@@Knobs I really love this series. It's so well done and having recently built my first modular system these videos couldn't have come at a better time. I'm curious since I started with an OP1...can I run my OP-1 through an audio I/O module and use the modules (like the Erbe Verb) as effects and then run the signal back out? Thanks again for these vids...amazing :)
Oh absolutely. All these formats - pedals, modular, synths - they can all be used together. The only thing is balancing the levels. The S.B.G is great for that because you can boost the OP-1 signal on the way in, and bring it back down on the way out.
It's nice to have some higher powered attenuators/preamps in your case for things like guitar. It's worth picking up a Gozinta or a Sputnik Audio preamp type module.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours. I bounce between building pedalboards for bass and guitar as well as modular effects racks, basically falling down multiple rabbit holes simultaneously. There were a few modules on here that I had to make note of, clever little tools for the musical toolbox. Great video Knobs, you’re the man
I am almost finish putting together my first Modular rack for my guitar and I came across this video. I have been a fan for years and this video really gave me some ideas. Knobs you are the MAN! My only issue is I am trying to also run the Modulars into guitar pedals.
OK, so I know this video was 3 years ago but would love to see more stuff on modular guitar. And for everyone commenting on the cost, just use VCV Rack which is free (as long as you have a decent computer/interface) and don't mind using software instead! Like you say, CV is the real game changer, because you can take regular effects and make them completely different using randomness, sample and hold, probability etc. I've done a few demos on this but planning a lot more.
There should be a video with the Metallique speaker for the Ondes Martenot where they show us what one is made of, where they take it apart, and put it back together, and show how the sound is made, and then show it playing modern equipment.
Great sounds! Reminds me of Fennesz. Weirdly, I can't seem to get the right output (or any at all) from plugging my Strat into my Mutable Ears, even cranked it's barely audible in my rack. Is your SBG doing something to the level on the way out here? Would really appreciate your help! Thank you
Just stumbled upon your channel. After thinking about it a little, my multi effects unit has like 14 control sources (including three waveforms of very low LFOs) and more than 90 modulation destinations. Time to get tricky..
For newbs, it would be kind of nice to see a few possible starting modular kit lists with synth sounds, FX, and external audio processing...lowest $$$ to I can only dream $$$😺
Hey that series is one of the best about modular for me, I’m discovering the 0-coast and wondering, how I can complete is strength, for sound design modulate and processing. It’s helping, cause you make musical stuff like I should with modular. Thanks
The hardest part of entering modular I'm learning is restraint. You can build some monsters on modular grid that strike fear into the heart of even the bravest wallets.
What would be the order to buy these in? And what would be the smallest bundle that makes sense? Could I have something to work with if I just had ears and Warps?
Hi Knobs, at around 6:40 you are playing a loop into Morphagene and then it sounds like playing over it. How are you accomplishing this? Does the Morphagene pass through audio while playing back what’s been recorded?
This is what I love about RU-vid. I think to myself, "I wonder how that would sound". I search RU-vid and get the answer. In this case, "that" sounds pretty cool.
I'm patiently (almost) waiting for you modular guys to start getting into surround sound. Stereo would be a good start but the total surround would be apex. I work with Yerpa58 and whenever I broach the subject he looks askance at me. Imagine if you will, your soundscapes swirling, leaping, and morphing from all over. As you move a sound, imagine adding Doppler effects. A whole new realm of possibilities!
I had friends doing it for fun in the studio back in the 90's. The only problem you run into recording that way is people aren't set up to listen like that... I mean 5.1, 7.1... engineers have always considered the possibility of going crazy like that. It's much easier to do it live. Edit: I wish I could remember the model number... but there's an old Yamaha delay/reverb rack that can be programmed differently through 4 speakers.
twerk182, yeah, thinking some sort of dedicated venues. I would like to explore more of this kind of thing some day, but seems the mixing requirements would be kind of scary.
Great video. Your best of Why to Modular. But do you need Ears as a boost if you've got the SBG? I thought SBG was an in/out that can boost external line level.
Great video! Sonically the most pleasing eurorack & guitar vid I found. And great use of small setups/cases. Just one question: Have you actually explored the topic modular & guitar further? I.e. are there more videos? Did a quick browse but couldn't find any...
Quick question bro. If I get ears, SBG and the utilities pedal that would pretty much be the basic foundation for me to run guitar right? I know what effects and such I want. Biggest thing I want to make sure I got down is bringing the guitar up to volume levels via ears. Then have SBG to send out to record or just to other pedals of need be. And ADDAC (red module) for expression control. Looking to order all these like next week. G with magneto and I think clouds. And a sampler possibly. Thanks for ya dope vids homie!!!!
Awesome sound @7:40 kindly airy reverse reverb shimmer drone. How was this done? Reminds me of Moderat intro song also used in Annihilation the movie for the alien scene.
It’s just the Erbe verb. Size is completely clockwise (infinite room size) and decay is also near infinite (basically a reverb drone in the background that keeps changing). It’s a pretty incredible reverb. Definitely very different than any other reverb I’ve used including avalanche run and empress reverb.
Doepfer makes a 32hp A-100 mini case that is powered for $120. I started with a Moog 60hp case and TipTop Audio power module for around the same price. Doepfer also has an A-119 Instrument input/Envelope follower that is an alternative to the Ears module shown here. They also have an A-177 module that is similar to the ADDAC shown here. For starter effects a PICO DSP by Erica synths gives you a lot of bang for the buck, so does a Disting MkIV (provides a whole lot more than effects)
If I run the guitar through a VCO does it becomes a synth voice guitar sound? If so, would it capable of polyphony to play chords? I mean would it be like a regular distortion pedal or what is the difference? Cheers
Not exactly, a VCO makes sound and doesn't generally process external sounds. But what you could try is running the guitar signal into VCO sync input. Modulating the VCO frequency gives you the classic sync sweep sound, but on a guitar. It does sound distorted, but in a different way to regular distortion. I'm planning a video on this soon using VCV Rack.
So amazing, this made me consider modular!! I love chords through modular systems, but most eurorack videos I see are mono. Would it be possible to plug in a synth, for example the juno 106, into this modular system, instead of a guitar signal and get similar results?
You need a sound source of some kind. This might be something plugged into an external input (like this video) or an oscillator. There are even modules out there that allow you to plug a memory card full of samples into them. Whether something is "good" or "just noise" is up to your own ear. Do you like the sounds a synthesizer makes? In a way, all synthesizers are modular synths pre-stitched together. That's thinking about it backwards, but it's one way to look at it.
Does anybody know how he's powering the small rack at the begining. I'm wanting to build one myself, but I thought that you needed a module for power, like the 4ms ROW for example?
Knobs oh wow I didn’t realize it could do that! I guess it’s more of a tape warble than chorus? Like if I wanted more “traditional” chorus sounds I should go w something like walrus’ Julia?
definitely, but you might still want some kind of interface module. i quite like the befaco instrument interface aka i2 module (as it also provides envelope and gate/trigger outs), and paired it with the ALM SBG.
Easily over a thousand but its more so something you fill up over time not at once which gives you time to learn each module - so start with a case that'll at least be $100 and a $100 power supply then build from there delay, reverb, etc and you can find all different types of cases and power supply's at different price points
This definitely falls into the "you get what you pay for" category because you get a whole whopping ginormous lotta with the various "featured modules". See what I did there? ;) Gotta go and empty my retirement fund now... ... and sell all my current pedals... ... donate some blood... ... and I really only need one kidney... right? Kidding aside (maybe only) "Knobs" takes an approach to demoing gear that is IMO the most informative and entertaining of the lot on YT. If only you guys could keep the chattiness to a minimum, though. ;)
You have Art for the Ears listed as the case maker, but when I go to their site I don't see these small cases as one of their products. Were they custom made? And looks like the power supply is built into the case?
Someone actually sells an electric kazoo (which is just a piezo grafted onto a kazoo) but I’m sure with the right resonators and enough reverb it would sound amazing.
To entertain RU-vid viewers, or course! Personally, I was curious if such a setup would be useful to fill unused Eurorack spaces if I every go that route in my recording setup.