Model:Cycles or Subharmonicon?

The Lounge Other Gear
#1

I’m in the market for something new. At first, I was all about the M:C. I love how it sounds, and I enjoy knob per function and groove boxes in general.

I’ve been watching some subharmonicon videos, and wow, that seems like such an unusual and inspiring instrument.

I’ve already got a grandmother, DFAM, small modular setup, the trio, and the two digis.

Having said all of that, which one would you pick up? The price difference isn’t a big deal for me right now, so if you can give me any advice, it would be much appreciated. Please no “follow your heart” replies, I’m really just looking for opinions or reasons why you’d pick one over the other. Thanks in advance, and I hope you are all safe and healthy!

#2

I havent seen subharmonicon for sale on used market yet, that might mean something, I would love to have one.

#3

Well, the mc seems to be mainly a drum machine, while the sh seems to excel at melodic patterns.
The mc is pure fm synthesis, while sh is classic analog.
In short they couldn‘t be more different. Odd to compare
What are you looking for exactly?
What are you missing?

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#4

Well, I’ve got the DN, so FM is in my arsenal. I’ve also got modular goodness, but nothing quite like the SH. But the M:C seems like it’s easy to get great FM in a groove box format, while the DN takes a bit more effort to program. I really love my DN, it’s just not as immediate. I know they’re extremely different, but if you had to choose one?

#5

I have a similar setup Like you have. I chose Not to Pick Up either one, because i have anything what these two offer, already there. The SH is a very specialist. It very depends on your Kind of music. The MC is a drummachine. You got a DN and a DT. The MC would be more of the same.

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#6

Sounds like GAS to me, sorry! :grinning: Been there so many times already during my fairly short time with synths, I can definitely relate to the feeling of ”needing” something new or even looking at something as ”that last missing piece to my otherwise perfect setup”. Maybe to get a boost of inspiration, but most commonly just out of the pure laziness of not wanting to dive deeper into the machines I already have (that’s how it is for me, not saying that’s the case with you necessarily).

Before you decide to go for either of the two, maybe get some (drum/percussion?) soundpacks for your Digitone if you feel stuck with it or feel it’s not immediate enough? Or soundpacks for your other machines, for that matter. That has been my go-to move lately if I feel GAS creeping up on me.

As people above have pointed out and you know yourself, the SubH and M:C are very different. What these two instruments would seem to have in common, however, is the immediacy, the ability to sometimes spark song ideas out of thin air. That’s how the DFAM works for me sometimes (don’t have a SubH or M:C myself). How deep these machines are in that respect is probably up to the perseverance of the user.

Even though you say the price point isn’t much of an issue, personally I’d look at it this way. Get the M:C if you want ”something new”. Also easier to find 2nd hand at the moment, if you want to go that route. Get the SubH if you want to commit. I’ve been looking at the SubH myself but feel it doesn’t add enough to my current setup at 850€.

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#7

A few have actually come up for sale on the marketplace here from time to time.

@AlmaxMere I really like my SubH, but it is kind of its own thing. It makes beautiful tones but it’s also quite limited in a way (check out the Subharmonicon thread on here, there are some good demos and contributions: Moog Subharmonicon). When paired with other semimodular gear and effects it really shines (I have mine racked with a DFAM, and use it with an A4 which provides sequencing, FX, modulation). So it should fit nicely with your setup, but it kind of comes with a different way of working and IMO you need to work with it mostly in a happy accident kind of way, which can be a good or bad thing. Like the DFAM it rewards more time spent with it.

A M:C (I don’t own one) would be much more flexible and immediate. I guess it really depends what you are looking to do!

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#8

Don’t buy something just because other people think it is cool. If you don’t know which one to choose, don’t choose either. Wait until you know what (if anything) you want.

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#9

I’ve had the M:C and SH. Sold the SH and still have the M:C. Nothing against the SH, it’s super interesting and unique. Just not something I wanted to continue investing time into. The M:C works great on a bunch of levels and can fill many gaps in a system. That’s just my take

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#10

My attention got called to this thread by spikysimon so why not toss in my pence…

The miRack app has been the best anti-GAS solution for me. I GASed for both M:C and SubH and now it’s totally abated.

I do get that physical modular is more fun to play with than virtual modular but the more I play with miRack the more I realize that if I’d thrown my money at a hardware modular, I’d still be spending time learning how each module works. At least I can spend that learning time without also spending the cash on hardware. When the time comes to buy hardware modular gear, I’lll have a much stronger foundation thanks to playing w/ miRack

A modular patch with MI Marbles isn’t the same as a SubH but I’m having enough fun exploring the polyrhythms and stuff made possible by Marbles. Similarly, patching together FM modules ain’t the same as having an M:C but to me that’s ok as well

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#11

I think people need to expand and open their minds more and consider that the M:C is way more than a drum machine. You don’t need to use it as such. Same as the sampler… but everyone seems to only use them as drum machines lol. To me they are machines of ambient, experimental and generative music. Think outside the box! :slight_smile:

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#12

I just simplified it for the sake of comparison.
I think many people realize that, youtube is full of melodic, even beatless MC demos.
Besides lacking a songmode, I would say it’s a groovebox

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#13

Sorry to go off topic

Do you know any good tutorials or guides for mii rack? Was looking today but not much out there I could find

Im total noob to modular and get swamped in possibilities in mii rack. No clue what I’m doing lol

#14

No prob. I’ll post what I thought were helpful tutorial videos on the miRack thread and tag you there.

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#15

just watch tutorials of mutable instruments modules. There are many great ones out there and they work exactly the same in mirack. Start with them, they are a whole world on their own

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#16

I’m sorry but every time somebody mention miiRack i think of the Dragonborns quest for the Miraak mask in Elder Scrolls :smiley:

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