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Came across this, not sure if Crank has posted.. but back in 1969...

Been thinking on and off about slimming down my euro. I feel I've gone down the road with euro of trying to get it to do a bit more, and finding that down this road there's always another frontier of things I want but can't do (or the modules that technically do them have interfaces I don't dig). And it has led over the years to too much time researching modules and not enough jamming. So, I'm thinking I may be better off getting back to a small case, with it as a little instrument that does what it does and I don't expect it to be able to sequence and mix a whole track. Or even a semi modular or just flexible and cool synth! Which would be even better in terms of not having the possibility to swap out modules again But most of these seem to be single voices and more limited than I'm looking for sadly. Cascadia is interesting technically but I think I'd prefer it to have a couple less features and a bit of scope for human expression aside from knobs and faders. I know other gear can be that interface but I find it easier to jam with stuff that's plug and play on its own (though of course I'll hook things up together from time to time).

Anyone travelled a similar path or just know about some cool instruments that fit somewhere between just being a single synth voice, and being a big system that does a million things? And preferably have some playability? Obviously on my mind is the possibility of slimming down to a small rack with a separate controller e.g. 0-ctrl. I think this is probably a pretty good option tbh.

Have had a lot of similarish thoughts in the past 12-18 months. Seems like a typical path for most of us to keep acquiring more, which becomes a detriment to deeply learning or using the modules we have to their fullest possibilities. Hype and gear lust can be enjoyable, if not simultaneously problematic. The wonderful thing about modular is that it can be whatever you want, right? But really, every time you purchase a module you probably need to get some companion utilities, modulation, VCAs, etc. This beast always wants to be fed moar. Easy to lose focus and try to make a rack a whole groove box pumping out "songs" rather than a singular instrument. Modular as a single instrument feels like a good focus.

Last year I picked up a Strega and O-Ctrl to compliment my 7U rack. I still think the combo is quite enjoyable. I've even considered selling off my 7U case and sticking to the MN duo but I would miss a few things that enhance the sound and function of the duo.

Also considered an Erica Synths Syntrx 2.Would be a nice thing to get out of the patch cable mess and future module lust. It's hard to make the jump and know if all the elements would be satisfactory but I do like what I hear from it.

The 3x Make Noise semi combo is definitely attractive. I worry that it's not enough to replace even half my rack, though that is probably silly as they're a powerful combo. Similarly thought about the Moog trio, but I don't like the sequencers/keys on those very much (had a M32 and it's a fantastic synth when played/sequenced from something else). Even when I say "a single instrument" I'm still thinking of a little redundancy in voices and stuff... IDK

Syntrx looks extremely cool!

It's nice, and not surprising, that others have had a similar experience. I think the format, and also the market/culture around it promotes this issue. Not that my poor impulse control is other peoples' problem, I just mean it doesn't help

I've kind of ended up in the boat of learning Max/MSP and realizing so many of the complex things I wanted to do in Euro are programmable and savable and that's killed a lot of my desire to do anything in in Euro. Starting to sell stuff off, but still keeping a good amount... for now.

It really seems like that's the way to go if you like working that way. Euro clearly doesn't have the capabilities of a computer with the right software (Max, VCVrack, DAWs and soft synths, depending what you're trying to do).

yeatsvisitslincoln wrote:Been a while since I checked in here. Admittedly, I'm doing so selfishly, but first, super happy to see Behndy still at it after his big sell off!

Selfish reason: https://driftdiffusion.bandcamp.com/tra ... man-on-sax

hey Yeasty! very cool track. grabbed your Discography bundle.

jia. that's where i'm at with noisy times too. i know that really i'd be happy with a good desktop with a big monitor, one good hardware controller/drum machine like the Play and some bass stuff. i have way more than that right now, but it's like... each step away from the Save EVERYTHING aspect of staying in the DAW i lose a bit of control and replayability, end up more jamming and making noises i'll never save than putting things together. and Modular is the pinnacle of that.

lol. plus, i end just trying to put a bunch of complex sequencers in and sound source modules with preset saves and like... a messy, not as useful regular synth. silly.

on the other, dirty, unwashed, Chaos Is Goal hand... it is a lot of fun to zone out and just make noises.

I'm diving in. I bought a big-ish case, and it's time to fill it up with modules. I'm really excited to start exploring this stuff.

These are the modules I want for certain:
the 808 clone on the 1u row
zeroscope
hermod plus
lifeforms
fx boy
rs-9
1010 bluebox
zoia

Everything else is a bit of a toss up. After those modules are in the rack, then I'll start trying out the other things to see what works for me. I'd like to be able to sequence three or four melodic tracks, and back that up with drums. I'm not sure what I want to use for the melodic tracks yet.

The case: The target system (the 3u sections):


The 1u row in the middle:

Oh wow you're really going for it. Big case, have fun!

Yep, I'm attempting to convert my synth workflow into a modular setup. My approach before was to try and treat the setup like an instrument. Where that approach has been stable for a few years, it makes sense to me to convert that setup into an actual instrument (via modular).

The thing that's killing me now is the wait time. Where my workflow is based around the combination of hermod+RS9+bluebox, I feel like I can't really grow my setup until I have those three and those three feel like the most boring ones to start with. I also don't want to start buying random modules until I have the Zoia, because I can use it to substitute anything I might need/want to supplement anything I'm trying out (then I can buy dedicated modules based on what I'm using the Zoia for).

First I need to liquidate a bunch of stuff to raise funds. I'm going to be selling my Prophet 6, Boss Dimension, Replicator JR, Atmosphere, Dusk, and RD8. That should get me enough funds to buy the essentials, the 808 stuff, and start building one of the other melodic voices. Other stuff's going to be sold too, but I haven't decided what yet.

Oh that seems like a big switch up! Cool.

Here's where I'm at at the moment. I did slim down from 7u 104hp to 6u 84hp, somewhere around 6 months ago? Kept all the core pieces. I find this more comprehensible and playable, I've found I much prefer to be in a scenario where I have limitations and I have to puzzle out how to get around them, than having more stuff and fewer limits. There are some of the other modules I'll miss but I'm happy with this right now.

That looks rad and much more like a standalone instrument. How do you use it? Do you record the output and layer it inside of a DAW?

Oh modular...

I've been thinking about downsizing my modular for a long time now. finally took six modules out of this rack. Will likely be off loading: Rings, Beads, Momo Modular Monsoon, Mini Shimmery, O_c, and Sample Drum.

Will likely shed more pieces this coming year, I'd really like to morph this into a Hainbach adjacent rack. I would also love to do a straight trade for a 6u rack locally. 9u is too much for me nowadays, just visually overstimulating and I patch more than my mind can chew. This reorganization is at least a fraction simpler now that I've exported five modules that generate audio. Hoping I can conjure some sort of purpose to build towards, but for now I can patch a lil more freely and enjoy digging for sound.

Mimeophon and Three Sisters still my favorite modules. Will likely hang on to my Telharmonic forever since it was my first oscillator and doesn't require patching to have fun.

asq-1, three sisters, that dual oscillator, mimeophon and maths and I wouldn't get on the boat if you found me on the deserted island.
And fragment! tasty.

I've been very happy with 6U, but it takes some sacricifing to stay there when you see something new that looks good.

I'm currently trying (and still, since release) trying to stave off the thoughts of a worng sidecar mixer to replace my SSF vortices.
The vortices is great but there's cables everywhere when you're patched up.

vidret wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 5:17 am asq-1, three sisters, that dual oscillator, mimeophon and maths and I wouldn't get on the boat if you found me on the deserted island.
And fragment! tasty.

I've been very happy with 6U, but it takes some sacricifing to stay there when you see something new that looks good.

I have to relearn the ASQ-1 bought it right before my last band started booking shows years ago and forgot all the button presses. The Fragment is so stinkin useful too. I should move it towards the edge of the rack so I can access the knobs for easy tweaks.

I put the Sample Drum back in the rack before screwing everything in. Glad I did because processing drums with three sisters is simply too much fun.

I think my hang up with 9u is there is so much vertical cable crossover happening. I know spaghetti is inevitable but I cannot help but think how much peace of mind I would have if I could focus in on 2 rows vs. 3. Cannot complain about the extra space though! Makes me want to fill up with bigger 20hp+ modules like tip top buchla series and feel like a scientist.