>I've been reading everybody's want lists for new modules. Am I the only one
>who doesn't know what some of this stuff does? Oh well, doesn't matter
>anyway, I still haven't received my first module yet (thirty years old and
>still waiting for Christmas presents!). I know what the basic stuff does
>since I have a couple of normal synths (a Waldorf pulse and a Korg MS 2000),
>but some of these things you guys are talking about seem fairly esoteric.
>Are they really useful beyond specific sounds you want to make or can most
>of them be used for many things?
Join the club! Even though I've been playing with and programming synths
for around 20 years now, I get a little mystified at some of the modules.
My solution thus far is this: build 'em first, ask questions later :-). Of
course, the basics like VCO's, VCF's, VCA's, EG's are pretty clear if
you've done any programming at all, but things like the VC-router, Lag
Processor, VC-LFO, etc were not things that that I immediately saw a need
for. But after building them, I found a million uses that wouldn't be
obvious from their counterparts in standard architecture synths. This is
what's so great about the modular concept: you can pretty much plug
anything into anything else, and you won't break anything by experimenting.
A module that seems pretty esoteric at first can become really useful
quickly.
>This brings me my next question: I decided to build a modular so I could
>make
>unusual sounds that are impossible on my other synths, so I was wondering if
>anyone has any suggestions. The kinds of things I am interested in are long
>evolving patches that change over time preferably with many control points
>to cause the sound to evolve once they are started or triggered,I'm not
>really looking to "play"the sound with a keyboard (I don't even own one!). I
>also intend on using external sound sources such as samples, guitar, t.v. or
>whatever noise is going on outside at the time, so I haven't decided if I
>really will need oscillators. Can they be used for other things? I guess
>what I want is an ambient texture generator that has a lot of control
>options.
The MOTM will do this in spades! Take a listen to some of Robert Rich's
demo MP3's on the Synthtech site, he's made some really impressive
continually evolving chaotic sounds using relatively few modules. I rarely
control the MOTM from a keyboard (though it makes one absolute hell of a
monosynth if you like). I bought a couple of $1.79 joysticks from a parts
dealer, and those, combined with an analog sequencer, are my favorite
"performance controls" for the MOTM.
You probably will want an oscillator or 2, even if you're primarily
planning on usint the MOTM for processing external sounds. Remember, the
VCO's output can either be used as audio, or as an audio (or sub audio,
because they'll go that low) rate control voltage. With the MOTM ring mod,
you need at least 1 oscillator for the standard ring-mod sounds. Using a
VCO for frequency modulating filters is a particular favorite of mine.
Again, if you have the module, you'll find a million uses for it, that's
the beauty of the modular.
>I hope I didn't ramble too much for anybody and any suggestions would really
>be appreciated!
>thanks, Barry
Please don't be intimidated to ask any questions around here, we tend to be
a pretty tolerant (and enthusiastic) bunch
____________________________________________
Dave Trenkel :
improv@...Minus Web Site:
http://listen.to/minusmusicMinus MP3's:
http://www.mp3.com/-minus-____________________________________________