Відео

Hey - it's a big and common question and hard to answer because who knows how you're thinking about these things and what it is exactly that you're looking for. However, if I had under 500 quid to spend I would look at: Korg Minilogue - analog, polyphonic Arturia Minifreak - digital, polyphonic Behringer MonoPoly - Analog, poly Novation Bass Station II - Analog, mono PWM Malevolent - Analog, mono Moog Mavis - analog, mono, but that Moog sound The Cre8audio and Dreadbox stuff are genuinely good fun and sound great. The Nymphes is just about under 500 these days Hope that helps!

@@MoltenMusicTechyes it helps a lot! I’m looking for something without a keyboard just because is more easy to store away because I don’t have a permanent desk. I already have a midi controller with standard midi and CV. I’m looking for the classic rock music sound of the 70/80s to add synth sound to my band. More industrial and electronic music at home just for fun.

If it’s for a band then save/recalling presets and patches is probably very useful. The Minilogue has a desktop version, I’d definitely check that out if you want a poly. Or the Nymphes for a very vintage synth sound.

@@MoltenMusicTech thanks

It’s ARM based so it will need special versions of software or it will have to run in emulation mode. I did a video on the previous version, the pro X and it was a bit of a nightmare. If someone could send me one then I can.

@@MoltenMusicTech Ah yes I see. I've been reading up on it and ARM. I may go for the Surface 9 then as the Ableton device. I guess I'll see over the coming weeks what the reviews are like!

No one is going to review it in terms of music production - and the thing is that we need software and hardware peripherals working in perfect sync and at low latency. Bench marks, app demos and productivity software reviews doesn't tell us anything. Hopefully I can get hold of one at some point.

I’m not sure what you mean. What 8 digital voices? Are you sure you have the right video?

​@@MoltenMusicTech Sorry. Put my foot in it. I'll retract the statement if it is in poor taste. That said, I would like to see more demonstrations of modular used polyphonically, with MIDI, and with a keyboard.

I think the answer to your question is to buy a synth - that’s exactly what they do. But poly modular is possible in fact I have a telepathy system from dreadbox in for review which will do exactly that.

@@MoltenMusicTech And the Plasma drone synth feeding (presumably) the Oct sequencer is also polyphonic, albeit non-pitched. As far as I know, so-called drones these days are digitally driven (though not all of them) because of the advantage digital gives over analog in terms of cost as well as spacial effectiveness. Are you aware of a Milanese firm called Jolene? They have just launched a 1000+ oscillator drone! Its in a desktop (maybe 60 - 80 hp or so wide). They, like Doepfer, now feature "polyphonic" modules with oodles of "bang for the buck". Most impressive is an 8 hp wide LPG bank with, dig this, 8 'f'n' gates! Instant Buchla! And they've got a slightly wider LFO bank with 9! Jolene have shirked pots and opted instead to maximize patchpoints, but with a wild innovation - the LFO bank features tiny, touchplate controls that directly control each of the nine LFOs. They are complex LFOs in the sense that you can chain them together in a sequence, then play 'em chaos pad style in realtime. I'm very impressed with Dreadbox. They really get it regarding poly-chaining. Aint it cool that 70 hp case with 6 voices and a friekin' mixer for like $1100 US dollars. 'Only caveat I see is that the signal path is a little bit corrupted by digital. And there are precious few patch-points on it. Whats your opinion on polyphony via MIDI interfaces? Maybe feature a session comparing the narrow BASTYL 1983 with the ultra-wide (16 hp) Doepfer interface. They both give 4 voice channels, but the BASTYL also gives microtuning, a sequencer (I think) and some other goodies. The Doepfer is also 4 channel, with velocity and aftertouch, but in a nearly prohibitively wide enclosure. Like - try to stack 8 voices and fit 'em in a Behringer Go case with 140 hp limits width X 2 levels. Believe me, I've tried to visualize it. And forget 8 or even six complex voices. Forget (practically) even simple voice features like LFOs. Thanks for returning my correspondence. Looking forward to upcoming shows.

I've done some videos on polyphony in modular. It's not that difficult, just cumbersome and involves a lot of gear to achieve something that doesn't really lend itself to modular. But if you have the gear and the time then you can do some really weird stuff with it.

No, it doesn't do that - it's one of the flaws of the FM2 that I talk about in the video

@@MoltenMusicTech I found patchbase which can export/import patches and patterns, it's for Mac only but anyway it's still a one way to do that

Nice one

Seems unlikely as it will require special ARM versions of DAW software and audio drivers or run in an emulation mode. I did a video on the previous version, the Pro X which demonstrates the issues - however, the Pro 11 is much more powerful and mature so we’ll have to see if that helps.

What makes you say that?

I certainly would do so if someone would send me one. Unfortunately I don't have the funds to buy one at the moment. I predict that most software would run in emulated mode but finding drivers for the audio interface would be problematic. I went through all this with the Pro X and while we now have 64 bit support I imagine the experience will be similar.

It’s not really a sound I’m looking for, it’s more of a process that brings interesting interactions and unpredictable outcomes.

More seriously, your perspective on Modular was so refreshing and encouraging. You were honest about what you liked and didn't and why. And in the years since you've never compromised. Very GenX and that's a compliment! Please keep doing what you're doing. Everyone who comes here know they're getting the straight dope!

Thanks mate, I appreciate your support

Aww thanks for that

The results are awesome! You are welcome to send me something better.

The Impact with work with any MIDI software. You can then map the knobs to control whatever you want..... none of that is particularly easy for a 6 year old. You'd be better off perhaps with a keyboard that has sounds rather than routing through a computer to use software sounds. Another option would be to return the Impact and get an Arturia controller that integrates well with their Analog selection. The Impact works really well with the things it's designed to work with, but I think you're looking for something else. Anyway, here's some free software instruments that you can try. www.careersinmusic.com/best-free-vst-instruments/

I’m sorry you find melody boring. There’s plenty of drone music and beats made on modular - you can use it for whatever you want. But like a guitar lends itself to strumming; sequencing voltages lends itself to series’s of notes and occurrences. Your best bet is to make the music you want to hear and build the machine to produce it. Personally I still very much enjoy a string of notes, the movement of a filter and the space created by reverb and delay.

It is both that simple and more complex. It's simple in that you get an oscillator, it makes a sound, you turn the tuning knob and make music. It gets more complex because you want the sound to be more interesting, so you add filters, you add effects, you add things that move pitch to play tunes, things that wobble things to change tone and so on and so on. But yeah, plug outs into ins and you can go far wrong.

I'm not in love with the colour scheme

Check my most recent videos!

It’s a setting in Zaps called “chromatic” or something like that

It's a noise machine so.... who can tell?

I imagine the differences are to do with the two module interaction?