Doepfer

I just signed up for the AS list so that I can reply to it too.  Been
meaning to do that for a while.  I don't have any AS modules myself
but a local guy I know has quite a few....

> Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for that classic analogue sound in the
> first instance but definitely want to experiment, which is why I'm
> interested in taking modular route really, rather than simply buy a fixed
> synth.

Sure.  Well, for a "classic" monosynth sound, the bare minimum you'll
need is an oscillator ("VCO"), a low pass ("LP") filter, a couple
envelope generators ("EG") and a voltage controlled attenuator ("VCA")
to control volume, along with the MIDI-CV converter.  Anything more
than that allows you to start experimenting!  If you want to extend
the sound of a monosynth, add at least one more VCO and maybe a noise
source, and some kind of mixer that you can combine them with before
sending the sound to the filter and VCA.  To make a polysynth, just
duplicate that whole thing...

Simplistically, I think there are three categories of module - sound
generating, sound modifying, and control modules.  When you start
experimenting, you can change any of them.  There are lots of sound
generating modules out there, all the way from the simplistic
pulse/saw/sine/triangle oscillators to the Cynthia Zerocillator ($1k!)
to things like the Blacet/Wiard MiniWave.  Sound modifying modules are
mostly filters, but there are other things to use (ring modulators,
etc).  Control modules can be quite fun - this is where you divide
frequencies or sequences, or delay them, or invert them, etc.  The way
you make something pan back and forth for example is to use a single
CV (maybe an LFO if you want a constant speed) with the direct output
controlling one VCA for one side, and inverted output controlling
another VA for the other side...

Only your budget will be the limit!  You'll either embrace the
addiction or throw up your hands in disgust and sell it all...  :-)

> I have read elsewhere that waiting times can be quite lengthy, is this
> something to expect in general or mainly for newly released modules?

In my experience, only Blacet has has consistent shipping times.  If
you can buy from a distributor like Big City or Analogue Haven, you'll
get consistent shipping, but buying direct from the various
manufacturers can be quite variable...

Doug

http://www.analognotes.com
http://www.stoogepanels.com
http://www.softsampling.com
http://www.dougwellington.com

Hi Doug,

 

Thanks for the advice, I'm starting to think I should probably do some more
research and pick out a bunch of modules from various manufacturers, pretty
much following categories you mentioned in your reply. The basic systems
offered by Doepfer and AS certainly do the job, but I get the feeling that
I'd be missing out on a big reason for going modular if I just plumb for one
of these straight away. I've heard the demos of the Zerocillator which
sounds amazing, however it is rather expensive! (Maybe I should take
advantage of the exchange rate while it lasts! ;)

 

Thanks again for your help,

Pete

 

  _____  

From: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Doug Wellington
Sent: 07 May 2007 00:36
To: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
Cc: analogue_systems@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Doepfer_a100] First modular system?

 

I just signed up for the AS list so that I can reply to it too. Been
meaning to do that for a while. I don't have any AS modules myself
but a local guy I know has quite a few....

> Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for that classic analogue sound in the
> first instance but definitely want to experiment, which is why I'm
> interested in taking modular route really, rather than simply buy a fixed
> synth.

Sure. Well, for a "classic" monosynth sound, the bare minimum you'll
need is an oscillator ("VCO"), a low pass ("LP") filter, a couple
envelope generators ("EG") and a voltage controlled attenuator ("VCA")
to control volume, along with the MIDI-CV converter. Anything more
than that allows you to start experimenting! If you want to extend
the sound of a monosynth, add at least one more VCO and maybe a noise
source, and some kind of mixer that you can combine them with before
sending the sound to the filter and VCA. To make a polysynth, just
duplicate that whole thing...

Simplistically, I think there are three categories of module - sound
generating, sound modifying, and control modules. When you start
experimenting, you can change any of them. There are lots of sound
generating modules out there, all the way from the simplistic
pulse/saw/sine/triangle oscillators to the Cynthia Zerocillator ($1k!)
to things like the Blacet/Wiard MiniWave. Sound modifying modules are
mostly filters, but there are other things to use (ring modulators,
etc). Control modules can be quite fun - this is where you divide
frequencies or sequences, or delay them, or invert them, etc. The way
you make something pan back and forth for example is to use a single
CV (maybe an LFO if you want a constant speed) with the direct output
controlling one VCA for one side, and inverted output controlling
another VA for the other side...

Only your budget will be the limit! You'll either embrace the
addiction or throw up your hands in disgust and sell it all... :-)

> I have read elsewhere that waiting times can be quite lengthy, is this
> something to expect in general or mainly for newly released modules?

In my experience, only Blacet has has consistent shipping times. If
you can buy from a distributor like Big City or Analogue Haven, you'll
get consistent shipping, but buying direct from the various
manufacturers can be quite variable...

Doug

http://www.analogno <http://www.analognotes.com> tes.com
http://www.stoogepa <http://www.stoogepanels.com> nels.com
http://www.softsamp <http://www.softsampling.com> ling.com
http://www.dougwell <http://www.dougwellington.com> ington.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pete, here's the setup of my first modular. It's a 6U system that i
chose for specific use, i really wanted something 'trash and nasty',
needed a vocoder and stuff to reproduce the Ondes Martenot sound; i'm
in industrial music that sounds a little like last Nine Inch Nails
album (btw, they have an amazing modular synth on stage, very impressive).

So, from left to right and top to bottom (the places are important !)

TOP

A180 : multiples
A110 *2  : standart VCO, didn't see the point in buying a high end for
my setup
A118 : Noise generator, noisy music -> noisy modules, also very useful
with vocoder
A131 : VCA exp, to mix the sound of the two VCO
A140 : ADSR to go in the VCA/filter, i love doepfer ADSR, much better
then anything i've tried in analog (non modular) synths
A146 : LFO, you'll never have enough CV sources,when LFO goes up to
audio range, very interesting mods can be obtained...
A106 : Xtreme filter, that filter is awesome, i'm in love with it,
resonance up to auto-oscilation + filter mod by audio and there's a
devil in your modular !
A136 : Distortion/waveshaper , that module is really cool to use both
with CV and audio, just read the doc, you'll anderstand how powerfull
and simple it is.
A180 : multiples (again)

BOTTOM

A129/1 : vocoder analysis section, love the leds, love the sound
A129/2 : vocoder synthesis section, that's the first hardware vocoder
i work with and i'm really satisfied atm.
A138c : polarised mixer, there was a mistake at the shop, that was not
the one i orderer, but that's definitely better like that. I don't
often use this mixer for audio sources as i have a mixing console in
the studio to do this task. The VCA mixes the 2 VCO sounds, i just use
mixer with audio when i need to mix the 2 VCO and the noise generator
(eg to go in the vocoder) or to polarize synchronised VCO's. But it's
usefull to me to mix CV's.
A199 : spring reverb, that's to get the D2 Ondes Martenot sound and
it's really great, very different from a M6000, but great ! I love the
sound when the springs chock to each other, kinda star wars FX !
A188-1 (1024) : BBD, no words to say how much i love that module.
A119 : ext input, i use it all the time with mics or other synths,
etherwave theremin, even beats to go in the vocoder or delay. Mixing
console aux send -> A119, the mixing console is very important in my
setup, many cables to and from the modular...


I bought a MCV24 to go with all that stuff, i can play MIDI sequences
from the computer, i can play with a keyboard, i can also use some
amazing controlers (try wiimote on modular, you're going crazy in 20
minutes, i'll post a video about that).

What i will buy when i have the cash :
- 24dB/oct filter with CV for resonance, A106 is great but if you want
the classic analog filter sound (like MOOG etc...) that's not enough.
- a third VCO
- a second ADSR
- and audio mixer for the third VCO =)
- Slew/limiters for the vocoder

That's it, hope that helps,
this thread is really interesting and usefull, i have some friends
that want to start with modular stuff i'll tell them to read that.
I learn a lot too as my system is quite small and i haven't tried all
modules and all sizes of modulars.

So thanks to all !
... and sorry for such a long post in such a 'not that bad' english ! =)
Max.

Hey Max,

 

Thanks very much for posting the details of your system, it's so incredibly
helpful to beginners like me to see how other people have gone about
creating their first systems. It certainly sounds like you've been having
fun with you modular, hooking it up to a Wii mote just sounds bonkers! ;)

 

I'm currently in the process of going through as many manufacturer's modules
as I have time in order to work out my first system. It's a slow process,
there's a lot out there (more than I realised) but once I have things
settled I'll post my initial design to see what people think.

 

Thanks again, all the best,

Pete

 

  _____  

From: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Maxime
Sent: 08 May 2007 15:26
To: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Doepfer_a100] Re: First modular system?

 

Pete, here's the setup of my first modular. It's a 6U system that i
chose for specific use, i really wanted something 'trash and nasty',
needed a vocoder and stuff to reproduce the Ondes Martenot sound; i'm
in industrial music that sounds a little like last Nine Inch Nails
album (btw, they have an amazing modular synth on stage, very impressive).

So, from left to right and top to bottom (the places are important !)

TOP

A180 : multiples
A110 *2 : standart VCO, didn't see the point in buying a high end for
my setup
A118 : Noise generator, noisy music -> noisy modules, also very useful
with vocoder
A131 : VCA exp, to mix the sound of the two VCO
A140 : ADSR to go in the VCA/filter, i love doepfer ADSR, much better
then anything i've tried in analog (non modular) synths
A146 : LFO, you'll never have enough CV sources,when LFO goes up to
audio range, very interesting mods can be obtained...
A106 : Xtreme filter, that filter is awesome, i'm in love with it,
resonance up to auto-oscilation + filter mod by audio and there's a
devil in your modular !
A136 : Distortion/waveshaper , that module is really cool to use both
with CV and audio, just read the doc, you'll anderstand how powerfull
and simple it is.
A180 : multiples (again)

BOTTOM

A129/1 : vocoder analysis section, love the leds, love the sound
A129/2 : vocoder synthesis section, that's the first hardware vocoder
i work with and i'm really satisfied atm.
A138c : polarised mixer, there was a mistake at the shop, that was not
the one i orderer, but that's definitely better like that. I don't
often use this mixer for audio sources as i have a mixing console in
the studio to do this task. The VCA mixes the 2 VCO sounds, i just use
mixer with audio when i need to mix the 2 VCO and the noise generator
(eg to go in the vocoder) or to polarize synchronised VCO's. But it's
usefull to me to mix CV's.
A199 : spring reverb, that's to get the D2 Ondes Martenot sound and
it's really great, very different from a M6000, but great ! I love the
sound when the springs chock to each other, kinda star wars FX !
A188-1 (1024) : BBD, no words to say how much i love that module.
A119 : ext input, i use it all the time with mics or other synths,
etherwave theremin, even beats to go in the vocoder or delay. Mixing
console aux send -> A119, the mixing console is very important in my
setup, many cables to and from the modular...

I bought a MCV24 to go with all that stuff, i can play MIDI sequences
from the computer, i can play with a keyboard, i can also use some
amazing controlers (try wiimote on modular, you're going crazy in 20
minutes, i'll post a video about that).

What i will buy when i have the cash :
- 24dB/oct filter with CV for resonance, A106 is great but if you want
the classic analog filter sound (like MOOG etc...) that's not enough.
- a third VCO
- a second ADSR
- and audio mixer for the third VCO =)
- Slew/limiters for the vocoder

That's it, hope that helps,
this thread is really interesting and usefull, i have some friends
that want to start with modular stuff i'll tell them to read that.
I learn a lot too as my system is quite small and i haven't tried all
modules and all sizes of modulars.

So thanks to all !
... and sorry for such a long post in such a 'not that bad' english ! =)
Max.

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]