There’s no need to be depressed – no one was born knowing how to use a modular synth. And the good news is, you just found the solution.

Learning how to “patch” modular synths isn’t difficult – once you grasp how they work on the inside, and know what each module is doing to the signal flowing through it. Fortunately, this knowledge can be learned as quickly as just a few hours, and will cost you less than most modules.

True story:

There was a musician in our local modular meetup who felt he could crack the code on his own  by aimlessly patching away, hoping to stumble across some great sounds. To save money, he bought whatever used modules came up for sale cheap. To save time, he declared he didn’t need a formal education. But he also admitted that if he couldn’t get anything except noise out of his modular, he was going to give it all up.

Then he started watching my videos, and read my book. Now he’s re-organized his system, is playing live on a weekly basis, and has a plan of what modules to get to help him reach his goals. In short, now he’s enjoying using his modular, rather than getting frustrated fighting with it.

What I’ve created for you:

In addition to this Learning Modular website – which contains a modular synth glossary, blog posts and tutorials on modular synths, where to find me on social media, and more – I also:

• created a series of online beginning through intermediate modular synth courses
• co-wrote a book – Patch & Tweak – about modular synthesizers, aimed at beginners through advanced users
• regularly update a Patreon site for subscribers with deep-dive articles on a variety of subjects, from synthesizer history to how I personally compose, record, and perform with modular synths

More information on each of those is below, or by clicking on the menu items above.

Why am I the one to help you?

I too was attracted to the sounds of electronic music when I was young. I wanted to figure out how to make those sounds myself. I took synthesis lessons as a teen in the 1970s, learning on a modular Steiner-Parker Synthasystem. A kit-based PAiA modular was my dorm room companion in college. Soon after I graduated, I was working at the legendary synth manufacturer Sequential Circuits, where I contributed to several instruments and created Vector Synthesis. I went on to work for Digidesign, Marion Systems (Tom Oberheim), and was the chief engineer at Roland R&D US. I also use modular synths and other electronic music gear to compose and perform under the name Alias Zone.

In other words, I know how these machines work from the inside out – I’ve even designed them.

Plus, I’ve always enjoyed sharing what I’ve learned with others. I taught synthesis at UCLA Extension, was the technical editor for Music Technology and Recording magazines, and wrote columns for Keyboard magazine plus Synths & Software.

I also have a lot of experience creating videos and books. Before I started Learning Modular, I created nearly 50 online courses on creating graphics for television and film for what was then lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning), and my wife Trish and I co-wrote 13 books on the subject.

In short, I know how to distill complex subjects down to information artists can immediately put to use.

Here are the various ways I can share my hard-earned knowledge with you:

Courses: Learning Modular Online

So – which path will you choose?

You can continue to use modular synths the way you have, poking around and hoping for happy accidents to magically appear.

Or, you can save time, money, and frustration by learning how these wonderful machines actually work on the inside. Once you have mastered the fundamental concepts and techniques I will share, the barriers between you and your synth will melt away, and it will become your partner – rather than your adversary – when you want to create your own sounds and music.

Get started now.

Stop wasting time and money on modules and patches that won’t get you closer to your goals.

Choose the path above that seems best suited to you, click through to its page, and get started learning how to master your modular synth. Give your imagination the tools it needs, so that you can finally realize the sounds and songs in you’ve been hearing in your head. You won’t regret investing in your own creativity.

But what if it doesn’t help me?

If you buy one of my online courses above, and after watching it decide that you didn’t learn anything or that it wasn’t right for you, email me using the contact form on this website, and I will refund your money. Yes, I know a few people are going to take advantage of me by watching a course and then claiming it was useless, just to save money. But in my experience, the modular synthesis community is full of wonderful, creative, honest human beings. So I’m willing to take that risk, just to make sure you are happy.

And as a bonus…

When you purchase one of my courses or subscribe to my Patreon channel, you will automatically start receiving my monthly newsletter. It contains additional modular articles and tips, along with summaries of my most recent videos and posts.

P.S.

This site also contains a lot of free information to help you on your modular journey, including an online Modular Synthesis Glossary and blog posts about essential techniques. Explore the menu along the top to learn more, including about my courses and book. Because after all – modular users never stop learning.