|
|
Post by admin on Dec 18, 2019 10:00:53 GMT
In his last video of 2019 BoBeats has reviewed the AE Modular ... with the help of our own thetechnobear and NightMachines! Thanks to Bo, Mark and Felix for making this video which is reaching a potential audience of almost 60k subscribers! Special thanks to Felix for pointing viewers to this forum and also to our collaborative album AEtherwaves on Bandcamp. |
|
|
|
Post by thetechnobear on Dec 18, 2019 14:08:10 GMT
its a great review,
I like how Bo has framed the 'affordability' argument alongside AE, I think it is an important point esp. given what Behringer is doing.
only downside? probably means my next AE order will take longer to fulfil as Roberts gets flooded with orders (I hope)
|
|
Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
Posts: 556 
|
Post by Lugia on Dec 19, 2019 23:19:11 GMT
its a great review, I like how Bo has framed the 'affordability' argument alongside AE, I think it is an important point esp. given what Behringer is doing. Agreed...B. is only going to muddy the waters in Eurorack with their cheaper hardware. Conceivably, a lot of the entry-level could flock to them, which might lead to a bad cascade effect amongst the higher-end manufacturers.
OTOH, the AE stuff isn't a knockoff-level build like B.'s, and I think better reflects where modular needs to go in terms of affordability. Even as cheap as that new B. case is (rather, might be...remember, it's not quite out yet!), the modules still cost much more than a properly built-out AE system of a far greater size/capability. So you can drop $500 and still only get part of a functioning modular...or drop the same on an AE and start wailin' on it out of the box! And this doesn't even get into what you'd spend to fill their 2 x 140hp cab...which would equal the cost of something like my Gargantua system, which has several times the functionality.
Better get busy on hirings, Robert!  |
|
|
|
Post by dmoney2000 on Dec 20, 2019 2:39:52 GMT
The “budget friendly modular” idea is quickly going to become a more crowded space. Behringer is entering the arena with their system 100 clones, but Dreadbox and Erica Synths are bringing affordable options as well. Doepfer has their slimline modules, which seem relatively affordable. The average price of an AE module may be lower, but for example the Dreadbox Chromatic mixer/filter/vca module has the features and capabilities of several AE modules, so it looks like a wash to me as far as value is concerned.
Affordability is still a big selling point for AE, but it might be helpful to also accentuate the other positive aspects of the format, such as compatibility with arduino, potential to make your own custom modules, etc. With the release of the Solina and Algodrone modules, AE is starting to move beyond the bread-and-butter modules, and into the realm of hot and exciting new ideas. The premise of 3rd party modules also sounds promising. It might be best if AE can become not only more affordable than eurorack, but sonically distinct from it as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 20, 2019 3:32:35 GMT
I'm totally with dmoney2000 about the limited reach of the "budget friendly" marketing. Every time I introduce the system to people I talk about "the modular that you can run from a battery". My system is pretty substantial but it still fits on my very small desk .. try that with Eurorack. Yeah, Erica Pico can do that .. but that's really crowded once you've patched it all up. So my favourite properties of the AE are: size, portability and battery power. Price is also important, but at $800 Australian for the Starter Rack 2, the Behringer Neutron becomes a real competitor for entry into the modular world. |
|
jumpinjohnathon
Junior Member
No... Seriously... I have no idea how I created that Sound!
Posts: 53
|
Post by jumpinjohnathon on Dec 20, 2019 6:24:14 GMT
Just watched BoBeats video and congrats to Technobear and Tuesday Night Machines for doing a fine job of representing AE Modular.
It's a Modular rAEvolution that will just continue gathering steam!
|
|
|
|
Post by thetechnobear on Dec 20, 2019 18:07:49 GMT
yeah, Im with you admin , I think its important to place emphasis on portability, size, great sound, diy opportunities and other cool things about AE... alongside price. for sure Behringer are going to make an impact, but Ive a feeling it's not going to be as large as some people believe. simply, because there are already low prices options both in eurorack (erica, 2hp, dreadbox), and in the semi modular arena (which may be 'modular' enough for some! and for sure, this trend is bound to continue... Id expect many eurorack companies are thinking about 'budget' version of their modules and cases. but... you can never predict these things. anyway, I don't think of it as Eurorack OR AE modular. I think of AE modular as an instrument in its own right, stands on it own merits. you can use it on its own - or with a volca, a Eurorack or Buchla (oops, or Serge ... sorry felix ) |
|
|
|
Post by slowscape on Dec 20, 2019 19:31:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by thetechnobear on Dec 21, 2019 23:19:27 GMT
they are going to be entering the eurorack market.. they produced a powered case (that looks remarkably like the tiptop mantis ), and have been teasing pictures of some moog module clones. the expectation is these will be priced low. but no prices yet, and behringer can take their time to actually get around to selling the stuff  impact is hard to know... we don't know how low the prices will be, (and there is already budget stuff out there) also, how much they do in eurorack, will no doubt depend on the volume of sales of their early releases. (they might sell well in terms of the modular market, but that doesn't mean its enough for behringer.... it could be too small a market!) but as discussed in this thread... its not all about price. |
|
|
|
Post by slowscape on Dec 22, 2019 2:49:25 GMT
Thanks for filling me in!
Honestly, I think AEM really has a unique angle in how lightweight, portable, etc it is. Playing the “cheaper” card alone is always a zero sum game. Not a good place to be! I think TW should distance itself from the cheap label as much as possible. Yes it’s cheap, but it’s also so much more!
|
|
Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
Posts: 556
|
Post by Lugia on Dec 22, 2019 22:54:20 GMT
Problem is, tho...B. has been "entering the Eurorack market" for a few years now; I seem to believe it was 2017 or early 2018 when they first trolled everyone on Gearslutz with the "leak" of their "upcoming" Eurorack clones of the Roland 100M stuff (which Malekko currently makes for Roland, which would make Uli's versions something that actually targets one of the small but longstanding Eurorack manufacturers). Still haven't seen those. Then there's the Moog clones...barely anything about 'em. And this splashy 2 x 140hp cab...lots of vids, not much info. Oh, yeah...and the 1:1 copy of the Moog 104hp skiff that's actually OUT but which has the same design flaws (ie: no power port, no linking capabilities, doesn't come with a distro) as the Moog ones they slavishly replicated.
Soooo...much noise and smoke, but not a lot of heat. And it's interesting how they make these Eurorack-ables and position them as alternatives to Eurorack or even something to take up massive space in an expensive Eurorack cab and choke out other modules with potentially better control densities. I _surely_ wouldn't want to think that B. is actually aiming to cool down Eurorack by looming on its horizon as a potential threat to smaller companies in the field...nononooooooo...
|
|
|
|
Post by spacedog on Dec 23, 2019 12:40:07 GMT
I thought that the video review started to make some good points, but skimmed over them rather too quickly. One example being the comparison to Eurorack (i.e. the AE Modular is not Eurorack at one tenth of the price, but rather is a complementary system that maintains its usefulness as such even as other purchases are added). This has been mentioned here and I have mentioned it before. As a platform for DIY, it's amazing. Interfacing it to other products needs care and attention - hence why I was keen to capture successful experimentation.
There were other examples of skimming in the interview, in my opinion; although, overall it will attract new customers who will use it as a confirmation of what they want to hear, rather than what is (almost) being said. Having said that, I will be really pleased if this brings new users to the format, that can only be a good thing. It was great to have two real users featured as well, that added credibility and should very much help to show that the system works well in a creative context.
More users => even more exposure => an increasingly capable system for everyone => everyone wins => More Users... or something like that.
I saw an interesting picture today of a Behringer Neutron crowding out other modules in one of Thorsten Quaeschning's Eurorack setups. He's the current annointed frontman for Tangerine Dream, following Edgar Froese's death in 2015.
|
|
Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
Posts: 556
|
Post by Lugia on Dec 23, 2019 23:41:16 GMT
I saw an interesting picture today of a Behringer Neutron crowding out other modules in one of Thorsten Quaeschning's Eurorack setups. He's the current annointed frontman for Tangerine Dream, following Edgar Froese's death in 2015.
Sort of an unusual case, tho...TD tends to tour and move around an awful lot, which would tend to make putting the Neutron in the Euro cab a sensible move from a logistical standpoint. The vast majority of modular users don't do 50-date tours, though... |
|
morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by morgs on Dec 26, 2019 17:14:48 GMT
It was really exciting to see a substantial review of AE modular and a delight that Bo featured two of the Forum’s stars. Appreciate NightMachines for highlighting the Forum and the album as I really feel that this an important part of what makes AE special—especially for those of us who are completely new to electronic synthesis. It’s an open Forum but unlike others it stays focused, supportive, and not muddled by memes and egos. While I understand the importance of affordability (that was indeed a key decision point for myself initially) I feel that in Bo’s review, as in others (e.g. I think there is some Sonic State one) this aspect too over-emphasised. Like others on this thread I don’t think it’s appropriate to frame the decision-making as: should I get an AE system or go into eurorack? In my case, acquiring the AE starter rack helps me to understand many building blocks of patching and this, in turn makes me think of what I might eventually want in some eurorack format—as thetechnobear showcased in the video. I also felt that the review of the build focused on a comparison that wasn’t necessary as the build is what lends itself to many positive aspects, portability (as mentioned in this thread) and also the fact that it doesn’t require a lot of set up. In this sense, AE is like a painter’s sketchbook. Rather than setting up a canvas, oils and such you can just dive right in and start doing. I feel that this is quite a nice freedom. Going back to the portability @careck mentioned, I think one unexplored aspect of this is how this might lead to future sustainability of AE modular. By sustainability I mean that it sometimes feels counterintuitive to be getting into something that is not too sustainable in respect to energy consumption and parts. I can’t imagine that our standard brand synths and some eurorack modules are any more ethical in part acquisition than our computers and phones. As @carek has stated, I absolutely love that AE can run off a battery. this is one way in which I see AE as having a very positive future in respect to supporting a lower energy consumption future. I often use my solar powered charger + strom mobile and power my 2 rack system. While this is really quite insignificant I see AE architecture plus the community of people here in the forum as a great potential to thinking about how to creatively and sustainably use and work with energy in the future. |
|
|
|
Post by rodney on Jan 8, 2020 18:14:58 GMT
Thanks for filling me in! Honestly, I think AEM really has a unique angle in how lightweight, portable, etc it is. Playing the “cheaper” card alone is always a zero sum game. Not a good place to be! I think TW should distance itself from the cheap label as much as possible. Yes it’s cheap, but it’s also so much more! As they say: "The worst thing about a race to the bottom is that you might win!" true in money, art and politics |
|
|
|
Post by sycophante on Jan 9, 2020 9:41:24 GMT
By sustainability I mean that it sometimes feels counterintuitive to be getting into something that is not too sustainable in respect to energy consumption and parts. I can’t imagine that our standard brand synths and some eurorack modules are any more ethical in part acquisition than our computers and phones. As @carek has stated, I absolutely love that AE can run off a battery. this is one way in which I see AE as having a very positive future in respect to supporting a lower energy consumption future. Haha! Glad I'm not the only one proud my AE system for ecological reasons! |
|
|
|
Post by Gaëtan on Jan 9, 2020 10:45:17 GMT
"Affordable" is relative anyway when we talk about modulars... Even the AE starter system is around the same price as a lot of "big brand" semi-modulars. When you get into physical modulars you need to shell hundreds of € minimum no matter what, which isn't a trivial budget. |
|
Jihel
Full Member
knobs, knobs, and knobs !
Posts: 241
|
Post by Jihel on Sept 2, 2020 16:53:45 GMT
It was this video of BoBeats that led me to AE Modular...
|
|
|
|
Post by galaxyecomputer on Jan 17, 2022 12:50:34 GMT
 when we talk about modulars. I can’t imagine that our standard brand synths and some eurorack modules are any more ethical in part acquisition than our computers and phones I see AE as having a very positive future in respect to supporting a lower energy consumption future. it’s cheap, but it’s also so much more! but no prices yet, and behringer can take their time to actually get around to selling the stuff. Galaxy
|
|
when we talk about modulars. I can’t imagine that our standard brand synths and some eurorack modules are any more ethical in part acquisition than our computers and phones I see AE as having a very positive future in respect to supporting a lower energy consumption future. it’s cheap, but it’s also so much more! but no prices yet, and behringer can take their time to actually get around to selling the stuff.