Great advice from Lugia. One piece of advice- get the bigger case but start slowly with only a few modules at a time. That way you can get the right balance of support modules and so forth. I’m using utility modules like WMD SSF Toolbox a lot more in complex patches and they are critical. I use way more modulation now with advanced patching than when I first began. It’s really about cv control I find with modular. I’m using at least 8 LFO per complex patch since many of my modules each have many cv modulation points to tweak.

I'll echo Jim here: Bigger case, more utilities! You see a buttload of these microbuilds on YouTube, and either they're done by someone who thinks they know what they're doing BUT DON'T...or they're done by companies that want to sell you these silly-ass mini cases (coughcoughPerfectCircuitcough). Yes, they work GREAT if you need to add a few specific modules to an existing rig, but beyond that...nope. To his credit, Ricky Tinez is one of the very few synth-Tubers who HAVE said that these are "mission-specific" when you're (usually) building in a small cab like a Palette 62. The rest just seem to slap these things up with no comprehension that beginner modular synthesists need SPACE and need a WIDE selection of possibilities to explore, not merely some bespoke micro-box that's really set up for only a handful of uses.

Ah...then, my apologies. But I should also note that there's very little news on this side of the pond on the Fenix IV...just a clip or two on YT with Felix, so this wasn't information I had on hand. Much of what I did hear over here, though, was along the lines of "never expect this to happen", so I was going on the info I've had to work with. It also doesn't help that we've also got some janky sorts over here claiming that they'll have the [INSERT SYNTH HERE] reissue out next [INSERT SPECULATIVE DATE]...yeah, looking at YOU, Polyfusion!

One suggestion: you might want to get a bit more presence on Gearsource (ie: the site formerly known as "Gearslutz") and get the info about the Fenix IV in front of more eyes. That would not only get the waiting list filled in a matter of minutes, but clarify some of the info floating around. Same goes for Muff Wiggler (if it's even still called that!).

Thank you all!

Completely agree on the last point and appreciate you saying that. The idea is/has been really a big synth, one big voice, then I record and further mangle on the computer. So that’s how I’m thinking about it for now and use it. But love that you said that because you’re totally right, gotta keep my mind open.

Keep in mind, though, that the mixer in there does a lot more than just mixing. It has your end-of-path VCAs for signal level control, an autopanner (and manual panner, natch) on each mono input, allows you to use the CUE bus for tuning and other checks on the fly, has your parallel path via the AUX for FX (also with per-channel AUX VCAs), and it's also your headphone preamp.

In fact, this is how you get more into a build in less room for less money. Whenever you have the ability to use something with a large function set as opposed to something basic but which requires a bunch more modules, always go for the multiple functionality devices.

And one last thing: never assume beforehand what you'll be doing in the future with something as open-ended as a modular synth. Sure, it works as a sound design rig just fine...but what if you find out that the modular opens up some new musical directions you'd not entertained before? YT jam vids, live performance, etc...make sure you've got those bases ALL covered, because you really don't have an idea where the synth will lead you!

Slappin! That Akemie's Castle is quit a lovely machine, keep it coming troux : )

Very cool! So many interesting sounds here. I must admit I'm intrigued by the Ciat Lonbarde stuff, it sounds so unique

That is a very cool track! Great melancholy mood. I love how shaking the dictaphone makes it do vibrato!
-- TumeniKnobs

Thanks Tumeni! The dictaphone is so much fun to experiment with, I highly recommend it

Hi Gworn,

The usage of the dictaphone gives it somehow very authentic feel and touch to the track, nicely done!

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

Thank you! The dictaphone really adds a lot of magic, I struggle to "get in the zone" without it these days. Hopefully the rings module I have on the way will help : )

Hi Gworn,

The usage of the dictaphone gives it somehow very authentic feel and touch to the track, nicely done!

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

That is a very cool track! Great melancholy mood. I love how shaking the dictaphone makes it do vibrato!

Hi Baltergeist,

I like your never ending creativity and this track is yet again one of your creativity-production-results ;-) A really nice, to me, relaxing track, lovely to listen at. I wouldn't mind you would make more tracks like this one!

Thank you very much for sharing this with us and kind regards, Garfield.

You’re more than welcome Garfield! I enjoy making videos as it helps me learn over t8me and share with others. I’m hoping to bridge the gap left by DivKid and others who assume an advanced level of mastery with Eurorack.

A short sketch featuring some 1/2 speed guitar (sounds a bit like a broken piano) and the microfreak being processed by my modular system. Pamela's new workout is clocking and modulating, Disting is adding ping pong delay to the Microfreak, and Monsoon is in looping delay mode processing the dictaphone. Everything gets a smidge of specular reverb set in 'spatium' mode.

EDITED Sep 20th 2021, 23:53

Hi Sacguy71,

Fantastic, yet another video & jam from you :-) That's very nice! I like your videos and jams because you cover quite a few modules that I don't have yet and I am (partly) considering, so beside the great jams and videos you do, they give me usually a good impression on the modules I might consider as well, being a nice buying help/guard to me :-)

Thank you very much for sharing this with us and kind regards, Garfield.

Swapped the VCF303 for my Polaris to see how a different filter sounded and with a bit more modulation capabilities, also trying something new with the MSCL, interesting module 🤔 This is an excerpt from a longer jam but I like the structure of it ok even if it starts out a bit slow, hope you enjoy!

Bundled the last couple tunes I made with this (along with the @TumeniKnobs collaboration) onto a mini EP which you can check out here https://stevehand.bandcamp.com/album/september-acid

-- troux

Nice track! I missed the whole rave thing (living in Tokyo from 90-95), and I won’t even pretend to know what “booty house” is… Haha! And that’s very cool dropping the collab version on the ep. Thanks for credit and the link. :-)

Cheers

EDITED Sep 20th 2021, 23:29

This is fantastic. Thanks @baltergeist!

It's a ways-away, unfortunately. We're just now climbing back to some normalcy after my wife got laid off in May. She's working again, and making more money than before, but she hasn't gotten her first paycheck yet. As such, had to tighten the belts and stop most non-essential expenses. I'm hoping I'll be able to have it out on bandcamp some time next year. The upside is that I'm getting time generate more material to choose from when it's time for mixing and mastering. :)

Lovely as usual @baltergeist, but where's the album???

ah - well, it was a rhetorical question...
the difference between midi A and B conversion cables is in which pin on the midi out that the tip and ring of the stereo jack is wired to... buy the right cable for the module (either A or B) and being able to switch is completely redundant!
if you have pile of these cables and mix up A & B then I can see the advantage of the switched module

I’m also looking at Squid Salmple as an option.

Totally irrelevant no.
Maybe a little bit.
It's not an expansive breakout.
I'm very beginner in midi and when I've bought it I didn't know there was an Expert sleepers tiny breakout available.
There are many subtilities for me to learn about midi.

EDITED Feb 27th 2023, 07:15

but isn't that totally irrelevant if you just buy the correct 3,5mm->midi cable in the first place???

I agree.
I like the xoxo breakout because you can switch the input from midi type A to type B with a switch on the frontpanel.
No need to unplug everything.
But only one module by breakout.

EDITED Sep 20th 2021, 17:18

yes, but why would you when the expert sleepers 2hp midi breakout is cheaper and can support 2 modules if needed...

I've watched exactly 1 Ricky Tinez youtube video - the one where he openly admits to having a proper rack too - not just beauty cases - he makes an excellent point that beauty cases are great for focusing on specific modules to demo them, but that he changes it up a lot - and they also fit in his handbag!

interesting patch idea! what does the DFAM sound like when patched to O_C? layout-wise I would place the DFAM all the way on the left so that the patch cables don't stand in the way when turning knobs. If you patch the Velocity Input on the DFAM and don't use the internal sequencer for pitching the VCOs then you can use them for other modulation duties and eventually even with it's own clock rate! Been toying around with the idea of decoupling the DFAMs inner building blocks to use them for different purposes.

Hi,
You can use this with Disting 4:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-midixo-model-92-

I don't know about availability.

Cheers

I'd ditch scales and go with a Ornament & Crime, which will function as a quad quantizer, which pairs up nicely with the Mimetic. Of course it has other features you may like in addition. This Palette feels like you've been watching a lot of Ricky Tinez. Yes?

been eyeing the Erica Synths Sample Drum. I've heard somebody saying that it felt like two channels of the digitakt without the sequencer in Eurorack. Imagine 4xSample Drum + Westlicht Performer + FX Aid to emulate Digitakt on Eurorack? xD

Hi all,

Right now I've been using my Elektron Octatrack to sample modular but looking for an in rack solution. So far it seems like 1010 Music Bitbox and Rossum Assimil8r would do what I need to sample cool modular sounds for editing and playback like what my Octratrack does. What are your favorite sampler modules and why did you go with the particular solution? Rossum is very expensive compared to Bitbox so trying to see the pros/cons of both or perhaps consider another module? I just picked up Mutable Instruments Beads which is a granular sampler quite different than to read in an audio source and mangle for recording and playback.

The user manuals contain the pin outs in terms of DIN socket pins 4/5.

-- os

thanks for the quick reply!

Putting it all together even used the Mutable Instruments Shades and WMD SSF Toolbox utility modules that were not getting much use.

Shades is quite good can be attenuator or inverter and the sheer number of cool modular utilities in WMD SSF Toolbox is superb. I like using invert and the switch for good results in my patches last night.

The user manuals contain the pin outs in terms of DIN socket pins 4/5.

Hey Os...
I've got everything to connect the midi headers of my GeneralCV and Disting mk4 (brilliant modules btw, thanks) to case mounted din sockets... I keep meaning to implement it, but am not 100% sure about the pin outs - do you have a reference other than the picture of the midi breakout pcb that you could share?

If you're that short on space, don't waste 4HP on the breakout, just DIY a cable and run it out the back.

there are cables easily available with trs one end and din socket the other end - if you need to save space in a tiny case this or the drilling holes in the case method i described above would seem to be the best options...

There's also the 2HP sized breakout: https://expert-sleepers.co.uk/tinymidibreakout.html

Then that plus a disting mk4 is 6HP.

-- os

Os you got me anyways 🤗 I can't do the tiny midi breakout because I need the DIN connection, but my plan is to go with a mk4. This is going in a 40hp 4ms pod so there isn't a ton of room. The only reason I've been reluctant to go the mk4 route is because MIDI-to-CV is almost all it would be doing. Feels like a waste, but for the price and hp, it's probably my best option.

Currently waiting for Control to restock.

Thank you!!

Thanks and it is super cool that every time I patch, a new discovery takes place. These happy accidents make playing modular a real joy and experiment in music creation for me. I fixed settings on my YT channel so hopefully you all can view the videos now.

You are welcome, I love teaching my lessons learned on modular. I fixed the settings on the video so hopefully now you can view from here. Beads is tons of fun with Rings and Marbles!

Nice track baltergeist. Thoroughly enjoyed listening.

Unicorn rack limit increased to 100

On popular request rack limit for Unicorn accounts was raised from 60 to 100.

BTW the correct answer as always is get a bigger case and get both options!!!!

and of course more utilities!!!! the really important modules!

actual link - not jpg

Hi Ryanthegecko,

Yeah, keep it coming! :-) Nice and funny video, I love that kind of underwater effect unless you managed to develop a waterproof system? ;-) Thank you very much for sharing and kind regards, Garfield.
-- GarfieldModular

Thanks Garfield :) Nice new profile pic!

are these things still being made? i know there was a limited run but not sure if they are still being produced,
-- Mosiej
Hi!

Stijn Kuipers here - together with Priscilla we are TiNRS.

This was a special edition - limited run of 25 units. We are no longer producing these. BUT! the files are open source so you can obtain a DIY verison - there are several places where you can buy pcb/panel sets for this module.

The main reason we built this thing was as analog manufacturing practice before we felt comfortable building the Fenix IV.

Fenix IV has been released in the wild for a while now btw - no idea what Lugia is going on about? The first 55 units have been shipped - the next 45 are coming in november. If you hurry there may still be some room on the waiting list.

And indeed: now that the Fenix project is nearing the end, we will be developing and manufacturing some modules again.

EDITED Sep 20th 2021, 10:12

Finishing my case (palette 62) and am stuck between going with the qubit surface and the wmd javelin or the alm pop slope and MI plaits. All other modules I already own. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_1686596.jpg

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/mKetB

Lorre-Mill Double Knot running stereo through Tensor, Avalanche Run, and Rooms. Plumbutter just doing its thing, though I used its deerhorn to glitch things here and there. Electric guitar processed by Cocoquantus through Ghost Echo.

Might take another pass at it with a fretless electric bass just to see how that sounds.

EDITED Sep 20th 2021, 04:32