Synthesizers

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/655754

So I’ve finally decided to get a real rack and I’m looking for advice on a couple of areas. I will be making drone/dark ambient and I already have a digitakt, 0-Coast and NTS-1. I want the rack to create slowly evolving drones and textures which I can layer with the 0-Coast for fx/bass and the digitakt to play more textures, glitchy fx, or whatever sounds right. I also plan to use VCV for CV modulation and sent to midi which seems to be nice and easy with the Nifty case.

So far I have decided to get the Nifty case and Morphagene, along with FX Aid XL for big reverbs and probably Befaco Out v3. The areas I am undecided about are modulation, distortion, and perhaps utilities.

For modulation, I would like a few different LFOs that I can use with both the rack and with the 0-Coast. I’ve been thinking about Ochd + some kind of mixer because I love it in VCV and it seems hard to beat in terms of separate LFOs and footprint. But then, perhaps Maths might be better? I would get less choice of outputs from it vs Ochd but I could potentially do more with it?

For distortion, I really have no idea. I want it to be stereo in/out as I plan to use it before or after FX Aid but I don’t know what kind of distortion I need for creating filthy distorted pads/drones. I quite like VCV's Debriatus’ saturate and fold sections in VCV. I’ve been looking at Erica Synths Pico DSP since it is small, stereo and could be useful to have other fx when I don’t want distortion. I think I also want it to have some kind of tone/filter to tame it and make it dark.

For utilities, I don’t think I need a great deal, at least for this iteration of the rack. It looks like I can attenuate the inputs on Morphagene and I don’t really need to create envelopes for now, nor do I need sample and hold (although this might be handy later on).

So any advice on modules? I’m also thinking that a stereo mixer with a few different inputs might be useful so that I can route the digitakt (which will have the 0-Coast running through it) because I only really have a stereo output to my speakers/computer.

Looking for storage solutions. Small cables I've been labelling gallon plastic bags and throwing them in a drawer. I've got a drawer for power cables, a drawer for balanced cables. Instrument cables I have hanging on a coat rack, lol. I feel like there has to be a better way. What do you guys do?

Hi there! What's been on your mind? What have you done this week? Any fun plans next week?

I am offloading a bunch of music gear. If you're in Europe and are interested in any of it, get in touch:

https://www.marktplaats.nl/u/thomas-biesaart/16654962/

• Drumbrute Impact: € 180
• MPC Live 2 + Decksaver + SSD: € 750
• Custom case for 2 electron digi boxes + power supply and cabling: €250

If you feel like sales shouldn't happen on this community, also let me know and I will probably delete my post. We're still looking to find a general consensus.

"Zoko" - This is my STBB Beat Battle Entry this week it's thirteen minutes long, 111 BPM, in Dm Key made with Digitone+Digitakt recorded with Zoom H6

this is my first post, please feel free to advise me if I have done anything incorrectly (or posted unsuitable material)

Much Love!

made on dirtywave m8 tracker, would love tips/feedback!

So I am an absolute sucker for that synthy stringy goodness, and a Streichfett is really sounding like it will scratch that itch for me. Before I pull the trigger on one though, is there anything else that I should consider too? I'm hoping to keep with a smaller footprint but I'm happy to consider all options.

Waaaaay back when

Hi, as the title and free options are equally useful until I can snag a top rated on sale.

It seems like the most highly rated is Phoscyon 2. As I said, if I can get this on sale then great.

But what else do you use regularly that does the job?

I got close up and personal, I even got to play it!

Hi there! What's been on your mind? What have you done this week? Any fun plans next week?

I wanted to point out this is the first time I ever finished a track in a single day (I know it's unpolished and messy but by my standards it's finished...)

I made some changes to my workflow because I was fed up of letting myself be hypnotized by 4 bar loops. So I downloaded MuseScore and did my best to write out the music I was hearing in my head before I actually loaded up my DAW. It worked a charm. Might be a good tip for others that struggle with finishing tracks?

I make music for therapeutic reasons. I've found that immersive visualisations and lights help with this a lot. I've already bought a couple of rack-mount spectrum analysers and they are awesome.

Do you know of other devices that provide a similar visual experience? I know there are a bunch of cheap bouncing led bars on ali express and the likes but there is a problem: They work based on microphones. I need to be able to plug them in because I use headphones most of the time.

I know it is kind of niche but any pointers would be appreciated.

I’m receiving an MPC Live II in the mail today. Any tips or resources on getting started?

EDIT: Just made a first attempt at a tune: https://soundcloud.com/thomasbiesaart/learning-wav/s-QW3gkTQgRJM

Finally got this after years of waiting. I’ve had a couple monosynths but eventually realized I wanted a poly synth. I’ve used VSTs but mostly presets. How should I go about learning to program the synth? Just make tracks? Improvise? Syntorial? I’m interested in modern “IDM” type music like Rival Consoles, Jon Hopkins, Lapalux, floating Points, Four tet, etc. I went to undergrad and grad school for music, classical, jazz studies, lots of theory, piano lessons. Much more green with actually finishing independent electronic music tracks. I have Ableton and Logic. I’ve done a lot more in Logic recording bands and demos. Just recently got Ableton. I’m controlling Peak with Novation SLMKIII. Got a bunch of other instruments but only this one synth. Thanks.

Quite interesting result of "disassembling" square wave with Fourier transform and "assembling in different order"

I think one of the things that helped keep r/synthesizers active was the automatic creation of weekly threads like "Friday Hangout", where you could leave casual thoughts that might not feel worthy of a top-level post. So, why not try something similar here?

Consider this a trial run. If people like it, maybe we'll make it a weekly thing. I welcome suggestions for a better title.

Shortly before my track "Mit Rossby am Meer" was completed after months. There comes wistfulness…