Analog Electronic Instruments
Because they actually produce the sound and behavior, analog oscillators and filters are of special importance to me - digital sound is always a reproduction of sounds and behaviors.
Even that DSP (digital signal processing) is connected with tremendous blessings actual the play experience, the musical challenge and instrumental feeling with analog equipment is incomparably stronger.
Some more detailed views on synthesizers I work(ed) with:
Analog Filterbanks:
Why a Modular Synthesizer?
Only modular synthesizers are offering a universal and fully open approach. They always deepen and concrete the consciousness for tonal processes. A modular system offers perfect ways to realize existing compositions in electronic music and nowadays it can be integrated into a digital environment from every point. A modular synthesizer is an elysian pleasure.
Even if it looks deterring for some: particularly for beginners a modular Synthesizer is the best choice. Very helpful is that the system can be gradually expanded with rising skills. Concerning the price, an "entrance" modular Synthesizer might be difficult to undercut. The biggest difficulty in the beginning is to arrange a selection of modules and necessary accessories. Here it is adviced to ask for help or some assistance.
There are several formats which can be mixed (some will need a different PSU). i opted for MOTM as my main format and Eurorack as "companion-format".
MOTM
Some very good ideas are behind MOTM which is offered in (DIY) parts or fully assembled. Mainly musical and technical maxims are behind this modules, which appear to be strengthened by the analysis of the experiences and mistakes of early modular systems. In comparsion to the old prices of the 70th - such systems where far beyond price in those times - MOTM is quite reasonable. In particular the high quality of the parts has to be mentioned, which also leads to a superb audio quality. The - in comparison to the Eurorack - distinct larger format is much more ergonomic IMO.
The width of the modules is adjusted so that 10 MOTM-U match 19 inches. Most modules are 1 or 2 MOTM-U wide. The height of the modules is 5U (8,75 inches). The unified appearance with high-quality front-panels always let the whole instrument appear as a unit. The design is impressive and robust which seems to make the modules very durable. An additional reason for MOTM is the possibility of mixing it relatively easy with other +/-15V formats like Frac Rak or DotCom.
The MOTM-scene is quite dominated by DIYers, but even as the uninitiated - soldering is not my thing - you can find people that produce the desired modules. The circuits in the MOTM modules can be viewed (technical) and everything is open - which means that there are no company secrets - a central aspect of MOTM. Here is a real advantage of this format - virtually everything can be ported when there is a pcb for it. New front panels can be created almost easily. There are some famous, exclusiv boards, such as the LoPassGate from Don Buchla, for which there is a front panel as well. Some companies offer their fancied modules already in the MOTM format, such as the Cynthia Zeroscillator. Some of the most popular circuits come from the Nuremberg electronics guru Jürgen Haible from whom i received my first row of modules. This man seems to have technically analyzed and understood almost every interesting unit since at least the sixties!
In this photo you can admire the excellent work carried out on each module
This modules have been built by Paul Darlow (Krisp1). Under some circuit boards an aluminium plate is used to stabilize and shield against electromagnetic interferences. The tech reading is quite entertaining: "the control range of 500us to 5 minutes"(!). About the LFO cycle: "The core has an astounding frequency range of 1 cycle in 30 minutes to about 2800Hz".
The assembling of a synthesizer even with assembled modules is very different to my long synthesizer experience. Here is some more information about my Modular Synthesizer and what i'm doing with it.
Eurorack
Das deutlich kleinere Eurorack-Format ist mit Sicherheit der unkompliziertere und transportablere Weg zum Modular-Synthesizer. Sollen die Module in einer vergleichbaren Qualität wie MOTM sein, wird es aber schnell auch teurer! Auf der anderen Seite existiert aufgrund der hohen Verbreitung ein reger Gebrauchtmarkt.
Besonders die einfache Transportabilität ist natürlich ein schlagendes Argument. Dieser Koffer ist nur ca. 28 x 28 x 48 cm gross, 10 kg schwer und kann komplett verkabelt transportiert werden!
Das MOTM-Instrument mit etwa gleich vielen Modulen ist bei gleicher Breite über 150 cm hoch und in zwei Cases untergebracht.
Mehr über den Eurorack Modular Synthesizer.
