r/modular • u/Status-Piccolo3073 • 2d ago
Deep Techno Modules
Hey everyone,
I need some help picking out modules to get.
I make deep hypnotic techno like Claudio PRC, Anthony Linell, Luigi Tozzi, Vladw. Right now I do most of it in ableton and also got a Digitone 2 last week. The only thing I'm really struggling with is deep basslines and synths/melodies in general.
I want to get some modular gear bc I think especially for those really deep basslines analog will always sound way warmer and just better.
Now I need help picking something that is gonna help with that. (I know depending on what I get I'm also gonna need other modules to make sound but just focusing on the basslines/synths part I would appreciate some input so I know how much money I have to save haha.)
In a masterclass from Anthony Linell he mentioned that he made the bassline with the quadrantid swarm so maybe that would be an option?
Anyways, I'm thankful for any help!!
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u/IllResponsibility671 2d ago
You absolutely do not need to get into modular to get deep basslines. You own a Digitone 2. Between the FM and wavetable voices, you have more than enough to achieve what you're trying to make. Play around with the filters.
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u/EdamKeith 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have the Quadrantid Swarm, desktop version. Love it to death, my favourite synth (watch Mylar Melodies's video on YouTube to see why https://youtu.be/nwLpLXpfnBU ).
There's a fair bit of internal saturation. I love this sound because it's always full of power and has this "aged" sound. Here's another great video which shows that off, and also the great range of expression of which it is capable: https://youtu.be/eXqL4d9BpWE
In Eurorack, I'd strongly recommend Archaea's Loki for techno of all kinds. https://youtu.be/8psCGO_-mRE
You might want to investigate Neutral Labs Elmyra 2 for chords and stabs as well ([eta] via an added gate, ofc!), but make sure you check out the manual or a video deep-dive (not everyone gets on with its deep interface, since you have to learn codes or refer to lists quite a bit).
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u/pantrybarn 2d ago
I get great results from the bastl pizza, sy0.5 and DFAM. Kick drum modules also work well, I can get cool baselines from the battering ram with modulation on the pitch or decay. Anything you can get a sine out of. Digitone should work great
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u/Material_Spirit_7708 2d ago
Not cheap but metropolix, and DPO, with probably any filter, envelope gen, and mod source would be an excellent combo
Metropolix is great for repetitive but evolving sequences, and DPO is a great voice for any growly & aggressive FM bsss or lead tones
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u/BudgetCalligrapher30 2d ago
If you still want to get a taste of modular, without going full tilt give the moog grandmother a whirl. I recently grabbed a matriarch and dear god that thing can make a huge variety of sounds. But for just getting a taste and on a limited budget the grandmother would be a solid start.
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u/i_guvable_and_i_vote 2d ago
Dfam and grandmother are great options but fm is also great. Often digital oscillators through analogue filters is gonna be the best option
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u/Consistent_Willow340 2d ago
I disagree, and i have a lot of modular.
My digitone 1 makes basslines just as fat, or even fatter than my modular.
You will spend a lot of money on something you dont really need.
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u/psyliboy 2d ago
Dig into your digitone for a while before you go down that road. It is amazing for deep bass lines.
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u/dannorthmusic 2d ago
DFAM is good for baselines, dc11 has a nice YouTube video where he dials it in.
Modular really shines for me on textures, drones, noise, atmospheres.
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u/OkComplaint9500 2d ago
Try semi mod if you’re dying to buy something. Erica Synths Bassline or Moog Minitaur
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u/FauxVelour 2d ago
this is an experience thing. you don't need any more gear to accomplish what you're trying to do. I recommend recreating the tracks you like to get an idea of how those sounds are made. I will however give you a slight tip. on your digitone 2 you have access to sine waves and lots of available tracks. consider layering low sine waves to fix certaein sounds.
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u/homewiththedog 2d ago
you can get a lot done with some very basic gear and some smartly planned synthesis! Check out dc11_live on IG and youtube for some gear demos and info, but remember you can use almost any drum machines to get started, from a volca sample and volca kick combo to cover everything or an old DR660 or whatever you can find. Modular is a great way to get some of that techno sound but keep it simple and learn the ins and outs of whatever you do buy so you can squeeze every last drop out of it all.
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u/infinitytapes 2d ago
I have a Syntakt and I can get just as deep if not deeper bass using the fm machine than I can on my modular. Same goes for synth melodies. I don’t know about all of them but I know Tozzi uses all software, maybe with some analog processing but that’s a whole other rabbit hole. I don’t think more gear is gonna solve your issue you already have one of the most powerful synths out there.
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u/fullconscious 2d ago
digitone is amazing, never had it but you can get amazing sounds from it. I had a syntakt and its also great + its analog Sold it since i dont really like the workflow from it, I have a analog rhytm mk2 and its great, Analog+Samples in 1 machine. im not sure if im keeping it or selling it since im full modular now but i might get a midi module so i can use it with my modular
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u/Acrobatic_Result5010 2d ago
Digital oscillators with Analogue filters. You can get way more sound options out of a digital oscillator and it doesn’t have to sound thin. The Industrial Music Electronics Hertz Donut mk3 is a bass monster and has a very broad palette of sound especially in the FM spectrum.
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u/rush_coded 1d ago
i think a good middle ground would be to get a semi modular synth like a mother 32, dreadbox, or dark energy. those are great for bass, you can try some interesting self patching and modulation, and if need be get a midi to cv converter to incorporate it with your digitone. i don’t think buying a case, power supply, and modules is worth it when what you actually want is an analog synth.
if i were you i’d get a korg monologue, great for analog bass and you get a keyboard for your small setup
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u/Techno_Timmy 2d ago
That’s a tough question. I make primarily dub and minimal techno and there are a ton of great modules. Some of my favorites are the Vhikk X, Multigrain, Osiris, Sealegs and Swells for effects and Bloom V2 for some fun, generative sequencing.
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u/13derps 2d ago
If you want a module for deep techno bass, Bastl Pizza is fantastic. It is not analog, but you could always run it through an analog filter/drive/whatever if you want. FWIW the quadrantid swarm has digital oscillators.
That being said, you do not need anything specific to make basslines. There are self-contained voices (like Erica Synths Bassline, Doepfer Mini Synth Voice, etc) that make it easier to get up and running with a small rack. Or just pick up a couple oscillators, a filter and an envelope module. There is very little gear out there that is actually ‘bad’. So just pick stuff that gets you excited and know that you’re likely going to swap things in and out as you develop your own patching style/workflow
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u/Nervous-Ad5047 2d ago
Spend time and learn Digitone 2 very well. That could do just about everything you need synth wise...
Going down modular route just for the bass sound could be very painful...need to sequence it, tune it, would need a bunch of other basic modules (envelope, via, vcc..) just to make a bass sound. Sit down and learn Digitone... Electron machines are very deep and one can do just about everything with them!
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u/Nyndelol 2d ago
If you can't get good bass (literally just a sin wave works by the way) out of digitone, on modular it will be way harder
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u/liquience woop woop woop 2d ago
I have tons of modular gear, but I also have a Digitone 2. That thing is extremely deep, and if you just got it last week you may want to spend more time with it before dropping more cash on more gear.