Hi there,
I am thinking of starting up a small 5u format system in the next few months. I have a small Buchla 200e system and a Moog Voyager with Ableton 8 & Numerology 2.3 as a central sequencing/processing hub.
I love the feel of larger formats and thinking of getting the basics (VCO, VCA, Mixer, Midi interface, Spring Reverb, Envelopes, multiples) from dotcom and getting a few specialized modules from Modcan (Quad LFO, CV Recorder, Matrix Filter).
I am new to this format so is this a good idea. I am kind of looking for a 3rd way between Buchla and the Voyager.
Cheers,
Richard
Planning a small Modcan & dotcom system
-
richardm123uk
- Veteran Wiggler
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:14 pm
- Location: Leighton Buzzard, UK
seems like a hurtle to add two formats. my obvious opinion is that for space concerns and quality and flexibility etc you will find modcan a ton more enjoyable and effective.
it is hard to say what "good idea" is. i would find it frustrating between banana and 1/4" (do you mean to add modcan a or b?).
if conversion of form factor isn't a problem then you will vastly increase your sonic palette. the thing about buchla and modcan is that they are very tightly conceived systems imo. not that they cannot be interpatched, but each line is fairly exhaustive and meant to encompass a whole instrument sonically tactically and aesthetically.
if you embrace mixing systems than you could have a blast!
what do you find missing exactly from your existing stuff? are you looking for a list of suggestions which might be fun to add?
as far as bruces stuff goes, i find his new mostly digital designs to be just amazing. there is a growing line of digital fx but then you have things like the scanner and cv recorder and control. his new vcos are deadly and the available timbres are seemingly endless, but buchla has a lot of deeply morphing and flexible sound producers too.
i would love to hear what sounds you are seeking. i believe modcan offers the greatest set of modulators which can lead to wonderfully flexible patching explorations and destinations.
it is hard to say what "good idea" is. i would find it frustrating between banana and 1/4" (do you mean to add modcan a or b?).
if conversion of form factor isn't a problem then you will vastly increase your sonic palette. the thing about buchla and modcan is that they are very tightly conceived systems imo. not that they cannot be interpatched, but each line is fairly exhaustive and meant to encompass a whole instrument sonically tactically and aesthetically.
if you embrace mixing systems than you could have a blast!
what do you find missing exactly from your existing stuff? are you looking for a list of suggestions which might be fun to add?
as far as bruces stuff goes, i find his new mostly digital designs to be just amazing. there is a growing line of digital fx but then you have things like the scanner and cv recorder and control. his new vcos are deadly and the available timbres are seemingly endless, but buchla has a lot of deeply morphing and flexible sound producers too.
i would love to hear what sounds you are seeking. i believe modcan offers the greatest set of modulators which can lead to wonderfully flexible patching explorations and destinations.
-
richardm123uk
- Veteran Wiggler
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:14 pm
- Location: Leighton Buzzard, UK
My reason to start another format if purely for variety. I love the 200e with a passion but I do not see myself expanding the system beyond 12 spaces plus the 223e in it's own case (just 223e & 207e to go).
The Voyager gives me the East coast sound so I am looking for something a little different. Music wise, a lot of experimenting either what pops into my head or just hours of tweaking. (music of Coil, Morton Subotnik, Alvin Lucier, Transient Waves, Mort Garson, Robert Hood, Drexciya are all influences)
Modcan's Quad LFO and CV recorder demos blew me away and the price difference between the dotcom & modcan essential modules are what has made me think about mixing both formats.
1/4 would be fine as I like to keep formats separate (as long as I can sync them up then I am fine) but I do like Banana jacks and I suppose that it would be fun to interface with the Buchla.
I will have a budget in 3 months of around $4,000. I live in Toronto so I am close to Modcan.
Cheers for getting back to me. I had not thought of Modcan as one man's singular vision and that has got me thinking.
The Voyager gives me the East coast sound so I am looking for something a little different. Music wise, a lot of experimenting either what pops into my head or just hours of tweaking. (music of Coil, Morton Subotnik, Alvin Lucier, Transient Waves, Mort Garson, Robert Hood, Drexciya are all influences)
Modcan's Quad LFO and CV recorder demos blew me away and the price difference between the dotcom & modcan essential modules are what has made me think about mixing both formats.
1/4 would be fine as I like to keep formats separate (as long as I can sync them up then I am fine) but I do like Banana jacks and I suppose that it would be fun to interface with the Buchla.
I will have a budget in 3 months of around $4,000. I live in Toronto so I am close to Modcan.
Cheers for getting back to me. I had not thought of Modcan as one man's singular vision and that has got me thinking.
-
bwhittington
- Terrifying Brain Secret
- Posts: 6274
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 11:48 pm
- Contact:
If you had the budget for it, you could get a lot of the "basics" in a more dense package in Modcan--4xVCA, Noise/S&H/Ring Mod, Quad EG, etc, but I think your strategy of saving money using Dotcom for the basics and adding a little sizzle with some of the more unique Modcan offerings is smart.
I don't really see any major hurdle to adding both formats. The physical formats are similar, and both use the same power voltages and cv ranges. You can accommodate the different power cable formats either by using something like the STG bus board or just replacing some of the Dotcom power connectors with Modcan ones on the Dotcom power harness. Decide on a case that can fit both, and you are done.
Cheers,
Brian
I don't really see any major hurdle to adding both formats. The physical formats are similar, and both use the same power voltages and cv ranges. You can accommodate the different power cable formats either by using something like the STG bus board or just replacing some of the Dotcom power connectors with Modcan ones on the Dotcom power harness. Decide on a case that can fit both, and you are done.
Cheers,
Brian
-
thermionicjunky
- Thyratron Genius
- Posts: 2275
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 6:33 pm
- Location: Upstate NY