Pusherman
The beauty of modular synthesis is that you can take it in any direction you like. Design your dream setup with our end-to-end guide
The appeal of modular synthesis is, above all else, its flexibility. By allowing users to mix and match the core building blocks of electronic instruments at will, a modular setup can be pretty much anything. Want to recreate the signal path of a classic analogue synth? Create a self-generating ambient patch? Focus just on drums, sequencing or effects processing? Modular does all of this and more.
If you’re new to the modular world, it’s difficult to know where to begin. Sure, some users go for the maximalist approach: buying every module they can lay their hands on, plus a bucketload of extra long patch leads, and creating a behemoth system that can do anything and everything. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend this though: the strain on your finances and living space can lead to divorces and destitution.
A better tactic is to establish what you’d like your system to specialise in and start with the bare minimum modules needed to achieve it. Not only is this a far more cost-effective approach, it will also encourage you to really experiment with that core group of modules before moving on. Once you’ve established the limits of that basic setup, you can work out precisely where you need to expand and what tools will help you do so.
Start by asking yourself what you have in mind. Do you want to create sound or simply process it (or both?). If you’re building a synth, what kinds of sonic textures do you want? Analogue sounds, complex wavetables, or samples and granular synthesis? Do you want to sequence from within your modular or are you happy to trigger from an existing controller, sequencer or DAW?
A great way to start is to plan your setup virtually first. Modulargrid.net is a widely-used site for experimenting with layouts, allowing you to establish how different modules will fit into a case and work out power consumption.
As for testing the sonic possibilities of a setup, VCV Rack is a free application that will allow you to put together a virtual modular rig using a host of emulated modules (both free and paid-for), and can be a great way to get your head around modular concepts before diving in. Software such as NI’s Reaktor Blocks, Softube Modular or Bitwig Studio’s The Grid are great too.
Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of this excellent art…
THE BASIC
For newcomers, the modular realm can seem full of oddball terminology and requirements, all of which can be off-putting. Before we delve into the modules themselves, let’s recap a few of the basic principles of hardware modular synthesis.
WHY EURORACK?
In this guide, we’re focusing on the Eurorack modular format. Synth modules come in all shapes and sizes and not all are compa
