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And modular synths too
What are essential modules ? VCF, VCO, ADSR and ??

noyau wrote:And modular synths too
What are essential modules ? VCF, VCO, ADSR and ??

- Ringmodulator (preferred the passive type)
- Noise generator
- VCA would be nice too..
- Totally patchable
and preferable ADSR (or more stages) on all VCO,VCF,VCA modules

I can think of numerous other items I'd like to add to this list but you wanted the essential modules...

J.

I NEVER use a Ring Mod, lol.
Your very basic synth setup will have at least:
-VCO (at least 2)
-VCF (needs to have Lowpass)
-VCA
-ADSR Envelope
-LFO

A friend of mine said me to build a Stabilized Power Unit but dunnow the use of it....
The modular is not passive ?

I'll begin with the VCF, which I can connect on my D50 in a first time, then, I'll make 2 VCO, a VCA, ADSR and LFO

Johan :

What's the use of a Ring Modulator ? And a Noise Generator ?
I'll make all the modular patchable, I don't think I have an other choice, no ?

noyau wrote:What's the use of a Ring Modulator ? And a Noise Generator ?
I'll make all the modular patchable, I don't think I have an other choice, no ?

I never use Ring modulation either... The noise generator will give you the basis to do some FX like wind, sea, etc.

With a friend, I'm going to make some Moog Modules : 2x 921a and 6x 901b
We have schematics of the Moog55 and my friend bought parts to make the 2x 921a

Sounds very ambitious if you haven't done it before. But good luck anyway.

The Ring Modulator is needed to create bell like sounds, it's the only module that can produce such kind of sounds. For example, to create the laser harp sound, you need a ring mod

And the noise generator is needed to create fx sounds, surf, wind, percussions...

And if I were you, I would make include at least these modules:
VCO (at least 3)
VCF (multimode, if possible)
LFO (highrange, into audible, if available)
Ring Mod

....

It'll have :
- 6 VCOs (Moog 921a & 901b)
- 1 VCF (Steiner VCF) (for now, because after I'll maybe add one ARP VCF, one Minimoog VCF and one EMS VCF because I have PCM and schematics )
- 1 ring modulator (based on the classical LM1496 IC)
- 2 VC-LFOs
- 1 ADSR
- 1 VCA

I have to find all parts and to calculate the price, if it is too expensive, there is a big problem....

To make all of these modules working, what do I need ?

(as you can see, with documents which can be found here, it's easy to make a modular )

noyau wrote:To make all of these modules working, what do I need ?

-Solder
-Soldering iron
-Wire cutters
-Wire strippers
-Pliers
-Wire (flex if the wires go from the PCB to the panel)
-Access to some casing
-Drill (with drill-bits)

Will edit if I think of anything else

I have all of that but I was speaking "musically" speaking
Like (for example) how to play the modular (yes yes, good question, keyboard or ??)
And maybe cables

noyau wrote:I have all of that but I was speaking "musically" speaking
Like (for example) how to play the modular (yes yes, good question, keyboard or ??)
And maybe cables

You'll definitely need patch cables.
If you only have a small space, then maybe a sequencer module would be a good idea, but it depends whether you need to play it as a keyboard or not. If you do, then a MIDI to CV module would be the best idea as you won't need to buy another keyboard.

jarrekid wrote:You'll definitely need patch cables.

Oh yes, but I think I'll need to buy many and at 3€ the cable...

jarrekid wrote:If you only have a small space, then maybe a sequencer module would be a good idea

I saw price of a sequencer.....
Maybe I didn't look where it needs but I found one for 350€

jarrekid wrote:but it depends whether you need to play it as a keyboard or not.

Is there a way of playing on these babies without a keyboard ?

jarrekid wrote:If you do, then a MIDI to CV module would be the best idea as you won't need to buy another keyboard.

I saw prices of MIDI to CV, around 100€. What's the price of a keyboard ?


I saw too it is possible to add a joystick, why ?

jarrekid wrote:I NEVER use a Ring Mod, lol.

Well if you don't like those AKS type sounds then you don't need a ringmod

J.

noyau wrote:It'll have :
- 6 VCOs (Moog 921a & 901b)
- 1 VCF (Steiner VCF) (for now, because after I'll maybe add one ARP VCF, one Minimoog VCF and one EMS VCF because I have PCM and schematics )
- 1 ring modulator (based on the classical LM1496 IC)
- 2 VC-LFOs
- 1 ADSR
- 1 VCA

I have to find all parts and to calculate the price, if it is too expensive, there is a big problem....

To make all of these modules working, what do I need ?

(as you can see, with documents which can be found here, it's easy to make a modular )

As jarrekid/geejee pointed out I forgot the LFO however... one or two of those 6 VCO's can be made into a LFO source but you need frequencies < 1 Hz too...

As for noise... you can make music with *just* noise... not only percussion sounds but also snare drums also intresting sounds are vco's mixed with noise or add noise percussion to the sound but you need to have multiple audio pathways.

General warning about modulars: Your modular will NEVER be finished...you always want to expand...

As for the VCF's I would also like multimode (Low Pass,Band Pass,Band Reject and High Pass) also a self oscillating Q is wanted.

See this is what happens.. you start out simple... then it becomes tastefull and you want more and more and more and more and welcome to the analog modular club hooked for life (ensured )

J.