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Everything about this is good. So impressed. Thanks for making it.

Hi there!

I'm considering for quite some time to get into modular and this is the year.

I've been making music on hardware for years, playing live on +/- the same setup, with also some semi modular synth (MS20mini and a DFAM), that i'm now use to control via CV (from an analog four sequencer). I've mangled a bit in VCVrack but can't really get my head wrapped around it (specially because I'm more used to explore with hands on than mouse). I think I got pretty well the basic concepts of a patch.

I make techno, most of the time, with touch of ambiant and IDM, and perform live (when I have gigs so maybe 3 time a year lol). Actually my set up is : TR8 for the classics drums, analogfour, a DFAM, and the octatrack (acting as my mixer, and main sampler). Everything goes down in an OTO boom for that final glue touch.

I already now exactly what I want to do with my future rack:
- I need something to create synth line and texture, no drums at all. Something like you could ear on release on Warm Up or Illegal Alien, or my "dream synth line"
- I want it to be small, portable (as I will add it to my current setup and don't want to carry a truckload)
- I need it to be an improvisation instrument. Something I could set up before a gig and play kind of the same way during a set (no big changes, making it a common story thru the tracks)
- I can integrate the DFAM in it, but it's not necessary

First question that comes in my mind is what size to start, and does the 1U range worth it?
I've oriented myself on something between 86-104Hp/6-7u so here are a few case option:
- Intellijel 7U 104hp stealth case: expensive but apparently well made, really light and portable. If someone has it I would be curious to know what module they put and use in the 1U row? And does the extra bag mandatory to travel?
- This one: https://www.synthesizer.gr/modular-systems-en/eurorack-cases-en/Synthesizer-GR-Hard-Case-98hp-7u%20-en
cheaper, but would I need something like a On/off switch module?
- A custom made, with a Konstant lab PSU and a busboard (around 665€). Around 4-5kg with lid, and I can attach a strap to it to travel. Does that seems heavy, and does the price seems fair?
- The same custom made case with a meanwell but apparently those are cheap, and very limited?

I need advice, because I understand that this is a important choice, and I don't want to have to buy another case in 1 year. If you have any other good, affordable and findable option, let me know!

And last but not least, this is the rack I'm currently planning (of course I expect it to change), if you have any suggestion, let me know:

That's all, thanks for reading!

Encore une vidéo intéressante et pédagogique.
Je rejoins volontiers les compliments de @toodee. Précédemment, vos descriptions du Klavis Twin Waves Mk2 m’ont permis de mieux appréhender ce super module ; et finalement de l’accueillir dans mon setup en complément d’un autre macro-oscillateur plus renommé, Plaits.
(...’Il faut rendre à César’).

Another interesting and educational video.
I'm happy to add my voice to @toodee's compliments. Previously, your descriptions of the Klavis Twin Waves Mk2 gave me a better understanding of this great module; and finally I decided to include it in my setup as a complement to another more renowned macro-oscillator, Plaits.
(...’Il faut rendre à César’: wink in Gallic language of the famous biblical quote ‘Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's’. Underlying meaning: to give credit where credit is due... ;)

Hi my new video is online. Recently I bought Rings by mutable instruments so I felt obliged to create a “Rings into clouds” jam with it. Well I don’t have Clouds but I do have Beads and since Beads is the Clouds I thought this would do! Please enjoy and if you like what you hear and see you could consider to like this video, comment and subscribe to my channel. That would greatly help to get my music heard and seen. Thank you so much and have a great time!

Top row is what i have, bottom row (minus strega) is what i'm either debating on or waiting to pull trigger on.

hooo that's nice, my goal is reached :)

Very happy with my purchase of Branches from @Blackblacky
Great communication, quick shipment, great packaging, and the module itself is in perfect condition. Recommended!

I love it so much. He has some pretty amazing live abilities. But I was looking for a generative sequencer for this rack that only eurorack makes possible. But the more I advance in my reflections the more I tell myself that I will keep it :)

-- timtoum93

Definitely keep it if you mesh well with it. Besides, you'll end up getting more rack space eventually; it's inevitable. If you want to do generative music, however, you may want to consider a few other types of modules that can pair with your random voltage generator. Utilities like a comparator which can allow you to pick gates out of signals like random voltages or lfos (my favorite is the Compare 2, which has a bunch of hidden functionality). Sample and hold/track and hold (I know tagh has one on it, but maybe consider having a dedicated one) also allow you to collect cv from random voltages, enabling you to build changing sequences and melodies. Also, a quantizer so that the cv you sample actually sounds musical.

None of the above are necessities, of course. But they can go a long way to helping you realize a generative system.

Pam not enough for clock multipliers/dividers? For the moment I have a metropolix but it takes up a lot of space. I'm going to have a hard time parting with it. I haven't made my choice between Metropolix and Bloom yet. I think you're right about the extra LFOs and VCAs. Thank you so much :)

-- timtoum93

Since Pam's is capable of a lot of different things aside from clocking (e.g., euclidean patterns, logic, random voltages/smooth
random, etc...), I prefer to use a dedicated divider/multiplier (along with a switched multiple for better routing) for the boring clocking signals and leave Pam's outputs open for more interesting tasks.

How is the Metropolix? I've never had the chance to use one but they look fun and pretty easy to perform with.

-- HGsynth

I love it so much. He has some pretty amazing live abilities. But I was looking for a generative sequencer for this rack that only eurorack makes possible. But the more I advance in my reflections the more I tell myself that I will keep it :)

re clock dividers: I find a basic clock divider is useful as a sub-octave generator: using an audio input -> /2 = -1ve, /4 = -2ve - output is a square wave

Pam not enough for clock multipliers/dividers? For the moment I have a metropolix but it takes up a lot of space. I'm going to have a hard time parting with it. I haven't made my choice between Metropolix and Bloom yet. I think you're right about the extra LFOs and VCAs. Thank you so much :)

-- timtoum93

Since Pam's is capable of a lot of different things aside from clocking (e.g., euclidean patterns, logic, random voltages/smooth random, etc...), I prefer to use a dedicated divider/multiplier (along with a switched multiple for better routing) for the boring clocking signals and leave Pam's outputs open for more interesting tasks.

How is the Metropolix? I've never had the chance to use one but they look fun and pretty easy to perform with.

EDITED May 29th 2023, 14:55

I'm selling my eurorack case 104hp 6U. Made by Clank modular, Italy
It very is lightly used, in perfect condition!

Price is 370€ via PayPal including shipping anywhere in Europe.
I can also ship to USA for additional costs.
Case is unpowered, but I can add Endorphines 2hp power if you need, for additional costs.

Here is photo of my case. Please write PM to me if you need more photos.

I don’t know if it is allowed to publish such items here, but there is no option to sell cases in the Marketplace section yet, so I am writing here. If this post violates the rules, I ask the moderators to understand me and simply remove this topic.

I have an analog rytm for drums. I do techno and I try to produce with my modular bassline, atmospheres and melodies with many layers of modulation. THANKS :)
-- timtoum93

Hey, looks like a fun rack, but curious how you're planning to sequence triggers or melodies, are those being done off rack? Even if so, you might want to consider something like the 4ms QCD or another clock divider/multiplier for more rhythmic possibilities. I always love a good sample and hold or track and hold, as well.

You have ochd (which is my current favorite lfo) and other modules capable of doing lfos, but you may want to consider more dedicated lfos (particularly those that can be cv controlled) so you can get your layers of modulation. Batumi has a big footprint but is quite powerful, 4ms makes a pingable one, too.

Also, I think you'll want to have some more attenuators or vcas in there to help you control modulation. The Morph 4 is super cool and gives you 4 vcas, but it seems a shame to waste its potential that way. Maybe a good end of chain cascading vca like intellijel's quad vca would help.

Good luck and have fun!

-- HGsynth

Pam not enough for clock multipliers/dividers? For the moment I have a metropolix but it takes up a lot of space. I'm going to have a hard time parting with it. I haven't made my choice between Metropolix and Bloom yet. I think you're right about the extra LFOs and VCAs. Thank you so much :)

I have an analog rytm for drums. I do techno and I try to produce with my modular bassline, atmospheres and melodies with many layers of modulation. THANKS :)
-- timtoum93

Hey, looks like a fun rack, but curious how you're planning to sequence triggers or melodies, are those being done off rack? Even if so, you might want to consider something like the 4ms QCD or another clock divider/multiplier for more rhythmic possibilities. I always love a good sample and hold or track and hold, as well.

You have ochd (which is my current favorite lfo) and other modules capable of doing lfos, but you may want to consider more dedicated lfos (particularly those that can be cv controlled) so you can get your layers of modulation. Batumi has a big footprint but is quite powerful, 4ms makes a pingable one, too.

Also, I think you'll want to have some more attenuators or vcas in there to help you control modulation. The Morph 4 is super cool and gives you 4 vcas, but it seems a shame to waste its potential that way. Maybe a good end of chain cascading vca like intellijel's quad vca would help.

Good luck and have fun!

EDITED May 29th 2023, 11:58

what do you think is duplicated? not that there's anything wrong with duplication

I was wondering if that was the case because I haven't tried all the modules yet. Thank you for the answer. I’ll considering the 3xmia

I have a Mimeophon as well. What i feel is that i sometimes miss to have separate modules for delay and reverb. I keep the Mimeo cause its so hard to get a hold of where i live (and it sounds amazing).

EDITED May 29th 2023, 06:27

I'm afraid of having duplicates or not enough utilities.

what do you think is duplicated? not that there's anything wrong with duplication

something like a happy nerding 3*mia would be decent addition

I edited the original post. THANKS !
-- timtoum93

no it's still just a jpg.... but not to worry... I've done it for you!!!

the actual rack,,,

I edited the original post. THANKS !

EDITED May 28th 2023, 23:11

the jpg doesn't correspond to either of your racks - please share the url of an actual rack - it really helps us help you!!!

...click on "My Modular" it takes me to the last Eurorack system I had looked at...
-- JohnLRice

my experience is that "My Modular" always shows the rack with the most recent changes. But maybe i am wrong...

Good morning, I'm looking for opinions on my new rack. I'm afraid of having duplicates or not enough utilities. I would like to do live with. I have an analog rytm for drums. I do techno and I try to produce with my modular bassline, atmospheres and melodies with many layers of modulation. THANKS :)

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_2266280.jpg

EDITED May 28th 2023, 23:10

Uhmm, I guess my reason is I'm embarrassed somehow. Or I don't think people will get my idea. And once in a while, when the idea is really good, I don't want anyone to steal it, LOL! Hahaha, my masterpieces.

One fine day, when I actually build one of the 100+ rack ideas IRL. AND actually find the time and motivation to play with it for years and years till I know all the ins and outs, like a trained musician knows their instrument, then I will share it for sure. But, I guess I think about it a bit as a manuscript. I'm not sharing it, till I'm done working with it.

All my love to all the modular nerds! You're awesome!! I love you!!!

Thanks, Arrandan. I appreciate it. I've really been surprised at how much I like the 100 Grit. It is very fun to mess around with.

In the animation, I do not believe the Julia fractal is used. I checked all the components used in Designer for this rendering, and their algorithms/parameters and did not see any reference to any Julia set. But there is a lot of math going on that I can't pretend to understand. Designer certainly has various Julia sets to use and a load of other fractals, but it has so many more components to choose from, it is a very deep rabbit hole. :-) Cheers!

Thanks you two! I actually got into modular as a way to accompany my guitar, but I ended up playing more synths. But it was good to bring them together again.

If I open up a fresh browser window and click on "My Modular" it takes me to the last Eurorack system I had looked at, even though the last system I might have had open was a MU or MOTM system. Once I bring up a MU system and then go to the information for a particular MU module and then click "My Modular" it takes me back to the correct MU system.

It's been like this for several years at least. It took me a long time to decide what I think is going on, at first I thought I was getting hacked, and then I thought maybe MG was remembering the last system someone else besides me looked at? But it seems that maybe there is just something missing in the cookies/code/database that isn't handling MU/MOTM systems?

I'm using up to date Windows 10 and Google Chrome browser, I haven't tried other OS or browsers and I haven't checked if other module formats are remembered correctly or not.

Thanks for looking into it!
John L Rice

It looks like there's already a module page for it?

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-liquid-foam-

Hi Folks - Just wanted to post my latest recordings. This one is called A Hundred Lamentations and came about while exploring Schlappi Engineering's 100 Grit filter.
-- TumeniKnobs

Very cool stuff that makes me want the Schlappi. I have a thing for dark ambient. But there's so much that thinks it needs to sound like a remote ice planet. This one is abstract and I like it a lot for that. Are those Julia sets in the animation by any chance? Sure looks like some sort of fractal.
(edit: fixed the quote)

EDITED May 29th 2023, 08:34

I tried to create the Herbs & Stones Liquid Foam module on this site. It appeared on my rack when I first created it but now it has disappeared. Does anyone know why that would happen? Would the manufacturer or admin have it removed for some reason? I don't see the manufacturer in the drop down menu either. I don't want to put the work in again if its just going to disappear again.

That's fantastic! I do this kind of jamming in my studio all the time, but you've put together an amazing effort to coordinate everything into a true one man band song performance. I doff my chapeaux to you, FredFoxtrott!

Ok I really need someone to help me here, I am loosing it.
Just got Varigate, plugged it into my Intellijel Pallete.
With not a single patch made, when I press Run on Varigate, Doepfer A-140 -2, both envelopes, retrigger on each of the sequencer steps!
While this would be cool feature, I am sure it is not by design. Modules are powered by the same power board from Intellijel Pallete, but fairly far one from another. This is totally nuts, can someone please explain or suggest a solution, I am worried this is powering issue or smt.
Thanks!

EDIT:
BUSBOARD clock. Jumpers were set to master, as you get them by default lol. Sorry, I will not delete this so it serves as a lesson to read your manual till the end.

EDITED May 27th 2023, 09:46

Disclaimer : this below topic is ongoing. If the person finally stops faking not to understand the situation, and pretending I have in my hands both the money and module unwilling to ship it, I will update my post. For the moment, I'll wait for the acknowledgment that we are even. He got his all money back, and I did not ship the module.

In short, talking about user @edidobroschanski, new on Grid since May 24th, 2023 : O.o

I got a request for my Mayer M800, then came a strong negociation for it (ok with that, we can talk).
We quickly found an agreement, and after all my explanations on how PayPal works for the options of f&f OR fees, which he didn't clearly say he wanted to prefer.

I got his payment, of the net price, minus the fees option activated, Classic.
... Which total amount I refunded right away.

Then a second payment supposedly corresponding to the PayPal fees, which again I refunded immediately. All the time, I was taking the time to re-explain who I was needing to pay for what option to take, which he never denied.

And now, he's expecting the device anyway. Let me laugh :-))
Come on, YOU have your total money back. Nice try.

Either the person is stupid, either he pretends to be. I'll wait for his reply, I'm tolerant and can moderate my words.

But on the other side if the person tries to scam people he thinks are stupid themselves, he's warned, busted, and you all now know his username. So floks, take care !

@nuclearsound yes, I saw your remark.
Another lesson learned, always query the forum before doing a transaction, not afterward :-)

@Glnds
Interesting, I already mentioned this person above as a bad trader. On my side, it never got solved in the end... Would be interested if sooner you get your module.

Thank you very much. Agree about the reverb in a tank! :-D)))))
Anyway, in this topic we're talkin'about "dark ambient".
Obvioulsy everybody can play every genres in all the way he/she like, of course.
And if somebody want to do it, with modesty I suggested to focus the resources to a Morphagene or Nebula 2 (or both) and pedal interface as primarly (and pedals of course, digital stereo reverb as first). Also considering a quad LFO, a multimode VCF and the more possible VCA/mixer you can take.
Instead of waste your bucks to sequencers, envelopers, oscillators and clocks you don't need.
With respect, I read Pamela NW and René, what are they for dark-ambient?
Probably someone are convinced that's sh*t like Board of Canada or Aphex Twin....
Just my 2 cents.

EDITED May 26th 2023, 15:38

Love it, hauntingly beautiful!
-- Niemandsland

Thank you for checking it out and your kind comments. Much appreciated.

Love how it builds up!

That's some good work there, love the tasty guitar licks around 6:45ish...thanks for sharing! :)

Love it, hauntingly beautiful!

Searching for albums by Lustmord, Lull, New Risen Throne, Deathwalk, Svartsinn, Nordvargr (Pyrrula album), Vestigial, Inade, Apocryphos, Kammarheit/Cities Last Broadcast, all about the Cyclic Law and Cryo Chamber labels and also the "this is darkness" webzine (here you can find a very interesting topic just about the most personal equipments of various musicians of this genre).
If you mean myself stuff, there are not so much things because I was very discontinued for various personal issues and currently I no longer deal with music. Hope it will be useful for you. Best regards.
-- RossMotus669

You have a great taste in music! I would like to add: Council of Nine, Raison D'etre, beyond Sensory Experience, Desirerii Marginis, Musica Cthulhiana. A modular must for dark ambiant (in my opinion) is a spring reverb unit with a nice big tank!

The user @Zbigniew doesn't answer my messages after I paid (for the Triple Steeple module).
Of course, unforeseen things can happen. Against my habit, I used a bank transfer because the seller had a lot of good feedback. Based on that I convinced myself I could make an exception not to pay with PP covered by buyer protection (Yup, wondering why after all those years ;-) ).
I still hope to close this deal properly, but if you consider buying from @Zbigniew and your messages get answered then be warned.
PS. If I get an update from the seller, I will update this thread accordingly.

I just got an update from @Zbigniew with his apologies and an explanation for his unresponsiveness. I can understand his situation and the reason for the delay. He also promised the module to me this week.

Closing update: I got the module and it's in mint condition. So besides the delay and the lack of response at some point, in the end this was a successful transaction.

EDITED Jun 21st 2023, 06:59

You can find more information in this thread: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/10666

I've been workshopping a track on stream lately, and here it is. The interesting gear component is that I synced my modular synths with my Pigtronix Infinity Looper and Hologram Microcosm via MIDI. It is psychedelic and fun. Runs about 11 minutes:

Patch Notes

Arturia BeatStep Pro BPM 114 Project 09 Key G
Clock [out] ► Mother 32 [TEMPO]
Midi [out] ► DR-670

SEQ 1: 11-12
Pitch [out] ► Circuit Bent VCO [1v/oct]
Gate [out] ► Doepfer Dual ADSR Ch. 1 [gate]
SEQ 2: 11-15
Pitch [out] ► Plaits [V/OCT]
Gate [out] ► Doepfer Dual ADSR Ch. 2 [gate]

DR-670 Drum Machine Kit 5
Drum SEQ 1 - 4

Ibanez Roadstar II ►A/B Box
MicroKorg Vocoder ► A/B Box

A/B Box
Dyna Compressor ► Dark Matter ► Microcosm ► Afterneith ►Infinity Looper

Master Control
► BeatStep Pro
► Pigtronix Infinity Looper

Pigtronix Infinity Looper
► Zedi10 Pan C

WMD Triple Bipolar VCA
Ch. 1 [out] ► Zedi10 Pan C

Erica Synths Pico DSP
Out L ► Quad VCA Ch. 3 [in]

Stoicheia
Ch. 1 [out] ► Plaits [MORPH cv in]

Warps
Main Out ► Milky Way Ch. 1 [in]

Clouds
Out L ► WMD TBVCA Ch. 1 [in]

Circuit Bent VCO
Audio [out] ► Warps [Green in]

Mother 32
VCA [out] ► Pico DSP [in]
Gate [out] ► Stoicheia Ch. 1 [in]

Plaits Green Preset 1
Plaits [Out] ► Quad VCA Ch.2 [in]

Synthesis Technology Quad VCA
Mix Out ► Zedi10 Pan C
Ch. 2 [out] ► Wasp [Audio In]

Doepfer A-124 Wasp
LP [out] ► Clouds [L in]

Endorpin.es Milky Way
Ch.1 [out] ► Quad VCA Ch.1

Doepfer A-140-2 Dual Mini ADSR
Ch.1 [out 1] ► Quad VCA Ch.1 [cv in]
Ch.1 [out 2] ► CB VCO Effect [cv in]
Ch.2 [out 1] ► Quad VCA Ch. 2 [cv in]
Ch.2 [out 2] ► Wasp CV1 [in]

EDITED Jun 19th 2023, 20:17

I melted just about every power header on my first few Befaco builds, always tight builds.
Though my soldering skills have improved now.

Searching for albums by Lustmord, Lull, New Risen Throne, Deathwalk, Svartsinn, Nordvargr (Pyrrula album), Vestigial, Inade, Apocryphos, Kammarheit/Cities Last Broadcast, all about the Cyclic Law and Cryo Chamber labels and also the "this is darkness" webzine (here you can find a very interesting topic just about the most personal equipments of various musicians of this genre).
If you mean myself stuff, there are not so much things because I was very discontinued for various personal issues and currently I no longer deal with music. Hope it will be useful for you. Best regards.

No problem. But my reply was gone off topic maybe... This thread is about to evolve the personal modular setup of the post author into a dark ambient direction and I replied that the large part of the dark ambient musicians plays softwares and not modular gears, except someone of course. Ad also I think it's more better going to sampler and effect gears too, instead of sequencers and/or rhythmic based modules that they don't make so much sense to this scope, because this is a music genre totally based to evocative obscure atmospheres, then rumbles, sinister field recordings, atonals, whispers, voices, disturbant noises, orchestral and choir sequences, and of course dark drones that give the sensation of a large disquiet space. And personally I like very much all of them.

-- RossMotus669

Do you have any music online I can check out?

Want a few noise generators, with many configurations, chromatic responses, filters, and so on? This is the module for you!
Lots o’ great sounding noise.
The build is long, heck there are 110 resistors to put on the boards. And, this one is a little trickier to solder than most, Befaco really packed the board tightly. Intermediate level at least, don’t build this as your first.
But sounds great, and lots of things to mess about with.

Build

Mono. The samples specs are in the manual under "Micro SD Card Slot".

EDITED May 25th 2023, 15:19

does this module play mono or stereo? cant find info about it

Thanks @TumeniKnobs!

I've been on this kick since sometime in early 2022, it's kind of amazing how much variation and experimentation you can do with feedback as your starting point. I'm really loving it.

In my modest opinion....

Do you mind me asking what attracts you to this genre?

-- gumbo23

No problem. But my reply was gone off topic maybe... This thread is about to evolve the personal modular setup of the post author into a dark ambient direction and I replied that the large part of the dark ambient musicians plays softwares and not modular gears, except someone of course. Ad also I think it's more better going to sampler and effect gears too, instead of sequencers and/or rhythmic based modules that they don't make so much sense to this scope, because this is a music genre totally based to evocative obscure atmospheres, then rumbles, sinister field recordings, atonals, whispers, voices, disturbant noises, orchestral and choir sequences, and of course dark drones that give the sensation of a large disquiet space. And personally I like very much all of them.