Cloud 9 session #1: Modular in the rain

@@funky_junkie yeah, I love playing outdoors. Whether it’s sunny or rainy, the world has already imparted its vibe, so you just play along….

@@robthebloke well put!

Thank you very much!

@@peti14045 I started out down the DIY route - I kinda like the process of soldering - it’s like meditation, but with lead fumes 🤣
The only thing I would say, is that there does come a point, where the DIY stuff stops making sense! (More so for live sets, than having fun at home it must be said!)
The options for good DIY sequencers and lush stereo reverbs, are well, pretty much non existent! From a practicality standpoint, the only problem with DIY gear, is that the modules can be a little simpler than shop bought gear, so you often need more of them, which entails more patch cables, and more rack space (which means buying yet more longer patch cables!)
Although I don’t want to recommend them, from a financial pov, it’s impossible to match the value of the Behringer abacus, four play, four lfo, 112 dual VCF, and swords (dual/stereo VCF). Honestly, those modules are worth buying.
Everything else, can be made at home. Since I’ve started playing live sets though, I’ve slowly tended towards a combination of modules that make my workflow quicker. With my current set up, I can get to something musical within 5 to 10 mins, rather than 30 mins with my DIY gear!
Once you’ve got 3 or 4 DIY 3340 VCO’s, you probably don’t need any more! (It’s then you start appreciating the really good stuff, like a TSL or CSL from instruo).
But yeah, it’s a fun journey, and I hope you enjoy it!

@@robthebloke Yeah, for now I'm not planning to make live sets. For now. More for my own entertaintment and for fun. I know that a good DIY effect is non existent thats why I need to buy it. But I'm starting to tinker with a DIY sequencer, the basics for the functions is already in my head, now I need to make it work. When I decide that I had enough meltdown then I'm going to buy one. 🥲
Thats why I love your stuff because its musical enough for my ears. My first experience with electronic music was Jean Michel Jarre but that was 25 years ago. And one day (Of course through YT algorythm with the One big fat sound - looks like sometimes the algorythm is good-) found your channel. Since then I'm listening the stuff on it.
You're right, because I'm starting to realize that the DIY route can be sometimes simpler but you're losing functions in comparison to shop bought modules.
I will check the modules you mentioned, thanks for the suggestion!
Slowly but surely I will be having a good rig and for now I'm having fun.

@ I’m mean, for me this whole modular journey was initially about the fun of simply building my own synth. I didn’t really head into this with any particular long term plan, I just accidentally ended up doing what I do now, lol!
There are some DIY modules that are easy builds. There are some DIY modules that are easy builds, and offer a tonne of functionality. The latter is what you need to aim for! ;)
It’s always worth reading the build instructions before buying a PCB/panel, or kit. There are a few out there that require some nasty hacking around problems on the PCB (usually involving a hose pipe, some gaffer tape, and a resistor leg to fix). It’s usually (but not always) an indicator that the build could be a PITA.
In general, prefer designs that have attenuators on the inputs, and a general rule of thumb is the more inputs, the better.
Off the top of my head as an example, the rat king modular 3340 VCO vs the Frequency Central 3340. The RK version doesn’t have an attenuator on the FM input, which means you will ALWAYS need an additional attenuator, and patch cable. The FC version does, but also has octave switching.
Both have about the same level of build complexity (pretty easy tbh), however the FC version has a few more components, and will take about twice the time to build (it’s two boards instead of one).
The FC version would be the one to go for out of the two. It’s still a pretty basic VCO, but the attenuators and octave switching just makes it a lot more convenient.
But then again, by the time you’ve ordered a PCB/panel, you’ve ordered the components, and paid for shipping; you could have probably bought two of the Behringer 121 dual oscillators. (The FC 3340’s do have all waveform outputs at once, which is a big plus tbh! Whether it’s worth the extra money, that’s up to you really)
There’s kinda the same problem with filters. Again, frequency central modules are fantastic beginner DIY projects. Their raging bull filter is the closest I’ve heard to a vintage Moog filter in eurorack. All of their filters are amazing. However, the dual 112 filter from Behringer, is probably cheaper than DIYing one of their filter modules sadly.
So if you want to DIY a couple of filters, the FC white face & raging bull are great places to start. The Behringer 112 is a no brainer. It’s the best value for money filter around. It’s not THE best, but it’s so cheap, and so versatile, you’ll never get rid of it.
However, then you get the Behringer swords. I have the original mutable instruments blades (swords is just a clone of that). It is hands down the best filter I have ever used. It’s stereo, or dual mono. It tracks 1v octave really well. It’s continuously variable between low->band->hi pass. It has wave folders on both outputs, and to cap it all off, it can do an amazing impression of a dual complex oscillator (Buchla 259, instruo CSL, etc). It probably wouldn’t be the best filter to get first (the 112 is probably better), but it should be on your radar imho
It’s the same thing with the abacus (make noise maths clone). You’d need to DIY an entire 104hp rack to come anywhere near what that one module can do.
The Behringer quad lfo and quad vca. Again, you’d probably need to make about 5 or 6 modules (each) to come close to that functionality.
Aside from maybe the Behringer chaos, I’d probably pass on the rest!
At the higher end of the diy market, I’m super impressed with what Vostok instruments are doing. They might seem a bit pricey, but you do get 4 or 6 modules in each module! (And the builds are trivially simple). The divstep is another one to look out for!
Anyhow, I’m not trying to say “don’t do DIY” (I still build the odd module now, even though I know it won’t end up in my rig, it’s just fun!)
This is more just a gentle advisory. If your aim is to build a synth 100% by yourself, do it! If however your aim is to build a cheap(ish) modular, those modern Behringer clones are stupidly good value (most of the vintage stuff, not so much, aside from the 112 and 121).
Back when I started, DIY was always the cheapest option. These days, love them or hate them, Behringer have got some modules that cannot be beaten price wise (I’m not going to get into their ethics, but that may be a bigger concern)

@@robthebloke Thank you Rob, I appreciate your help, really!

@ no worries! 🙃

I actually started off as a metal guitarist, then went a bit synthy in my later years haha

Aye, we should never restrict our pleasures, especially music... and women... and whisky... coffee cake... etc, etc, etc.

I have just updated my MG for the new layout: modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2789149
The only thing really about me doing a rig tour, is that I don’t really know what I’m doing, it just kinda ended up being this way. I’m ok with about 40% of it. 30% of it was probably a mistake (with hindsight). The other 30% is in the rig simply to work around the flaws.
As an exercise in what not to do, a rig tour may hold some value. I’d hate it however, if people looked at my rig and used it as a blueprint for their future choices! If I had an infinite budget, and was to start again tomorrow, it would look pretty different!

@@TMeiernah, just four instruo ceis envelope generators. The new versions are pretty much the maths of the adsr world (the versions I have ain’t bad though!)

@@robthebloke Ah nice! Yeah, the Ceis is a super flexible envelope generator. My fave is the Befaco Rampage, but they take up so much damn space! So I built some custom ones in Droid that work nicely for what I need. I like to have decay & release time linked, and a loooong decay time when the gate is high-more like a piano-type envelope... never sustains forever.
Anyway - love what you're doing, as always

Luckily, I only have to worry about 12v ;)

@@robthebloke 🤣

Honestly, I can’t remember I’m afraid

@ it was amazing

Well, not much, so long as the power is off. When the power is on, it depends. If it’s a few drops, the heat from the synth will evaporate the water pretty quick.
I’ve had an entire pint spilt over it at one bush doof. Had to wash it off in a creek, and then dry it by the fire. Was up and running again about an hour later.
Analogue stuff tends to stand up to abuse a lot better than digital gear ;)

(Most analogue gear, even op amp ICs, only tend to fry when you give it 20v+. My power supply is only 12v, so it’s pretty safe for the most part. A few of my sequencers use a few digital ICs, which are typically at 3->5v. They might fry themselves with a short circuit, but for the most part, it’s a pretty resilient bit of kit)

@@robthebloke Well, once the magic smoke leaves... Hahha. Amazing stuff;)