Modular synth scares me, so I learned how to use it. 

I started a modular setup a few years ago, and got overwhelmed. I think y'all have inspired me to start again.

I love modular. Its like a living breathing thing that pumps voltage through its veins instead of blood.

Can't wait to see where modular takes you, the chances for incorporating pedals are so exciting.

Fascinating, for me it was completely the other way around. My partner used to own a standing pedal harp and it completely spooked me and made me feel terribly inadequate and such a beginner. Though I totally loved it when she played the harp. Happily I could safely hide behind my synthesizers and modules and many many cables. Your story and honesty bought a tear to my eye, wonderful to see you embrace the "impossible". Subscribed to Frederick's channel, thanks for the tip.

Yeah!!!!! Awesome to see these patches. Emily and Russ are some pretty cool people.

Eurorack is daunting, but it is such a fascinating way to create. So much of your normal composition tropes go straight out the window. I love it.

Thanks for picking out the DivKid ochd! (massively bias of course but it continues to be a special modulator for making patches come to life, I hope you find it to be too. All the best for the journey, here for any help and questions, excited to see what you get out of it.

Myself and a friend started a monthly get together, for synthesists, at a local brewery and bar in my home town in England. So once a month people can bring their gear, perform and skill share. Like Emily said it is far easier when somebody shows you how things work rather than trying to figure it out from a video or a manual. It already helped me a lot.

I also would love to start having some pedal demos on modular as well! I think it'll be less obvious what the pedal as doing than it is with the clean sound of the harp, but things like distortion is really powerful and lively on some synth patches. I'm really looking forward to this being added to your channel - but make sure you and Russ don't get burned out by all you're doing!

It’s like the guts of an 80’s spaceship ❤🚀

Hey Emily Hopkins and Russ! Modular thanks for overcoming your modular fears to bring us this nice introduction to modular synth! It was about 1975 when I first heard Isao Tomita's beautiful album snowflakes are dancing and I've loved synthesized music ever since! I am eagerly anticipating many magnificent modular music movements! Ride ride ride!

This is awesome and I’m glad that you had a good modular community experience. The community is what really sets it apart for me. Tons of innovation happening in modules and in general everyone involved just seems excited and happy for everyone else. It’s a ~~~vibe~~~ and it doesn’t matter how many modules you have or how much much money you spend, if you’re enjoying it, you’re doing it right. It’s just downright fun once you understand the basics too, then you can get more wild patching idea from what others are doing in the community + your own discoveries. The fact that you can’t really break anything plugging random stuff into other stuff is great for experimentation.

This was so cool!!!! I know nothing about modular but I love how this sounds!! And Frederick, I remember your contest entry was one of my favorites! So cool of you to collab with Em!

Emily, just so you know, I do stuff I don't want to do (clean my room, learn stuff like languages that are hard, clean litterboxes, laundry, exercise, that sort of thing) and then I reward myself by watching RU-vid videos or a Netflix or Hulu show or movie. And I feel like I get a good reward every time I watch your videos. Thanks!

It's a brave new world! I will probably never buy a pedal or module, but I really enjoy discovering how the music I love gets made. And it helps that you and Russ are delightful internet friends to spend time with.

Love your channel! Every time I see a new pedal I'm trying to find review from you 😊 Also lovely modular rig you have. Thanks!

Emily, you've given me many ideas, over the years, for building pedals but now you've gone and done it again. Now you have peaked another interest I've had for years and will now attempt to build a modular synthesizer. I don't think you realize how much an inspiration you are to people like me, a jack of all trades but master of none, that thrives on keeping my mind and hands busy.

I'm very excited to see you getting into modular! I've been on that journey for one year, and I'm still very much a beginner. I'd love a Frederick of my own! Looking forward to the videos you create; I'm sure I'll learn some really cool things from them.

I'm elated you're sharing your experiences getting into modular! It's definitely a mountain to climb, and I'm really glad you're working your way through it!

I love the way you're approaching talking about modular, because it is intimidating and overwhelming. I might never go beyond writing Zoia patches, but I can completely appreciate how you're learning a new art and sharing it with us.

100% agree. When you hinted about doing modular synth content I tried watching some “beginner” videos and didn’t understand 90% of them. Please keep it up!

This is fantastic! I can't wait to hear you play your harp through the rig. Another fun and cheap way to learn modular synthesis is via software emulations. I use several on the iOS platform, and it is wonderful.

Hi, just wanted to say thanks for sharing your journey with us. I'm glad you found a great mentor. I'm just beginning to explore synthesis, as a piano player / keyboard player who used to also play the pipe organ. It's so fascinating how you incorporate your modular setup into your harp playing. I know it can be intimidating out there. Just wanted to say how refreshing it is to hear another woman diving into this world and showing the way!

I literally just started my first fully modular setup this week! Looking forward to learning about this crazy corner of the music world along with you! 😁

This is awesome! I really liked that you kinda “showed your work” in the 1st example, showing what was doing what. I’ve watched hours of synth demos now, & when the demo person kinda explains what they’re, or even just labels what’s doing what in the setup, it helps the “less informed” like me. Stoked to see where this leads ya!

Your videos are always entertaining and you should never have to be scared, considering your background and knowledge of pedal boards. You have the ability to put together music beyond most musicians imaginations, so if modular is the next phase, embrace it! Thank you for the precious insight into your music!

excellent! love the way you are fearless!

Always a joy watching you discover something new!!

Welcome to the modular fam! It's a great hobby but is also not what I imagined going into it, in that I thought that one day I would feel confident in what I was doing. Nooooope! It's endless learning, every patch, every time. But that also makes it more fulfilling that I was expecting, too.

This is so exciting! I already made my first step into the modular world and it is such a fun! Bought the Moog Mother-32 and I'm waiting for its 2 brothers - the DFAM and the Subharmonicon. Most probably later on I'm gonna build my own modular setup like yours but first I need to understand more about these things in order to know what I need. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Emily! Take care! ❤

Groovy baby! You launched this vid in the same week I got my modular too. Exciting!

I love that you jokingly said modular synth was something you were afraid of, and at some level we all knew that meant you were going to get into modular synth. You are so fearless with music and trying new things, and we are here for it!

Hey Emily! Glad you persevered. FWIW, modular is only as complicated and scary as people decide to make it for themselves. The thing that makes it potentially confusing is most times we don’t realize what incredibly complex devices the instruments we usually play are when it comes to producing sound. Synth modules tend to be orders of magnitude more simple in function than even a hand drum. The complexity in modular synthesis comes from the interactions and interconnections of multiple modules. It surprises many people just how little and of limited musical use a single module by itself is. Best way to imagine modular synthesis is as a collection of building blocks that let you construct your own unique instrument from scratch. Kind of more like a musical Lego set than anything else. Only drawback is modular synthesis tends to be fairly expensive to get into if you don’t have a clear goal in mind and do some research before you start buying things. It currently costs about a grand to build up a basic collection of modules that’ll be musically useful. And the sky is the limit on what you can spend on a modular system after that. Which is crazy considering you can get an extremely versatile and powerful non-modular mini synth for well under $500 that it would take a large rack of expensive modular gear to even come close to in terms of capabilities and features. Modular is for someone who mainly wants to design their own sounds. If someone (not you) just wants something to play that sounds good they’re far better off avoiding modular and getting an off the shelf synth like an Arturia Brute or similar. However, if they’re up for the challenges, including financial, of assembling their own modular system then there’s few rabbit holes more satisfying to fall down into. Happy patching! 😊

Emily it is very cool that you jumped head first into modular! Yes, just fiddling around with the different knobs will teach you a lot about how the modules work together. I only had a couple hours to play an ARP 2600 back in 1979 but it was a gas! And now I have VSTs that mimick many great synths! Enjoy and have fun, lady!

The closest I've ever come to something like that is when I was a little kid when we used to go to one of my Mom's friends house. For some reason she had an old school switchboard in the foyer of her house so I would pass the time playing with that and plugging in and unplugging all the patch cords. It didn't make synthy tones and sounds but it is a fond childhood memory. That would have been in the early-ish 1970s when mod synths were the hip and happening thing so maybe deep down I was subconsciously pretending I was a mod synth master in a prog rock band. 😀

The video is perfect for me, I've been just started my "trying to figure out modular synth" journey. It seems so beautiful~ My end goal is to have a synth that can act as a randomized dreamy ambient music/noise generator. I'm binging through a ton of videos on this lately and it's been real fun to learn. I wanna dive face first into it like you did, but I'm probably gonna try out the virtual modular synth just to figure out how stuff works first. Awesome video though! Looking forwards to seeing how you use it in the future :3

Timely! I just got a midi keyboard last week to dive into software synths, you're right in that content can be so very overwhelming. Interested to see what's coming next!

thanks for doing great video on modular synths. I have dabbled in modular synth but I might get back into it

super excited for what you guys do next!

I started with an Intellijel case, Pamela’s New Workout, Erica Synths Black Wavetable, Cosmotronic ADSR/Function module (Like Maths), Blue Latern Arcade Kick, Mutable Veils, and a 4ms Four Quaters Mixer. Got two of the Intellijel pedal mixers… because I have a crap ton of Pedals! It does get ludicrously expensive, but try to buy used and make offer on Reverb, will help out w/ costs. I knew you guys were from LI! I grew up in Seaford/Jones Beach area. Have lived in Poconos for almost 30 years now. Keep up the good content, you are all extremely talented and love the dry comedy as well! Happy Holidays from PA!🎉🎉🎉

Emily, I just love your content! It's so relaxing to watch your videos... Especially with a harp zelda Ost in the background ❤ Thank you

way to go, Em!!! that was AWESOME!!

Awesome system! Nice work.

Hey Emmy!! Glad you guys are still keeping the videos coming with the bestest quality ever. Work is busy and I'm doing masters classes, so I can't be as active on your channel as I wish I could be 😢. Keep up the good work and give Russ a pat on the head for me

My MODX8 drives me nuts, and I'm not as much into modulars, but BIG props on a real awesome vid with honesty and clarity of your passion!

That's a crazy picture of you in the thumb LOL made me chuckle, love it. Also: Eventide, baby! YEAAAAHH!!!

Happy Merry Christmas to you Emily! ❤

Omg, my dream video has been uploaded

Oh, I am so glad you are going to start doing videos on this! I’ve already decided to buy three semi modular synths even though I have no idea how to use them. They have rows of inputs and outputs that I have no idea about. Any info you’re willing to offer I am willing to consume. Thanks, Em!

I have no intentions of learning modular synth but I have always been curious about them after seeing them used in various channels/videos. Thanks for this!

This is a channel of geniuses. Yet again here’s a vid where Emily bought only a few pedals & the rest were sent to her because the channel is that awesome. Talent + creativity + dedication + great taste in music = this kind of inspiration.

If anyone wants to get started with modular but doesn't want to drop a fortune on equipment, check out VCV rack. The VST version costs money, but the standalone is free and is a great way to get started.

YESSS!! So grateful for this video. Can't wait to see what you do with Harp and Modular. Thanks for the eggcellent vids.

Love your channel! Always sounds nice and you are guys rock! So inspiring, warm and kind content. Seems like music is just funny thing. But you can't fool me, I know what lies behind

I bought the system-1m thinking getting into modular was going to be easy….fuck I was wrong. Bought some Moogs to learn and then integrated the system-1m into my Moog modular setup. Stoked to hear your harp with your modular setup!!

Kudos to Frederick and as always great content Emily and Russ 🙏💚🙂

I started synth recently, I have a microfreak , and a minifreak. So much to learn. Good thing I can take as long as I need , it's very fun!

over here!! super interested in modular. I am very much intimidated by it. & I'm on the process of doing the exact same thing you've been doing... diving deep, getting lots of bits, watching loads of videos & reading bunches of stuff... while those things are somewhat helpful, there's still a bit of disconnect for me. your account here in this video was most encouraging. & hopefully sarah belle reid's course can help sort me out... (I really hope so, 'cause it ain't cheap.) anyway... thank you, emily. this was yet another great vid. bravo, team!!

Rad to see you and Russ jumping into this vastly creative world!

Fantastic!!!! Going modular is a wonderful journey.

you see an empty 1 hp slot; I see a place to hide lil packets of the sawce for mid-gig snacks I sincerely enjoy what you're doing with this new instrument, it's fresh and you bring your own voice to it, your modular music doesn't sound quite like anyone else's modular music. I especially like that you keep the setup in a bunch of small pieces because it looks more attainable as someone who has zero modules, and ends up being more focused because you don't have access to every module under the sun (or wherever Sweden is this time of year). Even as you expand, it'll be nice to have this kernel to understand the growth of your setup. Big thank you to Mr. Fred; I think it's important that we value both formal and informal teachers even as the internet holds more and more information close at hand, because at the end of the day it's not about learning synths, it's about YOU learning synths or French or how to stack actual spaghetti for maximum spaghetti flavor. happy synthesizing!

I like to discribe a modular set up as building a little synthesizer city. It's like a model railroad of sound design and performance that you design yourself Perfect Circuit is such a great store too!

i feel you with the whole thing about not learning much from tutorials; every modular synth tutorial i’ve seen feels like it either doesn’t explain enough, usually little more than how to use an oscillator, or like it was clearly made by an expert who just assumes you know what they’re talking about because they know what they’re talking about. i’ve learned a lot more just from playing around with a modular VST in the past week or so. it’s amusing how, just like initially getting into using synthesizers at all, modular synthesis pretty quickly went from seeming inaccessible and impossible to figure out to seeming as if i understand a lot more about it now just from playing around, even if i still have a lot to learn

This makes me so happy. I'm happy you've taken the plunge into Modular!

I've been needing this video!

I really appreciate this video. I do want to get into modular, but it has always been overwhelming. Even when using virtual mods.

we are on the same page or were I'm sure your way ahead of me now... so I went a different way I bought all the Behringer semi modular synths and have no idea what im doing or what to do. I have 7 of them but no idea how to make them talk to each other... something to do with toggles in the back to assign the modular position. My biggest fear is plugging the wrong thing in and blowing the whole thing up. I love your honesty and will be forever a fan. I've never heard of you before so can't wait to hear what you do. This is a very daunting endevor so thanks for breaking the ice for me.

Nice one Emily! I recently got the moog Studio 3 bundle (DFAM, Mother 32 and Subharmonicon) for similar purpose, get my first hand on semi modular synths with some guidelines and walkthroughs. Afterwards, let's see where that'll take me. Can't wait to see your modular progress! I'll also check out Frederik's channel!

Huzzah!! Finally some Strong Island Synth sawce! Been waiting for this moment for awhile. As Eric would say, “Ride! Ride! Ride!” cheers!, Dré

Love this video. So happy to know about you now! 🙏🏼

I've just started too. Well, about 3 months ago. I have found the hardest and longest part of starting a composition is building the sounds -- much like "composition... composition". I need to build a language. One doesn't have the brass playing in phrygian, the winds playing 12 tone serial music and the strings doing whatever the figure might sound nice. That's not a composition. I think the same way about building the sounds in modular. So yeah, it takes me a week to two weeks before I even begin to think about hitting the record button.

Hell your stuff is always amazing, and with great humor and vibes. Cheers and keep on ! ^^

The Boredbrain stuff is going to be great with your pedal collection! Lots of ways to incorporate stuff you already have. Can't wait to see what you do with envelope followers and your harps :)

Would love to see more modular content... I hope you continue making these as you learn

I’ve been waiting for this video!!

Thanks for your great videos. I have a Buchla on my computer, i´m learning. Buckla was one of my first experiences in the 80s.

Yep. I really needed this Emily "generator of beautiful noise" this evening. Thanks.

sweet vid ! not looking to get into it just yet but this was very insightful and chill !

I am still trying to learn. I bought a Complete System 100(m) from Behringer. Much hated I know, but it was where my finances could only lead me for the time being. There is no Modular groups where I live (peterborough, uk) and I get so frustrated and sometimes regretful because looking at many vids on youtube seem aimed at people who know what they're doing and just show off. There are so many videos that claim to be for beginners, but they are most definitely not. If they were, I wouldn't be having this issue. Everytime I try to search youtube or the web I get the same stuff that skips the basics. There is a lot of elitism too with the brands people buy. If it isn't the best gear, it's trash. Glad you got there. Glad you had someone to help.

DIGGING the unconventional groove at 6:30 more folks need to hear that kind of music!

Cant wait for some modular content, love those earrings too!

I was getting into electronic music around the time you made the gameboy video which i ended up getting. Since then I've gone full blown into the modular world and totally get the feelings you described. I for sure fell victim to heavy gas but hopefully you can get some free stuff sent your way from the manufacturers so you don't go too broke! LOL. I have been messing a lot with so many forms of synthesis it has really been a super fun learning experience and been enjoying messing with all the cool effects you can really only find in modular. I think a qubit nautilus delay would be right up your alley though I've also recently fell in love with the instruo lubadh dual tape looper after the 2.0 update recently. It's got everything you'd expect from a real tape machine just in digital form! Highly suggest checking those out and hope you enjoy your journey into modular. Remember if you are stuck with ideas just start patching whatever inputs to whatever outputs and you'll at least learn or hear something new!

I was really happy to see this video pop up today. I'm looking forward to hearing the sounds you guys come up with. I really like Dreadbox products that I have come across, mostly their pedals. Their modules seem very affordable and a great entry point into modular gear. They seem like a company that likes to put the fun in functionally weird. The upcoming Treminator video has me wondering if you will be using any CV routing with the modules you have. Thanks as well for taking my suggestion for signal routing in your live stream. That reverse pedal makes me think you could create some lovely ambient beds for music ranging from light and dreamy to nightmarish and dark. With a modular set up you can get some nice utilities that will allow you to mult to your heart's content. I am getting images of the Harp audio being like Mogwai getting wet with Ru$$ being a cross between Stripe from Gremlins and Philo from UHF. Just be careful feeding him pretzels after midnight.

YAY! Ive been waiting for this. I look forward watching this Emily story-Arc. Sidenote: another great way to explore new concepts and modules is "VCV Rack". a free eurorack emulator. ok, thats all. take care. bye

This is totally great! Modular synth for effects is a great next step! I can't wait for the video where you use the Game Boy as a sound source for your modular setup.

I have a couple of synths and lost of VST stuff but this is the goal! Not in the cards for me at the moment but thanks for sharing cuz I expect when I am able to adventure into his stuff harder, I will want all the info I can get lol. I really appreciate people like you on youtube who have a way to share info that's really palatable to me. Never too serious, but you still take it serious cuz you enjoy it and want stuff to sound cool. God I love youtube. I love music. I love beep boop

EVERY TIME I hear your Super Mario Galaxy Comet Observatory cover, I instantly want to go replay the game for the thousandth time.

8:18 such a simple but nice demo. Could be a movie soundtrack.

This is a great setup! I also got into the world of synths after playing another instrument (guitar in my case). Modular is very interesting, but being a former IT guy, the sight of all those loose cables triggers me. I ended up going with a Hydrasynth instead

Shout out to MODULAR GRID. Massive help in putting mine together. Well done, guys.

Thank you for making music, so many of the people into synth seem to want to make cool noises. Great video, keep up the good work.

So many modular musicians have a ROOM full of modules. Thanks for breaking this down to something more bite-sized. Can't wait to hear more with the harp, too!

Can’t wait for more modular content!

I think you’d really, really love a module from instruo called Arbhar. It’s microcosm-y granular goodness combined with a short multitrack looperish thing. Super on board for this modular journey, guys!

Definitely interested in seeing you use harp + modular.

Hey, that's great. And so inspiring. 👍👍 Congratulations for jumping and diving into a new universe of sounds! 👋👋

So much gamer nostalgia hearing the Modular clips, I look forward to exploring the modular concepts into your future videos ❤🎉 you got this!

I can't wait to jump into modular, I've sort of started with a semimodular (minibrute 2) and a drum machine (drumbrute impact) and I think they are a joy to play

Niceeeeeeee!! Been waiting for this one!!

I can’t wait to hear what it will sound like with the harp!!!