Learning about modular is 50% learning about the gear, 50% learning about yourself. It is about what you love as a person and what is important to you as an Artist. It can be frustrating and it will definitely take time, but you will eventually reach a moment when your system becomes complete... And you will know it was all worth it deep inside... Either that or bankruptcy.
What people who have never experienced modular fail to realize is every system is different. With proper planning you can literally assemble a band, or even an entire symphony in a box. Appreciate your content man
Thanks Tedd. I totally agree. It’s a wonderful format if you’re fortunate enough to be able to buy into it. It takes some experimentation but you can achieve pretty much anything with it. Thanks again!
Modular and how one uses it definitely changes a lot over time, when I started I tried to build a monster "do everything I want" machine but now I have one main case for generation of new sounds for sampling into an MPC. It took me ages to arrive at that but its what I like to use now and the MPC remains the brains of my studio.
Yeah agreed. I think that desire for gear takes over initially and then you think, “right what do I actually need to make music because this is a nightmare?” Haha
I use my set-up partly as a logic problem, but mostly to make noises that I can sit and listen to for hours (and I often do). If the end product should coincide with other people’s definition of music, well, good. If not- well, good.
I think its weird when musicians so no to a tool I love my modular, and use it constantly likely in every song i make (even if its just a little part) and you are totally right, there are sounds i would never have been able to get without it
Truly loved this! I’m not someone with the experience of making tons of music so modular has been left to be like a nature walk where there’s no real end goals except exploration. It’s wonderful how it can be so different and so flexible just like any other instrument you pick up. Wonderful to hear and see this as a wonderful proof of concept toward a live show. Thanks for all you do for all of us out here watching and patching.
My test is agency. If you can control it then you have agency. So, I cover “happy birthday”. If I can’t cover “happy birthday” then I don’t have agency for organized/traditional music. I understand not everyone is trying to do that but … honestly … do you have agency? Some might start moving goalposts at this point so it can devolve into whatever. My test then is general improvement questions which sometimes is summed up as “theory”. Another can of worms. 😅
That’s an interesting concept actually Chris. I like that. I’m exploring more with a more methodical approach by improving my theory knowledge. It’s funny how it can make you more creative to be more organised.
Fantastic video. Slightly too short :) Hope to continue to hear more about things you've discovered about how to write songs this way. And I love the song you've got going here. Nice work.
Thanks for watching and the kind comment. Certainly more to come on this subject, starting with the full performance going up this week. Thanks again, Aaron.
Love this video and the song is amazing. Maybe it's as simple as 'a real musician can make music with anything'. However, with a modular you're doing it the hard way, same as learning how to play a real instrument. Working with VCV on a PC is just as hard, but the modules are cheaper.
Wow thanks. Your channel is always brought up as gold standard tier of the modular community in my livestreams. Love what you do! I’ve never dabbled with VCV but I’m thinking about it, using the es-9 with an iPad as a mixer in AUM.
Agree, i learned from my dad to always look at the other side of the thing what everybody says, and make youre own conclusions, aldo its not really popular to think and try things for youre self anymore...
The vocal group that says you can’t make actual songs with a modular are just jealous. How many millions of people have a guitar and will never write a proper song using it? Any instrument is just a tool.
You’re totally right Eric about those writing rubbish guitar based tracks… I’ve wrote a few myself 😂😂 it is just a tool and eurorack is a highly customisable one which is why I love it. Thanks for the comment and for watching my friend.
I really loved this video! nicely done, I'm on sort of a similar journey, started out a few years ago trying to learn and create ambient music, with the hope to perform someday soon! been a fan of yours for a while, but this was a great video, talking about the struggle and the journey whilst also showcasing it too!
Thanks MM! Glad it resonated. I’m trying to hone in on what it is Maven Fiction has become over the last few years and I think I’m about there. Good luck with your journey! Keep me in the loop. Cheers.
Synth punk comes to mind. And you are living proof you can make great music with modular. Also you use it with other instruments like guitar. And really you have a great singing voice Aaron. And your use of modular is unique.
Thanks Rod. I think even a lot of supporters of the format are still convinced they won’t be able to use it for making more structured songs. Thanks for the kind compliments mate. It means a lot!
@@Mavenfiction no probs mate. I think if you want to make music with modular it is a great tool. Like a DAW you get out what you put in. But if bleeps and bloops is what you want, then have at it. No one said it had to be a musical endeavor. But as you are a musician you will look at the thing as any musician does. How can I fit this in with my setup. And that is exactly what I want to do. Getting a computer and making music on that was revolutionary for me. But I felt like I needed something more human like an analog synth. So I researched the subject to an inch of it's life and got a grandmother. I have absolutely no regrets with that choice. It has two oscillators and a low pass filter. The most basic synth on my computer beats it hands down. But it can't do Analog. There is ofcourse the U-he Deva. But I have that and it sounds great if it doesn't kill the CPU but guess what, it still doesn't do Analog despite what they say. Any way I digress. My analog obsession has been tempered by my obsession with hardware. So now I'm getting into full modular. And I said I would never go full modular. But it looks like so much fun and I have a plan with it. Hopefully it doesn't cost me as much as my imagination thinks it will cost. All I have at the moment is a Piston Honda and a Niftykeyz, but they are at my lovely mum's so I will see them in April when I get my holidays. I'm trying to do this without getting things I regret. But so far I still regret that 303 copy and I am feeling some limitations with my Korg volca drums. But I think I just need some really heavy kick on that. So I was looking at the knobula kickaine. That can side chain also. That sounds very useful to me. But we will ser how it goes. I think that's the beauty of modular, you think one thing and you go a completely different direction. Keep it up lad your doing great.💪😎
It's even more 'maths' based than learning a conventional instrument , which can be too off-putting to those taught maths incorrectly. It does not provide the same connection one has to a conventional instrument , although a more direct interface maybe available soon. What it does allow you to do is construct the seemingly impossible with not alot of effort, and only a few things to comprehend. Very different experience from a conventional instrument , where you can spend decades trying, but your motor skills/ piddies are plainly pants.
Learning about modular is 50% learning about the gear, 50% learning about yourself. It is about what you love as a person and what is important to you as an Artist. It can be frustrating and it will definitely take time, but you will eventually reach a moment when your system becomes complete... And you will know it was all worth it deep inside... Either that or bankruptcy.
Very true Pierre! Thanks for watching and the comment. The problem is when the systems complete, I start on the next one haha.
@@Mavenfiction yes indeed! I am not even done with my first case (but soon) and I already have 3 other planned in modulargrid… cheers!
What people who have never experienced modular fail to realize is every system is different. With proper planning you can literally assemble a band, or even an entire symphony in a box. Appreciate your content man
Thanks Tedd. I totally agree. It’s a wonderful format if you’re fortunate enough to be able to buy into it. It takes some experimentation but you can achieve pretty much anything with it. Thanks again!
Modular and how one uses it definitely changes a lot over time, when I started I tried to build a monster "do everything I want" machine but now I have one main case for generation of new sounds for sampling into an MPC. It took me ages to arrive at that but its what I like to use now and the MPC remains the brains of my studio.
Yeah agreed. I think that desire for gear takes over initially and then you think, “right what do I actually need to make music because this is a nightmare?” Haha
I use my set-up partly as a logic problem, but mostly to make noises that I can sit and listen to for hours (and I often do). If the end product should coincide with other people’s definition of music, well, good. If not- well, good.
Here here! Or should I say hear hear?
I think its weird when musicians so no to a tool
I love my modular, and use it constantly likely in every song i make (even if its just a little part) and you are totally right, there are sounds i would never have been able to get without it
Thanks for the comment Dane and for watching. They are sound design beasts!
Truly loved this! I’m not someone with the experience of making tons of music so modular has been left to be like a nature walk where there’s no real end goals except exploration. It’s wonderful how it can be so different and so flexible just like any other instrument you pick up. Wonderful to hear and see this as a wonderful proof of concept toward a live show. Thanks for all you do for all of us out here watching and patching.
I love that nature walk analogy. That’s equally as important as making tracks! You’re welcome. Thanks for watching and for the kind comment.
My test is agency. If you can control it then you have agency. So, I cover “happy birthday”. If I can’t cover “happy birthday” then I don’t have agency for organized/traditional music. I understand not everyone is trying to do that but … honestly … do you have agency? Some might start moving goalposts at this point so it can devolve into whatever. My test then is general improvement questions which sometimes is summed up as “theory”. Another can of worms. 😅
That’s an interesting concept actually Chris. I like that. I’m exploring more with a more methodical approach by improving my theory knowledge. It’s funny how it can make you more creative to be more organised.
Fantastic video. Slightly too short :) Hope to continue to hear more about things you've discovered about how to write songs this way. And I love the song you've got going here. Nice work.
Thanks for watching and the kind comment. Certainly more to come on this subject, starting with the full performance going up this week. Thanks again, Aaron.
Depends on how you define music. You can't make current POP music on it for sure, but you can't make current pop music with just a Drum Set either.
Agreed. Though I do think I’ve hit the pop genre with this track.
@@Mavenfiction Nah, you clearly missed it and found something better.
@@Qwiv thanks 😊
My. Bloody. Valentine.
Naysayers : No no no don't do tha, it will be rubbish.... Oh that's really really good
Really interesting points sir. (And the boy can sing!). 👌
Wow thanks :) really appreciate you checking it out and commenting.
Love this video and the song is amazing. Maybe it's as simple as 'a real musician can make music with anything'. However, with a modular you're doing it the hard way, same as learning how to play a real instrument. Working with VCV on a PC is just as hard, but the modules are cheaper.
Wow thanks. Your channel is always brought up as gold standard tier of the modular community in my livestreams. Love what you do! I’ve never dabbled with VCV but I’m thinking about it, using the es-9 with an iPad as a mixer in AUM.
This song is amazing !
Thank you very much :)
Agree, i learned from my dad to always look at the other side of the thing what everybody says, and make youre own conclusions, aldo its not really popular to think and try things for youre self anymore...
Your Dad sounds like a very wise man! Thanks for the comment and for watching :)
@@Mavenfiction Thanks for getting me into modular! and have a nice weekend!
@@kasper-jw2441 sorry for getting you into Modular haha. Thanks. You too!
Your thoughts are gold
The vocal group that says you can’t make actual songs with a modular are just jealous. How many millions of people have a guitar and will never write a proper song using it? Any instrument is just a tool.
You’re totally right Eric about those writing rubbish guitar based tracks… I’ve wrote a few myself 😂😂 it is just a tool and eurorack is a highly customisable one which is why I love it. Thanks for the comment and for watching my friend.
this is my favorite video on your channel so far. great tune, too. thanks!
Wow thanks Ben. Plenty more of this to come :) thanks again’
I really loved this video! nicely done, I'm on sort of a similar journey, started out a few years ago trying to learn and create ambient music, with the hope to perform someday soon! been a fan of yours for a while, but this was a great video, talking about the struggle and the journey whilst also showcasing it too!
Thanks MM! Glad it resonated. I’m trying to hone in on what it is Maven Fiction has become over the last few years and I think I’m about there. Good luck with your journey! Keep me in the loop. Cheers.
Synth punk comes to mind. And you are living proof you can make great music with modular. Also you use it with other instruments like guitar. And really you have a great singing voice Aaron. And your use of modular is unique.
Thanks Rod. I think even a lot of supporters of the format are still convinced they won’t be able to use it for making more structured songs. Thanks for the kind compliments mate. It means a lot!
@@Mavenfiction no probs mate. I think if you want to make music with modular it is a great tool. Like a DAW you get out what you put in. But if bleeps and bloops is what you want, then have at it. No one said it had to be a musical endeavor. But as you are a musician you will look at the thing as any musician does. How can I fit this in with my setup. And that is exactly what I want to do. Getting a computer and making music on that was revolutionary for me. But I felt like I needed something more human like an analog synth. So I researched the subject to an inch of it's life and got a grandmother. I have absolutely no regrets with that choice. It has two oscillators and a low pass filter. The most basic synth on my computer beats it hands down. But it can't do Analog. There is ofcourse the U-he Deva. But I have that and it sounds great if it doesn't kill the CPU but guess what, it still doesn't do Analog despite what they say. Any way I digress. My analog obsession has been tempered by my obsession with hardware. So now I'm getting into full modular. And I said I would never go full modular. But it looks like so much fun and I have a plan with it. Hopefully it doesn't cost me as much as my imagination thinks it will cost. All I have at the moment is a Piston Honda and a Niftykeyz, but they are at my lovely mum's so I will see them in April when I get my holidays. I'm trying to do this without getting things I regret. But so far I still regret that 303 copy and I am feeling some limitations with my Korg volca drums. But I think I just need some really heavy kick on that. So I was looking at the knobula kickaine. That can side chain also. That sounds very useful to me. But we will ser how it goes. I think that's the beauty of modular, you think one thing and you go a completely different direction. Keep it up lad your doing great.💪😎
Nice one, Aaron. Who are these naysayers? I was writing songs with my Roland 100m system back in the 80s... 😄
Haha thanks Ian. Even a lot of modular users seem to be under the impression that you can’t structure tracks!
@@Mavenfiction Well, I did multi-track it. The 100m wasn' quite up to solo performnances 😊
@@IanWaugh haha yeah I know mate.
Challenge accepted
Make sure you keep me in the loop man! I’m trying to start a movement haha
It's even more 'maths' based than learning a conventional instrument , which can be too off-putting to those taught maths incorrectly. It does not provide the same connection one has to a conventional instrument , although a more direct interface maybe available soon. What it does allow you to do is construct the seemingly impossible with not alot of effort, and only a few things to comprehend. Very different experience from a conventional instrument , where you can spend decades trying, but your motor skills/ piddies are plainly pants.