Has anyone used one of their modulars? I’ve been on the fence about it for a while, but I’ve never seen one before, nor do I know anyone who owns one.
Im curious about the build quality of their stuff and customer service. I’ve heard stories of modular makers taking forever from purchase to delivery, so Im curious if the dotcom stuff falls into that category? Or would I have confidence that I’ll get a module in a relatively short period of time after purchasing… How are they with staying in tune? Obviously I am aware that going into modular territory will result in issues like that…
I own a few of their modules which I bought used. They are built very well, the controls feel nice, and the performance is great. I haven’t noticed any tuning issues, other than a slight error when using the range switch in the highest octave setting. All that’s required is a slight tweak to the fine tune knob to get it back in tune. There is an inexpensive upgrade to fix this issue. IIRC, it just plugs in (no soldering).
I bought a couple of extra modules new, and they shipped quickly. If you bought a fully stocked cabinet, it might take them awhile to assemble it. You can always email them to ask, and I’m sure you’d get a straight-forward answer.
I’ve read a LOT of positive feedback over the years from various owners about Synthesizers.com and how nice they treat their customers. Great customer service is something that is sorely lacking in many companies these days. It’s nice to see that they’re not one of them! To keep this on-topic, I made a small purchase with Moog a couple of years back and also could not be happier. There was a mixup in my order, and not only did they correct it with no hassle, I even got some freebies thrown in with my order.
I bought some blank panels, a rack frame and their q119 with the Power supply to support 8 modules. It works very well, was packed like an absolute master and I love it.
The best way to describe the construction of my module is “store bought DIY”. Like mentioned above, some of the componants you can just pop in and out, like you can push the LED through the hole in the panel. The only other module that I have ever owned that I could compare the quality was an exact NOS Moog clone 921a Oscillator Driver. The Moog clone was built like a tank but this I don’t think could detract from the quality of the Dotcom stuff. The pots feel good, the jacks feel sturdy and it works great.
Buy with confidence!
FWIW, I sold my 921a to buy that sequencer, and I will buy more dotcom modules in the future.
Dot.com is the best in customer service and value. There are fancier items out there, but they come at a cost in time and money. I have bought used DotCom modules and Roger has still repaired them free when I damaged them. Cant beat that with a stick. Just watch out as modulars are a deep rabbit hole! I started with a Cp-251 nand Vx-351. Then a simple 11 module modular for processing. Less than 2 years later I’m at 88 spaces filled.
Yeah, im trying to be careful and not become addicted to the drug.. haha. All I really want with my current set up is a couple more envelope generators.. I think it would have been cool to have a 3rd EG on the voyager for modulation instead of the touch surface… Im glad to hear that the dotcom stuff is good. I think i’ll have the make the plunge soon. Going to do their intro plan. I can afford that after just getting a voyager a couple months ago haha!
To Just Me: for the money and time you invested in all this equipment, you’re entitled to showing off !
And thanks for making me salivating all over my computer keyboard…
Oh my! Thats quite a bit of stuff! I take pride in all that I own also! For me it all started with the little phatty. I was on the fence for so long about buying it, but once i did, my eyes were opened… No so much for the sound (it took me a lot longer to learn how to program it), but for me it was the “I have physical knobs that I dont have to assign to a parameter!? AWESOME!” I bought the phatty with the CV out mod (because everyone said to), so after i started futzing with the CV outs to the inputs I was like “I MUST GET MOAR CV NOWWW!” so i dove into some foogers… then a voyager… now thinking dotcom.. it might not end… I actually bought the voyager over the prophet because i have so much CV already i would have felt sad if it didnt integrate…
I think i’ll have to finish my Midi to CV interface before i start buying modules though…
I use dot com equipment.
The build quality is good. Quite good actually. Not bullet proof like MacBeth, but who shoots at their synth gear?
Shipping is fast. Responds to email is fast.
I had a module that I plugged in wrong. I put the power supply to the wrong pin and fried the main chip in my Q119 sequencer.
I emailed Roger and explained what I did to fry his product. He offered to fix it for me at the cost of shipping, or since I am confident in replacing an IC that is in a socket, I opted to do it myself. He shipped me the IC chip next day air.
I was up in running so fast that I still cannot believe it.
Needless to say I am more careful when I have to unplug my modules.
It is nice knowing that Roger stands behind his products 100% all the time no matter what.
When you get a quote for purchase, he will tell you lead time.
No worries with dot com.
Excellent. Sounds like a good guy to work with. I had emailed him a while back with a couple technical questions, and I do remember him being very quick to respond.
I have a shopping list all made up for Home Depot, so I can build a custom 32 space cabinet following the instructions on the synthesizers.com DIY page. I am also making my own cables for really cheap using cable and 1/4" plugs from Parts Express. Then, I will buy a power supply, cable harness, and Q137. One item per pay period until I build a 3 oscillator monster!
I went from having around 28U of Dotcom (in one of their 44U slant cabinets) only 18 months ago to having three cabinets and 88U of MU-format modules. Granted they aren’t all Dotcom, but a good two-thirds of them are. The pros of Dotcom are obvious:
Tremendously good value modules
Top-notch customer service
Excellent reliability
A real focus on providing detailed datasheets and other important resources online
They meet their forecast shipping dates (something that cannot be said for a lot of modular vendors)
Actually I’ve outgrown those 88 spaces. But that brings me to one of their drawbacks: the cabinets are very well constructed but not particularly good value (unlike the modules). So I went into business building and selling low cost cabinets for those who don’t need something pretty, but who do want to save their money to spend on additional modules. (PM me if you want more details… I don’t want to come across as a spammer).
If there’s one other downside to Dotcom it’s that they don’t put a lot of emphasis on functional density. Something like their Ring Modulator unit is an exercise in frustration, because the front panel has only three jacks. No knobs, no switches, no buttons. About 2/3 of that panel is wasted space. Other modules like Reverb and Noise Source are almost as bad. I know this is in keeping with the MU ethos of not cramming tremendous amounts into tiny packages (a la Euro and Buchla), but it’s possible they swung too far the other way. They also never released a dedicated LFO, which is bizarre in the extreme. Fortunately the aftermarket takes care of this quite well.
Don’t let that dissuade you though. They are a fantastic company to deal with and there is a burgeoning resale and aftermarket so you can often pick up excellent condition used modules for 30-50% off list.
I have a fully packed 66 space DotCom along w/ my IIP. I expect another few cabinets will be in my future… Roger’s customer service is second to none. I’ve had 0 problems with the DotCom. I agree that their functional density could be a bit better, but its not really a problem. Knobs and switches all feel good. Many modules have internal jumpers so you can set additional functions, or if you’re a DIY guy, you can add extra switches or knobs for more functionallity. Only warning is what you’vre read above… modular is the crack of the synthesist… consider yourself warned (and I mean that in a good way…)
88!!! Yikes… Can you please tell me what do all of those modules do? - …above and beyond the VX-351, CP-251 and MoogerFooger boxes connected to Voyager & Slim Phatty?
I am thrilled with the results I’m getting with the MFs, the CP/VX expanders Voyager & Slim.. also I am quite thrilled with the results I’m getting with other older analog gear Hammond, Clav, Fender Rhodes etc filtering through these same modules… and misc. FX pedals… but very curious about extending the “modularity” …
What does the modular do??? Wow, that is rough to answer
The short answer is it allows me to route anything, anywhere. I can modulate (even at audio rates!) just about anything. I can get timbres that preset or “normalized” can’t approach.
Depends on the modular system, really. That’s part of the fun.
On mine there are three different sequencers, for example: a suite of STG Time modules that control both voltages and gates, a Q119 (Dotcom’s “new” sequencer design), a Q960 (essentially a reissue of the old Moog 960). Each has different strengths and weaknesses. For example you can’t control individual gate length on the Q119 (not internally at least) but it can do things like chain 24 steps without the use of an external module, operate in radom mode, etc. One doesn’t need all three (and indeed there are models by companies like Moon Modular that do other things still) so it’s nice to have the variety. Some people don’t want or need any sequencers whatsoever though. You don’t need to be constrained with a modular’s feature set.
Similarly, I have several filters because they all have different characteristics. Dotcom only sells a few: a Moog-inspired ladder filter, a multimode, and a fixed filter bank. But I also have filters from other vendors: an ARP-inspired lowpass, an EMS-style lowpass, a Polymoog three-band clone, a lowpass gate, a copy of the Steiner Synthacon, and a couple of others.
Some people like lots of LFOs. Others wants many and complex envelope generators, or need plenty of VCAs to allow dynamic control over other control signals. Some chase polyphony, while others want a lot of Chowning style FM capability, or wavetable capability, or just to use the thing as a giant FX processor for their guitar. That’s the joy of modulars: you chase the feature set that works for you.
Having played several very large modulars, I find that description to be perfect.
It is much harder that many people imagine to get a modular to play well polyphonically.
The Oberheim SEM based polyphonics are rather special in their ability to intonate well despite no autotune.
I’ve tried it with Moogs, Polyfusions, Roland 100ms and other true modulars and it can drive you mad attempting triads or beyond.
This could almost be called a sickness… Meaning that this modular must be sick ! 
