KVR Audio

SuitcaseOfLizards · Post by **SuitcaseOfLizards** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:15 pm

Ok, I'm going retro and switching back to hardware. I have the multitrack recorder, guitar, and bass - but I'd like to add a nice modular synth to the mix.

Is there anywhere that sells kits for a reasonable price? I can do some medium complex soldering so hopefully I'm good to go there. Pre-assembled modules would be nice too (but more expensive I imagine).

Don't need a wall-filling setup, just something good for ambient/soundscape tones suitable for bed tracks for ambient guitar/bass.

All info appreciated!

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 5:53 pm

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:23 pm

Some affordable modular starter synths...
MFB Kraftzwerge Sounds good but build quality isn't great.
Doepfer Dark Energy Sounds excellent and built very well.
Analogue Solutions Sation-X Haven't tried one yet.
Oberhiem SEM Nearly indistinguishable from the original (unless you open the case).

While SDIY is a lot of fun and very rewarding for me, it isn't for everyone. If you are going to go that route, I'd suggest starting with a kit that includes all parts (something like a WSG, or a thingamagoop) because filling the BOM of a CGS project can be the most frustrating part.

You might also visit the For Sale/For Trade section of Muff Wiggler's. That is how I got started. I bought a 6U doepfer starter system there for $1500 and built my system from there. Keep in mind you need 100 posts to sell stuff there but you can buy stuff before you hit 100 posts.

SuitcaseOfLizards · Post by **SuitcaseOfLizards** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:12 pm

Thanks for all the info and commentary, very helpful!

I'm going to hold off for now and see what my needs are after I get the rest of my studio finalized. Looks like a relatively expensive proposition..

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:25 pm

Analog Solutions Telemark is also a nice option. Simple but nice. One that I'm thinking of getting:
http://analoguesolutions.org.uk/v2/tele ... i-modular/

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:31 pm

woolyloach wrote:Looks like a relatively expensive proposition..

It is.

I think it's only been in the last few years that you could put together a basic monophonic voice for under $1000. Even if you go the DIY route there are still a lot of costs which add up in the end. Pretty much anyone who builds synths (including me) will tell you... Don't get into SDIY to save money, get into SDIY because you love building electronics.

I'm about $11,000 into my Eurorack modular and it isn't really that big of a system.

I'm not trying to discourage you, though. When I started I didn't think I could afford a modular, but I was able to get a good deal on a starter system and with patience and saving (thanks to my wife for being such a good finance manager) I've been able to cobble together a pretty remarkable synth. It's all about patience and determination. You may find in the process, that a modular isn't for you after all. Only one way to find out though.

knot0fvipers · Post by **knot0fvipers** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:53 pm

Also, really think hard about what you are going to use it for.
I've started building a modular filter box basically because I really don't care if my oscillators are analog and I have no interest in step sequencers.
It really cuts out alot of cost only having to bother with filters, env and modulation.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:00 pm

At around £300 Doepfer Dark Energy is a good place to start, and doesn't need any soldering.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:00 pm

KungKrille · Post by **KungKrille** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:14 pm

Not that it's cheap (well, not for my wallet anyway):

Modular entry system

It costs $120 each month and total cost is $1440 (shipping included for US customers). I don't know about the quality or anything but maybe it's an alternative to somebody

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:14 pm

are different systems cross-compatible? can you mix frac with
euro, etc.? (and what are the differences in these standards..)

are there some generally accepted standards people have stuck to
regarding compatibility, allowing easy/safe incorporation of
self-built modules, or is it a free for all?

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:22 pm

mztk wrote:are different systems cross-compatible? can you mix frac with
euro, etc.? (and what are the differences in these standards..)

are there some generally accepted standards people have stuck to
regarding compatibility, allowing easy/safe incorporation of
self-built modules, or is it a free for all?

Depends on what you mean by cross compatible. There are some standards that most comply to but there's a slew of differences too depending on how you look at it.
Most if not all differences are easily overcome if you want to.

Anything in particular you're interested in ? I've rewritten this post like 5 times since there's simply too much stuff to go into in a single post.

mztk · Post by **mztk** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:17 pm

lol.
well i wouldn't want to blow anything up, that's one thing..
do most things operate at same voltages etc? can you plug a
signal from a euro to a frac without fear, etc.
what's the deal with stuff made for US supply voltage vs european?

and then, this site is very inspirational, and well presented, i think:
http://yusynth.net/Modular/index_en.html
for self-build

the other, i suppose is the more mundane aspect of rack sizes.
(and jack sizes..)
euro seem the most straightforward way to go, as there are lots
of different manufs building for it, and it looks like it is compatible
with old roland stuff too.
hey, i'm not going to be jumping into this tomorrow,but extra info is
always good. the site above has definitely made me think about building
something.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:28 pm

Pretty much everything modular follows the 1v per octave standard so there's little problem there. Korg and Yamaha synths from that era has a different standard but there's converters.

Signal levels do differ a bit between formats but there's attenuators and amplifiers to deal with that.

Different formats needs different voltages the most common ones being +-12 volt and +-15 volt. Digital stuff needs 5 volts as well.

Rack sizes do differ and even if they're the same size they don't necessarily fit in the same rack even still. And it would be easy to remember if 5U was 15 volt and 3U is 12 volt however that's not the case.

Jack sizes is easily overcome by having cables with a 3.25 mm plug in one end and a 6.5 in the other or adapters. There's banana plugs as well which makes stuff a bit more complicated but quite easily overcome as well.

Seriously i could write a book about this stuff and it would seem like a complete jungle which it is in one sense however most stuff works together with little or no problem so there's that.

The easiest way to get started with racks is simply doing one in wood then you can just bolt the modules with wooden screws. Some people even use the IKEA Rast table to mount modules in since it apperantly is 19 inch wide.

aciddose · Post by **aciddose** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:48 pm

power supplies will range anywhere from 0...5, -5...+12, -10...+15, -12...+12, -15...+15, -18...+18. some include dirty supplies and mix voltages like -15, +5(digital), +10(dirty), +15.

output levels can be anywhere from 1vpp to 10vpp.

modulation signals can be likewise anywhere between 1vpp and 30vpp, bipolar or unipolar.

gates can be V or I type.

some systems use 1/4 ts, some use trs, some use banana. rarely i've seen 1/8 used.

unless you're going to be using modules from one set you'll need to know a little bit about electronics to manage at all. if you want to really mix it up, you absolutely will need to make your own modifications to modules.

don't forget the expense of cables!

anyone wanting to use a modular synthesizer in order to keep it simple is quite simply insane.

Looking for affordable hardware modular synth