Muff's Modules & More

[wsy]

OK, here;'s the challenge:

1) You have 12 MU units (or 12 5U oakley units) of space for a portable
synth "skiff" unit.

2) It should be designed to be useful standalone - ie. it's not just a
performance controller.

3) MIDI, instruments, etc. is optional - if you want it, include a MIDI interface unit.

4) Don't count power modules (i.e. Q137 or QPS2 power converter, or their
5U MOTM equivalent). We'll just assume they fit on the sides/back (or will be
external boxes - the case is being custom made)

5) Stay under $2000 if possible. But don't sweat going over by a couple hundred
if it really helps.

6) No vaporware. Every module has to be shipping now, or have been available
in the last year. Exception: if you *have* the module in your possession (ie a DIY
that you made or bought from somebody, you can put it in your skiff)

7) Yes, you can mix MU (Dotcom format) and 5U (MOTM / Modcan B format)
units. The case is custom made, remember, so it's no problem. But it's still a
limit of 12 "width units", be they MU or 5U.

So, what's in your MU-sized skiff?

- Bill

[Christopher Winkels]

2x Krisp/Oakley MU Slim VCO
1x STG Post-Lawsuit Lowpass Filter
1x STG Active Multiples
1x STG Mixer
1x Dotcom Q107 State-Variable Filter
1x Dotcom Q109 Envelope Generator
1x Dotcom Q109 Envelope Generator with MegaOhm VCA modification
1x SSL Tap-Tempo LFO
1x Dotcom Q125 Signal Processor

In a pinch I might swap out the Q125 for either a MegaOhm CdS or an STG Signal Amplifiers module, but I'm one of those people who doesn't subscribe to the "you can never have too many VCAs" maxim.

MIDI is handled from a remote Kenton MIDI-CV and I'd probably use my DX7 or Little Phatty for the keyboard control.

At heart I'm just a frustrated Billy Currie, hence my module choices.

[fac]

Cool excercise. Euro guys do it all the time. We need someone to develop a 5U modular planner.

Anyway, here's my shot, all MU modules, trying to build an interesting system, assuming external MIDI/CV conversion, and saving space and money where possible:

width - module (price)

2 - Sputnik Dual Waveform Generator ($510)
2 - Synthesizers.com Q106 Oscillator ($195)
2 - Megaohm Delta VCF ($285)
1 - Megaohm CdS ($240)
1 - STG Signal Amplifiers - old version - ($250)
2 - 2 x Synthesizers.com Q109 Envelope Generator (2 x $92 = $184)
2 - SSL Tap Tempo LFO ($295)

Total cost: $1,959 plus shipping charges.

There is no mixer, but you can combine the STG VCA's and either filter to make a 2-channel VC mixer. It can do both east coast and west coast stuff with it. It can do one complex voice or two simpler ones. It can do tempo sync'ed modulations. Only thing it lacks is random stuff, but for that we have the...

Variation #1: Replace the TTLFO ($295) with a Megaohm LFO-Two ($180) and a 20Objects Ardcore ($250). Total cost: $2094. The Ardcore is great for pseudo-random sequences, CV generation/processing, basic sequencing, and even rudimentary sample playback.

<edited for price correction>

[fac]

[wsy]

[Christopher Winkels]

[Christopher Winkels]

[fac]

Ok here's another attempt going for experimental sounds/sequences but without considering price limitations:

<width> - <module> (<price>)

2 - Sputnik Dual Waveform Generator ($510)
2 - Sputnik Dual Function Generator ($510)
2 - 2 x Megaohm CdS (2 x $240 = $480)
2 - SSL Tap Tempo LFO ($295)
2 - Encore UEG ($300)
1 - Synthesizers.com Q105 Slew Limiter ($80)
1 - 20Objects Ardcore 001 ($250)

Price: $2,425 plus shipping.

[fac]

And here's my third (and hopefully final) suggestion, no price restrictions, going strictly for a fat, vintage tone:

- Macbeth Mk1 Oscillator A
- Macbeth Mk1 Oscillator B
- Macbeth Mk1 Filter A
- Macbeth Mk1 Filter B
- Macbeth Mk1 Mixer A
- Macbeth Mk1 Dual EG

Price: Around $4500.

[wsy]

Let me try my own challenge:

Slot # Item Price (USD)
1 Oakley SVCO 300
2 Oakley SVCO 300
3 SSL Quad LFO 245
4 SSL Tap Tempo LFO 295
5 "
6 Oakley Quad VCA/Mix 300
7 "
8 STG Wavefolder 215
9 Dotcom Q107 multimode filter 136
10 "
11 Megaohm Delta filter 285
12 "

Total $1876. Note that there's no envelope generator; this is a drone machine;
you play it by wiggling the knobs.

If I needed an envelope (i.e. I was going to use an external CV keyboard, or a
keyboard with a Kenton MIDI->CV translator) I *think* I'd either drop the wavefolder
for an envelope generator (either the Oakley looping ADSR/VCA or the dotcom
Q109, depending on my wallet), or drop one of the filters for a pair of envelope
generators. Either way, I'm still under budget.

If money was *tight*, I'd drop one filter and both Oakley SVCOs and go for
Dotcom Q106 VCOs.

- Bill

[Just me]

1 SSL DDVCO
1 Rob Hordijk Dual Env
1 Mankato filter
1 STG Signal Amplifier
1 Moon 526
1 LFO Two
1 Q130 Clipper/Rectifier
well under $2000 and fed with my Expressionist

[klstay]

1 X Modcan Triple VCO - $520
1 X Grove Quad VCA - $190
1 X Grove Dual VC-LFO - $219
1 X Cyndustries Quad Filter - $435
1 X Cyndustries Quad Transient - $455
1 X .com 8 Channel Mixer - $145
1 X .com Distributor - $92
$2056

Yeah, shipping on the Cyndustries is supposedly "soon", but I would be willing to wait a bit personally...

[The Hamburglar]

I'm going to piggyback off all y'alls (especially the one above) and say...

4u 2 x .com OSC $390
1u 1 x Oakley Dual VCA $221
1u 1 x Megaohm Dual LFO 185
2u 1 X Cyndustries Quad Filter - $435
2u 1 X Cyndustries Quad Transient - $455
1u 1 x .com Q118 Instrument Interface $92
1u 1 x Moon 551 MIDI to CV $235

$2013

[wsy]

[wsy]

The reason for the 12-MU unit challenge is that, near as I can figure it, 12-MU is the
most MU units you can fit in an airplane carry-on sized case.

It's two ranks of 6 MU units (12.75 inches wide, 17.5 inches tall, and seven inches
deep), which fits in just about every airline's carry-on limits.

For example, American Airlines is 22x14x9, which is one of the more restrictive
size limits (other airlines often offer up to 45" combined dimensions).

No, I'm not going flying with a modular. I just want to see what would be possible.

If one were going to "cheat" just a little, and go for a skoosh over 9" height, one
could make a fold-open 20-MU case - it splits down the middle, on the
22-inch dimension, with 10 modules mounted vertically on each side. But that
might get bounced by some airline person with a tape measure on the grounds
that it's not less than the 9" requirement (the problem being that 5U tall is 8.75",
which leaves precious little for the valence.

Or if one were to be sure to use at least half shallow modules (i.e. Dotcom,
Moon, and Encore in particular, but usually not Oakley other) and be willing to
use at most 12 that are deep, you could build a 24 unit module with
a 6" deep bottom and a 2.75" deep lid (Dotcom modules seem to max out at 2 1/4"
deep, at least all that I've seen/measured). That might work too, and give you
a 24-MU carryon.

- Bill

[fac]

[dude]

[Christopher Winkels]

Okay, let me try this again in the spirit it was intended (i.e. under $2,000.00). I'm terrible at sticking to budgets that others impose on me.

2x Krisp/Oakley MU Slim VCO - $300.00 each ($600.00 total)
1x STG Active Multiples -$195.00
1x STG Mixer -$215.00
1x Dotcom Q107 State-Variable Filter - $136.00
1x Dotcom Q109 Envelope Generator - $92.00
1x Dotcom Q109 Envelope Generator with MegaOhm VCA modification - $207.00 complete
1x MegaOhm LFOTwo - $180.0
1x MegaOhm Delta VCF - $285.00
1x Dotcom Q125 Signal Processor - $80.00

That gives me a second VCA, gets me in at $10.00 under the $2.000.00 limit, gives me a pair of filters to work with, and I still have a pair of my precious LFOs to handle PWM duties.

[klstay]

[quote="wsy"]I'd say "weeeeelllll..." but assuming that you *can't* use a Cyndustries quad module,
what would you use instead?

(I *almost* went for dual Oakley SVCOs, leaving room for an Oakley noise+filter, but
that would have added over $300 to my bottom price line.)

=- Bill[/quote]

OK, Krisp1 State Variable Filter (1U) X 2 and looping ADSRs w/VCA X 2. At which point I would do a .com panner instead of the quad VCA.

[fac]

[Orbless]

so if we are working this in 5U panels, it would fit 14 single spaced panels with some room to breath, so why limit it to 12? I am gonna think up one that is 14 5U spaces.

[Orbless]

14 5U (slightly less space then the 12 MU)

1 Ian Fritz ChaQuo Chaos Generator/Quadrature Osc - 2U - $275
1 CGS Bi n Tic Fliter - 2U - $300
1 Wogglebug - 2U - $250
1 Dual Buchla 258 VCO (J3RK built) - 2U - $275
1 Mattson VC Mixer - 2U - $199
1 Buchla Lo Pass Gate - 1U - $250
1 Oakley SVF - 1U - $260
1 Yu Synth Complete S&H - 1U - $195
1 Ian Fritz All In Envelope Generator - 1U - $180

total of $2184

[diophantine]

Oh yeah, I tried to respond to this over the weekend, but then my computer overheated.

1x Dotcom Q106 VCA (@ $195)
2x Oakley Slim VCO-B (@ $300)
1x Dotcom Q110 Noise (@ $65)
1x MegaOhm LFOtwo (@ $180)
1x SSL Tap Temp LFO (@ $295)
1x MegaOhm Delta VCF (@ $285)
1x Oakley Looping ADSR/VCA (@ $260)
1x Oakley Dual VCA (@ $220)
= $2100

The Q110 is sort of a cop-out, as I was getting too far over the price limit. But I still think it is good to have a noise source in there.

It is a lot of oscillators (3 + 3-4 LFOs) and VCAs (4), but most of the VCAs are multi-purpose (Oakley doubles as a mixer), or built-in (Delta & ADSR). (The ADSR can be used as an LFO, don't forget.) Only one VCF, but it is a good one, that can get wild. After making these SVCO-Bs cross-modulate and such in the demo I made last week, it became clear to me that an extra VCO can do as much good as an extra filter. The system would be definitely more ideal for drones, noises, and other weird things, but could handle most anything.

The Dotcom stuff isn't so well-suited towards compact systems. I don't view this as a down-side, however... the stuff is super-affordable, and if something like a Q107 was in a 1U package, I think it would suck. (Instead, it is an awesome multi-mode filter as it is in 2U! But you need those input attenuators for all the fun!)

If I were to make a small, portable system, and price wasn't an issue (or if I were to DIY), I'd probably go with 5U/MOTM-sized Oakley, like the system pictured at the bottom here:
http://www.oakleysound.com/modules.htm
It is the equivalent of a 12U system. Having all the jacks at the bottom actually works for a system like that (at least to me). Though, I'd probably swap out the MIDI-DAC panel for some LFOs or mults or noise.