Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
1) keep your setup small. While it's tempting to want to use every synth & module you own, focusing & reducing your setup is SUPER helpful. Here's why:
➡️ it reduces variables: less stuff to use / think about = more bandwidth for you to listen deeply & get into a creative flow.
➡️ it forces you to find creative solutions, & to try new patches / ideas.
➡️ it focuses your sound palette to create a more cohesive-sounding performance. If you're only playing a 15-minute set, will you *really* have time to use all of those tools / instruments? If you're like me & have 100 ideas, just choose 1 to start, explore it deeply, & trust that the rest will be there next time.
2) think about hands-on interaction. How do you want to control your instrument? Does it play itself, or do you want to trigger every single gesture? For me, a good controller is an essential part of my performance setup.
To choose a controller, think about the kind of music you want to make & how you want to interact with it. Keyboards are great for melodic, pitch-based music, but there are tons of options out there: joysticks, touch plates, ribbon controllers, etc!
3) create "performance nodes" with one-to-many patching: use 1 key press to generate 3 or 4 different control sources, that go to 3 or 4 completely different places (e.g. a key press plays a pitch, randomizes a filter, and triggers an envelope on a 2nd voice).
This approach helps me feel like I'm really *playing* my synth in an engaged way, rather than trying to turn 10 knobs all at once.
Also! I have exciting news: The next round of my online course "Learning Sound & Synthesis" opens in August—AND—Everyone who enrolls in LSS from the waitlist will get my Live Performance with Modular Synths training for FREE—this is a deep dive into all things live performance: preparing patches, structuring performances, overcoming stage fright, & more.
This is a waitlist-only bonus, so if you're not already signed up,
go to the link in my bio to see more details!
#modularsynth #eurorack #sounddesign #synthesizer #musicproduction #experimentalmusic #electronicmusic
1) keep your setup small. While it's tempting to want to use every synth & module you own, focusing & reducing your setup is SUPER helpful. Here's why:
➡️ it reduces variables: less stuff to use / think about = more bandwidth for you to listen deeply & get into a creative flow.
➡️ it forces you to find creative solutions, & to try new patches / ideas.
➡️ it focuses your sound palette to create a more cohesive-sounding performance. If you're only playing a 15-minute set, will you *really* have time to use all of those tools / instruments? If you're like me & have 100 ideas, just choose 1 to start, explore it deeply, & trust that the rest will be there next time.
2) think about hands-on interaction. How do you want to control your instrument? Does it play itself, or do you want to trigger every single gesture? For me, a good controller is an essential part of my performance setup.
To choose a controller, think about the kind of music you want to make & how you want to interact with it. Keyboards are great for melodic, pitch-based music, but there are tons of options out there: joysticks, touch plates, ribbon controllers, etc!
3) create "performance nodes" with one-to-many patching: use 1 key press to generate 3 or 4 different control sources, that go to 3 or 4 completely different places (e.g. a key press plays a pitch, randomizes a filter, and triggers an envelope on a 2nd voice).
This approach helps me feel like I'm really *playing* my synth in an engaged way, rather than trying to turn 10 knobs all at once.
Also! I have exciting news: The next round of my online course "Learning Sound & Synthesis" opens in August—AND—Everyone who enrolls in LSS from the waitlist will get my Live Performance with Modular Synths training for FREE—this is a deep dive into all things live performance: preparing patches, structuring performances, overcoming stage fright, & more.
This is a waitlist-only bonus, so if you're not already signed up,
go to the link in my bio to see more details!
#modularsynth #eurorack #sounddesign #synthesizer #musicproduction #experimentalmusic #electronicmusic
