Technicly all modern synthesizers are semi-modular/modular

[Echoes in the Attic]

Something just occurred to me. I never thought of the term modular as possibly being delivered from “modulate”.

I always thought of modular in the strictest sense as being derived from “module”, therefor a synth with sound generating or processing components/modules that can be freely arranged in terms of signal flow. And while that often meant it could patch just about anything anywhere (meaning Audi rate modulation if digital), I don’t I assumed that to be necessary. For example I usually thought of phase plant or even zebra as modular, even though it doesn’t have the audio rate modulation freedom of say, Bazille. But Bazille on the other hand has a fixed layout but can route signals anywhere (and requires a basic connection to make sound!) so I thought of that as modular as well but for different reasons. But if I think about it, Zebra also has fixed amount of modules, you just make them visible as desired. Whereas Bazille just happen to be showing and you can’t rearrange the placement. But changing the signal path is the more relevant thing. I don’t know if modular needs to imply audio rate modulation or if that’s just what most modulars do. But i guess I think of synths that can be infinitely expandable, like vcv rack or Reaktor blocks or softube modular. Mostly because of there not being a limit on how many modules you can load (like a real life rack). So Bazille isn’t that, but if the term modular did derive from the ability to really modulate anything with anything, then that would be the appropriate term I suppose.

I had also heard that semi modular meant being able to route modulation pathways freely but not audio. In that respect all synths with mod matrixes would be semi modular. But then I’ve also heard it meant a pre-wired signal path like an arp2600. So I don’t know.

[whyterabbyt]

if the term modular did derive from the ability to really modulate anything with anything, then that would be the appropriate term I suppose.

it didnt derive from that, though.

in other words, it really does have the same meaning as 'modular' does in other usages, from modular furniture to modular learning, ie indicating bespoke systems that could be constructed from a range of prebuilt (self-contained) smaller parts.

[pdxindy]

So Bazille isn’t that, but if the term modular did derive from the ability to really modulate anything with anything, then that would be the appropriate term I suppose.

I had also heard that semi modular meant being able to route modulation pathways freely but not audio. In that respect all synths with mod matrixes would be semi modular. But then I’ve also heard it meant a pre-wired signal path like an arp2600. So I don’t know.

I consider Bazille semi modular not modular because it has a fixed number of modules and cannot be added to. I have a fixed number of Eurorack modules, but I can always buy more!

I don't consider mod matrixes to be semi modular unless anything can be routed to anything (or mostly) and that includes the audio path. I do not consider a powerful matrix with a mostly fixed audio path to be semi-modular.

For example, I can use the Sequencer in Bazille as the sound source. Hell, you can even use an Env (looped at fast speed) as a sound source. Synths like Dune, Hive, etc cannot do that.

So I consider Bazille semi-modular and Dune, Hive, etc. not. Zebra is closer to semi-modular cause you can rearrange the audio path.

[whyterabbyt]

I consider Bazille semi modular not modular because it has a fixed number of modules and cannot be added to

Yeah, that's more or less the distinction I make as well. If you cant arbitrarily add to the set of modules a device has, its not fully modular...

[pixel85]

I wish I knew why spending an hour to patch 27 wires to get just a monophonic sine wave is a productive use of time. Err, no, I really don't...

Not everything we do must be productive. Ever heard of hobbies or simply having fun?

I use my mini eurorack after work to make music for fun. I wouldn't never use it at work. Hell no
But for me it's fun to patch it. Maybe it's one of the outcomes of growing up with Lego Technics.

Ps. I hate to do it in software. Patching virtual cables with a mouse is meh imo.

I saw a good meme… I forget the exact wording, but the basic gist was “be an artist, not a worker making a product.” We’re on the brink of AI being able to replace a lot of what all we do. People are up in arms and ready to fight it, but that’s like the horse and buggy industry fighting the automobile industry. It is a fight we will not win. The correct tact is to ignore the “industry” and let the decoupling of what you do and money be your liberation. You can do anything now! Never have to think, “will this music make money?” I’ve had this mindset for the past 30 years, and it’s been awesome, and actually led to me to making a living doing music. Well, at least 70% of my time is doing that, but it shifts as needs change. It wasn’t like I was really working towards that, though. A need came up and I was in the right place at the right time. So that’s my advice. Keep doing what you’re doing because you love it, not because it might make you money. Never stop. Maybe you’ll end up in the right place at the right time, but if not, you had a great time.

But I work in game audio Not big budget games but at least I don't need "cry/scream rooms" to release stress
Because part of my job is to do revisions (and I don't do electronic/sci-fi sounds), using modular would only make my life a pain. Presets + Kontakt are my most used tools.
After work I do side project but even when I release popular tracks (for the underground standards), I consider it as a hobby because there's no money in it.
I'm glad that I changed my pathway a few years ago and I moved to game audio. Not easy to get a job in that industry but still waaaay higher chance than competing with hundreds of thousands tracks released every day

[pixel85]

if the term modular did derive from the ability to really modulate anything with anything, then that would be the appropriate term I suppose.

it didnt derive from that, though.

in other words, it really does have the same meaning as 'modular' does in other usages, from modular furniture to modular learning, ie indicating bespoke systems that could be constructed from a range of prebuilt (self-contained) smaller parts.

Wait. Are you telling me that I'll not be able to module shelves with doors in my modular wardrobe that I just ordered? Order canceled!



Even that English is not my first language, I always thought that modular comes from modules, not modulation. Otherwise it would be... Modulator?

[vurt]

if you really slam a door you can modulate your shelves a bit.

[pixel85]

I wish I knew why spending an hour to patch 27 wires to get just a monophonic sine wave is a productive use of time. Err, no, I really don't...

Not everything we do must be productive. Ever heard of hobbies or simply having fun?

I use my mini eurorack after work to make music for fun. I wouldn't never use it at work. Hell no
But for me it's fun to patch it. Maybe it's one of the outcomes of growing up with Lego Technics.

Ps. I hate to do it in software. Patching virtual cables with a mouse is meh imo.

Same for me. I don't have much interest in software modular, except for ACE and Bazille, but they are great synths when used in a regular fixed architecture context.

My modest case hardware is for pure time wasting joy, actually it's a double time wasting exercise because I also built and will continue to build, most of my modules myself from kits and sourcing everything myself (dayjob skills have to come in handy somewhere )

I think it is scratching that same itch that Lego did for me as a kid as well

That is another level of being a modular weirdo
If I had skills/experience through education/job then highly likely I would do DIY to

[pixel85]

if you really slam a door you can modulate your shelves a bit.

I expected this answer

[PieBerger]

That is another level of being a modular weirdo
If I had skills/experience through education/job then highly likely I would do DIY to

It's mostly because I'm tight, but if I wasn't in procurement for an engineering company with access to hardware scopes etc and adjacent to properly qualified and competent people for the occasional bit of support, I probably wouldn't have been so keen to get into it. You can manage without, it's just a bit more stressful and time consuming.

I do think it's worth it in the end though, it's quite a nice feeling to fire up the case and make beeps and farts with stuff that you put together yourself

[Jafo]

I wish I knew why spending an hour to patch 27 wires to get just a monophonic sine wave is a productive use of time. Err, no, I really don't...

Not everything we do must be productive. Ever heard of hobbies or simply having fun?

I use my mini eurorack after work to make music for fun. I wouldn't never use it at work. Hell no
But for me it's fun to patch it. Maybe it's one of the outcomes of growing up with Lego Technics.

Ps. I hate to do it in software. Patching virtual cables with a mouse is meh imo.

Fair points!

[zerocrossing]

I wish I knew why spending an hour to patch 27 wires to get just a monophonic sine wave is a productive use of time. Err, no, I really don't...

Not everything we do must be productive. Ever heard of hobbies or simply having fun?

I use my mini eurorack after work to make music for fun. I wouldn't never use it at work. Hell no
But for me it's fun to patch it. Maybe it's one of the outcomes of growing up with Lego Technics.

Ps. I hate to do it in software. Patching virtual cables with a mouse is meh imo.

I saw a good meme… I forget the exact wording, but the basic gist was “be an artist, not a worker making a product.” We’re on the brink of AI being able to replace a lot of what all we do. People are up in arms and ready to fight it, but that’s like the horse and buggy industry fighting the automobile industry. It is a fight we will not win. The correct tact is to ignore the “industry” and let the decoupling of what you do and money be your liberation. You can do anything now! Never have to think, “will this music make money?” I’ve had this mindset for the past 30 years, and it’s been awesome, and actually led to me to making a living doing music. Well, at least 70% of my time is doing that, but it shifts as needs change. It wasn’t like I was really working towards that, though. A need came up and I was in the right place at the right time. So that’s my advice. Keep doing what you’re doing because you love it, not because it might make you money. Never stop. Maybe you’ll end up in the right place at the right time, but if not, you had a great time.

But I work in game audio Not big budget games but at least I don't need "cry/scream rooms" to release stress
Because part of my job is to do revisions (and I don't do electronic/sci-fi sounds), using modular would only make my life a pain. Presets + Kontakt are my most used tools.
After work I do side project but even when I release popular tracks (for the underground standards), I consider it as a hobby because there's no money in it.
I'm glad that I changed my pathway a few years ago and I moved to game audio. Not easy to get a job in that industry but still waaaay higher chance than competing with hundreds of thousands tracks released every day

Not everything I’m doing is sci-fi, and even that has an orchestral theme, so I’m in Kontakt a lot as well. Even so, the modular is good for faux foley stuff and UI sounds. We should take this off thread. I’d love to pick your brain and complain about the crazy system I’m dealing with.

[Biome_Digital]

They aren't all modular. Some are. Phase Plant is I guess.

[martinjuenke]

OP has made bold hypothesis. Proof is missing. Thread closed.

[vurt]

modular - comes in pieces
semi modular - doesn't come in pieces, but can be used as if it does.
not modular - everything else.

it's not difficult.