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Hi All,

Here is my plan :
Half of the time this case will be used to create soundtracks for some short experimental videos.
The other half of the time this case will serve my personal entertainment.

• I have sold almost all my effects pedals and want to have most of "modulation" effects in the modular (hence the Sewastopol II for guitar input and all these FX modules).
• I want to be able to play some "ambient", aka slow evolving soundscapes / droning
• I want to be able to play some basic techno, aka rhythmic and groovy simple melodies

The modules on the picture are organized by "functions" to share my plan with you.

-Yarns : allows me to plug a small keyboard or MPC for sending pitch/gate of melodies I composed previously
-Pamela's Workout : Clock everything + LFOs + occasional euclidian sequence
-Marbles : Sequence for ambiant
-Black Sequencer : Sequencer for everything
-Voltage Block : I see it as a 8 Chanel fader bank / macro controller / modulation sequencer. Splitting one signal allows to control multiple parameters on multiple modules at the same time. As this signal can be sequenced, it feels like a pretty powerful tool.
-Links & Kinks : utilities
-Magneto + Beads + Data Bender : nice creative effects
-ADM11 (chorus) + FX Aid XL + Zverb : nice effects
-Chords V2 (+sequential switch) + Elements + Plaits : voices
-Quadrax (+QX extender) + Quad VCA + Veils + 3xMia : enveloppes / modulation
-Grids + Queen of Pentacles + Peaks : drums (sequences and voices)
-Quad LFO + Maths : Functions
-Qpas + Ripple : Filters
-Dual Drive : Overdrive
-PanMix : 6 voices mixer (4 mono + 2 stereo) with pan CV
-Sewastopol II : Interface for guitars and ext. synths

I feel that this can be a pretty comprehensive system, allowing different use cases in a single "instrument".
I feel that by cramping all these themes (ambiant + techno + guitar effects) in a single enclosure does not allow to push things to their extremes. I think it might be a nice way to start this system and then expand one theme if I understand that I feel more engaged with it (add switches / matrixes for ambiant etc…).

I feel very excited when thinking that most of my desktop + rack + pedalboard gear can be replaced by this (big) eurorack case.

100% of the system is funded by selling my current gear.
100% of the system is purchased second-hand (Mutable Instruments clones, when bought second-hand, can be pretty cheap).

Do you guys have an opinion on this rack ?

EDITED Dec 2nd 2022, 15:20

my two sound sources Plaits and rings
-- Rjsounds

Just thought I'd mention I see at least 2 more that can be used relatively easily:

1. Beads: if you remove cables from the 2 inputs and wait a few seconds, the module turns into a wavetable synth. Seeding grains still works, so does the reverb.
2. Quadrax: by selecting the bipolar LFO mode and turning up the rate, it turns into an oscillator with pretty cool waveform control and it will track 1volt/oct.

Method 1: Send White Noise into Rings, not a trigger. You can get Filtered White Noise from Plaits. It's the second red mode. And then to Veils with a Long Attack/Release stage envelope.

Method 2: Trigger Rings as you would. Ting. Adjust Damping to make it decay a little longer and send it to Beads with the Reverb Fully Wet. Tinnnnng. Then to Veils with a long attack. You won't hear much of the initial ting from Rings, only the tail—a long, ethereal smear. nnnnnnnnnnng.

Method 3: Trigger Rings or excite it with white noise. Send it to Beads and press Freeze when it gets to a good spot in the decay. You now have a pad or drone sound. Or use the cv input to gate the Freeze button so you can sequence it as you please.

EDITED Dec 2nd 2022, 09:08

Rack:

Hi! So I'm having some trouble understanding how to utilize envelopes in order to turn my two sound sources Plaits and rings, into pads. I understand ADSR envelopes and how they work, but I'm struggling to use them to actually make pad sounds.

First I know I'm lacking a dedicated envelope module, so I'm using the adsr in uO_c.

Right now Plaits seems to be the more straight forward one - Pam's or Marbles sends a trigger into uO_c, the adsr then goes into the level of Plaits. Boom, there's my envelope / pad sound right?

How do you achieve that with Rings? There's no level input... So would I send the output of rings into Veils, then send an Envelope into the CV of Veils to treat it as a volume knob? I feel like it hasn't worked for me, unless I'm doing something wrong.

If anyone has any advice for my current setup, that would be great! And I suppose any recommendations for finishing my case as well would be awesome - I primarily make ambient / melodic stuff but am getting a little tired of the plucks... Need more pads! Thank you!

EDITED Dec 2nd 2022, 08:10

It was a rainy day, so I made this. Truth is, I like making these walk through videos because they force me to consider how best to communicate about synthesis.

Very interesting, thanks.

Also, cool track! How did you get the light, bouncy runs that pan back and forth throughout the piece?

Behringer has a big case that's pretty reasonable. "Behringer Eurorack Go Mobile 2x140 HP Eurorack Case" https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EuroRackGo--behringer-eurorack-go-mobile-2x140-hp-eurorack-case
I just ordered one from Sweetwater.

EDITED Dec 6th 2022, 14:22

OK. I will look. Black Output is too expensive, so I'm looking for another output/mixer.
-- timtoum93
Take a look to Tesseract Modular modules.
I have these combination
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/tesseract-modular-tex-mix-master-section
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/tesseract-modular-tex-mix-4-mono-channels
-4 mono channels with pan, mutes, cv and two send/return controls for each channel.
-Phones output and send /return section.
-Chainable modules
BR

OK. I will look. Black Output is too expensive, so I'm looking for another output/mixer.

EDITED Dec 1st 2022, 15:45

Hi,
If you have you have enough space, an "extra" oscillator is never superfluous, and the STO is a very good module. I would remove the Fold 6, one of the strengths of the Piston Honda is the wavefolder circuit.
I would add some mutes before the mixer, but that's because I really like "mutes".
Here you have some without "clicks", with vactrols.
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/divkid-mutes
Perhaps I would also add another Triplatt, it is quite cheap and you have a lot of modulation signal, sometimes it is interesting to mix them.

EDITED Dec 1st 2022, 15:38

Ok i’ll take the Black Output.
And i add a Piston Honda.

do you think I still need the sto and the Fold 6?

Thank you very much :)

Diy vco doesnt track great, still useful for filt fm

Interesting topic! Yeah, I generally have the approach of unpatching after I catch something on 'tape'. The process and approach my vary depending on the size of the system, though.

Also, I don't intend to gig with my 'full' system, so moving on from a tune always feels like a breath of fresh air.

All the best!

Here's a recent one that emerged from such a quick repatch.

EDITED Dec 1st 2022, 07:50

I'm actually trying to get to a position where I can have the minimal number of modules that have the greatest versatility. I have somewhere around 100+ modules so it gets a bit frustrating knowing that I have any handful of modules that will accomplish the same things. I like making music way more than I like fiddling around with my rack setups and wiring!

-- frankdog

True that. I have a smaller rig (at least at the moment, fingers crossed that changes), but to be honest, I find I push myself in more interesting directions when I limit myself to only a few choice modules. I still think the best modular piece I've made so far was with nothing more than the Minibrute 2s, Veils, and O_c. Somehow now that I have many more modules than that, I can't seem to recreate what I did. Which I guess hits on your other point of making notes/recordings of patches.

@Arrandan, very cool. Things in 5 just have a certain funk to them, don't they. I'm definitely going to attempt your approach of aiming for regular, disciplined recording of jams and then moving on to a new patch. At least until I build a better understanding of my modular system and have a critical mass of modules that allows for longer-term exploration of a patch.

EDITED Nov 30th 2022, 23:28

Ladik also has the Composer N which is one of my favourite modules. I can heartily recommend it. I do think Sebsongs will also offer prebuilt units at some point in the future, if I am not mistaken.
-- ParanormalPatroler
I didn't know it, very interesting, and cheap.

This one is the good one :
My humble newbie observations:
-Mixer. I would change Rosie and 2HP mixer for an output/mixer module, with returns and mutes. An affordable option could be:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/tesseract-modular-tex-mix-master-section --Master
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/tesseract-modular-tex-mix-4-mono-channels --4 channels mixer
-Another filter, a multimode filter, more or less aggressive depending on the type of music you want to make.
-More and more ergonomic VCA's, you have room for them. A cheap option.
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-130-2
-A sequential switch is a very useful basic to route signals.
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-151
and a matrix mixer, for example
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/ai-synthesis-ai008-matrix-mixer-black

hello! There seem to be a few instances of default/template text when sending PMs or emails to other users where it says "herr" as the default honorific in the subject line. This is often incorrect or awkward when users forget to update the text and it should be removed. Thank you!

I hadn’t cleaned my mess.
This one is the good one :

But maybe that's still the case.

EDITED Nov 30th 2022, 17:18

Too big.
Too much assorted stuff.
Too many voices. Not enough Filter/Attenuation.
Why is there a Data/Scope?
It's not wrong to have multiple copies of the same module.
Don't fill space just to fill space.
Don't use 2hp/pico modules except where absolutely necessary/designed.

Tell us what you want to perform, and describe how you think a typical patch setup would look like.

Copied and rebuilt and cleaned up by stripping and building from center-out, bottom up, thinking about where you'd want to manipulate most (center, bottom) and least (sides, top).

EDITED Nov 30th 2022, 21:26

Thank you for your answer. I also have the moog sound studio, so dfam for percussion and an analog rytm. My intention was, at the base, to extend the set up that I already had. I got slightly lost in the multiple modules I came across ^^ I wonder if I'm missing something important or if on the contrary I'm doing too much.

Ladik also has the Composer N which is one of my favourite modules. I can heartily recommend it. I do think Sebsongs will also offer prebuilt units at some point in the future, if I am not mistaken.

Hey, I modified your upload a bit and merged previous versions together. Thanks for the upload!

The discussion on MW is pretty cool, and it is looking to be a cool module. I am considering supporting it as I like the visuals. Hope they include some of the suggested modes (wink wink).

Hi, it would be helpful if you could tell us what kind of music you intend to do.
IMO, I would set up a mixer with at least 4 channels just for audio, and I would leave the triplatt for modulation. I don't see any percussion, are you going to use any external equipment for rhythms? Are you going to use rhythms? ;-)

I start the modular. I need feedback on what I want. Can you give me your opinion ?
thank you

I ordered a Intellijel TRIATT to @timoka and everything as described.
Well packaged and a fast delivery.
Highly recommended seller.

I just added this module to ModularGrid:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-bela-io-gliss-

I found the discussion on MW where it's getting a lot of interest. The developer is really listening to what people have to say. For example, some found issue with the connectors at the bottom on a controller. The developer decided to implement an upside-down usage mode. Consider me interested as well!

Great question!

For me it depends on what I'm doing in the studio in general. I have a lot of equipment and I write with modular gear based on if it fits with the composition or not. That said, I have a fairly good sized set of racks (check my racks, they're all public) and I find that sometimes I'll leave a patch I really like wired up for a long time (never for months). If I need to move on, I snap photos of the patch, and make a video recording so I know what it was about the sound that I liked. It's also a good way to see the patch wiring, the knob positions and so on. That way if I want to attempt to recreate it alter, it's way easier.

I'm actually trying to get to a position where I can have the minimal number of modules that have the greatest versatility. I have somewhere around 100+ modules so it gets a bit frustrating knowing that I have any handful of modules that will accomplish the same things. I like making music way more than I like fiddling around with my rack setups and wiring!

That's a hell of a disciplined way to learn, wow. Those are cool tracks, by the way!

Thanks! It takes a bit of discipline, yes, but the reward is very large indeed. It also buys me a lot of freedom as I hardly feel any attachment to what I make. Which allows me to do crazy stuff, like today's experiment with a 5-beat rhythm. That's completely new for me, so a quick track later I know a bit more of the possibilities.

For some occasions, I leave the patch a bit longer. For example, there was a modular meet on Sunday. I started the patch I presented there on Thursday and worked on it until Saturday, leaving it intact for the day after. That's something I've been considering exploring more of. Building up a number of elements, then recording it as a jam. I notice it allows me to explore more complex patches and song structure.

hello to all here, my first post in the forum;)=

as stated on modwiggler and as you know, the OFFSET function on the Metropolix works as this:

example pattern: active stages 1-2-3-4 with modulations -> OFFSET +2 -> active stages then 3-4-5-6

Wouldn't it make much more sense if the result is after OFFSET +2 -> active stages 3-4-1-2
which means, the starting point of your pattern has rotated 2 stages to the right but WITHIN your pattern,
so you can adjust it to other sequencers etc ?
As it is now, you lose your pattern or have to re-program it, but what's the point then with an OFFSET ?

(also it would be nice, if the modulation lanes like ACCUMULATOR, RATCHET, etc could be (CV-)rotated
seperately, without the stages, but that would be another thing)

EDITED Nov 29th 2022, 21:10

BD-Z drum module kit from Patching Panda build and demo
A bass drum module from Patching Panda with lots of modifiers. Excellent sounding unit, and flexible.
Not a lot of electronic building, this I primarily a surface mount kit with all the SMD components pre-installed.
But still lots of knobs and jacks to put on.

Build

I start the modular. I need feedback on what I want. Can you give me your opinion ?
thank you

@RTFM: highly recommended. Bought a Turing Machine with expanders. Since then, he's helped me a lot with DIY. Great guy to deal with.

I ordered a NONLINEARCIRCUITS Dual LFO/VCO to @RTFM and everything went perfectly.
Well packaged and a fast delivery.
Highly recommended seller.
-- ferranadsr

I ordered a NONLINEARCIRCUITS Dual LFO/VCO to @RTFM and everything went perfectly.
Well packaged and a fast delivery.
Highly recommended seller.

Awesome, thanks for the tips!

apologies if this was already posted, couldn't find anything through search. i was looking everywhere on the web too before without any real success.
volca is a nice little box, but the lack of inbuilt bpm counter is a real downside, especially because it can fully connect only to other volcas, that's kind of unfair. so the setup for this topic is volca modular + behringer netron + arturia keystep 37. i'm avare of voltage differences, but this isn't the question here. however tempo sync should be possible i hope. i tried sync out of keystep to volca's sync in while keystep's clock as in manual is set to internal mode. this doesn't even allow to play previously recorded sequence on volca. any ideas?

EDITED Nov 29th 2022, 12:47

Hi, somehow the pictures of my racks aren't updating anymore in the the racks overview page. For example after I modified a rack and go back to the Racks main page, the changes are not visible. Refreshing the rack view repairs it temporarily, but if I go out of that page and get back, the rack is still the "old" version. Any clues of what I'm doing wrong?

Another option is users here who assemble any diy kit for you. I have already bought two from the user @RTFM and I am very happy. You can ask him how much it would cost you assembled, and if he doesn't have what you're looking for, he can always assemble a Music Thing Modular module (Turing machine) that can give you similar performance.

EDITED Nov 29th 2022, 07:23

Disting Mk4 algo F-6 (Shift Register Random Quantized CVs) is pretty similar, and of course it can do a ton of other things as well.

Hi HGsynth,

Yes, by times I start always using the same approach however I don't mind to let go an (old) idea and start with a totally different approach. So on average I think that keeps things in balance. Once and awhile (especially when I am lazy) I start with the same (start-) setup and then evolve from there the patch however also on regularly basis I start with completely something new, never done before so to speak. Especially when I get a few new modules, I like to try a complete new approach and take it from there.

To summarise this: it really depends on a per case situation, sometimes that, sometimes something else :-)

If you recognise already the fact that you always start with the O_c as your starting point, then one day when you want to do a complete new patch, "forbid yourself" to use the O_c in the upcoming new patch and just try something completely new not remotely related and close to your usual O_c approach. Dare to try something else, and you will see after a few times you forgot you have an O_c ;-)

Have fun with the patching and try things you never tried before, don't care about the result, if it doesn't satisfy you then try again from scratch, till you find something that surprises you and you like, keep then that kind of creative approach in mind and try that approach in a similar but different way! :-) Kind regards, Garfield.

For me it's a bit different. To keep myself away from TV, I committed myself to making a new track every day. So every evening, I pull all the patch cables and start from scratch. 2-3 hours later, I post the result on SoundCloud. I've been doing that since March. I can tell you, it's a very fast way to learn a lot about patching techniques.
-- Arrandan

That's a hell of a disciplined way to learn, wow. Those are cool tracks, by the way!

I feel that this approach is somewhat similar to mine; each time I patch I try to find slightly different ways to connect everything to avoid a rut where each patch sounds the same. Also, after a few days, I'm usually out of cables and decide to start anew out of boredom (there's that impatience I was mentioning earlier). I also sometimes purposely limit myself to a small selection of modules, both to push myself by setting artificial restrictions to work around and to counter the impulse to use every module and cable in every patch.

@GarfieldModular, thanks! I remember you saying in another thread that you predominantly do generative stuff. Do you typically find that you start a patch the same way each time? For example, I've realized that I rely too heavily on O_c's shift register and quantizer to start a patch, and am trying to avoid being overly reliant on that same signal path.

Appreciate all the feedback, everyone!

Anyone knows a pre-build alternative for this one? Love to get one but have the soldering skills of a 6 year old.

Oh and regarding the "pedalboard pedals": This is clearly a sign that users need more pre-defined pedalboards. (So do I, the plywood sucks so hard...) Perhaps there could be even something arranged with the board manufacturers, it could be a nice lil advertise to have the boards available like that. I mean... Temple Audio even built something on their own with templeplanner.com.

Something on the pedalboard is out of scale. I created a 820x320 pedalboard using the plywood background and placed two devices with a height of 184 and 140 on top of each other. Visually it looks like there's even space left but in fact it's already exceeding the board dimensions. I almost fell for it and ordered the wrong board!

Please don't kill the synths, mixers, sequencers and other useful stuff. A pedalboard is a super useful vehicle to build portable live synth setups and MG really helped me planning with building mine on a Templeboard Trio 43. But I agree that trashy/bad stuff (Madagascar...) should be deleted. Maybe add a reporting feature?

EDITED Nov 28th 2022, 20:58

you mentioned a "hiss problem", when working with ES-9 and Morphagene or Mimeophon... what exactly is the problem there? Do you know, where it is coming from?

It's actually not related to the ES-9. The hiss problem has been discussed at length on Mod Wiggler, for example in the main Mimeophon thread. I'm not sure if the cause of the hiss has been identified.

You can hear the hiss at 00:54 here (not my video):

I have tried the modules in both an Erica Synths 6U Monster Case and a 4MS 40X Pod, and the problem has been present in both configurations. I will soon try with a Meanwell 120W PSU and Konstant Lab HammerPWR with a filtered bus board. I'm in Europe.
-- ecstatic_sutherland

Just a quick update: the hiss is still present with the Meanwell 120W PSU and Konstant Lab HammerPWR with a filtered bus board power solution.

For me it's a bit different. To keep myself away from TV, I committed myself to making a new track every day. So every evening, I pull all the patch cables and start from scratch. 2-3 hours later, I post the result on SoundCloud. I've been doing that since March. I can tell you, it's a very fast way to learn a lot about patching techniques.

Falta algo que seleccione las diferentes partes de frecuencia de los sonidos

Hi HGsynth,

For me it's similar as it is for Adaris. I also keep my patch usually for several months. Till I really can't find any more any variations on what I like and then I might start a total new one. I usually just keep on extending while finding other sounds, on the already existing patch. Meaning that it becomes at the end very complicated, most of the times most of all my patch cables have been used and then sooner or later (but rather later) I am forced to start completely from scratch. :-)

Have fun with the patching and modular in general and kind regards, Garfield.

"I own the Pico out and it's a great module, I throw it in tons of cases, but the odd hp size and the tiny pot drive me nuts. To counter the odd hp I usually pair it with 1 or 3 other Pico modules. Recently picked up a 1 hp blank to fill in the gaps if I find myself only able to use 1 Pico unit. That's all personal and ocd related, but worth considering. Have fun!"

Aaaahh.... I am little OCD myself, in fact, so actually this is a damn useful observation!

It will take a little while before I fill my 84hp so I have a bit of leeway and hopefully everything will add up (as mentioned elsewhere I rather like Pico too), but in the meantime I'm looking to get a little set of acrylic or perspex blanks cut.

Partly to hide as much Behringer as humanly possible. If I get them done in clear or smoked effect perspex, I can use the same material if I get into it and need a bigger case!

I'm excited af to get my Weather Drones so thanks for singing its praises, I look forward to some weirdness in my life. Peace!

Okay that's cool, you're basically confirming what I thought re: basic signal path, maybe seems like I'm too hasty wanting to add a second voice before I even understand what I'm doing with one, especially given what you and yeahivandalizm have said about WD's functionality.

Sequencing in-rack really fascinates me, but yeah, I'm also thinking about a Beatstep since I already use Ableton, hmmm.... as always, Pico and Ladik, thanks for the practical suggestions. Pico Seq would match the out I got for headphones... I will update this thread as I go ofc...

Cheers 33PO! You've really helped.