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https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_952545.jpg

Seeking advice / opinions. I have a 0-Coast I would use with this rack. All audio could be sent into MainStage and processed with effects, or other audio or software instruments. What could I add to or subtract from the rack? Thanks for any tips.

Your English is fine and your English as a second language doesn't bother me... as it should not.

Okay. Now I understand what you're going for. The Eurorack is going to function more like an effects processor.

If you're wanting to add a filter I would recommend the Intellijel Morgasmatron. But it's 20HP. So you'll want a bigger skiff!

It has two multimode filters that can work independently, parallel, or series. The knobs are very good for live adjustments. One side has a switch for overdrive and the other has a phase-flip. There's also a mix-mode for blending the sound of the two outputs that can also be modulated. So you will get a lot of usage out of it for processing your effects.

The other filter I would recommend is the Joranalogue Filter 8. It's only one channel but all filter outputs are available via 3.5mm jacks rather than selecting a filter going to one jack.

The one thing I think you're missing is a mixer. The Blue Lantern Stereo Sir-Mix-A-Lot would work... but again, it's a big module. But the price point is under $300US. Six inputs, two stereo returns, two stereo aux sends, mutes, panning... there's a lot of value there.

If you're going with a skiff... find one that's 104HP. I don't think 84HP is going to be enough. I've reworked your case. I used Monsoon rather than uBurst as you'll get more functionality out of it. I also used a micro version of rings. I added the Morgasmatron and the Sir-Mix-Alot. For the remaining 8HP, I added a micro Ornaments & Crime module for some internal modulation, envelopes, sequencing, LFOs, etc. You could also replace the O_C with a VCA module should you want to use this as a synth and rely on the Shuttle for all of your modulation. I'd replace the buffered mult with the Intellijel dual VCA when it's available.
https://forum.intellijel.com/t/1u-dual-stereo-vca-module-what-features/1428/14

My ultimate recommendation would be an Intellijel 104 4U case. I'd get that. I stocked the 1U row with some line to Eurorack modules, noise/sample&hold, a quadratt for submixing, inverting, attenuation, and a buffered mult.

EDITED Jul 16th 2019, 17:26

Dear community, I'm really new into synthesizers, but was hooked up immediately by the almost psychedelic effect of (interactive) journeys through modular soundscapes, be they rough and stormy or calm and meditative.

My first rack is almost assembled, the budget (for now) exhausted. I still want to add elements, though, on a low-cost DIY basis. Maybe you would have any suggestions or ideas?

The rack is build on top of a (semimodular) Arturia MiniBrute 2S.
Additionally, I am using the (polyphonic) Arturia Keystep with both MIDI and CV out.
Four studio monitors are placed in a quadrophonic setup.
Module list here

• I already assembled an Arduino-based "scaler" which uses the Doepfer CV2MIDI module as a quantizer, scales the input to a chosen scale and root note, and puts it back into the rack through the polyphonic MIDI2CV module. I plan to add dedicated CV ins and outs to my "scaler box" later, in order to harmonize several CVs in parallel. Also, a "chord builder" or "arpeggiator" stage could be added.

• A friend helps me to fit 12 Fonitronik attenuverters into an external "attenuating box" (12 inputs, 12 outputs, 12 control knobs)

• I started a "random switch" box, to mimic the effects of the Random Rhythm module. My box is based on an Raspi 3B+ with the specialized PiSound card and the Sonic-PI "live coding" platform. I plan to attach 8 trigger inputs and 8 trigger outputs, the inputs most likely will be connected to the clock divider and logic section in the rack. The likeliness of a trigger signal being passed will be controlled by the sliders on a Korg NanoKontrol 2.

• Once this is done, it shouldn't be hard to add a few CV outputs, to simulate additional "Turing Machines". Again, those should not be hard to script using Sonic-PI.

• The same hardware will be used as a configurable multitrack looper (I already found a Sonic-PI script).

Looking forward for more ideas, or comments regarding this experimental rack. My focus is on exploring generative patches and to get a grasp of various styles and possibilities.

Thank you very much
Tobias

EDITED Jul 16th 2019, 15:23

What I have been searching is Filter module with both low and high pass. Do you have any suggestion ?

-- noopaul

Second for Wasp, too - it's my favourite filter at the moment.

God's Box Humpback filter also has LP/HP/BP/Notch, and two attenuated CV inputs. Sounds decent, and comes as a full DIY kit , so is cheap, and probably easy to find second hand. Also if you're into DIY, build yourself some passive vactrol low pass gates - they are super cheap, useful, and sound cool.

The Doepfer Wasp Filter has a knob to balance between lowpass and high pass. It even has a bandpass.
-- Utilisateur_2

Many thanks !

I just make a rack for modules I want, and another rack for modules I'm more vaguely interested in, but probably won't buy any time soon.. Make them 12U, 128HP. Plenty of space for a wishlist - if you really need more than that, just add more racks.

The Doepfer Wasp Filter has a knob to balance between lowpass and high pass. It even has a bandpass.

It would be super useful if each module page showed similar modules to the one you're currently looking at. I realise that this is not an easy problem to solve, but I figured it would be worth starting a discussion, as I have at least a partial solution:

Use the "similar racks" feature (with improvements suggested in the "feature request" thread), and look for modules that are not shared across similar racks. The idea here is that "similar racks" probably fall into vague rack-types, like sound-design racks, or live-performance racks, or ambient racks, etc. If a lot of sound-designy racks share a lot of modules, but rarely share two particular modules, then there's a fair chance that those two modules cover similar ground.

One example might be Make Noise Maths and Befaco Rampage - they aim to do similar things, and so it's unlikely that they'll appear both in a single rack. Another example might be something like Mutable Instruments Peaks and ALM's Pip Slope or Hikaki's Triple AD - each provides one or more simple, loopable envelopes, and so fills a similar niche in the eurorack ecosystem.

If there is any (anonymised) rack data available, I would be keen to have a crack at a proof of concept model for this.

Hi gang!
I'm about to upgrade from current 9U case to 12U:

It's basically 2-voice system with effects and modulation+mix/out.
I'm happy with top 2 rows and a bottom row, but I'm not sure about the 3rd row, mainy with "Quadra / Prism / Pons" comobo. Shoud I keep that?
Or maybe replace them either with a Synth voice (Elements or Loquelic Iteritas Percido) or FX module (Z-DSP, Echophon/Erbe-Verb/Morphagene, Black Hole DSP2)? Or something else.

Hi Ronin,

I have tried VCV rack (and that is why I am trying to build a physical one) but what I cannot tried on VCV is to connect with other synths in my set up, Digitakt, Digitone, Se-02, Volcas, mackie 12vlz and few fx pedals.

As far as I know, Endorphin Shuttle Control can map various functions like clock, modulation, envelope, lfo etc. via cc midi control from Digitakt.

Here is setting plan; Morphagene to sampling audio from my synths and many kinds of sound source and play back granular loop, while Clouds and Rings to process and give texture to the sound from either Morphagene or my external synths and all modulated by Digitakt via Shuttle Control. After learning the limitations and capabilities of Digitakt + Shuttle Control as well as to connect/ process sounds of other gears mentioned, then I can plan for 2*84 hp and get more modules.

What I have been searching is Filter module with both low and high pass. Do you have any suggestion ?

Thanks for your advice anyway. I understand your point and willing to hear lots of comments. Sorry for my bad English that I cannot explain well though.

This is sort of...odd. How could you be hearing the LFOs unless they're running at audio frequency rates? If the "LFO sound" is actually more like a constant hum, then the problem probably isn't the LFOs at all and you're dealing with a ground loop. The big clue here is the phrase "older, ungrounded electrical systems"; grounding is ESSENTIAL for electronic instruments, processors, and the like, and if it's absent, the equipment will seek a "ground" by whatever means it finds. In this case, it sounds like it's found your A-143-3...and that's not good for that module if that's really what's going on here, because it's passing leaking AC line voltage back thru the module, the cab's distro and PS, and the like.

The practical way to disengage a ground loop is to add isolation to your modular's outputs...which is something EVERYONE should be doing for exactly these reasons, particularly if you play live and you're plugging into power systems you know nothing about. The Lifeforms Outs you have doesn't appear to have this; I would strongly suggest looking into an output module that has proper balanced TRS mono outs, not TS. Furthermore, if you make sure and find an output that's specifically transformer-isolated, this will not only give you the isolation you need, it also puts some "iron" into your output signal path that you can saturate a bit with a touch of overloading that'll give you a warmer signal provided you don't go overboard with the levels.

I can hear the four LFOs cycling through my amp when the module isn't patched. Unfortunately, it's pretty loud. This seems to be a common problem with LFOs in general when the rack is plugged into older, ungrounded electrical systems like mine. The signal noise disappears when I unplug the LFO from the PSU.

I assume the noise would go away if the outlet were grounded; and, eventually, I may ground that specific outlet. Until then, are there any practical ways I could at least dampen that unwanted signal? Thanks.

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_853360.jpg

Eurorack is a bottomless pit when it comes to money. You're going to start itching. :)

Filters? Where are they? Your missing filters unless I can't see them (can't access your rack, it's private).

As far as envelope generators:
Peaks
Disting Mk4
Ornaments & Crime
Have envelope generating possibilities. One or two EGs might be nice. Intellijel makes a useful dual envelope generator that I would recommend. I also have two Tip Top Z4000s that I like but aren't as easy to use as the Intellijel. You might also want to consider the Zadar if you want long, evolving envelopes... especially to modulate your filter... wherever that is. :)

Scrap it.

You have a collection of modules but nothing you can really use to produce anything meaningful. VCA? Filter? Modulation?

The vast majority of modules are not self-contained synths. Buying a module doesn't give you "that sound" unless its in conjunction with other modules.

Find VCV Rack and download it. It's free. Once you've managed to create some ambient music on VCV Rack, then I would consider buying modules and putting together a system. But I doubt you're going to get anything useful in that space to produce anything like what you're hearing in the videos. In the space provided, you could probably make a simple one or two oscillator set-up with a filter, LFO, and a few VCAs. But for what you'll spend, you'd be better off getting an all-in-on synth like a Deepmind 12D for $600US. You'll have to throw a few thousand to duplicate the racks in the video.

It's a lot harder to get something useful out of a limited amount of modules on a limited budget in a limited amount of space. So you're really fighting an uphill battle to get what you want under these conditions without any experience assembling a case.

I'm not trying to discourage you or be mean. Quite the opposite. I would put together a $2000-$3000 budget for starter case or buy a preconfigured case+modules.

This is my first beat.

Akai’s MPK Mini mkII keybed is set to midi channel 1 and controls Lifeforms SV-1’s oscillator 2 through FH-2’s arpeggiator.
Note range for FH-2’s midi channel 1 is set to 47-127.

Akai’s pad is set to midi channel 2 and controls Lifeforms SV-1’s oscillator 1 through FH-2.
Note range for FH-2’s midi channel 2 is set to 0-46.

Midi note messages are send from Logic Pro X to FH-2’s both midi channels in order to change the chord for Lifeforms SV-1’s oscillator 2 (FH-2’s arpeggiator’s Transose is on and mapped to an Akai knob) and the note for Lifeforms SV-1’s oscillator 1.

Clock is coming form Logic Pro X.

Kick comes from Morgasmatron's filter B
Snare comes from Morgasmatron's filter A
HiHats coming directly from Lifeforms SV-1’s Noise output.

Everything’s played in real-time, no editing or effects, except a Channel EQ, a Compressor and a Spread from Logic Pro X.

https://soundcloud.com/panos-volkov

EDITED Jul 16th 2019, 16:10

Bought a module from Belgium to Canada from @bj_gzp . Arrived in perfect condition quickly and he even paid more of the shipping cost than he needed to. Awesome seller!

Hi Garfield,

3*84 HP is my dream which I have to sell out some of my music gears, so I keep minimal for now :p
I will take your advice to leave 6 HP space with blind panel for now.

Thanks again for that very kind of you.

Oh I forgot, the suggestion from richc90 to take the Chord v2 instead of Chord (v1) is a good suggestion, that would save you 14 HP, valuable space if you would ask me. Unless you have some good reasons to stick with the Chord (v1), I would reconsider that module to save space.

Hi Ramirez,

Pfiew, that's a difficult question about recommending an envelope generator, there are so many. What you could consider is to start easy with one Doepfer A-140, it's effordable and I had tested it (together with quite a few other Doepfer modules) and it's a good module. I like the touch and feel of Doepfer modules, but that's of course a personal impression, Doepfer might not be everybody's cup of tea; but then again, that's applicable for every brand I guess :-)

Just start with one A-140 module, get some experience with that and if you feel you need another envelope then you still can consider another brand or just get a second A-140 module next to it.

A few more envelope generators I am keeping an eye on (but that doesn't mean other brands and types are not good or shouldn't be considered, it's just my personal opinion, so far, it might change over time too). Here some ideas and this is certainly not a complete list:

Doepfer A-135-4C, A-140, A-143-1, A-143-2
2hp - ADSR
ADDAC - 506 - VC Stochastic Function Generator
Erica Synths - Black Dual EG/LFO, HADSR EG, Black VC EG
Intellijel - Dual ADSR
Make Noise - Contour
Malekko - Quad Envelope
Pittsburgh Modular - ADSR Mk II
Qu-Bit - Countour
WMD - Multimode Envelope
Xaoc - Zadar

This is just a "small" and quick selection (my list is larger but it doesn't make sense to display that here) however there are so many more ADSR modules, you really have to look and decide for yourself what you need and want, it's close to impossible to give you here a good and correct advice; other than the option of perhaps start with a simple but good ADSR A-140 from Doepfer.

Kind regards, Garfield M.

He, he, looks like you understand this modular madness much better than I do ;-) I keep on extending my plans...
Selling your house is one thing, selling your wife and kid(s) for it, might be one or two steps too far ;-) In other words... it's sooo difficult to keep your hand on the wallet and not spending money on modules...
(by the way, I meant to write 5 * 84 and 5 * 168 HP, got struggled with the Markdown Syntax...)

Hi Noopaul,

Fair enough regarding space and budget, these two are always somehow limiting us ;-) I meant to write 2 * 84 (2x84) HP or 3 * 84 (3x84) HP but for some reason the asterisks got removed, might be the Markdown Syntax doing that.

Why not keep the 6 HP free with a 6 HP blind panel? It's always good, in my opinion, to have some spare space. Kind regards, Garfield.

haha you got it! I will at least try to not go into this money hole my first couple years. And after that I will reconsider my options and may sell my house to fall in the modular madness ;-)

In 2018 Xaoc devices announced a Moskwa 2 model is in the making.

Is there any news about the progress from this module? Since it was not announced on superbooth 2019.

I want to add a Moskwa to my eurorack and want to know if it is better to wait or not...

KR

Jazzy

Thanks very Much GarfieldModular, you're right ! Thank you very much for your advice for Rosa and also for the envelopes, It's true I need, would you recommend some envelope? in my modular planing the doepfer a 171-2, but maybe you have another idea ?

best regards and thanks ! > Hi Ramirez,

You got yourself some nice modules planned there. Pity I can't click on your rack, you didn't allow it (there is an option to blind-out the total price if that's your concern). From what I can see, it's a compact though quite complete system. The only thing I am missing (unless overlooked) are some envelopes, or did you include them?

If this would be my own rack, I would have a look into that Chord module from Qu-bit, can't you find another module that does something similar but is less large? It takes quite some of your rare rack space. Or consider another row for some more HPs...

I don't have myself a Maths yet but I only heard good things about it, so if you still have space left (do you?), perhaps yes.

You are using Rosie for your output module I see, I had tested that module at the shop nearby my home, it's a good module, though the outputs are 3.5 mm, not sure if that's an issue for you? If you need line outputs (6.3 mm) and go to an external mixer or something like that then you might perhaps want to consider another Audio I/O module? Examples (but not limited to) are: Befaco - Output, Happy Nerding - Out, Bastl Instruments - Ciao!, Intellijel - Audio I/O or if you rather like XLR in- & outputs: ACL - Audio Interface or Vermona - TAI-4. There are many more but these are the modules I keep an eye on. I just recently got the Intellijel - Audio I/O, it's a good module however I personally feel it could have done with a stereo output knob, it's sometimes difficult to get the left & right channels exactly the same, other than that the module is good.

Good luck with the planning and kind regards, Garfield Modular.
-- GarfieldModular

Um, Chord v2?

Hi Garfield,

many thanks for your advice. My current rack is obviously too small due to the budget. I plan to expand it in the future. At the moment I intend to use Shuttle Control to generate sound sources and modulate various parameters (clock, envelope, lfo etc.) from Digitakt as well as to power other modules. Morphagene to create granular from sampling loop and MI rings and uClouds to give ambient texture. I have already got an analog and fm synth together with delay and reverb fx pedals hooked with my external mixer in my set up. So I do not know what I should put on the 6 hp I have left. Cheers!

Hi Noopaul,

Nice pictures! But ehm... how are they related to your rack layout? My advice is to go for 284 or 384 rack case, to me this looks far too small and rather soon than later you will run out of space...

Good luck with the planning and kind regards, Garfield Modular.

Hi Ramirez,

You got yourself some nice modules planned there. Pity I can't click on your rack, you didn't allow it (there is an option to blind-out the total price if that's your concern). From what I can see, it's a compact though quite complete system. The only thing I am missing (unless overlooked) are some envelopes, or did you include them?

If this would be my own rack, I would have a look into that Chord module from Qu-bit, can't you find another module that does something similar but is less large? It takes quite some of your rare rack space. Or consider another row for some more HPs...

I don't have myself a Maths yet but I only heard good things about it, so if you still have space left (do you?), perhaps yes.

You are using Rosie for your output module I see, I had tested that module at the shop nearby my home, it's a good module, though the outputs are 3.5 mm, not sure if that's an issue for you? If you need line outputs (6.3 mm) and go to an external mixer or something like that then you might perhaps want to consider another Audio I/O module? Examples (but not limited to) are: Befaco - Output, Happy Nerding - Out, Bastl Instruments - Ciao!, Intellijel - Audio I/O or if you rather like XLR in- & outputs: ACL - Audio Interface or Vermona - TAI-4. There are many more but these are the modules I keep an eye on. I just recently got the Intellijel - Audio I/O, it's a good module however I personally feel it could have done with a stereo output knob, it's sometimes difficult to get the left & right channels exactly the same, other than that the module is good.

Good luck with the planning and kind regards, Garfield Modular.

Yeah, that's a fair point. I started planning with 584 ((2+3)84) but ended up now with 5168 HP ;-) So I recognise what you are saying here, there is never enough space, is there? :-) I admire your strength that you can stick with 284, I hope that works out for you.

Just Bought Voltage Block from @tFunk
quick delivery, good communication,
Module in good condition.

Great seller

Top row will be my first modules and bottom the next.

advice needed for my first rack.

I plan to build my first 60 hp rack to play with my elektron digitakt and digitone. I have already made decision for 4 modules and I have only 6 hp left.
Could anyone recommend a 6 hp module that goes well with this system in order to create generative ambient like;

cheers.

Top Row screws: 19
bottom: 20

3rd: 16
4th: 16

wrong HP, module is 21 not 19

Hi, I am building my first Ambient rack, and I need advice please,
best
maybe maths ?

I want to keep 2x84 because in the beginning I wanted a 1x60 hp, then moved to 1x104, then 2x68, and now 2x84hp. If I don’t stop at some point it will never end, and I will end up with a 12U 104HP taking half of my music room ;)
Besides that, I would like something I can bring with me if I go on weekends or vacations.

EDITED Jul 12th 2019, 10:01

Bought a few modules (via a different platform) from @GnudelZack
Great communication, everything as described. Recommended.

If space isn't the problem (is it?), why not getting a 3*84 HP case? Gives you more flexibility and you don't need to worry that tomorrow or next week or next month you need to buy yet another case ;-)

Did you consider the Shakmat Modular - Time Wizard (8 HP)? That's a clock divider module, seems to be a handy module and you still have 2 HP left ;-)

I like varigate because I can create little sequences fast, and with the glide fonction I guess I can use it for cv modulation as well, am I wrong?
Don’t find some hikari triple AD in europe, what do you think about xaoc zadar? It has a screen, that’s downside but it is a quad env generator for only 10hp.. Same as Lugia, I don’t really want micro modules, I don’t like littles knobs at all, so I have to make compromise.
that’s where I am, is it better?
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_944316.jpg

I followed Lugia’s advice for the quad vca, and I would like to incorpore 0_c as Ronin suggested (or triple sloths? Never heard of it). And then I’ll consider ditching the varigate to get a pamela’s if I can get more out of it (or am I wrong and should I get pam’s first instead of o_c?)

Thank you very much for your help

Check the Expert Sleeper website and download the manual for the Disting. I believe it has a conversion patch for hooking up older synth CV to Eurorack. There aren't enough ins-outs to patch the whole synth but you'll probably get an oscillator or filter to play nicely.

Thanks for the advice.
I will use the Disting and figure our how to use the slew rate limiter. If I need that function a dedicated module will be my next buy.
I have PAIA:s modular synth 4700 that I built as a DIY kit 1982. It is still working (partial) . The problem is that it use Hz/V. But I can use the filter, EG, VCA and spring reverb.
I even have the Moog Werkstatt and some guitar stomp boxes like reverb and a Eurorack step sequencer from Synthorek that I can use plus the Korg SQ-1 and Arturia Keystep and Beatstep.
So I think I can have some fun with what I already have for a start.
But I am sure that you are right that the next modules will be a slew rate limiter, an EG, one more VCA and some effect module.
But as I wrote, for the moment I have a limited budget :-(

A micro Ornaments & Crime would be nice here or a Temps Utile... especially for its Euclidean Rhythms and internal logic.

A Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis would fit in that space. It's a great little sequencer, especially for CV of filter cut-offs.

Effects, sequencer, slew rate limiter?

The Brute has a sequencer in it... but what about smaller sequencers for controlling additional CVs... especially one that can be sync'ed to the Brute's internal sequencer.

The Brute also only has one full ADSR. So you may want to add at least one other ADSR and possibly some more VCAs.

Play with the effects in the Disting and see which ones you'd want from a dedicated module.

I just bought a new 4U Intellijel case to make a control case for the rest of my set-up: sequencers, attenuverters, and the SSSR Wobbla (4 units) looks pretty tasty.

It's difficult to critique the system because it seems like everything is covered and it's a question of personal taste. As far as control units and since you play (rather than make weird noises), have you considered something like a Waldorf case/keyboard unit?

I like the idea of the separate "control pod"...I'm assuming this goes next to/near a keyboard controller for any sort of "expression" activity that might come to mind...?

BTW, with that joystick there, you might want to have a peek at Ladik's Joystick Math. 4 hp, does arithmetical voltage operations based on the X-Y movements. Very useful for doing things like opposed modulations, etc.

EDITED Jul 11th 2019, 18:05

I see that a few other folks have specified the NS CVP in their 200e systems, but I've read elswhere that negative voltages produced by the CVP can easily damage 200e modules. Any opinions on this very welcome.

Thanks for all advice.
Now I have decided how my first rack will look!

I am building this modular, 4-voice polyphonic, + monophonic, + a subsequent moog embedded in the structure, many modules are already in place but you can always change your mind ...
I state that I use the synthesizer to play and not just to make noises ..
I accept advice and comments of any kind

EDITED Jul 10th 2019, 17:21