MODULAR Synths - Become An EXPERT In 10mins (eurorack tutorial)

Christian is a blagger, he gets by with his modular rig but not without the help of his own blagsheet, watch the video to learn everything you need to know about modular synthesis in just 10mins and either download the blagsheet here: thecrowhillcompany.com/hub for free or order from our merch store and have it delivered as a poster to your door: merch.thecrowhillcompany.com
00:00 - Introduction
00:25 - Blag Sheet (Modular Cheat Sheet)
01:23 - Module 1: VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)
03:17 - Module 2: LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)
04:07 - Module 3: SEQ (CV Based Sequencer)
05:07 - Module 4: VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier)
07:50 - Module 5: ENV (Envelope Generator)
09:07 - Module 6: VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter)
10:18 - Module 7: In/Out Module
10:55 - Wrap it up
modular synths, modular synthesizer, synth, synths
#musicproduction #synth #synthesizer #synthwave #synthpop #synths #eurotrack

[@lafemmedevastation]

So very important to have basics laid out in *such* a clear and "unglammed" way for folks who're just starting out and/or planning their own modular synth. Thank you _sooooo_ much for this❣

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Thank you, something I didn't say in this vid is that because loads of companies make these things slightly differently with different names etc etc that its difficult to pin down the fundamentals which I think why the wireframe works well when demonstrating.

[@lafemmedevastation]

@@TheCrowHillCoIt really does.. honestly I think I would've learned more back in grade school if this method you came up with was applied back then.😅 Cheers❣

[@ElBeeEss]

"You'll be able to go to conferences like NAMM and pretend you know what you're talking about." LOOOOOOL! Count me in!

[@iandaniel1601]

That’s what I need!!

[@dharvell]

This is probably the best explanation of synthesis I have ever watched. Simple and effective. Well done.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Thanks mate... its born of ignorance. I think there's something in that.

[@FileTransferProtocol]

I’ve been involved in the eurorack scene for a number of years now, and I have to say it’s refreshing to see someone explaining things to new or curious enthusiasts in such a non-gatekeeping way. Cheers to you. Job well done. ❤

[@FroggyMan]

I am right there with you this is so good and needed

[@TheCrowHillCo]

I think its fun to explain things when you're not an expert because the knowledge is not presumed as its just been learned.

[@mrguano7]

This is by far the most easily digested introduction to modular i've come across. Definitely a contribution to humanity. Thank you for this and thank you for not falling for the math teacher syndrome.

[@davidmcpoland5286]

Hey Christian. I was the lucky winner of your stinky bag (your words, not mine!) back in the November live stream, but I'm still walking around carrying everything in my two year old Aldi carrier bag with a hole in the bottom. I need that stinky bag!

[@MattHill303]

Fitting an introduction to synthesis into an under 12 minute KZbin video is quite a feat 👍. I can spend ages in VCV Rack on the computer making modular concoctions, it can be quite relaxing.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Thanks and yeah, modular is a great escape.

[@richarquis]

It took me so long to understand my rack. A video like this is a wonderful help to those starting out. Nicely done, subbed.

[@boerboelmummy5075]

I'm so glad you're back doing what you're so fantastic at - teaching. I never fail to learn something from your videos.

[@wesboundmusic]

Couldn't have possibly said it any better! 🙏

[@TheCrowHillCo]

So kind, imposter syndrome never goes away though!

[@stevenmiller213]

exactly what i was looking for! would love more of these beginner friendly modular tutorials

[@SRDhain]

It's a noble effort to cram so much into 12 minutes. 👍 I'd also recommend 'The Synthesizer' by Roland, who originally printed the set of four books to go with their system 100m modular - there's patching examples using the classic 191j 'D set' configuration in one of the books' . There must be 100s , if not 1000s of copies floating around second hand, as it had multiple reprints (i sold mine years ago, after i sold the multi-config100m, and acquired a system 100). Nonetheless , it's one of the best printed book sets about synthesis you can get. Analog Synthesis by Mark Jenkins' is another classic, and also available s/h. Ultimately, you've got to get your hands in /on a modular system , whether in software or hardware, and get tweaking and sliding for the 'oh..now i get it' experience.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

(goes to abe books to find)

[@jimrogers7425]

Reminds me of the ARP 2600 we had in the music lab in college back in the mid 1970s. It had only one voice, but had every module mentioned here save for the sequencer. It was a blast to play with. You brought back some wonderful memories with this video! Now it's time for a vaults release based on the modular unit behind you... or a new instrument for sale. Surprise us, Christian!!

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

well it's the same idea no cap

[@TheCrowHillCo]

I'll do my best!

[@badberttube]

After just a few minutes in I've learned more here than the last dozen videos I've gone through today, THANK you for making this! Sub'd and looking for that blag sheet download, tyvm

[@InSurrealtime]

Cardinal is totally free and sounds great, I really like the Surge modules. It's basically the same as VCV rack, but you can use it in your DAW as a VST.

[@argiopeMusic]

Simply amazing what you offer the world. Thank you for all you do.

[@LearnCompositionOnline]

Yes, now after the video i am a expert. I started applying for jobs in the field

[@12stepsbeyondtheeventhorizon]

The quality of these tutorials is absolutely stunning. Well done, Christian.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Mate thanks so much.,

[@leighrandle2736]

Another great video and a great intro to synthesis👍. It’s definitely true that learning about modular helps you pick up almost all software synths very quickly. It would be great to expand on this in so many ways, but before expanding the rest I think what beginners most need is going into detail about signal path, which is shown here, but so easy to misunderstand and confuse people when picking up synthesis for the first time (and even for some experienced users!) Once I was taught signal path properly, everything fell into place so much more easily and manipulating sounds was so much less of a ball ache!

[@CybreSmee]

Thanks mate, clears up a few questions I had. Im not a huge fan of modular, it seams like you spend all your time working towards doing what a semi does right out of the box (but in tune).

[@dpict1088]

Nice synopsis. VCV Rack is a great free modular program with the added bonus of Omri Cohen’s fantastic educational content and collaborations on modules, the new arp is outstanding.

[@pmcdarby]

Christian it's so good to see you happy and energised and doing what you do best - so chuffed you're on this new adventure, and thank you!

[@elretsof1606]

Wow being a tad older this brought back great memories but alas I'm mainly out of the box now apart from an old Korg and a JDXa

[@ColinBenders]

I'm gonna start forwarding this video to people when they ask how modular works. you did a great job explaining the escalating simplicity of modular synths in a nutshell here!

[@SamO-jf8zq]

I've had many hours of quality time watching all of your past videos and would watch them religiously when uploaded. Good to see new content.

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

Thank you for this detailed but simplified video. God bless 🙏🏼 Grab your black sheet and then the VCV Rack and start a new journey in your life. God bless yall 😊🙏🏼❤️

[@wesboundmusic]

If there was anyone currently living in our time capable of putting even the most of demanding topics and subjects in the proverbial nutshell.... for anyone with half a brain they'd have to say your name for it. So good. Even Simpleton me gets an idea as to how sound synthesis works in general. Then to think of the minds who came up with this idea out of thin air and brought it from between only their own ears into the hands and ears of everyone.... has to command respect and even adulation, doesn't it? Wow. (I'm typing this seeing this image of Hans Zimmer or Steve Porcaro in front of their modular rigs 8n my mind back in the days when music progressed from analog to digital)

[@timball8429]

Awesome! Thanks Christian!

[@FLH3official]

Excellent video for the real beginers! Thank you for them, Christian.

[@TangoDelta70]

Hands down one of the best videos I've seen on Modular so far! Thank you so much!

[@BoogieBear]

Concise and clear as always 👍

[@dogfig1]

Great Stuff. Really helpful. Thank you.

[@dluxdsgn]

Great tutorial. Thank you, Christian!

[@AeldraNightwood]

Very nice and informative. Thanks

[@tomellingham8627]

Thank you for this guys!

[@Richard_P_James]

Very well explained! Enjoyed the video 👍

[@johnmack3017]

Great to see you back doing what you (and so many of us) love. Thanks for these amazing tutorials.

[@southside8551]

Your company and your videos are always inspiring, thank you!.

[@conradschuman]

As always super clear, super amazing explanation of everything and just love watching you guys. Cheers!

[@MiguelAndrade-df1bg]

Thank you very much

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

this type of clarity... especially at this pace... deeply appreciated. thanks so much!!

[@goldenthemerciless5669]

great video!

[@gerrycasso2535]

Very well explained

[@andrew4982]

Most clear and concise explanation of modular synthesis. Thank you very much.

[@denovaire]

always fun to watch a totally basic explanation of sth you know by heart :) well done, well explained, marvellous video!

[@sandwich-breath]

Thank you for producing extremely helpful and interesting content that's approachable right away! The blag sheets are quickly becoming my go to resource for essential tips!

[@antsteep]

Nice work Christian. This is a great resource and helps demystify modular for the intimidated.

[@awpMusic1]

This is a really useful video - thanks for that.

[@nickwillder]

As well as the content: great production values and beautiful overlaid graphics.

[@jono_young_music]

Your tube is awesome! I have struggled to grasp the basics for so very long, now I get it 🤯 Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge 🙌

[@AcidTonic]

This is a great resource for learning. Watching people perform is also helpful. I run a channel uploading videos showing the rack of live playing almost daily if you want to find examples of these concepts in performance use. ❤

[@iosmusic3938]

Interesting 🧐 Thanks!

[@scottyharp]

This is a really good video! You're doing an amazing job with breaking down seemingly complex facets of music creation. 👏👏

[@TheCrowHillCo]

So kind thank you.

[@FroggyMan]

This is brilliant the amount of ppl ive seen jump head first and give up three months later i know have a place to send them .I cant lie ppl come to my studio see my wall go home and spend a few thousand then call me im a musician not a teacher but this is simple straightforward to the point def subbed and ordering a few things love the shirts

[@paulinskipukprogressive4903]

Thank you Christian - this is really helpful Something I really want to get into, but had no idea where to start

[@davidsanfeliumarco9664]

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 so much clear now thanks!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@jankrofta9829]

Sounds simple from you Mr. Christian! Good explication of modular. thnx.

[@adrianjapp]

Great stuff! Everyday a school day!! Thanks. 😀

[@jean-fabricevernet8947]

That strings plugin on your Website looks amazing.

[@AndreaGiordaniComposer]

These blagsheets are serious 😎😎😎 Reaktor is my favorite soft playground for modular! But I'd looove to play with all of these!!!

[@DavidLilja]

Reaktor is crazy deep since you can pick apart an oscillator and other modules. Super fun!

[@AndreaGiordaniComposer]

@DavidLilja yep! So many options! A rabbit hole 😎

[@JohnFerrieMusic]

Never had the chance to play around with modular but pretty familiar with the individual components. Reminds me of building music/audio stuff in pure data

[@DVDFRMN]

what a wonderful gift... i especially like the way the segments explaining each module are like the 'book' from the hitchhikers guide...

[@neiljvoice1603]

Thank you for doing this Christian .Ive always loved the sound of Modular Synths,just found it hard to get my head around them ,so to speak.

[@JorgeAlmeidadamaged]

I do not own, nor can I afford a modular system has I would like, I simply have a Doepfer Dark Energy (1st gen) That I use occasionally... but it is one of my faves to doing some sound design. Thank you for some new stuff I did not knew. Cheerz!

[@selwyn-lloydmcpherson2814]

That. Was. Incredible.

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

I like to use the LFO as a VCO ngl

[@dr.syntheo9489]

Great !!!

[@raymiller315]

Great beginners guide. Something I'd like to see that's a lot more complicated but I'm still wrapping my head around would be sample & hold.

[@edmc2]

❤thankyou

[@smalltown2223]

I’m scared of modular synthesis. This excellent tutorial makes it less so.

[@bricelory9534]

Red Means Recording has an excellent tutorial series on modular using the completely free VCV Rack - that's another great place to learn about Modular without any risk.

[@smalltown2223]

@@bricelory9534 Red Means Recording is not a channel I subscribe to. He’s a vindictive, hateful person and was instrumental in Christian going through a LOT of stress. All for speaking his mind and speaking the truth.

[@bricelory9534]

@@smalltown2223 I am not a fan of him either, though I found those videos helpful. I am sorry to hear he was a part of the whole intolerance toward Christian. I totally respect not wanting to use his tutorials, which if it were any consolation were made before any of it went down. Omri Cohen is a fantastic modular/VCV Rack resource, but I don't know if he has any good beginner tutorials...he does have some beginner friendly walkthroughs, so he might be a good place to poke around - and definitely worth keeping in mind if you have a continued interest in VCV Rack or modular. Many of his videos explore individual modules and how you can use them in different ways, which really deepens your understanding of how the whole thing works.

[@GrvMUSIC4U]

More modular tutorial or patch breakdown would be great

[@Synergy_V]

Great informative video. Would have been nice to end it playing a really cool sequence using all of the stuff we just learned.

[@FerIsella]

bravo

[@HTRism]

If this is a continuing thing I would love to see a cv-midi and vice-versa tutorial,perhaps along the way,in order to control outside synths and in the box plugins like libraries. Always makes my head hurt. Excelent vídeo.

[@brendanwalsh108]

Great stuff, Christian. You need to get yourself a nutty professor's wig next time.

[@Bills_Place]

My favorite bit of modular is the happy accidents you (sometimes) get when patching things in non-standard ways. Being able to rearrange the signal paths and make two or more sounds interact and feedback in ways you could never do with one standalone synth or VSTi is just a lot of fun. However, comma, your wallet will weep.

[@_DRMR_]

Of course there is nothing like real patch cables and physical knobs to tweak and turn, but you can still do this as a plugin using ie. Cardinal. (with the added advantage of patch saving and polyphony ;) )

[@KiyanKafaeipour]

Hey Christian, hope you’re doing great. Excellent video as always. I have noticed this piece of music in so many of your videos. I can’t find it anywhere and my guess is that it’s something you originally composed to use on your videos. Will you please release it? I would love to listen to it nonstop!

[@patscanga1996]

Great video. Where can I download the modular info sheet? Thanks

[@JDR260870]

If you create the cheat sheet as a t-shirt I'll buy it. (a nice grey or mushroom with the luminous yellow)

[@sigurdov]

Would you ever do a hardware module do you think? I'm not sure if anyone has put an existing sample instrument into that format, have they? Or even a collab between a sample library company and a modular maker? (There's that Sequential Prophet XL synth with 8Dio libraries in it, but that's about it).

[@SONICrider]

Bin many years in the modular world and just found you - cool - I like the "02 Modular Blagsheet Poster" but shipping to NL isn't an option,. maybe soon? Thanks.

Nice. Thanks. You did it sooner. I will do something similar in spanish

[@cubistguitar]

The notes vs volts chart is interesting, its not strictly wrong, but it assumes the oscillator is tuned to A0, and it seems everyone tunes to C4 for default

[@madmaxamali9699]

Hello man, I am Max, I have a 2600 vco, behringer 902 vca, one 1003 adsr, one Cm1a, a kassutronics ladder filter and i play with my keyboard ( motif, studiologic, korg ) via midi, the suond goes on without release, maybe i need a cv gate converter because the adsr it doesen't seem to work . Can you explain to me how to make it work because behringer doesn't explain to me? Many thanks

[@tomnaustin1]

Can you send me info on the modular case in this video?

[@The_Sound_Technician]

This is a f££king god send…. Now the snobbery is deleted…

[@onderstroom]

❤

[@boysofsilence1808]

👌

[@jasonmelo9379]

Says it's easy, starts speaking a foreign language 😆

[@cheekynuke]

Just to clarify. Where do i turn it on again?

[@tapeexperiments]

I haven't even watched the video yet and I already feel like I know more...🙂

[@VinceFinemMusic]

2:25 Interesting... I've always seen the integer volts corresponding to the C notes, not the A notes. Starting with 0 volts at C2. In modular I know it doesn't really matter since everything is relative to what you initially tune your VCO to. But yeah, anyway...

[@chickenlickin3820]

How big are your poster sized sheets? I cannot print out? Too low Resolution.

[@alderickzeke-walter3369]

In a standard basic monophonic voice like a 101 the filter is before the vca ... am i right?

[@bricelory9534]

It can be, or it can be after... There might be minor differences in how it sounds, but I think many patches are VCA into VCF.

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

11:58 I agree no cap my setup it's like 4000$

[@WinItReigns]

Christian, do you think you can Bless a cable for me and mail it to me in the States? Youre a Legend man. The Best and Badest Dude in the Sound Game. Much Respect Bro. 😊

[@jimspectre]

If I ever make a tinder profile- there will be a questionnaire referring to this video.

[@argumentchannel]

My Subject

[@WinItReigns]

But...will there be a test at the end?

[@ivanklass1]

Oscar is great

[@katoi-]

❤‍🔥👊♥