Muff's Modules & More

Parallel Worlds

hello,

a new Serge M-odule has been released: the 'Stereo Mixer' M-odule.

it contains (from left to right):
Quadrature Oscillator module, Dual Transient Generator module, Dual VCA (ac-coupled), Dual Channel Stereo Mixer module (with level and panning voltage controlled).

with this M-odule, the user is presented with a bank of six VCA's (two in the stereo mixer module, two in the Dual VCA, two hardwired in the two outs of the Quad Osc) and two transient generators plus a quadrature sinewave Osc.

so, he has plenty of cv sources to use for modulating volume (or AM synthesis) and for modulating Pan Position, etc...

the Quad Osc goes into well into Audio range, so it can be used as Audio source as well.

Price is 1700 USD.

M-odule photo is in the files section of the yahoo Serge Modular Users Group.

thanks,
Bakis.

astroschnautzer · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:01 am Post subject:

serge seems pretty nice but these prices just feels unreal, 1700$ for this is just very weird, does serge use some super components or is it just the brand or what justifies these prices?

2012 · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:06 am Post subject:

mono-poly · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:25 am Post subject:

Can we stop the always hating price crap?
If i get a system from modcan like this i would have to buy:

Dual LFO 05a $352.80
VC Dual ADSR $554.40
VCA Panner $433.65
Dual X-Fader $352.80

Total $1700 and a bit

Parallel Worlds · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:26 am Post subject:

BugBrand · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:31 am Post subject:

And the Naked Creature thread shows just how much work goes into assembling these modules (even ignoring development) -- that's quite involved wiring there!

HexEnduction · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:39 am Post subject:

When you hold one of these m-odules in yr hand you can actually see how intricate and insane the quality assurance is. The pictures I posted don't really do it justice. When you plug it in, turn it on and start patching you can hear every last cent in there. F'real.

astroschnautzer · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:01 am Post subject:

Not trying to post any hatred on serge or their prices, I just did not understand where the price comes from, that an other manufacturer too has same kind of prices does not explain what makes some brands expenciver then others, I understand that serge for example is good build quality and top engineering but for me it seems still like a steep price, not trying to criticice people who buy or use serge, I could well see myself sometime in the future owning serge. I kind of guessed that somebody will be angry for asking this, mayby I should have put my words in an other way.

2012 · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:40 am Post subject:

Parallel Worlds · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:13 am Post subject:

chimologic · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

Yes if the price seems to steep then don't buy it. It is expensive. But is totally worth it because there is nothing else like them. Besides the uniqueness in the sound there is a non quantifiable quality to playing with a beautiful Serge system the unique ways you can approach synthesis with the banana plugs and patch programmability, the unique modules, the layout and tactile feel of each module....

if its too expensive for you, don't buy it.more time for Rex to work on my orders! twisted

oh yes and one of these stereo mixers m-odules is in my future for sure.

b3nsf · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:17 pm Post subject:

Rex was telling me about how he matches components...

They test all the resistors and the like to determine what its value is then put one thousand of them in a sheet of styrofoam, with like values next to each other, somebody is matching these components by hand....

He also says finding two exactly matched components in a batch is 2 out of 1000...

This gives every knob an even and exact tuning ability completely linear soundwise, in reality its log matched to the human ear. not too shabby!!!!

and he's got a jeep for wisconsin winter, not ferarri
d'oh!

cebec · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

astroschnautzer · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

Ok, this was what I was looking for, Serge really have special manufacturing procedures rather then just the brand and the functionality that there is no competition for. Very few talk about the serge sound, always about functionality, how is it sounding?

cebec · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

Well, everything on these pages is STS Serge and b3nsf has some great all-M-class pieces shared, too.
http://www.virb.com/cebec
http://share.ovi.com/channel/cebec.public

http://soundcloud.com/b3nsf

HexEnduction just posted a classy video/demo. of his new Creature M-odule:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ6wMrjSynw&fmt=18

I have to include Kkonkkrete's fantastic YouTube video, as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLDIGxlM1rA&fmt=18

So, listen to these and hopefully that will give you a good sense of the 'sound'.

b3nsf · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject:

Rex told me something last night about the sound, because we were chatting about vactrols....

He said that the Serge stuff is very alive, quick responding, modulation screams into radio frequency range, dog whistle, infrasound, Booming bass...

the use of vactrols is on the phasors where its gloppy slugginess is welcomed, not on filters or vca's so these jump to life like a ring modulator, shooting out side bands and creating harmonics and over-tones... twisted

man, this is strong coffee Coffee Addiction FTW

mono-poly · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:56 pm Post subject:

Some Serge stuff:

http://mono-poly.blogspot.com/2009/03/noodlemono-poly-black-sunday.htm l
http://mono-poly.blogspot.com/2008/09/droneramayana.html

parasitk · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

makenoise · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

kkonkkrete · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject:

I have to include Kkonkkrete's fantastic YouTube video, as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLDIGxlM1rA&fmt=18

Thanks cebec!

Here's a little speculation regarding the quadrature osc (I don't actually own one):
- note that little "Hold" input. I think that can be used for some pretty cool effects if you drive the oscs at audio rate. If you put an audio rate pulse wave in there running faster than the quad oscs, you should get some nice aliasing effects, as with the SSG. Interestingly, because the two oscs are out of phase, when the freq of the pulse is close to the freq of the oscs, you should get two different waveshapes at any given point of time, because the hold will occur at different stages of the cycle for the left and right half. That should sound like some kind of thickening if you blend the two outputs with a mixer.
- if you send the two outputs to a VC X-fader and mod the X-fade at audio rates, you should be able to get a pitch other than the base pitch coming out of the oscillators. I haven't thought this through properly, but I'd be curious to know if it works.

Just another example of how a Serge module that looks fairly routine at first blush may hide some interesting behaviours