Modular Monthly: An intro to DIY Eurorack & the Radio Music

We take a look at Music Thing Modular's Radio Music module, and use it as an entry point into the world of Eurorack DIY.
Modular Monthly continues in every issue of Future Music. See more from our modular collaborator at: / mylarmelodies

[@4FlexxMusic]

It's impossible to not get inspired by this guy's enthusiasm.

[@TheNimasan]

one of the greatest on youtube. my top 3 for sure!

[@TheRepublicOfJohn]

Man, I love your uploads. They're always interesting and informative for a wide range of modular users, from neophytes to veteran wigglers. You always do a great job showcasing the magic that is modular. Keep up the great work, dude. -MW user CMOSCrash

[@wellllew3591]

That slays me. Wow. I am in tears. Wonderful. Marvelous. Outstanding. Beautiful.

[@djsyndicate0001]

Amazing demo! Have this module and turing machine on the way and couldn't be more excited after watching this! :D

[@1800KLIENFELD]

Ugh. So many good things about this. Wow. Amazing.

[@c.patane7899]

You have such and enthusiasm and great way of explaining information without ever being boring. Thank you! You should do a masterclass on eurorack for beginners/intermediate - I would buy it!

[@torbenlentge2884]

Absolutely brilliant episode! Thanks!

[@alaskaonpause]

Mate, this is incredible - great vid - thanks. Can't vbelieve the possibilities of this set up. A month ago I wasn't even aware that soon I'd be buying my first modular gear. - now I'm thinking about soldering!! Ha!! Bits of this remind me of the old b-boy breaks tapes mixed with early John Cage pieces, beautiful.

[@wellllew3591]

Thank you so much. Until this point i was completely oblivious to the beauties inherited by this wonderful kind of machinery. This is the kind of beautiful feel of exploration i used to feel as a toddler when playing on the radio and the tape recorder, somewhere in the lower austrian rurals. This is so beautiful it hurts.

[@mylarmelodies]

+Well llew Ace

[@mayzon111222]

Absolutely mint, sold! Love monthly modular

[@lwispe]

Excellent work on the video, the modules and the lil' jam!

[@Carlosonebillion]

You've convinced me to try and DIY. Great video!

[@mylarmelodies]

+Carlosonebillion Ace - do it!

[@Zhevros]

Radio Music was the first thing I ever soldered- and it works! Wow! Anyone can do it!

[@VladlenTepes]

Bonkers and ace! Already in need for 'Radio Music, Part 2' with Clouds ;)

[@Genshi]

Excellent! Love your videos...

[@Symmetry77]

love this, very inspiring, feels so inventive

[@theIMMUNICORN]

I could watch this channel forever :1

[@MrRostislove]

Amazing, thanks for the video! I remeber when I was a child my dad was soldering some pocket radio for me in 80s....Now I realize I can also do smth myself ! :)

[@wildaudiosociety]

I thought I was starting a eurorack for that old analog sound until I got the radio music - LUV IT! Also, I think Music Thing Modular do the best/easiest kits for newbie DIY'ers. I made this in about 3 lazy hours.... but... then spent 2 days getting my own samples on the card, and that is only 2 Gb worth. :-/ If only you could load any old WAV or AIF :-( For those who don't know, the samples have to be 16bit mono .RAW ps. Thonk deliver to us lot down-under for a very reasonable price. Got my gear in 5 working days! Australia sucks for getting any local eurorack gear, regardless of price.

[@SoundboyStrange]

Chur bro! thats mean as to hear, I'm gonna be starting my rack soon and was nervous about how ruthless shipping to NZ would be

[@filipponunziale9790]

John Cage's voice is so calming and lovely

[@mylarmelodies]

That moment at 18:55 kills me...so many wicked chance occurrences when you mess with this thing.

[@rawesome1000]

So true. I love the info wars radio recording so many great angry sound clips that lend to some great tracks. Who said fear porn doesn't have its uses?

[@skriptico]

the "cinema"moment in the end is a beauty! yessir.

[@ISOTROPOSPHERE]

OMG, I have that 50s radio program of the revisit to Frankenstein's castle at the 100 year anniversary of his death on my radio music module as well. Cool video.

[@sotem3608]

Great channel, I really love your explanations! :D

[@Isonomic]

this talking hand is really insightful, great vid

[@deejaydubla]

Props to Tom Whitwell and Thonk.

[@mylarmelodies]

+Aaron Swain Agree! Awesome people and gear.

[@philtobin9510]

I can't recommend DIY eurorack enough, not only to save money over the retail, like for like, module but also as an entry into electronics. Don't be intimidated by bags and bags of components and don't empty them all out into one pile. Even as you get more confidant this, personally, I find is bad practice. At dining tray is a must, ideally not plastic. Small IC or micro chips are not befriended by plastic or static that they produce. Using a tray means that if your build is cut short for any reason you can start where you left off without the risk of little hands grabbing what they can or pews dribbling of your capacitors. The benefit of the Radio music kit is it does require a little firmware flashing....calm is the key and the best bit is....if it doesn't work the first time, you can reflash it over and over until it does. Then you've taught yourself how to flash firmware.

[@WaveRiderMusic]

cool module and cool demo

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

I love the RadioMusic! I don’t have Eurorack but I love what I’ve heard. I build my own diy designed step sequencers.

[@EarthnikNews]

OK, you finally redeemed this in the end. For the longest time I was like what the hell? But turns out it may be a useful module after all,

[@AshBashVids]

I went with the Maplins route to start off - highly advise getting the DIY function generator. Easy to build and you basically get an LFO/clock generator for £15! Also accepts 12v power and outputs at 0-5v - VERY eurorack friendly.

[@BottleBass1977]

Yeah, shame they've gone to the wall :( Amazon it is now

[@shottman]

All this stuff you guys put out makes me want to get into modulars. I don't now much about how to get started and stuff, but one thing I know.. is how to google :D

[@DivKid]

Hello LFO hands! I'm much the same. Mega jitter with a soldering iron.

[@mylarmelodies]

+DivKidVideo Yet somehow I've never fully knackered a build. Yet.

[@matrixmodulator]

+DivKidVideo hahahaha i was about to comment the same thing

[@eightballpl]

+DivKidVideo Unstable hands + Bastl Sense = Free random gen aka. profit

[@piotr803]

Mylar’s hands have a DIY Touring machine built in... ;)

[@sysexstudio]

I just got a Radio Music pre-built and love it. Hope to build my own kits in the future.

[@drewsmith6317]

How do you get it pre-built?

[@sysexstudio]

+Drew Smith (SunBlowsUp) Some shops offer the build service for a fee. I got mine from Control in Brooklyn, New York.

[@nicolascouturier9273]

amazing ! whats the module video demo you mention at 7:50 ?

[@ludotex]

Great vid as always! Just ordered the radio music. Wish they had the turing machine though, its been out of stock for a while :/

[@chsm72]

Hi, I'm new to this. Can you use this modules to create like a one shot sample player to create like a drum machine using multiple modules, one module for bass drum samples, one for snares and so on? When you want to trigger single shots will you trigger start or reset? Will start go through all samples one after the other or just single selected samples? It looks like very good value for money

[@complicated_AK74]

Might order this kit!

[@davidsimons1377]

I have RF Nomad on order & am now contemplating getting several Thonk kits inc Radio Music. I imagine you get snippets for it from Nomad quite a lot don't you? Does it come with sounds on the micro SD card?

[@Dedpoint]

you convinced me, let's go !

[@mylarmelodies]

Amen!

[@bertstang3006]

Great work! Can you tell me what is starting at 9:57? Who is it and where is it from? Thanks!

[@BillFurlong]

Any chance you have a sample pack available? Your demo is Fantastic!

[@rawesome1000]

Just build mine a few days ago fun build

[@baumansound]

LFO Built into the hands is the best way to describe this! ahahha amazing! Almost like Lumberjack hands! I met The Axe Man (founder of the lumberjack games) and I bet you he has some crazy LFOs going there.

[@benjiwill]

FM should make the MATHS video public / listed. That's another really clear and well presented clip. Sure you'd get a few hits on that one! 😃

[@ArthurStone]

This is great; useful and interesting. Good presentation. Thank you; much appreciated : -) PS I think the ghost recording may be a taxi office...still sounds good though!

[@urzathehappy72]

soldering looks so fun this makes me wana get into electrical engineering or w.e. the hell i need to lrn to truly understand

[@sqwook]

On the radio model whats the possiblitiy to use as a receiver and pickup on the signals around, cause im thingking there must be lots of signals floating around, also the feedback being looped is sick, very interesting little machine

[@-__-_-_--__--_-__-_____--_-___]

man I haven't heard the term fastidious for a while. Very excellent vocabulary

[@mylarmelodies]

I'm deeply ingratiated.

[@nicolascouturier9273]

whats the name of the demos at 7:50 ? Askew F Mabenti Modules ? haha thanks :)

[@canecreek00]

Super video, The worst part of DIY i found was trying to tin your tip, then James "Nobots" Carruthers put me onto "Qualitek Delta Tip Tinner" a total game changer i wouldn't be without it now.

[@Dmatic89]

That so fun! I miss making music -_- If I didn't have a race car I would have bought so many of them modules....

[@VinnieLeeStudio]

Again, the best hands in the bees knees!

[@christianzahn8252]

Is it normal to have shit loads of unpredictable clicks and blinks with the samples given at his website say from the nagra loops? I just built mine and Im testing and some samples play ok, rarely featuring a random click/reset led blink (doesnt necessarily mean its resetting actually) and some samples click the shit out in a rather random way. From all the samples of mine just a few won't be all clicking/resetblinking, I cannot understand this , any ideas?

[@GoldryBluszco]

what's that module beside the clouds? to the left

[@iglasgo]

Which modules do the synth at 22:50?

[@joseph.nicolaus]

cool! thanx!!!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

What is the panel just to the left of Clouds, please?

[@chemicalBR0]

this thing is VERY cool :) is that an SD card slot next to the reset button? I assume that's where the banks of sounds are stored? does it just use regular wav files or some other format? (I've yet to build my 1st modular system, still doing tons of research on what i need, but ill be getting this kit for sure)

[@mylarmelodies]

Yep. MicroSD

[@KILLAGORILLA7000]

Which parts were soldered together on your Radio Music? I can't get mine to work for love nor money and neither Thonk or the creator have offered any advice which helped..

[@davidsimons1377]

Oh I forgot to mention ---- I would personally recommend to get leaded solder because in my experience unleaded solder takes so much heat that its almost impossible sometimes to melt it sufficiently for a nice wet smooth join. I normally use an Antex 25 watt iron.

[@timmbrockmann959]

7:55 is this the Terrence McKenna of synthesizers? ;)

[@DanielGenser]

Probably an obvious question, but Is the slot to the left of the reset button where the MicroSD card goes that holds the samples? So it would be trivial to later access the MicroSD in order to switch up the sample library (or even have multiple MicroSD's loaded with different sorts of samples)?

[@benreeves1908]

Correct

[@bobjames2906]

hi, can anyone pass me the HEX for the Radio Music, i can only find the INO files.... thanks

[@edge-of-the-internet]

very cool :D

[@shufflephunk]

why is the reset always blinking? even when nothings is in the input jack?

[@hellf.o]

Awesome

[@CoolspyGaming]

"Crazy LFO built into my hands" I'm pretty sure this guy is a sentient modular synth diguised as a human being.

[@threeinitiates8260]

I want to see it hooked up to clouds!

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

lfo build into the hands , good one ☝🏻

[@behlers]

17:00 on is inspirational.

[@PWMaarten]

Dude, your snippers are huge!

[@declanallan885]

I'd say, get a digital soldering iron, they are much easier to control RE: temperature, also, don't "blob on" the solder, that will give you cold solder joints, basically, gently heat up the solder pads + leg of the component and then feed your solder into the pad (Computer engineer here so i've got lost of practise soldering), your advice RE: practise kits however is spot on! Also, grab a nice digital multi meter, they are a godsend in finding unintended shorts using a continuity function

[@fredericvanwalleghem]

Anyone has download links to sample banks online? Thanks! Would love some more samples of John Cage f. ex

[@fredericvanwalleghem]

Here is one : github.com/TomWhitwell/RadioMusic/wiki/Audio-for-the-SD-Card

[@fredericvanwalleghem]

www.sweetthunder.org/tapes/index.html

[@davidsimons1377]

I always considered myself reasonable at soldering. For example I made several Digisound 80 modules about a century ago (!) that worked which more than made up for the fact that Roland just left me hanging by discontinuing their 100M. I got as far as 7 modules in 2 x 191j racks though I'm lucky to have 15 now in 3 racks. As for the soldering the Digi 80 stuff the only thing I never managed to get working properly was VCO's. Never worked out why. None of my joints ever looked dry. That made me lose confidence though I know I'd save money if I got into it again.

[@gammaphonic]

Dumb question from a noob; do modules usually come with the bolts used to secure them in the rack?

[@mylarmelodies]

If they're new, yes!

[@markoTardito-BePartOfMyWorld]

can you write the module that you use to do the patch at the 22:53?

[@mylarmelodies]

Intellijel Atlantis! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6CYh2SCiZhnp6s

[@ezzong]

Can anybody tell me the name of youtube channel heard on 7:48 ?? Sounds like a great channel

[@mylarmelodies]

Sorry, late to the reply, but: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaWYaqqnhdx5etk

[@ezzong]

@@mylarmelodies thank you!

[@ClevelandSteamerUK]

Heh, i hear Alvin Lucier's i'm sitting in a room in there somewhere.

[@calderwood9641]

Is this the same module as a Chord Organ with alt firmware? Or are they to totally separate modules?

[@mylarmelodies]

Same thing but different firmware and panel only!

[@dreamwrighter]

The vocal sampling reminds me of something Richard d James would do

[@aaronn7576]

game changer

[@steveapostolides2975]

Inspired by this, i sold my Doepfer noise and random modules, and bought a Penrose Quantiser and Turing machine. As Mr 'Mylar' says, so e really good guides to soldering on youtube, and armed with this and, very importantly, a good magnifying glass! for identifying components and checking your joints (!!!!) you can make your own modules, I really enjoyed building the quantiser, Turing Machine next! Another thing i found really helpfull in checking my work, take photos with your mobile, you can zoom in really close to check on your soldering!! On the subject of DIY modular, can anyone reccomend a VCO kit??

[@mylarmelodies]

yaaaas, nice one. welcome!

[@MartinSCGF]

Still looking? Befaco Even VCO is an awesome kit.

[@Hakucho64]

I wonder if Radiohead (well, Jonny) uses a Radio Music module in The National Anthem? Using a real radio on stage would seem a bit risky (as in bad reception or nothing interesting on).

[@StonedRiderRecords]

Fckin awesome!

[@Synth_DIY]

Whats the synth patch? Sounds gorgeous :)

[@mylarmelodies]

just the Atlantis being generally awesome

[@Synth_DIY]

+mylarmelodies Thanks! I own a 101 already but this is making me think twice, hmm..

[@mylarmelodies]

+TheRealAntilo hah, I've done an Atlantis video if you need more convincing

[@Synth_DIY]

Already watched and subbed, thanks :)

[@sammyc7417]

Quote of the week: I have a built in lfo in my hand.

[@jaybins]

Is that a microbrute with full size keys?? Or am I an idiot?

[@mylarmelodies]

You're not an idiot, but it's not a MicroBrute with full size keys either

[@meateatingplant4830]

sold

[@spellboundsuntable4713]

Hi Alvin!

[@darkwinter6028]

I'm a pro at this, and my best suggestions are: get a good-quality temperature-controlled (not wattage, it should have an actual thermostat on it) soldering station ($40 to $100 USD); use a large chisel or "hoof" tip to get good heat transfer; use good "no-clean" flux-core electronics solder and plenty of extra "no-clean" flux (seriously: like money, good looks, and brains, you almost can't have too much flux); and use magnification ( I have a "dissection" stereo microscope, but even one of those cheap "desk lamp" style magnifying glasses helps tremendously). Lead-type solder is easier to work with, but if you use it be sure to take appropriate safety precautions (ventilation, wash your hands after handling, etc). If you find that the board is sticky afterwards, grab some 99% isopropyl to clean it off with (70% rubbing alcohol usually won't work because of the 30% water in it - most flux is hydrophobic). 😎

[@UncleGordon1978]

greetings from Russia!

[@joekarmazyn2825]

ace

[@iNuchalHead]

Awesome. I think you better put a very small palette of samples on the Radio Music or you'll never get anything done!

[@bernardsteyn7306]

Wow im learning alot, I think the bug has bit me!

[@AndrewPRoberts]

If you want an easy kit to practice on that's around 15 bucks but is still eurorack related, just try putting together a Mult kit

[@mylarmelodies]

Good idea that, though it's nice to also experiment with soldering real parts in!

[@wraggal]

I spied a second or two of Dark Lady in there I think

[@soerenraudonis]

I started my own project just because what I need is nowhere to buy… I got the fundamentals in my childhood and now I realise I’m not as stupid as I thought

[@snakeheadseth1932]

I feel like this thing would be kick butt if it had a playback speed control, I would probably just load a bunch of funk breaks of the same bpm and use it for bonkers drums

[@ben-rosfeld]

I heard John Cage in there :)