This edition of ScopeRise is the first for 2011, and in 2010 I learnt a valuable lesson.  Would I buy more plug-ins if I could afford them?  The answer is probably yes, but would I get the most out of them?  The downside of having so many options when studio time is limited is the learning curve.  Buying plugs or indeed any gear faster than you can integrate them into your setup and learn how to use them effectively equals a bunch of gear not being used properly or at all.

I'm not advocating a slow down on the software spend since its true that we need to support the audio software industry if we are to expect quality and choice to be maintained.  But now that we can have so much gear at our fingertips education is the next big challenge.  Learn your new gear, read up on the techniques experts or more experienced peers have used to get a top notch result and your investment in time will pay back with interest.

That being said, this month I intend to start tackling the giant synthesizer known as 'Modular IV'.  Armed with input from users and the great cwmodular resource I'm hoping to include at least one Modular IV article every issue.  Not just because it is a vast subject but also because of its flexibility not just as a synthesizer and an effects module but also as a more general purpose 'swiss army knife' for Scope.  Not just in the studio but also for Live performance control as we will see.

Modular IV has enjoyed support from a plethora of third parties adding additional modules and functionality.  But as well as showcasing the capabilities of these add-ons, I will explore what Modular IV can do out-of-the-box with maybe one or two freebie add-ons.