There is no doubt that the popularity of modular synthesis is rising. You don’t have to look far to see the enormous interest in these instruments, in clubs, studios and bedrooms and worldwide. But what exactly are these boxes of coloured cables and knobs? Are they worth the investment? Do they live up to their hype?
Musical fads come and go. Interestingly though, modular synthesis has come full circle. Due to its limitless nature, modular will virtually never date. It is always able to reinvent itself. Because of this, lies the true beauty and power of modular synthesis.
There is no right or wrong when using modular. With that in mind though, it does require at least an interest in synthesizers. A passion for sound creation and a desire to expand your knowledge and understanding of synthesis is also important!
Modular synthesis might seem daunting to you if you’ve never worked with it before. Once you understand the core aspects of how it works though, it will become much clearer. That’s the purpose of this article. Like most things, the more you learn and increase your knowledge of modular synthesis, the more experienced you will become. Let’s get started!
MODULAR SYNTHESIS = NO MORE NEED FOR PRESETS
Stepping into the world of modular marks a move away from the standard presets that you may be familiar with using on other synthesizers. Not that there is anything wrong with preset sounds! They are an incredibly useful tool, especially when you’re starting out. However, nothing beats the feeling of creating your very own patch from scratch.
Patches that you create are patches that no one else can access. They are uniquely and solely your own. It is these kinds of patches that take your music to new areas and make your sound distinctively your own.
In the same way that you would select any musical instrument, choosing which modular you would like to use is a key step. If we were selecting a guitar, for instance, we would think about if we wanted an acoustic or an electric. The same goes for selecting a modular synth. As such, this selection does require some thought.
YOUR FIRST STEPS WHEN STARTING WITH MODULAR SYNTHESIS