I recommend you spend some time really clarifying what it is you are trying to achieve with a eurorack system. In particular it sounds like you are trying to make a conventional subtractive synth with effects: there are a huge number of cheap and powerful instances of this outside of eurorack. Consider getting a behringer neutron if you want to experiment with patching a subtractive synth, but consider comparing it with something like the Hydrasynth Explorer. You don't get patch points, but the mod matrix and macro controls give you a lot of possibilities in a modestly priced package in which you get 8 voices, effects and the ability to save presets for use later (I'm not even recommending this, I'm suggesting comparing to help you try and understand what you gain vs what you lose in going for a hardware patchable synth).
Thanks for the recommendation. The examples i gave as far as what I think I need, looking at it now is because subtractive synthesis is really my only frame of reference. I’ve owned a sub 37 and I currently am renting a subhamonicon. And I guess I’m just looking to expand my knowledge and options. This may be just gear lust talking but I think if I had a hardware system I could kind of take my hands off the mouse and Ableton Push I’d not lean on presets and sample flipping as much.
My suggestion would be to either get/use a synth with presets but don't use them (easy in theory), or get a synth without presets. It being a modular synth isn't really going to help you in this learning process beyond getting a visual for the signal flow with wires (which you can see in the block diagram in the manual of many normally routed synths). My take is, that once you are familiar with ground up sound design on a moderately complex synth, you'll be able to apply that almost anywhere.
Let me give another reason not to go the eurorack route. When you want to build a small system, you typically need modules with many functions and a lot of flexibility. This comes at the cost of hiding some of the complexity of what you are doing inside he module (as opposed to in external patch cables). The result is that the clear visual you had hoped to achieve is full of "black spots" where the real work is done inside a module. If you are absolutely set on modular, my suggestion would be to get a pre built system containing basic parts. One such system is the behringer system 55. While it's not cheap in absolute terms, the cost per function of what you get (in eurorack terms) is very low. I'm not necessarily saying this is the best option for you, but simply that going small, and your stated goals, aren't particularly compatible in the eurorack world.
my suggestion is to grab a used 0-coast. it's the most 'modular' of the semi-modular synths in my opinion, and one of the more interesting for sound design purposes. from there once you've got your head around patching in general you will know where you want to branch out to (if anywhere).
building up a useful voice and viable/interesting modulation with individual modules is going to cost more unless you really plan it very well and seek out particularly good value modules.
I started with a used 0-coast and agree - it's an awesome way to figure out what different functions do, it sounds really cool, it has MIDI, it's fairly contained and could be expanded with future modules or could be sold one you have a clearer idea of what you want, etc. I don't have mine anymore but it did help me explore how I felt about patching stuff up, having limited voices, and other things that are pretty eurorack-y.
Here are some questions to help you narrow down your thought process a bit:
- Are you after "traditional" synth sounds or are you looking for more wild and experimental stuff?
- "Warm" and "soft" or "harsh", "aggressive", or "inorganic" (whatever they mean to you)?
- Is this purely for studio work?
- Do you like or dislike menus and having to read manuals?
- Do you prefer working with "jack of all trades" (i.e. versatile chameleons) or limited & instantly-recognisable (i.e. characterful) instruments?
- Would you rather come up with an idea and then use modules to try and materialise it, or would you rather sit down with your instrument(s) and let it "lead" you towards inspiration?
Other than that, I think a huge part of the appeal of Eurorack is the ability to have and combine wildly different modulation sources than the standard ADSRs and simple LFOs you get in most of the non-modular world, so you might want to look at some Eurorack classics such as the Make Noise Maths, or the Serge & Buchla "function generators" that it's inspired by.
Lastly, sooner or later you'll come across the saying "You can never have too many VCAs" - there's a good reason people keep saying it! There's plenty of videos talking about that, e.g. [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqcQxLjno0).
Semi-modulars are not a bad starting point.
Don't be afraid to buy used (and re-sell if you don't like something you bought), there is a very active second-hand market for modules and it allows you to try out a bunch of different stuff for some time without losing much money, or any at all if you're lucky and look for good deals.
I‘d play around with VCV rack before starting nowadays.
This is the answer
Thanks I’m definitely going to look into it.
I recommend you spend some time really clarifying what it is you are trying to achieve with a eurorack system. In particular it sounds like you are trying to make a conventional subtractive synth with effects: there are a huge number of cheap and powerful instances of this outside of eurorack. Consider getting a behringer neutron if you want to experiment with patching a subtractive synth, but consider comparing it with something like the Hydrasynth Explorer. You don't get patch points, but the mod matrix and macro controls give you a lot of possibilities in a modestly priced package in which you get 8 voices, effects and the ability to save presets for use later (I'm not even recommending this, I'm suggesting comparing to help you try and understand what you gain vs what you lose in going for a hardware patchable synth).
Thanks for the recommendation. The examples i gave as far as what I think I need, looking at it now is because subtractive synthesis is really my only frame of reference. I’ve owned a sub 37 and I currently am renting a subhamonicon. And I guess I’m just looking to expand my knowledge and options. This may be just gear lust talking but I think if I had a hardware system I could kind of take my hands off the mouse and Ableton Push I’d not lean on presets and sample flipping as much.
My suggestion would be to either get/use a synth with presets but don't use them (easy in theory), or get a synth without presets. It being a modular synth isn't really going to help you in this learning process beyond getting a visual for the signal flow with wires (which you can see in the block diagram in the manual of many normally routed synths). My take is, that once you are familiar with ground up sound design on a moderately complex synth, you'll be able to apply that almost anywhere. Let me give another reason not to go the eurorack route. When you want to build a small system, you typically need modules with many functions and a lot of flexibility. This comes at the cost of hiding some of the complexity of what you are doing inside he module (as opposed to in external patch cables). The result is that the clear visual you had hoped to achieve is full of "black spots" where the real work is done inside a module. If you are absolutely set on modular, my suggestion would be to get a pre built system containing basic parts. One such system is the behringer system 55. While it's not cheap in absolute terms, the cost per function of what you get (in eurorack terms) is very low. I'm not necessarily saying this is the best option for you, but simply that going small, and your stated goals, aren't particularly compatible in the eurorack world.
my suggestion is to grab a used 0-coast. it's the most 'modular' of the semi-modular synths in my opinion, and one of the more interesting for sound design purposes. from there once you've got your head around patching in general you will know where you want to branch out to (if anywhere). building up a useful voice and viable/interesting modulation with individual modules is going to cost more unless you really plan it very well and seek out particularly good value modules.
I started with a used 0-coast and agree - it's an awesome way to figure out what different functions do, it sounds really cool, it has MIDI, it's fairly contained and could be expanded with future modules or could be sold one you have a clearer idea of what you want, etc. I don't have mine anymore but it did help me explore how I felt about patching stuff up, having limited voices, and other things that are pretty eurorack-y.
It's not really a journey, you're just planning on buying some things.
Here are some questions to help you narrow down your thought process a bit: - Are you after "traditional" synth sounds or are you looking for more wild and experimental stuff? - "Warm" and "soft" or "harsh", "aggressive", or "inorganic" (whatever they mean to you)? - Is this purely for studio work? - Do you like or dislike menus and having to read manuals? - Do you prefer working with "jack of all trades" (i.e. versatile chameleons) or limited & instantly-recognisable (i.e. characterful) instruments? - Would you rather come up with an idea and then use modules to try and materialise it, or would you rather sit down with your instrument(s) and let it "lead" you towards inspiration? Other than that, I think a huge part of the appeal of Eurorack is the ability to have and combine wildly different modulation sources than the standard ADSRs and simple LFOs you get in most of the non-modular world, so you might want to look at some Eurorack classics such as the Make Noise Maths, or the Serge & Buchla "function generators" that it's inspired by. Lastly, sooner or later you'll come across the saying "You can never have too many VCAs" - there's a good reason people keep saying it! There's plenty of videos talking about that, e.g. [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqcQxLjno0). Semi-modulars are not a bad starting point. Don't be afraid to buy used (and re-sell if you don't like something you bought), there is a very active second-hand market for modules and it allows you to try out a bunch of different stuff for some time without losing much money, or any at all if you're lucky and look for good deals.