Composer, sound designer, and multi-instrumentalist Heidi Chan bridges folk traditions and modular experiments. This interview follows a journey from taiko drumming to Eurorack – exploring the instruments, interfaces, and inspirations at the heart of the creative process.
From AI-powered fraud hunting to unlocking “the tingle scale” in modular synthesis, Cinematic Laboratory reveals the secret recipes, hidden techniques, and gear ecosystems behind his truly cinematic, spine-tingling sound worlds.
Allen Strange’s book “Electronic Music” became a landmark guide to modular synthesis in the ’70s, blending technical clarity with creativity. Decades later, its ideas still inspire. We take an introductory look...
What makes a synth inspiring to play? Artists like Suzanne Ciani, DiViNCi, Dorit Chrysler, Larry Heard, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith share thoughts on interface design – from tactile control to visual flow – and how it influence their creativity, expression, and performance.
What makes a synth feel right to use? Here are thoughts from five instrument creators on design, usability, and how we connect with electronic instruments. Not rules, but perspectives that might spark ideas or offer a new way to think about music-making tools.
Whether you're new to modular or a seasoned Eurorack head, VCV Rack offers a flexible, free way to patch, prototype, and explore anywhere. This guide shows how to get started, test ideas before buying hardware, or go deeper with powerful modules – no rack space (or budget) required.
Break away from keyboards and screens! Instruments from Ciat-Lonbarde, Leaf Audio, Playtronica, Clank, and others, invite you to create through touch, gesture, and chance – unlocking new sounds, ideas, and inspiration you won’t find in traditional music-making tools.
Exclusive Video Interview: Filmed on stage in late October 2024, just before the Moog Ensemble's show at The Anvil, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) talks Minimoogs, synths with orchestra, and wind controllers. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes chat ahead of the premiere of Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project.
Looking to create lush pads, evolving textures, and immersive soundscapes? These synthesizers – ranging from expressive hybrids to analog and digital engines – are made for ambient music. Explore some inspiring hardware options for spacious, atmospheric sound design.
Modulation is the secret force behind many evolving ambient patches. From classics like Batumi and øchd to fresh releases like MultiMod, here’s a personal roundup of Eurorack modules that can bring slow motion, subtle chaos, and deep flow to your modular system.
Your gear shapes your creativity. When the interface flows, so does your music — but when it doesn’t, even inspiration can stall. From DAWs to modular setups, we explore how workflows guide (or derail) your ideas – and how to challenge your habits to unlock better music-making.
Whether you're building your first ambient patch or expanding a modular system for immersive textures and cinematic drones, these Eurorack modules are great tools for shaping sound into space.