boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 28, 2019 16:30:45 GMT
hi,
sorry if the question is ever ask...
i think to get one starter rack 2 (my first choice was 1...but..maybe better for futur..) and some modules too (maybe grain, solina, 4i/o, fx..)
i am analog four user and monomachine/medusa too, just for my pleasure.. i am not an expert synthesis, it’s more pleasure and research and fun for my zen time.. the ae modular seems very good and tiny and seems to be a very way of experimentation !!!
i have a bitranger for fun and a novadrone of casperelectronic i have mounted with extensive cv option, and a korg sq-1 (i use it when i was on a moog werkstatt who is gone..), and it is why i want to go for ae modular, for play with all this toys, for the place, need very few place now.. the price and sound (i really love the work of an instagramer lofi_afronaut alias Blackmoth !! is a few why i’m looking this system..i am drone/ambient landscape experimental sounding...
but...
is it hard to understand ? is there a manual with basic for beginning ? i admit my english is a few poor but i am motivated !!
and last question i see some update with master module is there the futur system are update if i get one ?? same question on wire ? is it the last wire who seems better with the last shipping system ?
my second choice is to get the offer new module of dreadbox, but the price with rack and place, ouch......not sure.. and the ae modular seems have very possibility (?)
thank you for answers.. (sorry i have stupid question or boring people with this thread..)
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Post by spacedog on Dec 28, 2019 18:55:07 GMT
Now here is a bit more information relating to your other question.
An AE Modular should provide you with an interesting setup capable of exploring what you note. There is a growing wiki that facts as the manual, complete with examples, tips and tricks. It's growing fast, thanks to the hard work of a few people. There is also a basic start up guide with the starter systems.
Some reading around and observing a few basic rules should get you going. There is a mountain of good words in this forum alone from some very experienced people and from those who are now very experienced with the AE Modular.
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 29, 2019 8:53:01 GMT
Thank you again.
i have discover the wiki, there is some dead link (like quick starter guide and other thing..)..
do you know where to found this starter guide patch please ?
i begin to read too some modules but maybe it will be better with to experiment with i think..
i have to take a decision... or waiting a few more..
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Post by admin on Dec 29, 2019 9:18:32 GMT
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Post by sycophante on Dec 29, 2019 11:07:55 GMT
Hello!
I'm also into ambient/experimental/deep listening/noise(kind of) stuff, and AE modular is now what I consider being my main gear for that.
To answer your questions :
1 ) do you have any interest in software : the technics you will use with AEM is not so different from any basic modular system, this being said, it's not harder to learn, it's even easier with the inputs on the left and outputs on the right wich makes everything more intuitive.
Me, having some experience with vcv I had fun with my system immediately after I turned it on! So you could cut your teeth on reaktor blocks, vcv or automatism, wich are all really good, with "patchwires" and fun.
2 ) In my experience, no matter how hard it is to learn modular, the fun comes from learning! My routine is unplug what I did yesterday and discover what new crazy sounds I will discover today, asking myself what will happen if I plug this into this, if I turn this knob. I am just constantly learning with modular, but it has been fun from the very beginning. So my point is, try some software modular and see if it's fun for you, if it is, consider that hardware is way more fun (it is to me at least, I'd much rather sit with AEM on my lap than go software now).
There are some modules that will get you going more easily though : like the topograf with the drum module, that will music on its own and from what I know is good in association with the sequencer.
Also consider that you will really quickly learn how to make a simple substractive voice, and this will be more than enough to trigger your curisosity, look for new patching technics, or just create sound with it.
3 ) On the shop you now only have the new cables wich are really good! If there has been an update on a module, you should receive the new version of it.
AE modular sounds good, the modules are fun to use, and there are enough so you can expand your system, it's surely a decent to begin with modular but considering it packs so much functioannlities in small space for small price and with decent quality you can definitely go on with it!
4 ) Where are you from ? If you need some advice in french, mp me! (I'm using AEM since one year, and I am quite an amateur but I can still help)
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 29, 2019 11:55:16 GMT
Wow thank you very much for this answers !!
i’m French too, so yes maybe in the futur when i get a system.. i admit always be in difficult on the choice of hardware, more question when i have to decided something.. after that in the first time i love to try by myself..
i am not software user, boring me, love hardware, feeling so different !! i just use different gear, lot of pedal and A4 with lyra8 are my base, other gear around, my limit is the table.. i admit not be an expert in synthesis soustractive or fm, i just have fun and travel in sound and what i want to do when i have idea.. don’t all understand, just i know if i do this with this and this i can do this...and if i add this.. maybe.. .... and i ever use things like 0-coast/erebus/quadrantidswarm/werkstatt..fun fun but too much gear at the end and i have sold it... need less to create better, yes, confused with too gear..
i ever try vcv rack, in particular for the mutable instruments that i love in eurorack modules, i admit i have few test, i have create some small patch with few module, it was fun (don’t understand sometimes what i do and hard to out sound at the beginning..), but boring me on computer..
what i love in modular is the present time and accident, yes i love to keep my patch, sometimes i am lazy and other time i am not.. and to have an autonomous system, something different, not to be used with my other actual gear..another space..
ae modular it’s for me like this possibility to go in modular, happy accident and the price is very good, when kickstarter was i don’t have enough money.. and i often thinking to get a rack for.. and try, and i have some toy like bastl bitranger and novadrone casperelectronics who for sure could be good friend.. i am more in search of module like grain and solina, less about drum for the first time, maybe use if need more a volca drum who is like a xlr sonic potion and could be a good friend too..
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Post by sycophante on Dec 29, 2019 12:46:05 GMT
My point was, if you have any experience in modular (wich seems to be the case), then AEM is not hard. Any beginner modular tutorial could apply to AEM basically, so you will not be lost. Plus, you've got the careck tutorials for understanding each module in depth that are really useful. I guess it's pretty much the same with the novadrone but not sure. I'm still considering buying a bitranger some day mostly because it seems to be such a good mate for AEM (so much dividers *_* ) I'd say go for it : you can do lots of thing already with your starter rack 1 and current gear. Then AEM is an excellent ecosystem per se, I had a lot of good fun with it all by itself (trying to do Eliane Radigue-like or yellow-swansy drones), or plugged into my pedalboard, or expanding it with new modules. I would also say, if you are into crafting sounds, better go for a fully modular, rather than a semi modular gear, and AEM is the only hardware modular with patchwires that provides this at this price range (wich is one of the thing that made me go AEM rather than Neutron or 0-coast) If you're into ambient modulations, I would advise you to have at least one of the new slew/edge modules : more modulations allowed, and edge detector will surely help create more intricate sounds. (I did not try it, but I'm confident enough with my guess so I ordered 2) Also, maybe this interview could help you make up your mind (since it's about ambient/experimental music and AEM) |
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 29, 2019 14:54:43 GMT
thank you again 🙏 and your advice about edge module.
i don’t found the video about bitranger, your link is about kastl.. i get bitranger in second hand and it’s a crazy beasty bad boy to get, the soft pop is good too, very organic, sure it could be like a 0-coast friend with ae modular... about my novadrone i have an update with a cv adaptator like for..
maybe i will more go for a starter pack 2 because the price give you all for 100 buckets more than starter 1 and place for futur module.. and i have try to get my starter rack but at the end the price without wire cost more....
i think maybe add module like your advice with edge and 4i/o, grain, sample & hold, solina maybe a next time... or nothing and only starter pack 2 and 4i/o in first time, but grains seems 👍
but in first time i go to read your link and see more video on ae modular and module... before i get one..
and one question again.. does is there a risk between in / out patch like some eurorack module ?? or it can be patching everywhere (yes it will maybe nothing append..) without take a risk to burn module.... ?
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Post by sycophante on Dec 29, 2019 17:32:25 GMT
For the bastl gear : the basic idea is that as soon as you establish common ground between AE and bastl micro modular gear (kastle, bitranger or softpop) you can create interaction patchbay to patchbay. From what I know, this is done by pluging a jack cable from the master module of AEM to the cv input of the bastle gear.
I haven't seen anyone doing it with the bitranger, but it's pretty sure that it works.
I agree with you that starter rack 2 is better and that much more pricy, I just wished to highlight that you can already do a lot with your current gear and just a few AE modules.
Theorically there would be a risk going from an eurorack output to a AEM input since there is a difference in voltage, but all 3,5mm sockets you can find on the master and 4 I/O are protected. This means that if you're not paying attention to what flows through your cables, you could lose some data (for example a sine lfo going above 5v would be flattened) but you can never damage your gear. This means that you can exeperiment between eurorack and AEM very safely, but you should know that this would be optimal only if you have eurorack modules that lets you scale the signal that went out AE and attenuate your signal before it goes in AE (from what I know and have understood, I did not try it).
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 29, 2019 17:54:19 GMT
the patch bay 4I/O is for synchro cv with other modular or semi or eurorack (if i said stupidity stop me please..), so it can be used with all gear who have this, and this is good.
bitranger, kastle, softpop, olegtron can be used with patchbay i have ever use all with werkstatt and between them too it can be very fun !! and maybe softpop is more easier to understand connection about patching bay of all this bastl gear..
good to know about voltage that will be ok, i don’t think put other gear in the first time just ae, and i will see if it will be a good idea or not to get one, but if i have to wait a few time to get one i think waiting a few more to get more module in the same time.
the link on Buchla son is very good ! very tempting to get one ☝️
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pol
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Post by pol on Dec 30, 2019 21:40:43 GMT
Thank you again. i have discover the wiki, there is some dead link (like quick starter guide and other thing..).. do you know where to found this starter guide patch please ? i begin to read too some modules but maybe it will be better with to experiment with i think.. i have to take a decision... or waiting a few more.. The Wiki is a work in progress, and lots top do to be complete - the starter guide has now been done, but will be subject to further updates. The joy of the Wiki is that we can continuously update it, already had to change info about updated modules, e.g. Master, 2 LFO etc. Most of the individual modules have their information in, so keep checking back. If it generates more questions, just ask here, on the forum. |
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Dec 31, 2019 12:14:07 GMT
thank you !
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Lugia
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Post by Lugia on Jan 3, 2020 5:50:32 GMT
Getting to this a bit late due to being out of town....
I learned modular on the venerable ARP 2600; even by 1980 (which is when we're talking about) the 2600 had a stellar rep for being a teaching synth. And while I'd long considered making the leap into Eurorack, when the AE system popped up on my radar, the combo of cost, ease of use, size, and straightforward UI clinched my decision to go in this direction instead. For one thing, the AE's user interface is as dirt-simple as the ARP's...there are ZERO superfluous markings, no "artistic license" in making the panels look graphics-heavy, everything is exactly what it says and it says what it is clearly. Sure, there's a couple of AE-specific quirks, but all synths have that to one degree or another. The point is, though, that these quirks don't get in the way of learning the modular "basics". Everything is called what it should be called, it all connects pretty much as you'd expect, and so on.
As for the wiki having dead links...yeah, some of that lies with me, as I've been insanely busy upgrading the studio here, and I'd planned to write some of the info on that, most notably the "basics". However, here's a very condensed version:
Synthesizers consist of only four parts: sources, modifiers, modulators, and controllers. Everything else you see are variations of those "primitives", and this is true for all synthesizers in some way or another.
"Sources" are things that output signals that make noise. This includes oscillators, sample-playback devices, input preamps, drum modules, noise generators, etc etc etc. All sounds in analog synthesis begin with a source, and usually multiple sources are involved.
"Modifiers" are things that change the behavior of another signal. A filter is a modifier because it alters the harmonic content of an audio signal. VCAs fit here also...although they can work on both audio AND modulation signals. Mixers modify as well, combining signals to create a new composite signal. If the device in question changes something, it's a modifier. Even the output stage is a modifier, as it drops synth levels down to line level.
"Modulators" are things that output signals that do NOT make noise. LFOs, envelope generators, sample-and-hold generators fit in here. But also, clock generators are also modulators as they provide the subsonic "beat" for various functions. And sequencers are _technically_ modulators, even though most synthesists regard them as controllers since they output discrete note events to several parts of a synth.
"Controllers" are things with which you make the synthesizer do what it should. MIDI interfaces and keyboards are the most common controllers. But there's quite a few others, such as wheels, ribbons, RF proximity (like in the theremin), telemetry (Source Audio's "Hot Hand" is a good recent example) and so on. Plus, some devices that technically fit into other types also fit here, such as performance mixers...which, even though they modify incoming audio into the final output mix, they are ALSO the means by which the synthesist controls the mix, slots sounds in and out of the mix, and works with spatialization. And controllers are the only part of the synthesizer that can act on all other parts, often with the same event.
Now, of these four things, two get connected in a line: sources ALWAYS flow to modifiers. And the modulators work on that signal chain to alter the behavior of the devices in it. Then the controllers exist to make those first three parts do what you want when you want it. Keep that all in mind, and suddenly modular synths look a lot less daunting.
And yeah, eventually I'll have that essay done...
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Jan 3, 2020 15:13:18 GMT
thank you for your experience and help !
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Henceforth
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Post by Henceforth on Jan 4, 2020 1:47:59 GMT
If you're into ambient modulations, I would advise you to have at least one of the new slew/edge modules : more modulations allowed, and edge detector will surely help create more intricate sounds. (I did not try it, but I'm confident enough with my guess so I ordered 2)
This is great info. I am new here and am interested in AE Modular. I started with Eurorack but like this(AE) direction for some reason.
sycophante, you mentioned two slew/edge modules, has that worked out as anticipated? Happy with 2?
Any other modules for the ambient style? I like music like Steve Roach's Skeleton Key album and am hoping to recreate something similar(ish) within JUST a two row AE system.
If you had to fill a 2 row 20x2 rack for trance/ambient/space music/ Skeleton Key style stuff what would you pick? (And is it possible - open to any answer. I just like the idea of making self-generative ambient music in my room)
Thanks for any replys, this is all an adventure down the rabbit hole!
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Post by sycophante on Jan 4, 2020 12:38:46 GMT
If you're into ambient modulations, I would advise you to have at least one of the new slew/edge modules : more modulations allowed, and edge detector will surely help create more intricate sounds. (I did not try it, but I'm confident enough with my guess so I ordered 2)
This is great info. I am new here and am interested in AE Modular. I started with Eurorack but like this(AE) direction for some reason.
sycophante, you mentioned two slew/edge modules, has that worked out as anticipated? Happy with 2?
Any other modules for the ambient style? I like music like Steve Roach's Skeleton Key album and am hoping to recreate something similar(ish) within JUST a two row AE system.
If you had to fill a 2 row 20x2 rack for trance/ambient/space music/ Skeleton Key style stuff what would you pick? (And is it possible - open to any answer. I just like the idea of making self-generative ambient music in my room)
Thanks for any replys, this is all an adventure down the rabbit hole!
No, I didn't get to try them yet, I did really just order them, so the wait will be long! I guess there will soon be a test by careck, you can see his comment above where he mentions he has a youtube channel for AE tutorial and demonstrations! As for me, I just think it is packed with all the possibilities you would need to act a bit like a maths module, at least combined with vca and envellopes. For me everything that's modular could be used in ambient music but here are some module that might be of interest for you : - Every filter really, but the nyle filter can really let you craft interesting textures if you use it well. - The multi fx. - The wavefolder works really well, sometimes I even just use it for the "drive" which does a great job at saturating the sound. - Logic might be useful to make new textures out of squarewaves, and in this matter the divider is of some assistance to (creating a square subbass fo example). - I also ordered a grains module. Granular can always be awesome, but I don't have a particular idea on how good it is for now. - The new solina is a full voice, with a sound of synthetic strings, that can do chords. I did not order it for now cause I want to focus on my oscillators, but I think you should consider it. - I din't mention it yet beacause it's obvious : the delay sounds awesome! Really every modules that are on the store are useful in some way, those are the best for me in exploring timbers, textures and basically new sounds. I just gave a listen to skeleton key wich I didn't know about : in addition to crafting sounds, you'd need to be packed up with utilities, so don't forget your lfos, have on s&h. The switch can be good if, for example, you would like to have a melody line alternate between 2 different waves from an oscillator. Also consider carefully if you want the sequencer from AEM or an external one. |
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Post by rodney on Jan 8, 2020 6:35:32 GMT
Not really answering your questions as I think the gang have already covered what I'd have to say.
I just wanted to say how much i love the Novadrone and I'm looking forward to getting it talking to the AE modular. It's worth noting that the novadrone is capable of outputting voltages way above the 5v limit for the AE. However, voltages from the AE should be fine to control (if control is the right word?) the novadrone. The i/o section of the Master module, and the 4x i/o module should be able to slim down voltages coming from the novadrone.
Because the Novadrone is basically current-controlled (I think) rather than voltage-controlled, like other Lunetta-style CMOS thingies, I find that sending an oscillator tone to the pitch input of a Novadrone oscillator get fun results. I am thinking to borrow from the Novadrone idea and add an RGB LED module to the AE case for bling purposes.
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boooh
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Post by boooh on Jan 10, 2020 15:51:32 GMT
Thank you again for all you answers !! rodney i love my novadrone too (and very fun to mounting this kit, just regret to don’t get 2..) if that can help you .. there is an option here for eurorack >> detective-squad.com/euronova i have never try it, i got it in the same time i get the kit in a « maybe a day if.... » but yes, maybe a few stuff for adapting about volt...but i don’t know i am noob about voltage eurorack or ae modular i/o .................. |
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