Modular systems

Modular systems supplement modular synthesizers and belong to the family of electronic musical instruments. The modular synthesizer consists of a variety of different modules that together generate electronic sounds. Behind this dry description opens up an unexpectedly large sonic world. Because a modular system includes mixers and phasers, a wide range of devices for sound generation and sound processing and, of course, patch cables, shifters, modules and countless connections to balance the richness of sound.

Cables and connections

The most important modules serve sound generation, such as VCOs, sound modification or control. They are connected via patch cables, faders, patch panels or switches. With a certain number of modules this creates a large number of connection possibilities. In the end the signal is either output through a loudspeaker or routed to a recording device.

The right distribution for the best sound

Every modular system is only as good as its connections. They not only ensure the right tone, but also that the system remains expandable and therefore renewable. Multiple modules, such as the Doepfer A-180 Multiples 1 or the high-quality Curetronic modular systems with their five rack units, captivate musicians of all styles. But despite all the technology: good modular systems are mostly analogue. Digital technology is only used in exceptional cases. The system usually works with analogue CV signals and thus transmits information such as pitch and note length. The link to the digital world is then made, once the sound is mature, via a MIDI-to-CV module, as offered for example by Softube Modular or the paraphonic synthesizer Dreadbox Nyx.

Important components of a modular synthesizer

In any case you need a VCO module or at least a VCO-Light module. Oscillators allow you to shape a very distinctive sound character. The noise and digi-noise modules take care of the hiss. Filter modules, such as the Moogerfooger MF-103 from Moog, are just as essential as a ring modulator module. Anyone who hasn't lost their fondness for old synth heavyweights will enjoy the CEM and SSM filters. A good multi-effect module is the Roland System-500 572 Phase Shifter + Delay + LFO: a 5-stage phase shifter combined with an analogue audio delay and a voltage-controlled gate delay as well as an LFO. Among Doepfer highlights is the Doepfer A-137-2 VC Wave Multiplier 2: a wave multiplier that generates four phase-shifted copies of a VCO signal and adds them to the original signal so that the sound of five independent VCOs is produced. These examples clearly show that when assembling a good modular system it's always also important that different systems and manufacturers can be combined with each other.