10 Important Questions for Modular Synth Beginners.

I might get into eurorack someday but for now I think I'll save for more semi-modular synths; started with a neutron and now I really have my eyes on make noise little synths; they seem to have a really creative edge and philosophy; and I like the idea of having a synth I can easily bring along and that can be complimentary to a daw based/ acoustic performance. With eurorack I feel there are too much possibilities; a lot of homework to do looking at the endless list of modules that might be a good fit for you; plus if I want to do a live act with it I'd have to make it portable which add complexity to the mix.

You will always be "your current number of modules x 1.5" modules away from the perfect setup . ;-)

Tldw yes. Spend all your money now. It's fuckin fun!

TIP, One most people forget or don't know of --> My journey into modular started with the Clavia Nord (Micro) Modular.
Way before VCVRack and the Modular "hype" (populairity). The Nord Modular is a (virtual modular) synthesizer that let you make patches in a software environment (Mac/Windows) It contains modular modules in the same way as you can find in modular eurorack. Like VCVRack ? Yes & No. No because the patch stays in the machine and runs standalone without the computer ! But VCVRack these day's have more depth, and the power of your PC/Mac as the limit.

For me the Nord Modular was (and stil in use) a beautiful machine because it can make completely different sounds with tons of control compared with a regular synthesizer. I started with the "Nord Micro Modular" and later I bought (second hand) the "Nord Modular Expanded" = 4 x Micro Modular + more polofony.

One way to taste the modular experience with little money = Buy a second hand "Clavia Nord Micro Modular". And the software editor stil runs in ALL windows versions up to 10 ! It communicates thru a MIDI port. Mac support...I don't know, I don't use Apple machines. It also runs in Linux/Wine environment ;-)

some would say yes, some would say no, personally i find that if you REALLY want to get to know what sound synthesis is all about then there is no better platform, regardless of the price associated.

awesome point too btw oscillatorSink, the reasons that attracted you to Euro were exactly some of the reasons why i end up there!

awesome and fair video by the too Bo! i haven't watched your channel in ages, though this was a nice "welcome back". by the way, your point about money, i've been a broke arse student forever, that being said, i literally just spent a few years homeless to finish my setup, would i recommend anyone else do that to obtain the unobtainium, absolutely not, would i do it all over again for my euro system, absolutely i would! (However, i would NEVER go seeking loans for instruments, that's just an easy way to find yourself in a land of bad finances and hence the reason why i decided to stay homeless for as long as it took).

Remember is is not the designation, its the journey to get there.

If you've got other traditional synths, I highly recommend focusing on experimental or unique modules. Maybe go the system route like Make Noise's The Tape & Microsound Music Machine.

Eurorack samplers and tape machines are a great source of inspiration and weirdness. Squid Salmple, Morphagene, Arhbar, etc...

Damn, I run away from eurorack stuff 24/7h. It's an overpriced addicion.

How deep is your pocket? That the only question here really.

I’ve had my Neutron first r a couple f years and have been thinking about ways to expand its functionality. I have a number of other hardware synths and guitars and pedals and have really settled on ‘my sound’. I’m at a point where I’ve saved a bit of money and I’m trying figure out where to invest it next. What will give me the greatest creativity ever flexibility for my dollar. There are some very expensive ‘one trick’ pedals that have come out that are one option. There are a few f the modular FX boxes too that offer plenty of options. Then there’s a small eurorack box that is purely modulation/effecting. I don’t need any more voices, I have my sound. But Ike thinking about how a wavefolder, a clock divider and a few modulation or utility modules might allow for some interesting sound design variation. On the other hand, I’m concerned that putting my eggs in the eurorack basket really only gives me flexibility with the Neutron, as that little world of wires might become a walled garden. Any way it’s a good discussion to be thinking about

I suffer from preset paralysis, I had to get the real thing with knobs and switches, I need the tactile feel. it’s addictive like super expensive Pokémon but I love it.

I think that Eurorack plug-ins can’t emulate at all the sound of a real euro rack. Even digital modules emulations in the box don’t sound close to the real digital module itself. Real eurorack it’s a wild machine, software modular synths are just like a plastic version of them.

no thanks

I love weird sounds I’ve got ocoast and drumbrute and minibrute 2s and a phaser and reverb pedal... it’s enough for now...

I call it the never ending rabbit hole of spending

Yeah. Hours of patching chills my beans. (VCV Rack)

For me... i feel the money could have been used more effectively. I noticed i like keyboard all in one synths better than eurorack. like polybrute ect - use presets and modify them thats my work flow.

I fail with Eurorack. I stop my exploration after spending 3000€ as I found it no so inspiring for the price I spend.
As I had good quality modules and rack ( intellijel, plenty of mutable and other well knowned ) I managed to sell them on one shot for 50%.
No regret, my way is moog matriarch, deluge synthstrom or korg wavestate. l found even dreadbox typhoon 10 time more rewarding than my full eurorack set for 10% of the price.
but i don’t want to resume it as a price comparaison ( I got no financial problem ), the Eurorack system is something to carefully explore, like a scientific lab, as a synth is something you play with .
Maybe the fact that I did 15 years of piano is not for eurorack too.
So If you start in electronic music I recommand you a second hand korg or moog… first

I guess the politically correct answer is start with the microbrute or the deepmind....

Bo, this is the deal: With my "Trump and Biden" bucks I bought about 4k of modular gear and, to be 100% honest with you, it is much better than any anti-depressant medication out there. In all seriousness, I am one of those almost 40 year old punk rock guitarist that during the thick of the pandemic needed a better and more creative jam and Eurorack provided that... I would like to suggest getting clone modules instead of "the real deal" as they are way cheaper and literally do the same (i.e. uClouds, etc.). Peace Bo, keep up the good work.

Fantastic non-gear focused overview of Eurorack. I'm still having interested in getting into Eurorack (at least on a small scale) and this video really helped answer some of the non-tech questions I had. Thanks (liked and subscribed).

dont do it.

I thinks its waist of time and money. If you have money First buy nords, acces virus, elektron gear. Akais mpc, Moog synth and semi modular, strymon stomp boxes. Them clasics analoges vintage synth roland and other clasics brands and them when you boring go for modular synths. Ist just my opinión.

Great advice on multiple fronts

Great analysis and advice BoBeats. I started with a laptop and Ableton then progressed to a Moog Sub 37 and Elektron boxes. Modular has taught me more about the building blocks of synthesis than hardware synths or computer VSTs. In retrospect, I have more fun with modular synths than hardware synths or computer synths but music production takes more work. However, way more fun. It is relaxing patching modules together like musical lego blocks to create sound and good therapy even if my pocket book complains. And yes very expensive I spent easily over 10k in eurorack stuff. Fortunately, I did not take a loan out and did not go in debt but saved and paid cash.

I started with eurorack 3 months ago. Now I got 2x104 HP, and I am broke but happier than ever!

I am a musician and I wonder if the op-1 synthesizer a good alternative/steppingstone if I don't want to jump into deep end? I'm interested in modular, but it seems like a huge hurdle/time investment. I'm thinking that if I like using the op-1, I might get taste a for modular. What do you think?

I want to ackonwledge your very helpful suggestions, Bo. Ultimately it was you who encouraged me to buy my Minilogue (indirectly, by means of your videos) and I never regretted such decision. By closely listening to what you said here I come to the understanding of how serious and not whimsical a eurorack-purchase-decision can be. I got your point and feel happy to put a delay on that. Thanks one more time, man. GOD bless you. :)

Thanks

Thx for this.... 🎼

I love my Eurorack for the surprises. That's a big part of the joy for me! :D

A friend who’s been a professional electronic musician since the eighties. I’ve got back in touch with him recently and couldn’t believe he likes my music. He uses bug brand modular and euro rack. I’m looking out of interest. I don’t think I will ever get this equipment as it’s out of my price and knowledge that I’m willing to put in. Your honesty has backed up my opinions. Your advice is priceless and valued by me. Thanks and big respect and love from Northern England.
💚💛❤️

There really isn't enough beginner help on YT. Most vids are aimed at people who already know how to use and patch them (or just show off and be big headed). There seems to be some snobbery too. Sure I could buy a book but why? this is a perfect media for teaching folk a confusing thing like Modular Synthesis. I wish someone would make a decent series of videos that really do start from how to patch and what all them 3.5mm sockets do?

I love VCV (& cardinal).. I don't think actual hardware eurorack vcv is for me.. 1st & obvious reason is that I can't afford it even in my dreams..
But also, there is so much options/modules and unlimited space on VCV.. so going hardware & limiting myself to a few modules & limited space (while also paying big money) doesn't seem like a wise choice at all.. as far as the tactile feel.. well we can get some tactileness with a mouse, midi keyboard & midi knobs..

Is it Bo Beats? Or Bob Eats?.....Either way - Thanks for this!

Recommending vcv is just the best advice. Vcv is fantastic for understanding what you might actually want to do with modular without any limitations.

I think actually paying for therapy would be cheaper than going modular.

I’m to much of a player and a minimalist to go into serious modular.

If you have a lot of money and have done your research, then Eurorack may be right for you. But I started with semi-modular because it's cheaper and allowed me to learn the individual parts of a signal chain. Then I started patching my synths with some starter modules and eventually built my own rig.

Also GAS is real! Before I purchase any new gear, I list the pros and cons and make sure I let a month or two pass before I actually purchase it. Sometimes the latest synth can be hard to resist, but when you get it home it's not what you thought it would be.

I think starting with Eurorack is a viable choice for a first synth. If you can keep it simple and your goal is to have a better understanding of how synthesizers work then sure. Go for it. But that can be accomplished with VCV Rack for free.

I don’t understand the beauty of Euro-Rack modular synths. I played around with software emulations and find it really difficult to get the result you really wont. At the final end you have one mono patch.

And there is no real good beginner guide. All starts with: „You have to know what you are need this for.“ And this kills everything. When I bought my first hardware synth I had no clue what its is able to do. At least not 100%. And the fascination came because it was a journey.

Regarding modular synths: How to define which modules I should go for?

"If you are super unorganized and lack patience I wouldnt recommend Eurorack....."
Everyone with ADD has left the chat.



where's my Adderall?

Hello thank you for all the great content you make
I have something to ask ?
I want to use a eurorack system as an effect bord ( distortion /reverb /delay … ) and use my logicpro x on i pad pro as a sound source / sequencer …
I have been using my ipad with 2 guitar pedals ( jhs overdrive color box and strymon nightsky ) so is it possible ? I need some advice thank you in advance

I know plenty of people who are very talented at making music that never tried to make it. They do simply for the love of doing it. True artists at heart.

So, if I may summarize: don't get into eurorack unless you want lots of extra work to make music, like the mess of cables everywhere, have money you just want to throw away on an expensive hobby, and the bizarre and somewhat cumbersome workflow just somehow appeals to you. gotcha. (I mean, I'm kinda kidding and not. As a eurorack owner and lover I would mostly put it this way.)

Was the t-shirt intentional? 😂

Having been through this, I would never tell anyone to start with a modular system. Even having plenty of experience with hardware and software synths, modular should be taken slow. I decided to do it and went in big time. I bought many modules very quickly. Before I knew it, I had a full rack with a lot of modules and a price tag of around 8k. What I didn’t stop to consider is each one came with a sometimes steep learning curve. I was overwhelmed before I even got started. I ended up selling it a huge loss and a lot of regret. Personally, I’d say buy a decent semi-modular synth like the Moog Mother. Really get to know the synth and then start buying modules to complement your synth. Learn each piece and its quirks and secrets before moving on to a new module. Recently I decided to give it another go and taking the time is paying off. I’m able to enjoy it. At this rate it may take me a couple years to get where I want to be, but at least I’ll be able to create the music I want to make with an instrument I understand.

Semi modular is usually better way to start. You have something capable of making sound if you don’t feel like patching. And usually the bang for buck is better.