I’m thinking of buying a dotcom synth. I have a few questions though;
Can I use my Voyager as a controller?
Do dotcom modules play well with others like Wiard and Plan B? Are they all 1v/oct?
Can I put the aforementionned in a dotcom cabinet? Do they all need separate power supplies?
Thanks
Mos
Hi Mos -
Yes, you can use your Voyager as a controller. Just make sure that you have a VX-351 so that you have all of the necessary output (pitch, gate, etc.) I have three Voyagers that I use as controllers on my system. Plus, you can use the Voyager’s OSCs too, albeit up to all three at the same time.
Everything is 1v/oct. and other manufacturers do play well with each other. The two things that I found. First, you need to adapt the different cable size formats (through cables, convertors, etc.). Second, you may need to attenuate the signals between modules from different vendors in order to get signals to match. I have rarely needed to do the latter, but there are a few times when it is necessary.
As for the cabinet mounting, that is going to be tricky. Synthesizers.com systems are modeled after the original Moog modulars and use what is referred as a 5U size. Eurorack, Fracrack, etc. (Doepfer, Harvestman, Make Noise, etc) use 3U size. I am not too familiar with the actual size of Wiard, but I believe it is another size altogether. Some people have mounted different formats/sizes in the Synthesizers.com cases, however, you will need to modify blank plates and such. I personally just bought different casing for the 3U stuff I have. It would take me too much time for each module and it was cheaper for me to just buy another case. As for power, they are different depending on manufacturer. The Synthesizers.com and MOTM stuff is +15v, -15v, 5v. A lot of the other 3U size stuff is 12v, so you will either need separate power supplies or build your own converters. You then also need to consider that each manufacturer uses different power connectors. Some converters are available for some manufacturers.
But don’t let all of this scare you. 
Now is a great time to be buying a modular. There are so many great choices for modules. Better than ever, actually. I choose Synthesizers.com as my base format primarily because I prefer the 1/4" patch cords, nice module layout and spacing between knobs and switches, and easy repair and maintenance. If a pot goes bad, it is a standard part that is mounted directly to the panel, not the circuit board. Simply unplug the old one and plug in the new. Same goes for the jacks. Roger really designed these beasts well. My secondary reason for choosing them is because of the sound. They are very close in many respects to the original Moog modular sound. Closer than any other I have heard.
I have JUST NOW gotten intrigued by the eurorack format and its a real pain in the butt to try to integrate both formats, at least in my opinion.
There are only a few modules that Id like to have in that format but I really love the MOTM format the most. I like Big synths and 1/4th jacks.
Monorocket is just about to come out with an 84hp (full 19 inch 2 tier) rack shelf for about 250 dollars. I think the other cheapest way to get into a aurorack is to get the doepfer DIY case where they just sell you a power supply and therack rails and you build your own case.
DO NOT BUY ANYTHING PLAN B WHATSOEVER UNLESS YOU BUY FROM A DEALER THAT HAS UNITS IN STOCK. Lots of customers who were buying either never got their modules, never got their refund, never got their modules repaired or got defective modules. Peter Grenadea the founder of eargroup and plan b even held one persons module for ransom over an apology, asccording to one user.
It looked like a real ponzie scheme.
There IS one german distributor that sells a 19 inch 2 tier eurorack with rack ears for 29,95 euros. They can’t ship to the usa but im about to find a moog distributor or something in europe or germany and ask if they can order and semd me that rack. its just a power supply issue after that, that is the cheapest eurorack ive seen.
Eric
Thank you gents, you are truly wise. I’ve been trying to talk comrade Ivan out of his 2500 for 2 decades now while it sits in a warehouse, and I think it ain’t gonna happen. So I shall build my own modular.
The 2 things that have made me crap my pants recently are the Woggle Bug, and Plan B’s model 12 module. There just ain’t no way I’ll reproduce those sounds without going down this road.
The cabinet fabrication is nothing for me. Everything else you said, well, as soon as anyone says anything about electricity, it sounds like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons!
At risk of sounding like an idiot, I am totally obsessed with this sound, which I heard on a Buchla 40 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkJUO5IFE1E
If I understand correctly, this insanely fat pluck has less to do with a particular VCO and more to do with a Vactrol EG that bleeds a huge initial spike. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Whatever the case I MUST POSESS THIS SOUND!
So if I have a 351, can I just start purchasing modules (of course with a power supply) and get instant gratification, using the Voyager to fill in the missing modules until I buy them? Can I patch a Plan B EG in place of my Voyager EG and boink away to my heart’s content? This all sounds rather appealing to me.
So the bottom line is that I’m about to embark on a Homeric journey, just 'cause that giant bass pluck makes me pee myself. Any and all input from the modular peanut gallery is appreciated.
That is a great sound. It has a rubber band kind of quality to it.
If you buy plan B, be sure and buy it from bigcitymusic or analoghaven or some place where you don’t get on a waiting list.
I spent all day reading 39 pages full of disgruntled customers and reading peter grenadea himself insulting them calling them liars and such. Also one module was held for ransom over an apology.
People never got their modules back, never got their money back so beware.
Despite the ingenuity that is the plan b modules, use with caution.
Respectfully,
Eric
that pluck sound would be easy to get using compression, set the attack back all the way, let the release go as short as possible, crank the ratio around 6-10:1 and set threshhold to your desired level of pluckiness.
I’ve read all the bAd stuff about Plan B the company. I will certainly take your advice about the purchase
Eric. Let me know about the Eurorack from Germany. I’d like one or 2 too. I can probably get them from Germany with little fuss.
So what kind of plugs do the different eurorack mfgs use? God I hate banana plugs. I’d almost not buy something based on the type of plug.
I sent you a pm.
Eric
Some of them use banannas, some use 1/8th it really depends on the manufacturer.. I think power supply voltages, CV coltages and other things vary, but some power supplies like doepfer and the analog systems include on their power buss contact points for eachother because they understand people mix and match all the time.
I think this was the beginning of the headaches back in the early days of modular synthesis.
Eric
Hey Mos,
Lemme know how the dotcom system works out if you go that way.
Hope everyone’s well.
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving everyone! 
Oh yeah, one more thing,
Can anyone with a dotcom synth pm me or something and let me know what the quality control is like? I have a synth repair guru up here who said that the jacks weren’t a particularly high quality part, and that he had to put all new jacks on someone’s system… Thoughts???
Peter,
First, I am in no way affiliated with Dot.Com. I am a long time modular synth geek. 
I have an old Moog IIP which I bought in the early 70s.
I acquired a “baby brother” for her about 2 months ago, to use in my first solo recording project, a custom 66 space Dot.Com.
I have to say that every aspect of dealing with them, from their prompt response to my first e-mail contact, to their resolving a changed module decision, to discussions about placement, to the way they pack and ship (seriously, a work of art in itself), to just Roger and Margo’s general vibe have been a 100% pleasure. I’m really (REALLY) picky and a bit of a PITA when it comes to dealing with people (ask anyone who knows me…
) and my occupational training makes me a bit … well … aggressive by nature. But seriously, my dealings with Dot.Com have been a great experience.
The system is … well … pardon the vernacular … BITCHEN!. Their QC has, by my experience, been 100% perfect. Every single module worked as advertised and arrived properly calibrated.
I suppose if you are the type that violently yanks patchcords out of modules by the handful, then you might need to upgrade the 1/4" jacks, not to mention the aluminum faceplates and the studio cabinet mounting rails. But if you treat your equipment with due respect, I think this stuff will far outlast you…
Honestly, they make great sounding, very well built equipment and are a pleasure to deal with as well.
I agree 100% with the above statement.
Roger Arrick is great to deal with.
+1 on Roger and Margo. Some of my modules are 3 years old or more and still have no troubles.
If I hadn’t just bought a new Harley, I’d be adding another portable cabinet and a mess o’ modules.
What you seek is a lowpass gate and an AD envelope like the Maths or VCS.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/QMMG.html
If you’re interested in Buchla type sounds without the Buchla prices I’d recommend the eurorack format over others. While typical subtractive modules are well represented in eurorack there is also an abundance of buchlaesque modules available as well. It’s a very well rounded format and inexpensive. Plan B aside there are also a lot of reputable euro manufacturers that care about what they do.
Euro format uses 3.5mm plugs. I wish they used bananas. Banana plugs make patching individual sources to multiple destinations much easier and save a lot of space that would normally be taken up by multiples.
Bad news for the world of fake moogs. (foogs?) After much debate I decided to go Eurorack. Not nearly as cool looking, but there is just such a plethora of weird stuff I can buy in Eurorack.
lol you say that as if you are some kind of traitor lolol.
No actually I will have a small eurorack with my modular, starting with the Harvestman Polivox Filter and Zolorn Cannon.
Eric
Harvestman makes the coolest sh*t! Have you seen Tyme Safari? ;D