Which semi modular should I get?

DanielW · Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

I'm dabbling in making patches on a Nord Modular, and I'm becoming increasingly interested i buying a semi modular. I don't have the money nor the space and time to plunge into the modular system world, but something fairly inexpensive with a lot of knobs that's also patchable would be nice.

Two synths I'm looking at that seem promising and within the right price range are the MFB-Synth 3 Kraftzwerg and Doepfer's Dark Energy.

Any thoughts on these? Does anyone own or use them, what do you think? I'm perfectly aware that for example the Cwejman S1 Mk II is superior to both, but it also costs an arm and a leg. As would an MS-20 on Ebay.

But which one of these two synths would be the wisest choice?

Antimon · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

Also Oberheim's restarted SEM line might be of interest. The Dark Energy has caught my eye as well...

I don't suppose you're into soldering and stuff, otherwise the MFOS SoundLab Ultimate is a fun little beast!

/Stefan

DanielW · Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

I will probably get into DIY somewhere along the line, but nut in the near future.

The SEM looks very nice, but doesn't seem to be on sale in the EU. And that means customs will charge me ridiculous money if I order it from the US.

Electronic battle · Joined: Feb 09, 2009 Posts: 11 Location: England

Could you afford to build up a small modular using MFB modules? You could knock up a cheap wooden enclosure and coose the right lineup of modules to suit.

You'd need a keyboard of some sort - possibly a modern MIDI unit with a MIDI/CV convertor, as built into the MFB power supply.

I have an MFB SEQ-01 which is brilliant; I also have the power supply.

Manfred is very quick to respond to questions which ask for help.

EB

davep · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject:

If you are interested in a SEM, there are a couple of other clones available, and they may be easier to get in the UK or Europe. They are the SEMblance and the Analogue Solution's Telemark:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~concuss/

Antimon · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject:

I've alo looked at the Analogue Solutions stuff - they also do the Red Square I think.

What's put me off there is the fair amount of vaguely negative comments I've read about this company's products in forums. It's always hard to choose between stuff like this when you can't do a hands on test run.

/Stefan

DanielW · Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

There's this shop here in town that has the Telemark (love the name btw, Norwegian wilderness!) on display. So I should actually be able to try it out.

But... I'm on a budget, I think I'll stick with the Kraftzwerg for now. Looks like lots of fun for not that much money.

DanielW · Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

fac · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:39 am Post subject:

You may want to consider the FutureRetro XS:

http://www.future-retro.com/xsoverview.html

It's a bit more expensive than the MFB or Doepfer, but IMO, it has one of the (if not the) best values of all the new semi-modulars.

I'm also looking at various semis right now. If things go well economically, I'm plan to get me one for Xmas.

DanielW · Joined: Sep 23, 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

espressogeek · Joined: Nov 08, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: nashville

So which Semi modular did you get? I've been looking at the Telemark, the new SEM with patch panel and the Dark Energy. The new SEM with patch seems to the hookup but then I need a midi/cv converter and that is another 250 bills or so. That pretty much puts me into the Telemark which I really like the idea of. The Dark Energy seems like a LOT of fun for not a whole lot of cash and it has midi.

So how do the Telemark and SEM compare sound wise? What negatives are there with the company that produces the Telemark?

droffset · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject:

The Tinysizer looks interesting too. A bit expensive though.
http://www.anyware-instruments.de/

espressogeek · Joined: Nov 08, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: nashville

Yea the Tinysizer looks great but I hate the connectors used for the patch interface. I have bad eyes too. I would hope the SEM would be marginally easier to discern the text on.

Heck I would roll my own SEM but I can't find a PCB for one for sale. Sad

I would have thought someone would have cloned this a long time ago. I would still have to figure out the whole midi though.