Your favorite cheap module – Gearspace.com

Actually, this thread is making it hard to resist going through my MG account module by module. I got started with cheap modules and I still show favoritism toward the cheap stuff because if it’s cheap, you can buy more!!! There are so many great modules out there that are sub-$200.

Synthrotek has a lot of cheap modules that are really good if you can get past the political controversy of the guy. The Atari Punk Console and the Chaos Nand are awesome little noisemakers. Chaos Nand loves extreme modulation.

EMW is a really great company with tons of cheap modules. Most of them are clones (Moog Filters, SH envelopes, etc.) but there’s a few originals in his lineup that are really good, especially for the price. Alias DVCO can get gnarly, the T-Drums are a whole bucket of fun, the Wave Compressor is super useful, and the Analog Drum Synth is one of my favorite modules in the whole system (an analog clone of a Korg ER-1 voice, who knew?)

The 2HP stuff is cheap and usually a lot better than people give them credit for. There’s some modules where it feels like they really went too small, but the functionality makes up for it. (Their drum modules are a perfect example of this; kick, snare, and hats for less than $400 for the set, and they can do a whole lot, but it’s way too crowded to work with them all at once in the same space.)

Check out some of the old and forgotten stuff, too. Analogue Solutions isn’t as prominent as they used to be, but their old modules (especially their oscillators) sound awesome. The old Qu-Bit modules go pretty cheap, and there’s a lot of useful stuff in their old lineup. Old Audio Damage effects are usually cheap and useful. Everybody and their mother used to rant and rave about Ornament and Crime, and now its super cheap. Flight of Harmony has a couple modules worth having that go pretty cheap (in particular the PLAGUE BEARER!!!) 4ms has a lot of modules that used to be must-haves (Atoner, Noise Swash, and Rotating Clock Divider) that are cheap now.

Older versions of modules are good to get a hold of as well. When Tides v2 came out, Tides became super cheap, so I got a second one for detuned foldable/shapeable sawteeth. Braids is cheap as hell now with Plaits out when in practice, they’re very different modules.

Pick a few favorite DIY builders and keep an eye on them. The main guy I use has a system where he’ll build a module, list it for a fair price, and then just keeps reducing the price until it sells. Not only can you score some good deals on the popular stuff (Radio Music, O_C, Temps Utile, etc.) but many of them make modules from guys that you forget about making modules until you see them up for sale. The Ginko stuff is becoming pretty affordable, Nonlinear Circuits is always weird and cheap (everbody into ambient/self-generation needs a Sloth or three), and one guy I buy from breaks out the odd Barton module with his own custom panels that look wicked awesome. (My 1song has a Kitten on it!)

Get on eBay and Reverb, and sort by price. Start from the bottom and work your way up. There are so many great forgotten/overlooked modules out there that sell way cheaper than they used to/should.

Also, don’t forget to try out modules with different functions than what you were originally looking for. For instance, I know you mentioned sound mangling, but logic modules can not only spice up your triggers, but can be used to make some wild new waveforms when working at audio-rate. Sequencers being clocked by audio-rate oscillators are great for shaping new waveforms by hand. Even bland utility stuff like mixers can color your sound and make it your own.

Don’t overlook modules that work as whole voices. Even if the voice sucks, you can still use components of it elsewhere in your system i.e. the Synthesizer Box kinda sucks on its own, but I’m constantly tapping into it for its LFO and envelope.

Shut up and buy a Wasp now!!!Actually, this thread is making it hard to resist going through my MG account module by module. I got started with cheap modules and I still show favoritism toward the cheap stuff because if it’s cheap, you can buy more!!! There are so many great modules out there that are sub-$200.Synthrotek has a lot of cheap modules that are really good if you can get past the political controversy of the guy. The Atari Punk Console and the Chaos Nand are awesome little noisemakers. Chaos Nand loves extreme modulation.EMW is a really great company with tons of cheap modules. Most of them are clones (Moog Filters, SH envelopes, etc.) but there’s a few originals in his lineup that are really good, especially for the price. Alias DVCO can get gnarly, the T-Drums are a whole bucket of fun, the Wave Compressor is super useful, and the Analog Drum Synth is one of my favorite modules in the whole system (an analog clone of a Korg ER-1 voice, who knew?)The 2HP stuff is cheap and usually a lot better than people give them credit for. There’s some modules where it feels like they really went too small, but the functionality makes up for it. (Their drum modules are a perfect example of this; kick, snare, and hats for less than $400 for the set, and they can do a whole lot, but it’s way too crowded to work with them all at once in the same space.)Check out some of the old and forgotten stuff, too. Analogue Solutions isn’t as prominent as they used to be, but their old modules (especially their oscillators) sound awesome. The old Qu-Bit modules go pretty cheap, and there’s a lot of useful stuff in their old lineup. Old Audio Damage effects are usually cheap and useful. Everybody and their mother used to rant and rave about Ornament and Crime, and now its super cheap. Flight of Harmony has a couple modules worth having that go pretty cheap (in particular the PLAGUE BEARER!!!) 4ms has a lot of modules that used to be must-haves (Atoner, Noise Swash, and Rotating Clock Divider) that are cheap now.Older versions of modules are good to get a hold of as well. When Tides v2 came out, Tides became super cheap, so I got a second one for detuned foldable/shapeable sawteeth. Braids is cheap as hell now with Plaits out when in practice, they’re very different modules.Pick a few favorite DIY builders and keep an eye on them. The main guy I use has a system where he’ll build a module, list it for a fair price, and then just keeps reducing the price until it sells. Not only can you score some good deals on the popular stuff (Radio Music, O_C, Temps Utile, etc.) but many of them make modules from guys that you forget about making modules until you see them up for sale. The Ginko stuff is becoming pretty affordable, Nonlinear Circuits is always weird and cheap (everbody into ambient/self-generation needs a Sloth or three), and one guy I buy from breaks out the odd Barton module with his own custom panels that look wicked awesome. (My 1song has a Kitten on it!)Get on eBay and Reverb, and sort by price. Start from the bottom and work your way up. There are so many great forgotten/overlooked modules out there that sell way cheaper than they used to/should.Also, don’t forget to try out modules with different functions than what you were originally looking for. For instance, I know you mentioned sound mangling, but logic modules can not only spice up your triggers, but can be used to make some wild new waveforms when working at audio-rate. Sequencers being clocked by audio-rate oscillators are great for shaping new waveforms by hand. Even bland utility stuff like mixers can color your sound and make it your own.Don’t overlook modules that work as whole voices. Even if the voice sucks, you can still use components of it elsewhere in your system i.e. the Synthesizer Box kinda sucks on its own, but I’m constantly tapping into it for its LFO and envelope.