We are the music makers - producers?

Want.
(The Volca Modular that is)

So rad.

Probably wouldn’t recommend it as first synth though!

No not a first synth.

It’s not got the punch of a 0-Coast but you could certainly get very lost in bleep bloop experimental fun for not much money. The reverb (pseudo-reverb? Sounds springy anyway) is a really nice inclusion.

Minilogue XD looks like a nice upgrade as well.

I suppose £179 is cheap for modular anything but it seems pricey for a volca. I wonder how it integrates with standard patch leads...

It doesn’t. There’s one 3.5mm CV input that takes eurorack compatible CV and converts it to its internal voltage spec.

Apparently it is possible to patch directly into it with an adaptor but you have to account for the different scaling and make sure you ground the connections manually to avoid frying things/yourself.

I do agree that it’s a bit too expensive. The Volcas were always meant to be proper sounding gear at an accessible price point. At £179 you might be better off just saving up for a 0-Coast. Unless you really have to have the sequencer built in.

Hmm that’s a shame, I’ll definitley have a play with one at some point but I was hoping to add it to the 0-coast I already have!

Yeah, that’s why some people are referring to it as semi-modular, it’s quite self-contained. One CV input is ok (same amount as my Peak ;) ) but not being able to send anything out (other than audio) is a shame.

Not sure it offers much if you already have a 0-Coast. You could buy like one cheap euro module instead...? Erm.

Apparently the 3.5 mm input jack is a combined CV & gate input. So that’s something.

Ok that’s interesting. I’ve been watching YouTube videos and it sounds pretty good - maybe not as rich as the 0-coast but the space section and ribbon sequencer bring a lot.
I don’t think I’d have much change from £180 buying a modular case, power supply and reverb/fx module...

I was wondering if I could patch my Bastl Kastle into it for added fun...

It sounds like a broken doorbell.

The sequence chaining plus clock divider is a bit mental. Imagine six of these together.

Best doorbell ever.

https://twitter.com/baseck/status/1085255023959756800?s=20
https://twitter.com/RichardDevine/status/1085195088165105665?s=20
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H1MtQrVcrdw
Nice.

Welp.

https://www.teenageengineering.com/products/po/modular

Aw jeez I said no more gear in 2019 :/

Strong GAS for the big one.

But I should really put the money aside and save up for the proper eurorack modular I’ve been planning for ages.

Have you had a play with this yet?

https://vcvrack.com/

All the 'Audible Instruments' stuff it Mutable Instruments ... the exact code (open source enit).

I’ve had a muck about with it but I don’t really do much production for fun on the computer, I prefer hardware. I get a bit sick of staring at a screen (having been doing that all day at work) and using a mouse to move knobs and things. VCV rack did help a little bit with planning my 3U but I kind of know what I want it for - not so much random bleeps and bloops or digital textures as a very heavily modulatible analogue synth voice with top drawer filters:

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/713584

(I already have three of the Aira Modular effects that I can patch into as well.)

Been trying to resist getting sucked into it to be honest. ‘Eurocrack’ and all that. Not like I’ve explored every last nook and cranny of my existing synths anyway (there’s enough in the Monomachine to last a lifetime).

Yeah, I've not played with it much yet but think I will. I'm also zero computers for music. I find the experimental nature of an idiot (me) playing with modular gear a good learning process and leads to interesting places ... so I'll make an exception for VCV rack I think.

Also ... if you’re after Roland filters I should plug these made in my home town.

https://omsonic.co.uk/product/eurorack-vcf-omsonic-rnf-analogue-vcf/

There is a link on that page to souncloud demos.

Oh nice, I haven’t seen those. I do love the classic Roland filter sound. The System-8 Jove filter is also very appealing in that regard.

Those combined System-500 modules get a lot of synth voice into the space and sound amazing, which is why I’ve been planning to use them. Plus sliders for ADSR rather than knobs is something I like. Should really commit to it and bite the bullet, looking at it on modular grid has got me GASsing for it again...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MY4K3ZIGSfI

Something new coming from Elektron at NAMM, it seems. Could just be an update for the Digitakt that adds drum synthesis, could be a whole new box. A digital drum synth with wavetable capabilities would be pretty nice if it can channel some of the old MD & MM magic.

Balls, was considering buying the big one (400) yesterday morning and by the time I decided it was sold out.

I’m quite a fan of vertical(ish) faced synths and it looks like a lot of sound for the money. Maybe I should finally start on the eurocrack...

I’m quite a fan of vertical(ish) faced synths

I hear you. The 400 looks great. A good way of getting a complete, basic traditional modular synth for a good price (and not a lot of footprint). Every school should have one.

No idea what it sounds like yet.