Grab a handful of leads and join us as we patch our signal into the world of modular synthesisers. If you’re only familiar with prebuilt synths, modular can seem like just a learning curve too far. But once you get to grips with them, they can be absorbing, endlessly adaptable…and perhaps a little addictive.

Host Caro C is joined by two guests who have caught the modular bug: music educator, composer and sound designer Dr Liz Dobson and musician and programmer Zoë Blade. They chat about what modular set-ups can offer, how to get started, where they can take your music… and what the toaster oven in Zoë’s garage has to do with step sequencers.

Dr Liz Dobson is an educator, composer and sound designer specialising in sonic art, sound design and music for moving image. As well as being Senior Lecturer in Music Technology at the University of Huddersfield, they co-founded Yorkshire Sound Women Network and are currently working with Irine Røsnes to create music linking violin and modular synth. drlizdobson.com

Zoë Blade is a Stoke-on-Trent based musician and programmer who has been releasing music ranging from electro and techno to ambient and synthpop for over a decade. Her music features on YouTubers Natalie Wynn’s ContraPoints channel and Harris Brewis’s HBomberguy channel, among other places. With her partner Nina Richards she runs Transistor Sound Labs, which designed the Stepper Acid step sequencer module. zoeblade.com

Caro C is a composer, producer, performer and educator in electronic sound. She is the founder of Delia Derbyshire Day, a charity celebrating the Radiophonic Workshop pioneer through events, education and art. Inspired by the elements, the natural world and rock climbing, her fourth album, Electric Mountain is out now. carocsound.com

Audio Club is a podcast from Yorkshire Sound Women Network yorkshiresoundwomen.com

Presenter: Caro C Sound editor: Jo Kennedy Theme music: Aiwan Obinyan Producer: Abi Bliss

The podcast was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.