Advice starting in hardware modular

[pekbro]

My advise would be don't do it, unless youre sure. Speaking as a guy who is into it for about $20k

lets be honest here though, it may set you back some, over "period of time, related to wealth", but in my case, id have only spent it on weed otherwise

Thats true for a lot of us of course.

[vurt]

My advise would be don't do it, unless youre sure. Speaking as a guy who is into it for about $20k

lets be honest here though, it may set you back some, over "period of time, related to wealth", but in my case, id have only spent it on weed otherwise

Thats true for a lot of us of course.

wasnt my place to drop you lot in it as well

[BertKoor]

I'm getting interested in hardware modular synths.

I d like some advise.

Don't go in that rabbit hole. Last warning

[Constructed Identity]

Beware, there are modules that are sold separately that are secretly eurorack to get you hooked.

[pixel85]

Behringer 2600! This way my way in into modular.
By itself it has already plenty of possibilities, is "easy to read" and (besides reverb) it has no compromises sonic-wise. You simply can't go wrong with this baby
From there you have two options:
- start expanding 2600
- start making a separate synth

Expanding 2600 can be also expansive: I got additional filters (2600 + wasp i yummy). Utility modules: they don't generate sound which hurts but man, you really need them to have full control - something that we have in completely "built-in" full synths, especially plugins and we take it for granted.
You'll spend plenty of money on attenuators, mixers, logic modules etc - be ready for this. It's not only about oscillators and sweet filters.

For me, the biggest "problem" was sequencer and related modules. It's not cheap and will take huge chunk of your spendings just to run this thing. I went with MPC One - maybe not the most sophisticated option but when I saw that I can buy just basic eurorack 8-step sequencer in the same price... Hell no
Of course if you're fine with using PC as a sequencer, you'll save even more on "utilities".

One important question you should ask yourself: "what type of modular I want?". East school Vs west. More traditional one vs total chaos and blips n blops of a mad-scientist.

But seriously, build your first synth in VCV rack and see how you like it. Eurorack is a never-ending journey and it's not for everyone. I would hate it 10 years ago, now I love it.


Ps. I did first option first. For this I would recommend buying Behringer's eurorack rack case and make your own big "2600 eurorack rack case" with wooden panels of your choice etc. It's fun to make your own and cheaper than buying one. Of course it all depends on how much space you have and how your room is configured.

[whyterabbyt]

Actually thinking about it, a really minimal setup with that Doepfer 'mini synth' module (or its bigger brother which is basically the Dark Synth 3) and a Disting would maybe be a good balance of cheapest/flexible 'full' starting point?

I can understand foosnark's reservations about the Disting, but yeah, it is a relatively cheap way to get hands-on with a plethora of different types of module functionality in one go.

the minisynth is going to need a few bits of cv input to be used well, it's a bit small for tweaking, doable.

but yes a great idea for starting a case and keeping it way below a grand!

dunno how many outs the disting has?
can you do eg a seq and an lfo?

The 4hp Disting is just one function at a time... DistingEX can do two, but its twice the price.

[vurt]

Actually thinking about it, a really minimal setup with that Doepfer 'mini synth' module (or its bigger brother which is basically the Dark Synth 3) and a Disting would maybe be a good balance of cheapest/flexible 'full' starting point?

I can understand foosnark's reservations about the Disting, but yeah, it is a relatively cheap way to get hands-on with a plethora of different types of module functionality in one go.

the minisynth is going to need a few bits of cv input to be used well, it's a bit small for tweaking, doable.

but yes a great idea for starting a case and keeping it way below a grand!

dunno how many outs the disting has?
can you do eg a seq and an lfo?

The 4hp Disting is just one function at a time... DistingEX can do two, but its twice the price.

hmmm, while a great way to try lots of different functions, id personally want a couple more utilities to start the synth voice has the two filter cvs, pitch, gate trigger.

im still in the semi starter camp.
even one of the behringers (wasp maybe) would add a different flavour filter as well as some utility bits.
then the rack with synth voice plus a disting to get the ball rolling.

it's a great place to be though, the bit just before you begin, it's like being a kid taken to a toyshop for the first ever time when you start looking what's available

[Stefken]

Did somebody say West Pest?



Maybe not übermodular in nature but the nastyness i like.

[vurt]

Did somebody say West Pest?



Maybe not übermodular in nature but the nastyness i like.

check the east beast too
between the two, you have the east vs west coast you mention in the op.
and both would add to any rack you start, covering a few functions while you build up

[vurt]

self promo spam!!!
east beast plus west pest

[Stefken]

Did somebody say West Pest?



Maybe not übermodular in nature but the nastyness i like.

check the east beast too
between the two, you have the east vs west coast you mention in the op.
and both would add to any rack you start, covering a few functions while you build up

Wouldnt going straight to the Taiga be a better option then?
(It 's brand new so that option wasn t there before ).

[vurt]

Did somebody say West Pest?



Maybe not übermodular in nature but the nastyness i like.

check the east beast too
between the two, you have the east vs west coast you mention in the op.
and both would add to any rack you start, covering a few functions while you build up

Wouldnt going straight to the Taiga be a better option then?
(It 's brand new so that option wasn t there before ).

depends if that's all you are after?
the price is quite different for taiga vs east/west.
you do of course get the 3 oscillators and the delay.

if you think the taiga is all you need, it is a great piece of kit.

the east/west options are more if you want to also build up a rack over time, to add different filters or whatever.

of course, you can add to the taiga too, i was just looking at keeping things less costly

[Shabdahbriah]

[...] of course, you can add to the taiga too, i was just looking at keeping things less costly

Indeed. Just screwing around for some west-coasty+ versatility:

West pest
Plaits (clone)
Marbles (clone)
Ripples (multi-mode filter, clone)
Clouds+ (clone)

{+ 84hp case/power of course} like Nifty case, or Tiptop, etc.

Modulargrid-starter-01.png

... let the deluge begin.

[vurt]

[...] of course, you can add to the taiga too, i was just looking at keeping things less costly

Indeed. Just screwing around for some west-coasty versatility:

West pest
Plaits (clone)
Marbles (clone)
Ripples (multi-mode filter, clone)
Clouds+ (clone)

{+ 84hp case/power of course} like Nifty case, or Tiptop, etc.

Modulargrid-starter-01.png


... let the deluge begin.

that's a pretty good starter.
id keep the pest separate for additional space though

[Shabdahbriah]

...[self-quoted]