Effects/modulation rack

Hi I already own a neutron and proton from Behringer and a beatstep pro. I would like to add some modular effects and modulation to it, what do you think about this little rack and what should I add/take off? I make noise/industrial/drone music.
I am also interested in making feedback loops with the effects. Finally, do you think I should get a bigger rack to put the neutron and proton inside? Thanks !

Howdy!

Generally speaking I'd say the Proton and Neutron already have power, and with the cost of power and rails it's more economical to keep them separate. One thing you could do is to get rack ears for the Proton and Neutron and get something like the Tip Too Happy Endings kit (or 2) so all of it could fit in a 9u (or 12u) standard 19" rack.

As for specific modules, Clouds is a classic and Data Bender should work splendidly for industrial effects. Chaos or another Marbles clone from a smaller builder gives a lot of modulation possibilities. Piston Honda is also great for industrial sounds, but do you have a plan for mixing it with the semi modular outputs? I would recommend a quad cascading VCA (like a Veils clone) for that. Personal preference, but I would also recommend an extra filter to tame it : )

As for feedback patching, a matrix mixer is a no-brainer. You could also use the matrix mixer to mix smooth random from Chaos with LFOs or envelopes from the semi modulars to create multiple complex mod sources. Maybe the Doepfer or AI Synthesis matrix for audio and something like the Tip Top Miso for CV (although any of these can handle audio or CV)

Overall, modular sound sources and effects are fun, but really shine when you have the utility modules to support them. Mixers, attenuators, vcas and the like are your best friends.

Cheers!

Hi,
IMO Clouds is perhaps not the most suitable module for "industrial" sounds. I associate it more with "ambient" sounds.
Perhaps the NE Electus Versio reverb is better, more aggressive?.
As @Progspiration rightly says, Matrix Mixer is good for feedback

Thanks for all the detail @Progspiration, about the mixing I have a good old mackie 1202 VLZ3 which then goes into my audio interface, is it a problem to plug some modular out in it?

EDITED Today, 13:55

@ferranadsr I had a similar thought about Clouds and definitely agree that's where it naturally tends toward, but the Spectral Madness mode can get some pretty gnarly sounds so I thought, "Why not keep it in?" haha, but definitely agree the Versio modules are a bit better suited for industrialness.

@BenjaminPoirier The output of the modules will be substantially higher than the line level outputs on the Behringers, but I have a little Mackie mixer that I've used with my modular many times, and as long as you have enough headroom on the gain knob it should work fine. I'd still recommend a submixing VCA within the rack so you can experiment with mixing things pre and post effects with voltage control over levels, but even just adding the matrix mixer would give you a lot of flexibility minus the voltage control. Unless you want to go crazy and get something like the NonlinearCircuits Clump or the 4ms VCA Matrix!