I fell in love with the sound and possibilities of electronic music at a young age. I took synthesis lessons as a teen in the 1970s, learning on a modular Steiner-Parker Synthasystem. A kit-based PAiA modular was my dorm room companion in college. Soon after I graduated, I got a job at Sequential Circuits, where I contributed to several instruments and created Vector Synthesis. I went on to work for Digidesign, Marion Systems (Tom Oberheim), and was the chief engineer at Roland R&D US.
I’ve always enjoyed sharing what I’ve learned. I taught synthesis at UCLA Extension, was the technical editor for Music Technology and Recording magazines, and wrote a column for Keyboard magazine. I continue today, co-writing Patch & Tweak – the new book on modular synthesis – with Kim Bjørn, and maintaining a Patreon channel for beginning to advanced users. I also regularly play modular music live under the name Alias Zone, plus jam with others.
I also have a lot of experience creating online training. Before I started Learning Modular, I recorded nearly 50 online courses on creating graphics for television and film for lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning). I've brought this experience of how to teach a difficult, technical subject in a patient, step-by-step manner to my modular synthesis courses.
Reviews
5
Top Rated
Eddie Escalante
Systematic approach
This is just what I needed. Thanks for taking the time for putting it out there
Glenn Kelly
Beep, bop, bloop ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A great course taken well after my dive into Eurorack Modular beginning with the Moog Mother-32 and continuing down the slippery slope to financial enslavement and two monster Eurorack Cases of which one is still hungry for more appetizer modules. Modular is truely addicting. We learn a lot from our wobbly path through trial and error, keep working for the perfect patches and keeping track of them all via painstaking wiring diagrams and adjustments photos. I have a long standing background in electronics and physics so Much of what was covered in the first course has either been digested in putzing around and trying things, reading, and diving back into old school books. It would be nice if there were patch diagrams wor the demos because it all goes so fast in these videos; but, I understand the burden of documentation all to well to just avoid the missing element. I would like to say that this course has as much to offer the twiggits in the group with hands all over the place as it does for those that are learning about Modular through virtual offerings like Cherry Audio’s Voltage Modular, vCV Rack 2, Arturia’s Mod-15 on iPadOS and iOS, Softtube Modular, Reaktor Block, and miRack for iPadOS to name a few. Same principles apply across the virtual board as it does in the physical world albeit at a significant cost savings. Nothing beat the tactile feel of patching wires, twisting knobs, sliding sliders and throwing switches; but, you can still learn a great deal and have fun in the virtual settings. Overall, I loved the review value and reminders in this first course as well as the pocketbook tugs when you see a module you do not have. Thanks, Chris and stay away from those garage door traps! Oh yeah … I started way back with the PAIA Gnome in the 70s. It was like a snapping turtle bite.
Hans Karlsson
Packed with information
Love that the lectures are short and concise and so packed with information. Really fun to watch. Only request is perhaps a list of the modules and equipment you're using, since you're referencing them with names or models, like the Expert Sleepers - Disting module. Having the list also can give some input for the wishlist. Reply from Chris: Here is the link to the Level a course on ModularGrid: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/197719
David Hepworth
Great course
I've just completed this course and found it very informative and well presented. There's so much information here, but it's given to you in manageable chunks, so you never feel overwhelmed.
Josie
Excellent!
Excellent course. Highly recommended!
Jez Smith
modular simplified
Great communicator, responds very quickly to any queries. I thoroughly recommend it to any contemplating modular. I'll be revisiting these videos time and again.
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