A modular synthesizer is an open system where practically anything can connect to anything

The A-100 manual frames the modular philosophy: ‘Nor are there any fixed rules for connecting the various modules. A modular is an open system, in which practically anything is possible.’ There are no factory presets — each sound must be puzzled out from scratch and may never be exactly repeated. This is both the freedom and the cost: the system rewards diversity, experimentation and lateral thinking, but the manual cautions it takes time and practice and will disappoint anyone expecting instant recallable sounds. This open-system framing is what most distinguishes modular synthesis from preset-based instruments.

Examples

An LFO output can serve as slow modulation, as an audio source, or as a trigger for a sequence — there is no single ‘correct’ use. The absence of preset recall means documenting patches (patch sheets) becomes part of the workflow.

Assessment

Describe two uses of a single LFO module beyond slow modulation, and explain what the open-system property implies for anyone expecting preset-recall from a modular rig.