NANO Modules Review
Simple and effective! (and affordable)
I started my modular journey just a few months ago. To be fair, I was quite familiar with the modular world and how to use a modular system but I never had my own modular synth. So to test the waters, I decided to start with relatively simple and affordable modules & case. The case I have is the CAIXA 104 by Nano Modules for which we already have an extensive review on the website!
For my first modules, I also decided to get four modules from Nano Modules so today we are going to review all four of them and see if they deserve your attention!
ONA
ONA is an analog oscillator and LFO that is very flexible and easy to use. It has 8 separate outputs of various waveforms, an FM input, a Sync input,, a Pulsewith input, and, of course, a V/Oct input. The main highlight of the module is the plethora of waveforms it can produce. It has the four classic waveforms - Sine, Saw, Triangle, and Square, two complex waveforms which are a Triangle or a Saw with Pulsewidth Modulation, and, lastly, two Sub Waveforms that are -1 & -2 Octave Square waveforms.
As you can tell, ONA provides a lot of options when it comes to sounds it can produce. All waveforms sound great and rich so as a classic analog voice, ONA is a great option. You can also add PWM and control it with the attenuator, Sync it to another oscillation, or even add FM that can be linear or exponential (there is a switch to choose which one you want).
The two main knobs control the fine-tuning and the Octave selection that has a range of 8 octaves. The only thing missing that I would love to have would be to control the Octave Selection with a modulation source but it’s not a big deal it’s not there.
And since you have so many waveforms available, the LFO mode that is accessed by flicking the switch on the right is very powerful. As an LFO, ONA is very useful since you have so many different waveforms to choose from and it’s a very welcomed addition that most oscillators lack.
Overall, ONA is an amazing choice for your first, or next, analog oscillator. It’s extremely affordable, has a ton of waveforms, and can also be used as an LFO all-in-one package! ONA costs 165€ which is a very affordable price for an analog oscillator!
SERRA
SERRA is a full-blown ADSR Envelope. It has four sliders for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release and provides many modulation options. This is a very well-thought Envelope module that it’s not only focused on beginners but also on more advanced modular synth owners.
It has a Speed switch to change the envelope from Slow to Fast with the Slow envelope going up to 40 seconds (!) and the Fast for up to 4 seconds, dedicated inputs that let you modulate each segment of the envelope independently, and a few additional tricks that add up to each value.
Although there are thousands of modules, it is quite rare to see an envelope where you can control every segment with CV and, for me, that’s the highlight of SERRA. You can even choose to normalize the CV for every segment with the CV Mode switch and have it normalized or independent.
Another cool thing is that SERRA has 3 outputs. Your standard Envelope output, an End-of-Cycle output, and the Out that is the output of the Attenuverter & Offset circuit. By using those two knobs you can essentially change the shape of the envelope and its curve making it even more flexible. The last bonus feature is that there is also a button to manually trigger the envelope. Seems small, but it is actually really useful when you want to test out things or play some sounds live.
In general, SERRA is a fully featured envelope module that deserves to be your main go-to envelope. And its price? Just 135€!
Check out our Preset & Sample Packs
ALT
ALT is a Quad VCA & a Mixer. It has four VCAs with 3 three of them having their respective Gain & CV knobs while the fourth one is a fully open VCA that can be controlled by the CV input. ALT can also work as a 4-channel mixer as all the outputs are normalized to the fourth output. So you can take the summed signal out of the fourth output with everything mixed.
VCAs are an extremely important type of module and you will need a few of them even for smaller systems like mine. I now have 8 VCAs and I still find myself looking for more in complex patches. So having a Quad VCA in just 8HP and at this price is very handy.
ALT costs 150€ which is crazy for having 4 VCAs in one module!
QUART
QUART is a Quad AD Envelope or LFO. Another important type of module that you’ll need is Envelopes & LFOs. Envelopes are an essential part of controlling volume or CV so with QUART, you’ll get four Attack & Decay envelopes in just 10HP. And having just Attack and Decay controls might seem limiting but it’s not. These two make most of the impact so you’ll be just fine. There is also a switch to switch from Fast to Medium or Slow speeds.
The best thing about this module is that you can use any of the envelopes you’re not using as LFOs. So, for example, if you’re just using channels 1 & 2 as envelopes you can always use channels 3 & 4 as LFOs which is so useful.
QUART costs 165€ which is also an amazing price for what you’re getting in return!
Conclusion
All the modules on this list have incredible value for money! They are definitely not the most creative or experimental modules but they are useful for every modular system, well-built & designed, and can cover a lot of needs without taking up too much space.
For someone starting with modular, I would definitely recommend checking these modules out. They are very simple to use, have lots of features, and their prices are just perfect.
