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Modular systems complement modular synthesizers and are part of the electronic musical instruments family. A modular synthesizer consists of a variety of different modules that together generate electronic sounds. Behind this dry description lies an unexpectedly vast sonic world. A modular system includes mixers and phasers, a variety of devices for sound generation and sound processing and of course patch cables, shifters, modules and countless connections to balance the sonic richness.
Cables and connections
The most important modules are used for sound generation, such as VCOs, for sound modification or for control. They are connected via patch cables, faders, patch fields 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 speaker or routed to a recording device.
The right distributor 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 thus upgradable. Multiple modules, like the Doepfer A-180 Multiples 1 or the high-quality Curetronic Modular systems with their five height units, captivate musicians of all styles. But despite all the technology: most good modular systems remain analogue. Digital technology is used only in exceptional cases. The system usually uses analogue CV signals to convey information such as pitch and note length. Connection to the digital world then takes place once the sound is refined, via a MIDI-to-CV module, as found for example in 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 distinct tone character. Noise and digi-noise modules handle the noise. Filter modules, such as the Moogerfooger MF-103 from Moog are part of the setup, as is a ring modulator module. If you still enjoy the charm of vintage synth behemoths, you'll appreciate 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, a voltage-controlled gate delay and an LFO. Among Doepfer's 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 important that different systems and manufacturers can be combined with each other.