3 ways to learn the basics of Modular Synth without the Hardware
There comes a time in all music production careers where we stumble on pictures of Richard Devine’s Modular Synth rig.
I know MY first thoughts were “I want all of that”, however after doing some research it dawned on me that not only was each module of the thousands that he owns very expensive, they each have a particular set of functions and tonal character that’s useless without the knowledge of how to get it working.
This past weekend a new store in Cape Town, Mother City Modular, hosted a “Modular Meet Up” event, inviting synth enthusiasts to learn all about modular synthesizers – the event was super interesting, and I’m sure anyone who attended is looking to explore the vast world of modular.
Learning the inner working of a modular synthesizer setup is not easy, as each rack is crafted specifically by the owner, with their style in mind. That being said, there are some affordable and even free software platform that allow you to experience the world of modular synths, before diving in head first and spending a whack.
VCV Rack
What is it?
VCV Rack is my personal favourite on the list, not only is it absolutely free – it comes with a plethora of both unique modules and replicas of well-known hardware modules such as the legendary Mutable Clouds.
Best feature(s):
The entire system is designed to emulate the look, feel and sound of a real hardware modular synth. The way the cables are routed and signal is passed through the modules is incredibly accurate to the real-world examples. This presents itself as a fantastic stepping stone into the world of modular synths.
Not so cool:
Although VCV Rack has various options for sending signal to and from a DAW, it’s not incredibly stable at doing so – however I enjoyed the fact that the software is not tethered to your DAWs clock and other global settings.
Final Thoughts:
Go download it, it’s free!
Where to get
Softube Modular
What is it?
Softube Modular presents itself as a somewhat more DAW friendly modular synth emulation. It also has a bunch more accurate hardware emulations, from some of the top modular synth manufacturers on the market.
Best feature(s):
Softube Modular features accurate replicas of some Buckle, Mutable, Intellijel and 4ms to mention a few. It also has the ability to be loaded as a plugin in your DAW.
Not so cool:
The base software version of Softube Modular is well-priced, however you have to pay per bundle of modules – so keep that in mind.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking into specific high-end modules, and want to test out the features and sound before sinking a couple of grand into the hardware, this is a great way to try-before-buy.
Where to get
Reaktor Blocks
What is it?
Reaktor is in a bit of a category of its own, it doesn’t function in the same way as other modular synth emulations, however it offers a ton of interesting ways to learn the basics of routing a modular synth setup.
Best feature(s):
Once you learn the basics of Reaktor Blocks, it becomes easy to dive under the hood of the modules, and actually rewire the way they work inside the box. It also poses itself as a great way to create your own unique modules.
Not so cool:
The learning curve is pretty steep, and because of the unique approach it’s not the ideal way to learn the functions on a hardware modular synth, however the Reaktor engine is vast and it is something I suggest all sound designers explore at some point!
Final Thoughts:
Native Instruments’ website hosts a wide variety of user created modules, from unique stuff to accurate emulations.
Where to get
Now you have no excuses!
No matter what your budget is, there are options for you – in software and in hardware, time to dive into the explorative world of generative patching!
I got some footage from the event; you can check the video out here:
