The New Muffwiggler store

Though some may not know this but since the late 90's there has been a modular synthesizer Renascence. This was spear headed by companies like Doepfer and numerous forums, most significantly in recent years by MuffWiggler which has not only allowed synth geeks to find each other all over the world but it has allowed many builders to have their own pseudo focus groups to discuss possible features and price point.

Today, not to many's surprise a store baring the name MuffWiggler appeared.
Although based of years of Mike "Muff"s personal ethics, the store and the forum will probably remain fairly separate and open debate, complaints and all the other stuff the internet is known for will take place uncensored.

I decided to weigh in on what some worry about in terms of impact on what is a somewhat small fringe scene. I mainly focus on what I think the choices will mean for everyone involved.

Begin...

I done a fair amount of business with Shawn at Analog Haven and before that Douglas at Enport (anyone know how he's doing). I have never had any issues with either gentlemen which probably has had an impact on my not using Switched On, Control, Big City or Noise Bug or any of the other US dealers as often.

This is a market that probably needs a bit of competition as much as it needs support among users and manufacturers. At this point in time there a very few full time builders, but a huge amount of part timers. There are an awful lot of products coming out to an audience that seems very happy to try things and then resell them.

All of this is going to change to some degree, not because of the new shop but because markets change. If the shops want to stay in business they are better off supporting each other to whatever reasonable way that they can.

If buyers want to cease this moment and try to push competition, they should consider aiming those demands in areas of pricing like cabling, shipping that have a lesser impact on the builders and if the stores want yo compete they should try to keep it in the areas of how they handle customers and builders.

This is going to be a big moment that could weed out some of the utter shit product. This could be the moment where dealers try to focus on costumer service, creating their own unique style in the choices of what they carry and very importantly treat the people who build the modules with real support and respect because at least 20% of those folks would be well able to carry on doing only direct mail order and be paid better.

I wish Mike and crew the very best, this is a good an interesting moment and I hope that everyone chooses to not act like a bunch of assholes.

"hello David"

Here's a little improv done with Livewire, Doepfer and Bubblesound modules. The main voice is the ULFO and the Doepfer A-112

It got it's name because when I heard the sound I thought I should push David to get a A-112 because it sounded great processing the ULFO in oscillator mode.
Hello david by Tommy DOG

Doepfer A-117 mod UPDATED

After some more experiments I realized that I would not be able to trouble shoot the module without being able to compare it to one that is working normally.

I did come to the conclusion that this is a module that would respond well to some changes. Being able to tune the internal oscillator against the incoming modulation source is cool. If I can add some control over the additional outs which are static that would be great.

Doepfer A-117 mod

WARNING: this is far from technically sound. I am not a learned EE. These are guesses based of my limited knowledge.

My Doepfer A-117 Digital Noise module started having some issues. At first all I could get was a feeble oscillator noise that sounded more like an analog (non precision) oscillator driver that was used to drive the digital noise generator's clock.

I probed the circuit and found that making a connection to a resistor to one point on the newly replaced ext. input jack brought back the digital noise but now it could be tuned to the source by adjusting the rate knob.

I will post a picture of the board and perhaps someone more knowledgeable will figure what part is actually not functioning properly. Anyone have any thoughts feel free to post of contact me directly.

Maybe this will turn out to be a good and usable mod for others.

Euro Wack

With the modular synthesizer business being as brisk as it has ever been I can't quite understand why an affordable power racking solution hasn't appeared.

Yes, Doepfer has released their "low cost" suitcase, which is not at all a suitcase but is still cheaper then a box with a handle. This thing would be fine if you had a desire to buy a bunch of them and then do all the stuff that would make them solid but you'd end up spending a lot of money.

I'm at a point where I'm pulling stuff out of my racks and hoping to run into a good deal on a G6 at the right time but I know too God damned well I'll be the same place again soon enough.

Modularus Uber Alles

It's easy to get sucked into the world of the modular synthesizer. I find that unlike the music one makes with many other electric and electronic instruments, one has a very active duel role as listener and creator.

I sometimes drift to sleep having thoughts of wires and dream systems that are often seemingly as close as being just behind the next paycheck...

"I wonder how many Blacet Dark Star Chaos modules is necessary to achieve a full patchable arcade of overkill." I actually think this kind of thing.

Blacet has been a long standing provider of interesting and good sounding modules. Some like the afore mentioned DSC have become discontinued and coveted. Others still in production are compared quite favorably to more expensive competitors.

Cynthia Webster has her well acclaimed Zero Oscillator and Peter Grenader has his PlanB model 15 many of us are still waiting for the new oscillator from Livewire looks really cool. I think 2 of each would probably do the trick.

A lot of people seem to think that designer Mike Brown is underestimating how long it will take to get it into the market.

The same prediction seems to be made about every designer with the exception of Dieter Doepfer he is known to deliver pretty regularly.

On the other end of the spectrum Wiard flies it's freak flag and I love getting weird with them. I do feel that I'm about a hand full of additional modules away from maximum basics.

It's hard not to get dragged in to the bigger is better fantasy. In fact it's almost pointless to avoid it. Modular is mean to be big and complex.

Minimalist

Admittedly there is more to my home studio then what meets the eye but still this is a very simple feeling work set up and I hope that it will do for my what the all white did for John and Yoko.

The tags lets you know what's not visible.

Samplers

I never could view Ableton Live which I love as a software sampler as some folks do. The same could be said for the Electro Harmonix 16 second Delay (NOT THE REISSUE) looping and sampler are not the same thing.

I miss hardware samplers. In fact I can safely say that I basically stopped using samplers when I stopped using my Akai S950 Although I do use the Doepfer A-112 which is both a wavetable Oscillator and Sampler, it's still not the same as stretching twisting and tweaking something until it makes you laugh like crazy.

Another thing that's lacking is that slightly offbeat triggering of sounds in late 80's Hiphop. That still has it's charm. I actually plan to settle this missing mojo via Max/MSP and build a simple sample triggering patch that just has the basic functions like reverse and looping but triggered by the ASCII keyboard on my ibook

Should take no time at all. Max/MSP is so great for getting stuff like this done and in all of the years that i have used Max, I can safely say I have yet to get to a point of being an expert but I still manage to get my ideas done without errors or crashing. Great program.

Bleep Labs vs. Doepfer

Here is the Bleep Labs Thingamagoop being processed and controlling a Doepfer A-121 Multimode Filter via the A-119 External In.

EXAMPLE 1
EXAMPLE 2

GEAR LUST

The following is a list of some of the new gear I've been dreaming of this year.

Enjoy my perversions (in no particular order):

I have always enjoyed Theremin, long before the obnoxious trend made them into a misunderstood novelty and a bad noise joke The Eowave Persephone has the ability to slide from one note to another but is configured more like a ribbon controller. It's an elegant thing really.

I've been a fan of the whole MoogerFooger line and have bought most of them. The Moog Music MF-107 FreqBox looks like a winner to me, whether it's another EH Microsynth type of thing or something new I'll bet I love it.

The thing about AudioCubes is that they look fun. Now don't get me wrong, I can't foresee someone doing a riveting and rocking live performance with them BUT in the studio or if one is just feeling arty...

okay, anyone who likes Speak & Spells is going to dig the Flame MIDI Talking Synth

We all know that touch screens are whats happening. Here are a few products that make music fun and touchable. Mononome Korg Kaoss Pad KP3, Electroplankton

For the modular lover who doesn't want his or her waveforms stock: Wiard synthesizers

Ciat-Lonbarde electronics makes electronic instruments that look like art and sound like lizards gnawing at your temples.

Continuum is the coolist controller for the Microtonal set

You can filter out or duck quak to death anything with Ebbe und Flut

A special mention needs to go to Bleep Labs who's product not only cute and fun but also works nicely with modulars. For an idea of it's size, see it pictured below with an Oberheim SEM and Steiner Microcon.

A lot of gear comes out each year and only small amount of it finds it's way into my fantasies, even less will make the final cut in terms of what I think is worth plunking down hard earned cash on. Aside from having to be 1. good 2. something that inspires creativity and 3. special

Plus I do have an ongoing habit with Doepfer who keep putting out interesting and affordable modules for their A-100 modular Synthesizer.