Buchla and Serge sound nice, are they worth the price?

Asked by microindie

Response

They are expensive!

If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket and the alternative would be to buy a fast car, a buy-to-let property, or a politician then you should definitely buy all the serge and buchla that you can afford!

If however it would be a stretch then might I suggest that the makenoise “easel” or tip top modules would get you most of the way there? For way less.

Maybe you could convince Robin to lobby to add buchla to the synth picnic lending Library

Response by Torpid Scorpion · 1 month ago

2 other responses from the community

I cannot afford either a Buchla or Serge system. They do, however sound amazing. There are many cheaper, Eurorack modules that are based on the same principles as Serge/Buchla synthesis, as well as direct clones. MATHS is a perfect case in point, a function generator that can be patched in a host of different ways: Envelope, mixer, oscillator, filter, Envelope follower, slew generator etc. Schooled in some of the 'patch programmable' ethos of West Coast synthesis. Buchla now do a sub £1000 synth called Ziggy that also looks great. A similar question can be asked about Eurorack modular, I think it is, however a purely subjective subject.

Response by nativelayer · 1 month ago

Also if want to try some Buchla style synth before a big investment there is the Arturia Buchla Easel Soft intstrument.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1CbVMcYUT0 $149, Volca Modular has has lot of Buchlar features wave folder , 2 lpg, and more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA-OdhDfzxg&t=296s I have both if you need more info. I am very much into Krell Patching. Also check here as the Museum of Music Thecnology is having Buchla event running to next April. All is free and many live streams. Lot of well know artists are giving preformances and talk. https://emeapp.org/buchla-exhibition/ very much looking forward to Easels and Weasels: A Day with Todd Barton and Stephen Ruppenthal October 24, 2026 1:00pm – 10:00 pm

Last but not least the FREE VCV Rack 2 modular sofware system has some Buchlas style modules (which I plan to try out) https://library.vcvrack.com/?query=buchla&brand=&tag=&license=

Response by TheGrayOne (GlennW) · 3 weeks ago