1 (edited by crippletoe 2010-12-01 01:48:58)

Topic: modular startup setup

Hi all,
i would like to purchase my first few modules. i have tried to research on the differed companies and modules- the list is endless, as many of you know. i was wondering if there are any startup modular systems out there which would give one a good start with nice options which can be later on expanded, i guess, until the end of time. smile
any of you know of such systems?
currnet budget, i must say is <=2300 Euro

2 (edited by Orbweaver 2010-12-01 07:24:32)

Re: modular startup setup

You should specify a format, probably. Do you wanna go euro or 5U?

Euro provides tons of variety + flexibility and and a really deep means of exploration...

5U has a more classic feel and sound...large panel size also.

Re: modular startup setup

I would almost vouch for a collection of Hordijk modules.
Best 5U stuff there is atm.

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/

Re: modular startup setup

Go and browse or join the muffwiggler forum.  There's loads of posts about starter set-ups, the different manufacturers and the modules available and if you post any questions you tend to get some good advice.

My advice would be to take your time, start slowly and get to know what your modules can do before you get caught up in the hysteria that sometimes seems to surround the release of the latest modules.

Re: modular startup setup

speaking from experience there Gavin? wink

Re: modular startup setup

I just found out about this site: http://www.modularplanner.co.uk/

Really impressive.

Re: modular startup setup

@Orbweaver: thats an interesting question there. choice is difficult and i feel i need to get to know much more in order to choose but since there is soo much information about this it also feels like this research will never end and i should simply go for something. thats why i posted this thread in the first place. i figured, if i could get some basic setup of sone osc, env, filter, and perhaps some nifty effects/functions these descisions would be made for me. I have been working with older modular systems mostly- ARP 2600, 2500, Roland sys100m and some synton. this will be my first steps in "newer" odular systems.
does "Euro" and "5u" only referrs to size or also to other parameters?

@mono-poly: looks amazing, to be honest. and since i live in the netherlands at the moment, its also geographically accessible. any idea of some place i could try some of these babies out?

@Koova: exactly. thats my intention. i would like to start simple- hence the basic setup. thanks for the forum tip. its loaded with info!

generally, i have checked out Doepfer's A-100 systems i wasnt so happy with what they offer since it is really basic synthesis and i would like to have a little more. but if there are other companies out there which offer systems like these, i'd love to know.

8 (edited by Koova 2010-12-01 12:36:04)

Re: modular startup setup

meschi wrote:

speaking from experience there Gavin? wink

My bank balance has never been so low.

@crippletoe:

The following thread is pretty good:

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24645

And don't completely dismiss Doepfer.  They do a lot of really useful utility modules and are pretty cheap.

Re: modular startup setup

mono-poly wrote:

I would almost vouch for a collection of Hordijk modules.
Best 5U stuff there is atm.

those are sweet looking....

5U, I think is where I might be heading. Reason being is that it seems there more 5U module kits are available than euro?
Or am I wrong? Seems a bit a cheaper, which would be great for me right now.


*edit*
I think Elby? might've been the only one offering kits for euro format.... there coud be more, but I don't know of 'em.

Re: modular startup setup

@crippletoe you could try and contact Rob and ask him to come over to the Hague for a demo.
With only 3 modules (hrm vco, dual envelope, filter) you already got a damn nice system imo and it cost you about 1000 euro.

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/

Re: modular startup setup

thanks modularbot,
hte thread looks very good. its all 9U's. is that just size or other parameters as well? (voltage for example?) and can you mix?

Re: modular startup setup

If you're going to go Euro I'd get a 9u case rather than a 6u as they fill up pretty quick. 

http://www.doepfer.de/a100p_e.htm

If you buy the Doepfer low cost 9U case it already comes with a power supply but you'll need to check the current draw on the modules you put into it (The modular planner in Miravalles post shows total current draw as you put the modules in it - pretty cool).

The other option is to build your own case and put power supplies in as you need them

Re: modular startup setup

@miravalles: thanks for this link! it is very impressive!

@koova: 9u makes sense i guess it fits 3 rows of Euro, no? this size thing is kinda confusing and its hard to find text that explains it simply. wikipedia sure doesnt.

is Doepfer the only company that sells basic built-in setups?
their sound processing systems seems handy but i have some experience with Doepfer and its not the most comfortable for me to work with..
a) i like knobs. big knobs.
b)i like sequencers to have built in clocks, for example or ring moduation to have some knob control. knobs (or sliders, i dont care..) are missing for my taste.
thats why i am looking for other companies that sell you basic setups.

Re: modular startup setup

If you've already got 2300 you should save up a bit more and get a Cwejman S1 MK2.

Re: modular startup setup

Or a Fenix2 wink

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/

Re: modular startup setup

skkatter wrote:

Cwejman S1 MK2

it does seems amazing but semi-modular. a good thing to consider though. thanks!

Re: modular startup setup

As good as the Cwejman sounds, I'd rather just build 5U or euro.............

Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice semi modular. But you wouldn't have the flexibility, variety etc..

Re: modular startup setup

Orbweaver wrote:

As good as the Cwejman sounds, I'd rather just build 5U or euro.............

Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice semi modular. But you wouldn't have the flexibility, variety etc..

yes, i agree. thats what i meant in my post smile

19 (edited by Orbweaver 2010-12-01 20:43:20)

Re: modular startup setup

You've got a good bit of homework to do regarding which direction you want to go... Muffwiggler is the study hall, so to speak.
Just the same alot of the Robots here know quite a lot as well.

Just to add to the "which format" issue:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L82J1oH2 … eature=fvw[/youtube]
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2007/08 … -step.html

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/SCSIcide/5u_x0xb0x.jpg
http://www.thebeast.co.uk/x0xb0x/index.html

5U x0xb0x????? levels of awesome wink

and just because it hasn't been mentioned the dotcom starter system. It's nothing to write home about but a good means to get your case, etc. sorted.
http://synthesizers.com/system-entry1.html

^Cabinets are all upgradeable as the entry level one looks shit.

Food for thought while you're doing your research.

20 (edited by alex_d_steak 2010-12-01 20:56:06)

Re: modular startup setup

After having been in the modular world for around 10 years, I can only say that every format has its own pros and cons..

5U usually is quite big to clearly see your connections and still put your hands in the middle to happily knob away... Something that the 3U/Eurorack format sometimes misses. Also in the years I started to develop a "hate" for minijacks, so
I am now in the direction of building a mixed 5U system.. Got a portable anvil case from here (thanks again Damir!), plus a
couple 5u  modules, one from a .com and the other one is a Encore.. I am quite "fed up" of the "classic" signal flow that
you can find also in non-modular synthesizer (VCO-VCF-VCA and the like), so nowadays I am more keen in finding signal
processing modules, like dividers, clocks, filters, etc... Plus anyways I would like to have a very good (and I mean VERY
GOOD) VCO.  But I am still undecided on that...

I have built some modules based on the designs of Ken Stone and Ian Fritz (Synthacon Filter, Super Psycho LFO and the
ChaQuO), you can nowadays find complete kits (PCB+parts+panels) from Elby Designs in Australia...
So self building is another interesting, related subject...

In general: try as many different systems you can, travel the world to see them, read forums, listen to recordings...
And get your own idea big_smile big_smile big_smile

a.

Re: modular startup setup

Orbweaver wrote:

You've got a good bit of homework to do regarding which direction you want to go... Muffwiggler is the study hall, so to speak.
Just the same alot of the Robots here know quite a lot as well.

Just to add to the "which format" issue:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L82J1oH2 … eature=fvw[/youtube]
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2007/08 … -step.html

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/SCSIcide/5u_x0xb0x.jpg
http://www.thebeast.co.uk/x0xb0x/index.html

5U x0xb0x????? levels of awesome wink

and just because it hasn't been mentioned the dotcom starter system. It's nothing to write home about but a good means to get your case, etc. sorted.
http://synthesizers.com/system-entry1.html

^Cabinets are all upgradeable as the entry level one looks shit.

Food for thought while you're doing your research.

thanks for the information and gentle care smile i am researching and the sense of things is coming to me, i must say. i am traveling to berlin tomorrow for a few days. perhaps i'll pass by schneider and give some of these modules a try. see how they feel. i think that is one of the most important things.

Re: modular startup setup

alex_d_steak wrote:

I am quite "fed up" of the "classic" signal flow that
you can find also in non-modular synthesizer (VCO-VCF-VCA and the like), so nowadays I am more keen in finding signal
processing modules, like dividers, clocks, filters, etc... Plus anyways I would like to have a very good (and I mean VERY
GOOD) VCO.  But I am still undecided on that...

I have built some modules based on the designs of Ken Stone and Ian Fritz (Synthacon Filter, Super Psycho LFO and the
ChaQuO), you can nowadays find complete kits (PCB+parts+panels) from Elby Designs in Australia...
So self building is another interesting, related subject...

For a good 5U vco go for the Hordijk HRM vco (other stuff is awesome to) or the Oakley lfo's.
These are good for vco's to and got an awesome sound!

The Ian Fritz stuff is really awesome indeed and www.bridechamber.com offers great kits for them.

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/

Re: modular startup setup

mono-poly wrote:

For a good 5U vco go for the Hordijk HRM vco (other stuff is awesome to) or the Oakley lfo's.
These are good for vco's to and got an awesome sound!

The Ian Fritz stuff is really awesome indeed and www.bridechamber.com offers great kits for them.

Yes, I head good things about both Hordijk and (of course) Oakley... in  fact I am now considering one of the two..
As for the bridechamber website, I am already thinking of ordering a couple of kits ... big_smile

a.

24 (edited by alex_d_steak 2010-12-03 01:06:38)

Re: modular startup setup

crippletoe wrote:

thanks for the information and gentle care smile i am researching and the sense of things is coming to me, i must say. i am traveling to berlin tomorrow for a few days. perhaps i'll pass by schneider and give some of these modules a try. see how they feel. i think that is one of the most important things.

Yes, definitely go to Schneider's Büro, you're not going to find another shop with such a high density of analogue gear
per square meter anywhere in Europe smile)) I still have to visit it, although I bought a Cwejman VCO2RM on the Internet
and the staff was  really helpful and available to my many questions... so it's a thumb up smile

a.

Re: modular startup setup

Schneiders is cool, but it is very euro orientated.
Almost none 5U stuff there.

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/