Modular looks daunting but is really not, if you understand synthesizers: it’s simply a way of making a synthesizer that is both flexible in componentry and architecture. There are a lot of modules, but fundamentally, most things come down to a few roles:
- making audio-rate sound (oscillators, samplers)
- shaping or processing audio (filters, effects)
- controlling the level of voltages (VCAs, attenuators)
- modulating control voltages (LFOs, envelopes, function generators)
- generating control voltages and gates (sequences, MIDI interfaces, clocks)
Your basic synthesizer will need to cover most of those bases. You’ll also need a case and a power supply.
You’ll find that lots of modules will do double or triple duty on that list - and that their role changes in patches. (For instance, I have one module that, depending on the patch, might be an envelope, an LFO, a VCO, a clock, or combinations of the above). Building yourself an interesting possibility space is probably the best thing you can do, even on a budget.
This will not fit all in 4Ux44HP, like a Power Lunch. I’ll tell you that now. But let’s break down building something to process external audio.
You could approach that like so:
- something to bring external audio up to modular level. (A simple preamp, like a Mikrophonie, or an Input Module of some kind, like a Doepfer A-119)
- something to process audio (Let’s say Clouds, because you mentioned that)
- things to manipulate Clouds with (Modular is very much about CV control. Clouds, for reference, loves being modulated. So you’re going to need a modulation source of some kind, to manipulate its CV inputs (which is a bit like moving the knobs). That could be an LFO, or a function generator, or anything. Something like a Make Noise Maths would give you two channels of looping functions/slopes, which would be a good start; or you could consider the Xaoc Batumi (four-channels of LFOs of sorts), or an Intellijel Quadra, or an MI Peaks, etc, etc)
- Utilities. You’ll probably need attenuators of some kind - they’re useful for shaping sources further (eg, Clouds likes very subtle modulation, so running an LFO into an attenuator before hitting a CV input will help a lot). Something like an MI Shades or Intellijel Triatt is super, super handy. Alternatively, a 1U row is good for this.
- Under “Utilities”, stick a simple dual VCA, too. VCAs are handy.
- And a mult.
That’d be an interesting toolkit to shape sound. It’s tight to fit it into a power lunch - you could use the 1U row for things like Attenuators, Mults, and a Mixer. You could also get a 1U Gain Tile to replace the Doepfer. And then you’ve got some space for traditional 3U Euro modules - say, a Clouds, Maths, and something small.
But
that is not really much of a modular. In that: there’s no space to change your mind, or build a voice; you’ve effectively built an interesting $1000 effects pedal.
You’ve listed a variety of modules you find interesting (an effect/granular synth, a controller, a sequencer). But what is interesting about the modular format? The thing is: it’s all, at the end of the day, just synthesis - it’s just you have freedom not only in componentry but also in architecture. I’ve seen some people get into modular and then spend thousands of dollars basically making a Minimoog - and I think there are more interesting things to do than that. Can you speak any more to why you’re interested, what direction you want to use this in?
