# Nerdcore...

- Site: Analog Industries
- Author: Chris Randall
- Date: 2010-02-28
- URL: https://analogindustries.com/2010/02/nerdcore/

If, for some reason, you own both a gigantic modular synthesizer and a Frontier Design Tango (20-bit version), Adam has taken the time to document how to modify the Tango so you can use Expert Sleepers Silent Way or MOTU's Volta to drive the afore-mentioned gigantic modular synthesizer.

You can enjoy a video demonstration of the result [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxT72SE3RrU&feature=player_embedded), and the complete write-up is [here.](http://studionebula.com/blog/diy-synths/modified-tango)

Just for the record, this is the sort of thing Adam does for fun and relaxation, which should give you a general idea of the AD working environment. It's a good thing we don't share an office, else he'd push that modular over on me the 3,000th time I played Killing Joke's "Extremities..." album. And crush me.

## Comments (10)

**bongo_x** (2010-02-28):

I watched the video and skimmed the article, the word "geeky" hardly seems sufficient to describe it all. Nerdcore indeed. I am a little jealous though.

bb

**Chris Randall** (2010-02-28):

If Adam was the sort to get a vanity plate on his car (which he's not, because being an engineer type, a car is simply a method of getting from point A to point B and not a lifestyle definer) it would say something like "HYP3RN3RD" or some such.

-CR

**mad ep** (2010-02-28):

I watched the video, and now my brain is bleeding a little bit.

Very cool, but WAY over my head.

**expertsleepers** (2010-02-28):

Os here of Expert Sleepers.

Thanks to Adam for the video and to Chris for posting this.

It should be said that Adam's example is taking the homebrew approach to the extreme. There are much easier-to-digest applications of Silent Way - anyone with a stock MOTU audio interface and any old analogue synth can use it.

I don't want to hijack these comments too much, so if you want to know more come and join the fun at http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35

**studio nebula** (2010-02-28):

Os is quite right. Given the time I ended up putting into this project it would have been more sensible to just buy a MOTU interface. But I already had the Tango sitting around, and I figured that maybe if I could figure out how to do it then a few other old Tangos might get a new lease on life, and yes CR is right that this is the sort of thing I do for fun. Besides, "sensible" is not a particularly useful word when it comes to modular synths in general. :-)

So yeah, this represents the Road Less Traveled for getting CV out of a computer. My first such journey was controlling an ARP Odyssey with a homebrew DAC that I connected to the joystick port of my Apple ][+, using a step-sequencer emulator that I wrote in BASIC. That was back when you could still buy new ARPs and Apple ][s, and we called them just "sequencers".

What, me geeky?

--Adam

**fussylizard** (2010-02-28):

Building/modifying your equipment is lots of fun. You don't have to be an electronics whiz to do it, just start simple and learn as you go. There are lots of good kits out there. I'm going to a "build party"-type event tonight where we're building a delay: http://handmademusic.noisepages.com/2009/10/introducing-handmade-music-austin/

One thing I struggle with is the focus of my efforts. Building this stuff is a hobby unto itself and a huge time sink once you start designing stuff yourself (even just small portions of larger projects). So the question is do I focus on building things to make music and be happy with having cool toys, or do I want to actually make music. I ask myself that often and I keep answering that I want to take the "make music" route, but the siren call of some new electronics project often lures me astray.

I suspect the modular folks (Adam?) ask the same question. It's a fun but slippery slope.

**chaircrusher** (2010-02-28):

If anyone wants to repeat Adam's work, I actually have a Tango 20 I'd sell cheep!

**Computer Controlled** (2010-02-28):

Define Cheap =o] I may be interested.

**bubblesound** (2010-02-28):

>I suspect the modular folks (Adam?) ask the same question. It's a fun but slippery slope.<
you have no idea...

**Computer Controlled** (2010-02-28):

Truer words have not been spoken! Bubblesound knows more than most here, he helps supply our addiction! =o]