Berlin Modular Music – Aesthetic strategies for the Rabbit Hole

In extensive hands-on sessions with various modular hardware systems, participants (beginners to advanced) explore the challenges of modular synthesis. Aesthetic and technical aspects are also discussed in depth in lectures and during excursions.

This workshop combines artistic and scientific perspectives on modular synthesizers. In extensive hands-on sessions with various modular hardware systems, the participants explore fundamental phenomena and challenges of modular synthesis:

How are different sound-generating and sound-modulating modules connected to form a patch? How can multiple (sub)patches be combined to form complex voices? How do different sound phenomena interact with each other? 

It is often a matter of finding a balance: on the one hand, you can create a high degree of complexity, where you deliberately lose sight of the big picture in order to allow for “happy accidents”; on the other hand, it often makes sense to focus on an aesthetic strategy and ask how the musical goal might be achieved more easily.

The practical exercises are intensively supervised by the two lecturers to achieve individual goals in line with the participants' varying levels of prior knowledge (beginners to advanced). To gain a deeper understanding, the aesthetic background of various traditions in the history of synthesizers will be explained in special lectures with demonstrations. 

After the participants have gotten to know each other, they can form groups according to their musical interests in order to work on projects with several systems over a longer period of time. However, it is still possible to work alone or in pairs on just one system. Special excursions offer insights into various aspects of Berlin's modular scene.

Schedule (details subject to change depending on availability of excursions/ guest speakers)

Monday, August 17 (10am – 5pm)

Presentations by the lecturers with discussion:

• History and present of modular synthesizers and Berlin's modular music culture
• Overview of the synthesizer systems in our workspace, their similarities and differences
• Module categories, in depth (beginner/advanced): sound generation (oscillators, noise...), sound shaping (filters, effects...), modulators (envelopes, LFOs...), automation of events (sequencers...)

Participants discuss their previous knowledge (beginners to advanced) and interests in the field of electronic music.

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Exploration of the various complex modular synthesizer systems

Tuesday, August 18 (10am – 5pm)

Presentation by the lecturers:

• Detailed discussion of a specific patch in a customized modular system (a) – technical aspects and musical goal

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Realization of small tasks and development of projects, possible formation of teams and small groups

Wednesday, August 19 (10am – 5pm)

Presentation by the lecturers:

• Detailed discussion of a specific patch in a customized modular system (b) – technical aspects and musical goal

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects
   

Excursion (talk with discussion):

• Berlin based manufacturer of modular synthesizers (e.g. Verbos Electronics)

Thursday, August 20 (10am – 5pm)

Presentations by the lecturers with discussion:

• Musical paradigms of modules – modular possibilities of systems. Smart patching and happy accidents

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects

Excursion (talk with discussion):

• Studio of an artist/producer who works with modular hardware and software

Friday, August 21 (10am – 5pm)

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects

Excursion (talk with discussion):

• "Schneidersladen", Berlin, one of the world's largest synthesizer showrooms

Saturday, August 22 (10am – 5pm)

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects
• Joint jam sessions (session recording possible) with preceding and subsequent discussions on aesthetic concepts and technical challenges

Monday, August 24 (10am – 5pm)

Presentations by the lecturers with discussion:

• Hardware/software: from analogue to digital to hybrid

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects

Excursion (talk with discussion):

• Berlin based music software company, with a focus on modular connectivity (e.g. Bitwig, Native Instruments, Ableton)

Tuesday, August 25 (10am – 5pm)

Presentations by the lecturers with discussion:

• Special aspects of modular synthesis requested by participants
   

Hands on Modular (guided by the instructors):

• Individual/team projects
• Joint jam sessions (session recording possible) with preceding and subsequent discussions on aesthetic concepts and technical challenges

Wednesday, August 26 (10am – 5pm)

• Completion and presentation of the individual/team projects
• Final extended joint session (session recording possible)
• Final discussion and outlook

Equipment requirements

Wired headphones (available during the course if you let us know in advance)

Kim Feser ("she" or no pronoun): Musicologist, Philosopher, Sociologist. Lecturer at Berlin University of the Arts and Freie Universität Berlin. Main areas of research and teaching: History of design and aesthetic use of synthesizers, sequencers, samplers, and drum machines; philosophy of music (esp. Adorno, Deleuze); intersections of experimental avant-garde, sound art, pop, techno/house, and hip-hop.

Jessica Kert is an Electronic Musician, Techno Producer and Synthesizer Expert (Schneidersladen Berlin). Performances at Atonal, Ars Electronica, Tresor/Globus, Kantine Berghain, among others. Modular synthesizer workshops at Superbooth Berlin, Mikro:kosmos Innsbruck, Ars Electronica, among others.