User Posts

The usual suspects.
Pyramid running clock - drums
Blackbox - Drum/samples/resampling
Belgrad - beginning sample blackbox sample running through modular, Maths providing the envelopes, Belgrad adding well you hear it.
Dixie, Mimetic Sequencing,Clep Diaz modulation, CVilization step sequencer, Disting Mk4 quantizer, FM by I-o47, Belgrad on Filter, U-He delay, Bat-Verb, Maths on envelope duty, Quad VCA,
U-He Zebra on strings
FX-Aid on delay (sprinkles)
Bat-Verb on Bat-Verb (for various effects)
Studio One 4 - Mix
Tascam Model 24 I/O

EDITED Feb 21st 2021, 07:01

@Quantum_Eraser,

Thanks, I use a very hybrid system as I have gathered a lot of different noise makers and enjoy using them all. The modular is full of sound designs that I would never find using a VST (its not that they can't be found, I just prefer the more hands on approach and satisfaction the modular provides), and at the same time my modular is not big enough (yet) to get a lush 7 voice chord stack.

I often will take the bounced audio from a VST and then resample it through the modular system because I like the hands on control I get rather than messing around with drawing automation lines in the DAW, and I simply love the sounds of the analog filters and effects I have in my modular rig.

I am hoping to expand the modular in a few months as I continue to push my understanding and capabilities of my rig, I am also on the look-out for a great poly-synth and analog drums.

EDITED Feb 11th 2021, 19:26

@mowse well done

I wish that was my voice, I downloaded the vocal a capella and arranged and mixed it (added delay and reverb from the modular and resampled it in places)

I don't have a studio one digital mixer, I picked up a Tascam Model 24, I love the ability to route individual tracks in and out of the DAW for multi-track recording and overdubbing. I can route samples being triggered from the blackbox into the DAW for recording and out to the modular for FX, overdubs etc.

First attempt at a vocal track, a cappella downloaded from Splice, chopped, overdubs, FX through the modular.

All the usual suspects.

BIA: kick, and some perc
FX-Aid - copius use, effects, resampling, overdubbing
Bat-Verb - copius use, effects, resampling, vox
Dixie II+ - Some bass duties, With Instruo I-o47 Filter, Maths envelopes, Bat Verb, FH-2
Blackbox -sampling, resampling
Pyramid - Drum Sequencing
U-He - Zebra Pad
Typon
Studio-One Arranging and mixing

EDITED Feb 10th 2021, 22:55

Thanks @GarfieldModular, I am working on several more. I also grabbed an a cappella sample to try my hand at a vocal track. I will get this out in the next few days always love your feedback.

Lots of fun with this one.

5String -> FX Aid - Bat Verb
BIA - Kick and some percs
Ataraxic, maths, belgrad,FX-Aid, Bat Verb
Lubadh - Overdubs, and FX
Cleb Diaz - modulation
Black Box - Some Perc, pad sample
Typhon - Some bass duties, and FX
U-He Zebra - Pad -> FX-Aid Lo-fi Junky - Bat Verb

EDITED Feb 8th 2021, 06:54

I also looked at the summit, I just want a desktop poly don’t have space for the full keyboard, I am looking for modular modules to create that deep house fm bass you know it when you hear it. I can create a solid fm bass in software synths but want to create that in modular. Anyone into sound design that can point me at the best modules to recreate this sound I would appreciate the guidance.

EDITED Feb 3rd 2021, 01:49

@GarfieldModular, that is a sample from a Goldbaby collection put through the NE Desmodus. I love the sound of the Dixie in this track, I have been playing a ton with this one. I will likely be expanding my rack in a few months and adding a couple more analog osc. I do want to add a really good FM module to get some nice DX-7 tones if anyone has some recommendations.

I have a few more tracks I am working on, as I continue to get a good workflow going between performing (not quite there yet to pull a track like this off live quite yet, I have just started more song based programming with the squarp), sound design and arranging.

I also have my eye on a Novation Peak, and the Jomox Alpha Base if anyone has any experience or opinions on either of these, all comments welcome.

EDITED Feb 2nd 2021, 05:15

Main Synth Dixie2+, I-o47, Maths,FX-Aid,Bat Verb,FH-2
Main Sequencer: Pyramid
Sampler: BlackBox
U-He: Zebra
Dreadbox Typhon

Arranged and Mixed in Studio One.

Threw this one together today very rough mix as I wanted to get this out today.

All the players active

Lubadh tape delay
Dixie fm bells, fm modulation provided by the I-o47 through intellijel quad vca
Typhon textures
Blackbox samples
Pyramid sequencing
U-He Zebra chords

All the toys come out to play nice.

Nice, so smooth a great track.

Lots of players
Dreadbox Typhon (Brass Patches)
Modular (Arp and Lead) (Ataraxic Iteritas, Dixie 2, Xaoc Belgrad, Bat Verb, FX Aid)
Pyramid Main Sequencer
Blackbox Main Sampler
U-he Zebra Chords
Mixed and Arranged in Studio One.
Added my 5 String custom bass to this one as well.

I tend to program base sequences and samples using the pyramid. I then track these into the DAW using my Tascam Model 24 and do arranging in the DAW. I like to sequence in hardware so I don't lose the ability to just jam live. Lots of sound design practice in this track using all my synths, hardware, software, and modular.

EDITED Jan 16th 2021, 07:02

@troux

you rock, thanks for all your work on this. Well done to all the contributors let's make sure the 2021 release has even more submissions!

@troux not sure how to get you the files, can you download from or do I need to send you an email?

Thanks for putting this together!

mantis, mantis, mantis. Best beginner case imho, plenty of power good ergonomics, and plenty of HP.

I just completed this one

other contenders

or

nice tones, I almost picked up rings (likely will in my next case), but I have a resonator in the parasites firmware for clouds that has some nice qualities to it. I decided to get a dedicated reverb, going for the bat-verb, Desmodus Versio.

Sequencer:
Pyramid

Drums:
Blackbox 1010

Main Voice:
proteus 2k going through clouds and fx-aid

Mayhem:
BIA and Ataraxic with LXd and I-o47

Utes:
3xMIA
Maths
Mimetic (modulating BIA
CVilization (matrix mixer)

I would consider holding off on the Batumi in this size case with both a clep and a maths, you can get even more related modulation putting the bi-polar output of clep through the rectifier of kinks (and provide attenuation through channel 2/3 of maths).

I would consider replacing the tip-top sampler with a disting mk4 or also getting rid of the roti and getting a disting ex.

Another module to consider besides the varigate would be the steppy (saves you 4HP)

ditching batumi and swapping steppy for the varigate gives you 14HP to work with you could pick up a matrix mixer such as u-he CVilization (tons of functionality packed in) and perhaps a LPG (the LXd matches great with BIA).

Overall I would plan on a bigger case, I picked up a Mantis and so glad I did because you are going to hit a wall and want to add a module without anywhere to put it.

It is your synth so don't be to concerned about getting it perfect, that's half the fun, but you have a ton of modulation in this case with only two voices imho.

EDITED Nov 10th 2020, 17:58

Thanks @GarfieldModular, just cleared the rack starting from scratch again

Looped up my 5 string bass through Lubadh, overdubbed through FX-Aid and clouds, samples by blackbox, BIA makes an appearance modulated by the Mimetic, mixing shaping by 3xMia, resonant echo by the Belgrad even the I-o47 makes adds some nice effects.

Still working my way through my rack and experimenting no formal structure, just forcing myself to pick a different starting point and seeing where this takes me.

This looks way to small given three voices (Plaits, Rings, and Clouds) not nearly enough room for proper modulation.

I do like the cascading CV available in the Quad VCA you have that is not in Veils, that may or may not make a difference to you (Veils save you some HP as well).

Do you need an ADSR you have envelopes available in Maths and for this size case seems like wasted HP.

Do you need more passive attenuators you have 2 attenuverters in Maths, another option is 3xMIA gives you mixing capabilities, offsets, attenuverters?

You might want some sort of matrix mixer. I think there is a lot of value in the new u-he civilization module.

More importantly this case is too small, you will find yourself very limited very quickly. I would recommend the Mantis case the best bang for the buck with plenty of space to grow.

More experienced folks I am sure will give you more advice, but plan for a bigger case and fill slowly.

This was really nice thanks for sharing.

dixie II fm1 modulation provided by I-o47 and fm2 modulated by saw output of dixie mixed with disting wavefolder attenuated by 3xMIA. Envelopes by Maths, drums by BIA. Sequenced by Mimetic, LXd makes an appearance as well.

EDITED Oct 27th 2020, 07:01

I bought the pyramid prior to diving into modular for all my external gear, really love how easy it is to program, but wouldn’t get a hermod as primary for modular. All the modular options are interesting and I may pick up a metron or nerdseq to compliment.

Squarp Pyramid is my main sequencer and clock.

Blackbox 1010 for drum loops and sample trigger (I have a ton of samples collected over the years and little sound machines great for clouds textures).

One gated sample is fed to clouds.
BIA doing industrial distorted mayhem fed through LXd (love the low pass gate)
Modulation duties handled by Maths and Clep Diaz.
Should add intellijel quad vca providing some overdrive.

EDITED Oct 18th 2020, 19:26

Nice, I have contemplated IME modules perhaps in the next case, this one is filling up, leaving room for MI latest, or rings.

I think having a performance kit and a studio/experiment kit makes great sense. Last thing you want to do is mess with a dialed in performance kit, but messing around is exactly what drives the next performance. Always one module short for that next killer sound. I will likely just get another mantis easy enough to port around with great value for the price. I like the bigger cases but would likely try a go at building my own studio kit rather than pay the premium to have a custom builder do it.

@garfieldmodular, I am humbled by your comments, inspiration enough for more sonic twiddling. Great album by the way, so many sonic layers.

If I had an extra 4.5k still left hanging in the money tree, that Gold and Black system would be a solid pickup.

still quite new, but Kinks is fantastic, I love it for the rectifier section alone, throw in some logic and S&H, I always find a use for it in a patch, all the recommendations are fantastic, but there is a reason why kinks and links are brought up again and again and so glad I listened.

Thanks @troux, I am really just experimenting with textures not focused on complete tracks. So much to get a grasp on. I have to say I really love the Instruo I-o47 filter the strike input with high resonance and low cutoff really creates deep thunderous booms that sound great (to me at least). Going to be working my way through the Disting Mk4 and Maths over the next few weeks making a patch using a new mode of the Disting each time.

a smorgasbord of modules, experimenting with different modulation.

Might want to check out happy nerdings 3xmia great value/hp.

here's another, same patch just noodling with the BIA, what a fun module.

single voice BIA through the LXd modulation via Maths and clep diaz.

The mimetic is great for experimentation not as a main sequencer. Currently I do most sequencing with my squarp since I have a bunch of external gear. I may in my next case do more modular sequenencing only time will tell.

Garfield thanks so much, short answer to a long story. I gave up music over 20 years ago to raise a family. I have had many a false start but never committed. Thanks to the latest planar conditions I have delved head first into music and am having a blast, but this has been the first piece of music ever produced and released (not counting playing live gigs as a percussionist in college).

Thanks again for your kind words, motivation enough to keep plodding through.

EDITED Oct 10th 2020, 01:12

complete noob, still figuring out what the heck I am doing, but figured I would start sharing to get feedback.

First ever track.
Squarp Pyramid master clock and blackbox 1010 sequencer
BIA main modulated by clep diaz bi-polar out fed into kinks, passing through a LXd (12dB) using the strike input (got to say I love the sound of the BIA through the LXd).
Vox and keys sampled via a blackbox 1010 fed into clouds modulated via Maths LFO mixed with clep diaz uni-polar and Freeze modulated using a gated sequence from my Pyramid.

Recorded live into Ableton, very light processing. Still a work in progress as I have other voices I am still working on mixing into the sequence.

I have a love hate relationship with modules over 14hp. I love the fact that the controls aren't squeezed in and hate that I need more cases to use them. What have I got myself into.

Its the HP that is a killer. It seems like 1 Maths/6U is a good ratio. I am going to chew on this for awhile perhaps after some more patching I will feel differently. Math's is great but would like a dedicated envelope generator. I guess would you replace both your quadrax and zadar for a second Maths?

I have been debating between the Quadrax and the Zadar. The menu diving of the Zadar has me somewhat turned off. I have a squarp pyramid and some other outboard gear for that fun. My emu proteus is gathering dust because programming it is a bear (at least for me). I have also given thought to a second Maths but I think I will hold off on that until I start on my second 6U.

Other options for quad envelopes, doesn't have to be in a single module but don't want to consume more than a quadrax or zadar?

Current rack,

First two rows is what I have (the LxD and Lubadh are on order). The third row is what I am planning to add. Seems like I am always looking for an attenuverter/mixer and the 3xMIA is a lot in a small package. I wanted more envelopes to free up more of maths.

Let me know what you think about the third row, the FH-2 is mandatory but the rest is just based on what I find myself looking for to balance the voices and effects (I couldn't resist the uBurst as I like clouds, but didn't need a full-size or even the monsoon, mine is silver/white panel just no option to select that from the modules).

I do find links and kinks in every patch so that was extremely helpful.

Looks like I will be needing a second mantis very soon, love that case the value/HP curve is the best in the market imho, while I would love a custom finished wood cab, it's hard to justify that over more modules ;)

Mantis case was a great buy, I highly recommend this case for all beginners. I am filling my case as I go having a blast, hope to push some patches out soon. I made a few additions based on module availability.

Thanks for all you suggestions I have a new addiction, always a module short.

EDITED Oct 4th 2020, 22:52

Let the fun begin

first modules and case arrived today

Another question, any recommended cable brands to get or stay away from. I know this is a bit of personal preference but with so many to choose from, any go to sources great value/price ratio are welcome.