#20

Hey @jwhiles I had a similar experience of ups and downs, on the downside it feels like a sports car convention or something with loads of pristine expensive gear, on the upside everyone I spoke to was interesting, engaged and apart from one or two people really seemed to be there to share an interest rather than bolstering egos etc. The generosity involved in organising it and bringing all that stuff was also pretty amazing. Got to meet some makers too and have good geeky chats about music and process. But yes, I’ve always got this conflict and am constantly questioning my relationship with music tech, it’s like magic when your using it but it’s also a lot of pressure when you’re not. The idea of a studio stuffed with gear turns my stomach but that’s something for another thread I guess. Be good to say hello if you make it there.

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#21

My girlfriend sat and knitted on the sofas and for a lot of people the knitting seemed more engaging, a nice antidote from the synths. Maybe bring something totally unrelated, like sit there doing watercolours or something.

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#22

I went to the last one, too. I missed all the talks unfortunately. The rest of it had the same old problem of I-can’t-hear-anything, and yeah, I get bummed out at people who just buy up all the new kit. I remember one guy had two MN Shared Systems and seemingly no idea how they worked.

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#23

Thin ice on a Monome / Mannequins love-in forum… :wink:

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#24

I think I’m going to head down. This is sticking my head over the parapet a little bit for me, but I think I’ll check it out. I’m gonna wear the t-shirt in my photo; not that we need to discuss fashion on this forum but more if anyone wants to say hi…

#25

well, between the beard, a 7U case, and a grid/Kria I’m still wrapping my head around effective use of and thus would look like I didn’t understand… I’m probably leaving the synth at home, then.

I will warrant I too find the modular community challenging at times; I think that comes down to modular being part of my interest in music, rather than the thing I like for its own sake. At the same time: generosity of spirit, etc.

(I do have a slightly special aversion to people bringing MN Shared Systems to demo areas, I’ll admit, which is my minor moment of snobbery).

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#26

Ah, thats really nice! Great to see new places like this.

#27

After being overwhelmed with modular for a while, buying and selling module and getting frustrated, I’m actually building a Shared System to use as a “restarting point” to modular music. I’m still quite far from it at the moment.

But I do see a positive point to having people bringing these. If you’re interested in guitar, there’s a lot of shop that will allow you to try. But for modular, it’s not gonna be as easy to try a system you’re interested in. This can give an occasion to try this specific system.

#28

The previous one I went to last year was actually pretty chilled. A lot of it was DIY and I had fun playing around with some modules and talking synths.

I do feel slightly weird about setting up my synth before hand but I guess it’ll also be nice to talk about the monome/mannequins stuff (which makes up most of my 6U). I don’t think we can get away from the fact that Euro at times can be more about acquisition rather than creation but I am glad that I pretty much seem to have stopped wanting new things…mostly…for now… Also I guess people are looking for a different level of understanding and interaction with their modules. If anyone would like to teach me some new tricks I’d be very grateful :slight_smile: @infovore I would happily share Kria tips.

With regards to the shared system. I played one on my first trip to London modular before I understood anything. To be honest I’d quite like to try one again now I understand the whole format better. I’m always impressed how even my small collection of Make Noise modules play so nicely together.

#29

My issue with the MN system example I gave isn’t that they’re expensive, but that Eurorack has so much of this culture of buying up all the shiny new things, and never making any music with it. But, then again I have met some lovely people at modular meets who listened to my ignorant questions when I knew nothing about Eurorack.

#30

I’ve always had a great time at any of the CV freqs, Bells & whistles, modular meet ups or ad hoc gettogethers… really nourishing from a spiritual sense, to geek out and share enthusiasm.

sometimes, I do wonder where people get the money to have the newest modules just after they release, especially when its apparent that its a hobby, but often their enthusiasm kind of makes up for it. and I dont see the manufacturers complaining when a new model sells out, every hobby needs its whales.

also for every ‘shop bought’ system there, there will be another purely DIY nonsense box… or at a CV freqs, I shared a table with someone who had brought some sort of 386 tower PC which he was addressing the soundcard directly with a MIDI controller. I cant explain it but it was pretty far from an off the shelf purchase…

I found it… he was Exploring the Commodore MOS Technology 6581 Sound Interface Device (SID) using a Behringer BCR2000 control surface.

http://www.atkinsoft.com/sid.html

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#31

I now feel bad about how negative my earlier message sounded… I think the bad taste in my mouth was mostly from how the previous event made my reflect on my own motivations. I’m certainly in no position to judge other people and how they choose to spend their time and money.

I’m planning to get to the next one about an hour before the performances start - I’ll wear a beret.

#32

This sums it up well.
Modular gatherings are really what you choose to make of them.
For me, the most interesting things are the discussions I get into and the chance to try out some, DIY or otherwise, pieces of equipment I’ll probably never own.

#33

Ah don’t feel bad, I think you were voicing something that a lot of us feel, and it’s not like you weren’t including yourself in the critique. Nothing disgusts us like ourselves. I’ve seen a surprising number of berets lately.

#34

And I too, am sorry for being a bit snippy. A few little personal gripes getting their buttons pushed.

Like everyone says, it is what you make of it; I’m always happy to share knowledge and chatter. And I tend to find I quickly gravitate to the people whose approaches or thinking is interesting.

I am fairly easy to spot: beard, red hair. Miniature lines meet, quite possibly (and I can say hi to @electret, whose grid and ansible I have given a new home…)

#35

Please do say hi :slight_smile: I’m actually quite happy that I will meet some of you there!

#36

I’ll hopefully turn up, south of the river/parking means I wont come with Modular, but it’d be good to meet a few people and I keep getting nagged by Eden Grey to turn up to more…

Didn’t mean to smack anyone down, but when you zoom out a little, young men spending all their money on musical instruments is preferable to betting shops, lap dance clubs and casinos. :slight_smile:

I still get my buttons pushed, but its usually jealousy dressed up as something else. jealous of time, money, youth…

#37

Definitely. Can’t deny that part of my problem with the buy-new-on-launch-day crowd is a hint of jealousy. I wouldn’t do that myself, but having the means to entertain the idea must be nice!

Ah well. Hopefully make it to something soon so I can meet some of the london lines folk!

#38

couldnt make it in the end…how did it go?

#39

It was a really nice event. Had great fun performing and was a pleasure to meet @infovore , @electret and many others. Hopefully meet more of you and future London shows!

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