When I first started getting into Eurorack, I mainly used it to make interesting and experimental sounds. But after spending more time with it, I realized it is also about making decisions. A modular system never really feels finished. There is always another module to buy, another cable to plug in.
Sometimes, when I’m sitting in front of a bunch of modules, patching them up, I sometimes get lost because I want to use nearly all the modules to create a patch that has a lot of rich sounds. Instead of asking, “What does this sound need?” I start thinking, “How much more can I add?”
For me, this is also related to experimental music practice. Experimental music is not only about strange or experimental sounds. It is also about process, listening, limits, accidents, and choices. Sometimes one oscillator, one filter, and one slow modulation can create more space than a huge patch.
After playing with modular synthesizers for couple years, made me realize that limitation is not the opposite of creativity. Sometimes, limitations can inspire me more. In experimental music, the goal isn’t necessarily to create the most complex or strange sounds. Sometimes, the more important question is to consider when to start simplifying things.
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