Ah ah ah... reading all the advice here, it's enough to make you dizzy... and that's normal, everyone is trying to help you, and I myself will bring you another advice (at the end).
Modular is actually 'a long and winding road'... not a motorway.
You have to take your time.
Because anyway, a lot of time will pass before you stabilize a set-up that you will really master and be (at least temporarily) happy with.
Time:
- The choices constrained by the availability of the modules (especially nowadays...), and maybe time for another (good) choice :)
- Time spent studying how the modules work (reading manuals, watching videos, reading ou discussing in the forums), finally producing a wonderful track on the basis of what was just a simple test in the beginning.
- Oops! That sudden discovery (and order) of another great module that has just been released, or that you were totally unaware of, or whose possibilities we did not suspect.
- The installation, uninstallation and reinstallation of the modules.
- The revelation of another philosophy of use of the modular in your producing reorienting your first vision.
The modular path is really long and impossible to program completely by advance.
But this is also one of its attractions.
‘A splendid time is guaranteed for all’ (Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite).
So here is my advice (of the day), and of course just an example of what is possible: a 'simple' module like the E352 (the best choice, believe me, I got one :)) means days and days of exploration, learning and pleasure!
So you start with that one, and with all the bare necessities around.
Take time and pleasure. Well, E352 is around 600€ / 700$...
You'll start to learn and love it step by step. Modular is a love story with your instrument too.
And you'll start to know step by step by yourself what you (two) really need else and in the end.
Bonus: the pleasure of receiving a package from time to time with that new module you've been longing for...
When you enter a bakery, do you remember you reason with yourself ;)
'On ne devrait jamais quitter Montauban' (Fernand Naudin).
https://soundcloud.com/petrus-major/tracks