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Eurorack Knob Idea

(mitxela.com)
312 points po | 2 comments | 25 Apr 25 13:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.421s | source
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JKCalhoun ◴[25 Apr 25 14:13 UTC] No.43793774[source]▶
It's interesting. I haven't been sucked into the Eurorack thing though — do people want not just patch cables all over their mixing desk but knobs as well?

Eurorack (and modular synths in general) seem like funny things. Like guitar pedals, I sense there are a lot of enthusiasts that do a lot more tinkering than actually playing them. Watching Rick Beato and guests on YouTube ... seems like a lot of musicians are looking instead for simplicity. Like a few good sounding pedals that, ideally, each have just a knob or two.

Maybe the synth-heads are in a whole different headspace though.

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mrandish ◴[25 Apr 25 18:36 UTC] No.43797096[source]▶
> I haven't been sucked into the Eurorack thing though

I'm the same. I love playing around with making electronic music on a hobby level and I find the idea and look of modular synths appealing - and I'm also a pushover for most retro things, especially those with cool knobs and blinkenlights. However, if I'm honest, I don't really enjoy creating music with modular or vintage analog "knobby" synths. I haven't ever bought a modular rig and my vintage analog synths are lovingly packed away with my numerous retro Amiga, Atari and Commodore computers where they wait to be enjoyed in limited doses on special occasions.

So, to address your implied question, IMHO I don't think people like us are somehow "missing" something deep and great in modular synths. To me, the essence of the modular appeal is three things: 1) tactile feedback that's responsively immediate, 2) a set of compatible 'lego block' components which can be combined in creative ways, and 3) An element of randomness from the combined interactions on analog components.

While modular rigs offer all three of those things, having those three together doesn't require analog hardware or a dedicated modular rig. I think I can get a very similar creative feeling and joy of discovery (plus a smidge of randomness) from the right combination of high-quality MIDI control surfaces and a well-chosen set of synth plug-ins running on a computer. To be sure, some MIDI control surfaces are crap and not all synth plug-ins enable creative experimentation deep enough and easy enough to 'scratch that itch'. But, then again, it's possible to assemble an ill-conceived modular rig out of poor quality components that also fails to inspire creativity. While finding that unique balance of factors sufficient to trigger creative serendipity isn't trivial with either analog hardware or digital MIDI + plug-ins, to me the advantages of digital in cost, size, speed, repeatability and flexibility win out.

I guess it's possible there's some other essential element which analog modular rigs provide that I'm missing out on but if so, I haven't been able to discover what it is.

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1. rapjr9 ◴[26 Apr 25 00:22 UTC] No.43799777[source]▶
Some people want to try new ideas that you can't buy ready made in a commercial synth or effects pedal. For example, trying unusual modulations, feedback loops, and signal dependent effects depth/parameters. Without a Eurorack you have to build a custom circuit to try it. With a Eurorack you can plug in some patch cables and quickly try it out. Think of a Eurorack synth module like a math symbol, you can assemble them to create an equation that produces sound. It's actually very much like an analog computer, where you can write an equation and implement it in hardware. It is literally possible to write equations and see what they sound like. You can do the same thing with something like VCV Rack though it's somewhat more difficult since to get physical controls you have to map midi controllers and may need a lot of midi controllers, which probably means manually labeling all the controls so you can tell what they do. In a Eurorack module each control, input, and output is already somewhat usefully labeled and defined by the module it is part of. So for some sound designers Eurorack systems are sophisticated sound design tools. You might use one to design a new kind of guitar effects pedal or to create a custom tweak on a specific sound in a movie soundtrack. Not that you can't just play with them without a coherent design in mind also, just to see what turns up.
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2. mrandish ◴[26 Apr 25 03:12 UTC] No.43800589[source]▶
Thanks for explaining the unique value you find in analog modular hardware.

> With a Eurorack you can plug in some patch cables and quickly try it out.

I'm curious if it's possible to do the same kind of modular interconnection with virtual analog plug-ins like Kontakt or Cycling '74? I've played around with Kontakt and it seems enormously capable and able to hook up operators and simple circuits almost down to the level of math symbols. I haven't played with Cycling or similar DSP environments but my understanding is they're literally programmable down to that level.

To be clear, I'm asking because I really don't know. I have a vintage Prophet 5 and the best DSP emulations seem to emulate it perfectly but with even more flexibility, extensibility, repeatability and no need to avoid oscillator drift or clean dirty pots :-). But I'm also not a serious synthesist or sound designer and I don't pretend to have golden ears. I guess at a certain point it may be quicker and easier to just wire up modules rather than assemble code modules in Kontakt, Cycling or some other DSP environment (assuming you have the right hardware modules on hand). But once you have to order or solder up different modules, I assume the plus sign swings to the software side again? Once again, not questioning the value you get from what's clearly working for you. Just interested to understand. As I said, maybe I am missing something. It might be that it's just something I don't personally care too much about for my needs, so it's all good.