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Hi The-Erc,

If you are willing to spend 8 HP then I can advise two filters.

1) Well okay LPG then :-) The Make Noise - Optomix with 8 HP not too bad.

2) The Doepfer - A-124 Wasp filter, for a full review report please download the PDF from my below link:

https://garfieldmodular.net/index.php/doepfer/doepfer-a-124-1/

Below 8 HP it's getting seriously difficult, no other filter worth mentioning comes to my mind with less than 8 HP.

Good luck with the search for a good yet small filter and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi TumeniKnobs,

Oh yes, those good old times... the 70's :-) Yes and Rush indeed and don't forget that long Telegraph Road number from Dire Straits ;-) But that was already the early 80's...

Oh long ambient, nice! Don't forget the "new rule" here that ambient needs to be 17 minutes or longer ;-) Can't wait for that and kind regards, Garfield.

I’m impressed with everything G-Storm Electro makes. This one and the Oberheim clone sound outstanding.

This: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/g-storm-electro-delta-vcf-8hp

Same OTA filter topology as in the Korg Poly-61, two-input mixer, plus you get either LP or BP modes, all for a whopping $140. And yeah, this WILL have some character that normally you don't hear in smaller VCFs.

I have the (perhaps wrong) idea that Ripples and Font probably sound pretty similar.

Of course once you go to 8hp there are so many Doepfers to choose from!

-- the-erc

Probably fairly similar. Ripples has FM, and a 4-pole low pass with VCA, but I imagine they're in the same ballpark. The Doepfer SEM sounds great too. As much as I like the unique Wasp sound, I've read a lot of stories of that particular filter burning up.

Another "multi-ute" that I like to see in builds has to be WMD/SSF's Tool Box, especially when there's sequencing involved. That thing gives you some VERY useful tools for that, including a comparator, diode-OR pulse summer, a two-in electronic switch and some waveshaping trickery. All in a mere 6 hp, with no controls to speak of...just a few POTENT utilities.

At 8hp, I have a hard time arguing against MI Ripples for features and sound quality per hp.
-- farkas

I have the (perhaps wrong) idea that Ripples and Font probably sound pretty similar.

Of course once you go to 8hp there are so many Doepfers to choose from!

Can't say, but I could use a little more of that vibe which is why I want it. If you want range I should throw out Intellijel's Polaris even though it's 10HP, it can get pretty squawky but can stay clean and smooth too. Definitely a good one.

I don't have one but I'd love to get a Steve's MS-22
-- troux

Seen some demos, seems good for dirty and overdriven, but can it do anything else?

Below 8hp, I've been impressed with and considered getting a Bastl Cinnamon. At 8hp, I have a hard time arguing against MI Ripples for features and sound quality per hp.

Agreed! Killer quiet 3 channel stereo mixer in 4hp. Great design and build. And at $90, the price is great.

I don't have one but I'd love to get a Steve's MS-22

Considering I only got into synths at all for the filters it's unacceptable to have only two* filters in my rack. I need another, pronto. I don't have a lot of space so big beasts like the QPAS or Beograd are out of the question. I'm looking at the Erica Pico VCF1 as a characterful option or the Doepfer A-121-3 for more versatility.

What's your favourite small filter? Let's say small means less than 8hp.

[*] My current filters : Nano Modules Font and Doepfer A-101-2, which is technically an LPG but can be used a straight up LPF with a very nice sound.

key down gate opens VCA4 in C107 to let through PW from Q106 LFO > 960 shift in so sequence plays as long as note is being held. Gate high also goes to Q128 letting A (0 volts) through to stage 9 in, when gate is low, 128 switches to B to stage-9 in, B is being fed 5V offset from 564 stage one out. Extra EG between gate and 128 control in helped when legato playing caused 960 to go right back to stage 9 and not run.

I'd be shocked if there wasn't an incredible amount of completely illegal activity going on!

Definitely, a whole lot of what makes modular modular in there.

"Today my small discovery was..." is a great thread!!!

If you can't beat em (build your own 303 with modules), join em (buy an M303 instead). Giving the M303 a workout here, quite nice, though I wouldn't mind some more modulation points.

https://stevehand.bandcamp.com/track/tuesday-acid

Hope you all enjoy 🕺

Thanks troux! Very kind of you!

Thanks, pleased that you like it!

Wow! Sounds great.

systasis001 - Limited Cassette Edition - tracks recorded live on a small modular system. Each packaged with original artwork. I hope that you enjoy!

https://www.systasis.co.uk/product/systasis-001-limited-cassette-edition

Thank you! I have always loved long-form music which started when I first heard Yes and Rush back in the 70s... I'm working on a long ambient piece at the moment. I'm hoping to wrap it up shortly. Cheers.

I am not an expert, but just for interests sake, this is the current situation as I understand it:

The Good Friday Agreement stipulates there will never be a hard border between NI and ROI.

BREXIT requires a hard border between the UK and the EU.

ROI is part of the EU.

NI is part of the UK.

yes really...

yes, really... really...

There is probably a multitude of business opportunities for some enterprising and very brave soul exporting and importing between these countries.

I couldn't deal with the inevitable stress, or the potential jail time, but that's a 20% additional markup on anything you care to take the trouble to drive over the border as far as I can make out...

I would be shocked if there isn't an incredible amount of technically illegal activity going on!

Hi Julia,

I must have overlooked this post, some great tracks you got there, wow! :-) I like the especially first one and that lengthy frozen-reverb at the end, fantastic :-D Nice long tracks, I wouldn't mind if they were even longer.

The usage of amazing and interesting sounds, is superb. Are you planning any concert tour through Europe after Covid? If yes, I hope you don't forget to stop by in Germany ;-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield Modular.
-- GarfieldModular

Thank you for the kind words Mr. Garfield :) I have a local booking for upcoming November so far, but let's see how it goes. Of course Germany needs a separate tour!

Thanks, I do try!

the thing is you often need more than you think - especially when you start to use them for modulation!

so maybe buy something cheaper or used - an older model veils - which is what I use - for example - or the tallin or doepfer

links kinks and shades ! if you have no other way of creating offset - or even if you do - it's really useful to have it as a separate module - I have maths but never use it as a mixer and rarely as an offset!

EDITED Mar 4th 2021, 09:13

Hi Jim, that may be the best advice I’ve read thus far. At the moment scanning/searching for VCA’s...Although I would prefer an Intelllijel Quad VCA or Veils 2020, none of them seem to be available right now. I have seen a XAOC Tallin nearby that has exponential and linear but also seems to color the sound and is dual. In doubt....do I wait or should the Tallin do it’s job for the time being to be partnered later on with an Intellijel Quad VCA or Veils. With regards to some utility stuff I was also thinking of MI Kinks and Links...

Lovely @mowse

Hi Mowse,

Oh wow! This is very interesting and a very nice complex sounding jam. Lots of stuff to discover here for the listener.

It's getting late here and I was getting sleepy but you made me fully awake again :-) Well done and thank you very much for sharing this. Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi TumeniKnobs,

Oh wow, that's a lovely and beautiful track and nice loooonggg! :-)

Well, keep the good stuff coming, I can't wait for it! Thank you very much and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Julia,

I must have overlooked this post, some great tracks you got there, wow! :-) I like the especially first one and that lengthy frozen-reverb at the end, fantastic :-D Nice long tracks, I wouldn't mind if they were even longer.

The usage of amazing and interesting sounds, is superb. Are you planning any concert tour through Europe after Covid? If yes, I hope you don't forget to stop by in Germany ;-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield Modular.

My top thread is probably "Today my small discovery was..." over on MuffWiggler (https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=162755&start=1175) with so so many good ideas, but I also love any thread where folks ask for advice on a build as I really enjoy the instrument-design part of Eurorack, and they're also an easy way to learn about new modules.

Cool!

Here's Beads processing my Plumbutter, with Monsoon very lightly processing samples from Coco.

-- baltergeist

Superb @baltergeist!

The Visage Album was the first Record I bought in my Life. I still love Fade to Grey like the first
Time I listened to it. I love those Chord Changes, the Harmonies.

-- Quantum_Eraser

I actually picked up a really nice OG vinyl copy of Visage a year or so ago. My first album was Purple Rain purchased with birthday money in 1984.

Yeah, I love bananas! The bass tones and dial clicks are coming from a couple of Lorre-Mill Double Knots. The Coco is playing two different versions of the same Tetrax loop, and the Plumbutter is providing percussion and kind of cracked melody in the background, with Beads making it whispery.

My favorite threads are the ones where modular users are sharing their creations. I hate when I see people sucking the joy out of the creative and learning processes. And yes, there is a lot to learn just by listening to others’ music while looking at their racks, some massive and some tiny.
There are an infinite number of ways to do this. We all have different budgets, ideas about what sounds and modules are cool, how serious of a hobby this is, beginner modules, rack size (seriously though, get a bigger rack than you think you need if you plan to take this seriously), etc.
To some this is serious business, to others it’s an escape, to others it’s a tool of expression, and to others it’s a toy. We’re not curing cancer here, so I recommend having fun above all. Try to figure out your workflow and desired sound reasonably quickly, do enough research that you pick the right modules for YOU, and don’t make a lot of expensive mistakes. Then share your creations with others so we can all learn from your successes and mistakes.
Have fun and good luck!

Cool!

Here's Beads processing my Plumbutter, with Monsoon very lightly processing samples from Coco.

-- baltergeist

Oh I like the Ciat Lonbarde Stuff. Some Day I will buy a Coco

Thank you, and no. That's me playing my Mother-32 through a few different effects - old EHX Small Clone, MidFi Electronics Scrape Flutter and Random Phase & Vibrato, CCP Bug Caster (a tube OD), Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water, and the reverb side of the EQD Avalanche Run.

Just a Happy Accident. I sampled a short Piano Loop of Fade to Grey in Beads Buffer. Additional Reverb from DV.

-- Quantum_Eraser

Nice! Love the original, and your take on it is great.
Thanks for sharing.
-- farkas

Thank you! :-)

The Visage Album was the first Record I bought in my Life. I still love Fade to Grey like the first
Time I listened to it. I love those Chord Changes, the Harmonies.

Cool!

Here's Beads processing my Plumbutter, with Monsoon very lightly processing samples from Coco.

-- baltergeist

@baltergeist is the Plumbutter doing the “flute” sound? That’s awesome.

Just a Happy Accident. I sampled a short Piano Loop of Fade to Grey in Beads Buffer. Additional Reverb from DV.

-- Quantum_Eraser

Nice! Love the original, and your take on it is great.
Thanks for sharing.

Cool!

Here's Beads processing my Plumbutter, with Monsoon very lightly processing samples from Coco.

Just a Happy Accident. I sampled a short Piano Loop of Fade to Grey in Beads Buffer. Additional Reverb from DV.

Hi Julia, do you power your whole rack with 2 shuttle controls?
According to the specs sheet, the power consumption on your rack is more then double the "1.000 mA +12V, 700 mA -12V, 1.000 mA +5V" (PSU supplied by 1 shuttle control)...
-- dmnk

Hi!
I see it is almost on the limit, but it works. also it powers the BSP by USB.
I use GST90A12-P1M Meanwell 6.67A DC adapter which gives strong +12V part.

Great dealing with @raimbo. Item packaged very carefully, was provided with clear tracking info and sale was fast and easy.

I see a lot of these "beauty case" (using Dieter's term there) builds. They invariably fall into two camps:

I've been using it too - maybe i got it from Dieter too, but I think I just started spontaneously using it

(I'm also really liking "rack wart" for power modules - especially the arturia one)

Please don't encourage this trend.

-- Lugia

hear, hear!!!

Hi Julia, do you power your whole rack with 2 shuttle controls?
According to the specs sheet, the power consumption on your rack is more then double the "1.000 mA +12V, 700 mA -12V, 1.000 mA +5V" (PSU supplied by 1 shuttle control)...

Hey, thanks. Glad you both enjoyed it. I'm checking out Anna Strom's work today while I have some quiet time with just me and the headphones.

Great transaction and communication with @ner0!