New toys arrive tomorrow

I'm not jealous or anything. :-P

It's more like I am getting really enthused about the availability of new analog synths.
 
These boxes are miniaturized analog circuits inspired by the early 1980's Roland stuff. They are also relatively cheap... and I was quoted a nice pre order discount price last May and just actually paid for them last week.
 
I've been into synths since I was 10 years old. When the Roland stuff was hot I was 20ish but I couldn't afford it. Now that same Roland stuff is fetching collector prices and I choose not to afford it. I'm kind of excited that a couple manufacturers are using modern cost saving construction, digital tuning and other control, and all analog sound paths in relatively affordable gear.
 
I'm excited to be able to get back to making synth sounds with out sitting in front of a computer... and even more excited to be able to share them with guests.
 
As an aside, I've considered my electric guitar pedal board a modular synthesizer for about as long as I can remember.
 
all the best,
mike
 

Wow, those sure bring back some memories.. That I can't seem to remember.

mike_mccue
Did you ever visit the "New Wave Lounge" on the Ft Liqourdale strip?
 
;-)

Don't recall actually Mike. They closed 27 years ago according to google. so, it's all a little blurry......:)
Last time I was down that way was to see Larry Carlton at a little club. 2003 or so.
 

Like this?
 

 
So, it seems like these devices barely come with any instructions. You get a 24x48+/- sheet of paper with small type so you can't see what language you are not able to read.
 
I downloaded the .pdfs and they weren't much easier to view because of the huge formatting. I decided to edit the .pdf so I could eliminate the redundant language content and format the English info onto a page I can print. That is when I found out the .pdfs were password protected with 128 bit encrypted passwords.
 
So, that's when I learned how easy it is to break a 128bit password these days. I had 3 .pdfs and each took less than 3 minutes to get full access to. Crazy... I remember when 128bit was "impossible" to get past.
 
The instructions are not very helpful. They say things like "The knob labeled EGF is the the EGF knob".
 
Most of the fan and review videos are similar and they wind up with someone making some sort of unlistenable demo sequence with all sorts of chirps, sputters, and slides.
 
Never the less, I am wrapping my head around the idea of programming my own sequences into the memory banks so that I may call up sequences that seem related to each other and craft a "comp" of mashed up bars.
 
It is fun. last night I showed my wife how I can wave my arms in the air in between button pushes and look like I know what I am doing. :-) She laughed.
 
The units came with memory presets that are all over the place and none seem to relate to each other. I guess that is good because it forces you to make your own which will help prevent a situation where everyone around the globe is using the exact same sequences.
 
So, now I am scheming up a series of sequences for the Bass rig and I hope to be able to craft a series of them on the keys rig that are in the same song key.
 
It's been really fun to get back to basic building blocks like this and move my head out of the space it's been in the past year.
 
I think I will write up the step sequences in SONAR and then play them into the Volca while it is in record mode. Then I can store each sequence in memory. Using SONAR will give me the opportunity to "manage" and "curate" a set of sequences efficiently so that I can be sure they are all related. I am thinking that maybe I will stick a couple "relative minor" sequences in to add variety to the feel.
 
Oh yeah... just babbling about music.
 
BTW, I dug up Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat as inspiration. :-)
 
Good times.
 
best regards,
mike

:-)
 
I'd hesitate to get laughed at by the experts in the genre, but I may post some YouTube of me with my hands in the air.
 
:-)
 
I'm mainly interested in having fun tweaking the knobs and enjoying the subtleties of changing the textures. I need some sequences to do that with so that is how I figured out that I need to focus on that.
 
all the best,
mike

Have you seen the latest Korg Little Bits modular synth kits?
 

 
Little Bits has a snap together form factor and Korg has partnered to supply standard off the shelf parts so that Educators, students and hobbiests and students can plug and play.
 

 

 

All this makes me want to dance.

mike_mccue
...
As an aside, I've considered my electric guitar pedal board a modular synthesizer for about as long as I can remember.
...

I want your guitar in my work! And show the Gizmo how it's done!

mattburnside
Hi Mister Happy and everyone else for that matter.
 
I too just got the Volca Bass and will be accompanying it with a Volca Beats later so maybe you can help me. I have actually had this working once already but for the life of me can't get it to work again since. I basically have a simple USB to Midi from the PC to the Volca and then the audio output in to my basic 2 in Line 6 UX2. When running this setup in Sonar the first time I was able to write in midi from scratch or play it in to a channel using the midi keys and the Volca then did that, how I can no longer do it I'm not sure.
 
Any tips? And I totally agree, great sound but don't expect any help on learning it :)

Hi. I suggest you start a new thread with your question, as this thread is almost 4 years old.
All the best.

No wonder you're happy.  Congrats!