Can we talk about modular synths?

[Antlerface]

Bruh, Maths is the answer.

[D.o.S.]

IO Himalia is looking pretty tiiiite:
https://io-instruments.de/

But I have no room for it. And I'm moving -_-

[eatyourguitar]

Looks like I scored a mini slew which is almost exactly MN function which slightly less than half a maths if you do the maths.

[coldbrightsunlight]

IO Himalia is looking pretty tiiiite:
https://io-instruments.de/

But I have no room for it. And I'm moving -_-

Immaterial

[Dandolin]

Anyone having any enduring interest in the 4MS Ensemble Osc? I'm in love with it conceptually, but I can't say I really like its noises, which is at least partly the point, so...

[coldbrightsunlight]

I have an enduring interest in possibly buying it. Haven't decided yet though

[GAS KING]

Bruh, Maths is the answer.

Yeah, I'm thinking Maths or Rampage.
Miasma looks better but I don't know how to get one. http://www.sinphi.com/synths/miasma/miasma.html

Maths seems expensive for what they are; compared to other modules out there now.

I'm not sure of the benefit of AD vs a complex envelope where I can modify all aspects of the envelope.

WMD MME or MI Stages seem like a more customizable/shapable envelope but lose the extra functionality that a Maths has.

I don't know how much I need either yet..............and I'm talking about two different things...env generator and function generator. Admittedly don't fully understand the differences.

[eatyourguitar]

If you price it %30 off of new I will take it right now. I will pay the PayPal fees and shipping. That way if I don't like it, I don't lose money when I sell it.

[eatyourguitar]

If you don't really understand it then you probably want the maths. There are way more tutorials for that compared to the befaco. They are pretty damn close in functionality. If you really want to dig into the history and lore...maths started as a clone of a buchla 281. I think the befaco is based on the Serge DUSG. Tony added features to the 281. Like 3 modules in one module with everything already connected. That is the nature of the maths. There is a 4 transistor slew core at the center of the circuit regardless if you look at an old Serge DUSG or an old buchla 281. They share DNA.
AD, ASR, AR envelope generators are almost exactly the same thing but that is more of a limited subset of maths. ADSR is something completely different. However, because maths has 3 modules in one module, you can program it like an analog computer to simulate exactly an ADSR envelope generator. But you are stuck at that point since you used all 4 channels, there is nothing left to use for typical maths functions that are not ADSR. It becomes an overly complicated ADSR if all you need is a 2HP ADSR. Maths does not have a VCA but a mini slew does. A lot of ADSR + VCA combos exist now that really really makes a lot of sense.

[behndy]

murrrrrrr i think my Heat 2 gets here today. WOOT.

mixer (they made an upgraded version of the Presonus i liked a lot that uses USB C, grabbed the AR16c), Thyme, Minilogue XD Module, should be here tomorrow, Digitone Keys Monday, then the Typhon whenever they ship. i am DONE buying shizz for a hinute.

[GAS KING]

If you don't really understand it then you probably want the maths. There are way more tutorials for that compared to the befaco. They are pretty damn close in functionality. If you really want to dig into the history and lore...maths started as a clone of a buchla 281. I think the befaco is based on the Serge DUSG. Tony added features to the 281. Like 3 modules in one module with everything already connected. That is the nature of the maths. There is a 4 transistor slew core at the center of the circuit regardless if you look at an old Serge DUSG or an old buchla 281. They share DNA.
AD, ASR, AR envelope generators are almost exactly the same thing but that is more of a limited subset of maths. ADSR is something completely different. However, because maths has 3 modules in one module, you can program it like an analog computer to simulate exactly an ADSR envelope generator. But you are stuck at that point since you used all 4 channels, there is nothing left to use for typical maths functions that are not ADSR. It becomes an overly complicated ADSR if all you need is a 2HP ADSR. Maths does not have a VCA but a mini slew does. A lot of ADSR + VCA combos exist now that really really makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for the info.
I will research mini slew and ADSR+VCA combos too. An opportunity to explore something I don't know much about.


I didn't explain myself well.
What I meant was; that I don't quite understand what I need or want in an envelope or function.
I doubt I have the same understanding as you though. lol I'm a n00b.

I currently do not have a case. coming early next month.
Have DPO, MI Peaks and a bunch of utilities (vcf, vca, vco, clock, mult, turing, mixer, out)

Will be spending a lot of time learning those but seems like an envelope is a required module.

I don't use much keyboard input. sequencers or self modulating/generating is my goal.

[eatyourguitar]

welcome! don't be discouraged. you can make noise with anything. even if you have no experience, you can patch things randomly to see what comes out. even if you make a mistake patching outputs to outputs, the modular will not be damaged at all. it is designed to accept mistakes. except the power cables, check to make sure -12v red stripe on the cable matches the -12v on the module and the bus board. if you buy cwejman there are special rules you need to learn before installing power.

do you need an ADSR? no you don't. in fact. you only need that ADSR if you want to make music with your modular. but then you would need a quantizer as well. the disting has a built in quantizer. uscale or barton quantizer is probably way cheaper than disting which is the swiss army knife kinda like maths is a swiss army knife. you have peaks which has two channels of ADSR or LFO. I don't know if peaks has a quantizer cause I tend to avoid mutable. that doesn't mean it doesn't work for someone else though. I think your module selection is %100 fine as is. Maths has a lot of overlap to peaks. you could sell the peaks for batumi and maths if you have the fever for more cowbell. or keep everything and maybe add disting. you will figure out what you want after you play with it.

[behndy]

listen to the man. he knowwwwwwwws THINGS.

first preset i tried to put together with the Heat -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7fjPS_FhT4[/youtube]

[GAS KING]

welcome! don't be discouraged. you can make noise with anything. even if you have no experience, you can patch things randomly to see what comes out. even if you make a mistake patching outputs to outputs, the modular will not be damaged at all. it is designed to accept mistakes. except the power cables, check to make sure -12v red stripe on the cable matches the -12v on the module and the bus board. if you buy cwejman there are special rules you need to learn before installing power.

do you need an ADSR? no you don't. in fact. you only need that ADSR if you want to make music with your modular. but then you would need a quantizer as well. the disting has a built in quantizer. uscale or barton quantizer is probably way cheaper than disting which is the swiss army knife kinda like maths is a swiss army knife. you have peaks which has two channels of ADSR or LFO. I don't know if peaks has a quantizer cause I tend to avoid mutable. that doesn't mean it doesn't work for someone else though. I think your module selection is %100 fine as is. Maths has a lot of overlap to peaks. you could sell the peaks for batumi and maths if you have the fever for more cowbell. or keep everything and maybe add disting. you will figure out what you want after you play with it.

Totally not and now optimistic.

I got into modular 3-4 years ago.
Well, I had a lot of goals at that time. Making synthwave music being one.
learn piano/keyboard. learn DAWs. learn plug ins. learn recording. learn synthesis. Learn drum programming. learn everything all at once. plus regular life on top of it.
While a great idea....too much...... spread too thin.
I didn't have time or the focus at the time.

real talk: bought a ton of synths/modular in 6 months (9ux104 & 9ux84 full) and expected it to make magic without much work.
The first 6 months were good/fun but never really fully focused on it or learned anything useful. I literally threw money at my goals and it turned to shit. not surprising.

I ended up copying a MN shared system for the most part and plus a bunch of modules I thought were cool.
Never learned much beyond basic understanding and never made much noise I liked.
patched randomly but never learned anything.
I see where I went wrong.

Had a child soon after and sold most of it. all expensive modules and cases/power gone.

found a routine and have more time.
This time starting with basics and the goal of understanding each module and basic synthesis before moving on.
None of the other goals are in the picture. Just focus on learning/understanding until it makes sense.

here's what I have going now:

[eatyourguitar]

maybe if you check the disting manual, there might be a mode for sample hold (S&H) + quantizer all in one. you can probably start jamming without a sequencer.