[fooqux]

What an insightful comment. I've always considered art as something that can't be recreated, as it involves the state of mind the creator was at the time of creating it. I would worry no more about recreating a sound on this synth as I would recreating the exact pitch of an acoustic guitar I made last year.

Your take is obviously a valid one though. I just find it infinitely interesting how there can be so many valid viewpoints about something like this.

[mobiledev2014]

That is how many synth users feel as well, that they don't need presets because they'll just create a new sound. Neither approach is invalid as there is no right or wrong way to be creative.

[wraptile]

I'm not a professional musician but making patches is something I never knew was fun until I tried it and it immediately became my favorite musical activity. Sitting down with my Minilogue XD and spending and evening just making an ephemeral 16 step sequence is a really great recreation activity that I'd recommend for anyone.

[mobiledev2014]

Totally agree. Have you tried VCV Rack? You're welcome/I'm sorry :D

[wraptile]

As I'm a software engineer I try to avoid software tools for recreation but it's getting harder and harder and vcv-rack is even on nix package manager. I think I might have to break my rule just this once - thanks!

As a counter curse I recommend strudel.cc back at you :)

[mobiledev2014]

I think it’s one of the best pieces of software in existence and I don’t say that lightly. In a perfect world we’d have a magic of box of every modular component to build and rebuild to tinker with the physical controls but in lieu of magic vcv rack plus a midi controller is the next best thing

Strudel is very cool. Possibilities are endless with music tools

[embedding-shape]

I'd say "meh" to VCVRack. Just like you, I got into music production to get away from the computer so I avoid software when I can, I basically only have hardware for production, so I can use my hands and not stare at screens, only do mastering in a DAW.

Like you, many people along the years been telling me that I'll love modular synths, and I should try it out VCVRack to get a taste. So I did, maybe once or twice a year. It never felt fun for me, even one bit. Never sure why.

Then at some point I borrow my friend's modular setup as he was going to play in places where he couldn't bring it, and I finally understood what's so fun about it. The hardware is what makes it fun and relaxing for me, not the concepts themselves, and seemingly for me, they don't translate into the digital realm.

I guess the point is: I'm kind of similar to you and I couldn't get into VCVRack but actual real modular synths are fun as hell. Maybe it's the same for you, so don't lose hope if VCVRack ends up not feeling fun :)

[TylerE]

Personally I swing both ways. I love to just with, say, a basic sawtooth wave (honestly that, a little filter, and a basic ADSR gets you To many of the most iconic sounds of the 70s), but I do like presets so when I land in something really special I can snapshot it.

[duped]

There are forms of art where the "meta" is that the artists are attempting to recreate something exactly the same each time, but in doing so there is always something different (theater, live music, etc). Some art leans towards perfection in recreation and some leans towards the unique.

Professionals are usually good at doing both.