The modular synthesizer is a type of synthesizer consisting of separate specialized modules. The modules are typically connected together with patch cords in different ways as needed to generate needed tones. Typical modules are oscillators (operate on frequency), filters (spectrum), amplifiers/gates (amplitude) and Envelope generators (dynamic control). The earliest commercial modular synthesizers were developed, in parallel, by R.A. Moog Co., and Buchla in 1963. Hardware offerings range from complete systems in cases to kits for hobbyist DIY constructors. For more information read the introduction by Roland and How to build a modular synth.
Today modular synthesizers exists in both physical and virtual forms. Modular Music Synthesis On The Web article introduced me to an interesting web based instrument: Zupiter is a modular synthesizer that runs in your browser. Zupiter app is written entirely in JavaScript and makes use of both the web audio and web MIDI APIs. You can play notes using your computer keyboard (A to L keys), using a built in sequencer node, or you can connect an external MIDI keyboard or sequencer. You can make your own synth by combining building blocs graphically together or you can play with the provided examples. Besides synth parts there is an oscilloscope module that can show you waveform in real time.
Here is a video that introduces you to Zupiter:
After interesting introduction you can go directly to https://z.musictools.live/ to start playing and experimenting.
Some interesting synth examples with Zupiter:
Interesting synth https://z.musictools.live/#209 to play with and my adaptation of it https://z.musictools.live/#529
Acid synth at https://z.musictools.live/#95
Several sequencers in one project https://z.musictools.live/#478
DTMF synth https://z.musictools.live/#273
Here is a link to my earlier posting on other type of web based synths http://www.epanorama.net/newepa/2015/03/27/make-music-in-your-browser/ that you might also find interesting to look at.
40 Comments
vex 3 says:
The modular synthesizer you share is great. with many great features. Hopefully you will have more great posts.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Commercial
https://www.softube.com/modular-month
Tomi Engdahl says:
Designed for easy re-programmability via CircuitPython, this 8HP Eurorack module is a flexible piece of open source hardware.
Thea Flowers’ Winterbloom Sol Module Offers Eurorack Compatibility and CircuitPython Programmability
https://www.hackster.io/news/thea-flowers-winterbloom-sol-module-offers-eurorack-compatibility-and-circuitpython-programmability-bf0599a3701f
Designed for easy re-programmability via CircuitPython, the 8HP Eurorack module is a flexible piece of open source hardware.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://cherryaudio.com/free
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.lookmumnocomputer.com/projects
Tomi Engdahl says:
The KiloDrone Features a Thousand Individual Oscillators
Sam Battle, of the LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER YouTube channel, built a synthesizer with 1,000 individual oscillators.
https://www.hackster.io/news/the-kilodrone-features-a-thousand-individual-oscillators-568c4b19146d
Tomi Engdahl says:
Modular Test : I Feel Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lZO-3Uz0ps
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/05/05/vme-reverse-engineering/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/04/this-audio-mixer-is-a-eurorack/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Audio Mixer Is A Eurorack
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/04/this-audio-mixer-is-a-eurorack/
Music making and DJing have both become arts predominantly pursued in a computer, as the mighty USB interface has subsumed audio, MIDI, and even DJ turntable interface controllers. There was a time though when an indispensable part of any aspiring performer’s equipment would have been an analog mixer, a device for buffering and combining multiple analog audio signals into a single whole. A mixer is still a useful device though, and [Sam Kent] has produced a very nice one that takes the form of a set of Eurorack modules made from PCB material. There are two types of modules, the main channel module which you can think of as the master module, and a series of isolator modules that handle the individual inputs.
https://samjkent.co.uk/modular-mixer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
I built an analog synthesizer from scratch. Here is how I did it…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PATlf0W3m7k
Tomi Engdahl says:
The power of a simple sequencer for eurorack – with the Korg SQ-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0J101qE9J8
Today we are going over some reasons why a simple sequencer like the Korg SQ-1 will add a lot of value to a eurorack or modular system. We start with a quick overview of the Korg SQ-1, and then we move on with a series of patch-tips, divided in a few sections. We go over melodic sequencing, CV sequencing, and trigger sequencing.
Timetable:
00:00 – Intro
00:43 – Korg SQ-1 overview
03:08 – Melodic sequencer
06:30 – CV sequencer
08:39 – Trigger sequencer
11:33 – Clock
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Most Beautiful Synth Of ALL TIME???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSiJS93H6Kk
Both #andrewhuang and I recently received delivery of some large scale synths. Andrew beat me to the chase claiming his synth was the most beautiful in the world. In this film I challenge that notion with an absolutely colossal beast by #analoguesolutions . Indeed it is actually called “The Colussus” by Analogue Solutions. I put it immediately to work making a free sample the “12 oscillator doom drone” for you to put in your own music. But I also possibly uncover the most beautiful synth that neither of us own nor will ever?
CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro
00:52 Whats It All About
01:58 Setting Up A Patch
07:45 So How Does It Sound?
08:27 Why Did I Make This Investment?
09:13 Making The “DOOM DRONE”
10:07 Playing The Free Doom Drone Sample Pack
10:47 The ACTUAL Most Beautiful Synth Of All Time
Tomi Engdahl says:
Getting started with modular synths – Step 1: Building a DIY Eurorack case
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFhHArHk5JE
Tomi Engdahl says:
The analog oscillator core anyone can build | DIY VCO Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBatvo8bCa4
In this series, I’m taking a detailed look at how to build an analog VCO from scratch, using just a handful of cheap components. It’s the basis for any synthesizer. To keep it as beginner-friendly as possible, I’m explaining what all the components do in detail.
This first part deals with the oscillator core, op amp-buffers, AC coupling and voltage dividers. If you want to follow along, here’s a bill of materials:
1x Breadboard
2x 9V battery plus clip OR 1x dual 9-15V power supply
1x 40106 IC
1x TL074 IC (you can also use a TL072, we won’t be needing more than one op amp)
1x 1N4148 diode
1x 1 uF foil capacitor
1x 2.2 nF foil capacitor
4x 100k resistor
1x 3.5mm OR 6.35mm jack socket
lots of jumper wires
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Sound Demo
01:18 Electricity & Oscillation Basics
12:13 Materials Overview & Build
16:20 Buffers & Negative Voltage
19:37 Offsets & AC Coupling
23:45 Voltage Dividers
26:39 Listening & Outro
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to get Started with Modular Synths – Behringer Bundles & First Patches
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXmQXYSZ-c&feature=youtu.be
Tomi Engdahl says:
Virtual Eurorack Based CPU Computes To The Beat Of A Different Drum Module
https://hackaday.com/2022/01/01/virtual-eurorack-based-cpu-computes-to-the-beat-of-a-different-drum-module/
In Arthur C. Clarke’s 1972 story “Dial F for Frankenstein”, the worlds first global network of phone exchanges was created by satellite link, and events happened that caused the characters in the story to wonder if the interconnected mesh of machinery had somehow become sentient. And that’s what we wondered when we saw this latest virtual CPU construction built by GitHub user [katef] and made from a virtual analog synthesizer software called VCV Rack.
https://github.com/katef/eurorack-cpu
Tomi Engdahl says:
Choosing A 500-series Chassis
https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/choosing-500-series-chassis
Not all 500‑series racks are created equal. Here’s what you need to know to make your choice.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A 70′s Synth You Made At Home With Monthly Magazines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evndbrVoG2Y
Time To Look At The Elektor Formant
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.facebook.com/105517788913/posts/10159975375658914/
Did you know that in the late ‘70s, the Elector Formant modular synthesizer, a DIY concept was launched, which during the time became quite popular. It was designed by C. Chapman.
The Formant was published in a series of articles in Elektor (in The Netherlands, Elektuur), and later as a book with a compilation of the articles.
A year later there was another book with additions and extensions by M. Aigner, an Austrian.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rave in a briefcase
Trifted briefcase, dumpster dived rails, electronics out of an old skiff, panel lasercutted out of a broken frame
https://hackaday.io/project/185133-rave-in-a-briefcase
Tomi Engdahl says:
Synth/Electronic in Eurovision Song Contest
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2SC2Td8Z5j2mFnjSeJp60daQtQPSHOTy
Here are all the synthesizer and electronic music entries that have competed in Eurovision Song Contest.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Are you ‘tone deaf’? Watch this video to find out! (Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yrr5FgjWZk
Tomi Engdahl says:
Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll shows us how he keeps the classic sound of rave alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlWypTclec
Earlier this year rave pioneers Orbital – the British electronic duo made up of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll – returned with their first studio album in six years, Monsters Exist.
Whilst preparing for a string of live dates in the US and UK, Paul took the time to show us how he keeps the classic sound of rave alive with a combination of state-of-the-art samplers, classic synths and vintage gear.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Building a DIY Minimoog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PATlf0W3m7k
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:38 Oscillator Trade-Off
2:35 Ordering Parts
3:54 Component Matching
5:57 Board Assembly
7:14 Enclosure
8:16 Mounting & Wiring
10:54 First Test
12:07 Fixing Bugs
13:10 MIDI Controller
15:04 Tuning
15:37 Final Demonstration
18:22 Outro
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2023/02/06/soma-illuminator-lets-you-control-led-lights-with-your-modular-synthesizer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Watch Greg Phillinganes recreate Michael Jackson’s Thriller using the original synths
https://www.musicradar.com/news/thriller-synths-recreated-greg-phillinganes?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=musicradar
Tomi Engdahl says:
An Open Hardware Eurorack Compatible Audio FPGA Front End
https://hackaday.com/2023/02/13/an-open-hardware-eurorack-compatible-audio-fpga-front-end/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A DIY Synthesizer You Built From A Magazine – The Digisound 80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKylnRQhO4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Playing Shows With DIY Synthesizers goes wrong, a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovdgo6k4Cdc
PLAYING LIVE SHOWS WITH DIY SYNTHESIZERS
Tomi Engdahl says:
Turning an Old Toy into an Eurorack Drum Module
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epi7oyCP01A
Tomi Engdahl says:
Minimoog Fight: Behringer vs UAD vs Softube vs Arturia vs GForce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMexXfMtLQs
Who’s the cheap minimoog champion?
A shootout between the Behringer Model D, the UAD Moog Minimoog, the Softube Model 72, the Arturia Mini V3 and the GForce Minimonsta2. FIGHT!
0:00 Intro
0:30 Stage 1 – Funk Bass
1:50 Stage 2 – Detuned Saw
2:51 Stage 3 – Overdrive
4:14 Stage 4 – Filter Sweep
4:49 Stage 5 – FM
5:54 Conclusions
Tomi Engdahl says:
Korg Berlin shows off a prototype ‘acoustic synthesizer’
The Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 is the first instrument from Korg’s experimental R&D group.
https://www.engadget.com/korg-berlin-shows-off-a-prototype-acoustic-synthesizer-223023911.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://cdm.link/2023/06/conways-game-of-life-eurorack/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Olegtron 4060 MKII -signaaligeneraattori
https://www.verkkokauppa.com/fi/product/251768/Olegtron-4060-MKII-signaaligeneraattori?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpD5k4L2_wIV3guiAx0fGgMFEAQYBSABEgKE8PD_BwE
Vallankumouksellinen pöristin
Kompakti muotoilu
Made in Turku!
Olegtron 4060 on pieni mutta pippurinen signaali- ja sekvenssigeneraattori, joka on juuri niin monipuolinen kuin tahdot!
Olegtron 4060:n kytkentä perustuu CD4060-CMOS-piiriin, joka koostuu oskillaattorista ja kymmenen matalampaa oktaavia tuottavasta jakajasta. Piiri tuottaa siis useita eri taajuisia signaaleja, melodisista sävelistä rytmisiin naksahteluihin. Halutut signaalit yhdistetään komponenteilla tai jumpperijohdoilla laitteen 3,5mm stereoliittimeen, joka voidaan yhdistää esim. vahvistimeen, analogisyntetisaattoriin tai videomonitoriin. Liittämällä komponentteja laitteen käyttöliittymään, eri signaalien välille, niiden aiheuttama kuormitus saa laitteen tuottamat taajuudet ja signaalien voimakkuuden huojahtelemaan. Oskillaattorin kantataajuutta ja huojahtelun voimakkuutta säädetään kahdella potentiometrillä, FREQ ja STARVE. Kytkennät tehdään laitteen 4×40-pinnisen header-liittimen avulla.
Laitteen mukana toimitetaan monipuolinen komponenttilajitelma: vastuksia, kondensaattoreita, diodeja, transistoreja, valovastus, LEDejä sekä jumpperijohtoja. Kokeilun helpottamiseksi pienet kondensaattori ja vastukset on maalattu toiselta puolelta värikoodein.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Olegtron 4060 MK2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKQZ61FWc0U
Olegtron 4060 mk 2 Introduction – Part III, Sounds & Functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H46up-h4qCk
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2023/08/13/synthesis-technology-goes-out-in-style-with-free-firmware-update-open-sourcing-more/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Evolution of Electronic Music (1929 – 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqukyEC3qWM
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2023/09/17/rackblox-eurorack-case-system-is-free-open-source-will-hold-your-beer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
THE 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL SYNTHS OF ALL TIME
Oli Freke presents a synthesizer timeline
https://mixmag.net/feature/the-10-most-influential-synths-of-all-time