Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 15:16:27 -0400 From: Legion@voicenet.com To: "i.c. ultramedia" Cc: analogue@hyperreal.org Subject: Re: current modulars continued (looong) i.c. ultramedia wrote: > It's definately a focus/budget nexus that is of course going to come down > to a particular style of working. I come from a tapeloop/sound mangling > deconstructionist angle mostly, though eclectic/pragmatic/spontaneous by > nature. (Huh? ) Meaning I never know what might evolve stylisically. That > Muse can be sooo persuasive. Given what you've mentioned in your two emails I thought I'd share my recent experiences with getting a custom Doepfer system. I'll be writing a full review and hints on how to pick out stuff (and build your own case thus allowing you a *lot* more utility to these) but here is the process i wnet through to decide what to get. Adapt and mutate to your own uses at will. I pretty much knew *exactly* what I was getting into when i decided to buy Doepfer. I worked on the design for over a year and looked and spoke with every current modular company from Serge to RS. I've tried out CMS stuff (on par with Serge IMO) and checked in on the progress of the MOTM and Wiard as well as vintage units like a 2600 and Roland system whatevers. Got the catalogs, checked out the web pages, spoke with current owners and looked at all prices on and off the net and from dealers and friends. The bottom line was it was time for me to buy something. I was looking for a compact system (ie: Small in size) to do STRANGE stuff. External processing, weird rhythmical sounds, pulses and freak noises galore. Eccentric controllers a plus, imaginative modules in the works a bonus as well. Here were my critera: 1. Should be currently manufacturered and supported. I decided this because quite frankly after so many years playing vintage pieces and seeing the more esoteric stuff go in and out of repair/mod shops I was concerned about paying the idiotic prices people are asking for a 20+ year old instrument from someone's basement. For $1500 you can get an Arp 2600 which is a beauty in design and functionality that's not cheap but worth it IMO if that's what you want. However I wanted something I could design from the ground up not use and see what I could get out of it. VCOs and bass drum patches didn't impress me for this project so a stock vintage piece didn't make the grade. New was the way to go. 2. Price should be reasonable. - Relative term I know but my criteria again was you can get a *lot* for well under $2000. I did not want to buy a huge system at first nor did I want to have to take modules that i didn't need in order to get a complete system. I was not looking for top of the line ADSRs or VCOs. I wanted some bread and butter and didn't want to pay $300 for a mixer. This ruled out Serge and the higher end stuff (I know, I know you may disagree but hell it was my money). My rationale was I don't need a $4000 *anything*. really. I'm not cheap but I had no desire to pay that much when I already have so many synths to do my bidding. Something at a comfortable and fair price would get me over the hump of buying in, something ultra Pro or VINTAGE!!! (re: MS50, Moog system 15) were major turnoffs. Also 99% of all the big "collectors" I know who have large moog systems, EMS stuff, etc etc never paid current prices (for that matter 1/2 of them are the cheapest bastards I have ever seen when it comes to buying :)). Taking a cue from people which such collections I decided to be very realistic about what I wanted to buy and pay. I know synths and record/release/play live all the time. I know I don't *need* anything let alone a five pannel Serge so a little self control was in order. It's easy to drool and pick out stuff though so I also knew this might not be that easy ... 3. Power Supplies - anyone who spends time looking at this stuff soon learns all the different models use their own PS and have their own weird type of connectors to that PS. Just the buy in cost usually starts at $300++ and then you only have something for that system. I was *not* impressed by this although I understand it in a way. it just doesn't make any sense if you want to "mix and match". I wanted a simple system with a basic PS that I could then tap into if I wanted and one that I could build into my own case designed for my own needs. Something like the Modcan case would just not work for me regardless of how beautiful it is (And I think it looks Great BTW). Too big and too limited in design. I'd hate to take that out live. The Doepfer suitcase design is more like it but again the buy in is pretty rough and the size of it is limited. I needed to be able to buy the PS unit, all cables and connecters, and build my own case. 4. Harping back on #1 it should be *currently* available. No "Soon to be released" or vaporware. I wanted to be able to pick up a phone and buy it in a matter of minutes. This dropped out a lot of cool stuff (Wiard, RS, CMS) because they were either not in production or were special orders with undisclosed release times. No offense to any company but I was looking to buy something at a predetermined price and time schedule. There are *very* few companies that can deliver this very simple (IMO) buying process and this round since I had to have the basic stuff in there it was important that I had this. 5. Finally, it should have all the basics and have a lot of additional eccentric items as well. I was going to start from scratch. Wiard is so up there in eccentric it's fantastic but I didn't really need an insane VCO to get started. Serge makes awesome routable filters but I didn't really need all those goodies either to start. I wanted a couple audio mixers, a VCA, an envelope or two and then I wanted to go off and play with the odd stuff from there. I figured I can always add the other stuff later if I want. After looking at all the above the only choice that seemed to make sense *for me* was Doepfer. The day they made their recent price drop I ordered my custom system. One month later it arrived as promised and I'm busy messing around and having a ball. This is not to say you or anyone else should get one. But for me Doepfer offered the best range of modules in the most flexible configuration at the best price. there are some tradeoffs as well but i'll detail those in a futre email. Based on all this, here is some quick advice on getting the system of your dreams started (based on what you've said you wanted to do) Get one VCO even if you don't think you'll need it. It has a ton of uses. I was in the exact same boat looking at a processing station and I an sooo glad I got one VCO in the system. I use it as a mod source, basic sound source, and a carrier for other noise manipulations. That one pannel makes my unit 100% self contained. Go easy on the filters until you've heard 'em. I was tempted to buy a multimode and a high pass and a lowpass etc., but just got one Multimode to start with. Now I have some criteria to evaluate the company's filters and can better decide what I want to do next. the plus of buying new from someone currently manufacturing is that you can *always* spend more money :). For that matter start small all around. Don't get it all at once unless you've had the chance to hands on test everything for an extended time. If you have the $$ go for more voltage controlled pieces here and there. Doepfer is great because they offer a variety of vanilla modules and then more advanced pieces. I mixed and matched some processing stuff and the basic everything to start with. Think if you'll *really* need that VC envelope or LFO as opposed to the basic one and if you think you might and have the $$ go for it. It can only add to the versitility of your unit. To hell with resaleability. If you're buying new and you're already thinking about how much it'll be worth in five years maybe you shouldn't be buying new. For a custom modular i think this is a total non issue if you've done your homework on what you'll get out of it. if it is a big deal then you might want to really consider why you want to buy a modular in the first place (hype?, untested belief that it'll be "da bomb"?). These are complex creatures and IMO a purchase should not be frivilous even if you have $$ to burn. No matter what you do this is a big step in a more "luxury" oriented field of instruments. I defy anyone to tell me they *have* to have a modular to do electronic music of any kind. You simply choose things based on personal decisions and if you're choosing a modular treat yourself a bit. It necessary to plan it all out and budget things for now and later and all that but it's also *FUN* to design and buy a modular (another thing you miss buying a complete or preset system). Throw in a few curves for yourself here and there. I ordered a theremin to CV module based on prodding from a friend and it's one of my favorite modules. I got the exterenal input module even though I could have rigged something else to do the job and it's a blessing that i did. You're paying at least $1-2K which is a lot of money. be realistic but also don't cut yourself short since you'e already come this far. only you will know the right balance. I hope this helps someone. I know I learned a lot in the process and I also know I'm thrilled I made the jump to designing something custom. It did take me ten+ years to get to this point though so again I would emphasize this might not be for everyone. besides, I'm still learning (i hope!) Coming soon: An indepth review of the Blacet Dark Star Module (Short summary - BUY ONE NOW!!!) and my brutally honest review of the Doepfer stuff I got. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HELP WANTED PRODUCTIONS - Http://www.voicenet.com/~legion "Bringing you the best in Organic Electronic music since we started..." Home of the Unusual Instrument and Recording Gallery with pictures and info of Tube recorders, Omnichords, weird guitars, Casios, and more.