New This Year

Saturday, September 7th - 12pm until 4pm

Stop in for some rest and relaxation amongst all the Knobcon activities! The ModWiggler Lounge (in Cyan near the Lobby Bar) will be available for you as a low-key 'quiet zone.' Lobbies and hallways are not ideal for small gatherings; join us in the MW Lounge.

You do not have to be a member of ModWiggler to stop in, all are welcome!

We'll be spinning some modern and classic synth-heavy tunes in the background, light snacks will be served, and we'll have occasional merch giveaways. Come say hello to our administrator 'Locutus' in person and help us put faces to ModWiggler handles and names!

Build a Sidechain Module!

Hosted by Modular for the Masses
Sunday, Sept 7 @ 11am
Difficulty: Easy

VCSlopeBuild

Build your own sidechain module with guidance from Juanito!

BadSidechain is an 8hp Eurorack module which combines a state-variable VCF with an envelope follower and a Vactrol-based VCA. The filter and envelope follower can be used by themselves, but they can be used in concert to sidechain a signal with any other signal, with the ability to filter the reference signal so that the sidechaining "focuses" on the frequencies emphasized or removed with the state-variable VCF. The VCF is well-behaved and resonates cleanly, allowing the sidechain effect to scan across a signal's frequency spectrum. Using a percussion track as the reference is lots of fun, you can sidechain on the kick, the toms, the snare, the cymbals, as a fr'instance.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the BadSidechain Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $120 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put BadSidechain Workshop in the description.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

Build an MinEQ Module!

Hosted by Żłob Modular
Sunday, Sept 7 @ 2pm
Difficulty: Beginner

The MinEq is a 2hp 3 Band Equalizer Eurorack Module with a rectified clipping feedback circuit which produces a wide range of harmonic distortion, interactive self-oscillating, pseudo ring modulation, and richer filter-esque timbres based on the input and knob positions.

This hybrid Baxandall circuit provides +/- 20dB~ of boost or cut control over the Low, Mid and High frequency bands of an audio input. The frequency bands are centered near 30Hz(Low), 1kHz(Mid), and 10kHz(High). With all the potentiometers at noon, the MinEq passes the signal relatively unaltered.

The Panel is reversible, one side with graphics and soulless side with less graphics (not pictured).

Learn to solder! Żłob Modular will teach you basic soldering techniques and lead you through building the Attenumixer module.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the $50 MinEQ kit from Żłob Modular HERE. Please select the "DIY Workshop Pickup" option during checkout to avoid paying shipping.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

Builders Choice!

Hosted by AI Synthesis
Saturday, Sept 7 @ 2pm
Difficulty: Varies

AI002 Audio and CV Mixer
Difficulty: Beginner
Cost: $45 

The AI002 DIY Mixer Kit is an updated take on a classic utility audio or cv mixer. All three inputs have a level control, with full clockwise allowing full volume prior to the summing mixer. Perfect for adding audio inputs to a filter, or cv inputs to a cv input, and other mixing functions. This kit is ideal for those who know how to solder, but are still starting out in their DIY Synthesis journey.

This diy mixer kit will not only familiarize yourself with IC Chips, Capacitors, and Resistors, it will also add a key utility module to your DIY Modular Synthesizer.

This is an ideal kit for a beginner learning DIY electronics, and requires no wiring at all!

AI106 West Coast Eurorack Mixer
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost: $55 

The AI106 West Coast Eurorack Mixer is a fully discrete mixer design that updates vintage West Coast synthesizer mixer designs into a modern form.

This mixer takes inspiration from vintage mixer circuits from 60s and 70s West Coast synthesizers, but updates it for eurorack and allows for user customization of the circuit. True to original circuits, the output is inverted. Audio rate signals will sound about the same, but cv signals will be inverted.

Because "West Coast" synthesis focused more on waveshaping and complex VCO structures as opposed to subtracting frequencies from simple waveforms (East Coast), mixers are an important part of traditional West Coast synthesis techniques.

AI022 Harmonic Mixer
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost: $55 

The AI022 Harmonic CP3 Style Mixer is a discreet mixer using no ICs. As gain increases harmonics and analog warmth are added. As gain increases more, distortion and phasing is added, creating new waveforms from old ones.

The AI022 takes inspiration from the legendary Moog Modular CP3 style mixer, but updates it for eurorack and allows for user customization of the circuit. Many Moog Modular users attribute the CP3 mixer module to providing much of the warmth of the Moog Modular sound.

An exposed Bias knob allows abuse of the circuit, and allows for faithful replication of incoming audio, or radical analog wave shaping and distortion. It is also possible to use the Bias knob to adjust a +/- 5V signal into a 0/+ or 0/- signal.

AI008 Eurorack Matrix Mixer
Difficulty: Advanced
Cost: $95 

The AI008 Matrix Mixer is an active, Four In, Three Out matrix Mixer with a summed output. The AI008 can be used to route any of the inputs to any of the outputs. This allows for the creation of feedback patches and other interesting routing, in addition to powerful "regular" signal routing. Common uses include mixing effects outputs into their inputs in order to create drones (or just good old fashioned feedback), mixing oscillators into their own PWM or FM inputs, modulating voltage controlled LFOs and other modulators into themselves, and other feedback patches. The AI008 Matrix mixes is a powerful way to expand any system!