going modular

  On 3/3/2010 at 9:59 PM, children r r future said:

It's dead easy to rig up a power supply and case... I have 6U of eurorack space at my disposal and it must have cost me less than $75 and a few hours of my time (mostly because I am a noob). I wouldn't go knocking the Doepfer stuff. Just because it doesn't have a bunch of faggy emo graphics all over it doesn't mean that it's not quality. Old Dieter has ripped off the very best, let me assure you. The functional density of Doepfer modules is also hard to beat. Just read up on your options before you make any decisions... but don't let it go to your head. Muff's can be a great resource, but it's also a hotbed of sycophancy and homoeroticism. The power of suggestion seems to hold massive sway there, so try to avoid the neurotic mindset that seems to motivate the majority of these so-called "wigglers" ...

yeah - i've been considering making my own case too - doepfer sells the rack rails and power supply - did you rig up your own or have a kit?

i'll admit i'm sourcing the 'doepfer isn't quite as good' from internet opinions... and most of what i've read smacks of "well, i have harvestman / cwejman / metasonix modules - doepfer is for noobs", so i definitely have an appreciation for that. that's another reason i was going to start with doepy gear - if i get it, and i feel it's not good enough, i can adjust as need be. if i dig it, then so be it.

i have been reading a lot on various sites - and went so far as to start this thread, which i normally wouldn't - but i know some of you are analogue heads as well, and i've just been stalling the inevitable. =)

it seems that modular gear - much like IDM, guitar gear, or gardening technology for all i know - suffers from internet "more-time-spent-discussing-and-arguing-than-actually-using" syndrome, so perhaps it's time to stop reading and just start modular-ing.

good info tho. thanks everyone.

  On 3/4/2010 at 7:17 AM, maus said:

  On 3/3/2010 at 9:59 PM, children r r future said:

It's dead easy to rig up a power supply and case... I have 6U of eurorack space at my disposal and it must have cost me less than $75 and a few hours of my time (mostly because I am a noob). I wouldn't go knocking the Doepfer stuff. Just because it doesn't have a bunch of faggy emo graphics all over it doesn't mean that it's not quality. Old Dieter has ripped off the very best, let me assure you. The functional density of Doepfer modules is also hard to beat. Just read up on your options before you make any decisions... but don't let it go to your head. Muff's can be a great resource, but it's also a hotbed of sycophancy and homoeroticism. The power of suggestion seems to hold massive sway there, so try to avoid the neurotic mindset that seems to motivate the majority of these so-called "wigglers" ...

 

yeah - i've been considering making my own case too - doepfer sells the rack rails and power supply - did you rig up your own or have a kit?

 

i'll admit i'm sourcing the 'doepfer isn't quite as good' from internet opinions... and most of what i've read smacks of "well, i have harvestman / cwejman / metasonix modules - doepfer is for noobs", so i definitely have an appreciation for that. that's another reason i was going to start with doepy gear - if i get it, and i feel it's not good enough, i can adjust as need be. if i dig it, then so be it.

 

i have been reading a lot on various sites - and went so far as to start this thread, which i normally wouldn't - but i know some of you are analogue heads as well, and i've just been stalling the inevitable. =)

 

it seems that modular gear - much like IDM, guitar gear, or gardening technology for all i know - suffers from internet "more-time-spent-discussing-and-arguing-than-actually-using" syndrome, so perhaps it's time to stop reading and just start modular-ing.

 

good info tho. thanks everyone.

While a lot of people might claim that doepfers filters and oscillaotrs sound weak, i don't really personally believe this. But i think there is another good reason to not focus on a doepfer modular.

Doepfer's basic multi LFOs and ADSR modules have a lot less control compared to something like MOTM's looping envelope module or BLacet's controllable rate LFO. Some of the doepfer modules are great ideas and sound great but are cock teases as far as controllability goes. Some modules like the BBD delays, have a little too much control unnecessarily while experimental filters like the Trautonium have absolutely no external voltage control making them almost kind of uselss unelss you can twiddle 4 knobs at once.

I went the route of buying 2 rack doepfer case with mostly doepfer modules the first time around and i was much more pleased by my single unit frac and the power it had in comparison.

I recommend starting with just a power supply from Blacet and using their stuff. They even sell a DIY case thats basically just rails for you to put wood paneling on if you like with optional rack ears, its pretty cheap.

i don't know what i would do without the below modules :

great bank of 128 256 wavetables that you trigger with an another module outputting a sawtooth wav. You can get a lot of interesting results on it though using it as a distortion, like with a live guitar input or drums.

throwing these through most LPFs sound amazing, very easy to get those really juicy fat basslines

Clock In accepts almost any wave form including audio frequencies

Two Clock Outs (one with narrow pulse)

Six octave based controls with +/- swings (center off) allow up to 64 step patterns ranging up to +/-10V

Four step Lag processor push button

Normal and Inverted outs

Handy Range Switch (+/-2V, +/-5V, +/-10V)

basically this thing is a great random sequencer in a single module. I use this sometimes for LFO type controls but mostly its fun to use as an melody generator

this one kind of speaks for itself, but can be used as both an ADSR and an lfo. Only big complaint about this one is the loop rate or stuttering effect (if you use it to trigger a percussive like instrument) can't be CV controlled.

Stepped Random Voltage Function

Smooth Random Voltage Function

Digital Noise Source

VC Slew Limiter • A/D Generator

one of the most diverse S&H units ever made