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Love the "train horn" sounds...as always, thank you for sharing!!
-- Jukeshoe

Thank you for listening yeah the train horn took a while to get that "old timey wild west" kinda sound. Comes from the Crum Hum with a verbe filter in Logic Pro

Love the "train horn" sounds...as always, thank you for sharing!!

Yeah, I'd like to buy one too

Hello all

The Short Version:

Aside from the need for a custom ribbon cable, is there any technical reason why one wouldn't connect a Boredbrain IO (which is passive and has no circuitry) to line level transmitter/reciever modules by other brands (e.g. ALA's Bal Outs or WMD's PM DB25 mkII)? Has anyone already tried this?

The Long Version:

I've decided I'd like to try and remove as many connections to and from "the outside world" on my Eurorack case off the front panel onto a notional custom side or back face plate. Why? Becuase, reasons :-D

Seriously, I'm a budding case builder and would ultimately like to develop an ecosystem of modules and parts for doing the above for multichannel analog audio, midi and USB. Obviously that'd be no small task. In the meantime then, I thought I could experiment with already-existing-modules to see how far I can get. Hence the question (see The Short Version above).

I've scoured the interwebz and concluded that a truly open ended, compact, professional grade, pick-ya-own-ins-&-outs-with-no-unnecessary-bollocks-and-bolt-them-anywhere system of modules doesn't (yet) exist. If someone knows of such a system, please do let me know.

The nearest thing (as of writing this in Dec 2025 and for audio only) I can find is Boredbrain's IO and DB25 modules. However the DB25 is line out only - no inputs. I've asked Boredbrain if they have any plans to release an equivalent line level input module but they didn't respond. If they did so, my prayors would be answered.

The only other manufacture using high grade ICs with a product along the right lines is NW2S. However they don't seem to be trading at the moment (correct me if I'm wrong). Their web page just says "coming soon" and there's no response to messages. Even if they were, the cost of import into the UK would be beyond ludicrous.

Indeed, it'd be 'plaid?' ....Anyway...

Currently, I have an NW2SIO and a Borebrain Xport. Both have balanced sockets. I use all the their ins and outs with an external mixer. For my purposes, they're perfect.... almost. Accept for the fact of there being no less than 8 ugly bulky cables ( especially the two DB25s on the IO) pertruding like growths from the front panel. And, they eat up a lot of hp. Yes, the IO can optionally be fitted with secondary DB25 ports that one can bolt anywhere. But that'd leave the two empty sockets on the front taking up a whole 3hp of space. Oh no! :-P. Also, that doesn't solve the 'problem' with the Xport.

Having investigated the design and build of the IO and Xport, I believe both could be easily (famous last words) modified because the Eurorack-side minijack sockets sit on their own PCB - connected to main one via Dupont header strips. They're not structurally interdependent or hardwired. Based on my very limited understanding of electronics, I don't see why those header strips couldn't become ribbon cables and the upper and lower PCB's separated. One could then either make their own face plate or just lop down the existing one and Bob's-ya-uncle: a gerry-rigged but functional IO interface with the Eurorack-world sockets on the front and the bulky outside-world sockets on the side/back.

Aside from the obvious void warranties and potential bricking of expensive modules, please tell me why the above is a bad idea or wouldn't work at all.

Thanks for reading this far.

EDITED Yesterday, 12:26

It would be awesome to add some information about module parameters, like the impedance, voltage range, trigger width and so on, this would make it much easier to figure out which modules are compatible and which might need some tools like the aforementioned multiple or an offset/attenuator to make them work together smoothly.
-- SebastianSanders

Seconded. I keep a big ol' table with voltage ranges for my modules' ins and outs since they vary so much between manufacturers (e.g. Instruo Arbhar inputs expect +/-5v, Schlappi Nibbler gate outputs are binary 0 or 10v, Schlappi Nibbler stepped outputs are 0-10v, Modcan Quad LFO outputs are attenuable and can be either +/-5v or 0-10v, etc). Would be great to be able to fill this info in per input/output on the Grid.

Sounds like an operator issue to us. Ohmforce has been second to none when it came to delivery since the 90s and it would be unlikely that any of their gear to be deteriorating audio signal. They have close to 30 years of experience in design just by itself.

Workaround: Just duck your other sounds by using a gate from Bohm to ADSR that is set to reverse. Send the CV out of the ADSR (or ADR, whatever) to a VCA. Get that VCA to duck the audio or whatever signal you wish to duck. Done.

EDITED Wednesday December 17, 01:18

This is Episode 2 in my series where I break down my modular system: how it works, how it’s designed, and how I approach patching it as a playable instrument.

In this episode, I take a closer look at the quartet of analog STO oscillators that form the melodic engine of my setup. This quartet functions as the motor of the system and plays a major role in shaping what has become my signature sound. It’s a configuration I’ve been refining for years, using a combination of STO oscillators, Lowpass Gates, the Quadrax module, and the Atlas module to achieve a balance between control, movement, and musicality.

I’ve always had a strong fascination with minimal music, and this quartet has made it possible for me to develop my own version of minimal music within a modular context—focused on repetition, subtle variation, and gradual transformation.

I also explain the effects sections and how they interact with the oscillator quartet, adding space, depth, and variation without losing focus or clarity.

My hope is that this episode offers practical insight, inspiration, and new ideas that you can apply to your own patches and modular setups.
Transcript

[media]

Update:
I asked this because I was looking for a way to make Bitbox more expressive and playable in a live performance context.
I tried using multiple LFOs and envelopes, but in a live setup I often miss having one physical gesture that can control several parameters at once.

So I ended up building a small CV module for myself: one fader controlling multiple CV outputs, each with its own range and offset.
This lets me move things like filter, sample start, FX and level together, but in different amounts.

If anyone’s interested, here’s the link:
https://modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-unfurled-f-black

Curious to hear how others approach this in their setups.

Yes, I wanted to downsize
Yes, I had plans to save money
....This is how it looks so far, until now.

1# Synth Befaco Oneiroi
2# Synth Ryk Modular Algo
3# MEMS Mic Intellijel
4# ALM Stem Ripper

"Forgive me father for what I have synthed (for christmas)" - (4 repeats)

"TME Vihkk X is temping me, oh lord
But with your faith I will be strong
Dont let these drones come to my house
Dont let these wicked algorithms grind on me
Because its your house

AMEN"

What about Vcas and envelopes?

Hi guys...

i made a techno rack here... any advice or you think this is solid?

on top of the rack a mother32 is added to it...

Hi,

Any more news on this module?

Is it still alive? Is it dead? Is it coming to Europe (sure hope so, looks dope).

love from Belgium

Actual power specs supplied by Make Noise staff via email "It is 38 mA on the -12V rail and 39mA on the +12V rail"

I did similar cases a few times.
I would add some good adtenuverter modules, like:

Befaco Atte, Black Noise Goma II, Rides in the storm QUA
or for 1u: Befaco 1u Motion MTR, inntellijell quadratt etc

Other option coulde be to add a Axon 2 expander besides your Pamelas Workout and discard ochd, tilt - to do all modulation just with Pams. A mixer module in the 1u would be useful to mix cvs but if you just use Pams + Axon 2 - you can mix and atenuate your modulation just in pams.

On the other hand ochd works well with morpagene and mimeophone

a Cara marbles clone works well in small cases

a Gliss 1u could be fun to record custom lfos and more stuff.

a small compressor like WMD mscl could be useful 4 hp
BAStL Ikarie is a good choice as a small filter with stereo spread and some gain. 8 hp

Rackbrute 6u is nice but then it will be harder to transport and it will be more as just a small effect rack.
Go for the Rackbrute if you want to build a whole ambient setup, with own voices, more complex modulation etc

watch out for some noise sources.
My secret weapon of choice is: SGR1806-20 kNoB technology but there are smaller alternatives.

A Benjolin could also be a good fit, like Benjolin V2. chaotic random + osc + filter.

Another idea could also to drop it all and to just get a "Befaco Oneiroi" for a pod or as standalone. = intant ambient similar to such a effect case - or maybe just Oneiroi + Pams

I would go definetly a whole different route with a Rackbrute 6u as with a palette case.

hi ive been having problems in my rackbrute - its using just under 800 ma - arbhar / morphagene etc - the m/amp output is confusing im still not sure if its 1600 or 800 ? ive a feeling its not 1600 thats the 6U one. my milky way wont boot / endorphin ghost will but has no reverb / freeze !! havent tried the timizora as yet as im now thinking this rackbrute power supply may damage something ( and this stuff aint cheap ) - the milky way and the ghost both work perfect in my alm 84 6u. i'm going to try the p2 16 pin header on the power block tonight to see if this does indeed hold an extra 800 ma. i was thinking of an alm 52 6U as this is going to be my mobile sample/play rack - but again im unsure of thier m/amp rating if it 1 amp total or 1 amp top line and 1 amp bottom line. As this will have digital modules i realise there may be increased current draw on boot up. Any suggestions guys ?

I've been waiting for this forever. It seems like it would be such a simple tweak to the site to have this category.. I just find it baffling it's not an option. Users are the ones uploading all the 19" rack gear they have.. so it's not like there's some big task about finding and photographing the gear itself

As it is, I'm seeing 19" stuff being added into the guitar pedals section and then you have to freeform splat it onto a pedalboard. This works for some 19" synths that can work as desktop modules too, but it's frustrating in general we can't just have nice neat 19" racks with stuff snapping into the available slots

Hey all,

I'm a singer-songwriter and a part time modular enthusiast. I am trying to put together a small rack to do incidental improvisations and ambient backing for a live show. I haven't yet instituted modular into my live setup and I am trying to do so with my new tiny palette case.

I currently use Morphagene, mimeophon, and pedals (especially the CBA Mood Mk II and MA Ct5) to accomplish my goals. Obviously the bare modules can't accomplish a lot so I'm looking to add some more modulation sources to my rack. I am very for randomness and really don't need modules with tons of bells and whistles.

I currently work predominantly with Pam's, Ochd, and 3U 3xMIA for much of my modulation. I am planning to free up a bit of space in my current rack by doing more with 1u modules and adding in Tilt (MN Function clone). I've had Function in racks before and really liked it. Maths may be my favorite module of all time.

I am interested to get feedback about effectively using the 1U space and am very open to suggestions. Also open to how you would build a rack around the core of Morphagene and Mimeophon in a small enclosure. I have a little pod case and my Rackbrute 6U, so please know this case is for a specific use case!

Well thanks for the tip. I got the OCHD on order but passed on expander for now. Currently working with BSP sending drum gates to BOhm and the reset of mother 32 which also gets modulation from contour1. I have bassline from Seq1 on BSP to an sh101 (gate and pitch in). Looking into using VCV random to get some movement. Also sending drum gates to a roland TR8 for hats and snares. So far DFAM just gets clocked and does percussion noises but I'm going to try some patching with the case at some point. Open to ideas as I'm just experimenting.

EDITED Monday December 15, 12:29

Do you prefer multiple independent CV sources for different parameters (filter, sample start, FX, level),
or do you use some kind of macro-style control where one gesture affects several parameters at once?

I’m trying to make Bitbox more playable in a live / performance context and I’m curious how others approach this.

i dont think this is availible. there is not one answer in over 12 month.

nice-I'm going to set up a behringer set up also-I'll have a Kobol expander instead of neutron but the fixed filter and bode frequency shifter will be in there for sure-is this the 140HP rack from behringer your designing for rather than the usual 104 HP width? good lick with it.
regards

I've decided on getting the Behringer System 15 and add my Neutron (which I already own).

Then a I have swapped out a few modules. Seeking opinions, ideas and advice!

I make downtempo, IDM, ambient and experimental electronica (https://thesmarthedonist.bandcamp.com)

Thanks !
Alex

The Smart Hedonist

please make a patch for
me ... i don't make
a complex patch .Help please

EDITED Tuesday December 16, 13:14

I have only burned one module, pams new workout.

Turns out I plugged it in without looking properly and put the power cable into the expansion header. Magic smoke and a dead module.

That's the only thing I can think of in this case.

Snarky Puppy is so awesome. The album Skabbies was a masterpiece.

The advantage (or consequences) of "RingTFM" is that you use a device at its full potential which I humbly did here with Rample :

EDITED Friday December 12, 16:15

Yes,
Abacus, Function, Pachinko, Ochd, Steps and Ornament are a lot of modulation.

Thank you!
So dou you think i have enough modulation sources and am just lacking attenuators? I'm really looking forward to trying out to modulate everything possible on clouds.

Yeah, i came to the same conclusion with the behringer stuff, the abacus was a birthday present and the skies was the first module i bought myself, but i'm probably going to go with other clones by after later or tunefish for the stages and the filter. nice bonus is that the tunefish or ala clones are often much smaller than the behringer clones, and i realized really quick that space is very limited in eurorack

Hi,
Passive attenuators—after four years in the modular world, I only recently discovered them, and for me, they're key for Clouds and, if you want to modulate, the four decays of the Percall (a great module, by the way). They come in small sizes and don't consume any power. The rest of your rack looks like a lot of fun. Although I wouldn't buy B modules..., but that's just my personal opinion.

-- ferran_RMBL

hello, for some reason my notifications are muted for this thread. thank you very much for considering and actually implementing the idea! this is quite cool of you.

💯

Hi,
Passive attenuators—after four years in the modular world, I only recently discovered them, and for me, they're key for Clouds and, if you want to modulate, the four decays of the Percall (a great module, by the way). They come in small sizes and don't consume any power. The rest of your rack looks like a lot of fun. Although I wouldn't buy B modules..., but that's just my personal opinion.

Hi!

On a regular basis, I get the question if I can explain my modular setup — across all the different social media channels where I share my work. At first, I planned to make just one video… but it quickly turned into such a deep dive that I decided to create a three-part mini-series instead.
And this is Episode 1.

My setup is built around five sections: the texture bed, the quartet, the utility section, the effects, and the soloist.In this episode, I take you through how I use my texture bed and my utilities, and how they shape the atmosphere and movement in my music.

Of course, everyone’s modular setup is personal — that’s the nature of modular.
But I hope this series can still spark inspiration for your own patches and your own system.
Hope you enjoy watching — and feel free to ask anything about my setup or patching!

Hi!

This is the Rack i'm working on, i want to use it as (preferably) multiple synth-voices for making industrial techno, drums and sequencing are done with my polyend tracker, therefore the mutant brain, to clock and sequence everything.

I don't own everything in the picture, so far i got the tunefish pachinko, behringer skies + abacus, endorphines ghost and the bastl pizza.

I want to use the pizza, basimilus iteritas alter (or alia, but used alters are much cheaper) and noise plethora as an independet voice each.

My question is, do i have enoug/too much modulation, vcas, EGs etc., am i missing something important? Any Feedback is much appreciated!

I don't own an RS-9 myself, but looking at the front panel it seems to be a sequencer specifically designed for drums, i.e. it has trigger and accent outputs. Both triggers and accents are just little spikes of voltage that can tell another module WHEN something happens, but not necessarily WHAT happens. To drive a synth voice like the Behringer 110, you want a trigger to tell an envelope generator when to fire. The envelope generator generates the signal that can open the VCF and VCA of your synth voice. Both VCF and VCA are part of the 110, but there doesn't seem to be an envelope generator on board. You'll need to invest in one of those (Behringer 140, if we're sticking with their System 100 series).

The second issue is that you'll want to tell your VCO what note to play. This information should come from your sequencer, but the RS-9 doesn't offer control voltage (CV) outputs. A Behringer 182 would do the trick. You connect the trigger output from the sequencer to your envelope generator and the CV output from the sequencer to the MOD IN on the 110.

Hope that helps!

pam pro has reverse power protection though. I dont know how many times I've mistakenly plugged in reverse and still keeps going on.

there are cable testers out there from addac and joralanpgue. or your multimeter. if it was brand new, get in touch with alm. both brand are well known to be super solid and stable brands.

EDITED Dec 11th, 09:02

Hi guys
im having problems with my modules ... the beringher RS-9 looks great but beringer dont give any instructions for novice users like myself ...... so i purchased a VCO/VCF/VCA all in one modules for ease .... now if i just use that how would i connect the sequencer ( rs-9 )
below is the image from modular grid
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_3001795.jpg

                 any help is much appreciated 
                               thanks guys 

I guess there's at least 1 module in my system then.

Invest in a Synthroteek Cheeks of Steel at whatever size you wish, and a Trogotronic m/15 PSU with HQ busboards.

Both are reasonably priced for what they are and are a great skeleton upon which to build a system in which you won't have to power about power overhead or running out of space for quite a while.

A couple things.

1) Yes, the case it too small.
2) Things you're missing that can be key components to a well rounded modular setup: Clocking with mult/div, utilities to control signal strength and polairty, a proper mixer with aux send/return for your effects (and thereby a proper output module, whether it be the audio mixer itself as here, or a separate module), good robust effects (a multi-FX 3HP spin chip module isn't going to get you super exciting results effects-wise) -- the effects here can be nabbed on the secondhand market for below average prices currently (mostly). A Versio is a bit pricier but it allows you access to all the 7+ firmwares in the line, giving you an effects powerhouse, so long as you have a PC and a micro USB cable to change them out when you wish. The change out process is very easy.

My advice: Double the size of your case, get a proper mixer like a D.O. Mixx by Blood Cells Audio or at least a Cosmix by Cosmotronoic, get a couple decent effects, get a Pam's New Workout or some base control for BPM and clock divisions/multiplications, get a proper audio VCA like a Tallin. Also, ditch all the Behringer crap bc it's a garbage company and you'll be stuck with their worthless toys with no resale potential. Here's what I'd probably try to put together in your shoes, with a mind to keep the cost somewhat under control.

EDITED Dec 11th, 03:37

I'm consistently not getting a proper screenshot of my rack when I use the "copy screenshot url" button. I've tried to paste the URL in to different browsers and they all look the same, so I assume it's on the MG side. The image I get is one from weeks ago, instead of the current layout. I have a pretty large system with multiple tiers, so maybe that has something to do with it? Would be nice to get this working properly.

Sounds like a good group. With that many things going on, something like an Ochd+expander would perhaps be helpful, but that's not necessarily obscure and you may very well have considered it already. That's the nice thing about expanding from semi-modulars: they already work, so extending them doesn't really have any requirements as long as you know what you want to do with the other parts.

mother 32, dfam and 0-coast. I also have pulsar 23 but I didn't really consider it and may sell it to build a bigger case and place a neutral labs scrooge in it. .

EDITED Dec 10th, 21:23

new member here-in regards to synthesis the vocoder could be seen as an actual machine used to try kill/dismantle fascists by enabling encoded comunication for security purposes-i wonder if studies have been done on how much it helped the war effort...

EDITED Dec 11th, 10:15

I actually commented on the ALM Insta account post, announcing the module, asking my questions - I got a very speedy response.

1. TextEdit (menu Format->make plane sic - their spelling, not mine text)
2. SD.

Has anybody experience, if its a good choice to buy?

You can not send gates to start recording, right?
-- VONDENFUNKEN

No gates to start recording but so far, it's working very well for me. I just want to set it to be recording in 32 float.
I also need to work out if I can split the multi channel wav in Cubase 12 or if I need to do it before importing biut that's not a big isssue at the moment.

Has anybody experience, if its a good choice to buy?

You can not send gates to start recording, right?

Today I’m starting to understand this new N.U.S.S system.
It’s a system I absolutely wanted to integrate into the Intellijel Multigrain setup. I think there’s an incredible number of patching combinations, since the Multigrain also has that feature where you can chain modular patterns…

To make this work, I was planning to integrate a Pamela’s New! Workout and a Z8000 along with that amazing mixer, the Vortice.
The sequencing possibilities with this module combo are completely insane — I can’t stop thinking about it.

For now, I’m still learning, and I need to explore a few more things so I can build solid foundations and share more cool videos.
Thanks for following, and feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel. Cheers!

Howdy folks!
Does anybody have any idea about how to make a .ini file for the preferences? I'm using a Mac.
Also - does this file go on the SD card or into the on-board memory?
Thank you for your time!

Dan

AI Synthesis still has the phrase on some of their modules. I think its cool af.
![]

EDITED Dec 10th, 18:17