First Rack. Need Thoughts and Advice

Hi everyone,

I've decided to start the dive into Eurorack this year and have put together what I hope is a good first rack to start taking a crack at it. I'm hoping to give my thoughts on why I chose the modules that I did, what my goals are with this rack, and to get some advice on if there are any holes, overlaps, or better choices to be made within the rack.

My goals are:
1) personal fun and exploration
2) ambient and generative music

I tried to pick modules that focused on function for cost that also look like they would work well together from start to finish in a signal chain. I tried to make choices for modules that could serve more than one function but still maintain a sense of exploration and treasure finding without being too complicated.

Modules:
1) Morphagene - this is the module that got me interested in taking a closer look at Eurorack. The whole idea of the rack is centered around interacting with this module and one that I am geniunely excited to explore.
2) Pam's Pro Workout - a Swiss army knife module. It looks like this module can do clock, clock divisions, sequencing, quantizing, LFO's, and lots more. I think this is the most bang-for-my-buck module in the list and one I'm hoping will help deliver results.
3) Dixie II+ - a simple VCO to pair with the Morphagene for added voice layers.
4) Quart - a simple 4x AD envelope generator for modulation.
5) Dual Dagger - a dual stereo filter with HP and LP that can each be CV controlled.
6) Intellijel Quad VCA - cascading VCA for mixing and modulation.
7) FX Aid XL - covers effects like delays and reverbs in one module.
8) Intellijel Outs - output module so I can hear everything.
9) ZeroScope - small ossciliscope just because I want to see how some voltages and waveforms play with each other while I learn.
10) 3x MIA - this is the one module I'm not 100% sure on and wouldn't mind a suggestion or two for something different if anything would be better suited.

I understand this is probably a lot for a first time. "Start small" is the common piece of advice I see others give to newcomers (along with you can never have too many VCA's) and that's something I'm trying to do by picking modules with more than one use case.

I plan on running everything through a Tiptop Mantis case so that there is also room to grow as I learn what works and doesn't work for me.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Any overlaps in modules, any holes in modulation or other facets that should be covered. Any modules in the list that don't really serve a purpose and could be left out so as to pair things down.

Thank you all in advance for taking a look and helping me out.

Don't forget the more "boring" utilitiy modules.
Needs some active multiples. You want to spread that Pam's around.
I like the QAM from Rides In The Storm.
The Doepfer A-18302 Offset/Polarizer comes in handy to scale and trim things.
You might want to add another flavor of filter.

EDITED Yesterday, 03:52

If it were me, I'd have a really good play with everything you've chosen first. That will show you where you need to go next.
Don't for get things like passive attenuators for calming down LFO's for modulation.

I'm fairly sure you could live without the Output module and the Scope until later in your journey.
I'd really like a scope but I do't want a small one and I don't want to pay for a big one, I'll probably buy an Ebay Oscilloscope cheap at some point and hook that up outside the case.

I'll add that, once you start playing around with the above modules, you'll quickly see how important it is to have something like the 3x MIA...unless you plan on slamming every signal thru at full strength, attenuation is key.

I also question the need for a scope. Exact same reasoning as Wishbone provided. I had a small scope and it just didn't add much value for the space/money. Ears are better. But full-sized euro scopes are too rich for my blood.

Other than that, it looks pretty good, and with a Mantis case you'll have some room to maneuver.

After jamming with that setup a bit, you'll quickly see what you're missing...(which will be different for each person, that's the joy of modular!)

Your initial set of modules is enough to get you off to a good start. Best luck and fun! :)

EDITED Yesterday, 14:19

Thank yall for the comments and advice! I had not even considered mults for spreading signals around so that's 100% something I will be adding in. I agree with wishbone and Jukeshoe that the scope doesn't add much to the case and truly is something that can be left out. I've already added a buffered and passive mult (to research more which one would best suit the modules I have picked out). And I'll for sure keep the 3x MIA or add another attenuator module if I can't find a 3x MIA easily to buy.

Personally, I wouldn't waste case space with passive multiples.
You can use stacking cables to achieve the same thing and save case real estate.

You could consider adding an 8HP Ornament and Crime module. That would give access to a whole lot of possibilities including sequencers and LFO’s or envelopes and quantisers etc etc. Great for a small case system.

Have fun !

EDITED Yesterday, 17:15

Based on your criteria for ambient, generative exploration, here are my suggestions:

3) Swap Dixie II for a Plaits or clone. For good reason it's the most popular module. The Orange String Machine, Green Chords, and Red Rings modes are instant moods and worth the price of admission alone.

4) Swap Quart for a Zadar. Skip the simple AR. Setup Zadar presets for chaining, shapeshifting, jagged, bitcrushed, choatic envelopes. Audio rate to 30 minute long shapes. You'll never cross the same path twice.

5) Swap Dual Dagger for Katowice. Katowice can HP/BP/LP but is far more surgical and you have outputs for all bands for multi-band processing. Ambient is a far more additive (layered) than a subtractive genre. Setting filter bands to separately modulate in a soothing wave pattern is far more pleasing than just sweeping off the top layers. Bypass the filters and use it to send just the high band to reverb fx etc.

6) Swap Intellijel Quad for a Tangle Quartet. Really, either/or. But to conserve space and get an additional mix breakout path, my preference is Tangle.

7) Reduce FX Aid XL to 4HP Version. Again, mostly to conserve space. I found 1 assignable CV and D/W was enough. Tangle Quartet and FX 4hp gives you enough room for another FX Aid. (Quad VCA + FX Aid XL or Tangle + FX Aid + FX Aid)

10) Swap 3X MIA for a Samara II. 8 in mixer but does so much more. Polarize, Clamp, Scan, Min/Max, Sample and Hold.

I'd skip the buffered mults unless you plan on getting more oscillators (you really only need it to prevent pitch drifting, which of course is an ambient aesthetic in itself). Get mults that connect cables directly: https://www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/p/cable-splitter

And I'd swap the panels for the unified black modules vibe.

Like this (Top Shelf) —

The bottom shelf are other modules that are worth considering:

Morpheus Filter: PROS: Great for exploring non-typical filter shapes. There's a lifetime of exploration in here. CONS: There are seriously a lot of shapes; lots of guesswork and unknowns. Not for the impatient. Expensive but built like a tank—really high quality.

Blukac Endless Processor: PROS: Great for stacking timbres. You can make huge timbres quickly. I have made sounds that have 'mesmerized me' as in I just stop and let it drone for fifteen minutes in awe. CONS: It does one thing really well, but only one thing.

Vhikk X: PROS: Enormous sounding tone organ. You're thrown into the abyss in the first minute. Even more modes are being added. It has inputs for sending in outside sources to the fx. CONS: Unconventional naming system means you're almost always exploring/searching for something in the dark and the mood is most always that, deep and dark. Currently, still a work in progress.

Arbhar: PROS: Beautiful sounding granular engine. Has a microphone input. Pairs well with Morphagene. CONS: Button combos, of course. Might have a system noise issue in your case.

Data Bender: PROS: Good variety of usable artifacts. Really enjoyable and unpredicate. The surface layer will get you started immediately and the deeper layers will get you exploring particulars. CONS: Not everyone likes bitcrush, jitters, and skips.

Aurora: PROS: Beautiful cavernous tonal reverb well-suited for crystalline sounding ambience. There are also alt fimwares. CONS: Doesn't take every source well. That spectral sound has that warbly tonal quality I can't stand.

Don't listen to anyone that wants you to start small. No way! Buy as much cool sounding stuff as possible and enjoy it! Support the creative module makers so they'll continue making creative modules. Play on!

EDITED Today, 06:16