Blacet modular users

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Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:50 am

Hi you synth freaks - Im really green to the modular world.
Ive been pondering various synths for ages to mainly process audio and have concluded that modular is the way to go therefore I can design my own system.
I am wanting to put together a pair of blacet modular systems (to use in stereo) dedicated to analog processing/mixing.
I would really like some advice on what modules anyone would recommend.
The wilder the module sounds the better - think fuzz.gates,arpegiators,fm stuff,ring mods,manglers/phasers etc.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby ChrisW » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:16 pm

Sorry to be controversial straight up......
But why Blacet in particular?
I'm not a 'Euro' owner, but there's an incredible amount of advanced Euro modules available.

I do a lot of audio processing (more as a musician than an audio pro).
I love a good quality audio input. Some of them can add a nice crunch, or out and out destructive distortion which can be very useful when sculpting audio. Two of those (for stereo).
An oscillator for FM'ing and LFO'ing.
At least one filter, probably two (for stereo again) and different flavours of filter.
Envelope follower (often inc on the input module), an envelope (ADSR), a VCA and /or output module (stereo again).
Delay modules, some of which are capable of phasing, flanging and sampling.
A spring reverb module?
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby jkhuri44 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:23 pm

slight deviation to the question, but does it have to be Blacet??

seems that the wildest stuff comes from Eurorack manufacturers...could be wrong on that one...but 2 manufacturers who make particularly insane shit, are in Eurorack format.

check out The Harvestman modules.... (of interest is the Polivoks filters, which are clones approved by the Russian Inventor himself)

and also, Metasonix modules, which you may already be familiar with...

and a boatload of others...if you go to Analog Haven, you can see the biggest array of modular stuff in 1 place...
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:46 pm

Thanks Jamil - not stuck on Blacet - but want to be realistic with the $
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:49 pm

Actually the Harvestman stuff is not too pricey
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:01 pm

Hey that Metasonics stuff looks amazing.
Maybe I need to do the euro rack thing.......more choices would be so much better.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby ChrisW » Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:35 pm

I moved out of Eurorack about 8 to 10 years ago because I found the smaller size a tad fiddly. That was before the huge explosion in very exciting and esoteric modules though.
Eurorack is definitely at the affordable end of the modular scene.
The next system above that is '5U' which is very high quality with players such as Modcan (which I highly recommend) and MacBeth.
Back to Euro......
Even the somewhat everyday makers like Doepfer and Analogue Systems have great modules.
Have a look at the Eurorack producers on this store site:
http://www.analoguehaven.com/what/
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby jkhuri44 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:44 pm

would recommend analog systems modules as well...

their pitch to Midi converter, i brought up in another thread, looks amazing by all accounts, and cannot begin to describe the amazing sonic potential possible...especially in harmonising guitars, vocals or other instruments.

also...wtf..couldnt read ChrisW post before...now it popped up before mine!!
sorry to repeat, etc.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:37 pm

Pitch to midi to analog would open up so many worlds
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby jkhuri44 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:36 pm

indeed ^
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby no-fi » Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:55 am

there are no pitch to MIDI euro modules I know of.. just pitch to CV. Which is just as well because a CV signal is a lot more useful to your modular than a MIDI signal.


anyway - yeah. eurorack.
I'm building a processing modular at the moment. lots of cool choices out there, especially with modulation sources and CV processors. I've just gone past 6u with mine. and I haven't even got near most of the bits and pieces I want to try yet.
My name is Julian Higginson and I approve of this message.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:41 pm

I have a monster .Com system, The reason that I love it is that there is no Eurorack system that I have heard that is even close to how seismic the .Com sounds. Eurorack may have lots of crazy modules available, but I haven't heard one yet that can match the raw sound of the .Com. As one famous keyboardist said after he played mine "I haven't heard a sound like that since the '70's". He then went and bought one. Another friend who has a large Doepfer system used the .Com on his last album, he said that he just couldn't get the grunt and big bottom from the Doepfer. Also I much prefer the large Moog size modules with 1/4 inch Jacks.

My suggestion would be to build an engine room with .Com, it is a very inexpensive US built system and then add a rack of weird Euro modules on top for your haircut sounds.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby rick » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:46 pm

whats the link for the guys that make yours mr moderator #thirteen :)
my google button seems to be broken !
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:01 pm

Yes - where is .com?
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:16 pm

Here is a link to their site... US made modules, very inexpensive to boot. I built the cabinet and bought the modules, loaded them up, normalled the system with switching jacks like an ARP 2600 so that for basic stuff I don't need patch cords. Here are a few shots, I have since filled the few blank spaces left... Don't know why the images won't display here, but the links work. Second shot is just to show off ;-)

http://synthesizers.com/studio110.html

http://www.moonpony.net/images/za1.jpeg
http://www.moonpony.net/images/za2.jpeg
http://www.moonpony.net/images/za3.jpeg
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:48 pm

Steve - Wow - you got a wall of synth!!
I'm glad you chimed in - the (big) sound of these things is really important.
There is so many modules to choose from its almost too daunting to work out what would be great for processing audio.
The Arp2600 you mention is a original keyboard? not a module?
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby rick » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:57 pm

wow steve i built the helmholtz resonators in your za 3 shot
but they were covered way back then before everything flipped and phil painted them badly
whats that an inxs session ?

as for za2
i love the girl in the bikini playing the guitars .... whats that no girl ..?
no guitars..? :)
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:13 pm

That was indeed an INXS session... Last year from memory... Miss that place already.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:14 pm

The Tasmanian wrote:Steve - Wow - you got a wall of synth!!
I'm glad you chimed in - the (big) sound of these things is really important.
There is so many modules to choose from its almost too daunting to work out what would be great for processing audio.
The Arp2600 you mention is a original keyboard? not a module?


Arp2600 is the ARP portable modular from back in the 1970's / 80's, used switching jacks to reduce patch cord clutter.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:15 pm

Anybody spot the AMS reverb and delay in ZA2?
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:26 pm

I can't see anything but synths! - iI get dizzy looking.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Hybrid88 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:26 am

Nice pic Steve didn't realise you have a Jup 8 :)

Yeah, I recently got a small starter Dotcom system, only really to expand my Minimoog so I can do some more crazy modulations that the Mini won't normally allow.

I'm going to put it in a standard 19" rack taking advantage of the 5U rack adapter frames they sell - makes it really simple to have a nice case at whatever height you want.

All up I think it cost about 1.5k, which is really great value considering what you're getting, especially compared to some of the Eurorack stuff. I also prefer the larger jacks, very moog.

Also it's not too difficult choosing modules, - my advice is to stick to the basics first and then branch out, so you're probably going to want the standard OSC, VCF, MIXER, EG, VCA. Then just choose the number of each you want, and then after that you can think of additional modules such as the ring mods, sequencers, clock modifier's etc, etc.

Plus the US dollar being like it is makes it a great time if you're thinking about it.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:44 am

I have not got my head around clock modifiers yet - whats happening here, and what are you guys using them for?
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby ChrisW » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:53 am

Are we talking tonal modular synthesis, or audio processing?
Your module choice will be different depending on the duty, at least at first.
The difference between .com and Euro is of course subjective, but the larger sized modules certainly help ergonomically. Also, I highly rate Modcan, which is also available in this format (known as 5U), and I've never heard anything bad said about Macbeth, which sort of started life as a Moog clone and has branched out since.
But in the end, if you are after audio processing you might need more esoteric modules than standard modules -like oscillators, envelopes and sequencers etc.......
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Thirteen » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:59 am

The Macbeth stuff sounds fantastic and is very well made, I would love some to add to my .Com system, a little too expensive for me at the moment... I have repaired a few of his synths and I an extremely impressed with the sound.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby jkhuri44 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:49 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BlcVxg21o8

something like the 4ms "rotating clock divider" allows you to set up an example sequence, and make slight modifications on it, like "shift 1/8th beat forward/backwards"
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:20 pm

Jamil - thanks for that link,
I am stunned at the amount of choices of really great modules - I'm picking my jaw off the ground.....
Never will I consider buying another keyboard.
And thanks for all these great tips on whose building the great sounding - more creative modules
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:24 pm

Chris - to be more specific - processing audio would be 80% of the use of a system I'm wanting to put together,
and a bit of creative synth noodling so I don't watch the tele on my nights off
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby Hybrid88 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:35 pm

Yes Macbeth and Modcan are great too, but a little pricy, especially Modcan. Steve how come you're fixing Macbeths, they're only relatively new aren't they? Bit of a worry it they're needing fixing already, especially given that they are great build quality.

I'd definitely recommend a Eurorack for audio processing over the Dotcom/Modcan/Macbeth. Basically the former offers way more in crazy processing modules and the latter is more geared to you're standard moog modular clone/minimoog type of deal.

Then you've got the overpriced out of the usual stuff like Buchla, Wiard, Serge, Blacet etc.

Check out here - http://www.analoguehaven.com/what/

This kind of shit is exactly what you should be looking at for totally f'ing up audio -
http://www.analoguehaven.com/theharvestman/

As far as I know Clock modifier's are just for multiplying, dividing etc. clock signals so you can get more interesting results than just a standard regular pulse. Sequencers use clock signal for timing so obviously having modules to adjust the clock gives you more interesting varied results.
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Re: Blacet modular users

Postby The Tasmanian » Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:47 pm

OK - Ive got my eyes on so much cool shit thanks to you guys.
Just to clarify in a simple form:
I could have say a snare drum in pootools, and instead of reaching for a external vintage eq, I could use say the Polivox or a Wasp filter as my eq?
Also - would the output of these filters be line level? - so I could go back into a vintage mic pre/eq for further tweaking - or do I need a DI ?
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