Brand: Oberheim and Moog (allegedly)
Model: The mythical “OberMoog” Pro-type *Modular* Synth made by Moog and Oberheim
Link: NO LINKS EXIST.
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I bought this in an auction after we lost the bid on a MiniMoog (the Obermoog started our modular addiction!!). The guy we bought if from told me he bought it in Germany in the early 80s.
Techmaster originally posted on Angelspit’s Forum:
http://krankhaus.net/forum/index.php?topic=5307.0
Check this thread because there’s been a lot of cool conversation since the original post.
Modular questions for Zoog
Can you share any info on extra equipment you’ve added to your rig, like why you chose it, and how well it serves its purpose, etc… I’m sure modulars are just like anything else, no one brand is good at everything, and you kind of have to find what brand is best at what…like Doepfer might have the best oscillators, but Blacet has the best LFO, Analogue Solutions has the best distortion unit, etc…
Can you share any info on extra equipment you’ve added to your rig, like why you chose it, and how well it serves its purpose
Anyways, after seeing/hearing what you’ve accomplished with your modular, and what other people are doing with them, I’ve decided to take the plunge. I purchased a Doepfer kit today to build my rack, it comes with the rails and power supply. Before I started ordering any modules, I figured I’d ask Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, what he recommends getting as far as the modules.
Firstly, go here and read this:
http://www.angelspit.net/modular_synth-int/
i think your attitude to this is really good – take it slow!
modulars allow you to dissect sound on a very detailed level….patience and persistence young jedi!
So will these recommended setups sound like these other guys, or will it sound like all hell is breaking loose?
Anyways, here’s a brief rundown:
Mini basic system (1 row of modules):
2 VCO’s, 1 ring modulator, 1 random noise, 1 VCF, 1 log VCA, 1 log mixer, 1 ADSR, 1 LFO, 1 midi interface
if money is tight, get this one. you can do A LOT with this!
be aware: i think this filter is the A-120…and it’s rather plain.
Basic system 2 (2 rows of modules):
2 VCO’s, 2 ADSR’s, 2 LFO’s, 1 ring mod, 1 audio divider, 1 VC wave processor, 1 random noise, 1 VCF1, 1 VCF2, 1 linear VCA, 1 log VCA, 1 linear mixer, 1 log mixer, 1 dual S&H, 1 trigger divider, 1 trigger sequencer, 1 dual slew limiter, 1 multiple i, 1 midi interface
this one is awesome, but there’s some stuff here that you might not use:
1 VCF1, 1 VCF2 – interesting to find out what these are. like i mentioned, the A-120 is plain…but the A-102 is AMAZING! (and it’s also cheaper)
The Trigger Divider and Trigger Sequencer are not overly useful unless you’re using analogue trigger sequencers.
You’ll notice eBay is crawling with trigger dividers, trigger sequencers and dual slew limiters…this is because people buy this package and sell the stuff they never use.
Also you’ll need more that on multiple…they’re easy and cheap to make!!
Advice:
Either way, you will want to add to your system….start with a GOOD oscillator and a GOOD filter.
Doepfer oscillators are ok…they have a habit of loosing their tuning over several octaves, but they have some awesome strengths – they’re cheap and they respond wonderfully to FM.
Important thing to remember about Doepfer power units:
They can power A LOT more than 10 moduals – there’s a “Studio Planner” Excel sheet somewhere that will let you plan your set up. It will add up the voltages to make sure you don’t blow the power….and you can power MANY (like 15-20) modulars from the one power unit…which is handy to remember, because the power units are the most expensive part of a modular.
Different oscillators and filters from different companies sound completely different. A Doepfer oscillator sound different to an Analogue Solutions oscillator.
I was thinking of basically piecing together the 1 row setup, then slowly add pieces to make the 2 row setup.
I think this is the best option. Keep me posted on how it grows!
On January 31st Zoog streamed a jam session with his modular synths. Angelspit have made the files FREE for use in your tracks.
We’re laying down pads for a new track. They need to sound like EVIL CLOUDS…here’s how we do it:
1) Two similar pads sounds. Slow attack and slow decay. Super slow LFO modulating Freq Cut-Off (Resonance applied to taste…the more resonance the more alien it will sound). HiPass filter applied so it takes the “guts” out of the pads.
2) Pan pad [A] 70% left, and pad [B] 70% right. Add reverb and chorus, but pan the reverb+chorus for Pad [A] 100% hard RIGHT, and Pad [B]’s chorus+reverb 100% hard left.
The mirrored wet to dry signals will add to the stereo field
The variation in panning will add to the perceived width of the stereo field
The HiPass filter on the pads will add to the perceived depth
…and yes, call me a liar, I pushed the UNISON button on the Jupiter8
Brand: Metasonix
Model: TM-2
Link: http://www.metasonix.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=30
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The guy who designed this really thinks “outside the box”. You can create standard (yet distinctive) bandpass filter sounds, or you can seriously and brutally mash the sound. The resonator does something scathing to the audio…it does not distort it, it HURTS it!
This is a double bandpass filter (2 Bandpass Filters working in Parallel approx 1 octave apart), so it sounds different to a Low Pass Filter (most filters are Low Pass). At it’s core is a valve…and you can really hear it’s influence on the sound.
Brand: Moog Music
Mode: MoogerFooger (MF-101)
Link: http://www.moogmusic.com/moogerfooger/?section=product&product_id=62
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This is apparently an exact replica of the 24dB Low Pass Transitor Ladder Filter used in the famous Moog55 modular. This filter is AWESOME! I think we’ve used it on every track…although there were a few tracks in Blood Death Ivory that used the Doepfer A-102 or Analogue Systems RS-500e diode filter…these two filters sound as distinctive and BEEFY as the Moog.
I got an email from Keegan who asked about making music. Keegan was kind enough to let me post my response here…I really hope this helps!
Brand: Analogue Systems
Model: RS-500e EMS Filter
Link: http://www.analoguesystems.co.uk/pdf/RS500E.pdf
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We’d been wanting to get one of these for years…then one just magically appeared in Schneiders’ Buero. It was love at first sight. The RS-500e has a beautiful, gentle, thumping yet “whiney” sound. It’s got the beef of a Moog but it sounds completely different.
Original post: http://krankhaus.net/forum/index.php?board=2;topic=9858.0
Zubermensch from Angelspit’s Forum asked me about STUFF…here’s my response..
Before we start, have a look at the article I wrote for THE DOSE (the most AWESOME CYberpunk eZine EVER!!)
>> READ MORE
> How does one get started with a modular synth rack? Do you buy it all put together like that?
> Do you buy a frame or something and just start stacking up the inputs?
The most import ant thing: make sure you NEED a modular. You might be able to make your music just fine with SoftSynths. Although I (personally) don’t like SoftSynths, many bands who I admire (The Prodigy, NIN…the list goes on) use SoftSynths to some degree.
Good music DOES NOT need to made from good gear – just good ideas!
First: play around with the SoftSynth versions…then bust out the big cash when you’re certain you NEED a modular. There’s a heap of starter systems that cost US$1000-US$2000. Synthesizers.com, Doefper, Analogue Systems, Analogue Solutions (and many more brands) have such systems. Refer to the article I wrote for THE DOSE for more info:
>> READ MORE
…also jump on our forum – there’s a lot people there who are getting into modulars.
www.krankhaus.net/forum
> How do you (personally) send the sound from the computer in to the synth as seen in your blipverts?
We have an old Yamaha DSP Card connected (via Optical Cable) to our old 01V Yamaha Desk. (yes, it’s old gear, but it works fine and I HATE landfill!!)
We Bus the signals from the card to the desk, then assign them to our central patch bay…it’s very complex and old school…there’s much easier was to do it these days with new-fangled Audio Boxes that all the “cool kids” are using…these fancy-pantsy boxes have multiple outs…so you’d assign the drum sample out the “B” output, plug it into your filters and go NUTS.
Remember: Content is King! A song is rooted in a good idea…it does not need the latest/expensive gear.
Beasty Boys wrote an AMAZING album on a 4 track. Frontline Assembly did incredible things with an Atari ST1040, some samplers and a desk.
I hope this answers your questions and inspires you to MAKETH ROCK!
ZooG
Brand: Doepfer
Model: A-137 Wave Multiplier
Link: http://www.doepfer.de/A137.htm
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I think this is the most amazing distortion unit ever made. It has a huge scope of distortion from “Gently Warming” to “Cut into sharp thin slithers and ram into your eyeball”. It’s strength is not just distortion, but also in Wave Shaping. You can patch a pure Sine Wave in and get a Spiky Saw Tooth out.