2021: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2021)

[Shabdahbriah]

Are the Mordax modules that hard to come by?

They do tend to go rather quickly. I was close to clicking "buy now" at least a half-dozen times over the past few years, and always hesitated overnight, only to find none available the next day. ... sooo.

[elxsound]

Are the Mordax modules that hard to come by?

They do tend to go rather quickly. I was close to clicking "buy now" at least a half-dozen times over the past few years, and always hesitated overnight, only to find none available the next day. ... sooo.

I always try to look at that as the universe doing me a favor.

The nice thing is that they keep making more. Maybe in a few months, I'll give it a shot. I have to look at what Vurt calls the non-sexy stuff next. And yeah, I realize I'm calling something called DATA sexy.

[justin3am]

It doesn't bother you folks to use up rack space on something like an oscilloscope? I'm spoiled because I've always had a storage scope and an analog scope, even before I got into modular synths... but it's something that I use so frequently for things outside of my modular, perhaps that is why I feel so weird about using a module for that.

[pekbro]

tbh I don't use the Data a ton, I keep it in a skiff and don't turn it on much of the time. Still it's super handy when you need it. I'm not one who has to see the analyzer on all the time just because it's cool looking. If I want to analyze something or need to use another feature from it, I use it. Other than that, I don't.

[vurt]

i did think about getting one, but as pekbro alludes, it was more something to look at than something i necessarily feel i need for analyzing anything.
if needs be! theres one in samplitude i could use. probably not great but then i wouldnt know what to do with one anyway, i dont care if the shape of my waves are this or that, i care of they make a sound i like, for that, my ears dont take up any rack space

[Shabdahbriah]

It doesn't bother you folks to use up rack space on something like an oscilloscope? I'm spoiled because I've always had a storage scope and an analog scope, even before I got into modular synths... but it's something that I use so frequently for things outside of my modular, perhaps that is why I feel so weird about using a module for that.

In your case it would certainly seem a waste of space, indeed. I've wanted one in my rack (specifically) as a visual aid which not only fascinates me, but for a series of youtube tutorials I've been 'story-boarding' (for longer than I care to admit) as I have observed many viewers (like me) really like that visual feedback. Hence the desire for a larger one, which I also rack mounted.

At least that premise of doing tutorials keeps me focused on 'learning', and the process of documenting helps ME remember, which is an issue. (traumatic brain injuries)

I do confess I felt really "wa$teful" when I got one, and guilt-tripped myself for a couple of days, but it has proven (at the very least) much more convenient and 'sharp' (detailed/accurate) than the other one was, and the extra features have been very useful. In the end, I relaxed as I can easily trade or sell it if needs be.

I'm not at all concerned about 'space' as I made and pre-drilled numerous side panels, 126hp wood 'rails', and angled adapters for expansion when I got into it, and realized 84hp was not going to cut it, as growth was inevitable.

[elxsound]

I know for me it would definitely be a nice visual aid. It's not necessary, but as I start to add in modules that can do more than just divide and multiply, I'd like to see what's happening. It also does clock source, multiply/divide, tune, and waveform generation. Giving up 16hp at this time obviously doesn't make sense, but in a larger system, it'd be nice... not to mention the 16hp, I'm guessing is much smaller than a dedicated oscilloscope unit... I can imagine the dirty looks from the missus when she asks where I'm planning to store it!
I've enjoyed the videos showing the visual feedback. As Shabdahbriah mentions, I'm in that group that appreciates it in the videos.

**And I have to give her credit. This place is a wreck in anticipation of fitting the rails to the desk. It's my Saturday project and she's good with it so far.

[pekbro]

Definitely if you are going to be making videos, the data is going to be worth it for you very likely.
Even if you are not, it just depends on your needs. There are cheaper and smaller alternatives.
It took me a couple years before I seriously considered getting one, and yeah it's tough as they
sell out in a few hours typically. Reportedly availability and functionality are supposed to improve
in the near future though.

*The aluminum front panels finally prompted me to pony up for it weirdly.

Oh yeah I bought the Zoia as well. Was going to get it from empress effects, but they are sold out.



Here I go down the pedal effects rabbit hole

[elxsound]

Definitely if you are going to be making videos, the data is going to be worth it for you very likely.
Even if you are not, it just depends on your needs. There are cheaper and smaller alternatives.
It took me a couple years before I seriously considered getting one, and yeah it's tough as they
sell out in a few hours typically. Reportedly availability and functionality are supposed to improve
in the near future though.

*The aluminum front panels finally prompted me to pony up for it weirdly.

Oh yeah I bought the Zoia as well. Was going to get it from empress effects, but they are sold out.



Here I go down the pedal effects rabbit hole

You got in on a very nice 2.0 update! Should match up nicely with eurorack.

[pekbro]

Definitely if you are going to be making videos, the data is going to be worth it for you very likely.
Even if you are not, it just depends on your needs. There are cheaper and smaller alternatives.
It took me a couple years before I seriously considered getting one, and yeah it's tough as they
sell out in a few hours typically. Reportedly availability and functionality are supposed to improve
in the near future though.

*The aluminum front panels finally prompted me to pony up for it weirdly.

Oh yeah I bought the Zoia as well. Was going to get it from empress effects, but they are sold out.



Here I go down the pedal effects rabbit hole

You got in on a very nice 2.0 update! Should match up nicely with eurorack.

Cool, though I didn't really get it for that. I got it for my fixed arch synths pretty much and
my fancy drum machine that I will get here at some point. I'd like to get a couple more
synths as well. I like the small desktops like the modal stuff or the Hydrasynth sans keyboard
as I like sequencing them and don't have room for the big ones anyway.

I will probably get the Synthtech Hyperion for eurorack sooner or later. Admittedly this was
kind of an impulse buy.

[justin3am]

Thanks all, for your thoughts on the Mordax Data! I have to admit, it does seem useful and I have considered it a few times. It would be a little more convenient than connecting scope probes to dummy plugs. Perhaps I'm overly concerned about the economy of rack space.

[lnikj]

My new Data is now living in my I/O Pod. It's a 64X and I have the space (currently!). It normally lives next to my rack but it can moved and used independently with my table top devices, Koma Field Kits etc, and out in the garden with them.

It is a luxury but, as I said above, I am habituated to the use of scopes, and it is portable and not in the main rack.

[foosnark]

It doesn't bother you folks to use up rack space on something like an oscilloscope?

I have an O'Tool+ rather than a Data, but I've always found it's worth its HP. I've never seriously considered giving it up to get more space.

I had a cheap pocket scope for a while but it didn't give very stable and clean readings and it was hard to read the scale, and a hassle to get out of the drawer and plug it in. O'Tool+ is right there ready to go at all times, and also can give voltage readings, tunings, etc. Or it can act as a pass-through for cables that are too short (I only have patch cables up to 24" so the dog can't grab them off the cable hanger )

[justin3am]

It would be any easier decision, if I didn't already have a 200MHz Siglent scope. But the Data has 4 channels and does a lot of other stuff. Hmmm...

[whyterabbyt]

It doesn't bother you folks to use up rack space on something like an oscilloscope?

Its not the rackspace that bothers me, its the cost.

I'd rather gaffer-tape one of these to a blank panel.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264669490410 ... SwyWFeToZY