{"id":387177,"date":"2019-09-29T18:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=387177"},"modified":"2019-10-01T11:58:31","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T09:58:31","slug":"modular-synthesizers-explained-simply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/modular-synthesizers-explained-simply\/","title":{"rendered":"Modular Synthesizers – A simple explanation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first modular synthesizers<\/strong> were quite big<\/strong> in the 1970s, <\/strong>literally. The fully equipped ‘cabinets’<\/strong> of that time were taller than the average person and priceless (super expensive and not for the consumer market) but they became more compact and affordable over the years. For example, the Roland System 100M<\/strong>, System 700<\/strong>, E-Mu Modular<\/strong>, Arp 2500<\/strong>, EMS Synthi 100<\/strong>, Synthi AKS<\/strong>, Synthi A<\/strong> as well as various Buchla modules<\/strong> belong to the real classics club.<\/p>\n

Due to the ever-increasing trend<\/strong> in the synthesizer sector<\/strong> to fall back on analog technology,<\/strong> the Eurorack format<\/strong> specified by Doepfer Musikelektronik<\/strong><\/a> in 1996<\/strong> has developed into a real long-standing modular synthesizer format for hardware and a dominant one since 2018.<\/strong> The Eurorack format currently offers more than 5,000 available modules<\/strong> and DIY<\/strong> kits<\/strong> from more than 270 manufacturers,<\/strong> ranging from boutique designers<\/strong> to established, renowned synthesizer manufacturers<\/strong> known for their comprehensive range of hardware. In addition to analog modules, today there are also numerous digital modules<\/strong> that immensely expand the application spectrum of the modular synthesizer in Eurorack format.<\/p>\n

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But what is a modular synthesizer anyway?<\/h3>\n

Simply put, a modular synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument<\/strong> that consists of a multitude of different components (modules)<\/strong> that are used and combined<\/strong> to create electronic sounds.<\/strong> The individual modules are connected via cables (patch cables), switches, sliders<\/strong> and patch panels.<\/strong> In this way, a large number of connection options<\/strong> and permutations <\/strong>are possible. It is important to know that the parameters<\/strong> of analog synthesizer modules can be controlled by Control Voltage (CV)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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A distinction is made between modules for generating<\/strong> sound (VCO<\/strong> = Voltage Controlled Oscillator),<\/strong> modules for changing<\/strong> sound, e.g. a filter (VCF<\/strong> = Voltage Controlled Filter)<\/strong> and modules that control the sound behaviour over time<\/strong> using a so-called envelope curve (VCA<\/strong> = Voltage Controlled Amplifier<\/strong> or EG<\/strong> = Envelope Generator).<\/strong> The envelope used works according to the ‘ADSR<\/strong>‘-principle (Attack, Decay, Sustain<\/strong> and Release)<\/strong> and shapes the resulting sound with all intermediate stages during transient oscillation<\/strong> up to decay. With an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)<\/strong> the resulting audio signal is modulated by a control voltage, e.g. to obtain a vibrato<\/strong> in the simplest case.<\/p>\n

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However, there are many other modules that are dedicated to special tasks. All analog modules<\/strong> are operated by control voltage: If, for example, a patch cable<\/strong><\/a> is used to connect the CV output of a keyboard generating control voltage or a sequencer to the CV input of a tone generation module (VCO), the control voltage changes<\/strong> when the keys<\/strong> on the keyboard<\/strong> are pressed,<\/strong> so that the receiving tone generation module (VCO) changes the pitch simultaneously.<\/strong> The same is done by the sequencer,<\/strong> which controls the connected tone generator with predetermined tone intervals<\/strong> and rhythmic patterns.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Patch cables<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, there are also control voltages that do not result in continuous parameter changes, but are used to switch certain events.<\/strong> These control voltages are called ‘gate’<\/strong> and ‘trigger’.<\/strong> The gate signal influences the time duration of an event, e.g. the duration of pressing a key<\/strong> on the keyboard to switch a certain parameter<\/strong>. The trigger signal<\/strong> always has the same length and triggers an event once, without influencing the course of the event. The trigger signal is used, for example, to start or stop a connected sequencer<\/strong>, which then simply starts<\/strong> and runs<\/strong> until it is stopped again<\/strong>. This is also referred to as ‘triggering’<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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A connection that is made with patch cables and provides the desired result is simply called a ‘patch’<\/strong>. A ‘patch’ can have a simple or a very complex structure,<\/strong> depending on which<\/strong> and how many modules<\/strong> are connected by patch cables.<\/p>\n

And this is where the real fun<\/strong> begins with modular synthesizers… but also the agony of deciding what kind of music you want to use the modular synth for. Depending on the field of application and your own ideas, you will need a number of different modules<\/strong>, the purchase<\/strong> of which can significantly shrink your savings account. At this point, you should be careful and think carefully about where you want to go.
\nThe best advice is to start small<\/strong> with the essentials<\/strong>. How you can further expand your own modular system later on is an exciting thing, and there are many possibilities.<\/p>\n

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What do I need for what I want to do?<\/h3>\n

The following list should help to illuminate your way in the darkness of the Eurorack<\/strong> jungle.<\/p>\n

Case<\/h3>\n

The construction of a modular synthesizer always starts with its case,<\/strong> because the case accommodates<\/strong> all modules and supplies them with power.<\/strong> The Doepfer A-100 LC1 Low Cost Case<\/strong><\/a>, for example, is suitable for beginners.<\/strong> It has an integrated bus board<\/strong> with 8 module slots<\/strong> and a power supply<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\t\t