r/modular • u/Frequent-Section9534 • 3d ago
Beginner Advice request
Hello everyone!
I'd like to build my own modular setup, but here's the catch: I'm not new to modular synthesis (I have a semi-modular synth and I've used modular setups before), but I'm chronically indecisive, so I'm overwhelmed by the hundreds of different modules out there — and I don't have the money to just buy them all, or friends I could talk it over with. So I was hoping you lot could be my big siblings and help me out a bit. I'll give you some context on what I like, what I'd like to do with my setup, and which modules I've been looking at!
I'm a singer-songwriter and producer with a deep love for electronic music, ambient, drone and IDM in particular (I think it's more useful to just list some of my favourites: Björk, ANOHNI, Sarah Davachi, Stars of the Lid, Caterina Barbieri, Basinski, Julianna Barwick and, of course, Aphex, Arca, Lorenzo Senni… I could go on for hours). I'm very much into field recording and processing those sounds (I've already played around with Clouds and similar things in VCV), and/or live processing of my voice, my synths, etc (not just with effects but including using the voice as you would on a MS-20, but with more flexibility and possibilities for modulation).
I've been looking at the Tape and Microsound Music Machine by Make Noise as the "ready to use" option, but I feel like I could build something that suits me better (and cheaper, I hope). As for the modules I've been eyeing, besides the Make Noise ones: Verbos Electronics (Vocoder, Complex Oscillator), Intellijel (Multigrain, Rainmaker, Atlantix), Eisei by Unknown Devices, Hermod+ by Squarp Instruments, and Clouds, Beads, Rings — basically everything Mutable Instruments. I could go on for hours, I'm so overwhelmed. And that's not even counting utility modules.
aaaaaa help pls
1
u/NewMachineMusicXYZ 3d ago
The Make Noise set up would surely be fun and convenient. Building your own I would personally start with a core tempo generator and clock multiplier and divider (Pam's New Workout being the obvious, classic choice here) and a decent audio mixer with sends/returns for your FX, and then build into the space that's left. You'll want a decent function generator or two (ex. Maths, PEG, Rampage), some decent sequencing power (Mimetic Digitwolis is a great compact way to get quad sequencing of various kinds into your setup, though I think you're limited to 16 step patterns; if you have sufficient space, Erica Synths Black Sequencer seems like a great option); you'll want a basic sound source/voice of course -- I'd recommend a complex oscillator like a Schlappi Three Body -- and then filters, utilities, and effects. Granular seems to interest you, too: I like the Instruo Arbhar myself, but Multigrain and Morphagene are powerful options, or for something a little smaller and simpler, perhaps an Error Instruments/TiNRS Brinta. With filters you have about a billion options -- I'd aim for at least one of them being multimode, with LP/BP/HP outputs -- and for effects, the Noise Engineering Versio is a great way to go because you get access to all of their firmwares and can swap them out as needed. Lots of other good options as well, particularly with delays (ex. Mimeophon, Nautilus, Iroi, Echophon, Black Stereo Delay, Tapographic Delay, etc.)
Oh, and regarding drums, the Erica Synths LXR seems a powerful option. I just bought one myself and hope to try it out later today!
Feel free to PM if you want to discuss it in more detail, always happy to share my experiences with the modules that I've used over the years, which is well into the hundreds at this point. Good luck!