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Topic ClosedThe mighty modular synth

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Davesax1965 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2016 at 04:56
Excuse my dodgy keyboard playing (I was doing something else at the time ) but !!

This is live. 

Start a sequence going. Audio into PC, add delay.
Add MIDI keyboard, solo over the top. 

It's possible, using automation, for one person to play very complex stuff. I'm going to have four sequenced synths here (including a modular) - there will be four other analogue ones to chose from, plus a dual MIDI keyboard with dozens of VST synths to choose from. 

And that's just me. My brother has a similar amount of kit. ;-)

Shall we add the saxes, guitars, flutes and basses ? I need more arms. 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2016 at 10:27
Originally posted by Davesax1965 Davesax1965 wrote:

The cheap approach is to get a kit and out with the soldering iron (incidentally, colour blindness is no bar - just use a multimeter !! )

Good point LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2016 at 10:31
More work done on the "auto rhythm rack", including 3D renders to check the dimensions of the forthcoming cabinet....

This is 7/12ths of the contents of the rack. Dual sequencers, strobe tuner.... Moog Minitaur bass synth. To add - another synth, case lighting, patchbay. I then check dimensions and make my own 12U 19" rackmount case out of American white ash (saving £200 by doing so. ;-) )



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 30 2016 at 06:37
Coming along. ;-)

Other bits on the way (blanking plates in place at the moment) - needs cutting to depth, panel wiring to do, second synth and case lighting to add, power distribution kit on the back and a custom wood frame made. Which should keep me busy. 



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 30 2016 at 07:25
Well, this is all very impressive. I wonder what it all does ? 

There are about three more synths to be added and another cabinet. At least. It seems to be all getting out of hand. ;-)



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 01 2016 at 05:42
Coming along !!! I'll be building a second one of these. 
Half done so far.




Edited by Davesax1965 - April 01 2016 at 05:42

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 01 2016 at 10:38
How vulgar. ;-)

PS Any "likes" on our Facebook page will be much appreciated, and you get advanced notice of new releases, including free ones. ;-) https://www.facebook.com/Brotherhood-of-the-Machine-595944157125209/




Edited by Davesax1965 - April 02 2016 at 04:58

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 13 2016 at 09:01
Slight change of subject.... ;-)

One of six saxes, an Elkhart (Buescher) 1926 C Melody tenor.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:02
"Support act" synths for the modular...... ;-)

The credit card has taken a bit of a hit recently. 
Out of shot, Waldorf Streichfett string synth, MIDI keyboards in waterfall config, modular synth. 
L-R Twin Doepfer Dark Time sequencers. Moog Minitaur bass synth. 
Dreadbox Erebus, Dreadbox Hades bass synth daisy chained together.
Alesis Quadriverb taking signal from 
Korg MS20M
Preamp (oscilloscope opposite)
Arturia Minibrute synth. 



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:13
And here's a sound test for the Erebus and Hades synths...... Just getting a selection of basic sounds out of the two. 



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2016 at 11:50
^^Woah, that's pretty impressive. I think I have to start gravitating towards synths sometime, considering I've been plyaing keys since I was five, but never invested in any new keyboard instruments besides what I've had. For years now I've been wanting to get into synthesizers and stuff. It might sound childish, I know. The idea is probably childish itself, but it's not like I'm totally new to that sort of thing, as I have been doing the things I'd do on a synth myself on a guitar with tons of effects and such (Manuel Göttsching sort of thing). I have a friend, or it's actually my dad's friend, who builds modular synths under the name XAOC. From what I know, they are pretty dang good and a few bigger names use them. Anyway, maybe sometime when I'm higher on budget, I'll purchase something less expensive and have some fun... Great collection nonetheless! And I really like your sax playing. And the glasses! Smile


Edited by ALotOfBottle - July 01 2016 at 11:56
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 03:35
Hi, AlotofBottle - woo, get it done !!! I've heard so many people say "if only I'd done that"..... do it. Honestly. 

I get so many people saying "I wish I played the sax", at which point, I ask them if they've actually bought one. It's generally regarded as the first step. Guess what ? No one has. ;-)  The good news is that there are a lot of good quality, cheap synths out there on the second hand market. So I wish you all the best (and I wish some money comes your way, too !!! ) 

XAOC modules are fantastic. They're really highly thought of, high quality and innovative. Best regards to your Dad's friend, he's doing a great job. ;-)

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 10:03
I've heard a lot of demos of those Dreadbox synths and they always sound wicked. The tone is really nice. I've been trying to find their synths in Japan but they don't seem to be available here (which is odd because their guitar pedals are easy to find).

The best synths/modules I've ever heard are made by Macbeth Studio Systems, so beautiful sounding.

The Studio Electronics Boomstars sound good too and they have lots of good features, very flexible compared to most of the other recent desktop analog synths.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 10:10
Originally posted by Davesax1965 Davesax1965 wrote:

Hi, AlotofBottle - woo, get it done !!! I've heard so many people say "if only I'd done that"..... do it. Honestly. 

I get so many people saying "I wish I played the sax", at which point, I ask them if they've actually bought one. It's generally regarded as the first step. Guess what ? No one has. ;-)  The good news is that there are a lot of good quality, cheap synths out there on the second hand market. So I wish you all the best (and I wish some money comes your way, too !!! ) 

XAOC modules are fantastic. They're really highly thought of, high quality and innovative. Best regards to your Dad's friend, he's doing a great job. ;-)

Thanks for kind words and encouragement! Smile Yeah, I'll maybe look into some budget synths soon.
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2016 at 11:15
Hope so !! PM me if you need any advice, happy to help. ;-)

It has been a strange afternoon. ;-)



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 03 2016 at 12:46
Whoa, there's a lot more gear since I last visited the thread! The modules and their cases look terrific. Looks like you're all set up for hours upon hours of psychedelic fun.

On the subject of saxes, my friend did appreciate the Akai EWI controller and didn't find it too counter-intuitive to adapt to contacts' lack of mechanical feedback. I tried to convince him to use it together with the Minimogue VST ;)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 04 2016 at 06:49
Hi Replayer - good news about the EWI !!! ;-)

Yep, we bought a few more synths. This is my brothers' modest selection.... ;-)

I think a live gig is becoming inevitable. If we can work out a way to transport all this. ;-)



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 10 2016 at 03:09
And the rack is coming along nicely....... Smile
This is the twin sequencer rack. The modular is going to be moved to another 14U rack and there's going to be yet another rack with a mixer built into it. This makes transportation to gigs and jam sessions.... easier. Still a nightmare, though. 


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 10 2016 at 08:03
And here's the rack unit working - very simple sequence.....




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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 09:17
Here we go, longer video.



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