Just Bought a Desktop Semi-Modular Synth, and I'm Incredibly Frustrated

[Bassist4Eris]

I'm hoping somebody here can point me in the right direction. I just bought the new Behringer Grind, a piece of gear way outside of my comfort zone, and I can't seem to get it to do much of anything.

Most frustratingly, I can't get it to MIDI sync to my DAW. Every other piece of gear I own is plug-and-play, but not this. I've been through the manual and looked online, but I just can't seem to get it to work. I've tried USB and old-school MIDI cable. The MIDI cable, which connects to my interface, works with everything else I hook it to. The USB cable is brand new, and the DAW will accept MIDI notes from the Grind. But the Grind does not recognize clock signal from the DAW.

There's also a section of drum sounds, but I can't see how you're supposed to use more than one sound in any loop. How can I make a drum pattern out of just kicks? Just snares? Is it a matter of overdubbing several layers, one by one? It seems cumbersome and impractical, but I'm sure I'm missing something.

A part of me wants to see if I can get a refund. If not, it may go on the market. This thing is about as much fun as a root canal.

 

[DirtDog]

I have no suggestions but as a similarly frustrated owner of a different semi modular analog synth, I’m following along! In my case, I’ve relegated myself to sending the synth’s audio out to my DAW and multitrack. It’s a challenge to sync anything without playing the notes myself, so that’s what I’ve done.

 

[monsterthompson]

Can’t help with the MIDI issue. That definitely sounds like something to contact their tech support about.

As for the drum sounds, from what I’ve seen this is a single voice, so you’ll only get one drum sound at a time. I only did a quick search and don’t have a deep familiarity, but I didn’t see a quick way to change between saved patches. If there is, you’d still only get one sound triggering at a time. The intent is likely for users to sculpt a drum sound and sample it, then repeat the process until you have a full kit of samples and work with that. You could also build a layer of loops, as you mentioned. Create a kick loop, a snare loop, etc., then layer them in the DAW.

 

[Hertz]

I went on a 6 year modular synth binge and ended up keeping a few select pieces I gelled with. Midi and clock sync can differ between brands and can be extremely frustrating. Return the device if it's not going to work for you, otherwise you might find yourself buying more equipment just so you can interface with them. I have also found that watching video demonstrations by Loopop are very useful before you purchase the device. Saved me a lot of time and money. I certainly understand the allure to hardware but I have got to say that most DAWS support some really amazing synths and plugins at a fraction of the cost including VCV rack.

 

[GrayGoesBlack]

A==

There's also a section of drum sounds, but I can't see how you're supposed to use more than one sound in any loop. How can I make a drum pattern out of just kicks? Just snares? Is it a matter of overdubbing several layers, one by one? It seems cumbersome and impractical, but I'm sure I'm missing something.

Patching and sequencing can get you different sounds in a loop, that is what the whole (semi-)modular thing is about. But with 1 oscillator/sound source, you're not going to get a complete drum pattern at once, if you want simultaneous sounds at least. I see the Grind is a Brains with a Mother 32 type filter and sequencer, quite cool, but rather limited if that is your only modular thing. Modular is inherently impractical and costly, get a Arturia Drumbrute (Impact) if you want drum loops, or a regular synth. I've dabbled with modular synths, but sold it all for more practical stuff, because it is a study in itself and I just didn't have the time for it.

 

[J Wilson]

Another reason Yamaha DX7's became best sellers in their day:

After a lot of guys went brain dead from trying to figure out oscillators, filters, ADSR, ring modulators and more on MiniMoogs, Jupiters, and Prophets, the presets on DX's freed you from all that. And over time, most of the industry followed suit. I could form brass patches or a clavinet on a program-it-yourself synth, but not a lot else.

My fave from those days was the Roland JX8P, which had an available accessory programmer which I bought with it. It RARELY got used. I was spoiled to the presets ( and polyphony!) by then.

 

[40Hz]

I kinda gave up on putting most of my synth hardware under DAW control. And like @DirtDog I found it easier to just play or sequence them and feed the audio and/or the MIDI data into the DAW and call it a day. Maybe if I understood the full MIDI spec better tgan I do - and manufacturers would always provide a MIDI implementation chart for their products- I’d do things differently. But I’m more interested in getting tracks into the DAW than I am fiddling with technology. But you may feel differently.

FWIW I think you’re better off going with soft synths if you want to control everything with a DAW. As was said earlier, you can get some amazing synths and plug ins for a fraction of the cost of their hardware counterparts that are virtually indistinguishable from the silicon originals.

A good example (one of my favs) is Cherry Audio’s Elka-X ($49) which is a faithful digital recreation of the classic ELKA synth.




Cherry Audio does several other excellent soft synths that are also very reasonably priced. And there’s always the highly regarded VCV Rack 2 if you have your heart set on dipping into the world of patchcords and Eurorack modular synthesis. That will let you get yourself up to speed first before you start going broke buying actual hardware modules like some of us do.

If you’re just getting into synths I strongly recommend you start with virtual synths and plugins first. They’re amazing sounding and won’t break the bank.

 

[40Hz]

Modular is inherently impractical and costly

LOL! This! A thousand times this.

 

[fretno]

Deus ex machina

 

[Klangfarbe]

I would strongly recommend selling before it's too late.
There is a reason why all these synth memes exist and you are just experiencing just a first glimpse of the horror that will befall you if you continue down this path.

 

[logdrum]

It's mostly analog. First off get the app to set up the MIDI channel on your Grind and secondly you will need to set up the clock yo be external on the grind.

For all these analog synths, the best way is to use the Arturia KeyStep pro which can talk digital with the DAW and then run your sequences tp the analog synths via CV (control voltages) for note and gate at the minimum. I think you would have been better off with getting a digital synth like the Korg Wave State then you will mot need an Arturia KeyStep Pro or something similar.

If you explain what is your end goal, myabe I can help setup but I think at best you can probably only have sequnce start stop,

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

Use CV and modulate the Osc Module parameter. That will change the sound during your sequence which will give you more mileage. Stick other control voltage in those other inputs and learn what modular is about.

 

[Krisfield]

Not sure what DAW you're using, but this video is on connecting Crave to a DAW, which is in the same series as the Grind.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

Thanks all. I'm going to check out that video, but I think I'll most likely return this. My only other synth is the Korg Monologue, which I like a whole lot. But even in that case, I usually just end up using it as a MIDI controller to play soft synths. I do find hardware more intuitive for drums, and have successfully incorporated an old Alesis SR-18 into what I like to call my "playflow," using a MIDI cable to connect to my interface and keep it synched to the DAW. I just scored a deal on a used Roland TR-6S I'm hoping will sync just as easily.

For those of you into soft synths, do yourself a favor and check out Surge XT. It boggles my mind that this is a free plugin.

 

[logdrum]

Not sure what DAW you're using, but this video is on connecting Crave to a DAW, which is in the same series as the Grind.

Thanks ! I think I just over complicated my advice with using a Keysstep Pro which is more money. for the OP's use case. I have the pro because I used it for performance and I have modular setup where all the components are separate modules. I just got a Brainz but haven't plug it yet

 

[Hertz]

Yeah I use Surge XT with a Linnstrument.

 

[tr4252]

I had a similar problem with a Korg X5DR some years ago. I couldn't make it go, desdite days of manual reading, etc. I asked the IT guy at the place where I worked and he set it up in minutes.

My point is that somebody, somewhere knows what you need to know. The trick is finding them and getting them to help you. I'd start with the manufacturer, nobody knows their products better than they do; maybe someone in customer service could talk you through the process. My next guess would be a music store. Another good idea is to ask you're questions on an internet forum, like you're doing.

As 40Hz has said, virtual synths are a good way to go; that's how I got started.

Good luck

Tom

 

[TOOL460002]

I'm hoping somebody here can point me in the right direction. I just bought the new Behringer Grind, a piece of gear way outside of my comfort zone, and I can't seem to get it to do much of anything.

Most frustratingly, I can't get it to MIDI sync to my DAW. Every other piece of gear I own is plug-and-play, but not this. I've been through the manual and looked online, but I just can't seem to get it to work. I've tried USB and old-school MIDI cable. The MIDI cable, which connects to my interface, works with everything else I hook it to. The USB cable is brand new, and the DAW will accept MIDI notes from the Grind. But the Grind does not recognize clock signal from the DAW.

There's also a section of drum sounds, but I can't see how you're supposed to use more than one sound in any loop. How can I make a drum pattern out of just kicks? Just snares? Is it a matter of overdubbing several layers, one by one? It seems cumbersome and impractical, but I'm sure I'm missing something.

A part of me wants to see if I can get a refund. If not, it may go on the market. This thing is about as much fun as a root canal.

Depending on what DAW you're using, you may need to turn on the MIDI clock out. They tend to default to no signal. If you want to get into modular type software I would try out Reason.

 

[40Hz]

For those of you into soft synths, do yourself a favor and check out Surge XT. It boggles my mind that this is a free plugin.

Agree 100%. Surge XT is an awesome softsynth that’s a must have. It too boggles (good word!) my mind it’s free. It was one of the first VST instruments I ever downloaded. And I still use it today.


I forgot to mention earlier that a very good piece of software to grab if you’re into synthesis, or just want to learn about modular synthesis patching, is Cardinal. It’s a free and open source modular synthesizer very similar VCV Rack. It’s available for Linux, Mac, and Windows too.

The Venus Theory channel on YouTube a has a really good introduction to this software that’s easy to follow once you have a basic understanding of what a synth does and what the building blocks are it uses to accomplish things.




Welcome to the world of synthesis!

 

[Bassist4Eris]

Depending on what DAW you're using, you may need to turn on the MIDI clock out. They tend to default to no signal.

I'm definitely getting clock out to the interface, because I'm using those MIDI ports to sync a drum machine and a Korg Monologue. I tried using them for the Grind, to no avail. Your post does however remind me that I should try seeing if the Monologue will sync over a USB cable. I'm guessing it's possible that Reaper is only sending clock to the interface, but I'll need to try some stuff to be sure.

I forgot to mention earlier that a very good piece of software to grab if you’re into synthesis, or just want to learn about modular synthesis patching, is Cardinal. It’s a free and open source modular synthesizer very similar VCV Rack. It’s available for Linux, Mac, and Windows too.

I downloaded Cardinal a few months ago, opened it once, took one look at it, and got immediately intimidated. Thanks for this video; I'll be sure to check it out later. Maybe I'll get some usage out of this after all.