I agree 100%. One thing I keep thinking of after collecting many modules is “hey wait if I had just put this money aside i actually could’ve afforded that vintage keyboard… 😫”
period. these were exactly the reasons why i said goodbye to eurorack and dedicated myself to 'in the box' synths. i still don't regret it. - thanks for sharing!
I definitely think that having too much modular is the reason a lot of people get out of the hobby. It takes a really specific musician to be able to get consistently great results out of a wall of modules, otherwise it’s just an exponentially more expensive version of the same option paralysis DAW’s give me. Downsizing is often the right move. Also, really dig your vibe, subbed :)
I am going through a similar change. I have found a way to get much more eurorack fun, for much less expense, and save patches as presets... Yes, I am talking about VCV Rack (free) for my Mac Mini, and MiRack for my iPad. Since their introduction a few years ago, both these programs have grown a great deal, in user friendliness and capabilities. If you need to have knobs, they can be controlled by midi controllers, but I find the touch interface on my iPad to be very satisfying. One of the great advantages, is that when I need multiple duplicates of the same module, I don't have to "buy" more hardware or get more rack space. The thing I really like about modular was making weird noises, that have noting to do with traditional music. And I enjoy soldering/making some DIY eurorack things (I'm retired electronics tech). But as you say, it's way to expensive.
I completely agree and relate to what you just said. A Deluge along with a very small case with just a few interesting modules, that's all i'll ever need.
I understand what you mean about expression so I have a very specific aim with Eurorack - a sound engine to be played using my Roland AE-30 wind synth. The AE-30 has breath, bite, a thumb wheel, a pressure sensitive thumb pad, several switches, and two axes of motion that I can send as CC and convert to CV. I've barely scratched to possibilities for expressiveness. It helps that the MIDI to CV converter in the Behringer Neutron is a perfect match. I think having this focus on a single purpose has saved me a bunch of money! 😀
Those are all the reasons I never got into modular. So glad I didn’t spend that money. Lol. Are you using something to covert the MS20 voltage to use it with the Moog?
I have a couple tricks, I can flip the gates with two attenuverters on the moog, and my current favorite for frequency is to go directly out of a moog oscillator into the ESP, then use the frequency->voltage converter to control pitch CV.
I started with 5U. Which just sounds more high fidelity than Eurorack due to the power (+15vDC vs +12vDC). I then moved into Eurorack and though I do LOVE it, I use it only for specific purposes: EFX, percussion and sequencing. That's it. I embrace its limitations.
I agree. Amazing. I’ve experienced the same path. Great video. I deeply value playability and fun-factor over anything. It’s all ultra pricey. Well said man!!!
It’s funny, I feel like we’re somehow aligned in some of our hardware decisions. I saw you were selling your Prophet 6 for some of the same reasons as me (your video helped me finally let it go), then I missed having a poly keyboard, got a Prologue on a whim, and saw you had gotten one too. I dove into eurorack early last year, and while I’m not getting rid, I am limiting myself to two skiffs. I recommend Tall Dog skiffs if you’re looking for a way to consolidate. Deeper than most skiffs, more affordable and quality power supply.
Woah that’s crazy! Haha yeah the Prologue is amazing, I love how it only lets you do relatively simple things in analog, and if you want to go crazy then you just use the digital oscillator for it. I ended up building my own 6Ux84hp case this week and put the modules I mentioned in the video in it…now to sell off everything else! No idea what I’ll buy with the proceeds…anything on your radar?
Nice! I've been tempted to jump in over the years, buuuuut I never was able to convince myself that it was something that I would invest as much TIME as I would money. Plus, I feel that I can get most everything I want electronically with the synths I already own, my DAW, and arpeggiators.
I Definitely downsized and moved back in the box. I can keep/use presets, way more portable, etc. I kept a small rack just in case I get the itch every now and then.
I sold them! The Matriarch +SQ-1 imitates the DFAM amazingly and the Subharmonicon was always fun but ultimately I like accompanying myself on piano more, I like the flexibility
Wait…. So, you’re getting out of Modular, but you’re keeping a lengthy list of Modules and cases so you can buy new modules? Wouldn’t you consider that to be nothing more than downsizing? I would.
I’m consolidating to just one case. But for the past couple years my mindset has kinda been…more more more! Selling keyboards to fund more eurorack adventures…But at some point I have to admit that I’m not going to create a better MS-20 or a better groove box in eurorack
@ 0:38 you do realize that synthesizer was built and designed by electronic engineers and nerds with very little musical ability. Just on the design and workflow of most original synthesizer you can tell they have learned as they go and grown in popularity with musicians ever since but still most synthesizer feel like they were designed by laboratories and not musicians, even a lot of new synths seem to have been designed without the help of real musicians.
