Forum Home Forum Home > Other music related lounges > Tech Talk
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - The mighty modular synth
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedThe mighty modular synth

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 10>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 11:15
Hope so !! PM me if you need any advice, happy to help. ;-)

It has been a strange afternoon. ;-)



Back to Top
ALotOfBottle View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 17 2016
Location: Lublin, Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1990
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 10:10
Originally posted by Davesax1965 Davesax1965 wrote:

Hi, AlotofBottle - woo, get it done !!! I've heard so many people say "if only I'd done that"..... do it. Honestly. 

I get so many people saying "I wish I played the sax", at which point, I ask them if they've actually bought one. It's generally regarded as the first step. Guess what ? No one has. ;-)  The good news is that there are a lot of good quality, cheap synths out there on the second hand market. So I wish you all the best (and I wish some money comes your way, too !!! ) 

XAOC modules are fantastic. They're really highly thought of, high quality and innovative. Best regards to your Dad's friend, he's doing a great job. ;-)

Thanks for kind words and encouragement! Smile Yeah, I'll maybe look into some budget synths soon.
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
Back to Top
King Only View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 19 2013
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 554
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 10:03
I've heard a lot of demos of those Dreadbox synths and they always sound wicked. The tone is really nice. I've been trying to find their synths in Japan but they don't seem to be available here (which is odd because their guitar pedals are easy to find).

The best synths/modules I've ever heard are made by Macbeth Studio Systems, so beautiful sounding.

The Studio Electronics Boomstars sound good too and they have lots of good features, very flexible compared to most of the other recent desktop analog synths.


Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 03:35
Hi, AlotofBottle - woo, get it done !!! I've heard so many people say "if only I'd done that"..... do it. Honestly. 

I get so many people saying "I wish I played the sax", at which point, I ask them if they've actually bought one. It's generally regarded as the first step. Guess what ? No one has. ;-)  The good news is that there are a lot of good quality, cheap synths out there on the second hand market. So I wish you all the best (and I wish some money comes your way, too !!! ) 

XAOC modules are fantastic. They're really highly thought of, high quality and innovative. Best regards to your Dad's friend, he's doing a great job. ;-)

Back to Top
ALotOfBottle View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 17 2016
Location: Lublin, Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1990
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:50
^^Woah, that's pretty impressive. I think I have to start gravitating towards synths sometime, considering I've been plyaing keys since I was five, but never invested in any new keyboard instruments besides what I've had. For years now I've been wanting to get into synthesizers and stuff. It might sound childish, I know. The idea is probably childish itself, but it's not like I'm totally new to that sort of thing, as I have been doing the things I'd do on a synth myself on a guitar with tons of effects and such (Manuel Göttsching sort of thing). I have a friend, or it's actually my dad's friend, who builds modular synths under the name XAOC. From what I know, they are pretty dang good and a few bigger names use them. Anyway, maybe sometime when I'm higher on budget, I'll purchase something less expensive and have some fun... Great collection nonetheless! And I really like your sax playing. And the glasses! Smile


Edited by ALotOfBottle - July 01 2016 at 11:56
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:13
And here's a sound test for the Erebus and Hades synths...... Just getting a selection of basic sounds out of the two. 



Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:02
"Support act" synths for the modular...... ;-)

The credit card has taken a bit of a hit recently. 
Out of shot, Waldorf Streichfett string synth, MIDI keyboards in waterfall config, modular synth. 
L-R Twin Doepfer Dark Time sequencers. Moog Minitaur bass synth. 
Dreadbox Erebus, Dreadbox Hades bass synth daisy chained together.
Alesis Quadriverb taking signal from 
Korg MS20M
Preamp (oscilloscope opposite)
Arturia Minibrute synth. 



Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 13 2016 at 09:01
Slight change of subject.... ;-)

One of six saxes, an Elkhart (Buescher) 1926 C Melody tenor.



Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 01 2016 at 10:38
How vulgar. ;-)

PS Any "likes" on our Facebook page will be much appreciated, and you get advanced notice of new releases, including free ones. ;-) https://www.facebook.com/Brotherhood-of-the-Machine-595944157125209/




Edited by Davesax1965 - April 02 2016 at 04:58

Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 01 2016 at 05:42
Coming along !!! I'll be building a second one of these. 
Half done so far.




Edited by Davesax1965 - April 01 2016 at 05:42

Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 30 2016 at 07:25
Well, this is all very impressive. I wonder what it all does ? 

There are about three more synths to be added and another cabinet. At least. It seems to be all getting out of hand. ;-)



Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 30 2016 at 06:37
Coming along. ;-)

Other bits on the way (blanking plates in place at the moment) - needs cutting to depth, panel wiring to do, second synth and case lighting to add, power distribution kit on the back and a custom wood frame made. Which should keep me busy. 



Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2016 at 10:31
More work done on the "auto rhythm rack", including 3D renders to check the dimensions of the forthcoming cabinet....

This is 7/12ths of the contents of the rack. Dual sequencers, strobe tuner.... Moog Minitaur bass synth. To add - another synth, case lighting, patchbay. I then check dimensions and make my own 12U 19" rackmount case out of American white ash (saving £200 by doing so. ;-) )



Back to Top
The.Crimson.King View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4596
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2016 at 10:27
Originally posted by Davesax1965 Davesax1965 wrote:

The cheap approach is to get a kit and out with the soldering iron (incidentally, colour blindness is no bar - just use a multimeter !! )

Good point LOL
Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2016 at 04:56
Excuse my dodgy keyboard playing (I was doing something else at the time ) but !!

This is live. 

Start a sequence going. Audio into PC, add delay.
Add MIDI keyboard, solo over the top. 

It's possible, using automation, for one person to play very complex stuff. I'm going to have four sequenced synths here (including a modular) - there will be four other analogue ones to chose from, plus a dual MIDI keyboard with dozens of VST synths to choose from. 

And that's just me. My brother has a similar amount of kit. ;-)

Shall we add the saxes, guitars, flutes and basses ? I need more arms. 

Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2016 at 04:48
Thanks, folks. ;-)

Yep, Muffwiggler is the place to go to learn about modular stuff. I rarely post there. Once in a blue moon. 

The thing about Eurorack / modular is that it's initially expensive to get into. However, once you're up and running, you can add to at it at your own place - there is no upper limit to complexity. The cheap approach is to get a kit and out with the soldering iron (incidentally, colour blindness is no bar - just use a multimeter !! ) - but modules do appear second hand on Muffwiggler / eBay etc. 

I'm building a 19" rack housing two sequencers and synths at the moment: the next logical step is to have two 9U cabinets on either side of a 9U modular cabinet. Really, you're only limited by your imagination. And woodworking skills. ;-)

I was thinking of doing some one off gigs with a few other musicians, but - to be honest, it's too much hassle. Maybe one day. The setup I've got is basically very similar to a mid 1970's Tangerine Dream setup, and you know what a nightmare it was touring with early synth gear. However, I've not discounted the idea yet. ;-)


Back to Top
Replayer View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 04 2013
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2016 at 18:50
Very impressive! You sure have some good taste in making your synths set-up look and sound mouth-watering.
Back to Top
The.Crimson.King View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4596
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:44
Very cool thread!  Don't build my own hardware (one reason is I'm color blind as a bat and can't tell a brown from a green from a red wire and couldn't read resistor codes if my life depended on it LOL) but have messed about on the software side...like altering a Behringer BCR2000 to send 14 bit Midi NRPN codes from all rotaries to a Prophet 12 module.  Wanted to add that the most comprehensive forum I know of for modular diy, prebuilt, whatever and the how's and why's and fantastic resources from people who have been at this forever is at:


Smile


Edited by The.Crimson.King - March 27 2016 at 10:46
Back to Top
Disparate Times View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 12 2015
Location: Rust belt
Status: Offline
Points: 261
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2016 at 08:10
Eventually I will build a rack, I fear that it will be a never ending process always growing. Euro rack being more affordable only makes me want to buy more. I debated my next instrument purchase, a DSI board or one of those really expensive Modal synths, both the 008 and 002 look and sound fantastic. But when Modal introduced that they would take the oscillators and filters from each and turn them into modules that's when I decided(discovered) that I was hooked. First things first a house and another baby, then it begins.
Songs are like tightly budgeted meals
Nobodies doing anything new or even real
Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2016 at 03:45

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 10>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.208 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.