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Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:00 am
by gordian knot
kaeth wrote:The cheapest way would be to go semi-modular with something like an MS-20 Mini, or a Microbrute, and then just add whatever modules you need that it doesn't already cover. But maybe that's not as sexy.
+1 I think this is a good way to go.
You get a keyboard controller, OSC, filters, amps, mixers, EV generators then you can patch out as you build
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:06 am
by Inconuucl
oscillateur wrote:
I'd need more details to be able to give actually relevant advice and not just a list of modules I like (which is what at least 50% of recommendations end up being, honestly). Do you want the modular to be independant, to process external sound sources, do you plan to control it from something else, do you want it to control something else, what kind of sounds/music are you interested in, etc. ?
tuj wrote:get 2 A110's, some mixer (I like the submix-6), some filter(s), at least 2x VCA for every OSC/LFO in your system, I use the A132's as utility VCA's but they work well enough with audio. Look at the A145 as your LFO.
2 osc + filter + vca + lfo = classic synth
ring mod is also good and usually cheap.
have you decided how you will control the synth yet?
For control, I'll pretty much go for Midi (maybe the Arturia beatstep pro and also get CV?) because you can get a lot of controllers on the cheap, also because the Artiphon Instrument One, which I really want to be good. However, it would be a lie to say that I won't just use the modular to create crazy shifting drones once I get my feet off the ground.
Awesome, thanks for the recommendations, that should give me a clearer starting point to shoot for, and once I start I can get a more concrete field for the instrument and look for more complex stuff.

Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:29 pm
by Dandolin
tuj wrote:nah, I'm not saying MI isn't sexy, the fucking unobtainable Elements is. But there are other things in the world that can do lots of fun shit too. Gotta just wait and catch them on the flipped side in a year.
Take a pitts generator, gen expander, some ring mod, and fm/ring/am the crap out of it. That's a cheap way to the bleep bloop land.
I hear ya, truth will out, plus tis the message I need to heed. Still, I will be winnowing the chaff with an eye towards the gold straws....
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:29 pm
by Inconuucl
Dandolin wrote:Yeah--excellent advice for the realz, tuj, but for me that Mutable Instruments Elements is Venus, Lilith, Eve, Marie Curie, Anais Nin and Catwoman all rolled into one. If someone can show me a modal synth for less than 2000 that can do the weirdspace physical modelling the Elements does, maybe my viagrabone for the Elements will subside. I keep wistfully hoping someone will show me the hidden mode on a Korg Prophecy but my lame internet skills haven't uncovered it yet. Until then, I'm eyeing everything not nailed down for funds and that's in the face of urgent need not to acquire anything. IDK, maybe I'm over-reacting?
Holy shit.

How unobtainable? We talking No Memory that you still see them once in a while, or are we talking Anti-nautilus that it's an event in itself that someone is selling one?

Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:54 pm
by Dandolin
Nah--it's just new afaict--there's a couple on the 'Bay right now. Pricy as far as modules go, though, at north of $500 new. It's not everyone's thang, though--forget about "warmth" or sounding like a 7Ts Moog--it's all about sounding like a Titan blowing on a Mastodon horn shofar or doing a marblerimba solo on a mountaintop...or a killer clown tapping your engagement ring against a sewer grate in your nightmares.
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:00 pm
by Inconuucl
Dandolin wrote:Nah--it's just new afaict--there's a couple on the 'Bay right now. Pricy as far as modules go, though, at north of $500 new. It's not everyone's thang, though--forget about "warmth" or sounding like a 7Ts Moog--it's all about sounding like a Titan blowing on a Mastodon horn shofar or doing a marblerimba solo on a mountaintop...or a killer clown tapping your engagement ring against a sewer grate in your nightmares.
Okay, that's not that bad. I just really liked how it sounded in the demos I saw.

But definitely something I'd get post-start.
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:07 pm
by Dandolin
Nah--I think it's actually a steal for all it does and how well it does it, certainly as measured against the cost per sound processing unit in guitar fx; measured up against other modules though? I'll leave that to others....
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:55 pm
by Inconuucl
On top of the stuff mentioned, any good noise oscs, delays and bitcrushers?

Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 9:32 pm
by resincum
Dandolin wrote:Nah--I think it's actually a steal for all it does and how well it does it, certainly as measured against the cost per sound processing unit in guitar fx; measured up against other modules though? I'll leave that to others....
this thing?
https://vimeo.com/115044249
can I make those sounds with a microbrute or something + elements ?
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:01 am
by dub
Man, really shouldn't have watched an Elements demo. Now I just want to make crazy space gamelan.
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:06 am
by Inconuucl
resincum wrote:Dandolin wrote:Nah--I think it's actually a steal for all it does and how well it does it, certainly as measured against the cost per sound processing unit in guitar fx; measured up against other modules though? I'll leave that to others....
this thing?
https://vimeo.com/115044249
can I make those sounds with a microbrute or something + elements ?
The Microbrute does have note and gate CV, you you could technically patch it to the elements, and then patch the sound back from the Elements to the Microbrute.

Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:26 am
by resincum
yeah, I'm not sure how any of this shit works. that sounded cool as hell and I WANT IT
Re: A cheap starter modular set up
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:40 am
by rainlet
That is sexy as hell. My modular GAS is at a fever pitch.