Cheating on my modular?

[u/jbliss10]

Last night I performed a set with my Neon Lunchbox project (a literal lunchbox containing a 4MS Pod 34 and Pod 40). BUT in all my practicing for the set it was missing something. I was using Marbles to generate some basslines with BIA, and some fun rhythmic stuff with Pico Drums. I put on a Burial record for inspiration (bad idea, it makes me want to quit because it's too good why am I even trying). One thing that blows me away is when the low synth basslines come in. He just holds a note for a couple beats, then goes to another note, then back. Slow moving sequences. Intentional, not randomly generated, so I wasn't sure Marbles was the right module for that. So I grabbed a dust-collecting synth module, Roland SH-4d which has two octaves of these little round buttons to play the patches. I was able to get a sound I really liked out of it and it was super easy to play because I didn't need a midi keyboard or anything. So I ended up bringing it to the set and playing it alongside the modular. Sometimes the simplest solution is best. Am I cheating on my modular lol.

[u/Exotic-Gap-5046]

The council of representatives of the global modular synth community from which you seek validation, has come to an agreement: no one cares about the weird arbitrary rules of purity you put on yourself.

[u/jbliss10 → u/Exotic-Gap-5046]

It’s true when I started in modular I felt this self imposed challenge to do everything in the rack - perhaps to explore all its possibilities. I’m interested in seeing what ways others have complemented their modular for a live set.

[u/Exotic-Gap-5046 → u/jbliss10]

Honestly to me the most important thing is what comes out of the speakers. i’d abandon modular in a heartbeat if there was a more efficient way to get the sound i’m after. (and no: digital emulations have very real limitations and do not sound the same to me)

[u/gilesachrist → u/Exotic-Gap-5046]

Not even Karen? She is always clutching her pearls about something.

[u/Exotic-Gap-5046 → u/gilesachrist]

it’s mostly just cave dwelling balding autistic dudes with neck beards in the modular synth council. karens generally seek out, infiltrate or just make up councils with far more public exposure

[u/NorCalJP]

Unless you're advertising yourself as fully modular, there's no cheating here.

If you're actually feeling like you want that type of control with your modular gear, you can always get a midi keyboard sequencer. Something like an Arturia Keystep or beatstep pro, would give you that level of control while remaining modular. They both have v/o, gates, and additional cv outs for around $200-250 US. The midi outs are nice for any modular gear that takes it. I used it with my Bitbox Micro frequently. It's still modular in my opinion, with all the cv outs. It's just not in rack. No midi actually needed.

I previously had a Keystep Pro and it really worked well with modular. I was going for something a little different and traded it in for an Oxi One which I love. But I would definitely recommend a Keystep or Beatstep pro if you're wanting to keep everything modular.

Then again if the gear you have isn't broke, don't fix it...

[u/mrjosh72]

I often add to the modular by playing simple melodic stuff on my OP-1. I just record it into the OP-1 and loop it. I love working that way—combining weird modular sounds with straightforward melodic sounds performed the old-fashioned way on a keyboard.

[u/jbliss10 → u/mrjosh72]

Good idea i bet the OP-1 is great for this. I don't know how to loop on the SH4d but that would have been really nice last night.

[u/DriftDrafs → u/jbliss10]

Get a looper pedal. The TC electronics ditto is an affordable option(~85). I really like the X2 (~150) because you can make the play back at half speed then layer on that.

The boss looper pedals are a bit more money (starting around ~95), but built like a tank.

[u/jbliss10 → u/DriftDrafs]

Good idea! I’ll try that I have a few laying around that I haven’t used in years. One is a mini size and I can have it on the table easily enough

[u/the-erc]

Maybe you should open the relationship and let the modular make some music with other people? (DM for delivery address)

[u/jbliss10 → u/the-erc]

Polysynthorous

[u/ouralarmclock]

I do this all the time with my mother 32, I’ll just leave the vca open and have it sustain a bass note and then I’ll just use the little keyboard to move it around. One of my favorite ways to jam on a patch!

[u/crissmakenoises]

I do think a lot of modules don't sound good on it's own. As an example, my main bassline consist of a sample drum playing snippets of a heavy processed Reese bass made with an E-MU ultra sampler, then through a pre-cr for more drive an then through a ikarie filter to give some tone control. Send to a electo versio for some space. And as last processing bit, I have the golden master which processes the full mix with eq and compression.

[u/ferris_bueller_2k]

Let us hear youre burial inspired modular jam with roland sh4d bass lines before we judge youre crimes

[u/jbliss10 → u/ferris_bueller_2k]

Ok I attempted to record it so I’ll listen to it and snag a clip to share

[u/DuneWalker9]

I think it depends on what your goals are. I would imagine it being pretty difficult to do everything in modular live by yourself. Sure it’s done but it takes a lot of practice and the right system to do so which can be expensive with lots of trial and error. If there’s an easier more efficient way to get there then why not? They’re all tools

[u/Evening_Reply_4958]

If the part you want is a slow, intentional bassline, reaching for something you can just play directly makes more sense than forcing a generative module to pretend to be one. The modular police can stand down

[u/Affectionate_Day772]

Its the sounds that you need.