Modular Synth | Buy
Before buying your first module, you must commit to a "format," as they differ in size, power, and cable types: Modular Synthesis 101: A Guide to Eurorack Modular
The story began in the 1960s with two distinct philosophies that still define how people buy and play today: buy modular synth
Don Buchla and Serge Tcherepnin focused on experimental, generative sound. They often avoided traditional keyboards in favor of touch plates and complex modulation sources like "function generators". 2. Choosing a Format Before buying your first module, you must commit
Developed by Robert Moog, this style focused on "playable" instruments for mainstream musicians. It introduced the 1V/Octave standard for pitch and used subtractive synthesis—starting with a complex wave and "sculpting" it with filters. Choosing a Format Developed by Robert Moog, this
Buying a modular synthesizer is often described as a "rabbit hole"— a journey from initial curiosity to building a custom electronic instrument that can cost anywhere from to over $25,000 for a massive professional system . Unlike standard synthesizers with fixed paths, modular systems are comprised of individual units (modules) connected by patch cables, allowing you to design the internal architecture of the instrument yourself. 1. The Origins: East vs. West Coast