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dirtyV
Joined: May 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Tujunga CA
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject:
NEW G2X |
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I am new at this forum, I just bought a G2X from guitar centers.... It was a choice between this or a Waldorf Q KB. I hope I made the right choice. I am new at this whole modular synthesis stuff...... what would be the best way to approach it, read the manual? or read discussions in the forums?
Thank You
MikeV |
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sebber

Joined: Aug 27, 2004 Posts: 502 Location: Berlin
Audio files: 3
G2 patch files: 33
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blue hell
Site Admin

Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 24422 Location: The Netherlands, Enschede
Audio files: 297
G2 patch files: 320
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:58 pm Post subject:
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MikeV,
In the other thread, the one that I'm just about to delete (as it's a duplicate) I wrote:
the manual is a must read, and I think it's pretty good. the online help has some usefull stuf as well. As to general modular syntheses info, I 'm sure others know more about that.
But erm Indeed, listen to seber  _________________ Jan
also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
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dirtyV
Joined: May 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Tujunga CA
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 8:44 pm Post subject:
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thank you for the replies  |
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Kassen
Janitor


Joined: Jul 06, 2004 Posts: 7678 Location: The Hague, NL
G2 patch files: 3
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 1:44 pm Post subject:
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Blue Hell wrote: | As to general modular syntheses info, I 'm sure others know more about that.
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I don't think any real (good) books on it exist. I always point people at Rob's pages and the NM1 stuff on the clavia site. The "advanced techniques" online book aimed at the NM also has some good stuff but I seem to have lost that link.
I would recomend starting with the manual too, as well as simply trying out a lot of random stuff and not caring all that much about being musically "productive" fora while. I think you learn the most from that.
Once you get the hang of the basics there are lots of options open, I think many people get a lot out of those Sound On Sound "synth secrets" articles, for example. _________________ Kassen |
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cebec

Joined: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 1098 Location: Virginia
Audio files: 3
G2 patch files: 31
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 7:45 am Post subject:
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we should have a FAQ for this topic...
I recommend two books in addition to what's already been recommended -- Allen Strange's 'Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls'
and Joel Naumann and James Wagoner's 'Analog Electronic Music Techniques: In Tape, Electronic, and Voltage-Controlled Synthesizer Studios'
Try to find these on some site like abebooks. they're no longer in print but you can find them used, sometimes, for decent prices. other times they go for collector prices. i have read both and they're unbeatable for learning modular techniques, particularly.
And I second what Kassen said... don't worry about being musically productive, for now. just start simply, act on your whims, and have fun. and don't be afraid to ask questions. some of the best modular synth programmers are members, here, and they are more than willing to help out.
Here's a page for the Naumann/Wagoner book:
click here
And here're some results for the Strange book - ignore the exorbitant prices, bookmark this page and keep checking it... I got mine for like $30 or something close to that.
click here
[editor's note: made the urls shorter so they wouldn't stretch the page... --mosc] |
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blue hell
Site Admin

Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 24422 Location: The Netherlands, Enschede
Audio files: 297
G2 patch files: 320
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject:
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cebec wrote: | we should have a FAQ for this topic... |
Was about to add something to th NM FAQ, but it might be more approriate in http://electro-music.com/forum/forum-115.html . _________________ Jan
also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
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cebec

Joined: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 1098 Location: Virginia
Audio files: 3
G2 patch files: 31
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject:
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ah, that's a good idea |
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Kassen
Janitor


Joined: Jul 06, 2004 Posts: 7678 Location: The Hague, NL
G2 patch files: 3
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject:
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Hmmmm.
It's certainly a frequently asked question but is there realy a single answer? the cool bit about modulars is that you can do so much stuff with them but for those different things you will need different modules in different ways.
You start with the manual and some random patches but from there on it all becomes very dependant on what you want. I personally always encourage people to read at least one good introductory text on formal logic because once you get those gates down a lot of things become quite easy but if you just want realy nice strings at low cpu costs you might not care about that.
Perhaps we should have a few answers. Multiple choice answers might be a nice contrast to the traditionof multiple choice questions... _________________ Kassen |
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cappy2112

Joined: Dec 24, 2004 Posts: 2494 Location: San Jose, California
Audio files: 2
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject:
Re: NEW G2X |
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dirtyV wrote: | I am new at this forum, I just bought a G2X from guitar centers.... It was a choice between this or a Waldorf Q KB. I hope I made the right choice. I am new at this whole modular synthesis stuff...... what would be the best way to approach it, read the manual? or read discussions in the forums?
Thank You
MikeV |
Welcome. Tujunga, ehh ? The SF Valley is my old stomping ground. |
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dasz

Joined: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 1644 Location: victoria, canada
Audio files: 29
G2 patch files: 56
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:
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Quote: | once you get those gates down a lot of things become quite easy |
Kassen hit it on the head. Once you pop some gates (or envelopes) and you get them to trigger you're good to go.
I attached a default "start" patch that I used many years ago on the Nord Modular 1 when I was starting out (I still use one, but it's different).
Also, the "KB" switch on many modules is quite important (and set on by default) so you do not have to worry about patching pitch or gates.
Re-reading the manual is a very good thing (as you always find/discover new things about the modules), the Sound On Sound techniques are great.
The thing that will make the difference is time, patience (and not worrying about how lousy or basic you think your first patches are), and dedication ( each time you sit in front of you G2 and the editor, try something different and keep saving multiple copies of the patch so you can always go back to something that worked).
In my case, I created the basic synth OSC->Filter->Amp->Out, and then started to add things to it (like more envelopes, LFO's, FX) until it got out of control, then went back to a stable version of the patch and tried other things out. Keeping it simple ( with not too many cables everywhere, will enable you to learn to read the patch)
There are a lot of modules (150+), so don't try to learn all of them at once (for example -- stick to typical Virtual Analog synths so: OSC's, Filters, Envelopes, In/Out, LFO, FX, Delay). Then once you've got a good feel for the basic ones move on ...
Just browsing patches here on electro-music is good, but if you have not patched much yourself you might have problems following what the patch is doing, and how it does it. You may pick a nice patch because it sounds nice, but if it is complicated, you may not learn too much from it.
Instead, when I was learning the modular, I read what people were trying (their ideas and suggestions neat uses for module "X"), but I did not grab their patches, but tried to do these things out for myself. Thus I stayed away from being confused by complex patches (& the fact each person's patching style is different) and stuck to figuring out this stuff myself -- at my own pace. But ask questions here, we all appreciate questions from people who are trying to figure things out, that is what the Modular is all about!
For me what really helped is keeping notes about each module and things that worked and things that did not work when I tried it. Now I have a bag of tricks.
At some point, you'll get happy with your sounds and can start putting in other things like sequencers or drum machines or whatever you want to build ...Finally, knowing what you want to build before you start patching is also a good way to stay on track.
Just a few ideas.
/Dasz
ps.: I think the reason why Clavia made a demo (standalone) version of the G2, is so people can start to figure out how to build patches and to see if this is something they enjoy -- and if they do, then they can buy the synth. I think it is "bold" marketing.
Description: |
A basic start patch. Save to InitPatch1 or 2. So you can start new patches quickly (using Init1 button on the toolbar) |
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Start.pch2 |
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1.03 KB |
Downloaded: |
1516 Time(s) |
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monobass

Joined: Nov 30, 2004 Posts: 275 Location: UK
G2 patch files: 12
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 10:39 am Post subject:
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I'd just read the manual and ignore everyone else for about a week if I was you, just start patching without any fixed ideas and see what happens. _________________ Steve |
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SecretAsianMan

Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 40 Location: Texas
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:06 am Post subject:
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Was the Waldorf Q at the same Guitar Center? If so, which Guitar Center was it? |
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dirtyV
Joined: May 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Tujunga CA
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:
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The Q was at the guitar centers in Hollywood. When I went to go pick up my G2X the waldorf wasn't on display anymore. |
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dirtyV
Joined: May 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Tujunga CA
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject:
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This modular sythesis is like electrical engineering.... That is why i am so pumped about owning a Nord G and not a waldorf Q.... I really haven't messed with the keyboard too much but I've been reading the manual very carefully. |
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SecretAsianMan

Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 40 Location: Texas
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject:
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Yeah, I've been playing with the G2 demo and can see the technical side of it quite clearly. It does please my inner geek. I'm thinking about the G2X, but I'm also think about others (Q, XT, Virus, K5000S, V-Synth, Fizmo, MD/MnM). Have money but can't make up my mind. Standard noob drama.
Don't want to jack the thread though. Move along, nothing to see here. Congrats on your new G2X! |
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Tranceparent

Joined: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Greece
G2 patch files: 3
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 5:19 am Post subject:
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I had the same problems the previous summer. In order to get rid of them, I bought the G2 and I'm now a proud owner. I never regret buying it. Now I have a full polyphonic Modular Synth, an effect workstation, a vocoding synthesizer, a mixer, an FM7 synthesizer, a logic signal controller, a physical modelling synthesizer and many more just in a box. The G2. Just like that. When I bought it I didn't know even how to synthesize, nor how to play with a keyboard! I love my G2!  _________________ Clavia Nord Modular G2X rules!
Moduled Modulated Modulation Modular Module... |
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dasz

Joined: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 1644 Location: victoria, canada
Audio files: 29
G2 patch files: 56
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject:
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ModularG2X wrote: | I love my G2! |
Yes, they are hard not to love.
/Dasz |
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3phase

Joined: Jul 27, 2004 Posts: 1189 Location: Berlin
Audio files: 13
G2 patch files: 141
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:
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Kassen wrote: | I don't think any real (good) books on it exist. I always point people at Rob's pages and the NM1 stuff on the clavia site. The "advanced techniques" online book aimed at the NM also has some good stuff but I seem to have lost that link.
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The Jim Clarke internet book is very good... IMO...
and as a very beginners guide for people that dont know what an ADSR is i can recomend the old sequential circuits pro one manuals... especially the service part is very ground zero... tells you what is supposed to happen for differnt knob settings as a trouble shooting routine... Written in a way that allows a farmer on 2 bottles jack daniels to do the trouble shooting  |
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