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I've been euro-curious for a long time now, and after getting a Microbrute I think it might be time to start thinking about adding a small system. My first order of business would be to add another oscillator and just use the filter and vca from the 'brute until I can afford/understand an entire system.

Any advice? Is this a horrible idea? Is it worth doing? If you were in my shoes what would you do?

It's a good idea, go for it!

After adding an oscillator, you should try adding a unique modulation source. MicroBrute is a great sound source, and you can get to interesting "eurorack" territory quickly by controlling it with stuff that simply isn't found in hardware synths.

Make Noise Wogglebug, perhaps? Doepfer A-143-9 Quadrature LFO/VCO, Ladik C-211 DADSR, and Make Noise Function are also good, smaller options.

Alternate filters is a fun path to go down too, it's basically the eurorack equivalent of overdrives, but without interesting modulation it's just slightly different palates.

How long have you had the Microbrute? Do you have other experience with synthesizers?

I have some experience with synths, mainly software/vst (Thor for iPad, Microkorg, Volca and Synth1 on PC) based. I got it a few days ago, but I've had one before. I have a pretty good idea of how basic synth structure works, but I'm admittedly pretty infantile in terms of complex modulation and cv.

Bartimaeus wrote:It's a good idea, go for it!

After adding an oscillator, you should try adding a unique modulation source. MicroBrute is a great sound source, and you can get to interesting "eurorack" territory quickly by controlling it with stuff that simply isn't found in hardware synths.

Make Noise Wogglebug, perhaps? Doepfer A-143-9 Quadrature LFO/VCO, Ladik C-211 DADSR, and Make Noise Function are also good, smaller options.

Alternate filters is a fun path to go down too, it's basically the eurorack equivalent of overdrives, but without interesting modulation it's just slightly different palates.

Alternatively, invest a bit more and go with an 0-coast.
You get all of that.
No case / power supply required.

I'm in a similar spot Thurber.
I've decided to just go bananas and invest in a little modular set-up, but I was going to start with the 0-coast.

At one point I had 3 microbrutes soldem on reverb sadly but since I wasn't gonna get into the euro I kept getting passive attenuators and passive ringmods and made a little rack outa old tape recorder for them..u definitely start to enjoy wires and patching if you got the brute. Gateway synth.

askashrub wrote: Alternatively, invest a bit more and go with an 0-coast.
You get all of that.
No case / power supply required.

I'm in a similar spot Thurber.
I've decided to just go bananas and invest in a little modular set-up, but I was going to start with the 0-coast.

I hadn't thought about 0-Coast as a companion to the MicroBrute, but that's a great idea! Function built in, plus you can use the oscillator as an LFO if you want more modulation. And you'll get an introduction to some aspects of west-coast synthesis.

Bartimaeus wrote:Plus you can use the oscillator as an LFO if you want more modulation.

Awesome. I hadn't thought of that.

To give a more direct answer to your question:
It's a great idea.

Another unorthodox place to start might be with the Mutable Instruements Warps.
It will give you that second oscillator (though digital), as well as some very interesting modulation.

This (and the 0-coast I mentioned earlier) should make things really interesting immediately.

I will be buying both.

One thing though is that, in my opinion, a modular really becomes interesting when you don't think about it as a normal synth (with a normal synth architecture, poly or monophonic substractive usually). Focusing too much on the brute as a starting point will very much narrow down your options in terms of both sounds and composition.

Still, not a bad idea but be aware of the limitations you might unintentionally impose on your usage...

I'll keep that in mind!

I forgot the 0-coast was only $500! It suddenly has become a very enticing option!

And shrubby, I don't give even one portion of a single fuck if my oscillators are analog or not. I've been a big fan of digital synthesis for ever, so I'm as far from an analog junky as one can get (ironically, most of the synths I've owned were analog :???: )

I'll definitely be checking out that module!

For a lot of my big purchases I use Zzounds or AMS's payment plans, and I noticed that they carry the Pittsburgh SV-1 synth. Would that be worth getting over/in addition to the 0-coast? So far my plan is to get one or the other and start adding modules from there. Is it worth getting both? I need my bank account to reach a certain point before I can make a lump purchase, but I could start making payments on something a lot sooner.

Also I'm not going to get a credit card because casual beers lead to casual instruments/pedals/debt.

As a general rule of thumb, you should spend at least 3 months salary when getting into modular.

ThurberMingus wrote:I noticed that they carry the Pittsburgh SV-1 synth. Would that be worth getting over/in addition to the 0-coast? So far my plan is to get one or the other and start adding modules from there. Is it worth getting both?

(I'm very opinionated for someone who does not own this shit, but I'm in the process of making the same decisions).

There would be nothing redundant about owning both, but in my opinion it kind of takes away from the mix-n-match joy that is the reason I'm getting into modular.

To me they are different flavours of the same thing:
Everything you need to get started. Same with the Mother 32.

The SV-1 is a more traditional and complete package.
The 0-coast is more experimental.

I'm gonna copy you Knobs, my old boy!

0-Coast in a month or so, then I'll be picking up a Tiptop HEK and a few modules. Probably the Warps, Maths, some filter and idk what else yet. I'm sure the 0-coast will help me figure out what modules would help me get where I need to be. I'm getting really excited! I've been figuring out new things to do with my Microbrute and it's been really rewarding.

When I start getting closer to being able to afford some of this stuff I'll make a more concrete plan. I can't wait!

askashrub wrote:To give a more direct answer to your question:
It's a great idea.

Another unorthodox place to start might be with the Mutable Instruements Warps.
It will give you that second oscillator (though digital), as well as some very interesting modulation.

This (and the 0-coast I mentioned earlier) should make things really interesting immediately.

I will be buying both.

If you get the MI Warps install the Parasites firmware for it. I've heard it's the only Parasites firmware that is actually mandatory.

Haven't tried it yet, but hoping to finish building a Warps sometime this month.