olo
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Posts: 23
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Post by olo on Aug 26, 2020 15:07:00 GMT
hi,
I have been watching for quite a while to go on a modular like tangibles waves, tiny and powerfull to begin with system rack 1 (with a few more) or 2.. but.. ...
I was user like dreadbox erebus (love this little synth) with korg sq-1 and monomachine/machinedrum, and a few of other gear/synth, very interesting actually for a korg ms20 mini or for the price a behringer k2 or neutron too, arturia minibrute s2/2s.. or ae modular ...
because, yes it seems to be very gorgeous, tiny and powerfull, i love sound from some people who use this system (not all i heard i admit), but often what i love, the rack are x2 lot of modules... but.. like modular, module module.... so i just me asking if i take the good way or not..
i have very few experience in modular, i use a few vcv with like mutable instrument clone with plaits/marbles/clouds ... that i really love, but i don’t all understand sometimes, yes, my english is a few bad i admit too... and i love physical touch, on screen with vcv is a little boring for me, i need touch.
so, maybe my question is stupid but.. if i compare a system rack 1 with what synth it can be compare ??
or and system 2....
and how can be pleasure, fun, i don’t know how to said but for people who are synth user why ae modular was revolution ?? yes price / module, but in therme of use, sound, creation like a good synth with sequencer and a drummachine (it’s just exemple..)
yes sorry for this questions...
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Post by 101 on Aug 26, 2020 16:01:07 GMT
All those synths you mention are modular in the sense that all the different functions are hard wired beneath the panel.
AE modular allows you to customise those connections on the outside allowing for a lot more creativity (and learning). It also has a great, great sound!
The big advantage with modular is that with big hard wired monolithic synths (even a semi-modular Behringer Neutron), they can go wrong, then your left with an expensive piece of junk. With modular you can replace the component modules individually and (in the case of AE modular) inexpensively.
So modular is more organic for music creation continuity and creativity. IMO.
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olo
New Member
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Post by olo on Aug 27, 2020 5:24:08 GMT
thank you for your answer.
yeah i know how work synth and if i ask if compare system to a synth (i read on another post that rack one is a few like a pro-1) it’s just to give me an idea possibility, because yes the ae modular system is less cost than modular but.. at the end more and more module have a cost.. i love tiny form sound and possibility but not sure of my choice at the moment..
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bahm
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Post by bahm on Aug 27, 2020 19:41:36 GMT
Hi,
Differences between Starter Rack 1 and Pro 1:
Pro 1 has 2 Oscillators. AE 3.
Pro 1 has 2 ADSR envelopes, AE has 2 AD envelopes.
Pro 1 has 1 Lfo, AE 2.
AE has a delay and S&H.
AE SR1 is way more flexible of course. And it's good if you want to understand the modules as they are not that complex. You can just patch a standard synth setup and start from there.
Both are nice, if you want something modular but never expand, Neutron is a very good synth too.
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Post by funbun on Aug 28, 2020 5:13:20 GMT
Doesn't matter. Get you something and get patching.
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Post by spacedog on Aug 28, 2020 11:16:10 GMT
OK, I'm going to throw out some thoughts and some wild opinion. I will not pretend that what I write is definitive... now that's out of the way, I'll carry on 
The choice will be yours
I can understand acquiring information to help you make that decision, although ultimately it can't be a certainty that equipment will be a good match for you, either in terms of sound or fit with your "workflow". Having it sit with you for a while is the only way to find out and some people have never quite bonded with the AE Modular (or modular in general), hence why we see items being sold here. Admittedly, not many.
The best way to compare the sound is to listen to the many examples available via this forum
That really will give you the best points of comparison, unless you can get access to a real one, which is unlikely. Even then, it's only a selection of the sounds available. The point being that no two setups will sound the same, although the underlying key modules are the same. For example, I never use a "straight" filter, I always use heavy modulation to create movement, which I then tie into some matching effects to give me my overall sound. I enjoy sound design. Someone else may (equally validly) just tweak the cut-off of the filter by hand to match the attack of their playing.
Some basic points of comparison
You mention sounding like a PRO-1, that starts to depend upon a few factors, such as:
- The oscillator design
- The filter design
- The speed of the envelopes
- The modulation routing possibilities
That's just the start, but those basic things make a difference. Now, with an AE Modular, you have a lot of control of that final point (modulation), which may be denied to you by a more fixed architecture (such as PRO-1, for example). You can usually copy the fixed architecture with a modular, although the LFOs may not be producing the same waveform (for a number of reasons) and the envelopes may not respond in the same way (the third point).
The oscillator design is really important, as the AE is a (mainly) a subtractive synth, i.e. you remove content from an oscillator waveform, usually by filtering, which is why the filter character is so important. Now, a PRO-1, for example, is using specific designs of oscillators and filters, which the AE Modular does not have. So, it's the routing that you're copying, and the flexibility, but not the sound. An AE Modular will not sound the same as a PRO-1. You can doubtless get close and you will likely find a whole host of great sounds that the PRO-1 can't do.
Where does that leave us...?
Apologies if that's all obvious, but that's where the points of comparison start. From there it's about the subtleties of how the parts interact. Will an AE Modular sound like a PRO-1, or a Model D, or a Neutron...? No, not exactly, although you can copy some of the architecture and get your own version. Of course, can a PRO-1, or a Model D or a Neutron sound like an AE Modular...? No again, although you can get close to some configurations.
Overall, that's why (in my opinion) one synth is never going to be enough. That doesn't mean that you need huge amounts, you may be able to get a lot of what you want from two or three, and an AE Modular would definitely hold its own in the company of some of the ones mentioned.
As I said, just my opinion. Listen to the wide variety of challenges and musical output and you'll soon start to hear a certain sound from the AE Modular - and then someone will surprise you, or Robert will bring out something like an FM module or a Wavetable module and the game changes again. A PRO-1 will always sound like a PRO-1, an AE Modular does have an evolutionary path determined by the inventiveness of the user and the module designers.
I need some coffee...
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olo
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by olo on Aug 28, 2020 13:29:51 GMT
really really thank you for all your answers !!
yes i understand, get it and you can do and flexible like you want to do your own synth, i think i understand it..
personally i love the Blackmoth work ae modular and style music, is what i often try to do.. and it’s what me look more about tangible waves Slowscape too love his work, Funbun nice too ..
i really thinking to get one, not sure to with starter 1 or 2 (at this time my wallet is not enough ok..)
does if i go on with starter 1 and add 4i/o can i ... exemple ::
sequencing with the master by midi or cv/gate like osc/d and use 4i/o for sequencing the vco with sq-1 and why not get sawvox and hold on with like sample&hold.. it is just in the idea to understand, because if i have 3 source oscillating so i can 3 output source in the same time ? ? or with 4i/o can add a pedal and routing all this small sound on the 4mix ??
so maybe for begin just get the 1 and add 4i/o and sawvox with ms20 filter... ?? (i have various output pedal audio like pitchshifting, reverb, distortion and delay..)
?
again one thing is there some distortion/agressive filter like on noise engineering can do or wmd ?
thx again
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Post by spacedog on Aug 28, 2020 14:56:08 GMT
really really thank you for all your answers !! yes i understand, get it and you can do and flexible like you want to do your own synth, i think i understand it.. personally i love the Blackmoth work ae modular and style music, is what i often try to do.. and it’s what me look more about tangible waves Slowscape too love his work, Funbun nice too .. i really thinking to get one, not sure to with starter 1 or 2 (at this time my wallet is not enough ok..) You can only buy what you can afford
Luckily, buying a smaller starter does not mean that you can't expand as soon as you can afford more. You can go at your own pace, and it's still great fun starting small, there are terrific sounds for you to explore. If you can really afford the larger starter, it's excellent value for money. If delivery from the UK works for you, there is a nicely-priced B Stock Starter 2 system for a good price here.
As a personal opinion, you will want some effects, external to the AE Modular is fine, it's how I've done it from the start and it works well for me. As a minimum access to reverb, delay and chorus usually sets you up nicely - you can even do this from a well-priced multiFX stompbox.
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olo
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Post by olo on Aug 28, 2020 16:14:59 GMT
thank you again ! (and for juno plan.. interesting !!)
i prefer starting small but with add.. i ever have some pedal delay, reverb .. so maybe multifx is not a priority at this time..
like i ask if i use 4i/o i can routed like osc/d output to 4i/o to plug pedal no ? or use it for sequencing too ?
maybe i prefer get another oscillator and filter and this 4i/o to begin, some people said polamix too.. yes multifx is often too, but i ever have various fx and for beginning maybe can wait a few, there is the lofi delay to try..
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bahm
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Post by bahm on Aug 28, 2020 16:32:15 GMT
Yes you can route the output of a oscillator to the 4io. But if you don't use an envelope (or something else) and amp between it and the output, you will always hear it from the moment you connect it. And yes you can use a effect pedal with 4io.
You also have already 2 ctrl and 2 audio i/o in the master module if thats enough for the start. Then you have to go to an external mixer after your effect pedal.
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olo
New Member
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Post by olo on Aug 28, 2020 16:40:04 GMT
thank you !
so what you advice to do just go on starter 1 with 4i/o , or/and one new oscillator with 1 new filter with a new 2env for run the 4 oscillator ?
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bahm
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Post by bahm on Aug 28, 2020 18:21:02 GMT
Do you want to have 4 oscillators as 4 individual voices? Lots of sounds "need" more than 1 oscillator per voice.
You could pitch one oscillator per cv source, but you maybe want a second cv input for gates if you want to sequence with a external sequencer. Or you gate with something like the Triq164.
My advise: Just buy the SR1 or SR2 with nothing else. After exploring the possibilities you will soon understand what it needs or what you want or miss. Because maybe the 4io or a 4th oscillator are just not what you really need. You can buy more modules later, that's really the biggest advantage of modular, right?
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olo
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Post by olo on Aug 28, 2020 20:14:30 GMT
thank you for your wide advice.
I will be patient anyway I don't have enough yet, but, yes maybe only go on one of this system and play with is better than buy new module without understand the begin..
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