Age old dilemma...

System 55 • System 35 • Model 15
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dingebre
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Age old dilemma...

Post by dingebre » Fri Apr 08, 2016 11:44 pm

I'm adding VCOs, VCAs, and/or EGs to a Model 15 in an 8 space cabinet on top. I have 8 spaces I can use and also want to add a pair of VCAs and one or two envelope generators. which leaves me with 4 or 5 spaces for VCOs. What is the most useful? Two 921s? A 921 with a 921A and a pair of 921Bs? No 921 and a 921A and two or three 921Bs? Something else? Maybe two 921As with two 921Bs each. That leaves one more VCA and one more Envelope generator.

I noted the 35 and 55 add more 921As and 921Bs and not more 921s. I get more VCOs in the same space if I go with the 921A and 921Bs. I get independent VCOs with 2 separate 921s. Share your thoughts, please!

For the sake of this conversation and question, I don't need other modules. I have those covered with my own cloned designs or other clones from other sources.

David
David

http://analoguerealities.com
http://analoguerealities.blogspot.com

Rezin
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by Rezin » Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:35 am

Just curious- what do you have now? IMO, the more oscillators and filters the better (though I'm sure others will differ in opinion here :) )

Keep up the good work!

Best,

~Rezin
++

[Jesus loves ya.]

Synth photos: https://www.flickr.com/people/136277463@N07/

EricK
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by EricK » Sat Apr 09, 2016 4:41 pm

What do you feel like you are lacking that precipitated you to expand? In other words, What do you want to accomplish with the extra modules?

On one or two of the demos of the Moog 15 from NAMM, the guy kept referring to the 921Bs as "utility oscillators" which was so annoying. He looked at how cool the 921 looks and just assumed that it was the main oscillator. But it goes down to .01Hz as opposed to the .1Hz of the 921b, meaning that the 921 is better suited to be the "utility oscillator" since it performs the wave clamping and the LFO duties. This is why you see the 35 and the 55 expanding with banks of AB combos. They also counter that with more VCAs so they can get more voices.

So you are wanting an extra voice, and you have a 15 already? And you don't want anything but oscs envgens and vcas? No filters?


If I had a model 15 I'd want a second voice in there, but that's hard to squeeze in 8 spaces.

You don't have to limit to 3 921bs from 1 A. You might be better off with a 921ABBBBB 911, 902.

Or consider the 901AB combo for the different flavor.

Please show us some pics!


Eric
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dingebre
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by dingebre » Sun Apr 10, 2016 4:53 am

Rezin wrote:Just curious- what do you have now? IMO, the more oscillators and filters the better (though I'm sure others will differ in opinion here :) )

Keep up the good work!

Best,

~Rezin
Thanks. The best answer is to give you a link to my web site, http://analoguerealities.com/my-studio/

The foundation is a Steiner-Parker Synthasystem from PCBs I re-did with a ton of help from Nyle. It's complemented by some other Moog gear, COTK, MOS-LAB, DOT COM, my own Moog clones (inductor and GIC based 914 clones, CP3, 984, and dual trigger delay), and some designs by others.

David
David

http://analoguerealities.com
http://analoguerealities.blogspot.com

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dingebre
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by dingebre » Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:16 am

EricK wrote:What do you feel like you are lacking that precipitated you to expand? In other words, What do you want to accomplish with the extra modules?

On one or two of the demos of the Moog 15 from NAMM, the guy kept referring to the 921Bs as "utility oscillators" which was so annoying. He looked at how cool the 921 looks and just assumed that it was the main oscillator. But it goes down to .01Hz as opposed to the .1Hz of the 921b, meaning that the 921 is better suited to be the "utility oscillator" since it performs the wave clamping and the LFO duties. This is why you see the 35 and the 55 expanding with banks of AB combos. They also counter that with more VCAs so they can get more voices.

So you are wanting an extra voice, and you have a 15 already? And you don't want anything but oscs envgens and vcas? No filters?


If I had a model 15 I'd want a second voice in there, but that's hard to squeeze in 8 spaces.

You don't have to limit to 3 921bs from 1 A. You might be better off with a 921ABBBBB 911, 902.

Or consider the 901AB combo for the different flavor.

Please show us some pics!


Eric
Hi Eric,

Here's a link to my web site: http://analoguerealities.com/my-studio/

You ask an excellent question. I don't know that I'm lacking anything really. Truth be told, I really didn't need the Model 15. The expansion stems more from a desire to expand possibilities. If you look at the web site, you'll see I have plenty of VCFs, VCAs, VCOs, EGs, sequencers, utility modules, etc.

This all boils down to a teenage dream of owning a Moog modular and knowing there was no way a 16 year old would be able to afford the most modest system let alone a System 55. My mid-life crisis in full bloom, Instead of a motorcycle or any number of other things guys do for their mid life crises, I went back to my inner teenager and starting building synthesizer modules again. The Model 15 was a fulfillment of the last part of the crisis by owning an extremely capable Moog modular synthesizer. The Model 15 provided a way to have an excellent voice, every bit as capable as the Minimoog and more with the patching, the 907, etc. But, it just seems that a few extra VCOs, VCAs, EGs, would open up some more sonic capabilities and with some of the excellent clones out there, (COTK and MOS-LAB come to mind) and the other Moog clones I've either built or purchased, I can effectively build a System 35 for about $10,000.00 less than a full System 35.

Your suggestion about the 921A with 5 Bs, VCA and EG is one I'm looking at hard. Thanks for the comments.

David
David

http://analoguerealities.com
http://analoguerealities.blogspot.com

EricK
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by EricK » Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:49 am

I did check out your blog and wow you do have quite a lot going on there and I love your cabinetry.


I know exactly what you mean about the System 15. In 2004 all arrows for me were indicating that a Moog modular was the only way to go. Modusonics was still in business then, and if you aren’t aware, he had acquired all of the original Moog Music inventory and was one of the main engineers of the Custom Engineering department. Ordering from him was like going back in time and ordering a modular off the shelf from the original factory. Coincidentally, it was his film stock which allowed the current line of modulars to be possible.

I was looking at the 15 (He was charging $13,830) and I purchased a 921a but I never could afford the b and after several years he went out of business and I sold my 921a and bought a dotcom q119.

Sebastien received an order from me right before they announced the EMMS, and right when he was about to ship my modules they announced their smaller systems. I made inquiries if they were ever going to sell individual modules (the 907a was/is on my wish list) but the answer was always no. So I bought a Model D and placed a larger order which is going to arrive in a few days. I’m also having four custom 11u wide portable cabinets built and when all of that arrives my system will look like this:

Image

It's a combination of a IIIp and a 55 with some extra stuff thrown in there from dotcom and some diy utility rails (not shown on the modulargrid image).

Once that is filled I’m not expanding beyond it. It’s just getting ridiculous.
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Vsyevolod
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Re: Age old dilemma...

Post by Vsyevolod » Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:01 pm

EricK wrote:Once that is filled I’m not expanding beyond it. It’s just getting ridiculous.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say...

(ducking)

Stephen




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