Fans include Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, with For most people, the gradual nature of building a modular rig means focusing on an initial synth voice first of all, controlled from your computer or sequencer via a MIDI to CV module. Disting is its smallest module, packing a mind-boggling array of functions into a slim 4hp of rack space.It can be a quantizer (fixing your CV values to musical intervals), an LFO, a randomness generator, an oscillator, or a delay; it can invert, mix and multiply incoming CV signals. It’s not a real analog reissue, but it sounds so close to the original it’ll make no difference to anyone but the most staunch acid purists.Roland’s reissue even adds a few features not seen on the TB-303: LCD display for more precise editing, MIDI connection, USB port, overdrive and delay effects, and a shuffle function for adding variation to patterns. With some light modification, the packaging even doubles up as a rack for your modules.If you want your first synth to be fun, Teenage Engineering’s PO-20 Arcade is like making music with a Game Boy. While the complexities of Buchla’s “West Coast” style of synthesis may make it less immediately accessible for Eurorack beginners than the simpler East Coast style embodied by Bob Moog and others, Sputnik’s range offers a neat entry point for Eurorack owners interested in exploring West Coast ideas.Every modular system needs space for the less glamorous or exciting modules: the ones which don’t necessarily do much on their own, but enable you to get the most out of your other modules. You might want to send the same envelope signal to the volume of your oscillator and the cutoff frequency of your filter, for example. Digital synths will likely sound ‘cleaner’ compared to analogue synths that often generate a certain amount of unpredictability and natural saturation – both of which qualities are a major part of their enduring popularity. It doesn’t offer the deep controls for shaping sound as some synths, but if you’re happy with modifying presets Circuit is ideal.Some people just want a synth to make a lot of loud, weird noises, and there’s no shame in that. Later models can even be used with an inbuilt SD card slot to become a CV-controlled sampler. However, not all of them do: you should always consult the power instructions for each module, and make absolutely certain that you’ve matched the positive and negative connection for each module to those of your power supply before plugging anything in.The TipTop uZeus is perhaps the obvious power supply for Eurorack beginners, combining a 4hp front panel with power socket and switch, and two flexible power cables with connections for up to 10 modules. If it’s small enough to throw in a bag, you’ll be more likely to make music outside your home as well.If you’re just curious abut synths and want something to noodle on, you probably won’t have a mixer, soundcard or monitors to route your synth’s audio through. Combining this effect with a specific type of chip called a vactrol, which produces softer slopes when controlled by incoming CV signals, give LPGs a looser, more organic sound quality, often mimicking the behavior of real-world instruments.The Optomix provides two independent LPGs with CV control and tone shaping, plus a combined output for mixing both audio signals together. Most shops will be able to recommend a suitable plug when you buy your power supply.You’ll also need to pay attention to the power connections between your modules and your power supply: even if your system has all the right power levels, you can still short-circuit your modules if you plug them in the wrong way round.Most manufacturers adhere to the generally-accepted Eurorack standards originally laid out by Dieter Doepfer (including a red stripe marking the -12V supply on each module’s power cable), and include “keyed” connectors which physically prevent modules from being plugged in incorrectly. 1964-65 (unsure) - Buchla - model 100 modular - 1st "modern" modular synth; 1967 - Moog - Moog modular synthesizer I, II & III - 1st commercial modular synth.