Soundmachines Intros MODULÖR114 Eurorack Analog Modular Synthesizer

MODULOR114

At Superbooth 16, being held, March 31st – April 2nd 2016, Soundmachines is introducing the MODULÖR114 Eurorack analog modular synthesizer.

The MODULÖR114 is designed to be a complete entryway to the Eurorack modular world, combining a great assortment of modules, digital fx and advanced connectivity.

Key Features:

  • Analog Heart – The heart of the modular synthesizer is a full set of more than twenty freely patchable analog modules.
  • Connectivity – The integral USB MIDI to CV interface sports many features that are yet to be found on the majority of Eurorack modules. Apart from the classic pitch and gate signals, the module can derive a 16th clock, the modwheel amount to CV and, finally, Parameter Change control over two CV, an attenuator and a slew controller.
  • USB HOST capability – By selecting the HOST interface, you can plug in a USB MIDI keyboard or control surface and have your complete synth working, without any PC.
  • All-in-one Design – MODULÖR114 is made to be a slim, portable unit and it can be powered also by the USB device port.
  • Unique Features  – The MODULÖR114 includes a couple of hard-to-find functions in many competitor’s machines: a ribbon controller and an internal quantizer.
  • Full DSP Unit – The modular includes a complete FX unit, based on a 24bit DSP, offering delays, chorus and reverbs, all controllable with CVs and tap tempo inputs.
  • Digital modules – including logic gates, clock dividers and trigger buttons.
  • SYNTH Button – a hidden monosynth that you can recall at the touch of a button. The button connects all the red labeled jacks together in the classic monophonic synthesizer signal flow. Without using patch cords, you can start playing just by plugging a usb keyboard in.

Details on pricing and availability are to be announced.

23 thoughts on “Soundmachines Intros MODULÖR114 Eurorack Analog Modular Synthesizer

  1. Looks interesting. With only the details specified here I’d say it is a N1 nanosynth with a nice and usable casing. Hope more details, pricing, video and sounds come available soon.

    1. This is definitely much more than a patchable nano synth. I should know cause I have been using one now since it arrived a week ago and it just feels sounds and is built like a tank . Very well thought out and I have loved using it in a dark studio setting more than most modulars because it’s white and has its own USB powered lamp that comes with it in a really great bundle of acssesories that includes a manual that explains each module and gives patch examples! I loved it in the first hour I took it out of the box. Peace christo

  2. talk about a semi modular powerhouse!
    It would be kiackass as a utility device for any euro/cv setup

    if this is near $500 it’s a coup…

  3. Ok so, ive already started building a small modular but i keep asking myself if i can really do more with modular vs non modular. I own an elektron analog four which has fx, audio in, oscilators, lfos, etc and most importantly, you can do insane routing stuff with the lfos, kinda like patching. My question is tho, for the price, around 1000-1200 us, can you build a modular that can do what the analog four does? If so i wouldnt mind selling the elektron.

    1. With the Elektron your routing capabilities while impressive are limited in that you don’t have direct access to each control voltage input / output, each oscillator independently etc… While the modular equivalent might be a bit pricier, you’ll end up with something much more versatile and built to your specifications.

      For $1,000 (or less used) you could purchase a decent starter system or semi-modiular such as the Korg MS-20m or the Kilpatrick Phenol (Phenol would require a cheap converter for cross patching with standard 3.5mm euro) and with your remaining $200-$400 you could buy a Tiptop Happy Ending Kit and a DSP driven FX unit such as the Aira Modular effects modules which are all but open source or you could start building a full rack of various effects from many great brands… I would recommend Make Noise (Erbeverb, Echophon), Black Market Modular (Colour Palette), Dave Smith Instruments (Character)… Audio Damage has quite a few cheap and decent sounding digital effects modules that are worth looking into…

      The thing is that you have a lot more flexibility out here in the “real world”… You can (although I don’t recommend it) patch things “wrong” in the real world and get bizarre results that just cannot happen in a fixed format machine.

      It’s not for everyone but, if you’re looking to really “own” your sound… It’s the way to go. If you’re looking for reliability and ease of use… Maybe stick to the fixed format. I do both. I love my Prophet 12, Virus KB, Moog Sub Phatty and Minibrute but, I definitely tend to use my Make Noise Black and Gold Shared System more than anything else.

    2. The Elektron will do things the modular can’t and the modular will do things the Elektron can’t do. They are different beasts. You have one and are building the other so you have the best of both.

      I have a small modular I built myself that is due an expand soon (I have too many unfinished boards…..) but I still get the odd hardware synth (last one was a Korg Prophecy, amazing) as I have a few already but to be honest a lot of what I do is in the box. To satisfy that I buy the odd software synth too!!! The best of every world.

      We are very lucky today to have all these options.

      1. I was about to post the same. Definitely keep the A4. With it you get instant musical results – with modular, not so much.

        Tinkering around is great with modular, but in my opinion, expand around A4 instead of selling it.

        Modular, no patch memory!

    3. It depends on so many things, your time, how you’re using it etc. I have an analog four and building a small modular. Tbh, since I sold all my other gear to get the A4, I barely touch the modular. I don’t have much time on my hands and the A4 is so immediate, so powerful and has an amazing sound. Building a patch on the modular, takes time, planning, trial and error. And there’s another strange thing, that of you dont record it, you will most certainly lose it. Which comes into conflict with the whole idea of dropping the computer. And how do you record it, do you just record everything and then go listening through the whole thing and select the best parts or when you have something just get out of the zone and press record? Either way, seems too much planning and a dependency on the computer. One other thing is that a replica of an a4 in eurorack would probably cost you four times the price and would have its stronger points and weaker ones. Having them both is great, but in my case the A4 is getting a lot more use.

    4. yup, i agree with above, more or less. if analog 4 works for you, don’t get rid of it. the modular is not the right tool for a simple sequenced bass or lead line. the modular is the right tool for some crazy soundscape that reacts to the other elements of the song in a patch programmable way, such as the envelope of the drums. or is an entire song to itself, intricate and evolving.

    5. Yeah I’m in the keep the A4 camp as well. I have an A4, drift box, and a Mother 32. Being able to use the sequencer with your modular can’t be beat. The voices sound great on the A4, but I also love running other synths into multiple channels. Different filtering, envelopes, lfo’s, paning, and effects can really offer up a lot of variation. I would keep it. Better off to save for your next piece of gear then to sell something so useful. I know I’d regret it.

  4. Anyone something to say about THIS soundsystems modulor 114? Instead of analog 4, prophet 12 (great, a dream) etc?

    Nice and frendly discussion, but I please stick to this topic?

    1. …you are right..
      well hard so say so much about the modulor 114 without informations about pricing and how it sounds. to me it is very massive, 114HP (?) . maybe it would have been nice to have the whole thing (physically) split into different parts..(DSP Unit / Digital Modules / USB-CV Interface…). I like the idea of a Ribbon-Controller and the USB-Powered solution and it looks really slim.
      Will have a look at it at SUPERBOOTH today….

  5. Am I correct in saying with over. Bridge you can modulate every parameter of the a4 using ableton and the many very useful maxforlive live devices? It can almost become a hybrid modular in some aspect?

    This device looks very interesting I’m on the fence about getting a phenol I would love to see the two in action next to each other

    1. phenol is heads and shoulders over A4 in sound quality and flexibility in sound creation. The A4 is a lot more about the sequencer, and if you jive with that then it’s a good piece and if you don’t (like me) then pass it on to someone who does.

      if this thing -is- a nanosynth, and it sounds good, and it’s cheap, then I’m in. my modular has all these things and more, but for me what makes it unique is all the modulation sources and interconnectivity, basics like these are about checking a few boxes (osc sync in, lin fm, retriggerable envs with cv control over stages) without breaking the bank. it’s nice to be able to pull up a basic sound then add the weird stuff instead of laboring 15 minutes before you get to the fun stuff.

    1. More information here – https://youtu.be/b7kc2XOD1zo
      Dual oscillator (one complex + one simple) – simple OSC doubles an a secondary LFO and allows for FM and cross mod of OSC1.
      There is another LFO besides the Simple Oscillator
      FX Section
      Pretty thorough Math / And/Or + Logic Functions + multipliers by the looks of it.
      In “SYNTH Mode” (red button) the entire unit becomes normal and works like a fixed architecture dual oscillator subtractive.
      Once deactivated the synth is fully modular in every sense of the word.
      Can be taken out its casing and used in a standard Eurorack system using the Eurorack power supply etc…
      Pretty much all I remember from memory but watch the video your self.

      1. Thanks for this link!
        This gives some more information as well as sound. Now we see it really exists, although not yet listed on the soundmachines website.

        Still this synthopia article and the video got me introduced to soundmachines and got me interested in this product. Nice!

    1. It depends on what you mean by “run from a workstation”? A keyboard workstation or a DAW? A DAW will be able to control it via the USB, effectively taking the place of a keyboard. I imagine you will be able to use other CC to control other cvs meaning a bit of after touch can be used to generate a voltage to control something on the synth. I have a USB input on my modular that appears as an instrument in Logic or at least something that plays like an eternal instrument.

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