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Buy some inexpensive aluminum blank panels. Drill some holes in them. Rough up whichever side you want to be face-down with course sandpaper, then superglue some wire mesh (like screendoor material) to the bottom. Leave enough space so you don't interfere with mounting the panels to rails.

Now you have the airflow you want and a barrier to stop any loose items (like screws) from falling into the drilled holes.

Also, these two premade panels aren't that expensive:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/steady-state-fate-ssf-8hp-vented-blank
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/endorphin-es-42-blind-panel-cable-holder

EDITED Dec 7th 2021, 19:17

@JNH-83 thanks for that Shapeways suggestion! They look like good candidates, IMO they are also a bit $ for plastic, so I may continue to look for some other alternatives. But I'm happy to have at least 1 good pre-fabricated option here!

@wishbonebrewery, yeah, how is it vented blanks are not more widely available and used?

I suppose we may as well compile a few of the better DIY options in this thread, such as preferred materials, potential preferred BOM vendors, dimensions, etc. A few weeks ago I'd found a good vendor and dimensions BUT I seem to have not noted that (sigh)... I'll post more on DIY options when possible.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but any steel or aluminum with (appropriate sized) vents would be a candidate material right?

I read the original post and I'm going to come at this from the angle that your current workflow isn't going to change but you just want more options. So I'd recommend adding three modules:

Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis
My thought is to add a Mimetic Digitalis from Noise Engineering. It's a four channel 16 step sequencer. You may or may not use it for pitch. But where it should shine for you might be four channels of stepped CV modulation of four different parameters in your set-up.

Intellijel Quad VCA
I'd also add a true VCA module (the Mix 3 doesn't have individual outputs). So something like an Intellijel Quad VCA would work. That way you can either attenuate the amount of CV coming from Mimetic OR use the Mimetic to modulate the amount of CV coming from another modulation source (like an envelope or LFO).

Blue Lantern CMOS Party (discontinued but still available on Amazon)
Finally a logic module. Any generic logic module should work that has at least OR and AND outputs. Being able to take two patterns of gates/triggers and derive a third pattern is always useful. There are other logic outputs that also might be interesting when comparing.

I think between these three modules you'd be able to add some dynamics to Plaits or Marbles timbres that would make for some good sample fodder.

This is something I keep thinking about too, something in maybe 3 and 4hp, so you can get a bit of air flow with a couple at the bottom and a couple at the top. Electronics do last better when kept cool don't they?
I'm sure I could make my own but I'm not sure it would end up looking very tidy marked out and drilled by hand!

Should probably add some sort of EG…Zadar or Doepfer A-140-2…more modulation is always good, maybe Quadrax…ornament and crime adds a lot of functionality as well but some don’t like menu diving

Hi folks,

This is the current state of my Rack. I started building it a few months ago and have already had some good fun playing with it in its current state. I guess it's rather basic. I mainly use the Marbles or the Pam's to generate random tunes that I send to the Plaits. I like to jam on it trying to get some sounds and loops I enjoy. Eventually I record those for later use when I produce music.

Now, I would like to expand it somehow but not sure yet what to get next.
Do you have some tips and ideas on how you would improve/use this rack?

Made a new video for the final track «Iris» from my debut solo album «Still Life».
Romantic polyphonic composition for modular synthesizer based on subtle melody and dreamy strings.
Better to listen with headphones. More explanations on YouTube.

Just got the TUL by rides in the storm, this has offsets built into the 2 channels itself that can be enabled by a switch. And another switch to change between nuation/nuversion ;) This made much more sense to me and want to get more to replace blinds/shades. With blinds it can be hard to get a true zero value, and on the shades it takes 2 channels to add offset, the problem also mentioned above. Cheap and perfect companion for stuff like grand terminal/vortex or rampage etc. that don't have the maths CH2/3 section.

Hi Nicholas,
I found these... They’re 4hp and 3D printed so they’re presumably pretty customizable.
I hope these are what you’re looking for!

https://www.shapeways.com/product/67YKP7968/eurorack-blank-panel-4hp-vented?optionId=70725951&li=more-from-shop

If the link does not work (not sure of Modular Grid’s rules), just search “3D printed euro rack panels.” The store is called “Shape Ways.”

I have no affiliation with the site posted nor the product mentioned and therefore cannot vouch for them.

Kind regards,
John

If you have any spare protoboard you could drill holes and mount it to your rails?

You should check out wigglehunt.com great cross site modular search, not always 100%, but I was able to find some modules from smaller vendors that aren’t in my usually check list.

you would connect something to the reset to break it like another divisor or lfo

The gated clock IS the output of the And gate. One and the same. So again this will cause a reset on each transition of the (gated) clock, and no division will occur.
-- jamos

"Gated clock" is just the signal in that particular patch example, where they are using the AND to combine a clock signal and a gate signal before patching it to the CLOCK input, instead of letting it go to the RESET via the normal (which is broken by patching RESET to 8)

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.
-- sacguy71

I was considering a second Pams for my drum skiff rework, but I think I am going to go with the Clock O Pawn/Time Wizard route. I want the drum rig to be as immediate/hands on as possible and that combo looks like tons of fun.

-- xnax
Oh yeah you will love Shakmat Clock O Pawn and Time Wizard! I get some cool tribal drum grooves with mine.

I will second the 4MS Ensemble Oscillator and also recommend the 4MS Spherical Wavetable Navigator. Same company, two very different synths geared I think towards generative/ambient music. I wound up selling my Ensemble to justify buying the SWN, but now I wish I had them both, they are beautiful and do very different things. Someday I’m sure I’ll wind up with another Ensemble.

I go to Reverb first to see if there might be a reasonable deal on a used module, but do the math - the asking price can sometimes be close enough to retail that when adding tax and shipping (sometimes outrageous shipping), it is just as much if not more than retail from say Patchwerks, which includes free shipping and zero sales tax. I wish I could buy more from Midwest Modular, but since they’re local (Minnesota) they have to charge me sales tax. Patchwerks is great. Perfect Circuit is great. Detroit Modular is my favorite because they have a loyalty points system, and that is totally great. Mostly, I tend to surf them all to see 1) who has it and 2) is there a lower price between them. If the price is the same everywhere, I’ll buy from Detroit Modular to rack up a few more points. Ah, consumerism.

Hi folks,

Do any of you know of good "blank" panels that vent (such as via metal screen or mesh)? I'm hoping to find something available and at a reasonable price.

Use case: parts of my rack get pretty hot, despite my having left intake / outlet spots for outside air to enter and exit the rig. I'd like to add some "venting blank" panels to more of the rig so it can move more air, while still protecting the rig from unwanted wires, screws, or other objects potentially getting inside and causing a damaging short. I'd love to lower the internal temp to help my modules have long lives!

I probably need 5-10 4-8HP "venting blanks," not a lot! So I'm hoping to find a ready to use alternative vs. having to mess around with DIY for such a modest HP usage.

I have to say, I'm surprised there isn't already something like this widely available in the marketplace.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Nicholas

Here in the US, Patchwerks has become my favorite, with a tie between Control, Control Voltage, and Detroit Modular after that. Also one source I haven't seen mentioned yet is Juno in the UK. They don't have the widest selection but their prices tend to be pretty good on the whole. Unless there is some reason not to support them that I am unaware of, they can be a good option depending on the manufacturer you are looking for.

One other clock-gen module that I think is very worthwhile is https://www.modulargrid.net/e/evaton-technologies-clx This thing is actually a dual clock...except that, with its internal logic gating, you can squeeze out a host of other clock-based signals depending on which gate's in use and what rates the clocks are at. Very interesting idea with a deceptively-capable module; looks simple, does way more than "simple" implies!

Heh...well, I got to watch Kraftwerk's rise to importance with "Autobahn" and the follow-ups. If you go back to that time-zone and check the reviews of something like "The Man-Machine", you'd think Kraftwerk were the biggest culture-wreckers in all of music history. Amazing how that's not even close to the case now.

Of course, many of those same critics shat all over Led Zeppelin when their first album dropped, so this is a pretty good example of why to not listen to music critics.

Look into Schlappi Engineering Boundary to replace/complient Maths.

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.
-- sacguy71

I was considering a second Pams for my drum skiff rework, but I think I am going to go with the Clock O Pawn/Time Wizard route. I want the drum rig to be as immediate/hands on as possible and that combo looks like tons of fun.

Yeah I agree Lugia and the thing is music has such a wide range of types and tastes. I mean take pop music today most of it sickens me and I don't listen to it. I like weird stuff like Kraftwerk, Art of Noise to modern metal music and jazz. I did get a new 7u Intellijel case to pair up with my 4u palette case and Doepfer 6u case so think it will be good for mobile stuff. I do want to get some more modulation sources as that is the thing I run out of the most in advanced patching. Dnipro Krait looks interesting for a modulation LFO type source and Divkid 0chd as well. I am having good results with the new Erica Synths Black Sequencer and Endorphin.es Ground control for my sequencers. Now I can save pattern presets for recall, multiple live playback modes across a dozen tracks and mix it up.

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.

Don't overlook inexpensive VCOs that can work at LFO rates.
-- Ronin1973

I just got the Doepfer A-143-9...messing around with it using Warps and WMD ultrafold...whoa

Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

-- mntbighker

that's what new cases are for - my 2nd case was because I wanted Maths and didn't have room for it!

-- JimHowell1970

I have three 4MS pods and an Intellijel Palette case in addition to my main rack. No more cases are in my future. I'm to the point now for something to enter, something must leave. It's actually a good discipline at this stage in my journey.
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/users/view/182046

Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

-- mntbighker

that's what new cases are for - my 2nd case was because I wanted Maths and didn't have room for it!

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 18:07

The gated clock IS the output of the And gate. One and the same. So again this will cause a reset on each transition of the (gated) clock, and no division will occur.

the only module that can do both attenuation and offset per channel, that I know of, is the happy nerding 3*MIA - but you'd need 3 if you want a channel per ochd output
-- JimHowell1970

just checked wigglehunt and there appear to be some in at analogue haven and there's on listed in the market place here in the eu as of yesterday

-- JimHowell1970

Thanks, I just ordered from Analoguehaven, and I may even order a second MIA. I never need to offset all the OCHD channels, and I tend to keep two set up with Veils. But I do have two OCHD's in different parts of the rack. One is in my percussion section, and one is with my modulation section with the Maestro. I think they will be a powerful combo. Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

... why on earth is reset normalled to the gated clock? This will force the dividers to reset on each clock, rendering the device useless. Shouldn't it be normalled to the gate input?
-- jamos

I looked at the webpage. I think you might be mistaken. According to the webpage, the reset is normalled to an AND gate. The AND gate has two independent inputs, an output, and THAT output is normalled to the reset-input.

Let me know if I've misread something from the manufacturer's page.

... why on earth is reset normalled to the gated clock? This will force the dividers to reset on each clock, rendering the device useless. Shouldn't it be normalled to the gate input?

Don't overlook inexpensive VCOs that can work at LFO rates.

In the USA,
Detroit Modular has been my go-to place for most things.
Perfect Circuit is second. Their shipping can be a little slow.
After that, I just hunt around. For most modules, there aren't any big runs on product. So finding a lesser known brand of module usually leads me to whatever online store has a unit rather than me giving deferential priority to a specific vendor.

My standard search has become Reverb/Ebay, then Perfect Circuit, Patchwerks, then "well who's got it in stock?"!

Edit: oh, and buying from makers directly where possible is early in that list too!

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 14:56

its amazing - I had to spend 1000's of pounds on Eurorack to appreciate the software version as every time I sat down to work out how eurorack worked I used to give up and get really frustrated in the process. Now I use Softube modular and vcv as an ideas playground to try out patches which I can then replicate with hardware -- love it

I’m pretty much all reverb and ebay and paying anywhere between 50% - 70% of rrp. The only module I bought close to rrp recently was metropolix. Just got to walk away if the bidding gets too high than what you are prepared to pay.

One other point regarding both Reverb and eBay these days: I'm seeing prices drifting upward, so both places might be a good source for outboard effects for a while longer...but certainly not forever!

Ah Lugia, you have given me a valid reason to buy a new computer next year.
-- sacguy71

You too, huh? Yeah, I'm thinking that if I'm going to get VCV to REALLY work, I'll have to figure out how to pipe the send/return VST signals from the Ableton machine to a dedicated machine for VCV. Could be problematic for that, but any other use would work.

Or, hell, I could just pipe the send/returns out as analog signals (the FIVE is set up for that sort of craziness to a certain extent) and then add an appropriate interface, then run ALL outs via that. It's not too dissimilar to how I'm going to deal with running Grainstorm on my Tab A.

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 04:09

@Lugia - I thought I read somewhere where the Keystep Pro gates can be configured for 5V? I thought I recalled you have one?
-- jb61264

They're pretty flexible, yep. And I do use 5V trig/gates from time to time. But what I usually do is to set these to 8V so that they can trigger those AND most other modules. The only time this doesn't work nicely if when I DO need +5V for working with the AE...which is based around a +5V architecture for everything.

I am at a point of frustration as I've tried to work through this BSP/Disting EX deal with the Multisample algorithm...I currently am routing Pitch from BSP Seq1 to Frap Tools 321 channel 1 and Gate from BSP Seq1 to Frap Tools 321 channel 2.
I completely reinstalled the latest EX firmware 1.10.1 so I could be relatively sure any settings I may have screwed up were reset.

Offset switches are off on the 321 and the Phase switch is to the left for all three 321 channels. I just have a gate on the 1,5,9,13 steps and am getting decent piano sound but it still gets wonky if I enable say step 11...it will make 13 pitch go way up.

Ugh, about to consider the EX a waste of space for sample playback...I get the RTFM and I have been, but at a certain point it just shouldn't be this difficult

Ah Lugia, you have given me a valid reason to buy a new computer next year. I’m good on modular gear but my old computer needs a replacement.

@Lugia - I thought I read somewhere where the Keystep Pro gates can be configured for 5V? I thought I recalled you have one?
-- jb61264

They're pretty flexible, yep. And I do use 5V trig/gates from time to time. But what I usually do is to set these to 8V so that they can trigger those AND most other modules. The only time this doesn't work nicely if when I DO need +5V for working with the AE...which is based around a +5V architecture for everything.

BIA is my favorite single drum module so far in modular that I own since it can do so many things especially when fed tons of well crafted modulation. Plonk and Plaits also are superb because they can do drum and non drum sounds like bass, chords, and string instruments. You could almost craft a case out of sounds from a few Plonk, BIA, and Plaits modules and tons of modulation.

Woah that would be awesome use VCV Rack v2 as VST in Ableton and Ableton Push controller. Totally awesome!
-- sacguy71

And THAT is the general idea! The ability to have that VST shell there on VCV is a real gamechanger, and not just for using it as a virtual synth. The VST plug should respond to multiple channels (I forget how many...but it's sufficient), which means that you can set up several processing chains on the same VCV screen...and if you've got a stonkin' potent machine, it can even throw a voice or three of its own into the fray.

DFAM? Not a bad thing, that. However, it's more like an "ear candy generator" in amongst the routine drum sounds.

I learned waaaaaaaaay back in my techno days sometime during the Warren G. Harding administration that there's almost a set of subliminal cues to the various percussion sounds. For example, if you put an Oberheim DMX kick on a track instead of the basic Roland X0X sources, the crowd will NOT respond...or at least, not well. Similarly, trap hats tend to be Roland TR-606 ones, maybe out of an 808 set as well. But put a real set of hi-hats on there...and "nope".

However, if you go back and listen to some of the early 1980s breaks tracks, very early techno, and electro such as Mantronix, you'll ALSO find lots of little bleeps and pings and such scattered throughout. To me, THAT is what the DFAM's for. It's a serious electro machine, offering up the little sounds that up the thrill factor.

Ah ok that makes sense - did not compute earlier, I could look into beefing up the mixer and removing/replacing the the fx aid xl for hp space - happy enough to sacrifice that for better integration of other effects including the effects pedals.

I've got to give a shout out to Reverb. Support another musician and save some money in the process. Nothing but great experiences with the used Euro and hardware synth folks out there.

I'm in the US and mainly use Patchwerks (Seattle-based) and Perfect Circuit. Patchwerks I find has a solid selection and great recommendations, service, and ship times. Perfect Circuit has a wider selection. On rare occassion I've bought from Detroit Modular and a shop in Oregon who's name I forget. All 4 of those have been worth going back to.

I buy most of my other stuff from Sweetwater, or less frequently, Vintage Audio King, but both SW and VK are much less knowledgeable in modular than those specialist retailers mentioned above. Hope this helps!

the strymon aa.1 is a send and return or am I completely misunderstanding what you meant?
-- keefo

the aa.1 is a pedal interface - it does send from the modular to effects pedals and return from effects pedals to modular

@greenfly means send and return from your mixer to the aa.1 and any other in-rack effects, such as the fx-aid

Hello!
Ive been transmitting live for a while, so I want to share my channel here.
Instagram username: dadodetres
Ambient, Drone, generative, live instruments, new age.

I needed another case with 1u row for travel and Perfect Circuit besides Intellijel was only place with the 7u cases in stock. I’ve waited a year to find one. I will pair it up with my 4u palette case and Doepfer 6u case for my portable rig.