Welcome Seth!
Module selection. Hmm... Your selections are pretty good. I have at
least one of every module released. Each module has some outstanding
feature that sets it apart. It's a tough call whittling down the
selections for filling an SKB. Glad I don't have that problem! :)
My first half dozen modules, in order, were: 900, 120, 320, 420, 300 and
440. I have a large rack-mount setup, so I have no preference for
micromodules. (Soon to be a cabinet --someday-- sigh.) Ok, so you're
probably wondering "a 120 right off the bat? what the heck??" Well, I
think the 120 is one ∗very∗ overlooked, ∗very∗ cool module. I learned
quite a bit about feedback patching with that beast and the 320. Some
very cool sounds can be had. I also got my soldering chops going before
the 300 and 440 arrived (which was a good thing...trust me). You've gotta
have at least one 300 and 320 somewhere in your setup; the sync, FM and
waveshaping (on the 320) are really important features and there's really
no substitute. The 490 is "great and small" at the same time and is a
"must have" in a SKB (my opinion, of course). The 190 is in the same
boat. And then, there are so many interesting modules on the cusp of
being released, that when they do finally ship, all hell will break loose
and your SKB's will be relegated to the auction block. After all, we all
know what MOTM really stands for:
Magnificence Ordained Through Madness
Have fun!
George Kisslak
----- Original Message -----
From: "Seth Elgart" <selgart@...>
To: <motm@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 12:05 AM
Subject: [motm] module selection (newbie questions)
Dear List,
I'm new to this and am trying to figure out which modules to start
out with. I'm going to put them in an SKB popup case as I already
have one for some Waldorf rack mount synths as well as a matching SKB
for my mixer.
Option one is to get a bunch of the micro modules and a 950 power
supply. With this I can do a modular "Minimoog" style arrangement as
well as use the new 650 MIDI-to-CV module. The problem with this is
that I don't think the 950 power supply has enough jacks (and maybe
enough juice) to power 12 "regular" modules plus the 650.
(390 LFO, 3 x 310 VCO, 890 mixer, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101
Noise/S&H, 820 Lag, 2 x 910 Mult)
Option 2 is to use two power supplies, a 950 and a 900. I don't
really want to have 6 spaces out of the 20 taken up by power
supplies, but this way I can power all I'm planning to in the first
SKB and then expand into the second without buying another power
module. I can fit 10 micro modules in this option, plus the 650.
(390 LFO, 3 x 310 VCO, 890 mixer, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101
Noise/S&H, 910 Mult)
Option 3 is to go with the 950 supply but to use the "large" modules
(like two 300 VCOs and a 320 LFO in place of three 310 VCOs, a 390
LFO and an 890 mixer). This disadvantage of this is that at least in
the beginning I have far fewer modules to play with. The advantage, I
think, is that I have the "good" modules rather than the "lite"
modules, and that a 950 supply can power the 9 modules as well the
650.
(320 LFO, 2 x 300 VCO, 490 VCF, 190 VCA, 2 x 800 ADSR, 101 Noise/S&H,
820 Lag , 910 Mult)
Here are my questions:
A) Can a 950 power supply successfully power this many modules? I
don't know how many connectors it has or how much power it can
generate. I know the 900 supply has 12 connectors. Does the 950 have
12 "regular" connectors in addition to the new connectors or does it
sacrifice regulars to make room for new ones? I don't really want to
put expander power distribution boards into the popup case as there's
not really a good place to mount them.
B) Are there other options for power? Can I get a 900 and a 950 kit,
gut them both and then put the parts on a new panel that would go
under the two rack rail sets? If I had already built 20 modules I
would probably not think twice about doing this. As I have not yet
assembled any modules I'm not sure of how difficult or easy this sort
of custom wiring would be. The huge advantage of this is that I get
back all the space the two power supplies would take up as well as
probably being able to power a second SKB and maybe a third.
C) Should I just go ahead and build a 950 supply and not worry about
this at all until I have enough modules? In other words, I could just
start building and deal with it in six months or so.
D) A more basic question is whether to build the micro modules or the
big ones. Will I regret the 310 VCOs in a year and wish I had the 300
VCOs instead? Are the 320 LFOs unbelievably better than the 390 LFO?
Should I build a Magic BusĀ instead of the Mults?
Those are some of the things I know I don't know. What also concerns
me are the things I don't know that I don't know. I'm sure there are
things I haven't even thought of yet. In reality I suppose I'll just
get a power supply and a module or two and start off slow and easy. I
have a funny feeling however that I'm shortly to be addicted to this,
and hey, it's never too early to plan for that third cabinet. <g>
Sorry about the length of this post. It's just that I have about a
thousand questions that I can think of and probably a lot more that
haven't occurred to me yet.
Thanks,
Seth
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