Entering the world of modulars...

http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

Can't wait to start patching, back to the basics! I'm so excited I have to post before I receive it!

Who's got (semi) modulars? Any websites to recommend?

I'm jealous (I wanted for one some month ago but could finally only go for a Monotribe). Have fun with it !

Yeah, have fun with it, also jealous. Think, my budget will enable only a Monotribe as well. Antape, you are happy with it? Complicated to use with a sequencer and computer?

  On 10/15/2012 at 12:49 PM, tokn said:

Yeah, have fun with it, also jealous. Think, my budget will enable only a Monotribe as well. Antape, you are happy with it? Complicated to use with a sequencer and computer?

I really like the Monotribe for what it is : it's in my opinion a very good sounding simple analogue synthesizer. The filter is a great fun and the LFO is a good thing to experiment with.

What is frustrating about this synth is definitely the lack of MIDI. I've used it in some of my tracks, in sync with Reaper (which outputs a click to the Sync IN of the Monotribe) and although this allow you to add simple and sexy acid (or not) lines to your compositions, it's not really convenient to use (you have to reset the Monotribe sequencer by pressing 'stop / play' every time you stop your DAW ; and anyway the internal sequencer of the box is very limited).

It's also probably fair to mention it can be great for some more atmospheric or pad sounds if you layer several tracks and play with some effects (example in the track of my signature : the intro synths).

I really love its sound and I'm considering to buy a kit for feeding it with MIDI from Reaper, which would be really cool. I'm kinda broke right now but I think I'll buy one in a near future.

Hope that'll help you to make up your mind !

  On 10/14/2012 at 8:08 PM, yanG said:

Who's got (semi) modulars? Any websites to recommend?

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum

  On 10/14/2012 at 8:08 PM, yanG said:

http://www.doepfer.d...rk_Energy_e.htm

 

Can't wait to start patching, back to the basics! I'm so excited I have to post before I receive it!

 

Who's got (semi) modulars? Any websites to recommend?

This thing looks cool but it seems like it doesn't have that many connections to F with. Enough to have fun, though, for sure. Are you using it with other modules?

the dark energy is excellent. I use mine on almost every track I make. as it is relatively basic, and there is only octave & two voices max at a time, there are some serious limitations, but if you are creative with it, you can still make lots of interesting sounds.

Ideally, I'd love to get a second one and make a full-fledged beast of a monosynth, but that probably won't happen for quite a while.

this should become a DE patch exchange thread

  On 10/14/2012 at 8:08 PM, yanG said:

http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

 

Can't wait to start patching, back to the basics! I'm so excited I have to post before I receive it!

 

Who's got (semi) modulars? Any websites to recommend?

Woo! Congrats!

  On 10/15/2012 at 2:04 PM, Antape said:

  On 10/15/2012 at 12:49 PM, tokn said:

Yeah, have fun with it, also jealous. Think, my budget will enable only a Monotribe as well. Antape, you are happy with it? Complicated to use with a sequencer and computer?

 

I really love its sound and I'm considering to buy a kit for feeding it with MIDI from Reaper, which would be really cool. I'm kinda broke right now but I think I'll buy one in a near future.

 

Hope that'll help you to make up your mind !

I don't know what your budget is like but http://amazingmachines.com.br/products_miditribe.html can be had for $65, which seems pretty reasonable to me for the options it would open up on the miditribe... or there's a DIY version if your handy with electronics.

That said, I haven't upgraded mine yet, sort of think the limitations of the sequencer are a part of it's charm.

I've done some digging around for good brands of eurorack modules, here are a few I quite liked:

Harvestman

Pittsburgh Modular

Analogue Systems - I think jonny greenwood of radiohead has a monster system with their modules

Circuit Abbey

Analogue Solutions- they have some interesting eurorack modules, and their semi-modulars look awesome (particularly Tereshkova)

Livewire

Intellijel

Future Sound Systems - the guy behind FSS is a watmmer, he's friendly and helpful

Cwejman - if you've got mad money to spend, they're as high quality as it gets

The first specialized webstore I'd go to browse and check prices for modules and semi-modules in Euroland would be schneidersladen.

On a side note, I saw an ad a couple of days ago from someone selling a Korg MS-20 for €1,200 - not a lot of money for a classic semi-modular synth. Its little brother the MS-10 is supposed to be a gem in the used synth market, I've never seen anyone selling one but I've read it can go for under €1,000.

My advice would be to buy the modules that you definitely want, as opposed too buying similar ones because they are cheaper or more readily available. You will almost always end up getting rid of modules you bought as 'stand-ins' for the real deal later. I sold a bunch of my Cwejman modules thinking I could spread the money they were worth out over quite a few more modules only to end up buying them back at much higher prices than I sold them for.

Livewire is fantastic as well, everyone should have an AFG! But if I were you, I would start by getting an Envelope Generator to pair with your Dark Energy to start out. Just do some digging around the internet to read up on the various modules that are out. It probably seems like a nightmare when starting out these days, there are sooooo many modules to choose from anymore, its amazing!

  On 10/15/2012 at 9:36 PM, sweepstakes said:

This thing looks cool but it seems like it doesn't have that many connections to F with. Enough to have fun, though, for sure. Are you using it with other modules?

Not yet, but I guess when my bank account gets better again after a coupla months I will. I might as well prototype fun stuff ith my Arduino, I've got many light sensors :)

if I'm honest, I never really rated my dark energy that much. I found it quite inharmonic and it didn't sit well in my mixes. it's also only the most basic of systems in terms of patching and is not really a modular synth (only barely makes it into the semi modular category). still it was fun for a bit I guess... sold it earlier this year though, not missing it.

  On 10/16/2012 at 2:11 AM, kokeboka said:

…the MS-10 is supposed to be a gem in the used synth market, I've never seen anyone selling one but I've read it can go for under €1,000.

After that Sean Booth interview with Fizzarum someone posted over the weekend, I looked at MS-10 prices on eBay and they seemed to go for around 700 USD. I'm a total noob when it comes to analog, but if I wanted something semi-modular and had the money, that's probably where I'd start.

  On 10/16/2012 at 2:28 PM, BCM said:

if I'm honest, I never really rated my dark energy that much. I found it quite inharmonic and it didn't sit well in my mixes. it's also only the most basic of systems in terms of patching and is not really a modular synth (only barely makes it into the semi modular category). still it was fun for a bit I guess... sold it earlier this year though, not missing it.

This is very interesting coming from a guy who rocks MFB synths now!

i've had the MFB from way before i got the Dark Energy. it does say a lot that i didn't sell the MFB though... to my ears it's more "musical" - it works much better in the tunes i make. when i used to up the fader on my Dark Energy i was always disappointed by the way it seemed to refuse to "blend in" with anything else. don't get me wrong, it's got a big sound and is certainly a lot of fun, but in practical terms i never found i could really use it. maybe it's just me i dunno...

probably the type of music you make and the sound and character you were looking for.

I think the type of music I make would typically be perfect for the dark energy - ie analogue style braindancey stuff (you've all heard it by now surely)... I just found it too disharmonious (if that's a word lol) for my tastes. dunno, maybe my unit was faulty or something...

Slightly off topic but I'm still trying to get my Korg Monotron Duo in a track. :(

  On 10/16/2012 at 2:11 AM, kokeboka said:

Future Sound Systems - the guy behind FSS is a watmmer, he's friendly and helpful

Aww cheers boss!

  On 10/17/2012 at 2:50 PM, BCM said:

I think the type of music I make would typically be perfect for the dark energy - ie analogue style braindancey stuff (you've all heard it by now surely)... I just found it too disharmonious (if that's a word lol) for my tastes. dunno, maybe my unit was faulty or something...

ya sure but I mean more specifically you probably have a certain quality that you look for, even if it's a subconscious thing. There is such a range of sounds even just in the "brain dance" category. The Virus and machine drum are also good examples. Some people love them some don't.

Something I like to do with the DE:

Start with just your basic oscillator, filter fully open etc.

Then tune 1or two lfos to the audio range , lets say C3 if your in the key of C.

Now you can strike notes, and crank up the pwm, filter mods so that it morphs from the simple tone to mangled. But it stays musical because youve tuned the lfos.

Also, if the envelope is slow and affects the vco freq you can find a spot where the osc is raised by say a fifth. Then flick the vco freq mod on and off whenever you want to quickly transpose your sequence. Use this in conjunction with the octave switch.

Sorry for the spam, but it may be of interest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DEyoG4jnm0

Hihi, I made this quick shit video, I was able to send MIDI arps for the first time yesterday cause I don't have a hardware sequencer and my PC was fucked, couldn't find my Windows installer... The only was I could play with it was by sending the square LFO into the gate in, or just turn the VCA on without envelope, so frustrating! Anyway, I was so excited I need to record my first filter sweep :) Pardon the shit quality!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay4Qq9twY-U

Off another of your vid:

  futureimage said:

This filter will turn your favourite Abba tracks into the next Merzbow LP.

:)