Music Thing Modular Workshop System Desktop Eurorack Synthesiser

Music Thing Modular Workshop System for sale. A completely self-contained compact modular synth built into a tough case. This well thought out all in one system has everything you need to get started making sounds and it's small enough to throw into a backpack (or carry on case) and take wherever you want. 

Carry case external dimensions: 18 x 25 x 8cm. Unit: 13 x 21 x 3cm.

It's one of the things I was most impressed by at Superbooth this year (and I write this as a decidedly non-modular synth person). Unlike most Eurorack, there's no extra bits required for use - aside from headphones and maybe a battery pack if you're off-grid/out in the field - it has an onboard mic, stereo input/output and even has an interface for your pedals. Think of it as a modern compact Synthi AKS or a mini sound design synth/system to take wherever you go.

It only took Tom Whitwell a few minutes to convince me that this is the perfect modular synth for electronic music makers and sound designers who don't 'do' modular (and for those who do and want a portable sound lab). I'm usually underwhelmed by the sound of modular, but this little beauty punches well above its size/weight sonically.

Music Thing Modular Workshop System is a complete modular synth. It is slightly smaller than a hardback book. It comes in a foam-lined hard case, PSU & patch cables.

The Workshop System was designed to be useful and open:

• A genre-neutral toolkit, a little box of ways to make and manipulate music and sound.
• A patchable, hackable, code-able modular synth that can be used in many different ways.
• A system that works with things you already have. Plug in your phone, a drum machine, a laptop, guitar pedals or a microphone.
• A computer that uses tiny program cards that are completely hackable. Anyone who writes code can make, share, sell their creations - sequencers, effects, interfaces.

The Workshop System has 14 modules:

• 2 x SineSquare Oscillators Simple vintage-style oscillators made of 1970s tech.

• 2 x Humpback Filters Similarly vintage-style filters, designed by Philip Goulding of God’s Box.

• 2 x Slopes These work as attack/decay envelopes, LFOs and portamento generators.
• Computer Is a multi-function module with knobs, a switch and audio, CV and pulse ins and outs. Initially, the system comes with a USB MIDI card, a Turing Machine sequencer and a Reverb card. A community of programmers are creating more cards.
• Stereo In takes a 3.5mm stereo input and boosts it to modular level.
• Ring Mod is a great-sounding ring modulator, connected to the two sines. It also works as a simple VCA.
• Stompbox is an interface for guitar pedals, with blend and feedback controls to make boring pedals more interesting. There’s a 9v power outlet for pedals below this module.
• Amplifier contains two simple circuits. One is connected to a piezo contact mic behind the panel, the other is the transistor-based input circuit from a MiniMoog. In other words, a Mikrophonie and a Mini Drive.
• 4 Voltages is a minimum viable keyboard: four voltage outputs, one knob, four pushbuttons. More fun to play with than to explain.
• Mix a simple output mixer, with two stereo channels, two mono channels and a powerful headphone amp / line out.
• PSU behind the panel is a power supply that runs on USB-C PD power or professional 15-25v barrel connectors. It works from battery powerbanks and laptop adaptors, most likely something you’ve already got at home.