Question about modular

wowzer · 2022-12-30T13:05:58.390Z

blakewalt:

If you don’t intend to extend your modular with modular sound sources, stompboxes are a better deal, less headaches.

Why?

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T13:12:52.902Z

they cost less, they can deal with line level and some speaks MIDI. If you were to add modules that create sounds (sound sources like the Morphagene or Plaits) and use the effects for them, everything would be in modular land so you may not even need a mixer that can send line level (your A4 can handle that). You’d still want some LFOs but it’d be almost self contained. I’m lazy though so line to modular then modular to line modules are too much work for me

wowzer · 2022-12-30T13:13:19.074Z

blakewalt:

if it’s not a modular sound source, you’ll need line to modular.

If this means I have to buy these twice for every connection from m1.4–> eurorack, then I need 6 of these

musicstore.com

Befaco Inamp favorable buying at our shop | Nederland

preamp, line level, gitaar, humbucker pickup, eurorack, level interface, audio

Price: 129,00 €

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T13:15:15.952Z

depends on what you planned to do exactly with the modules you’ve listed. it could be from 0 to 6!

wowzer · 2022-12-30T13:19:10.708Z

Strymon as send return fx from 1.4
Loopers from headphones out to loopers, then from loopers to m1.4

Sounds like a bad idea !

But now…. Stompboxes.
So many

I like my rc500 looper, but hate the super short latency.

I like zen delay but it is so big

What reverb?

Pff

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T13:24:15.284Z

hence my Octatrack mk1 idea

love the OTO BAM for reverb but Strymon nightsky or bluesky are great too!

wowzer · 2022-12-30T13:28:32.817Z

Sorry, ot makes me sad

dokev · 2022-12-30T13:34:22.457Z

I think most important is the question to ask yourself - what do you want to get out of modular? The main reason (imo) to want modular FX is to heavily modulate them using CV or have FX for your modular sound sources, second of which doesn’t apply here. Analog 4 has 4 x CV outputs that can all send non-pitch CV, but the kind of modulations you’d be able to perform from the A4 are basically equivalent to what you’d get sending MIDI CC to a non-modular FX box. And this comes to the second reason you might want modular FX - something that only exists in modular land. Both Magneto and Starlab have pedal equivalents (Starlab’s equivalent is called Nightsky) that you could control with the A4 no problemo with basically equivalent results. Loopers in eurorack can be cool if you have interesting trigger sources to control record and playback, but now your case is getting bigger and more expensive, and you mentioned you weren’t interested in that stuff.

RE: integrating back and forth - most decent mixers can handle eurorack levels, and I’m pretty sure Model 1.4 has the headroom for that. Sending line level into the modular is where things begin to bite, as you’re discovering. Some modules can handle line level (for eg. Morphagene, Beads) but these might not be what you want to use.

wowzer · 2022-12-30T13:37:04.858Z

Elektronauts are really cool, nice land helpful

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T13:47:08.081Z

haha, I feel you!
Been watching ezbot videos on how he’s using the OT as a live sampler/fx box and that’s genius. If you didn’t check him out, you should try. He has a template too with all the FX ready to use (you need to be a patreon I think though).

I’ve been using the Morphagene for my live sampling recently though (it has an internal make up gain so line level works but it can add some noise, might be good depending on what you’re after) as I find it really fun to use (I don’t use the SD playback much because it’s a pain to set the right voltage to access the right sample) but I use it to create weird granulared reversed textures so I don’t care much for the timing.

Sternenlicht · 2022-12-30T14:02:04.587Z

Cookies!

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T14:19:59.782Z

dokev:

And this comes to the second reason you might want modular FX - something that only exists in modular land. Both Magneto and Starlab have pedal equivalents (Starlab’s equivalent is called Nightsky) that you could control with the A4 no problemo with basically equivalent results.

Volante / Magneto
Nightsky / Starlab

Magneto is closer to the Volante then Starlab to the Nightsky but it does have the shift delay mode that is gorgeous and not available on the Volante. If they added this in the Volante, I might let my Magneto go (even though it’s more hands on than the Volante as it was made to be used with hands, love the big knob in the middle!)
Now, Starlab and Nightsky really do not sound the same to me and I like the Starlab sound more, it’s more bread and butter reverb stuffs than the nightsky. I think Starlab is closer to the bigsky.

But yeah, going with Volante /Nightsky/Bigsky would be a better choice still!

The one thing the A4 is missing though is… sending out MIDI CC… so you can’t control the Volante with it via MIDI. You’d need one of the Digis for that.

wowzer · 2022-12-30T14:34:09.794Z

Dont understand

wowzer · 2022-12-30T14:37:02.541Z

blakewalt:

The one thing the A4 is missing though is… sending out MIDI CC… so you can’t control the Volante with it via MIDI. You’d need one of the Digis for that.

I want to work with my hands and without a computer. It’s not for songwriting but for jamming
And if I want to use it for songwriting, I will use ableton, then i can send midi. But I try to get rid of my computer and have hands on gear

Sternenlicht · 2022-12-30T14:48:17.815Z

The dark side is strong with cookies, i get the idea with modular fx, i am tempted myself, i just see that it can get expensive fast. I saw xompax or dash glitch utilizing modular to great effect, but these guys are pros and have the time to sink in. Without time at hand i would pursue a simpler setup, why not use tracktor /serato and play stems created /recorded from your looper? They have good fx aswell, pair it with a dj controller and its not feeling like a computer. (mixstream /numark).

blakewalt · 2022-12-30T15:04:28.139Z

then playing them live is best!
That’s why I like the big knob in the middle of the Magneto, it was made to be played live!

plragde · 2022-12-30T15:18:08.596Z

wowzer:

I want to work with my hands

Then don’t get 2hp modules, just saying

arctor023 · 2022-12-30T15:18:54.014Z

If you go modular, I’d suggest to limit yourself, something like a 4MS Pod for the beginning.
If you want to expand, then you will definitely have a use for it afterwards, or easily sell it.

One misconception though is that smaller racks are more “hands on”, you either have larger HP knob-per-function modules, or multi-button-combination smaller modules.

A4 as a sequencer and modulator is a good start, but you will quickly need more modulators, mixers, utility- and logic modules. I’d suggest to start with only one fx module and a poweful modulator, like IME Kermit MK3 or Quadrax with expander. Maybe also only Maths and FX Aid, to keep it simple and fun

wowzer · 2022-12-30T15:25:09.046Z

I don’t go modular thank you all!

Sternenlicht · 2022-12-30T15:39:19.789Z

Djs 1000 is also a simple thing, and can live sample, allthough sample ram is limited, the fx are good though. Not sure if it can work as fx box in that sense, i.e. have a through track.