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.
Curious about FM in modular synthesis? This deep dive breaks down the three main types – exponential, linear, and through-zero FM – with hands-on patch tips, sound examples, and a demo video. Learn how each type shapes your tone, harmonics, and tuning.
From Moog schematics in a 1970 dorm room to the Prophet-5 with Dave Smith in 1977, and into the digital early '80s, Dave Rossum’s impact is profound. In this timeline, the E-mu Systems and Rossum Electro-Music founder shares how it all began – featuring Moog, Oberheim, Strange, Linn & more.
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.
Choosing your first Eurorack filter can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide breaks down what filters do, how to understand terms like slope and topology, and offers beginner-friendly module suggestions to help you shape your sound and build your ideal modular rig.
A key choice when starting with modular, is whether to start with a semi-modular synth or build from individual modules. Chris Meyer walks you through some options and thoughts.
Choosing the right patch cables is crucial for performance, portability, and reliability in modular synths. Learn what to look for in plugs, jackets, lengths, and materials — and how the right cable choices can make patching faster, cleaner, and more creative.
Choosing the right utility mixers is key to unlocking creativity in modular synth patches. Learn why mixers matter, the difference between audio and CV mixing, and discover pro tips for bending the rules to create new sounds from your existing modules.
Random voltage generators bring organic variation to synth patches. Learn how smooth, stepped, and trigger-based randomness can add life, unpredictability, and evolving textures to your sounds.
LFOs bring movement to synthesis by modulating parameters like filter cutoff and pulse width. Learn about waveform types, sync, delay, and how to shape modulation for evolving, expressive sounds.
Envelope generators shape how a sound evolves over time – from percussive hits to swelling textures. Learn the basics of AD, ADSR, and looping envelopes, and how they control amplitude, filters, and timbre in a synthesizer.
Waveshaping alters the harmonic makeup of a waveform to create new timbres. Learn how techniques like saturation, rectification, and wavefolding shape sound, and how modulating these parameters brings movement and complexity.