Thought I’d get this topic started for LZX users that seek advice on which modules they may choose to double up on.
I chose to go with 2 x Prismatic Rays and 2 x Doorways when I first started my LZX system late last year and I’m very happy with the choice that I made!
Doubling up on Prismatic Ray can really open up a whole new palette of shape, pattern generations.
I always find myself naturally using both modules in patches instead of just one.
I would say that out of all of the modules to double up on, I recommend Prismatic Ray.
Doorway is another module that I’ve had a lot of fun with doubling up on! Received them about a month ago from backorder. Between them both (with other modules at play) it can really bring a lot more complex, technical shapes and figures into your patch … Still quite new at using it though, so this is just my thoughts on it so far.
IT’S CRAZY FUN!
But, I would love to hear what modules everyone else chose to double up on, or tripled on, or quadrupled on!
I’ve said double up on this topic way too many times!
something I haven’t tried
run an output from one staircase to the source of another
I typically like to
use one on a shape/oscillator and one for video processing
I also have two curtains
something I haven’t tried
processing video with two curtains separately and then recombining through passage/bridge/marble index before going into the visual cortex
I typically like to
Use one for an unpredictable oscillator by making it self oscillate and the other for processing
you can also send in horizontal/vertical ramps and get something more stable
EDIT:
this is a video of the stable self oscillating curtain via horizontal sync
The Expedition series of modules is specifically meant for doubling, even tripling (RGB) in comparison to the discontinued Visionary series where triples were common. cascaded staircase and nested keys.
2x navigator can pull some great gradients. I always love double mapper! worth the money really.
Id say get 2-3 video oscillators, and then start doubling on the staircase and doorways. So much patch complexity will come from doubles/triples.
Ive had around 5-6 of my BSO Quad Video Mixer, and had a good amount of multiples in the visionary lineup in my prior system.
Passage (which is really just an evolution from the Visionary series “Triple Video Processor”) is another good one to double up on. It’s a great way to get anything into RGB and also just functionally dense for utility mixing.
One of the big tenets of the Expedition series designs is that I tried to make each module stand as an independent block, rather than being reliant on other modules to make the most of it. What that means for system design is that there aren’t many scenarios where you hit a dead end. Most modules process linear waveforms and can be chained forever. It also means that once you find a module you’re really communicating with and loving a lot, going double/triple/quad will usually work out great. So I’d really encourage you to just find the module you’re having the most fun with, and get a second one.
Some of the Expedition modules will scale best with the reintroduction of a TBC into the system so you can start processing multiple external feeds (Marble Index, especially.)
But my hands down favorite for getting multiples of is Doorway. That module is full of tricks – the background/foreground inputs being used to join together keys is so powerful, and the key to unlocking complex shapes and figures outside of the standard quadrilaterals.
If you’ve got a small system, Staircase is the one to double up on. That module definitely gives you the most geometric density for your dollar and HP space, and multiples simply expand upon each other.
I’m onboard with all of the advice shared thus far. Multiplying the same module in a system is deep magic. Here’s where I’m headed once restocks hit vendors:
If I had to choose which modules are most useful to me in multiples Bridge and Passage would win hands down. I could justify have 2 of each in every row.
Im still expanding my base system, my only doubles are Staricase and PrismaticR and I’m super happy with both of them…
I remember that Lars mentioned on the past that doubling VisualCortex could be potentially a beast for composition/keying with all those wonderful (spectrum) effects and video modes (additive, multply).
I would say that Marble Index + Visual Cortex would be a more natural expansion for compositing/keying now that Marble Index is out, unless you needed the dual video output encoders that double Cortex would give you.
This is a great thread, which I’ve been getting back to several times. I always thought that having two of something (in a modular) squares your possibilities, not doubles them. So it is very cost effective.
I sort of built my LZX system backwards, based on what I could get my hands on, so I had Marble Index+Polar Fringe and a bunch of other stuff before even having the staple building blocks Doorway/Curtain/Staircase. The latter three have all been mentioned as great for doubling, and I really want (“need”) them. So, I managed to get my hands on two of each of them now, eagerly awaiting delivery in the next couple of weeks from various dealers.
I also have doubles of WVG and Passage, and I will get a second Prismatic Ray at some point.
A Navigator/Shapechanger pair would “complete” my analog video system, but they would have to wait a bit.
