Translation by Ruud Heij

Modular synthesis part VI

By Ruud Lekx > ruud@interface.nl

http://www.interface.nl

For those who actually want a Moog

In the last part of this series about modulars, we will have a look at perhaps the most interesting system: the Synthesizers.com modular by Roger Arrick. Arrick, who is actually a robot designer and builder, and began two years ago with this modular.

The Synthesizers.com modular points indeed to the similar named website. Although, just like half of the reviewed modular in this series, of recent design, this modular is in fact based on the original Moog. The Moog system 55 that was reviewed in the episode before this, is quite accurately cloned. The real disadvantages in the Moog's, like the lack of attanuators, are adapted to modern times. Roger Arrick began it's production under somewhat unlucky circumstances: At first the combination of (the indeed a bit strange) name, price and delivered quality on his website, as being 'impossible' and being one of the many internet-hoaxes: Afer all you can do a lot with Photoshop. But slowly people realized that Synthesizers.com really exists, and moreover is a serious addition to what other manufacturers are offering. We visited one of the few owners in Holland, who immediately ordered a large system, after listening to a system that a friend of his got just a few day's before. That the owner knows what he is talking about, proven by the Yamaha CS-80 and Fenix modular that are present in the studio. The synthesizer, housed in a beautiful walnut case, dominates the room, and is about just as impressive as the Moog 55 that was reviewed in the episode before. Which is ergonomically a bit better, as the knobs on the Synthesizers.com are all of the same measurment. But just as good is the feel of the knobs and the jacks, as much as the accuracy with which you can adjust it all. With this, the Synthesizers.com can be placed in the same group as Moog and MOTM, who have a similar feel. Arrick claims that the oscillators, filters, etc are all cloned from Moog, and so raises expectations. Just like the MOTM and the Moog, the sound of this modular is extremely powerful. It has its stabillity in common with the MOTM. In modified form, that is. Arricks original oscillators do drift somewhat, and are delivered as standard. The modified ones, have improved stabillity. This system sounds just a little bit cleaner than the Moog, and I can imagine that somewhat more drift, can make it sound just a little bit livelier. This reviewed system has 5 oscillators, that can function as LFO, as well. The sound of all those oscillators at the same time, is perhaps a bit too much to handle, becouse already with just one, you notice the enormous power in sound that this modular has. Also a Moog ladder filter is housed in this system, that contains in total of 36 modules. Now the term 'Moog filter' doesn't say a lot these days, but this filter sounds and behaves just like the original. As bonus, you can toggle between 12 and 24 dB/octave, of which the 12 dB setting can make the sound more clear on heavy filtered sounds. The resonance always sounds very nice, as you won't get these silly whistletones, like with a lot of modern synths. The envelope generators are super 'snappy' and are fully hardware. With a lot of new, but also older analog synthesizers, the envelopes are generated with software, which never gives such fast responce as with real electronic circuits. The owner has bought it mainly to act as a Moog- clone, and is making music with it, in the style of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze of the seventies. With that, the machine seems to be in its element: just like the Moog, it seems to generate these sounds with ease. But put an output of one oscillator in another one, and the most insane click and pop sounds will be comming out of your speakers.

The price

And then the big question: just what does all this cost ? This reviewed system has cost some 6000 Euro, all together, but for that price you have a large system. You can however, start considerably smaller. Two oscillators, filter, 2 envelopes, mixer, VCA and powersupply will cost you about 1000,- to 1500,- Euro, keeping in mind that you have to pay VAT and shipping costs. But then again, you can throw out one or more of you older monosysnths, as in this small combination, you already have something very special. The oscillators are the most expensive with a price of 170,- US Dollars. Later you can save up for additional modules, like: switches, ring modulator which cost all around 80,- US Dollars, each. It can be that cheap, because there can only be ordered online. That seems to be a gamble, but the quality of the modules is beyond any doubt, and Arrick has an already outstanding reputation when Customer Service is concerned: a sent mail is answered very quickly, and problems are dealth with very swiftly. Also there is a growing online community about this synth, who give their feedback to the maker, who than will implement this in his products. The Synthesizers.com modular is an impressive machine in the quest for a good modular, and perhaps the most interesting we encountered, and the best choise if you are looking for a really serious modular synth. Personally I find the big knobs so much more handy, that little modulars are no serious competitors. Because it must have the ability to be integrated in a modern studio, and being reliable also the classics are no consideration. If you want a complete system, and you highly regard the Moog-sound, than only the MOTM and Synthesizers.com are left. Both are quite similar in sound, and you can even combine modules of both brands with a special cable and additional power supply, because MOTM has some special modules, mostly the filters. The fully assembled Synthesizers.com modules are even cheaper than the kits from MOTM, and both have the same good feel: you notice that these are of very good quality. Of all the modulars that we looked at in this Modular synthesis series, I was the most impressed by the Moog, which is a bit odd, for an instrument of 30 years old, that apparently can't even be equalled with our so called modern superior technique. But a fact is, that a Moog is hardly affordable and for about a fifth or a tenth of the price of an original Moog you can have a tremendously alternative with the Synthesizers.com. It comes close to 90 % of the Moog, what sound and handling is concerned, just like the MOTM. But only the real diehard will solder, when you can have the same quallity for less money for fully assembled modules.