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As a user of modular synthesizers (and before that, long time users of all kind of software synthesizers) this article fails to find the apeal in modular synthe

by atoav 4y ago

As a user of modular synthesizers (and before that, long time users of all kind of software synthesizers) this article fails to find the apeal in modular synthesizers. Yeah. Digital sounds are more perfect. Yeah digital can produce analog dirt as well. Yeah. Digital can safe and recall presets, does not drift with temperature, all true. Digital is superiour. But it is not physical. There is something about having a synthesizer with a ton of knobs that makes you want to interact with it directly. Modular synthesizers are that to the max. There are no assumed connections. You can think about your synthesizers fresh everytime you connect it new. I use digital synths when I want to quickly get a certain sound. I use a modular synth, ahen I want to get lost in exploring the possibilities, when I want the machine to influence me as much as I am influencing the machine. Patching a modular synthesizer is a dialogue and if you listen it will guide you to musical ideas that you would have a hard time even to put into words if it wasn't for that apartus. And if you want it tobe a sophisticated drum machine, it can be just that. It is modular, after all.

detaro 4y ago
you seem to be saying the exact same thing as the article is?
- Synaesthesia 4y ago
  >Saxophonists, violinists, drummers and recording engineers have surely always known that newer does not necessarily mean better; perhaps electronic musicians are finally beginning to realise it too.
valdiorn 4y ago
I agree it's 100% about the form factor and the interactivity. My 4000+ pound modular cabinet is mostly stocked with digital modules, just a handful of analog oscillators and filters in between. I much prefer weird, glitchy digital sounds to analog, but I'm into modular (Eurorack) because of the composability and tactile element of it. I've also got a digital module I'm developing sitting on the desk next to me - going to open source and announce the first version in the next few weeks, it'll probably warrant my first HN submission :)
marssaxman 4y ago
The Nord Lead 3 did a great job of crossing this divide: it was a polyphonic, multitimbral digital synth, but every parameter had its own dedicated knob or button, with an LED ring showing the current setting. No menus, no modes, nothing hidden, everything right there to be touched; it just made you want to play.

by atoav 4y ago

detaro 4y ago

you seem to be saying the exact same thing as the article is?

Synaesthesia 4y ago
>Saxophonists, violinists, drummers and recording engineers have surely always known that newer does not necessarily mean better; perhaps electronic musicians are finally beginning to realise it too.

valdiorn 4y ago

I agree it's 100% about the form factor and the interactivity. My 4000+ pound modular cabinet is mostly stocked with digital modules, just a handful of analog oscillators and filters in between. I much prefer weird, glitchy digital sounds to analog, but I'm into modular (Eurorack) because of the composability and tactile element of it. I've also got a digital module I'm developing sitting on the desk next to me - going to open source and announce the first version in the next few weeks, it'll probably warrant my first HN submission :)

marssaxman 4y ago

The Nord Lead 3 did a great job of crossing this divide: it was a polyphonic, multitimbral digital synth, but every parameter had its own dedicated knob or button, with an LED ring showing the current setting. No menus, no modes, nothing hidden, everything right there to be touched; it just made you want to play.