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Post by williamrobin on Jan 6, 2023 8:02:42 GMT
I'm delighted to say my starter rack finally arrived yesterday! Honestly since I ordered it in October I have been thinking of little else. I must have watched the vast majority of AE modular videos on Youtube in the interim!  I for some reason can't seem to add photos in the conventional way, but have attached a couple of pics below. My partner also got me an RBSS from Wonkystuff for Christmas which I have since installed (It's fantastic!) I already want loads more modules and patch cables. The whole package is amazing. It'll be very hard to focus on my work today! Is it just me or is the process of replacing the knobs deeply anxiety inducing? I have the knob remover tool and endeavoured to change some of the knobs for visual distinction, but when replacing them I haven't been able to make them sit as snugly, and I'm afraid of applying too much pressure as I can feel the board flexing when I try to push them down properly. Attachments:
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Post by duddex on Jan 6, 2023 10:58:32 GMT
[...] Is it just me or is the process of replacing the knobs deeply anxiety inducing? [...] No - it's not just you. I had the same feeling of anxiety when I disassembled my GRAINS module. I left the knobs off for quite a while because I was too afraid that I might break my module  |
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Post by ampersands on Jan 6, 2023 11:43:26 GMT
It is quite stressful. I don't have the remover tool so usually end up levering them off with a teaspoon  In terms of pushing new ones on, i think if you removed the module from the case to do it you could support the board from underneath with your fingers while pushing the cap on? |
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Post by williamrobin on Jan 6, 2023 12:42:08 GMT
i think if you removed the module from the case to do it you could support the board from underneath with your fingers while pushing the cap on? Yes, I think I'm going to try that later today. I plan on rearranging the modules somewhat anyway. I'm really looking forward to playing some more with this. I plan on creating some sort of social profile for my sound explorations so hopefully will have something more to share in the not too distant future  |
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Post by interstar on Mar 7, 2023 23:45:41 GMT
So, filled my first case.
I thought it would take a bit longer ... but I guess the lesson of modular is that empty holes exert a huge gravitational force, pulling new modules from TW's warehouse in to fill them up.
My goal with AE Modular has always been to use it as a kind of experimental sound design lab, to support learning audio electronics, and as a hub to hook up things made with boards like Arduino / Microbit / Raspi + other small gear like Volca Modular and Kastle.
So here's the full case. Comments as to whether I've chosen wisely, and what you'd have done instead, are welcome.
 Of course in retrospect it could have always been a bigger case with more stuff. (Kind of wishing I had an oscilloscope. ) Anyway as this is my first (and only) modular (or even serious hardware synth) I did have to have an analogue oscillator just to see what the fuss was about. So I've got the 2OSC (digitally controlled, but analogue sound AFAICT). Then there are two filters: SVF & Wasp. I thought I might as well get two different ones for variety. But also filters can help sweeten up the harsh & noisy sound of Ataripunk type circuits and the Arduinos etc, so the more the better. Then I've got two Modulators. When I got my first Modulators I was pleasantly surprised by how many different useful things it packed into a single unit (I actually didn't realize it came with a VCA). And when I had one unit of space left, I realized that a second Modulators was probably the most bang-for-buck I could fill it with. The LFO and envelope are great to use with the Kastle or Volca. There's also the XMIX which lets me bring several sound sources together. (And I'm just now discovering the joys of the attenuator.)
Obviously the VMBridge brings the Volca Modular together with AE. (I got the Volca Modular second hand on eBay for about £92 (it missing a power supply, so I had to buy that too), which seems pretty good value compared to today's price, and certainly great value if all its component modules like function generators, lopags etc. can be cross-patched and combined with AE functionality. I can even use its sequencer with the AE oscillator)
The USB Power module lets me power the Arduino / Microbit and Kastle from the AE case. I figured that by ensuring common ground and 5v, it would make cross-patching between these and the AE safer.
Finally, I already have a few breadboards lying around. But I ended up succumbing to temptation for the Braedboard. It's just gonna be cute to mount electronics directly on the case.
Maybe if I put a couple of shift-registers on it can I turn my AE into a kind of homebrew Lorre-Mill Double Knot? Or should I just leave a Raspi PICO there for a while and see what I can do with that?
Anyway, now this case is "finished" there's a lot of stuff to be explored and music to be made with it.
(In context with Volca Modular, Kastle and NTS-1)
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Post by tIB on Mar 9, 2023 15:39:14 GMT
 Another step closer to the endgame... I've got a rains on order to cram in somehow (for either a TBD or Algodrone I guess) and I'm still not quite sure about a few bits - we'll see how much I use them before scheming on further revisions... I'm excited to hear we might get more micro modules, since they seem a great way to add density in a fixed size system. Time to get patching... |
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Post by tIB on Mar 11, 2023 20:12:58 GMT
 Take 2 - wasn't quite happy as needed more gates... I probably need more modulation too but we'll see how far I can get mixing stuff. |
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Post by surferdargile on Mar 15, 2023 11:39:05 GMT
I am so happy ! Look what the mail man brought to me this morning ! The big brother of my first rack !! Cheerz ! Thanks AE team , for the nice work, the nice postal card , and for this wonderful system !
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Post by pt3r on Mar 15, 2023 12:35:12 GMT
Happy new modules day.
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Post by surferdargile on Mar 15, 2023 15:03:16 GMT
So far : trip / modulator / seq 8 / VCO / MS 20 filter are very very clever and definitely my system is now able of making more organized music I don't succeed to clock the MM Divider with a LFO so wil try with midi clock signals.
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Post by ampersands on Mar 15, 2023 15:23:06 GMT
Don't forget the MS20 filter makes for a very capable sine wave oscillator if you turn the resonance right up (keep the cutoff low at first, and slowly raise it until it's oscillating at a nice pitch. Then use CV control to sequence it.)
I think i use mine more as a sound source than as a filter!
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Post by pt3r on Mar 15, 2023 15:32:51 GMT
Don't forget the MS20 filter makes for a very capable sine wave oscillator if you turn the resonance right up (keep the cutoff low at first, and slowly raise it until it's oscillating at a nice pitch. Then use CV control to sequence it.) I think i use mine more as a sound source than as a filter! This! Ms20 is my goto for synthesizing kick drums and basslines. |
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Post by pt3r on Mar 16, 2023 8:23:05 GMT
Postman dropped of a big package for me, but no postcard instead I got a µTone module that has its faceplate assembled upside down.  No way I will get those knob covers off without a proper tool since I'm too scared that I would destroy the module in the process. Those micro modules are really tiny. At least I have again some free module real estate. And oh my the filterbank + kuzmin... I had this rack chirping away like a demented space bird.  |
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Post by pt3r on Mar 18, 2023 11:03:22 GMT
I simply could not wrap my head around the upside down utone module so I bit the proverbial bullet and popped of the knob covers using 2 spoons. Unscrewed the frontpanel, reinstalled it in the correct orientation and reoriented the knob covers and all is good now. I think the uTone is the only module that can have its face-plate installed upside down since the holes for in and output and the potmeter holes are perfectly symmetrical.
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No way I will get those knob covers off without a proper tool since I'm too scared that I would destroy the module in the process. Those micro modules are really tiny. At least I have again some free module real estate.