digital synth like the DX7 and bang your head against the interface.

[bigchiefbc]

I admit that I am pig ignorant on non-substractive synthesis, but it seems like almost every video I can find of this style doesn't really involve much actual playing, it's more about constant manipulation. Is that fair, or am I off-base?

[sonidero]

I admit that I am pig ignorant on non-substractive synthesis, but it seems like almost every video I can find of this style doesn't really involve much actual playing, it's more about constant manipulation. Is that fair, or am I off-base?

Not off base, it's kind of a reaction to East Coast Walter/Wendy Carlos type playing... Moog spent some time trying to emulate real instruments and show people his wall of wires could make "real" music... Buchla wanted it to be more experimental and actually sound like a wall of wires... There are examples of both styles on each coast and even a mix in England... BBC Radiophonic Workshop used both styles to make some out there sounds...

[bigchiefbc]

I admit that I am pig ignorant on non-substractive synthesis, but it seems like almost every video I can find of this style doesn't really involve much actual playing, it's more about constant manipulation. Is that fair, or am I off-base?

Not off base, it's kind of a reaction to East Coast Walter/Wendy Carlos type playing... Moog spent some time trying to emulate real instruments and show people his wall of wires could make "real" music... Buchla wanted it to be more experimental and actually sound like a wall of wires... There are examples of both styles on each coast and even a mix in England... BBC Radiophonic Workshop used both styles to make some out there sounds...

OK, that's cool. I mean, I've seen Moog/DotCom modules to make some pretty fucking wacked-out noise before, it's all in how you patch it. But I imagine you could do a lot crazier stuff with modules that are purpose-built for it.