Open archetechture analogue synth

[Lux_Seeker]

It seems to me that one of the greatest synths ever made is the ARP 2600. OK, not a Moog but in many ways, it took the idea of a fixed patch between modules but also allowed for using patch cords as well.

The Moog CS-15, while a fixed archetechture, did allow for CV inputs.

The only real analogue synth with fixed archetechture now are the Voyager, the Litte Phatty and Prophet 08 which while it does have some digital elements, has an analogue signal path. Problem is, only one CV input which is not even as good as the Moog CS-15.

I know there is a small synth out there now with CV outs and ins and of course there is the Moogerfooger CP-251 control processor but by admission of the name, not really a full flown analogue synth.

The Voyager I know has the interface but I am not sure how extensive it is. I would love to see Moog make something more like the ARP 2600 that can be patches to foogers or other modules.

[Just Me]

Actually, a Voyager with a vx-351 and all it's internal mapping is nearly as flexable as a 2600. The lack is the LFO routing because the osc's could be made to be lfos and routed in multiples or through external effects. The 2 things it had that the Voyager doesn't have are built in envelope follower and ring mod.
I find my Voyager is extremly flexable and patchable. The thing I wish I could do with the Moog is to assign the CV inputs to individual wave shape or osc mod, etc instead of all 3 osc's at once.
The more you use the editing capabilities of the Voyager, the more unique things you will be able to do.

IE: On one patch The pitch bend wheel is adjusting filter resonance, the mod wheel is adjusting LFO rate and Depth of filter cutoff shaped by afterpressure. OSC3 modulates OSC1 pitch as an LFO while OSC2 is modulated by the pedal. Then further processing is done off board with the area of the touchpad changing waveshape and the X,Y coordinates controlling amplitude and overall pitch. (I was just trying to modulate everything with something to see what was possible.)

[latigid on]

Lux: it sounds like you are thinking of the Macbeth M5, now in its second revision (with a new-form modular on the way):



Just Me: you can assign mod busses to individual Osc controls, you just have to do it via pot mapping (very easy to set up). This won't work if you have an Old School, of course.

[Lux_Seeker]

The MacBeth looks nice. Truth be told, I went a bit fooger crazy, not that I regret it, but I will have to live with what I have at least till years end now. Clearly, the MacBeth is modelled after the ARP 2600. I also am glad to here the Voyager is so flexible but looking at the VX-352 expander, I just don't see nearly the flexiblity of, lets say, the MacBeth for example.

In a year or so I will probably buy a modular. Probably mix and match from Doepfer, CWejman, Plan B, Cynthia and perhaps "analogue systems" euro rack.

Frankly, just rooting my foogers (4 and a CP-251) has made me realize the power of control voltage. Mind you, I have a Korg M3 which is a great synth. If you want to modulate things with its modulation mixer it has incredible possiblities and an analogue emulated synth (the Radius) integrated into th system. I still love it. But that being said, there is also something to be said for analogue and more so that that, the ciombination of digital and analogue and with a few patch bays, one can have the best of both worlds.

If I had more money, I would get a Voyager and the expander and don't get me wrong, I like this instrument I really do, but a full blown modular integrated with my digital stuff is going to give me a flexibility that the Voyager, even expanded, can't touch.

[MarkM]

From the samples I have heard, the MacBeth doesn't sound like an Arp. It sounds more Moogish. However, it's user interface does resemble the Arp.

[Anna's Digit]

Lux: it sounds like you are thinking of the Macbeth M5, now in its second revision (with a new-form modular on the way):



Just Me: you can assign mod busses to individual Osc controls, you just have to do it via pot mapping (very easy to set up). This won't work if you have an Old School, of course.

far out !, beyond my budget by miles but what a sexy contemporary modular .

[Lux_Seeker]

Sound would largely be determined by filters but clearly, the layout and I suspect archetechture is clearly modelled after the ARP 2600.

[nicholas d. kent]

First off what is a Moog CS-15? Seems like a typo or are you talking about one of those custom built systems the First Moog Quartet had 40 years ago and Emerson bought a used one of. But I doubt it.

If you are talking about a Yamaha CS-15 then I guess it's not so unique in terms of your singling iit out though certainly a nice partly forgotten synth along with the bigger CS-30 adding some more features and some smaller relatives.

One thing that can be said about the Macbeth (and to a fair extent the 2600 that partly inspired it) is it's very mixer-oriented. On a typical modular built from individual modules you' typically (or hopefully) have a couple mixers that you'd patch in where needed whereas on the M5 you have these nice large sliders at all the major inputs ready to mix in a bunch of modulation sources as well as capabilities to patch things differently.

It is worth noting that while the look has some 2600 vibes to it and the sound is already mentioned as not that close I thought I should add that it's big. You can figure it's a bit bigger than an Arp, but for better or worse it does make the 2600 look very small in comparison.

Another interesting synth to look at and perhaps emulate is the Wiard. While it's certainly a modular, what many people are unaware of is many systems were configured to have normalized patching (like the 2600, MS20, etc to a degree). The concept isn't too hard to apply to many non-banana jack systems because jacks are available that make a normalized connection when there is nothing patched in them, so it's certainly feasible with if there is a desire to do that and you aren't wanting to change your module order around all the time.

[Lux_Seeker]

First, I meant to say Yamah CS-15, sorry for the mistake.

In many ways, a totally integrated synth is very desirable. Although it is very pricey and a bit of a large footprint. I don't have that much space.

I have thought also about a Moog Voyager with the Expander although it seems rather limited even with the expander with few CV outs and ins although I do like the idea of everthing being in one unit expecially integrated with MIDI and a common modulation bus.

The advantage of buying a non integrated modular over these options is the ability to mix and match especially something like the Eurorack format that has many different options.

[CTRLSHFT]

First, I meant to say Yamah CS-15, sorry for the mistake.

In many ways, a totally integrated synth is very desirable. Although it is very pricey and a bit of a large footprint. I don't have that much space.

I have thought also about a Moog Voyager with the Expander although it seems rather limited even with the expander with few CV outs and ins although I do like the idea of everthing being in one unit expecially integrated with MIDI and a common modulation bus.

The advantage of buying a non integrated modular over these options is the ability to mix and match especially something like the Eurorack format that has many different options.

nod nod, making one's own Frankensynth means you can customize your modular down to personal preference of "attitude" with filters and different osc flavors, amongst an array of other goodies.

a fully integrated synth on the other hand will always sound like that synth, with maybe the exception of the Studio Electronics synths that you can swap filter cards out on.

Now, that's not to say with a fully integrated modular you can't buy other external filters, but I there's still something to be said about building your own modular from the ''ground, up" so to speak.

[Lux_Seeker]

If I were going to invest this is probably the way I would go. While not an analogue synth, I have a Korg M3 which is very nicely integrated but it does not have the sonic range and experimental flavor of building my own modular. A smal modular mostly to process signals would do nicely for me and complement my foogers.