SergeModular

kursk1@... wrote:

hello
my name is Bill.

you're supposed to say "my name is bill and i'm a synthaholic" ;^)....welcome to the list!

This summer I'm gonna invest in a modular
system and I would very much appreciate your opinions on
choosing a system. The choices (I've narrowed them down to)
are MOTM, Wiard , and Serge. I'm on the ground floor as far as
modulars go but I still want to invest in a system that I hope to
appreciate and explore for many years. Otherwise I would
choose the Evenfall minimodular and grow from there. MOTM
has a reputation for high quality but seems a bit conservative in
design. Still it ranks as a good choice for building up a modular
foundation and would integrate well with my moogerfoogers
(1/4" plugs/all CV).

at the outset, let me say that i find plug size to be a minor attractions/detractions to a system's ergonomics,
*unless* we're talking about bananas, in which case i'd say that particular format is superior to all others and
therefore provides an incentive to purchase that particular system.
as most everyone on the list will agree, bananas eliminate, for the most part, the need for multiples, their
insertion count will far outlast any coax cable, their lifetime integrity is longer (partially due to the lack of any
soldering/welding because they are monoaxial), they come in cool colors, and are relatively cheap. also, adapters
are a fact of life with modulars so start soldering!

Wiard seems fabulous but perhaps difficult to
bite into for a novice. Grant Richter, the system's designer,
explained that he usually sells his systems to people who
already own multiple systems and also have the expertise to
"understand" how the Wiard works. He doesn't say this to
discourage me from being interested in the Wiard but only to be
honest and to help me make better decisions. The Wiard system
and the MOTM (for a well-rounded small modular setup) cost
around $3500 give or take. My top choice currently is Serge and I
was considering the ANIMAL panel and the TKB to
control/sequence it. The ANIMAL looks powerful but I'm
wondering if the DTG will provide enough envelope
sophistication to make the music I do (ambient
landscape/space -- with a sonically strange and unsettling event
here and there).

sounds cool. i own a seven panel system with only a single ADSR and need more; the DTG, or DSG for that
matter,defintely does not operate, for all intents and purposes, as a "standard" envelope, but for your purposes (drones,
etc) the DTG/DSG would work fine. i have in fact built the PAIA 9710 Env. for use with my system because, as you
know, you don't simply order a module from STS when ya need one.

Also will the SSG(+noise) and the wave mult
modules provide the hoped for randomness and timbral
inspiration?

absolutely.

Will the ANIMAL do it for me? ANIMAL+TKB =$4500.
Should I consider a funstation? My god the cost! ahh but the
possibilities sonically speaking (the Blue funstation --blue voice
panel+a control panel(which one?) + TKB = $7550ouch I mean
ahhhh).
enough questions. I look forward to your responses and
assistance

bill: i took the plunge and bought the red fun station several years ago. i've never looked back. i therefore
came into the game (after years on two ARP 2600s) with a well specified system and experience on the ARPs.
you seem to be in the same boat as listmember toby schultz was about a year or so back; perhaps he can share with
us the decision making process utilized in purchasing his first modular from serge (an animal) and whether he's
lining up more panels. toby?

and keep in mind: unless the shop panels are built and ready to go (in which case you're paying up front with imminet
delivery), you will be paying 50% upfront with a god-knows-how-long lead time of probably 2-3 months; in other words,
you've got a fair amount of time to put your affairs in order before owing rex the balance.

hope this helps. and obviously bill, when you're asking this type of list what modular they recommend, what do expect
to hear?!!! ; )

matt

--
MATT WILSON, ATTORNEY @ LAW
phone: 619 234-2200
fax: 619 234-2219
email: mbwlaw@...
website: http://www.mattwilsonlaw.com