Yahoo Groups archive

MOTM

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:35 UTC

Message

Re: [motm] Re: Is MOTM/5U dead???

2017-01-08 by Terje Winther

MOTM/5U is not dead by my account.
All my modulars (except the original digisound and Aries modular) har been worked into 5U format with 1/4" jacks. I have several modular cabinets in various formats (dot.com, custom wooden, rack etc.) with MOTM/5U format modules. Lots of synthesizers.com modules and moog 5U format modules, as well as many MOTM-format modules (mostly Oakley modules and DIY now). I perform live (mostly Berlin school sequencer stuff) and haul modular cabinets to gigs (just had the 15 years anniversary concert with my band), and the large modulars are essential.
Also; in the studio, I really like the big format. Suits my working style and fingers much more than those small things.

That said; I am not oblivious to the fact that large format modulars have fallen off in comparison to Eurorack format modules. I have run the Norwegian analog synth gathering for 10 years now, so I do notice the massive increase in Eurorack/Fracrack format, but I also notice this: a lot of people getting small format modulars tends to either
a) not have a clue as to what they are doing, and so...
b) sell off a lot of their stuff
c) mostly make unstructured blipp-blopp music

While in comparison most MOTM/5U users
a) really know their analog synths and how to patch up sounds
b) rarely sell their stuff
c) make (more or less) stuctural and/or tonal music

This is of course an oversimplification, as I have met Eurorack people with great music and huge knowledge, but what I said is really is a general tendicy.

I think the reason we (?) or most people think MOTM/5U is dead is this:
1) Some of the key players are less active now. Paul Schreiber used to be *very* active on mail lists and forums. He is still there, but a bit more subdued. So we are not sounding off all that much.
2) There is still a lot of MOTM/5U modules (I bought a few last year, and was amazed at how many new manufacturers there were - even some mostly Euro-rack manufacturers have started making MOTM/5U size modules) - but (and here I go): this increase on MOTM/5U is completely drowned out by the massive amount of new Eurorack modules flooing the marked!
3) And not to forget self-fullfilling prophesies: Everybody is saying 5U is dead, so it must be true.

But, yes; I have lived through many "format wars", and never in my life thought LP (that is vinyl for you youngsters) and cassetts would return, so who knows?







Attachments

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.