The Seventh of Four

video upload by davidryle

"A new project idea to use the synthesizers.com Q170 MIDI GATES module to affect broad changes to the composition within the modular system.

The Q170 has eight output jacks for sending 5V gate or trigger voltages to the modular system. I used my DAW (Cubase) to construct timings for various parts of the modular.

The first four outs were used as pulse gates for the Delptronics and TipTop drum modules. The Kick, Snare and Open and Closed HiHats.
The fifth out is to the Q169 vco's AMP input. That vco is used for the bass line so controlling the on-board vca will mute or enable the voice.
The sixth out was to enable the Dove D900 sequencer to run/stop. The sequencer is feeding pitch voltage to the Synthetic Sound Labs Woven Spirits (MI Plaits). This is the chord pad sound. I used the DAW to pulse the gate info when I wanted the sequencer to reset at certain parts.
The seventh out was to send a continuous gate to the STG Soundlabs Time Buffer. The Time Buffer is receiving a sync-bus 24 ppq clock and run signal. I have a panel access to these with jack inputs so I sent the 5V gate to the RUN input. This allowed me to use this to start and stop all sequencer motion from the DAW.
The eighth out is to a Lower West Side Studios triple switch. This switch is used to add an offset voltage to the Woven Spirits Harmonic control.
The other fun part was playing the LWSS triple attenuator. I had three parts run through the module. The pair of STG VMS sequences were percussive background parts switched in and out as needed. The third part was a pulse version of the pad sound.

The Matrix duet in the mid section was clocked from the STG Time Divider module. Both Matrix were set with very closely aligned slider settings but the "Z" sliders were offset for variety. They sent pitch voltage to the TZ-VCO's from SSL. The duet were sent through the STG Post Lawsuit Filter and an Empress reverb/delay pedal.

Other outboard effects were the Meris Hedra for the bass line and the EMX Grand Canyon for the steady pad sound."

4/22/25 Soundforce S-LD + SSL 1660 + GenRad 1564-A + BLM Gate Seq + DSP 808 + MIDIVERB II + PV 1300

video upload by Cfpp0

"4/22/25 ElectroComp EML 200 + Synthetic Sound Labs 1660 + Analog Craftsman acVOKs + STG muSonics Vanilla Envelope + General Radio 1564-A + Blue Lantern Gate Sequencer + Soundforce S-LD + DSP 808 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + Peavey 1300

Testing out a used Soundforce S-LD module we just got. You can hear the cowbell and the maraca (there’s a switch on the back to choose the Linn toms or percussion). The other percussion is from the DSP 808 module, which is a similar sampled sound module, but with pitch control and voltage controls. The synthy kick drum is the General Radio 1564-A processing the S-LD kick drum. Its VU meter looks like it’s out of sync, but it’s just slow and getting pinned hard. The two drones that build up are from two ElectroComp EML 200 synthesizers. The synth lines are Synthetic Sound Labs 1660 The Matrix Algorithmic Composer through the Analog Craftsman acVOKS filter into the STG muSonics Vanilla Envelope. The reverb is preset 10 on the Alesis MIDIVERB II."

MOTM / Synthesis Technology's Paul Schreiber Has Passed Away

Paul Schreiber at CONTROL in 2018


It has come to my attention that Paul Schreiber has passed away.

Pictured: Paul Schreiber at the 2006 NAMM show. Top from this previous post (pic by fr1zz), and bottom from this post (pic by Synthtopia) - this is the first image of Paul on the site. There is one comment in that post: "He's a good guy." Indeed.

Readers of the site should be familiar with his work. He was the man behind MOTM and Synthesis Technology.

To say Paul was one of the greats to influence the synth community would be an understatement. He was pivital to the rebirth of modular synthesizers. He started when modular as we know it today was in its infancy, as one of a very small group of large format DIY modular manufacturers along with Blacet, Modcan, Cynthia, Wiard, Oakley, STG, Catgirl/CGS, Tellun/Lower West Side Studio YuSynth, Jurgen Haible, and of course DIY staples like Thomas Henry/ MFOS, Ray Wilson and PAiA (see this post for some modular formats back in 2007). I focused mainly on those offering DIY. There were other manufacturers including Synthesizers.com, Club of the Knobs, MOS-LAB, Moon Modular, MacBeth, CMS, and more. Feel free to mention others in the comments. This post is about Paul, but I think it's important to reflect on some of the large format modular manufactures he was amongst at the time.

Paul created the MOTM format of 5U modules in 1998. MOTM stood for Module of the Month offering monthly DIY kits. From Wikipedia: "MOTM was created by Paul Schreiber in 1998. The system was created in part due to the renewed interest in large-format analog modular systems that occurred in the late 1990s. Between 1998 and 2021, over 8000 modules were sold. The company, Synthesis Technology, also offered a limited number of modules in Eurorack[2] and Frac[3] format."

He was also helped design the Moog/Realistic MG-1. From Wikipedia: "In 1980, Moog Music was seeking to contract manufacture a mass-marketable synthesizer which could be sold via a large retailer. Moog representatives secured an appointment at the Radio Shack corporate offices for a 5-minute demonstration. Radio Shack approved the concept, and Paul Schreiber (then employed by Tandy Systems Development) worked together with Moog on the synthesizer's design to achieve Radio Shack's price requirements.[2][3]"

He later joined the eurorack scene with Synthesis Technology branded modules. FYI, his site for MOTM was always http://www.synthtech.com/, short for Synthesis Technology. The first post to mention Paul and MOTM was posted just under twenty years ago here on MATRIXSYNTH back on August 26, 2005. If you click through you will see it was a post announcing the MOTM/synthtech.com site was going down for the weekend. He announced he was retiring from the synthesizer business in August of 2023.

I beleive the first synthtech eurorack module was the MOTM E340 Cloud Generator. The first demos were posted on July 14, 2009, followed by a mockup of the front panel on July 20. The first post to mention Synthesis Technology was an Epic Son track by John L Rice in August of 2011. Since then there has been approximately 845 posts to feature MOTM, and at least 398 Synthtech.

You can find a number of interviews with Paul in previous posts here.

It's worth repeating, Paul Schreiber was one of the key figures that brought modular back to the masses. He was both respected and loved by the synth community. It's impossible to overstate his influence. He will be missed.

The following are the first the last video interviews with Paul to be featured on the site:

The SynthSummitShow Episode 2: Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology) and A.Dapt (music producer) ...

Streamed live on Oct 2, 2015 Flux302 of Fluxwithit.com. Details previously posted here.

SysEx Dumpster - Episode 44 - a conversation with Paul Schreiber
video upload by Sysex Dumpster on Jul 30, 2023. Details previously posted here.

The first videos to feature Paul presenting a module was back on January 3, 2010, and the first interview on SoundCloud in 2013, and he was of course featured in the modular documentary film I Dream of Wires.

3/13/25 SSL 1660 1310 + .com Q173 Q150 + acVOKS + FSFX 103 + muSonics Vanilla Env & Mixer + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"3/13/25 SSL 1660 The Matrix & 1310 Digital Delay + Synthesizers.com Q173 Gate Math & Q150 Ladder filter + Analog Craftsman acVOKS + FSFX 103 Lopass Gate + muSonics Vanilla Envelope & Mixer + CXM 1978

The 5U consolidation continues, but today was an another good day for the STG muSonics Vanilla Envelope and Vanilla Mixer, which have been moved to the SSL racks. The Analog Craftsman acVOKS Bandpass output is running through the Synthesizers.com Q150 Transistor Ladder Filter into the Free State FX 103 Lopass Gate, for triple resonance."

Abandoned Prairie Town

video upload by davidryle

"A Vector Sequencer project running the large format modular.
The slow pace was the experiment basis and the Vector Sequencer really handles that perfectly. I also added the Jack Expander module to the Vector so I had four sequence lines this time to send to the modular.
The drone bass is a Mos-Lab clone of the Moog 901. No need for a sequencer there as it is a single pitch.
The opening sound is the pair of Matrix modules. This sound effect is heard again at the closing passage.
The opening slow pad note sequence is the STG vco's and G294A filter through a Strymon Blue Sky pedal.
The swell pattern is two Q206's to the Q150 filter. The stereo signal is routed through a Lexicon MX200 for pitch shift and chorus.
The distant ghostly piano sounding sequence is two lines from the Vector to a pair of TZ vco's and the Yusynth Arp 4072 filter. The final effect chain is the Stasis Leak delay module and the Z-DSP signal processor.
The flutter sounding noise is the Dove WTF to a Tau Pipe phaser and an Oakly SVF in high pass mode.
The wind effects were the West Coast Noise Source to the MOTM 440 filter and the Q110 noise module to the Dove D502 filter in band pass mode."

Switchback Descent

video upload by davidryle

"The great Vector Sequencer from Five12. I am using it for a pair of simple 16 step sequences to the 5U modular by way of CV and Gate.

The clock is derived from the Moon Modular 553 Midi to Clock module. I used the 1/96th division and a start gate to tap the sync24 feature in the Vector. I do have an STG bus but the sync bus cable wouldn't reach out of the cabinet to the Vector. The other clock pulses are from the STG Time Divider.

The first patch is run to a pair of Q206 VCO's and the Q150 filter and then on to the Echo Fix tape delay. Stereo panning was from the Q158 VCA++ and a Mega Ohm LFO. The Ian Fritz Hypster by Synthetic Sound Labs is a modulation source for the decay stage of the STG Envelop Generator.

The bass line patch is a pair of STG Oscillators to a pair of Mega Ohm MA20's in low and high pass series. The SSL Tube VCA is used to add some drive. The Frequency Central Stasis Leak stereo chorus finishes the patch chain.

The third patch is a drone pad line from the Dove D900 sequencer to the WTF Oscillator and the Oakley SVF in Notch mode. The slow center frequency modulation from a second Mega Ohm LFO does a nice job of combing through the upper mids of the complex waveforms out of the WTF. The last part of the patch is through the Empress Reverb in green ghost mode.

The Vector is the first edition mk1 but still has quite the feature set. I was using a modulation lane for transpose to the pair of pitch sequences. This same transpose sequence was replicated on the Q960 with a second Q960 as a divider. The pitch voltages for the WTF were combined in the unity mixer of the STG Active Multiples module. I did use the Q171 Quantixer Bank for precision stepping from the Q960.

All sounds captured at once in a single take to Cubase 12. Video edited in Final Cut Pro.

Special thanks to Ron Sunsinger for the loan of the Vector and Adam Fritsche for the Stasis Leak module."

Busy Bezaleel

video upload by davidryle

"5U modular synthesizer song. Using the LinnStrument 128 and synthesizers.com Q174 MIDI Interface to play into the modular. The main voice was a pair of Synthetic Sound Labs TZ-VC Oscillators and a Yusynth ARP 4072 Filter. Bass line was the Q960 step sequencer to DOve D100 and D110 VCO's on to the Drove G294A filter. A kick drum is from the SSL Woven Spirits.The FX fluttering sound is the Dove D900 sequencer to a pair of STG Oscillators. The noise chuff sounds are the WCRS module into a MOTM 440 filter and delay.

The mid-section is the LinnStrument in arpeggiator mode for the bass line (a pair of Q106's through the Q107 filter) and for the upper arpeggiation (the TZ-VC osc pair through an Oakley SVF. The offbeat sequence is the Dove D900 through the STG oscillators and the Dove D502 filter. The pad sound is generated by the STG Voltage Mini Store to a pair of Q206 vco's and the Q150 filter to a Canyon Delay pedal."

NAMM 2025: Synthesizers.com and the MU Format

video upload by sonicstate

"At NAMM 2025, we caught up with Mike from Synthesizers.com who introduced us to the impressive large format modular synth systems they have been crafting for 25 years. Synthesizers.com was founded by Roger Eric in 1999, and the company has dedicated itself to advancing the MU (Moog Unit) format. Now under new ownership, they are working with various manufacturers to expand the MU ecosystem, offering seamless integration between their own modules and those from other companies like Moon Modular, SSL, and STG.

Mike explained the engaging tactile experience these systems offer, emphasizing the absence of menu diving, making interaction straightforward and intuitive. He demonstrated a simple patch using the Q119 Sequential Controller alongside various oscillators, filters, and envelope generators. Looking ahead, he hinted at five to six new modules currently under development, showing sustained innovation in the MU format."

Testing the Synthesis Technology E430 Morphing VCF Beta Version

video upload by boxoftextures

"Testing a beta version of the new Synthesis Technology E430 Morphing VCF. It's in a sense the filter from the Oberheim SEM except with added filter morphing controls not in the original. The thing sounds amazing. It's a morphing VCF in that it goes from low pass to bandpass to high pass at the turn of a knob (or via voltage control), or at the press of a button the knob changes to low pass to notch to high pass. That's a ton of flexibility, and you can use it to make all kinds of sounds. It also has voltage controllable resonance as well. I've basically rearranged my smaller modular keyboard case to give the E430 a permanent home there and moved my "regular" filter into an empty spot in the big case.

Also used:
E330 Multimode VCO
E580 Resampling Mini-Delay
Intellijel Dual ADSR
STG .VCA
Batumi 1974 Quad LFO
2HP Mult (x2)
Waldorf kb37 Controller Keyboard

https://synthtech.com/

Mastodon: https://vmst.io/@selgart"

♫ Jamming With a Bunch of Synths ♫ ----- (138)

video upload by Bata

Wait for 1:24

5U Modular (Synthesizers.com, STG Soundlabs, Synthetic Sound Labs)
Akai MPC X
Behringer 2600 (ARP 2600 clone)
Behringer Kobol Expander (RSF Kobol Expander clone)
Behringer Model D (Minimoog 2016 reissue clone)
Behringer Pro-1 (Sequential Circuits Pro One clone)
Behringer RD-6 (Roland TR-606 clone)
Behringer TD-3-MO (Devilfish modded Roland TB-303 clone)
Casio CSM-1
Clavia Nord Wave
cre8audio East Beast
cre8audio West Pest
Erica Synths Syntrx II
Elta PF-3 Stereo Multimode Filter (Formanta Polivoks chips)
Eurorack Modular (2HP, Behringer, Expert Sleepers, Intellijel)
Korg Delta
Korg Mono/Poly (x2)
Korg SQ-1 (analog style sequencer)
Ladyada Xoxbox (Roland TB-303 clone)
Landscape Noon
Make Noise 0-CTRL (analog sequencer/touch keyboard)
Moog Source
Roland CM-300 Sound Canvas
Roland P-330 Piano Module
Simmons SDS-V
Studio Electronics Boomstar 5089 mk1
Yamaha CS-15

SynthTech E490 Ladder Filter Quick Minute

video upload by boxoftextures

"Synthesis Technology E490 Ladder Filter Quick Minute

This new filter arrived yesterday so this is my first time trying it out. Sounds amazing! Basically a version of the Moog modular ladder filter but with a few additions. I got the black faceplate, of course LOL.

Also used:
SynthTech E330 Multimode VCO (x2)
Intellijel Dual ADSR
2HP Mult (x2)
STG Soundlabs .VCA
SynthTech E580 Resampling Mini-Delay
Jones O'Tool Plus Oscilloscope
Waldorf kb37 Controller Keyboard

Recorded and edited in ScreenFlow

Mastodon: https://vmst.io/@selgart
Twitter: / selgart
Patreon: / boxoftextures"

First 5U Modular Synth Patch ... from Scratch (MU Moog format)

video upload by DivKid

"Join me for my first patch with this new (to me) 5U / MU format modular synthesiser. It's big and sounds it and a pleasure to play and features modulars from DotCom (synthesisers.com), STG Soundlabs / muSonics, Frequency Central, Synthetic Sounds Labs (SSL), Corsynth, Moon Modular, M2 Synth and Noise Engineering.

Patch notes (as mentioned in the video) are here on Patreon (free/public post) // / 110901251"

A Sunday Morning Modular Synth Patch - May 19th 2014

video upload by John L Rice

"Featuring self transposing Moon Modular 569 sequencer with 569ES and 569EG expanders and two 564 switches to vary the pattern. All clocked by an Oakley Slim VCO through a Synthetic Sound Labs V-Gates divider. The voice is a single Marienberg Sine Phase VCO into two SSL Tube VCAs, one STG Soundlabs Envelope to modular both, and the VCA outputs go to a Modcan Dual Delay 73B. And a few notes played on the Mellotron M4000D Rack. Strymon BigSky and Lexicon MX400 for reverb."

♫ Jamming With a Bunch of Synths ♫ ----- (79)

video upload by Bata

"This jam is a little weird. My phone was on low battery which made the video slightly glitchy. I was a bit distracted during this recording so it's maybe a bit more boring than usual. There is also a couple mysterious audio drop outs near the end of the video. I didn't notice these prior to uploading so it's possible something went wrong when combining the audio and video files or something.

5U Modular (Synthesizers.com, STG Soundlabs, Synthetic Sound Labs)
Akai MPC X
Behringer Pro-1 (Sequential Circuits Pro One clone)
Clavia Nord Wave
Cherry Audio Voltage Modular (software modular)
cre8audio East Beast
Elta Music PF-3 Stereo Multimode Filter (Formanta Polivoks chips)
Erica Synths Syntrx II
Landscape Noon
Korg Delta
Korg Mono/Poly (x2)
Make Noise 0-ctrl (analog sequencer/touch keyboard)
Moog Source
Roland TR-55
Simmons SDS-V
Studio Electronics Boomstar 5089 mk11
Yamaha CS-15 (with UAD Bermuda Triangle distortion plugin)"

Taking This Little 5U Modular Synth For A Spin

video upload by John L Rice

"While intended for processing external sounds this little synth can make great sounds all by itself! The modules are from left to right:

STG Soundlabs - Envelope
Modcan - Digital Delay 59B
Encore Electronics - Universal Event Generator (UEG)
Modcan - Envelope Follower 45B
Free State FX - Supra Resonator (Mutable Instruments - Rings)"

Another MSSA! (Modular Synth Service Announcement 🤓)

video upload by John L Rice

"I was surprised when the top switch on this STG Soundlabs Envelope module started sticking! A rare problem indeed for this type of switch, at least in my experience. Turns out that there apparently was some small variance in manufacturing that caused the switch button to bind against the panel? I made the video to document the issue and solution."

Time Corridors

video upload by John L Rice

"And another "modular Tetris" rearrangement session which led to some keyboard noodling which lead to a recording which lead to a video which lead to the need to add a lot more parts and video editing which lead to the reality that I have much more important things to be doing which caused me to stop where I was at which is why all you get is this unfinished thing! 😅

Modules used:
Oakley/Krisp1 - Slim VCO B, Diode Superladder VCF, Flanger/Chorus
STG - Envelope
Moon - 569 sequencer
Corsynth - C102 VC LFO
Grove Audio - PM Resonator
Modcan - Quantizer 55B
Marienberg - Sine Phase VCO
Club Of The Knobs - C1660 VC Phase Processor

Keyboard:
Expressive E - Osmose

Effects:
Strymon - BigSky, Timeline, Mobius
Lexicon - MX400"

The Never Ending Battle

video upload by John L Rice

"Another quick post reconfiguration doddle. ;-)

Modules used:
Oakley/Krisp1 - Slim VCO B, Diode Superladder VCF
STG - Envelope
Moon - 569 sequencer
Corsynth - C102 VC LFO
Grove Audio - PM Resonator
Modcan - Quantizer 55B
Marienberg - Sine Phase VCO

Keyboard:
Expressive E - Osmose

Effects:
Strymon - BigSky, Timeline
Lexicon - MX400"

2/6/24 SSL 1660 The Matrix (x2) + Free State FX 103 LPG + STG MooSonics Vanilla Envelope + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"Recently found a used Free State FX (FSFX) 103 Lopass Gate, so this is a first try, using the STG MooSonics Vanilla Envelope module to fire the LPG. One SSL 1660 goes into the LPG (the left SSL 1660, playing the bass line) and the other goes into the VCA on the Vanilla Envelope (the right SSL 1660, playing the higher, pluckier layer). So the same envelope affects both the LPG and VCA, but pretty differently. Vactrol!"

The Eternal Now

video upload by davidryle

"American Format (5U) modular synthesizer performance in real time to a stereo track in Cubase.
For an atonal wash I used the Dove Audio Waveplane and WTF vco's through an Oakley Sound Systems Ring Modulator. I then sent it through A dotcom Q150 transistor ladder filter and a Lower West Side Studio Multimode Filter/Resonator and on to a fixed filter bank and a Frequency Central Stasis Leak digital delay. This drone wash comes in at the final section and ending.
The opening reed sound and accompanying organ sounds were derived from the Synthetic Sound Labs/Mutable Instruments (Braids) Woven Spirits module.
The initial reed sound is from the AUX output of the Woven Spirits through an SSL/Ian Fritz 5 Pulser and Oakley Sound Systems State Variable Filter. The filter is stepped with a random S&H from JNP Electronics.
The secondary organ chord sound is the Main direct output of the Woven Spirits in Chord mode. The combination of both elements are sent to an Electro-Harmonix Grand Canyon in DMM mode. Feedback is applied as needed for the drone sustain throughout the piece.
The bass line comes in next with a pair of STG Soundlabs Oscillators through a Dove Audio D502 Multimode filter in -24dB LP mode. The pitch voltage is from the upper Q960 step sequencer. It's timing is from a Catgirl Synth Master Divider, clocked from a custom Dual LFO/Analog Shift Register of Ken Stone (Catgirl Synth) design. An additional tap from the STG oscillator through a Corsynth C103 Frequency Divider/Multiplier module for a sub-octave feed.
The melodic line blended into the latter section is from a pair of Q106 dotcom vco's which are pitch controlled by the lower Q960 sequencer. Each vco pitch is from a separate row of the Q960. The Q960's shift timing is from the CGS Master Divider module. The output is routed through an Empress Reverb pedal in Blue Ghost mode. Panning is from the LWSS/Yusynth Panning Mixer.
All pitch quantitization is through a Moon Modular 565 series setup.
Additional voltage modulation to the Woven Spirits module are from the STG Soundlabs voltage mini stores, and vaious LFO's etc. Timing for the additional sequencers is also managed by the Moster Divider."