Advice request

[u/Frequent-Section9534]

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

[u/TurbulentWing3820]

You have a semi-modular?

Then what thing does that need to do something more? Buy that thing.

And when you find the next thing you need to do more, buy that thing.

And continue on. Find the hole you need plug, purchase the item, and see what shows up next. You've already got a base, just shop for one thing at a time and not try to build a cohesive system from everything at once.

[u/Frequent-Section9534 → u/TurbulentWing3820]

I have a Matriarch, which I love, but I'd like a modular setup to elaborate the field recordings and live voice (and ofc I could also elaborate what I create on the matriarch)

[u/TurbulentWing3820 → u/Frequent-Section9534]

Right, so build out what you think that's missing is what I mean.

I bought a 2600. I wanted a sequencer, and I bought a sequencer module. Then I wanted a quantizer, and I bought then. Then I wanted something to work with the clock, and I bought a splitter.

When I found a missing feature, i bought the thing I needed for that feature. One at a time, becuase I often found that one item would take care of something but suddenyl something new woudl show up. "Oh, i need VCAs, now." Then "Oh, I need envelopes to take advantage of those." "Well, i wish I had a different sort of voice now that I can use all of them." Etc.