Running a guitar through a eurorack modular synth

In this video I try to process a guitar through a eurorack modular synth. I'm using the eurorack modular sort of like a guitar pedal board. First I run it through a "delay pedal" (the Echophon) then we experiment with the Fold Processor and Z2040 filter all the while modulating using LFOs and Sequencers.
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[@TROGULAR10000]

You're among the few synth tutorialists who deliver loads of concepts in under 10mns, one always learns something... also you never wax too enthusiastic about the gear or talk too much. You synthesize the info itself, very well done man!

[@onceuponasynth]

Thanks dude, I appreciate the kind works!

[@TROGULAR10000]

It was perfect for me because i'm thinking about a rack equally useful for my synth and guitar. Nice magic trick at the begining by the way ;-)

[@SZINNAPALM]

What do you mean when you say wax? Im not familiar with that tear other than like waxing a car.

[@seanchud]

That was a lot of fun. That wave folder got pretty gnarly there. I know what I'm doing tonight.

[@mrtumnusmusic]

Thanks for this, turns out guitar into wavefolder isn't as exciting as I thought!

[@nati1025]

I knew a guy that was building a eurorack, and it seems really interesting and I'm just now seeing that people are plugging guitars into it, there's so much customisation with buying all of the various racks I'm not exactly sure what I would need for a beginner setup

[@debaserNYC]

Awesome as always.. 11:06 is really doing it for me.. some of that, for a verse or two, then a nice fuzzed out chorus.. gold!

[@TK-AM]

I believe that part it is from Iron and Wine's "Naked as We Came," very good song

[@nothanks7752]

I've just got into modula r synthesizers recently because of LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, but I'm generally more into guitar and metal music. So this is awesome. I just recently setup Ubuntu Studio and installed VCV Rack and I've been playing with that. Now, because of this video, I'm super excited to go home and use Jack to run my usb guitar and microphone into VCV Rack through Jack. This is super inspiring. Also, I don't know what song you were singing, the "I never meant to call you", but you should absolutely do a full recording of that. That sounded like some sort of amazing amalgamation of classic cowboy country and spacy synth effects, which is just the most bizarre combination.

[@SynthApprentice]

I use Ubuntu Studio, too, and I should try this out! Also, if you like that combo of country and spacey synths, you should check out my electronic blues tracks. I've only got two up on KZbin right now, but I've got an EP on BandCamp.

[@SZINNAPALM]

I thought he said he was into metal, what happened I dont hear that influence

[@Nachtdwaler]

Too bad you don't have a mult, or you could've put a copy of the clean signal into a maths channel, using it as a envelope follower to modulate parameters. The harder you strike the guitar the stronger the maths output will be, resulting in more extreme modulation of the chosen parameter.

[@robertsyrett1992]

You should multi the guitar signal and use the optomix as an envelope follower and then send that to your filter. edit: loved the song with the drum where you are talking about calling someone. hilarious but also kinda catchy!

[@onceuponasynth]

lol thanks! I sometimes get random lyric/melody ideas while jamming, this time I just decided not to cut that out just for kicks haha. Optomix envelope follower is a sick idea! I'll have to make another guitar+eurorack vid and do more experimental stuff. Still want to try morphagene, etc.

[@EliseyGretchko]

I find the idea very tempting because of the flexibility you have sound wise. A thing that would hold me back is the ability to bypass some modules while playing live for example. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there's a configuration possible where you would have some kind of 'mixer' module where you can manipulate the chain with some external foot switches? I don't really know, the world of modular synths is quite new to me.

[@SynthApprentice]

You could probably send the dry signal to a splitter, then route it to different effect patches, which can then all go back to some sort of pedal switchboard. It might take a little finesse, but I think it could be done.

[@crabbtrixexp]

one of the good things about keyboard synths is you can hold down a key to make the note last, and then change parameters, but an ordinary guitar the generation of the note doesn't happen like this. It would be interesting to see how this sounds with a means of a sustain device like an ebow or something similar to generate longer notes on the guitar.

[@bbenb1627]

Thank you bud. Just fantastic.

[@chatolars]

Extremely good tutorial , thanks a lot for sharing

[@onceuponasynth]

Thanks dude glad you liked it!

[@Wheel333]

Sir thanks for this. Really enjoyed it.

[@gusmartinson108]

Great video man!

[@shaanlumley_]

the OG video

[@Budch]

I once played with my guitar and a software wavefolder, and i was able to reproduce those Megadrive-like FM guitars, like in Comix Zone for example, but without of any synthesis like on Sega Console. Cool video, btw

[@Makebelieve123]

very nice...there is also a start up cost making a pedal board including power supplies, so this way you are more flexible and easier to change up things !

[@aidanvinum]

I have a novice question for ya: with standalone gear, I would use fx pedals in the mixer through “fx sends and returns”,.... Is there a way to do that in the modular world?

[@dlemon90]

Really interesting! Some quirky sounds that would be tricky to replicate in a typical effects pedal. Question, is the clean direct signal from a guitar always going to be distorted and/or fuzzy like that? Is it similar to the effect of plugging right into a mixer where the guitar pickup impedance is just too high?

[@mjhabq54321]

Excellent video. Btw, using a digital amp/cabinet simulation pedal (e.g. helix or strymon) before the modular system would give you a more natural guitar sound going in.

[@booitsnick]

I want to take a doepfer spring reverb module and make it into a outboard reverb unit instead of having another pedal on the floor. Would it work? I don’t see why not

[@Reprodestruxion]

What’s the input at the top? I was thinking of the styrmon aa.1

[@stefanhansen5882]

Awesome!

[@Gillesmassin]

great video for explaining modular synthesis to a guitarist!

[@olw4196]

For anyone wondering you can use SEWASTOPOL II for the instrument connection.

[@andrewnibbi]

The thing that would really make this a powerful tool is to have a retrigger signal from the guitar whenever you play, so that you could retrigger LFO, envelope, whatever,

[@devintariel3769]

You could use a noise gate that has a CV out.

[@sprungingforvoltage]

excellent!

[@EllOPARK]

love your channel !! I subbed ❇❇❇💙

[@onceuponasynth]

Thanks! Welcome aboard.

[@banjoplayingbison2275]

Wow! This sounds so cool! Im actually better playing Steel Guitar than conventional guitar and I would love to try this with that! Lol I could just imagine the possibilities of having crazy and unique sounding solos! Lol and I also play banjo! Running a banjo through a synth sounds insane! ;)

[@ryannewman8366]

did you ever do it

[@renegabgrullon4426]

Do you know slint spiderland? that album is gold. Check it out if u havent.

[@sameosk.1905]

I have a dummy question since you did not mention any amplifier, are you using any amplifier in between - guitar line cable > Amplifier > Eurorack, or guitar line cable > eurorack direcktly ?

[@iLikeTheUDK]

Run the octave divided tone thru an amp and mic the cabinet, you're REALLY gonna get a tone that djents that way

[@dubhells8058]

Salut, no need preamp ?

[@SCOREWIZARDSMUSIC]

What input module to get the guitar into the modular?

[@jasonschmusic]

simming I’m wondering the same thing. I have a mutable clouds modular but even the gain on my synth isn’t enough so I can’t imagine a guitar on its own would have a long d enough signal to work in modules

[@PeacelandMusic]

Did this question ever get answered? Peace

[@mightypea]

The doepfer a-119 external processor is a good, cheap option. Pulls the sound up to modular levels, has a gate and envelope follower, two outputs... Some people replace the chip on it for better sound, but its decent by default.

[@robtav63]

LPF before the divider will help tracking

[@matiasmoulin2126]

Ok but the most interesting thing you did not show: which module to plug the guitar into the modular system. Also it would be great to have a tutorial about the technical possibilities of such a setup. For example: how to integrate an oscillator into the guitar sound ans actually use it as a guitar synth.

[@Nachtdwaler]

He used the 1/4'' Jack connector at the back of his case, which is internally routed to the Line in / Line out 1u tile in the top left corner. There are multiple options to go about this, the Doepfer A-119 being a great and not too costly example. It has overdrive on the gain knob and an envelope follower, giving you acces to an envelope shaped to the peaks of the waveform of your guitar output. The way I do it myself is by plugging the guitar into a channel on a small mackie mixer which has a high impedance button, then patch that signal into the modular via an Aux channel. The oscillator idea is a good one, and I wonder if it's possible. I wouldn't know how quantizers react to a guitar input. I wonder if there is some sort of tuner like module that outputs the note value in 1v/oct. That would be great in this case.

[@TheErilaz]

Wow, the output of the sequencer could really use a ADSR before going to the other modules.

[@krysk6224]

What was processingyour vocal around the seven and a half mark?

[@onceuponasynth]

I think I just used a generic Final Cut Pro X audio plugin, like a "telephone simulator"

[@davecole0]

Cool vid! I was under the impression that you couldn’t boost a guitar enough with the Audio I/O, thought you’d have to have the Pedal I/O for that. Are you preamping the guitar before hand? Wondering if you could also plug a mic straight in without preamping or even doing a pedal fx loop with the Audio I/O?

[@onceuponasynth]

I plugged my guitar straight into the audio IO and it seemed to have enough gain. But I'm not sure if maybe it introduced noise or not, I didn't notice any.

[@josuezacahua8331]

Question anyone... if I run the guitar through a VCO can i play chords or is only monophonic? I mean would the guitar sound like a synth? Or I need a sound processor first like the tiptop? Cheers

[@utkuarseven5318]

Guitar input is acting like a polyphonic vco by itself, going through a vco with it wouldn't sound like a poly synth because it doesn't have any midi information to trigger the vco but you can send the guitar input to filter, envelope and effect units to shape the sound.

[@josuezacahua8331]

Utku Arseven thanks man!

[@SZINNAPALM]

Can I ask: How long have you been a musician?

[@jasonschmusic]

I just got a mutable clouds module and would love to run a guitar through it because it has some amazing effects to it but my Kong minilogue doesn’t even seem to have enough gain to do this so how did you get the guitar to plug in to the modules? Any advice or guidance would be very helpful because my clouds module is useless till I get the gain part figured out. Thanks!

[@LuCrow528]

Man this was heavy!

[@CaalamusTube]

Gotta love those Pinky Powered Power Chords! ...& your Buddy Holly impression :P Is there anyway you can create kind of a "Wet/Dry Balance Knob"? A lot of these Patchings struck me as though they would be rad overshadowed by Clean Signal. What's the score with LoZ vs. HiZ ( Impedance )? You've got a Geetar & Mic all cruising through the same Signal Path, right? ( Also "She says wake up, it's no use pretending. I keep breathing, stealing her. Birds are leaving over Autumn's ending. One of us will die inside these arms... ")

[@toddbotdotcom]

Caalamus you can use a mult and a mixer to create a basic aux send and blend your dry/wet signals

[@onceuponasynth]

+1 what Todd said. The Echophon also has its own dry/wet, but you can simulate it by running it through a mixer. I just didn't bother in this video, but maybe next time I'll talk about that. As for levels, I pretty much just plugged my guitar straight into the modular in the Audio IO module from Intellijel. My mic was going into my zoom recorder, so it wasn't part of the modular chain (the vocal effects were added in post).

[@onceuponasynth]

Also nice catch on iron&wine :)

[@CaalamusTube]

Thanks for the explanation both :] Samuel Beam is a very talented man...

[@EnterEscape]

what's the name of the song @7:20?

[@onceuponasynth]

No name, just a random line/riff I made it up on the spot lol

[@EnterEscape]

Wow, a full-length song version of it would be lit 🔥

[@goldflaco8500]

Really Interesting!!! Can you hook a mic into a eurorack?

[@NickB-md1oy]

With an unbalanced xlr cable, certainly. That it is to say you plug a normal xlr female into your mic but the other end is a 1/4inch male jack.

[@YannGuillermou]

i clicked because it was the head of a jag in the thumbnail

[@Reprodestruxion]

Pittsburg modular has a pedal rack for this with a built in fuzz

[@BeaHasPP]

11:23 is that iron and wine YES it is it is Naked as We Came by iron and wine

[@onceuponasynth]

Indeed!

[@mrtumnusmusic]

synths + iron and wine = subbed

[@RGStorchai]

❤️❤️❤️

[@TheAnofferyoucantref]

Awesome, how much would a setup like this cost if you don't mind me asking?

[@CaalamusTube]

$2k+ is my guess.

[@vibratemutate]

more than 5xH9 Max would cost .... xD

[@epoch888]

According to his modulargrid listing it is about $3.7k not including case or power. Well worth it in my opinion.

[@TheAnofferyoucantref]

Trying to get into that world just doing my research

[@onceuponasynth]

Yeah roughly in the 2-3K range. It sounds expensive compared to a guitar pedal, but you can use it for generating sounds too. Also you can get a smaller case and more budget-brand modules to start, so it doesn't have to be too steep. The most expensive part at the beginning is the case unfortunately. But then each module is roughly comparable to a boutique pedal.

[@dillipphunbar7924]

nICE ONE! Tricky thing to do, run a standard guitar through those racks and try to control it all. I would like to collect/build a modular system but the prices are out of my reach for now. Appreciate your honesty on this rather than the "sell sell sell" approach. I love synths and guitars and pretty much all musical devices. Thanx

[@onceuponasynth]

Thanks dude, glad you found this helpful!

[@waltersmetak]

Don't have the money? Just download VCV Rack for free to your computer & get a midi interface and your done! You can do the same thing without spending a dime on Eurorack models.

[@MrScarabey]

As a non guitarist I see such a rig dreadfully impractical on stage, 'cause you have to manually change all the settings (unless there's a buddy who can do it for you). Maybe a smaller and well thought out case with very special modules will do the thing, but still. Wires, small knobs, and no good results instantly. Also you'll need a bunch of utility modules just to be able to run the guitar signal into your rack. And they all are pricey. So the chain of familiar and much less knobby pedals is a better choice in most cases (and cheaper for most). BUT! in the studio where you don't hassle and have time for experimentation... boy, tremendous results you can dig out from modules :) SO, if you already have fair amount of modules, and you're a guitar player, or you have a friend who play guitar - why not, go for it, plug it in and see what can happen! If not, maybe a bunch of favorite pedals will do the necessary work with less fuzz :)

[@oyoyoyo7624]

that Sam Prekop

[@MrRayinsf]

Does not explain how to interface the guitar with the modular system.

[@paultyrrell8060]

Guitar into VCV rack - it’s cheaper.

[@ubiquitousreverser]

HEY! Long time no see! Cool Video, but I really don’t think that would be much difference in price from a stomp box based board. Those pedals can get pricey quick. Thanks for posting.

[@CaalamusTube]

Yeah, unless you stick to a strict diet of the TC Electronic "Smorgasbord". ( ...they actually sound amazing for the price )

[@devintariel3769]

7:15 almost sounds like The Police

[@LazerGarden]

10:36

[@ghostdelay6770]

Fuck yes

[@SuperGuirro]

He's tablegazing

[@dushdy7160]

Awesome tones! but modular just sooooo pricey :(

[@workethicrecords5901]

phexy delic it's not to bad if you build all the modules yourself

[@nicolausala]

Start small and try to invest if u can... when u can

[@philipsanders9192]

??????

[@Strateggo]

That must be the most expensive guitar pedal ever.

[@onceuponasynth]

lol #truth. Although to be honest some pedals cost as much as eurorack modules.

[@Strateggo]

i've stopped thinking i can have all the sounds i want into one modular rig (i still wish i could). for drums, i have a tr-09 for instance - all these euro modules really sound bad. For reverb, which is my favorite fx, i'm tempted to buy a guitar pedal as i'm not aware of any euro module that does it as good. Strymon just released the Magneto, but I feel the better value for money is in a BigSky (for instance) pedal instead.

[@SorchaSublime]

@@Strateggo what? There are so many good reverb modules. You can legit just get a spring reverb pedal that sounds just like a spring reverb module.

[@VirtualModular]

Nice Eurorack, but unfortunately DI guitar doesn't sound great. If you can't mic up an amp, then you need a guitar preamp, or an amp simulator. Also, top tip: get a USB audio interface and use VCV Rack, it's much cheaper than hardware modules!

[@ToxygenRecAll]

Please stop! I just Got rid of GAS

[@jeddak]

aaaaghhhh so out of tune

[@evolutiom]

Hit me like a cement block... How is it that no one mentions this!?

[@crabbtrixexp]

@@evolutiom because it's one of the few/only bad things about the upload

[@SZINNAPALM]

Honestly the only good guitar playing was @ 11:05 - 11:20

[@dreampuppet1007]

Nice glorified pedal board jaja

[@banjoplayingbison2275]

Wow! This sounds so cool! Im actually better playing Steel Guitar than conventional guitar and I would love to try this with that! Lol I could just imagine the possibilities of having crazy and unique sounding solos! Lol and I also play banjo! Running a banjo through a synth sounds insane! ;)

[@ArtistTheArtist05]

banjo playing bison pretty sure you can make a Steel guitar into a vocoder, a guy named Pete Drake did that a long time ago