EPISODE · Apr 22, 2026 · 40 MIN
Modular Synthesis for Studio and Stage
from Electronic Music · host Sound On Sound
James Richmond and Julian Rodgers dive into the world of modular synthesis, explaining what it is and how it fits into both studio production and live performance. They explore the process of creating unique sounds from scratch, the challenges of patch recall and share practical advice for anyone looking to get started with modular gear.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:52 - Modular Synth Definition01:50 - Semi-Modular02:59 - James' Modular Synthesis Work04:05 - Reaktor And Max07:32 - The Appeal Of Modular09:54 - Generating Your Own Sounds11:24 - Creating A System13:11 - Software Vs Hardware Systems14:02 - Creating Brand New Sounds16:16 - Stochastic Modulation21:31 - Handling Recall22:57 - Gigging With Modular26:42 - Preparing For Performance28:12 - East Coast Vs West Coast29:44 - Practical Performance Challenges31:34 - Careful Onstage Monitoring33:08 - Starting Out In Modular37:08 - Affordable Synthesis#NIreaktor #cycling74max #makenoisemaths #mutableinstrumentsrings #mutableinstrumentsclouds #doepfer #verbosJames Richmond BiogJames Richmond is a composer, producer and audio engineer working across electronic and guitar-based music. He is the guitarist and producer for Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes, has released experimental electronic work under the name Euclidean Circuits and has a solo project called The Deathbird. He also develops bespoke audio tools through EventFieldAudio and writes about music production, studio systems and monitoring from his hybrid modular and analogue studio.https://www.jamesrichmond.com/https://www.facebook.com/jamesrichmondaudio/https://twitter.com/octatonichttps://www.instagram.com/jamesrichmondaudioJulian Rodgers BiogJulian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
What this episode covers
James Richmond and Julian Rodgers dive into the world of modular synthesis, explaining what it is and how it fits into both studio production and live performance. They explore the process of creating unique sounds from scratch, the challenges of patch recall and share practical advice for anyone looking to get started with modular gear.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:52 - Modular Synth Definition01:50 - Semi-Modular02:59 - James' Modular Synthesis Work04:05 - Reaktor And Max07:32 - The Appeal Of Modular09:54 - Generating Your Own Sounds11:24 - Creating A System13:11 - Software Vs Hardware Systems14:02 - Creating Brand New Sounds16:16 - Stochastic Modulation21:31 - Handling Recall22:57 - Gigging With Modular26:42 - Preparing For Performance28:12 - East Coast Vs West Coast29:44 - Practical Performance Challenges31:34 - Careful Onstage Monitoring33:08 - Starting Out In Modular37:08 - Affordable Synthesis#NIreaktor #cycling74max #makenoisemaths #mutableinstrumentsrings #mutableinstrumentsclouds #doepfer #verbosJames Richmond BiogJames Richmond is a composer, producer and audio engineer working across electronic and guitar-based music. He is the guitarist and producer for Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes, has released experimental electronic work under the name Euclidean Circuits and has a solo project called The Deathbird. He also develops bespoke audio tools through EventFieldAudio and writes about music production, studio systems and monitoring from his hybrid modular and analogue studio.https://www.jamesrichmond.com/https://www.facebook.com/jamesrichmondaudio/https://twitter.com/octatonichttps://www.instagram.com/jamesrichmondaudioJulian Rodgers BiogJulian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio.https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts
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Modular Synthesis for Studio and Stage
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