Making Modular Musical Again
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- Опубліковано 20 лют 2024
- We all know it can bleep bloop. But are modular synths good for other kinds of music?
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The ability to recall patches or not much depends on the modules used and complexity of the patch. Like Erica Synths Techno System has many modules that are voices and therefore require minimal patching to get you to the point you want. Also many complex modules tend to be used in only one way as a sett and forget thing. I don't have any voices in my two cases system, but tend to leave a patch for months before changing anything, so I actually learn the ins and outs of this patch, and can alter it and get back to play the same thing live.
I don't know anything about music except that I played piano for 10 years from 40 to 50 (in order to find out wth Philip Glass was doing). At 50 I bought a Mother 32 and thus fell down the rabbit hole. I never learned it or manage to get music out of it, but find in eurorack that to have the different functions separated makes it much easier for my brain than a regular synth, even though the cable salad makes it messy. I would recommend VCV rack though, for anyone interested, even though I wish all computers would die. Though though though
Using my modular is more akin to meditating rather then anything else.. I love the process even though the results might not always be great
VERY true! The times when I pull all the cables out and start fresh are such a calm feeling of like "wow, anything can happen rn 😌"
@@els1f exactly! I love that feeling. Its like candy for the soul
Agreed. I enter a state of total zen. I also have the self awareness to know it's not really for public consumption.
@@Sammy-BSame here! It's my way of meditation.
All my friends are machines. 🖤
While it's still quiet I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you
Maybe sometimes you think the stuff you do is 'whatever' but it has a certain something to it that I really appreciate seeing and hearing
Thanks so much!
When I tried out eurorack for a couple months, I was very frustrated at all times. I didn’t feel like I was “making music,” rather I was a conductor and the modules played themselves. It didn’t feel like an extension of myself like an instrument does to me, it was its own entity with its own agenda. The only way to get more out of it is to constantly experiment and put cables into every possible spot.
My conclusion was, “I’m a musician, not a scientist!”
Thankfully I sold the whole thing in pieces which equated to the cost of PolyBrute, which is by far the easiest and most rewarding synth I’ve ever played. I can finally be a musician again!
Ive often felt that the modular approach is more akin to a symbiotic collaboration than singular creation, discovering the modules talents through patching. The idea of pairing these electric friends with more traditional instruments is genuinely very smart, thanks Jameson.
Jameson you are THE MOST authentic guy I’ve subscribed to in UA-cam.
I consider myself a “synth nerd” and I’ve only dreamed about having synths since I was a teenager when I couldn’t afford them. After years of hard work I became a physician and now my best escapes from the stressors of work are the hours I spend with my synths and eurorack when I get back home.
Listening to you is like listening to one of my wise and experienced medical school professors but about music, keys and sounds.
I cannot put in other words.
When you start getting into melody and harmony 12 minutes in, I'm here for it. And not because I have that instrument and music theory training already - it's precisely because I do not that I see their value. Rather than shrug it off and carry on with the technology itself, I'm putting in the hours to learning it. I feel like these building blocks are vital to making my music emote. I don't hear about this enough in the synth scene, and I am glad you are filling that gap. I think we are all way better off for it!
Yeah, I used to create whole compositions on my modular and it definitely is/was a lot of fun. But I've found that the enjoyment didn't come from the actual patch results but rather the process of designing the patch and plugging it all together. I now find myself enjoying myself more by actually finishing a composition within a day or two rather than continuing to spend the hours in fine-tuning a patch and getting it to do what I wanted it to do. So now, I look over at my rack and try and remember the joy that I'd had in using it; it's become more of a point of nostalgia than anything else. However, I have, like you, recently attempted to re-discover the joy of patching, but this time focusing on using it more of an accompaniment to my other hardware/software synths than relying on it to produce a complete composition.
Can definitely relate
patching is pure Zen. I love when after a bit, you stand back and acually see what you have done and realise that you didnt know that you had that many patch cables. (I believe if you feed them after dark, they multiply). 😜 Love your work bro. 🎯
Congrats, this is the first time I've seen a content creator use modular to make music, and not just noise. Maybe if more people tried to make music with modular, it wouldn't have the reputation it does.
My "solution" for the cost of modular is DIY. I enjoy soldering & assembly, and buying kits or bare PCB/panel sets is significantly lower cost. I also limit myself to analog only, primarily thru-hole components. It reduces the selection available but still gets me exactly what I'm looking for in the first place.
All my sound sources and filters in my modular setup, and other hardware synths, are analog too. It's not that you can't make digital synths sound mistakingly analog but for me the drifting and sometimes unpredicted behavior adds it's own twists in the workflow which can lead to those sounds you would never have created otherwise. I have thought about DIY, maybe I'll try it some day
Any tips for finding these DIY kits? :)
@@jmalmsten I am local to knobcon and found a ton through that show. You could look up their vendor list & go to each site to see what they have. Hint: it'll be the niche ones with zero name recognition.
@@jmalmsten SynthCube, Thonk, Modular Addict, Frequency Central, AI Synthesis, Pusherman Productions...just google for their websites. I would recommend starting with full kits rather than partial kits (i.e. circuit boards and panels) where you have to also source the individual parts, although that's another way to save a bit of $ as well.
@@Drotz sounds like you'd be an ideal use for NonLinearCircuits modules, too. DIY available, mostly all-analog with IC's and complex use of interesting math+logic magic - with a focus on embracing chaos circuits & wave mangling.
I’m a lifelong piano player… though, not a great one.. and I got interested in electronic music-making and sound design a couple years ago. I like the sonic environment that we can create that way, but honestly I have been struggling to find a good workflow. Obviously layering a piano on top of a pad is not new, but your workflow takes this idea to the next level. The examples that you showed in your video were very inspiring to me. Thank you.
Great. Never stop the tape.
Always so many interesting things to say and to listen to.
My wife calls my eurorack setup, my Legos.
do you put your mod on pasta?
Those keys sound lovely with the generative patch.. modular can be frustrating at times but man when things are laid out properly and you have a vision wow. My favorite part about it is being able to swap modules and keep it alive instead of growing stagnant with a synth. And the community and makers of modules are very special
I have been obsessed with VCV rack for a while now and the more time I spend in it the more fun it becomes. I would absolutely LOVE to get a modular rig but until I got a large set up it just wouldn't be worth it. Either way, all time spent playing music is well worth it to me. Great video brother!
Love vcv rack too 😊
I’m definitely in the East Coast School of modular synthesis. I use my synth for creating new sounds and interesting timbres for actual musical compositions. Or to augment traditionally non-electronic instruments. I’m fine with the bloopers and bleepers and noise people doing their thing as long as I don’t have to listen to it for very long. “Interesting” and “experimental” only stay interesting to my ears for so long. But live and let live, right?
You really nailed this topic! ❤
He did indeed.
I just want to chime in with a suggestion for slightly different route to a similar creative process. Though they might be a little more difficult to find, I imagine FM synthesizers (and FM synthesis in general) have a similar feel. They can feel annoying or obtuse to use (though that varies with the synth), but spending the time to fiddle with algorithms (routing) and operators (sound-wave generators), and learn what's possible unlocks a similar kind of unique creative feeling. Where the slightest touch can cause a sound to go from beautiful, techno-fantasy to dark, aggressive space warfare. I'm not great at it, but it's very fun, not quite as expensive as euro-rack, and you can save your patches!
😅
Very appreciated this format.
Soo good @10:25 ✨🔮✌️
With my modular synths setups I found a way to finally make the music I like. I make more music than before. I don’t repatch my systems often, it’s more important that they are ready to be used. They became my personal instrument tailored to my needs and liking.
Great video and new subscriber. I agree with many of your comments (except grabbing knobs haha (I’m British)) as all of my modular compositions are based on something musical and not just special effects from the 1950’s. I am not a musician by training and cant play the keyboard but I have ears and modular has given me the opportunity to create music by ear which is both a gift and frustrating. Anyway my efforts are on my channel to try and motivate others to “give it a go”, it really is fun. Thanks again and looking forward to seeing more.
Your music is beautiful.. one of the reasons im considering to just quit music altogether is that my stuff never sounds that pretty.. i just keep doing the same uninspired stuff i figured out over the years..
Stumbled uppon this thoughtful video and discovered your great work on Spotify. Great stuff!
Thank you!
I agree with everything JNJ said. I also value the experience and new ideas I get while playing around with the modules and apply to my workflow with software or other synths. Creating sounds and music with modular synths is also somehow meditative - it simply forces you to be patient and have a mindset which is very beneficial for any type of creative workflow. But yeah, it's definitely not for everyone. I haven't used my modular setup for few months but somehow it seems to follow me which ever other instrument I'm using, if that makes any sense.
You are a gem. Thanks JNJ, for all your content.
great video man!
it seems like I'm at the stage you mentioned at the beginning ;) currently sold a few modules etc... hopefully I didnt go that crazy with eurorack anyway, but wish I woke up earlier.
Thanks for the vid - I hope you feel better soon....
Thanks! I'm starting to feel like I might live...
Man, love your always authentic approach and focus on the creative process! Totally love your approach with the more static sequences and build around that! I always start out like that too and let my imagination run wild. Thank you for your inspiration and keep up the great work!
So glad you're diving into modular! I love how approachable you make it.
@jamesonNathanJones I'd be interested to know what modules you got rid of that were 'button combo/menu divey' and what you replaced them with. I have a similar aversion and I'm always on the lookout for simplification
Superb exposition.
You are the only person I know of who is interested enough and gifted enough to really feel at home in these two extremes of composition and as a result the improvisations you make over static loops or evolving generative sequences are truly exceptional.
My brain is not wired up for music theory, I am a twiddler of knobs and proud of it. Throughout the evolution of synthesis and computer generated and controlled sound, I have benefitted from the work of people very different from myself who have just the skills I lack in engineering, logic, maths and (dammit) patience. So, though I love Max for live (ditto Kontakt), I will not even contemplate constructing anything, nor will I open up the can of worms that is the community producing such things because I panic and get nothing done, however, if someone whom I respect as an influencer say "Look what this can do!" I probably will. I am really glad that modular happened because much of what I like, from which everything else, including midi, evolved from pioneering musicians and engineers. I am really glad that modular has returned because the technology is continually reinventing and has, as you pointed out, resulted in many instruments with patchability in the form of a modular matix not least the beast that is Ableton which I now see as my core instrument.
If we were all like you or, heaven forbid, like me sound design would be entirely hobbled. It is precisely because we all want to play and explore in different directions that music tech has grown from the Theramin and the Ondes Martenot and not only followed but led aspects of computer design and programming.
Almost everything that is sold has a synthesiser in it these days. We live in a bleeping blooping universe.
Good on you for making the changes you need! It's so interesting how modular's strengths vary depending on the system and the person. I mostly use mine for a 4-voice plant jam machine, and for monophonic leads and bass lines via ribbon controller. 100% agree about hands on knobs being more fun than clicking! Much more spensive too but worth saving for imo. The time and resource investment really forces you to learn, master, and fall in love with the machine you build 💖🎶
during a lonely kind of near-birthday period, I, a middle aged bass player since my teenage years found the Werkstatt-01 and decided to try it out and found myself a little while later with the sound studio combination and more, and it's been great and full of all what yr saying. my system is a set of semi-modulars playing together, and I won't be taking out any modular GAS loans in the future. That being said, I kind of wish I had done a bit of research ahead of time and learned about Serge, Buchla, and other kinds of things, happy as I am with the Moogs. Soma could convince me to go further one day, I think.......Thanks again, your videos are super!
Once again really jiving with your philosophy here! I happen to love the process of learning the nerdy innards of synthesis and sound design, so I love modular so far and can’t wait to keep diving deeper! I would give even more cred to VCV rack! I have the free version and am using it along with an online class. I’m usually the person who is fighting with the computer but even I am getting along wonderfully with VCV (feee version too!)
Totally agree re the interface of chaos and control in terms of mixing generative with more determinative instruments, very well put, kudos!
Sold most of my modular and got a Pro 3. The main positive is that I actually use it 👍 Also it sounds better than what I had 🤷♂
I love the Pro 3. Great choice with lots of flexibility.
Same here. Love my Pro-3. I actually dumped most of my modular this week and just kept Metropolix because is extremely musical. I cut it down to the core modules that make up a decent mono synth with a mimeophone at the end of chain. Excited to start using it again. It's been sat for AGES unused because it just got too annoying.I spend the cash I would have spent on modular for 2 Eventide H90s to add to my Analog Rytm. With those effects attached it's an absolute beast of a machine now . @@JamesonNathanJones
Fr, modular synths can be the most amazing creative tool or the biggest drain on your time and money. Just like anything else, it has a lot to do with having a goal going into it. I started by just being like "ooohhh that one's cool!" But didn't have a direction. Once I knew what I wanted out of it I was able to sell things and find the modules that did what I wanted and every time it powers on I'm like🥰
I was hoping you'd share more of your thoughts about modular! I'm not sure it's the type of thing you want to do, but I'd be interested in seeing something hands on about your sound design process with modular. Either a video or a live stream.
Biggest reason I've stayed away from modular is cost. I love working with modular systems for the sheer spontaneity they allow and the fact a lot of modular patches live in the moment. Right now I scratch my modular itch with a mix of VCV Rack and things like Pure Data. A eurorack system is definitely on my radar for some serious consideration when I get the money to build one out.
Eurorack is a bit overpriced just by nature. One hack is semimodular, I have six lol
you could just stick with software & donate the money you were going to burn to the homeless
@@christofthedead Won't keep them warm for long...
My wife built a bunch of DIY modules and it's a fun thing to play with. But I can't imagine buying modules to build a modular synth. However, using VCV Rack, I build a lot of instruments I use from within my DAW, and since there's a vast number of free modules, I can build any unrealistic combination of modules you would have to be rich to have IRL. Plus I can save it and pick it back up again whenever. So, VCV is a synth design toolkit.
Good move on getting more hands-on modules. That really should be the point of physical instruments. :)
A good way to get into understanding modular (if you don't want to use something like VCV Rack) is the Empress Zoia pedal. Integrates into setups easily, too.
I hate eurorack - the cable chaos totally triggers my OCD - but I love sound design, it's my favorite thing. And I took away from your video that I could use that more to actually create "a song" by just going with the flow and what it holds for me when I follow it through - which I did, in the past, occasionally (I'll still stick to regular synths that are good at creating "weird sequences", like the Norand Mono). Anyway: thanks! Got a new idea today 😍
Cool video take about modular - I think it's important to separate sound design and songwriting sometimes. If you want to write a song, maybe that's not the best time to jump into patching unless you know the sound you are trying to achieve. I love your concept on playing over modular to create, definitely inspiring, cheers!
I find modular incredible for sound design but not so good for creating music. To be quite honest, this could be because I lack musical ideas to start with but that's not the point!
What I enjoy most is making modular effects and just improvising with guitar. One of the issues is using pitch quantisers (also the same with looping), you're stuck with one scale which makes everything diatonic, and difficult to 'go anywhere' musically. I know there are ways round this, but you still need a decent musical idea or ability to start with. Modular doesn't inspire any decent melodies or progressions for me personally, but I still love it for the endless possibilities to create raw sound.
Thanks for this video.
Have you used Reaktor Blocks? I'd like to see a video on that - even a series if you think it's worth it. I used it for a little while, but only scratched the surface. And users can create and share modules on the Reaktor User Library.
When you talked about moving towards Synthesis because a lack of local live players available, I made a similar decision when I first started writing music, and that is because samples in the 90s were terrible. If it was going to sound fake, I may as well make it sound on purpose...
Edit: I fear getting into eurorack, because I GAS easily... But, I do want to get some CV controls to plug into my Iridium to make that thing do things it shouldn't... Things like Maths, Pamelas New Workout, and other such dividers and sequencing things. But, when the shinies can be bought starting around $200 each, it becomes problematic. I have a stack of LookMumNoComputer Kosmo Modules to build, and that will be my entry into modular.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Alternatives: I hate software, won't use a computer to make music, period. I hate menus too, but to be creative today I will use them. We can afford modular today if you buy Behringer, but I can't buy from them because of their horrible 17-year track record of dependability with me. So, what is left, I "hear" the Arturia Poly and Matrix Brutes come very close to modular, but I just don't see that clearly, big investment to find out. Semi modular is very interesting and could build up a nice right sided patchbay synth with Arturia, Moog, Dreadbox, and the Nuetron for those who buy Behringer, but like all modular polyphony is mostly missing.
The only option left was to go Kurzweil and their VAST synth, and that's what I chose. 256 notes of Polyphony, anti-aliased VA, Full control 8opFM, sampled instruments. 6 pedal inputs, monoAT. 88 keys, 16 zones. I want to make chords and leads, modular has very little support. Sooooo.....I bought the Kurzweil PC4.
All through the 90s up until today been hearing about the VAST OS/UI of Kurzweil, full page ads in my 90s Keyboard magazine, decades of the "hype". Was it hype? No. It is a modular based subtractive/FM synth. Total of 32 modules available that you configure as subtractive or FM or sampled instruments. Mono or poly. Any combinations serial or parallel. Multi-stage envelopes, three per module, AAADRRR instead of the common ADSR, there is a sustain in there just not labeled. Full FM design 8op, so complete it will read DX7 original patches. LFO fully configurable per module. Stereo or mono oscillators choice per module. One insert effect per module. Two send effects, master buss. Modulation routing per module. Each module can be panned.
What about the sound? It is good, but you have to careful of levels, you can overload this synth very easy; I found that keeping the module levels low, and using the main volume works just fine, a normal digital synth output can be achieved for good recording levels. If any one oscillator sounds weak, stacking is very easy by duplicating a module, there is a duplicate function. Poly or mono it will sound good and has good effects too. Once your patch is complete you have live surface control of the entire patch with filter, resonance, mod rates, effects, attack/release, Parametric EQ, 6 pedals of 2CC and 4 switches, channel AT, mod and pitch wheels, ribbon controller about 24 inches long (600mm).
Can't think of any other modular alternatives.....
I don't know why people think it's so hard to make modular musical. It's easy-you just use a quantizer. I do a one man act with my modular and a couple of keyboard synths and I have it set up to where I can (and do) jam for hours and it always sounds musical. Except for a couple of jams where I purposely do the bleeps and bloops thing, it's a musical concert that follows a structure that is designed to be loose. If you're hung up on making a performance the same every time, then maybe modular is not for some people. The beauty is in the randomness and understanding how to manipulate the sound(s) of the machine you create. Modular requires knowledge, planning, and skill if you expect it to be more than fart sounds and happy accidents.
New subscriber...just want to say I'm so enjoying your videos and shared knowledge. Thank you ! 🙏 p.s...whenever I had to move gear, I always look a photograph of where things were plugged in and I keep notes of various settings...cause as you said, who the heck can remember ???
Always felt drawn to modular and intimidated at the same time. Really enjoyed this video
By the way Signals is one of my favourite albums
I would love to see you walk through your process of using the modular synth to make a piece of music. Do you make a core few parts on the piano first and then replace them them with the synth, or or something else?
Getting a sound, and then playing that sound blind for a 3+ minute piece of music before moving onto a new sound and a new part seems like it wouldn't lead to good music. Or maybe I'm just not that good at it!
Arturia's minibrute 2 S was my semi modular choice... I know it's not extremely fancy but tbh I love it and think its sequencer it's pretty damn awesome too🤘🏼
I am not GASing much nowadays, but it might happen if Moog comes with something soon. Great video, as always"!
I had some euro rack stuff for a while, but sold almost everything and bought a Hydrasynth. I feel like I get almost all the 'patching' ability I could really want plus the ability to save and load presets. Also, polyphonic aftertouch is super cool, especially coming from guitar where that sort of nuance is so often used.
Very informativ
hey, nathan. I'm wondering... have you considered doing a sound design course similar to the format of your composition course?
It also does "blorps".
Technically you're still playing with a computer, just with more steps, but it's cool.
For me it’s at least 50% about electronic concepts, sound design comes next, music comes third on most days. I’m a musician more than anything though, it’s just not the primary appeal of modular for me. The marriage of the three is the objective but my modular is all analog and discrete design concepts that I understand on an electronics level as well as sound design level.
The look from the blep blerp and zip zaping 😂
Recommendations for 12 modulation:Fx:enhance module? I have one that is noisy and want to replace.
VCV Rack is good enought for me :) If i win to the lottery maybe i'll buy hardware modular haha
nice
Also. In general, If a parent teaches their kids about synths... They kids will never have money for drugs.
You could have just given me your modular set when you weren’t using it. Geez! Some people or so selfish 😜
Man 6:12 can I here more of it ? Beautiful
Thanks! Here you go :) jamesonnathanjones.bandcamp.com/track/signals
I do try to do more musicaly than bleep bloop on modular. Have I succeeded? Still in the process of going there.
Nice video. Thx.
Can I ask what piano you are using? It sounds amazing ❤
Rhodes
And modular do not need to be about sound, it can also be partly or only about control, rhythm and sequencing
I love bleep blorps! Have you tried Serge Modular?
I haven't. Good stuff?
@@JamesonNathanJones In terms of sound and history absolutely! Steep learning curve though.
is the song played at 5:55 a full song? it sounds great
Thanks! It is :) jamesonnathanjones.bandcamp.com/track/signals
This has long been my favorite track of yours,@@JamesonNathanJones
What's the cheapest Euro(c)rack brand to get into? I certainly don't want the savings of a lifetime wiped out on a flash in the pan, meandering mayhem, extravaganza!
Behringer by a long shot. But if you are very good with soldering, DIY kits and modules from scratch are close. Also consider semimodular
Please don't Behringer, they just blatantly rip off small modular manufacturer's open source designs. Doepfer is I think your best affordable option. Note not cheap, affordable.
@@binarybotany3218
>rip off
>open source
This is incoherent. I would recommend Behringer System 100 over their Mutable/Make Noise clones in any case.
Let's put it like that: a large Eurorack case by Erica Synth with no modules whatsoever costs over 2000€. So before you go modular: divorce your wife, leave your girlfriend, sell your car, you won't have any ressources or time left for them. Eurorack is all in, always.
I would (and did) start very small with a tiny case and a couple of effects modules you can run your existing sound sources thru.
I made the determination early on that I wouldn't get any cases bigger than my current one, then just bought a module every month or two for a couple years. The good news is they're easy to ship and don't really lose value if you want to re-sell them.
Beep boop!
Americans: the plural of Lego is Lego 😂
The plural for Lego is Lego.
Leggo's is a pasta sauce, my dude.
Do ya like Phil Collins?
A video I made a couple of months ago talking about why I don't do modular, and the failings with modular in general, quickly became the most commented-on video I have ever made. Extremely divisive: either people LOVED modular, and took my video as an affront to their existence and had no problem in insulting me personally, or people that agreed with me for the reasons I expressed. I had no idea of the vitriol and hate that would be generated by people who apparently see modular as core to their way of life, and my public expression of opinion as to why I don't use it as a call to arms to attack me for my opinion.
Wow, Internet.
Yeah it's a wild place. Haha
Modular is just a tool like anything else - great for some folks, not for others.
Modular is a way of life
not a lot of people understand that
Lol
Virtual Modular is an even better way. Or cheaper, at least 😂
@@VirtualModular I guess it is a personal thing
i like your channel. no need to be condescending towards non-tonal music though
"I built it to make music with it". ROFL. Define "music".
Most broadly, any organized sound. In this case, I mean my own style of music.
I dont understand modular. It seems like so much work. In sure I will see the light at a point but seems more like engineering than music making. Scratches head.