I'm not quite sure how to get into modular units

mekon · Post by **mekon** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:37 am

Modulars - hmm
How do I say this
AAAAArghh!!
They are too wonderful
1) It is more addictive than crack cocaine
2) You will have just enough time left in your life to make a few cups of coffee each day
3) Your bank balance will dissappear, because hey, who needs food when you can have that second oscillator
4) EVERYONE - starts with the statment - "I only need a few modules"

I started off with a Doepfer system, but found the minijacks and small format a real PITA
Moved on to the larger format MOTM - its superb but I am a bit of a weirdo and it just doesnt do the really weird non-musical alien shit.
So as I stand at the moment, I have a rapidly growing Modcan/cynthia system - which does both normal stuff and alien shit.
However I am already thinking that I NEED a serge sts system
Yes I know I am in big trouble

However I digress
If you are in the US and want to make fat n funky synth sound and get some voltage control (ie lots) then the synthsizers.com system seems like a no brainer - far more twiddling room than the doepfer, and cheap as chips.
I know, I know, but in modular land the .com IS cheap.
If you have any questions regarding modulars etc feel free to email me @
steve.f.martin (at) googlemail.com
Cheers
Me

pixelmechanic · Post by **pixelmechanic** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:56 am

EVERYONE - starts with the statment - "I only need a few modules"

Yep, I bought a few modules from eBay to pad out my Pulse Plus and Frostwave Resonator... 6 months later it had grown to this...

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:01 pm

subbasshead wrote:put a sine thru an LPF

That's my new sig...

Lo-Fi Massahkah · Post by **Lo-Fi Massahkah** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:14 pm

I know Machinate is doing a Doepfer - starting small and adding to it. Maybe he'll chip in and tell us about his rack. Or just PM him

http://www.vimeo.com/1523557

He claims it's a safe way to be "perma-broke". Yet I'd like to stroll down that path as well.

My experiences from the Nord Modular and G2 really makes me itch for the real thing.

.m

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:52 pm

hands down, that's just the coolest looking thing (the perfect mix of retro tech fetishism), seems almost worth it for drool factor alone. but i'm sticking with my mopho.

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:58 pm

I think I decided to go with the doepfer diy kit, but I might go with their $390 empty rack with power as I'm not sure how good at building a rack I'm gonna be.

I'm hoping to spend 1200-1500 total on this project over the next year. machinate and I had a conversation and he filled me in on a lot of info so I'm pretty clear on what my mission is at this point.

first step
buy a rack or build one

second step, buy a bunch of modules

third step, ask my wife if I can buy some more modules

fourth step, explain to my wife why my bank account is empty

fifth step, make bleeps and bloops for hours on end that has no musical merit whatsoever.

six_o_clock_crow · Post by **six_o_clock_crow** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:05 pm

I've just got a promotion at work and will be earning a bit of extra cash.

I was all set to save for a Lemur but this thread has reignited my thirst for a modular!

I am definately edging towards the latter right now...

dj_huck · Post by **dj_huck** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:28 pm

large format= 1/4" jacks
small format= 1/8" jacks(or 3.5mm?which are different)
a friend had a doepfer for awhile(like 40 modules) it was cool. and a ton of fun.

i prefer the large format. but i am not really sure why. and i do not have space anyway.

if you get a doepfer i am sure you will love it, if not send it to me and i will love it

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:30 pm

I'm still a little bit torn between building a modular and buying an elektron machinedrum. I know I'd love either to death, and I can't do both as this is probably going to be my last major purchase in the years to come. going to be buying a house soon and the wife wants a baby so I have one chance left to blow my cash on something big..

hm..

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:34 pm

holy shit... yeah, buy now.

IMO
you have a great level musical output, stay the course with making tunes and not mucking around with new gear. modular would be interesting but lower your musical output, a machinedrum will keep you churning out music which is the best way to get really good at it.

not a bad problem to have, cool new toy for you soon either way.

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:41 pm

don't forget the MM -- i would have a hard time choosing between the 2, actually get great drum sounds out of the MM (not just the sampled ones), though it takes some work. though, at end of day, i'd have to go with MD for the UW.

leonard · Post by **leonard** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:54 pm

you could incorporate a drum module into your modular.
have the best of both worlds.
midi/cv converter if required...

funky shit · Post by **funky shit** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:08 am

My god.. i was saving for a little phatty or voyager..
but look at this shit

dj_huck · Post by **dj_huck** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:17 am

if you ave just one last chance to blow a bunch of cash at once a md may be the way to go then you can build a modular one piece at a time.my 2 cents. i am kinda in the same boat as you the wife's biological clock is in high speed so i have few things that i can get before then....

funky shit · Post by **funky shit** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:40 am

Im glad i just turned 18 and have a girlfriend with no intentions to have children.