MOTM

i've been lurking for a month or so now and have talked with steve as well
and i'm wondering if i'm cut out for owning a modular. the talk on the list
is very techy (with good reason--trying to develop future modules etc) and i
am wondering if your regular-average-joe-analog-synth-user can handle this
modular stuff. of course i know about vcos, vca, envelopes, yadda yadda, but
i don't have the level of understanding that one needs to understand the
posts on this list. would you say, 'no problem, go ahead and get a few
modules and dive in anyway/you don't need to know so much about the
technical workings of them...' or 'if you're not interested in the inner
workings of these things, don't bother.'

?

help,
mark

I am pretty much in the same situation and I would definitely say
"GO FOR IT"!!!

I am now building my 11th MOTM module and I am finding it to be
much easier than I expected.

My background is in Business and Computer Science, and in school
I only had 2 elective courses in Basic Electronics (and these two
courses were NOT EE-level courses). If you are interested in Analog
synths, if you can solder half-way decently, and if you can follow
Paul's foolproof instructions, you should have no problems putting
together your own modular.

Like you, I have been quietly "lurking" behind the scenes of this
list. I have seen other people slammed pretty hard on other DIY
lists, so I am a little worried about asking the "wrong question".
There are definitely some people who know their stuff here, so I
feel confident in leaving the design problems to them.

I'm just happy to be finally getting the analog modular synth that I've
always dreamed of!

> From: "Scetta, Mark" <mark.scetta@...>
> i've been lurking for a month or so now and have talked with steve as

well

> and i'm wondering if i'm cut out for owning a modular. the talk on the

list

> is very techy (with good reason--trying to develop future modules etc)

and i

> am wondering if your regular-average-joe-analog-synth-user can handle

this

> modular stuff. of course i know about vcos, vca, envelopes, yadda yadda,

but

> i don't have the level of understanding that one needs to understand the
> posts on this list. would you say, 'no problem, go ahead and get a few
> modules and dive in anyway/you don't need to know so much about the
> technical workings of them...' or 'if you're not interested in the inner
> workings of these things, don't bother.'

Well, Mark, you and I may not be too far apart on this issue. I wondered
exactly the same thing when considering ASM and some of the designs
presented by people on synth diy that know more about this that I ever
will. What changed my mind and pushed me over the edge was MOTM. Here
finally is something easy enough that I can build it even if I don't know
enough. But, at the same time, some of my long lost electronic skills are
returning and I am taking the opportunity to learn again.

As with you, many of the posts on the diy list and some of them here are
over my head. However, I also find interesting ideas presented that I
would not have considered because of my lack of experience. There are some
good books on the subject. I have the Allen Strange book, but am not far
enough along with it to give you an assessment.

I will say that everyone on this list at one time knew nothing about
modular. Most of them learned by doing I suspect. So, given that you
sound like an intelligent person, I suspect you could be writing down your
experiences for the next newbie to come along if you choose to dive in. To
me, the question is "do you want to?" Do you want to explore sonic
possibilities that your basic VCO/VCF/VCA combination does not present? If
so, then dig in. YOU can do it. However, if you are satisfied to explore
the music that can be made with great sounding commercial synths and they
never leave you lacking for sonic diversity, then maybe a modular is not
for you.

I'm sure others will have advice too. However, MOTM was the answer for me.
Not only does MOTM help you build a modular, but it helps you learn to use
it.

Larry Hendry

In a message dated 2/23/99 12:54:36 PM, "Scetta, Mark" <mark.scetta@...>
wrote:

>i don't have the level of understanding that one needs to understand the
>posts on this list. would you say, 'no problem, go ahead and get a few
>modules and dive in anyway/you don't need to know so much about the
>technical workings of them...' or 'if you're not interested in the inner
>workings of these things, don't bother.'

You don't need to know much to build a MOTM successfully (that's why I like it
so much). So I'd agree with the previous posts about tools (except get a
better meter; there is a "Schreiber approved" meter from Radio Shack),
knowledge, synth books, etc. But you may want to ask yourself why you are
interested in analog and modular synths at the outset, and what you'd like
from your rig. If you feel comfortable making such posts about that to this
list I'm sure many listmembers would give thoughtful input as to what
direction you may be interested in going.

Good luck!
John B.

I too say go for it. MOTM is EASY! You can build it as your budget,
ability/proficiency and time allow. The big advantage to getting a MOTM system
going now is the number of modules is limited. I say this is an advantage
because you learn the modules one at a time. The more you know any synth, the
easier and more fun it is to use.

I wouldn't be afraid of techie talk. Any of the guys making those posts would
gladly explain it in terms you can understand if you asked. Another nice part
of this system is if you want something, ask for it. There are 3 940 modules in
my system, this came along because I told Paul I thought it was necessary. He
agreed and made a module. The system is very open to the needs of the user.

I personally can forsee a day when the MOTM table has turned. Once enough
modules are available to ship a fully functional system, I would not be surprise
if demand is greater than supply. No problem for those of us who have been
building along the way! I already have the early modules. I have 19 modules
right now. It is quickly going to become my main synth.

The only tools that I use cost about $200:

Weller soldering iron (a must)
$15 Digital volt meter
resistor wiz wheel
2 nut drivers
wire cutters
needle nose pliers
PCB vise (panavise)

I think it is the only way to go.

Steve