Modular is Easy ( If You Know How to Do It )

Modular synths can be easy. I started my journey with them in the worst way, trying to be someone else and believing whoever told me something like " dont get a full synth voice, that is not eurorack".
In this video I want to share my experience with modules, talk about surrendering to the evidence that to be happy with something I use, I need to be honest with what I am.
Enjoy!
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00:00 Introduction
03:20 Why Modular
06:40 My system
09:40 Patch explanation
13:00 Four advices to be an happy modular nerd
#eurorack #modularsynth #synthesizer #ambientmusic #intellijel
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[@OoraMusic]

This channel is supported by my Patreons, become a member here : www.patreon.com/ooramusic Buy the Godfather using this affiliate link: www.enjoy-lab.com/?af=2ETGR

[@TheUnperson]

Great advice about not copying others! It took me a long time to create a modular system catered to my musical style - very happy with my set-up now :D

[@OoraMusic]

Don't say anyone, but I really want to copy you :D

[@TheUnperson]

@@OoraMusic haha! After watching your vid on the godfather I'm wanting to copy that! :D

[@uweschnitzler9551]

I am always coming back to this ! This is one of the best videos on this topic ! So true ..

[@camillolongo]

Hey thank you for sharing your thoughts on Modular. As a newcomer to the overwhelming world of Eurorack, your advice really helps. I especially love the Italian cooking analogy- it shifted my mindset, in a good way.

[@OoraMusic]

great to hear. Start with few good ingredients my friend

[@norwinp.8351]

happy to see our atlantis sitting in your case and being used for such beautiful sounds :) lovely video and greetings from the other side of the spree

[@OoraMusic]

ciao my friend!

[@SimoneDMarques]

I liked to see this video from the beginning to the end, I love your philosophy on modular. I'm a rookie with this stuff but I made exactly the same mistakes, such us buy a lot of modules that are simply not me. Less it's better, thank you for sharing with us this lesson :)

[@OoraMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AndyVonal]

A wonderful lesson in modular philosophy.... thank you for bringing me back down to Earth! New Subscriber!

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks Andy!

[@rrigs8075]

Great video and wise words!

[@OoraMusic]

Thank you kindly!

[@redwoodword]

I started with a Moog Werksatt and I'm glad I did for all the reasons you articulate here. A simple subtractive voice with patch points was perfect for me to learn with. From there I added mostly utilities as I needed them to do specific things, (not just because I thought they were cool). For me it has been about building a system to do those specific things that I want it to do, that way the learning happens in a more organic way.

[@ThMntnst]

Without having reached the end of your video, I'd already like to say: Yes, it is! I was "failing" with prewired synthesizers for a few years, not getting out of them what they really would be able to do. Since I was at all times interested in the quirky parts of music making, I finally went the Eurorackroute which ironically helped me to get way better at synthesis and musiccreation in general. To me, the point has been: While patching something, you get to make a visual and physical connection in sight, you see certain routes layed out in front of you. Also, some dedicated modules really help isolate a synthesis/sequencing/controlling-concept to an understandable package. I profitted heavily from not getting a full system and instead having only a few modules I _thought_ to be what is needed to create a voice for starters. And while figuring my way through these individually chosen modules, I learned every single one isolated and then went to connect that in a situational context. - I therefore built something and thought "I'd like to have the patch to do [X] - how could I make it work?" which lead to either learning even more of what I already had in my rack or a focussed lookout for a certain class of modules to add. I like to take sample&hold as a prime-example: In most prewired synths, this is at hand, but the working principle is so cut down, that on the frontside of things, you maybe don't get what it is about, since you never think about a controlsignal (voltage) to be present between the different parts of a voice. You get told "it samples a signal" which is nice and all, but you are not really connected to what signal that could be, where it comes from and when it is sampled. Taking that basic process apart with a modular-s+h, you really see these routes. Also, when "learning what you need", modules feel even cheaper in the long run: You'd easily make a terrible oversight with a complete synthesizer since it is a bundle of many functions. And every of those oversights make you feel like you need another complete synthesizer. If I see that I missed a feature with my current lineup, I can just really look for that. Take filter-topology for example. You never need to put a complete synthesizer aside, just exchange or add another buildingblock tailored to what you think you'd need/or love even. When I now come back to a synth like the Polyend/Dreadbox Medusa, I manage to really squeeze out the potential.

[@hyperactivists9390]

good info very helpful suggestions thanks

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@sklandarok]

good advices, nice system thank u for sharing

[@OoraMusic]

thanks for watching

[@ChristopherOrth]

Fantastic advice

[@OoraMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cougarman8]

Great video btw!

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks!

[@andrij.demianczuk]

My case is designed as a series of a couple of ‘bundles’ of modules. This way I can get to know four sets of 3-5 modules each and how they can be mixed together (I use a Quadratt for that). It’s like having four unique synths in one case :). Completely odd workflow for most people but I love it!

[@cougarman8]

I’m curious, you have so much gear, and a lot of it is deep and sophisticated. How do you remember how to work them all? When I’m away from gear for a period of time I have to almost relearn parts of it. You seem to be decently fluent on all of it and it’s very impressive!! Going from this to the octatrack to the sp404 for instance.

[@els1f]

This is a damn good question lol😋 I have that same problem! Anything with some special menu options is like trying to do calculus after a few years away from class 🙃

[@cougarman8]

@@els1f yeah, I am able to remember the big things with some of the more complex boxes, and at this point I won’t forget the workflow of most of them. But I don’t work with any software or too much modular stuff. And some of these workflows are tricky! Very impressed with people who can play with a lot with some fluency.

[@OoraMusic]

Good question! First, some stuff I have to reread the manual all the time. But by now if you give me any instrument I will be up and running in 10 minutes, I guess doing this line of work get you in the zone faster. With simple modules is easier since what you see is what you get, when menu diving is involved then things become complicated.

[@cougarman8]

@@OoraMusic thanks for the response- and that makes sense. Keep up the great work and following and growing your passion!

[@andrewlodge8307]

Hey Federico! I love your videos and I was curious if you were interested in making one about samples. I been highly inspired by Burial’s Untrue and BOC’s Geogaddi. Obviously your style may not use samples, but it would be awesome to see your creative mind at work. Cheers!

[@OoraMusic]

I want to use samples more for sure!

[@earlsfield]

Hey mate, what's the case again? I am looking for this mix of 2 rows of 3 U and 1U, but with 1 U in the middle.

[@OoraMusic]

this one is a sector sieben , made in Germany

[@TilliKommunikation]

I love that case. (The video too.)

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@gustavofarina2107]

muy bueno!!!

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@dankeplace]

Bo sent me here, awesome!!!

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Not very familiar with modular, except for VCV rack and MiRack, but isn’t the idea of a modular that you can modulate everything? Thus benefiting from separate VCO, VCF, LFO’s etc. Your setup does sound good though 👍

[@rocl420]

personally, yes that's a big part of the point. Semi-modular synths seem to be a better decision for the sort of direction mentioned in this video, which is "simpicity is best." If that's the working paradigm then why buy into modular? Deep individual components you mix and match. Modular is complex by default which can be played simply if you want, whereas a more normal synth is simpler which might require digging into processing or deep programming to get complexity. It's a large price premium to avoid one of the main attractions. Some things stood out as being a little strange, like someone's simple 2 voice system actually being a complex oscillator and a harmonic oscillator? Those are some of the wildest and complex of the category (it's even in the name hehe). It would make more sense to grab a polysynth and a monsynth and some pedals and start cranking it out, especially if you aren't into modulation. When just 2 modules take up a whole row like here (not discounting Oora's reasoning to stick them in the rack), individual items might make a lot more sense. Playing the modules manually is a the same as tweaking a knob, I'd say go semi-modular first and see if it tickles you. Compare the price of a Grandmother or Matriarch to an AJH full system (which seeks the analog flavor of the Minimoog era), modular synthesis is paying for the privilege of easily getting wild, complex, and unique. The B2600 is a cheap entry point test. I dig the channel but this was an odd one for me, appreciate the perspective all the same, the tweakability and creating a unique voice is spot on which is what means the most in the modular world to me. Complete voices are awesome but take some of that away, no? Just a couple complete voices, sequencer, and effects are going to have trouble competing with the ground a full synth (or 3) costing a fraction can cover in most cases. If modular is a cookbook, staying simple is only working with a few ingredients - not taking away from the small system concept - but skimping on modulation seems antithetical or at least better achieved another way. I'm not investing in a full kitchen to only make BLTs. It's definitely a personal thing as mentioned!

[@OoraMusic]

it is the main point I keep hearing ( also in the other comment, which is very interesting ). I believe that for me the modular beauty is having in a case all the parts ( modules) the create my live performance setup. I love using my hands so once I shifted with this perspective, I enjoy using it more and more.

[@OoraMusic]

great points!

[@coreyackland]

Are your LED cables the HALO ones?

[@OoraMusic]

yes

[@hozae6368]

Heyyy can I ask you where that case is from?

[@OoraMusic]

this is a sector sieben!

[@hozae6368]

@@OoraMusic thank you very much!

[@Luke_Mile]

Your scenario is realistic. You said things that nobody say

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!!

[@fabiancortes6255]

What's your mixer board?

[@gimmenames9039]

It's a Zähl AM-1 afaik.

[@OoraMusic]

zahl am1

[@H_ologramic]

Ctrl is such a great store! I only recently got into modular so I’ve yet to go inside, but buying a module through a cracked door on the street feels like a cyberpunk drug deal! It’s funny you mention magic the gathering, throughout my journey I keep thinking of my time playing netrunner or roguelikes. Modular feels like building a kit, you agonize over optimal builds, eventually take it out and play with it, then iterate on what could be better tuned to your liking; then run again.

[@OoraMusic]

oh man, I still have LOT of net runner card, and lotr and Star Wars :D

[@gimmenames9039]

"death of any creativity!" Yes - less is more!

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@eddy_sonik]

👍I LOVE ! 💙⚪❤

[@OoraMusic]

thanks!

[@ionianechoes]

The issue with modular is the price not the difficulty

[@OoraMusic]

fair enough!

[@moralrevulsionLive]

Everything is easy if you have at least 2% of creativity in your genetics...and a lot of money

[@OoraMusic]

fair enough