New to list

[Harry Bissell]

Welcome Ryan:

I'll take this "on-list" so my mates can flame me for anything I get wrong
:^)

Most DIY projects are Modulars.  They are made of separate modules classed
generally as

Sources: Things that out-and-out MAKE sound... Like
VCO voltage controlled oscillator...
Noise Source...
VCF voltage controlled filter (when it is self oscillating)

Modifiers: Change the sound of a source
VCF voltage controlled filter - MANY kinds. Changes the tone or "timbre" of
a source
VCA voltage controlled amplifier - Changes the volume of a source....
Ring Modulator ( a special class of VCA)
Waveshapers (like distortion boxes, phasers, delays...etc)

Controllers: Let you voltage (or MIDI) control certain parameters
Envelope Generators - make control waveforms (usually triggered) that
change frequency, tone color, amplitude etc...
LFO Low frequency oscillators, for vibrato, tremolo, if high enough in
frequency also a source...
Sequencers: produce repeating patterns of frequency, tone color, amplitude
etc...
Random Voltage generators... produce random changes... if high enough in
frequency also a source...
S/H sample/hold: takes a "snapshot" of an input voltage and freezes it for
use as a control.
Keyboard, Mod Wheel, Ribbon Controller, Joystick, Gestural Controller (you
wave your
hands near it like Theremin or D-Beam)...

So you see the basic Modules have very blurry distinctions between them...
you create a recipe for a sound based on the connections (patches) you
make. The term "Patches" comes from the cords that plug from module to
module... like an old telephone switchboard of early computer.... The
earliest synthesizers were all modular because NO ONE had any idea
(preconceived) of how they should be arranged.

Modules also have the advantages of (doh!) Modularity. Build a better, or
another, VCO and ADD it to your rack. Start with one VCO, one VCF, one VCA
and one keyboard and Env Generator... you have a "basic" synthesizer...
Sounds simple but its a TB-303...
Add another VCO, ENV Gen, a ring mod, and a S/H and its an ARP Odyessy.
Throw in Three VCO's (let one double as a LFO) and you have a MiniMoog.
These are synth that have been pre-patched in ways many people found
useful.

Modulars let you work up... so you can afford a big system eventually. List
member
Paul Schreiber has a MOTM "Module of the Month" club where you can
subscribe and get the latest module. Chris McDonald has the
"MiniModular"... a kit that is prepatched
but lets use use patch cords to override the internal connections... this
is called Normallized.  TomG has the EFM (Electronics for Music) site with
the CAM (Cheap @ss Modules), which are a series of circuit boards you build
yourself at a very low cost, and also a simple 1 VCO, 1 VCF, 1VCA (1 rack
space) synth..
Tony Allgood (UK) has several kits available (including a TB-303 clone).
There are others on and off list and....

I'M SORRY IF I MISSED ANYONE< SO DROP RYAN A LIND AND IDENTIFY
YOURSELVES.

There are also MANY sites of people who share their designs with the
world... They range from very simple to far more advanced than the most
sophisticated commercial gear.

Build or Buy... thats up to you. Ultimately, you will spend the same amount
of money for similar performance. If you just want to make noise save your
money... buy ready made.

Building a Modular you will gain knowledge of electronics, and probably
some woodworking, metalworking, drafting, mechanical design, amd gain the
satisfaction of creating something really useful and unique. (you will need
tools...)

Buy a synth and you can play it this afternoon... you will learn to pay off
your Credit Card! (you will need a credit card...)

Why do you want a synth... "wedding band"?? Buy one... make it small and
portable...

"To boldly go where no man has gone before...."  Yup. A Modular will take
you there!

H^)  harry (who could go on till morning but hey, lurk a little while and
others will spout off too, I'm sure....)

Ryan Schell wrote:

> Hi, I'm new to the list and I was wondering a few
> things. First, I realize that most diy projects are
> modulars, and from my understanding a modular is a
> bunch of different modules hooked together. Is this
> right and could someone explain this some more to me?
> What kind of modules would there be and typically how
> many modules are there? Also can these synths compare
> to preassembled ones you can buy and around how much
> do they cost to make? How do you get sounds into
> modulars, or do you have to make them yourself?
>
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