Doepfer

> Typically, I jumped in headfirst, bought a 9u case and bought a  
> bunch of random crap on eBay. I have a row full an I still don't  
> have an oscillator!
>
> Do you have any FAQs here so I don't blow the damn thing up? I need  
> a mentor.

If you take things literally about damaging modules I guess main  
danger is installing the ribbon connectors of new modules upside down.  
I can't think of anything your Doepfer System, Moog or Korg can  
generate with patch that's dangerous to another synth but there is a  
degree of danger from other gear when it generates higher voltages,  
though it's very rare. I'd say for better or worse nearly all people  
who've damages something did it through wrong power connections not  
interfacing CV. The only thing I can think of that's potentially  
trouble is some vintage gear used voltages higher than +10v. I can  
think of +15v gates on early Roland gear being used somehow or perhaps  
do it yourself sorts of gear that might sum multiple voltages together  
into a voltage well above the working range. If you use a proper  
modular mixer like one from Doepfer then that won't happen as the  
maximum output will stay within safe limits. Looking at damaging  
something else. With the exceptions mentioned, modular gear expects a  
good range of voltage so it won't be damaged by funny patches. I could  
think that sending very high DC control voltages into some standard  
audio equipment might be a bit much. But really damaging modular gear  
with other modular gear by accident is very rare.

>
> A quick question: which makes more sense? A midi to cv module or a  
> 351 for my Moog to use it as a controller?

I would think there would be certain advantages to buying both  
eventually. Ideally you might want to combine the two as a modular  
system or use them individually.

I think you might want to choose the VX-351 to let you get the most of  
combining the Voyager and the Doepfer.  You may eventually want both  
so you can use each separately and combined but with what you have now

Unfortunately the VX-351 does not let you "patch out" everything on  
the Voyager but it does give you many connections you could work with.

Perhaps you might want to post the list of modules you have. Many  
people here are great at making suggestions of kinds of modules you  
might need or perhaps ways existing modules can do double duty. For  
instance, as you might already know some filters can self-resonate  
producing typically sine waves and respond to CV for pitch.

Another option if you use a computer with your gear is Volta or Silent  
Way software. It takes a fair amount of time and potential frustration  
setting up as well as usually some custom cable connections of one  
kind or another but these solutions let you use channels on an audio  
interface to send CV and gates to synths that use them. They also let  
you calibrate wayward VCOs provided you have enough channels to  
dedicate one.

Having a CV interface that has enough channels (with a needed Hz-V and  
Korg gate option which not all interfaces have) to operate the MS-20  
might be a good thing too. It really depends on how much interfacing  
you think you want to do and use.

-Nick