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35-493: 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 and Frac format. DIY synthesizer retailer synthCube took over distribution of MOTM modules in 2015, when synthCube acquired

70-421: A common bipolar 12 V DC power bus (+12V , 0 V, −12 V). This can be distributed by one of two connectors with a standard 2.54 mm (0.1 in) pitch : Audio and control signals are exchanged between modules via 3.5 mm mono jack cables. The electrical characteristics of signals are split into three loosely defined categories: Several manufacturers offer Eurorack-compatible modules in

105-492: A gateway to learning more about electronics and physical manufacturing, as well as being satisfying and developing a more intimate connection with the synthesizer as a personal musical instrument. Some manufacturers such as Befaco , Bastl Instruments and Erica Synths offer some or all of their modules both as assembled products or as kits to be assembled by the buyer. Doepfer offers a case and power supply kit, as well as 'low cost' cases designed to be customised and finished by

140-448: A new line of "Augmented" software instruments, which brought new approaches to already known sounds. These Augmented instruments are Voice, Piano, Brass and Strings. Arturia's first software FX processors were emulations of historical processors, such as preamps and filters. Arturia has since developed original FX processors, such as Rev Intensity, Buss Force, Efx Fragments (granular delay), and Coldfire Distortion. When Arturia emulates

175-681: A part of the Brute family, the Drum Brute is an analog drum machine with a dedicated sequencer and 17 drum engines. Two years later Arturia released the DrumBrute Impact, a smaller and reworked version of the DrumBrute with the ability to add accent to sounds which changes the timbre of each drum engine. In 2018, they introduced MiniBrute 2, a semi-modular analog synth that includes a patch bay that connects to Eurorack modular gear. They also introduced

210-412: A selection of the following: (1) a high-pass filter (where anything above a certain frequency can “pass”), (2) a low-pass filter (anything below a given frequency can pass), (3) a band-pass filter (where anything “in between” two frequencies can pass), and (4) a notch filter (where one cuts a specific range of frequencies out allowing everything else to pass). Essentially, modules that can both operate as

245-551: A signal (like compressors, or limiters), (2) equalizers, used to change the frequency characteristics of a given sound (sometimes in the form of a eurorack mixer module), or (3) special effects, like delays, reverbs, or choruses. The technical and modular nature of Eurorack often attracts people who are interested in modifying or building their own modules or cases. Many Eurorack manufacturers started off as individuals building " do it yourself " (DIY) modules or offering DIY kits before expanding into production. Building DIY modules can be

280-476: A smaller 1U tall format, sometimes referred to as "tiles". As of 2018, there are two competing standards for 1U modules, differing mainly in their height. 1U modules manufactured by Intellijel are 39.65 mm high, whereas 1U modules manufactured by Pulp Logic and other manufacturers are 43.2 mm high. Pulp Logic also proposes a more compact power connector for 1U modules, consisting of only three pins. The most common source of sound in any modular synthesizer

315-414: A source or a processor of musical content in the form of CV or MIDI messages. The most common kind are step-sequencers , where each individual musical event is triggered in a “step” of a bigger sequence (or loop). Utility modules are the ones responsible for expanding certain capabilities of a specific setup. They can be used to combine, split, divide, multiply, quantize, or offset a signal. One example of

350-522: A standard 19" rack using MOTM 19A rack rails, although many users have custom cabinets made of metal or wood. In early 2006, Synthesis Technology released a limited number of Frac format modules, using 3.5mm jacks and a smaller overall form factor compatible with PAiA Electronics and Blacet modular systems. This was followed by the release of four Eurorack modules (also called 3U, compatible with systems from Doepfer and many other manufacturers). Although full MOTM systems are only available in 5U format,

385-455: A utility module is a multiplier, that allow one to send any CV output to many other inputs. Another example are the attenuators responsible for scaling the CV signal with a control knob (much like faders in a mixing console). A lot similar to the concept in a guitar pedal, effects modules are used to change the sound of an incoming signal. They can be (1) dynamic processors, used to control the level of

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420-600: A very similar format, with small technical differences such as the power connectors. Analogue Systems would later change their products to offer Eurorack compatibility. In the mid 2000s, other manufacturers such as Cwejman, Make Noise Music and TipTop Audio adopted Doepfer's Eurorack format and started designing and manufacturing compatible modules. By 2013, the Eurorack format had gained in popularity. Music technology journalists estimated that there were already at least 80 manufacturers offering over 700 modules, greatly expanding

455-501: A visual or sonic aesthetic defined by one manufacturer sets Eurorack apart from other modular synthesizer formats, and these factors have contributed to the popularity of Eurorack among both manufacturers and musicians. Before Eurorack, in the late 1970s, several modular systems based on the industrial “Euro” card frames appeared: By the late 1980s, these had all ceased production. Dieter Döpfer built some Formant modules before producing his own systems. His Voice Modular System from

490-523: Is a voltage-controlled oscillator . They depend on a control voltage, a lot of times routed from external hardware (for example, an analog synthesizer with a CV output, or MIDI signals processed on a MIDI-to-CV converter), to both control pitch, and output different waveforms. There are various control-voltage standards for determining the voltage/pitch relationship. The most popular ones are "volts-per-octave", where 1 V equals one octave, and "hertz-per-volt", where each octave equals doubling or halving

525-916: Is one exception, being very similar to the MOTM-440 (which is based on the SSM 2040 filter from the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 ). The Modules are divided into categories, based on their function. Eurorack Eurorack is a modular synthesizer format originally specified in 1995 by Doepfer Musikelektronik . It has since grown in popularity, and as of 2022 has become a dominant hardware modular synthesizer format, with over 15,000 modules available from more than 1000 different manufacturers ranging from DIY kits and boutique, cottage-industry designers to well-known, established synth mass-manufacturers like Moog and Roland . Compact size, 3.5mm mono jacks and cables for patching all signals, and lack of

560-533: The "V" synth collection or the "FX" collection. Arturia's first instruments were emulations of historical synthesizers, organs, and pianos. Arturia's Analog Lab is a collection of presets of these synths with limited sound modeling available, and comes bundled with many of their Keyboard Midi controllers. In 2018 Arturia released their first original software synthesizer named Pigments. Pigments now features four synthesis types, extensive modulation sources and visual indication of control signals. In 2022 Arturia released

595-585: The Beatstep and Microbrute designed to be able to communicate with Eurorack modular synthesizers via 3.5 mm jacks transmitting control voltages. In 2015 Moog released the Mother ;32, a Eurorack-compatible semi-modular synthesizer. By the end of fall 2018, the ModularGrid website included more than 316 manufacturers. For synthesizers, Eurorack is a de facto standard to allow different modules to fit in

630-571: The MicroBrute, a smaller and less expensive version of the MiniBrute with minikeys, a patch bank, and a sequencer. Both synthesizers received critical acclaim. In 2015, Arturia launched the AudioFuse, a compact 2-input audio interface with dense connectivity. This was the start of a new line of products which now includes bigger-scale audio interfaces such as the AudioFuse studio, the AudioFuse 8pre and

665-498: The MiniBrute 2S which swaps a traditional keyboard for performance pads and a sequencer that can be recorded in real time. In 2019, Arturia released the MicroFreak, a 4-voice digital synthesizer with an analog filter and a distinctive touch capacitive keyboard. The digital oscillator allows for different algorithms to be loaded onto the unit, including algorithms by Mutable Instruments and Noise Engineering . Arturia followed up with

700-569: The MiniFreak in 2022, which featured 6-voices, more functionality and a larger traditional keyboard. Arturia released the PolyBrute, its flagship 6-voice-polyphonic analog synthesiser in 2021. Its layout is reminiscent of its monophonic counterpart, the MatrixBrute, and shares a similar voice architecture to other analog synthesisers from Arturia's Brute range. In addition it features a touchstrip over

735-590: The Modular V softsynth, which uses Arturia's True Analog Emulation (TAE) to faithfully reproduce the oscillators, filters, and other modules from the Moog 3C and Moog 55. Following these releases, Arturia developed software emulations of well-known synthesizers, including the ARP 2600 , Roland Jupiter-8 , Minimoog , and Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 . Arturia continues to develop software synthesizers and effects, bundled respectively in

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770-594: The Origin, a standalone, DSP-based system utilizing the same software engine as their virtual synth products. This was followed up in 2012 with the MiniBrute , a vintage-style 25-key monophonic analog synthesizer with one voltage controlled oscillator , two low-frequency oscillators , and a multi-mode Steiner-Parker filter. Despite pre-production uncertainty about sales, the MiniBrute sold well due to its low price point and expressive sound. The following year, Arturia announced

805-450: The V Collection and FX Collection, which are updated every year. In 2007, Arturia combined sounds from several of their softsynth titles into Analog Factory, which offered about 2000 preset synthesizer patches, offering this the following year as Analog Experience, a hybrid system which combined the software with a MIDI keyboard controller specifically designed to play and control it. In 2009, Arturia released their first hardware synth,

840-624: The assets of Bridechamber. Synthesis Technology stopped manufacturing Eurorack modules in July, 2023, as a result of Paul Schreiber's planned retirement. MOTM systems use a ±15 volt power supply for most modules, with an additional 5 volt power supply required for some digital modules. Audio signals are the standard 10 volts, peak to peak. The MOTM system modules are all "5U" high (1U being 1.75 inches), and multiples of 1U wide. All 5U MOTM modules use 1/4-inch jacks for audio/CV signals. Euro and Frac modules use 3.5mm" (~1/8") jacks. MOTM modules can be mounted in

875-566: The buyer. Releasing modules exclusively as open source designs and DIY kits allows designers such as Music Thing Modular to design and release popular modules such as the Turing Machine or Radio Music without having to run a company or invest in manufacturing. Open Source licenses for both hardware and code allow individuals to build the modules from scratch, and companies such as Thonk to offer kits. Some manufacturers do not offer kits or intend for end users to build their products, but release

910-642: The code, schematics and layout under open source licenses. Émilie Gillet of Mutable Instruments cites transparency and the possibility for customers to customise or modify their modules as driving reasons for this decision. Arturia Arturia is a French electronics company founded in 1999 and based in Grenoble , France. The company designs and manufactures audio interfaces and electronic musical instruments , including software synthesizers , drum machines , analog synthesizers , digital synthesizers , MIDI controllers , sequencers , and mobile apps . Arturia

945-696: The currently available Frac and Euro modules provide unique functionality that is somewhat different from the 5U MOTM modules. For example, in Frac format, the MOTM-1190 (Dual VCA) and MOTM-1800 (Looping ADSR ) are similar but not identical in functionality to their 5U counterparts (the MOTM-190 and MOTM-800 respectively). In Euro format, most of the currently available modules offer functionality that does not currently have an equivalent in MOTM 5U format. The E440 Discrete OTA VCF module

980-536: The early 1980s was a Eurocard-based "modular" (the modules were non-patchable voice cards etc.) polyphonic synth, but the front panels look very similar to the later A100 modules. In 1996, Doepfer Musikelektronik released the first Eurorack-format modular synthesizer system, the Doepfer A-100 , followed by successive new series of compatible modules in 1997 and 1998. In the UK, Analogue Systems had been independently developing

1015-457: The keyboard and a multidimensional touchpad called “morphée” which allows more control over the sound. In May of 2024, Arturia released the PolyBrute 12. The company's product line includes software synthesizers , software bundles, hardware synthesizers , MIDI keyboards and sequencers , mobile apps, and other audio equipment and controllers. Arturia sells software instruments and software FX processors as individual items and also as part of

1050-452: The musical possibilities available from a Eurorack system to include sampling and sample manipulation, West-coast-style wavefolding, DSP-based effects and more. In the mid 2010s, increasing interest in Eurorack modulars prompted large, well-known music technology manufacturers to start producing Eurorack-compatible equipment aimed at this new market. In addition to modules, manufacturers like Arturia started producing outboard devices such as

1085-431: The opposite of the pink noise, with more power concentrated on the higher frequencies, among others. Under the category of processors, modulators modify an incoming signal. The effects produced are widely varied and a lot of times, modules are built for a specific function, for example: Another kind of processor, filters are modules shaping the sound by attenuating specific frequency ranges. These modules contain all or

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1120-534: The same cases and communicate among themselves. The basic requirement is compatibility with the Doepfer technical specifications: The physical specification is based on the Eurocard standard of: Eurorack modules may be further characterized by depth: shallow modules (2.5 cm to 4 cm [1] ) can fit into "skiff" cases and are casually referred to as "skiff friendly". The Eurorack electrical specification defines

1155-610: The updated version of the AudioFuse. In 2021, Arturia announced a more affordable line of audio interfaces called MiniFuse, with different number of inputs and colour formats. In 2016, Arturia released the KeyStep , an entry-level 32-note keyboard focusing on sequencing and connectivity. Arturia added to this line with the KeyStep Pro, the BeatStep Pro and the KeyStep 37. Released in 2016 as

1190-419: The voltage. Under the category of source modules, these modules are responsible for producing different “types” of noises (or colors ). They can output (1) white noise — where all frequencies in the spectrum are equally powered, (2) pink noise — where there is more power to the lower end, due to its logarithmic nature, (3) brown noise — similar to pink noise, but steeper slope, (4) blue noise — oversimplified,

1225-467: Was founded in 1999 in Grenoble by INPG engineers Frédéric Brun and Gilles Pommereuil to create affordable software synthesizers . Their first product was Storm, a virtual instrument workstation . The close emulation of classic analog synthesizers helped the company gain popularity in its market. Brun and Pommereuil developed new software algorithms that create sounds with minimal digital artifacts. Arturia worked with Robert Moog in 2003 to create

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