What Modular system did you go with and why?

[shadowfac]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

But there's no such thing as a polyphonic CV device, remember!?

Sorry, but you're wrong.

The Kenton Pro 2000 can output up to 5 CV/Gate pairs in polyphonic mode:

Kenton MIDI to CV converter, Pro-2000 mkII, High spec, very accurate, 16 bit DACs

I'm sure there are other converters that can do similar things. Doepfer, maybe?

[chrisso]

Aaaaaargh.

(head explodes)

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by shadowfac

Sorry, but you're wrong.

It was a joke.
Hence the

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by shadowfac

Sorry, but you're wrong.

The Kenton Pro 2000 can output up to 5 CV/Gate pairs in polyphonic mode:

Kenton MIDI to CV converter, Pro-2000 mkII, High spec, very accurate, 16 bit DACs

I'm sure there are other converters that can do similar things. Doepfer, maybe?

I'm sorry, I should have clarified: it was a reference to another thread where there was just this really silly argument about whether or not there was such a thing as polyphonic CV synth and if not, how come there are polyphonic CV converters. ...it just got really retarded really quickly.

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by chrisso

Aaaaaargh.

(head explodes)

You know, between this and your responses in Keybrdwiz's latest thread, I can't help but wonder if I'm rubbing off on you. If so... I feel bad, and I'm sorry!!!

[shadowfac]

Originally Posted by chrisso

It was a joke.
Hence the

Oh, I apologize, then.

In any case, those Kenton converters look real good. I ought to get one someday.

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

I can't help but wonder if I'm rubbing off on you.

Don't flatter yourself.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Thanks for the late answers.

Im still not convinced about that polyphonic issue. I mean, for example, with the ober sems I know you really have to replicate every osc.

But in the ps 3300 there are 48 osc, and I dont see 48 individual osc controls. I never had one in my hands but ive seen some patches being made on youtube and Im pretty sure there weren't 48 pitch, wave, tune, etc... controls.

YouTube - Gaetano Di Giorgio plays Korg PS 3200


About that studio modular sugestion: I was thinking on a more easy to get system. The moog is too expensive and too hard to find.

I was thinking wiard, serge, blacet?, that GS sugestion, etc. I would like to use it for rythm programing, bass and some dense and atmospheric "pads". I would be happy with 3 or 4 voices, even if I´d start monophonic. I just want to be sure it will be possible to reach polyphonic if I want to, someday.

Oh, and is it just me or is the wiard homepage completly unreadable and the with the same horrible layout for years. It doesnt inspire you that much to spend that much money on...

Thanks

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

But in the ps 3300 there are 48 osc, and I dont see 48 individual osc controls. I never had one in my hands but ive seen some patches being made on youtube and Im pretty sure there weren't 48 pitch, wave, tune, etc... controls.

That's because there was only one control that controlled all of the oscillators, and each of the oscillators, filters, etc. was assigned to a different key. They had to do it this way because nobody had thought of dynamic voice allocation yet.

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

I was thinking wiard, serge, blacet?, that GS sugestion, etc. I would like to use it for rythm programing, bass and some dense and atmospheric "pads".

Not sure about Wiard or Blacet, but bass is not a Serge forte, although bass sounds can be made. Atmospheric pads would definitely be possible, although in my experience it takes a lot of modules and a lot of hard work to create pads as atmospheric and evolving as many soft synths. But when you do create an atmospheric pad on a Serge, it can be something special, especially as you created it.
I find the best way to gain flexibility is to mix two systems.
For example, Serge (banana) is great at off beat patches, ModCan (also banana) has plenty of mainstream modules (like Moog style filters), as well as some out there modules of it's own.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

That's because there was only one control that controlled all of the oscillators, and each of the oscillators, filters, etc. was assigned to a different key. They had to do it this way because nobody had thought of dynamic voice allocation yet.

Ok. now that makes sense. So we dont actually have to duplicate 48 osc settings. Also I think that is related to the semi modular structure.

How about a little help choosing a system? What would you get?

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Originally Posted by chrisso

I find the best way to gain flexibility is to mix two systems.
For example, Serge (banana) is great at off beat patches, ModCan (also banana) has plenty of mainstream modules (like Moog style filters), as well as some out there modules of it's own.

Thanks. Ill look into ModCan.

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

Ok. now that makes sense. So we dont actually have to duplicate 48 osc settings. Also I think that is related to the semi modular structure.

How about a little help choosing a system? What would you get?

My system is mostly still in the planning stage, but I'm building a hybrid system: I'm using a Dot Com for the foundation (using it for all of the basics, VCO's, Filters, VCA's, Envelopes, etc.) because it's a replication of the Moog system, and the true Moog flavor isn't something that I currently have in my arsenal. From there, I'm getting a small Eurorack so I can just grab random modules to throw in as I please (the more unusual) and then I'm getting a Paia 9700 series so I can sharpen up my soldering skills (I've only used a 4700 series Paia which I liked, but I haven't heard anything good about the 9700 so that's why it's just for soldering until I have some firsthand experience with it.) In the end though, my opinion doesn't really count for much though, because I'm rather pessimistic as to how much I'll actually use the modular so I'm seeing it as an ever-evolving toy.

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

But in the ps 3300 there are 48 osc, and I dont see 48 individual osc controls. I never had one in my hands but ive seen some patches being made on youtube and Im pretty sure there weren't 48 pitch, wave, tune, etc... controls.

There are NOT 48 oscillators in a PS-3300. The correct number is 36 (3 x 12). The PS-3100 has 12 and the PS-3200 has 24.

The rest of the notes are done with octave dividers. The tuning knob tunes all 12-oscillators at the same time. Then each of the 12 osc can be tuned separate. If there would be some kind of oscillator control, you only could control all Cs (or C#s, Ds etc.) at the same time. Any kind of MIDI interface for a PS-Series synth only controls the Gate and NOT the CV. There are 48 gates, one for each voice.

You can pitch modulate an oscillator on a PS, but you will control all of the 12 (half-notes) at the same time. This kind of technolgy is usually used in low-end home organs. At first this sounds very limiting, but trust me: The PS-3x00 is one wicked piece of equipment.

[chrisso]

It looks darn wicked, but too expensive for me right now.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

seen-da-sizer, thanks for your input on this. SO i guess vintagesynth got it wrong then;

"The PS-3300 is like having 3 stacked PS-3100s with a built-in mixer module. The PS-3300 loves the number 48 - 48 voice polyphony, 48 VCOs, 48 VCFs and 48 VCAs! That would make this one of the largest and fattest compact synthesizer systems around! Each note on the keyboard has microtonal tunings"

I would love to have a ps3300. I do love the timbre amd the power of my ms20...

But I would like to get a synth in my life time so I guess the ps3300 is out of the question. expensive and rare.

DivineChemical, thanks for your tips. ill look into it.

What about the wiard? Does anybody have one?

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

How about a little help choosing a system?

Check these sites out as well;

modularsynth.net :: Index

electro-music.com :: View Forum - Modular Synthesis


Lots of great modular conversation!

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

seen-da-sizer, thanks for your input on this. SO i guess vintagesynth got it wrong then;

And Wikipedia and many others too..

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

"The PS-3300 is like having 3 stacked PS-3100s with a built-in mixer module. The PS-3300 loves the number 48 - 48 voice polyphony, 48 VCOs, 48 VCFs and 48 VCAs!"

You may say that there are 12 VCOs per 3100 unit. In using the frequency dividers you get the 48 but only "O"s.

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

I would love to have a ps3300. I do love the timbre amd the power of my ms20...

It took me 10 years to track one down! And that was a while ago, before the big analog hype. I saw the last one for sale few years back on E-Bay. That was not a very smart seller to put on a BIN of $12K. That thing was gone in less than 24 hours.

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

But I would like to get a synth in my life time so I guess the ps3300 is out of the question. expensive and rare.

Years ago there was an interview with the Korg CEO in the US Keyboards Magazine. There he revealed that there have been maybe 40-50 PS-3300 units produced. Anyone who at this point still says that the Mini Moog is a collectors item must be out of his/her mind.

[Beermaster]

First just to correct an earlier comment ( and a very common mistake ):

A PS 3200 is not a 3100 x 2 ! - Its still a 12 voice architecture much the same as a PS3100 but with the big memory storage computer. It actually has loses a function of the PS3100 ( I think its the ensemble effect ? )

I was very close to buying a 3300 last year but after long discussions with UKs best tech ( who happen to have two 3300s being repaired......... a LOoooooonng time process )

The overall impression I got from people who've had them is that although many hail them as the ultimate polysynths there is however a bit of a myth about how they sound. Both of the guys I talked to described the sound as 'thin' and not powerful in a Memorymoog type way. Both however said that they were glossy and unique, but probably mainly due to the 'ensemble' effect/filter ( which is available as a modular unit from MOTM and others ). The PS range also have some weird 'quirk's ( or bloody strange control issues ) - for example changing the attack stage of an EG alters the Decay settings !

The BIG issues are that the circuit boards themselves which are not coated in conventional protective layers and hundreds of electrolytic caps that erode leaking a highly corrosive gel everywhere - this eats in to the un-protected tracks on the board making it very expensive and difficult to repair. - A lot of months of work with a very experienced Tech ... not cheap.

I decided at the last minute that having weighed up these cons and having a less than glowing report from the owners I spoke to, to turn down the unit I was offered.

Beer

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Beermaster

I decided at the last minute that having weighed up these cons and having a less than glowing report from the owners I spoke to, to turn down the unit I was offered.

Ha, ha. having read that I'm not surprised.
I investigated the PS series in the mid-90's and came up with the same comments on sound - not the best sounding polyphonic synth, I was told by two very experienced dealers.
If they had been cheaper I might have bought one to investigate for myself.

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by Beermaster

A PS 3200 is not a 3100 x 2 ! - Its still a 12 voice architecture much the same as a PS3100 but with the big memory storage computer. It actually has loses a function of the PS3100 ( I think its the ensemble effect ? )

The major difference between the PS-3100/3300 and a PS-3200 are the missing Resonators. Instead the PS-3200 got a 7 band EQ. Korg had to simplify its design to support the preset function that the 3200 has. The PS-3200 sounds very different than the other two. However there are 48 Voices. The architecture is 2 x 12 VCO with octave dividers. You may count them as 96 pseudo oscillators.

Originally Posted by Beermaster

I was very close to buying a 3300 last year but after long discussions with UKs best tech ( who happen to have two 3300s being repaired......... a LOoooooonng time process )

Agree, I just repaired mine. It took me a while. Also they need to be tuned every once a while. Maybe an effect of aging capacitors.

Originally Posted by Beermaster

The overall impression I got from people who've had them is that although many hail them as the ultimate polysynths there is however a bit of a myth about how they sound. Both of the guys I talked to described the sound as 'thin' and not powerful in a Memorymoog type way. Both however said that they were glossy and unique, but probably mainly due to the 'ensemble' effect/filter ( which is available as a modular unit from MOTM and others ). The PS range also have some weird 'quirk's ( or bloody strange control issues ) - for example changing the attack stage of an EG alters the Decay settings !

The PS-3300 sounds nothing like a Memory Moog. If you want that MM sound you need to buy the Moog.

Originally Posted by Beermaster

The BIG issues are that the circuit boards themselves which are not coated in conventional protective layers and hundreds of electrolytic caps that erode leaking a highly corrosive gel everywhere - this eats in to the un-protected tracks on the board making it very expensive and difficult to repair. - A lot of months of work with a very experienced Tech ... not cheap.

That is just one of the problem. The bigger issues are with the sockets for the PCB boards. The plastic has an issue getting extremely hard and then it breaks. My 3300 sounded always flat compared to the PS-3100. Finally I replace all of mine. That is close to 1000 wires you have to re-solder. It took me two weeks to replace all of them. Now it sounds great. My next project is to recap the entire synth.

From all of the PS-Series, I believe the PS-3100 is the best. But don't expect an usual poly synth. These are better used for experimental sounds. The PS-3200 is a great string machine. Not so good for experimenting. What about the big guy? Yes it is 3x the 3100, but I don't think is it three times better. Still I love mine!

One more thing: If you are looking for a modular synth, don't look at the PS-Series. The PSs are semi-modular at most. Due to the full polyphony, Korg had to cut corners and simplify circuitry. Never mind this thread's name, I only wanted to clarify their Voice/VCO structure.

[i604]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

*sound of money being sucked out of bank account fills the air*

Out of Topic: Could you please provide a sample of this