Your 1st Modular attempts ?

ramechling

So, the all-watchful and ever-compassionate Mr. Mosc has gently twisted my arm to ask this sophomoric question....
now if I could only find the words ?
So many of you have recently posted a literal GOLDMINE of information on this site.... your personal successes and failures with synth modules you have praised and cursed, usually at great personal expense and TIME !
Here I'm thinking of (in no order) posts by Stein G., Dan L., Per W., Kas, EdisonRex, mono-poly.... a long list...
Only Mr. Mosc knows how many individuals view this Forum and all of us benefit.... a million thanks !
QUESTION: So, for those of you who have a desire to begin assembling a .... hmmm..."modest"... "portable".... "finite"(?)... modular synthe....
Is it just me, or do the English descriptions of endless features of modules lead to the "deer-caught-in-headlight" stare at some point ?
The audio samples are often as bewildering as the written descriptions and I can't help wonder, how does a beginner even begin to learn about such things ? Books ?...the most highly praised seems to be the out-of-print 1983 Electronic Music by allen Strange ($78 USD)
College courses ? Trial and error ?
My recent purchase of DSI's PolyEvo Keyboard is a thrill I never imagined to experience. But, I'm thinking that the recent flood of 2 or 3 function modules would allow me to fill a portable case such as the A-100p Doepfer case (or something similar) so that soundscapes could be created w/o keyboard and I'd be forced to stop when the case is full ! ??
The Minimoog I bought and learned on for a few years in the '70s did not come with an in-depth analogue synth tutorial... just a few recommended patches as I remember.... so, is it the same way now ?..sink or swim ?
Well, Mr. Mosc, that should be enough to start the avalanche.... thanks again for your encouragement to all beginners who read your Forum.
SHANTI
ramechling2005(at)gmail(dot)com

ndkent · Joined: Jan 03, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: new york

Well since you are talking about a small/portable/finite system you do really want to focus on some directions and goals for what you want to achieve. There are many situations when a modular system is the way to meet your goals but there are also a lot of situations when a modular system might be working against you. In other words making things harder and more expensive to do.

You have to consider the context you want to use it in. This is especially important because while they might be incredibly attractive as something you want to use, small modular systems are usually pretty expensive for what they do, they aren't all that compact or lightweight, and while they have plenty of knobs, memory and numbers of voices might be a big benefit in a live performance situation.

There are definitely some good resources out there for learning how to patch a modular and program analog synthesis in general. Assembling a system is a bit tricky because other than hanging our on forums and boards and mailing lists, what's available for sale at any given time can quickly be improved upon or discontinued. I guess that's like music technology in general, but there often isn't a sort of newest model progression or the numbers of any modules on the market letting you just pick one up anytime used or something.

You really need to determine what you'd like your system to do. Don't forget to examine the alternatives to a proper modular. You'd be fooling yourself thinking modulars do all things well, though on the other hand they can do many special things. Definitely consider the possibility of a semi-modular system, meaning a synth that's not actually modules but does have many patch points. Its not a great option if you have very specific needs, but it's a really good option for most of your other requrements. Putting together a system then doesn't become an issue right away because it's already designed. Then you can augment it with traditional modules in a separate case later on once you've found a direction you wat to go in and you can see what you can do with patching that hopefully goes beyond fixed architecture synths.

ramechling · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:25 am Post subject: Discipline... don't lose focus !

Thanks. Rather than specifics, your advice reminds me not to lose my focus and always exert some self-discipline !
I had almost given up on the dream(?) until I read an interview with Steve Roach where he spoke of creating ever-evolving soundscapes without use of an attached keyboard:
http://emusician.com/em_spotlight/steve_roach/
That provoked so many ideas... the thought has stayed with me for weeks.

I do not have any recording equipment and am thinking mainly of realtime or live usage. I forgot to mention my secret weapon, the Eventide Eclipse... married to the PEK it is breathtaking indeed.
Again, thanks for your suggestions !

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:45 am Post subject:

I think of building a modular or owning one as one of the expressions of freedom to create experimental music. I built my first modular because I wanted to understand how they worked, not simply to make music with one.
The second modular I built, now 30 years ago, was also an educational experience, being financed by my high school and a collaboration between the music and math departments. Having been through both the start of commercial electronics and the mainstreaming/commoditization of electronica I find the ability to tinker with circuits and make sound sculpture/experimental sound/timbre creation a liberation.

The modules I am putting together now are to augment my existing studio which has all sorts of stuff (a PEK being one of them). Phase I will mostly be modifiers (control voltage randomizing, sound shaping). I'm more interested in using interesting circuits I wouldn't get in my "normal" (ha!) instruments. Phase II will add voices to augment my existing VCOs. I intend to set it up to allow cross patching between as much of the kit as I can.

I think a lot of people like the control you have with a modular setup. Beats heck out of the 1980s LCD display. The best part is being able to quickly try something, I always found it easier to patch than to muck about with parameters on a digital board.

Ah well. ndkent summed up the need to know what you want first. And remember you aren't married to a keyboard. mono-poly for example doesn't use keyboards at all. You can easily find other ways to control with voltage control.

Mohoyoho · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

Ramechling,
The PEK is a pretty powerful synth, and has features that many modular owners would envy. Before building the modular, I would master the PEK to see what it is that it lacks to fulfill your sonic goals. As far as keyboardless manipulations, one does not need a modular for that. As previously stated, most semimodular systems can handle that task. My Voyager has plenty of ins and outs to bypass the keyboard for neat sounds that could be manipulated by knobs, XY pads, etc. via its CV ins. Even the Phatty has some of those capabilites. I'm not that familiar with the PEK, but perhaps it does too. If you have access to the gate and pitch, then you are on your way.

Even if the PEK doesn't have CV in (I don't know) one could easily manipulate the oscillators and every function via a keyboardless midi controller.

As far as learning basic subtractive synthesis, there are books like the Moog Cookbook, but I found one of the best tutorials for me was Arturia's Moog Modular V. It was through learning that software that steered me to eventually purchasing a Voyager. The Arturia software will teach you all the basics and more. Plus, it has a great users manual/book that takes you through subtractive synthesis. I would say one could easily apply what you would learn from that software to the PEK and most synths. I can't empasize enough how much that software teaches synthesis.

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah I forgot to mention.

Probably one of the best electronic music theory tutorials is the ARP 2600 User's Manual. You can still buy these online from the author, Jim Michmerhuizen.

mosc · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject:

IMHO, the best thing to do when you are considering buying or building a modular system is to download the free G2 demo program from the Clavia web site. That allows you to try out many things without investing any cost.

You can build and patch you own modulars to your hearts delight and see what works for you and what doesn't. You can learn quite a lot. The demo is restricted to mono, but that's the same as a real modular, for the most part. Unlike a real G2, the demo doesn't have audio input modules and the midi functions are pretty limited too, but it is still a superb learning tool. I think it is in many ways better than the Arturia Moog V and being free it is much cheaper.

Now, aside from learning, I think the G2 and G2X are the best modulars you can get. Still, what real modulars offer, aside from the subtle sound qualities, is a visual and tactile experience when you play them. The G2 is more powerful, but it can't compare to the touch of a real modular system.

I have a Moog IIC Modular system which is really cool, but my G2 is like having at least 30 of them with patches that can be instantly recalled and polyphonic to boot.

ndkent · Joined: Jan 03, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: new york

I agree that the Nord G2 Demo software is a fantastic and free virtual way of having the experience of patching a modular system.

One thing that you probably will discover is most of the patches that have an evolving self playing nature that you can modify on the fly also unfortunately use quite a number of modules. The increase in complexity comes from an increase in modules and patch complexity. The good thing with the software is so long as you have CPU power left you can keep adding and patching virtual modules. Quite a difference from figureing out how to pay for new modules and waiting for them and then needing new cases and power supplies, etc. Wink

I believe most smaller modular systems tend to either have capabilities similar to a monosynth (but generally cost more and are often less portable) or they can be processing systems more focused on processing the output of other sound sources. That brings up one big ergonomic difference. Being virtual, the demo Nord G2 won't process external signals and the hardware G2 has audio imputs, so that's a big plus, but still doesn't have a real modular's ability to extract or insert signals throughout the patch. In my mind that's the key value of a small modular system. You can insert effects mid patch, you can process external audio (though virtual instruments often can) and you can sometimes create feedback structures that defy "virtual" simulation

I guess the Nord Demo software is free so I can't complain and then the hardware Nord G2 can simulate a very very large modular system and do things like store patch states, so that's what I'd consider the value of the hardware Nord G2.

But back to real analog modular gear. There is an experience that comes with physical patch cables, a real knob per parameter and generally zero menus, scrolling etc.

mosc · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

ian-s · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject:

ndkent · Joined: Jan 03, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: new york

etherline · Joined: Apr 27, 2007 Posts: 42 Location: UK

EdisonRex · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:54 am Post subject:

Mohoyoho · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:50 am Post subject:

I don't know if this is the full manual, but here's a link to some of Jim's writing on synthesis:
http://www.wayoutware.com/manuals.html

doctorvague

ndkent · Joined: Jan 03, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: new york

I think I can follow your line of thought that with the configurable architecture that a modular provides you can definitely create more complex and self playing sounds than a typical fixed architecture synth, let alone all but the most complex polysynths because of the practical reason that whatever synth components are in there need to be multiplied for polyphonic voices.

A modular definitely can create complex sounds, but sometimes the price comes with a greater number of modules. You can create one voice that's deliriously complex with enough modules or maybe several parallel patches. But many modules need to come into play.

Well to me at least, the term "soundscape" tends to involve layering. Now a long delay is definitely one way to create multiple layers live from individual layers and of course if multitracking is an option then you can have numerous layers. So it's not impossible at all, but it is challenging if the resources are limited.

But you do have to consider even with modules having more than one function, they are either going to offer a choice of *one* of several functions or offer several more basic rather than full featured functions. I'd think it may be challenging to create the level of complexity one might desire if one greatly limits ones resources.

ndkent · Joined: Jan 03, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: new york

ramechling · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:32 am Post subject: Doepfer PDF files

Hey, the PDF files for the Doepfer modules are astonishing....just what I needed.
Mr. Duncan offers PDF files of both his A and B series Owners Manuals !
I guess I had forgotten about them or wasn't ready at the time.
I need to buy a ream of paper and start printing.
I seem to remember considering an ARP 2600 when I bought the Minimoog but the 2600 was quite a bit more money.
Now that I think about it, the difference in price would have been worth it just for the Owners Manual !
Meanwhile, Shawn and Chuck O. are always ready to answer detailed questions about any equipment they stock in Pomona.
They were very helpful in guiding me when I made the Looperlative and later the PEK purchase. Thanks again !
-RM

synthetic · Joined: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 76 Location: Glendale, CA

The E-mu Modular Manual is also a very good resource:

http://www.synthman.com/cgibin/z.cgi/emu/support/E-MU_Modular_Operation_Manual.zip

I believe this was designed for free download (30 years after the fact).

ramechling · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: Smallest modular in S. Carolina

Thanks, I'll look through this. Meanwhile, it looks like I've made the plunge into the banana-jack modular world with a Med. Power Sply. and Twin Wasp Filter having arrived and VC Tabla, etc. to arrive...uh...soon ?
It seems odd that the Plan B and Wiard sites have some info as to the modules' functions, but so far I only have single sheets to show how to plug into the power distribution card so as not to burn down the house Smile

Oh, this should be... fun ?

EdisonRex

Peake · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

If you're looking for a "finite" modular, get a 6 module Wiard and never look back. 6 Wiard modules will provide for years of discovery and enjoyment. It's one of the rare modulars that are designed as a holistic system, and not a continuous sprawl of unrelated timbre and function.

http://www.wiard.com

ramechling · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: It's a Wiard world

Thanks, Peake...I've been receiving daily posts from the Wiard Forum for many months and Grant is always very kind to respond in-depth to all questions !
He has done a masterful job on his homepage in creating downloads of module functions and even recommended patches... who else does that ??
What a thrill to read Gary Chang's comments about the SCREAM Festival last month in L.A. Actually, all who played at that event have posted their impressions as well as photos.

morbius

mosc

Good post, Morbious. Many well taken points.