I watched this series of tutorials over the weekend and I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed them. So well done, so professional, so informative. You answered several questions I have about modular. I have semi-modulars and now am about to make the leap into an entirely modular system. Your videos have made it more understandable as to what I'm getting ready to do. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!
i finally watched the whole series yesterday and it was so well done thank you! short and sweet to the point, explaining some hard stuff, really clearly and giving a clear idea of the 'necessary' utilities that would be needed to get started. I've done the math and can't justify it at the moment, but i'm making a short list of favourite devices for when i 'need' modular ;) i watch your videos regularly but ofen while signed out due to youtube hating ipads so much. so while i'm on the only device(PC) that lets me sign in and comment just wanted to say 'love your work' :)
Sweet! It may be an even more niche way of lessons, but it would be super cool if you did a few lessons using examples on a software modular. I would love to really learn how to use modular soft synths like patchworks, but I cannot figure them out!
Great series so far! Love your presentation, and you are very good at explaining things clearly. I've always been interested in modular synthesis, and this series will definitely help me! Çok teşekkür ler ! :D
Wow! Excellent series! Just exactly what I needed while I'm awaiting delivery of my very first Doepfer A100 modular! Thank you so much! Now I will know what to do with it out of the box!
Noch nicht wirklich, aber ich überlege immer wieder mal, ob ich erstmal mit einer kleinen Einheit beginne um meine CV synths zu modulieren. Nun gibts aber doch erstmal den Mother 32., wobei gerade bei dem sich ersteres anbieten würde.
***** Just started to learn about modulators. I'm getting all kinds of feelings when watching your videos. Want so much, have so little money xD Really hoping for a video about getting started with a low budget and what everything works with. I use Live 9 ;)
I think the best thing people should know to better understand modular synthesis is how to build a synth from scratch. In essence you will be creating creating your own modules Even digital virtual synths are based on modules however they are virtual/digital.
terrific, thanks. Guessing a basic system setup video is next? Also interested in sequencers - Beatstep looks epic, although not a rack, should be a home run for Arturia.
Well, "basic systems" differ greatly between people, but I will start patching soon in my videos ;-) I'm really looking forward to the Beatstep too. The MicroBrute has an awesome sequencer as well though!
FrankieSteelTV I usually go into a regular audio mixer or multitrack recorder (Zoom R16). You can also go straight into an computer audio interface. Just check that the levels are okay. A modular can be really loud.
7 лет назад+1
Hello again. A question from the no understanding . Could you damage any module if the total of mA that modules need is higher than the mA of the power supply. Or only they won't work. Thanks.
+Manuel Rodríguez Fernández yes, you do ;-) always!!! With my 1200mA Doepfer cases I never used more than 1000mA to be safe, but I guess you could use up to 1100mA too. I just always wanted to stay on the safe side.
Isn't 1/4 inch more common that 3.5mm? and is there a difference? I have a CV expander module for my mini moog and would like to use modules that are compatible.
+IanAlderige yes, 1/4" jacks are more common, and "big" 5U or MU modular systems use them. Eurorack modules would be too small for those sized jacks, so there you'll use 3.5mm. Voltage levels are usually compatible between most systems though, so you'd only need adapters or cables that have 3.5mm on one side and 1/4" on the other. I frequently patch various systems together in my jam session videos using adapter cables and I haven't run into problems.
Fantastic Videos!! Can you tell me what I would need and how I would connect multiple SEMs to create a polyphonic synthesizer? Not very much out there. thanks!
Thanks! There are MIDI-CV interfaces like the Vermona qMI which do MIDI to polyphonic CV easily. You'll have several CV/Gate outputs then, all controlled by the interface to work polyphonically. I've had a polyphonic modular synth phase as well and the qMI was rock solid :)
Hey! Thanks for the response! Already on it! Purchased 2 Vermona Qm1's last week. However, getting to 8 voices may be a bit of a challenge because the Qm1 only supports 4 CV's. Do you also have a support web page? Cheers! :)
Hi Tuesday night team i am going full modular on Wednesday , loads a fun and loads of modules to go at this is my first modular and your vid,s are helpful so thank,s for taking your time in doing them,, i have a very silly question as i can not find a answer any were,,, what i want to know is do i have to take the patch leads out of the modular before turning off and on ,,
Hey :) you can leave the patch leads in the synth and turn it on or off freely. You don't have to worry about anything like that. Patch it and/or unpatch it when it's on or off. There might be crackling when you (un)patch it when it's running, but that's not a problem. Have fun and thanks for watching :)
Hi, thanks for sharing the information on modular synths, Can you offer any advice on building a eurorack case (single row or double row)? would it be wood, z rails kit, a bus board,a power plug? If so, can you tell me any specific things I'd need to know about the build & supplies? Thanks
Wood, Z-Rails, bus boards and power supply are what you need. There is also the Doepfer DIY Kit though, which I built my first case with. The Doepfer DIY Kit comes with everything you need, apart from the wood. There are also TipTop uZeus modules with flying bus boards (see my video about powering a Eurorack case) and a normal wall-wart power plug. By using those you only need rails and wood. Rails are standard rack parts by the way, so you can get them elsewhere than modular synth stores as well for cheap. I would recommend a Doepfer DIY Kit though, because it comes with everything included and you don't have to hunt for parts. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Well, those synths are non-modular, so you cannot route the signals freely. They have preset signal paths that you can only change a little bit sometimes (e.g. envelope & LFO targets).
Hello, I'm not sure if you still check the comments on this video but if you do could you help. I am looking to buy some affordable but quality modules, I will be following the same module system as you but currently own none. Is there any complete set ups you could recommend (including the volt meter thingy). thanks.
Hey :) Yes I still answer comments. Your question is a bit vague though. Eurorack is mostly about choosing your own adventure and there are many different opinions on everything. I’d suggest you ask the question with more information on what you want to do with your Eurorack on a forum like Muffwiggler or in a Facebook community. Also, what’s “affordable” is really different for everybody too, so definitely tell people your budget :) Eurorack means research ... lots of it actually. But there are complete systems from many bigger manufacturers like Doepfer, Bastl Instruments, Make Noise, etc.
Sorry, I haven't watched your videos yet, but I could use them, so I will. In the meanwhile, I was wondering if you happen to know if it's possible to convert .nabs Absynth 5.1 sounds to .ksd to use in Absynth 4... My laptop isn't fast enough to handle Absynth 5 on a live performance and I would like to use some sounds I already use there without having to make them from scratch... I have a show on Saturday, so... Anyway, thanks a lot. I'm a guitar player, originally, but I've found myself doing keyboards all of a sudden.
What's the cheapest one could get away with? What if I don't really care about sequencers, effects, LFO, envelopes or anything like that. Could someone conceivably have just an oscillator hooked up to a keyboard and slowly add on other things? I'm not very knowledgeable about the more technical details of these things but I've always been fascinated with synths.
Well, an oscillator alone will make one constant sound without any change in volume. It will sound continuously no matter if a key is pressed or not (you need VCAs and ADSRs for volume). To change pitch, you need pitch CV, either from a CV keyboard or a MIDI-CV converter (another module). It really depends on what you want, but if you haven't got other semi-modular synths to complement Eurorack modules, one oscillator alone probably won't be fun for long.
There are USB-MIDI to CV converters indeed, so using one of those you could play the modular synth with the piano keys as well (and mixe the modular audio with the piano's if you liked).
Can anyone sudgest me a book on modular synthesis? I'm trying to learn how to use NI Reaktor, which is basically a VST version of modular synthesis. I can see all these modules there, mathematical modules that multiply add blah blah blah.... Some of the concepts are self explanatory, like the "add" signal module etc, but some are very weird and require in depth knowledge. So as modular synthesis is governed by one set of rules and standards, there must be a good book on sygnal flow and manipulation using modular synthesis... any ideas?
There is this: www.cim.mcgill.ca/~clark/nordmodularbook/nm_book_toc.html and maybe something here too: www.doepfer.de/a100_man/a100b_e.htm Honestly though, just google for tutorials and even more importantly, just play around with the stuff you understand. Then once you feel really at home with those modules, try to learn another one :) If you have specific questions, let me know.
![Baby Kia - GLOVES & DRACS (BLACK AF1s) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajm8LeB0qQk/mqdefault.jpg)
Don't forget the module which links your bank account electronically to the modular housing.
Yeah, I'll talk about the Cash-to-CV interface module in a later video :-P
Try vcv rack- go virtual... at least you can make music until your $$$$$ ship comes in. :)
I watched this series of tutorials over the weekend and I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed them. So well done, so professional, so informative. You answered several questions I have about modular. I have semi-modulars and now am about to make the leap into an entirely modular system. Your videos have made it more understandable as to what I'm getting ready to do. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!
Thank you so much! Always happy to hear when people enjoy the videos! Have fun on your modular journey then :) :) :)
Super great video series! I watched them all. This made getting into eurorack much simpler and easy to understand. Keep up the great work!
Awesome! Have fun with your modular then :)
i finally watched the whole series yesterday and it was so well done thank you! short and sweet to the point, explaining some hard stuff, really clearly and giving a clear idea of the 'necessary' utilities that would be needed to get started. I've done the math and can't justify it at the moment, but i'm making a short list of favourite devices for when i 'need' modular ;) i watch your videos regularly but ofen while signed out due to youtube hating ipads so much. so while i'm on the only device(PC) that lets me sign in and comment just wanted to say 'love your work' :)
Bite sized videos! Love it. Way better than 15 mins of fluff :)
This is wonderful. Crystal clear & not a wasted word.
Thank you! That was my goal and I'm happy that the video worked well for you :-)
Great video tutorials, Thank you very much for create them, very good work!
Definitely what I wanted to see from a channel like this.
Cool! I've got more videos like this planned :)
Sweet! It may be an even more niche way of lessons, but it would be super cool if you did a few lessons using examples on a software modular.
I would love to really learn how to use modular soft synths like patchworks, but I cannot figure them out!
Great series so far! Love your presentation, and you are very good at explaining things clearly. I've always been interested in modular synthesis, and this series will definitely help me! Çok teşekkür ler ! :D
Wow! Excellent series! Just exactly what I needed while I'm awaiting delivery of my very first Doepfer A100 modular! Thank you so much! Now I will know what to do with it out of the box!
Awesome! I wish you a lot of fun!!! :)
Really great tutorials for people starting out in the modular world. Good work!
Thanks! Happy to hear that :)
Thank you so much for the cool videos, been wanting to get into eurorack for ages and this was so helpful for a beginner like me :)
+Williss thank you! Happy to hear that :)
Thanks, this was really useful set of videos, I got the basics for modular synths really quickly!
Lukree Industries Awesome! Thanks for watching :)
Thanks for the clear explanation. Thumbs up!
I find this... Very intriguing
Ich zieh mir gerade Deine Modular-Nachhilfestunden rein :-)))
Sehr schön gemacht und gut verständlich.
Freu mich schon auf die nächsten Lektionen !
Oha, das klingt als ob bei dir demnächst modular expandiert wird ;-)
Noch nicht wirklich, aber ich überlege immer wieder mal, ob ich erstmal mit einer kleinen Einheit beginne um meine CV synths zu modulieren. Nun gibts aber doch erstmal den Mother 32., wobei gerade bei dem sich ersteres anbieten würde.
this is great . i have been wanted to explore modular for a while now but have been not sure where to start. keep it up.
Thanks! Modular synth's can be really cool if you build one that suits your needs :)
Very easy to understand and well laid out, thankyou!
Excellent basic explanation
Thanks, John! Happy to see you check in :)
***** Just started to learn about modulators. I'm getting all kinds of feelings when watching your videos. Want so much, have so little money xD Really hoping for a video about getting started with a low budget and what everything works with. I use Live 9 ;)
great and clear instruction thanks
natkutje182 Thanks for watching! :)
I think the best thing people should know to better understand modular synthesis is how to build a synth from scratch. In essence you will be creating creating your own modules
Even digital virtual synths are based on modules however they are virtual/digital.
+Trev Parce indeed! Most things are pretty common in all synths, but with a modular you can just build your own one from the individual parts :)
This is excellent! Keep it up! :)
Great ! Very well done in only three minutes ! :-)))
Thanks! I'm trying to keep them short. :)
This is a really nice video. Appreciated.
Thank you :)
actually, you can use a stereo cable to connect them, but i don't know if it has any effect on the audio. Please correct me, if i am wrong.
Some modules don't like stereo cables, so you're better off with mono cables.
Your videos really helped me understanding basic Modular.
May i post your video with link in my blog?
I wnat to introduce these videos to more people.
+Chris Jeong thanks! Feel free to share the videos :)
terrific, thanks. Guessing a basic system setup video is next? Also interested in sequencers - Beatstep looks epic, although not a rack, should be a home run for Arturia.
Well, "basic systems" differ greatly between people, but I will start patching soon in my videos ;-) I'm really looking forward to the Beatstep too. The MicroBrute has an awesome sequencer as well though!
Just watched this whole series. Thank for this. Awesome stuff. But what about the hardhats?
OblivionRatula Well ... uhm ... they're important. :P
From your doepfer a-138 mixer output, what are you plugging into from there to get your sound out of your eurorack
FrankieSteelTV I usually go into a regular audio mixer or multitrack recorder (Zoom R16). You can also go straight into an computer audio interface. Just check that the levels are okay. A modular can be really loud.
Hello again. A question from the no understanding . Could you damage any module if the total of mA that modules need is higher than the mA of the power supply. Or only they won't work. Thanks.
+Manuel Rodríguez Fernández yeah, don't try it out. Always stay below the power rating of the supply :)
+Manuel Rodríguez Fernández yes, you do ;-) always!!! With my 1200mA Doepfer cases I never used more than 1000mA to be safe, but I guess you could use up to 1100mA too. I just always wanted to stay on the safe side.
Isn't 1/4 inch more common that 3.5mm? and is there a difference? I have a CV expander module for my mini moog and would like to use modules that are compatible.
+IanAlderige yes, 1/4" jacks are more common, and "big" 5U or MU modular systems use them. Eurorack modules would be too small for those sized jacks, so there you'll use 3.5mm. Voltage levels are usually compatible between most systems though, so you'd only need adapters or cables that have 3.5mm on one side and 1/4" on the other. I frequently patch various systems together in my jam session videos using adapter cables and I haven't run into problems.
Fantastic Videos!! Can you tell me what I would need and how I would connect multiple SEMs to create a polyphonic synthesizer? Not very much out there. thanks!
Thanks! There are MIDI-CV interfaces like the Vermona qMI which do MIDI to polyphonic CV easily. You'll have several CV/Gate outputs then, all controlled by the interface to work polyphonically. I've had a polyphonic modular synth phase as well and the qMI was rock solid :)
Hey! Thanks for the response! Already on it! Purchased 2 Vermona Qm1's last week. However, getting to 8 voices may be a bit of a challenge because the Qm1 only supports 4 CV's. Do you also have a support web page? Cheers! :)
What is your top 5 modular brands
Modular Mayhem, Massachusetts Patch Systems, D-TA D, Rainbow Sound Devices and probably Genevieve Modular ... tough choice. They’re all so good!
So do I plug in a midi keyboard into it so I can play it.
Yes, you can. See episode 2.
Hi Tuesday night team i am going full modular on Wednesday , loads a fun and loads of modules to go at this is my first modular and your vid,s are helpful so thank,s for taking your time in doing them,, i have a very silly question as i can not find a answer any were,,, what i want to know is do i have to take the patch leads out of the modular before turning off and on ,,
Hey :) you can leave the patch leads in the synth and turn it on or off freely. You don't have to worry about anything like that. Patch it and/or unpatch it when it's on or off.
There might be crackling when you (un)patch it when it's running, but that's not a problem.
Have fun and thanks for watching :)
Thank,s for the info,,,
you have a beautiful voice.
Haha, thanks :D
Super...gut gemacht...
Danke :)
Hi, thanks for sharing the information on modular synths, Can you offer any advice on building a eurorack case (single row or double row)? would it be wood, z rails kit, a bus board,a power plug? If so, can you tell me any specific things I'd need to know about the build & supplies? Thanks
Wood, Z-Rails, bus boards and power supply are what you need. There is also the Doepfer DIY Kit though, which I built my first case with. The Doepfer DIY Kit comes with everything you need, apart from the wood. There are also TipTop uZeus modules with flying bus boards (see my video about powering a Eurorack case) and a normal wall-wart power plug. By using those you only need rails and wood. Rails are standard rack parts by the way, so you can get them elsewhere than modular synth stores as well for cheap. I would recommend a Doepfer DIY Kit though, because it comes with everything included and you don't have to hunt for parts. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Modular Synth Basics #06: Powering a Eurorack System this is the video about power :)
Does this all apply to keyboard synths too? Like a KS4 or Nord Lead?
Well, those synths are non-modular, so you cannot route the signals freely. They have preset signal paths that you can only change a little bit sometimes (e.g. envelope & LFO targets).
Hello, I'm not sure if you still check the comments on this video but if you do could you help. I am looking to buy some affordable but quality modules, I will be following the same module system as you but currently own none. Is there any complete set ups you could recommend (including the volt meter thingy). thanks.
Hey :) Yes I still answer comments. Your question is a bit vague though. Eurorack is mostly about choosing your own adventure and there are many different opinions on everything. I’d suggest you ask the question with more information on what you want to do with your Eurorack on a forum like Muffwiggler or in a Facebook community. Also, what’s “affordable” is really different for everybody too, so definitely tell people your budget :) Eurorack means research ... lots of it actually. But there are complete systems from many bigger manufacturers like Doepfer, Bastl Instruments, Make Noise, etc.
Have you heard of VCV rack?
Sorry, I haven't watched your videos yet, but I could use them, so I will. In the meanwhile, I was wondering if you happen to know if it's possible to convert .nabs Absynth 5.1 sounds to .ksd to use in Absynth 4... My laptop isn't fast enough to handle Absynth 5 on a live performance and I would like to use some sounds I already use there without having to make them from scratch... I have a show on Saturday, so...
Anyway, thanks a lot. I'm a guitar player, originally, but I've found myself doing keyboards all of a sudden.
Sorry, I can't help you there. I don't use my computer for music.
*****
Alright, thanks anyway. Computers for live music are a pain in the ass, I agree. But that's all I can afford right now.
Well, it depends how everything is set up. I had lots of fun with Ableton Live (and external instruments) too. :)
What's the cheapest one could get away with? What if I don't really care about sequencers, effects, LFO, envelopes or anything like that. Could someone conceivably have just an oscillator hooked up to a keyboard and slowly add on other things? I'm not very knowledgeable about the more technical details of these things but I've always been fascinated with synths.
Well, an oscillator alone will make one constant sound without any change in volume. It will sound continuously no matter if a key is pressed or not (you need VCAs and ADSRs for volume). To change pitch, you need pitch CV, either from a CV keyboard or a MIDI-CV converter (another module). It really depends on what you want, but if you haven't got other semi-modular synths to complement Eurorack modules, one oscillator alone probably won't be fun for long.
***** I see. There's a lot to know I guess. I guess I'd probably be better off with a Korg or something. Thanks.
Or a MicroBrute with a few modules, eg VCO and LFO.
Could a synth modular kinda work as a massive ass attachment to a digital piano to make it sound like a synth?
Yes. The piano just needs MIDI or CV outputs. :)
THE TUESDAY NIGHT MACHINES
ahhh I see, would the modular still work if you used a USB midi interface and plugged that into the digital piano?
There are USB-MIDI to CV converters indeed, so using one of those you could play the modular synth with the piano keys as well (and mixe the modular audio with the piano's if you liked).
THE TUESDAY NIGHT MACHINES
Thank you, you have very much helped me. I’m trying to look for the right equipment to buy for a reasonable price👍
fantastic review !!!
which case model is the 1:20 ?
Thank you :) that’s a Doepfer LC9 Low Cost case. Good product.
Świetna seria! Skąd wzięło się polskie tłumaczenie? :>
Can anyone sudgest me a book on modular synthesis?
I'm trying to learn how to use NI Reaktor, which is basically a VST version of modular synthesis.
I can see all these modules there, mathematical modules that multiply add blah blah blah....
Some of the concepts are self explanatory, like the "add" signal module etc, but some are very weird and require in depth knowledge. So as modular synthesis is governed by one set of rules and standards, there must be a good book on sygnal flow and manipulation using modular synthesis... any ideas?
There is this:
www.cim.mcgill.ca/~clark/nordmodularbook/nm_book_toc.html
and maybe something here too:
www.doepfer.de/a100_man/a100b_e.htm
Honestly though, just google for tutorials and even more importantly, just play around with the stuff you understand. Then once you feel really at home with those modules, try to learn another one :) If you have specific questions, let me know.
***** you sir are a saviour!!! :D Thank you a mill!! ^^
"Volts of power" wait what? xD
ALL THE VOLTS!!! Yeah, in hindsight that wasn't the best terminology :D
Hundreds /typo
Yes. Too late to fix that though.
Yes. Too late to fix that though.