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sound terrifying and awesome!
-- Lugia

Haha, don't play this when your Kids are near. They never sleep again.

That's sound really scary

Many thanks to @ezra , I just got a module from him, smart communication great transaction and very nice person!!!

Thanks to @Robocoder, who sold me an assimil8or in perfect shape and updated (ok i should have been able to do that myself).
It was a really smooth transaction, and communication !

Hi Baltergeist,

Ha, ha, now that's a nice modern piece of Jazz :-) Interesting Jazz with modular, yeah that rocks!

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

Hi Lugia,

It looks like the 4ms - QPLFO has been sold out :-( Are there any similar LFOs that you might know of? Not EGs by the way, I am especially interested in LFOs that can do that.

Thank you very much in advance and kind regards, Garfield.

Very cool!

It might seem finished, but remember: the minute a modular synth user actually DOES complete a system is the minute that the Earth falls into the Sun. This stuff is NEVER finished...

also thought about looking into modules for adding "randomness"again preferrable smaller modules,without getting to cluttered,but in this regard im abit in the dark
-- Broken-Form

Look into random signal modules that offer multiple functions. For example, Verbos's Random Sampling module. Sure, it's $500...but in its 18 hp, you get a multicolor noise gen, the essentials of the Buchla "Source of Uncertainty", a four-stage analog shift register that can also function as a quad sample and hold, and probably one or two other things that surface once you start screwing around with it. So, it SEEMS expensive, but you'd pay about the same amount (or more) for these devices separately, and they'd take up way more space.

Also, keep an eye out for "abuse potential". Example: modules such as Euclidean sequencers don't have to be sequencers; using them as quasi-random clock modulators is equally valid, and they can be VERY worthwhile for jazzing up your timing signals.

Have to agree with Jim here...there's a lot of audio modules present, but your modulation sources and modules to manipulate them with are pretty lacking here. F'rinstance, the DUSG is quite cool and all...but let's say you need to send an inverted output AND a normal one to two different destinations. Can't do that without attenuverters or polarizers, and I don't see any here. That's just one example; there's plenty of others.

Einstuggy makes anything sound terrifying and awesome!

Hi Ivo,awesome music.
how are you finding the tetrapad-tete combo for control?

i need to build a row in my modular for control/live manipulation,and the tetrapad-tete combo have been recommended to me,im mostly doing Dark Ambient stuff
-- Broken-Form

Thanks! I appreciate it.

I can't recommend the Tete/Tetra combo enough - I have two pairs in my system (still waiting on the second Tete to arrive after three months of waiting haha). It has so many modes that I could even see a third, so that I can have all three modes running at once. That said, the Combo mode is where it's at because you can essentially have 4 channels of whatever you want (i.e. one channel can be an LFO, another can be a sequencer, another a fader, etc.). Anyway yes, if you're looking for tactile control, look no further.

-- IvoIvanov

Awesome,gonna put them on my to buy list:)

famous last words...

do you really need both midi and a sequencer?

if so I would consider an external midi -> cv solution and a bigger sequencer (with fewer channels) for ergonomics mainly

if you only need midi clock then there are expanders for Pams that will do this in 2-4hp

remember to buy stackcables or headphone splitters

make the rack public and post a link to the rack (copy and paste the url here) not to a jpg - no click through or infomatics on jpgs - they really help us help you as there are thousands of modules!

a delay would be useful - consider an fx aid xl - it'll add delays, more 'normal' reverbs, lofi, phasers etc - definitely good for all stated genres - make sure to get the xl it has more modulation inputs and better ergonomics than the standard version

a matrix mixer for mixing bits of modulation together to generate more interesting modulation - I like the doepfer (as it has full size knobs and space and is inexpensive) - but the instruo lion looks interesting

stackcables (or another passive mult) - for utilizing the matrix mixer and still having the original modulation available

a basic starter set of utilities - links, kinks and shades will add a lot for not that much cash - other modules that do similar things are available - wmd/ssf toolbox covers a lot of ground too

I'd want 50% of this size of a case to be modulation and utilities for manipulating it...

Hi Ivo,awesome music.
how are you finding the tetrapad-tete combo for control?

i need to build a row in my modular for control/live manipulation,and the tetrapad-tete combo have been recommended to me,im mostly doing Dark Ambient stuff
-- Broken-Form

Thanks! I appreciate it.

I can't recommend the Tete/Tetra combo enough - I have two pairs in my system (still waiting on the second Tete to arrive after three months of waiting haha). It has so many modes that I could even see a third, so that I can have all three modes running at once. That said, the Combo mode is where it's at because you can essentially have 4 channels of whatever you want (i.e. one channel can be an LFO, another can be a sequencer, another a fader, etc.). Anyway yes, if you're looking for tactile control, look no further.

I think its finished... finally...

Gracias amigo!

Here's a goof - Plumbutter and double Double Knots providing drums/percussion, the Plumbutter is running through Beads for simulated snare and kick drum improvisation. Then I overdubbed my Mother-32 through various effects, including the Fairfield Circuitry Randy's Revenge and Malekko Charlie Foxtrot, and concluded with some upright bass. There is no art to this, just fun.

Hey all !

I'm actually planning my future full rack on modulargrid and wondering what do you think about it, what's missing etc
I'm doing ambiant, drones, berlin school and krautrock stuff.

Actually i have all these modules:

RS 95N, Twin peak Epoch modular, STO, NTO, Pamela, Variable Slope VCF, Triple+ Waveshaper, Maths, Erbe Verbe, Intellijel Quad VCA, Eloquencer, Quadrax, Hexmix VCA, 4ms listen four quarters, 4ms passive mult and AI001 mult.

I also have a Grandmother and a Mfb Dominion 1 who can interact with the modular.

Thanks !

EDITED Mar 25th 2021, 19:12

A virtuosity at the service of an instrument in its own right, modular synth. One can also discover an extraordinary piece by the same composer 'Compression Music (part 5)' on Vimeo, YouTube, or SoundCloud. Bravo and respect, Sir!

it's never too late to learn!

FYI like all befaco modules - the joystick is available in DIY too - I built mine from a kit - it was reasonably straightforward iirc - a little bit of wiring for the joystick was the most difficult part
-- JimHowell1970

im affraid im not a DIY guy

FYI like all befaco modules - the joystick is available in DIY too - I built mine from a kit - it was reasonably straightforward iirc - a little bit of wiring for the joystick was the most difficult part

think i will try out the befaco joystick,

also thought about looking into modules for adding "randomness"again preferrable smaller modules,without getting to cluttered,but in this regard im abit in the dark

EDITED Mar 25th 2021, 06:45

Nice one!

Hi Ivo,awesome music.
how are you finding the tetrapad-tete combo for control?

i need to build a row in my modular for control/live manipulation,and the tetrapad-tete combo have been recommended to me,im mostly doing Dark Ambient stuff

Hi Gabor,

He, he, lots of funny effects you managed to create in this "jam" :-) Interesting and thank you very much for sharing.

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi DonPuzo,

Ha, ha, yes that a great track and lots of fun to watch you here with high energy at work :-)

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

Collapsing new Blixa

Blixa Bargeld thru the new delay engine on the Mannequins W/ (available with the new beta fw).
Details in the video.

Thank you!

Oh mighty Modular-cat
Keeper of stereophonic balance

Bless the Kitty and His annoyance
Bless the coming and going (and coming and going and coming and going and coming and going and...)
May His warnings cleanse your rack build...

(with absolutely no apologies to the late Frank Herbert)

EDITED Mar 24th 2021, 18:36

just recieved my 2 LPG ver 2 yesterday:)

Just a quick follow up note on this - I reserved one at Sweetwater and originally got a shipping estimate of "late March". I checked in with them yesterday and the new estimate is "early May". So it's quite delayed.

As noted in my original post I have been searching all over the globe for a Rene Mk2 and low-and-behold I found one on Reverb this morning and bought it, so I think I will be canceling my SQ-64 pre-order. Super excited for the Rene! Now if I can find a Bionic Lester Mk III...

Cheers.

Haha that's nice. Like a Modular DJ :-)

damn shame about those narcissistic priorities of his...

-- Lugia

Got a good chuckle out of this one

Hi Lugia,

Oh that's fantastic news about the QPLFO, that's what I need and what I want then! :-) I am going to put that on my must-have list! I don't have a Pam but I will use the Make Noise - Tempi together with the Shakmat - Time Wizard and then that should be fine too.

Thank you very much for the background information on the Behringer 2600. So we are still waiting for it then ;-) The orange version is here at Thomann Germany available, for the Grey Meanie and the Blue Marvin, Thomann indicates that the availability is unknown... so more waiting I am afraid.

Well once you got one, I hope you will share with us your first impressions about it :-) Thank you and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi All,

Two things I would like to reply to:

1) A DAW-less usage has one big advantage, as Quantum_Eraser already mentioned: You don't require the computer. I have an office job too, taking that one far too serious, hence I am in front of my computer between 12 till 16 hours a day then there comes a point that you really had enough of that thing since I am doing that already for decades (working almost day and night with a computer). So, I do understand "that need" to try to work without a DAW completely and that's for the moment my approach as well.

That, however, doesn't mean that I hate the DAW, no not at all. I am even afraid of the DAW, because I am afraid that I am going to love it, meaning, I am going to spend even more hours in front of the computer, yet another reason not to touch DAW ;-)

Also, I am not saying I am never going to use a DAW, I can foresee in the future a need for using a DAW and might be even willing to consider that, however as long as I can live kind of comfortably without a DAW and not missing it yet, I will try to stay away from it (because I am afraid of it, that I would love it and that I would use the computer even more...)

2) The Maths Myth (apologises for calling it like that) is something I also can't follow for the full 100%. Yes, Maths is a good module, and yes you can do a lot with the Maths and yes it's a very handy utility module at the same time, yes, yes, yes! I totally agree with it ;-)

It however doesn't explain why almost the entire world has to worship this module like it is done currently. It might be a good module (and by the way, I have the Maths myself) for beginners who have a "nice small" rack of less than (just an example) 200 HP buying the Maths to fill up the rack quickly and yes in certain cases it will be really useful, I do think so indeed. If you have limited rack space you indeed might need a Maths because you have so less space and you need to fully utilise that space by modules that can do tons of things.

However, for myself, I realised that I rather like the approach of having most of the functionalities separated in a per module basis. So EGs in EG modules, attenuators in attenuator modules, logic in logic modules, etcetera (naturally there will be always exceptions to this, this is just generaly speaking). I can then use at any time those EGs or attenuators and/or logic modules in any which way I want without being concerned if that functionality I want to use can be matched somehow in my Maths or if I use too many things parallel it's not going to work out with Maths. I even don't bother to check this with Maths, I straight away start to use a pure EG if I need one or an attenuator if I need one, etcetera.

Having said that last part... I actually do love the both attenuators of the Maths, the main reason I still haven't sold the module and I am using it mainly for that purpose.

Again, I am not saying Maths it bad, it's a good module, especially for users with limited HP space, but if your racks are getting larger, having many functionality in separate modules available... for me... Maths isn't that great, it's good yes, but it isn't great either.

Well that's just my humble opinion, that's all folks ;-) Kind regards, Garfield.

Edit: Rephrased one sentence in a more accurate way.

EDITED Mar 24th 2021, 00:16

realy easy accasabil Modul you will have fun to use it !

Hi at all,
I have noticed an annoying background noise at high volumes on my system that disappears if I unplug the Stasis Leak from the patch (it is 5 months since I completed the system and now I notice this noise but it has probably always existed).
I have checked the module and I have noticed the detail that I show you in red circled.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/13yv8ys0ls76twh/stasis.png?dl=0
I weld a bridge with a piece of wire to restore the line but nothing has changed and I'm not sure it's a defect, it could also be wanted by manufacturer since in the assembly videos nothing is soldered on those two pins (in my preassembled there is a resistor or something similar that I cannot see well because it is hidden by the front panel).
Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve or this already happened?
Thanks
FB

Thank you for this detailed view on modulation. I will take into consideration to ease out some voices. My goal is to build a machine that allows some subtle modulation but more hands on groove capabilities. This means turning voices on/off, mixing FX in out quickly and changing patterns on the fly. I could boil it down to Kick, Hi-Hat, Clap or Snare and another Voice for Bleeps and Blops. Are you guys planning to post some let's say basic setups that newbies like me can build on? Just to get a feel for good balance, good basic modules to start with. Can be small. Thanks again for sharing and caring.

The cat's demands are apparent: clean up your mess (and it'll go away). :)

And if it doesn't, consider this: did I add a module on my case that was a recent addition? If so, a kind and diligent moderator might have cleaned up the mess of people uploading duplicates because they didn't bother searching before uploading a new module. :) So if refreshing still doesn't make a module appear, look for the original module that was supposed to be there.

Nice, thank you both!

why would you not want maths? - a wonderful modulation source, in a rack of mainly granular and effects - I'd still want modulation sources and utilities no matter what I was doing with my rack
-- JimHowell1970

Agreed. There seems to be little point in tossing out one of the most versatile modulation sources ever made.

It's not the gear. Those who pin their musical failings on their gear are lying to themselves, as are those who think that having some "magic device" will be the express lane to SYNTHGODHOOD. All of that is 100% utter bunk. The fact is, if you're blaming some hardware issue for holding your work back, you only need to go and look in the mirror to see the REAL source of the problem!

-- Lugia

Made my Rack Public. It's bit of a mess right now. I already took out the Modules I want to sell.

About the Gear and the Magical Device. I am definitely not looking for that. Why chasing some Unicorn that doesn't exist? :-)

Or maybe I didn't unterstand your point. My English isn't that good ;-)

About Dawless. I just don't want to work with my Laptop when i make Music. I have an Office Job. And the whole Day i'm sitting in Front of a PC.

I am kind of interested in that 4ms - QPLFO but I think I am missing a function but perhaps you can help me out? I am looking for an LFO that has a clock input but where the speed can still be regulated in somehow a synced way in correlation with the clock input. Any idea if this exists and if yes, could you please name a few modules that can do that?

Actually, the QPLFO can do that. Since it can either be set "normally" or it can respond to "pings" (triggers, basically), you could mult up a clock output then send that to the QPLFO to "ping" the LFOs in sync. This gets even better if you've got a Pam's or Temps Utile, where you can have several synced clock outputs.

Stop, stop, stop! ;-) Did you mention there B.2600 as in Behringer - 2600 (that 'Arpy' thing)? Do you have that one already? How is it? Is it as good as most of us were hoping for, or at least not disappointing? I was thinking of waiting for the Blue Marvin version.

I'm following the lead of a number of people with experience on the originals, who've examined the B.2600 and have said that, yes, it DOES do what it should. That being said, there's apparently some incremental differences between the "orange" one and the Meanies. I'm waiting for a grey, myself...already got that prepaid over at Sweetwater, just waiting for Uli to get off his sorry ass and send some to the USA (Thomann apparently has them already). He's probably busy harassing people on some synth forum, though...damn shame about those narcissistic priorities of his...

But if there's something amiss with the B.2600s, I'll know it PDQ. After all, I've been poking at the ARP 2600 since I started learning synthesis back around 1980, and that includes revs 2, 3, and 4. No Blue Meanies, although I'm still a little surprised I never ran across one in Nashville years ago. After all, my old hometown had me encountering things like ARP Chromas (yeah...I got to play with a pre-CBS one back c. 1980!) and other near-prototypes of all sorts.

https://wigglehunt.com/?query=Moffenzeef&condition=&stock_status=in_&price_min=0&price_max=5000¤cy_code=150&sort=price

That Strymon is OK as a basic pedal interface, but it has limitations, such as no way to properly control I/O levels in the event of a stompbox getting overloaded, or one that outputs too hot of a signal. I'd suggest the Bastl Hendrikson instead...you'd then get some CV control over your wet/dry balance, plus LED indications for overloads. Little more spendy...but you DO get more.

Secondly, you need to downsize some of these modules. Even though this is a proper 6U cab, you still need to be careful about space economy while avoiding ergonomics issues. But if done right...well...

You'll notice that I went with Mutable clones here in all cases except the Beads (which isn't out in clone versions yet), and all of these allowed a great deal of extra space to come into play.

For starters, your Rample now has a dedicated stereo mixer, allowing you to pan and mix your four channels of sampler properly. More mashing allowed a PAIR of Plaits clones, not merely one, and these now get their own summing mixer. The uRinks is your Rings, the u4xVCA is a Veils clone, and between them I put in a single multimode VCF, Bastl's nifty Cinnamon...about the same idea as the Ripples, but with a bit more character. Then the Takaab dual LPG (this is the present version...they downsized it to 2 hp), Beads, and the aforementioned Hendrikson pedal I/O.

Bottom row starts with the Pam's, but then the Nonlinearcircuits chaotic modulator got mashed WAY down into a Zlob Diode Chaos...same sort of idea, much smaller. Marbles became a Pachinko, saving more hp. And by mashing, I was able to add not only a Batumi quad LFO, but its Poti expander as well. There's a Frap 321 after that, which lets you crossmix/mangle/tamper with modulation signals, then an After Later dVCA, which is half of a Veils. Quadrax/Qx, followed by the Ears...then a REAL stereo mixer from Happy Nerding, which allows CV over either level or panning per channel, has your headphone preamp, and also some stereo metering...then this feeds to Happy Nerding's Isolator for your stereo ganged level and transformer isolation on the output.

First off, it's probably a good thing that I looked at this, as you had the size of the Rackbrute wrong. According to Arturia's own docs, it's not 89 hp per row...but 88. Big difference, even though we're only talking 1 hp here. The double VCO setup now lets you set up detuning, resulting in a much fatter sound, or you can use the second Plaits clone as another separate VCO for a different "voice" line. Modulation is HUGELY improved here with the addition of the quad LFO + 321 + VCAs. Also, the Ears is now by the mixer, which should work much better than having it anywhere near the power supply. You can probably get away with a digital module like the Rample, but an input preamp like that next to a power supply opens you up to noise and crud every time you opted to use the Ears where it was. Lastly, REAL mixing, with VCA control and stereo panning...big improvement there.

Even though you've got a few modules already, this should hopefully give you some reasons to rethink how this was going. Cramming a full-on build into even a 6U Rackbrute is a tad difficult unless you shrink modules whenever possible. This should be a much more capable result, even if you only adopt some of the suggestions here.

case : LC6 is a decent choice - @Lugia will be along soon to tell you the LC9 is better valuee for money (which it is) and so are Mantises... but not by that much - personally I think the LC9 is a little bit underpowered...

Modulation: good start

Utilities: good start

Stereo Mixer: it really depends on you - personally I would want at least 2 stereo channels and 2 mono channels that can be panned - for now I wouldn't worry about it

Purchase Order: sounds like Beads and Arbhar are a way off - I would probably want some form of effect at the start either a filter or a multi-fx: fx aid xl seems to be the best of that bunch at the moment

why would you not want maths? - a wonderful modulation source, in a rack of mainly granular and effects - I'd still want modulation sources and utilities no matter what I was doing with my rack
-- JimHowell1970

Agreed. There seems to be little point in tossing out one of the most versatile modulation sources ever made. It's sort of like saying you want a Moog Model 15...but NOT that Moog LPF (despite it being one of the main points of ANY Moog modular). I also don't see the point of the hate-on toward DAWs here. Yes, yes, I KNOW there's been a bunch of "the usual suspects" on YouTube yowling about "DAWless rigs" as of late, but as someone who started in this before anything vaguely resembling a DAW ever existed and who has gone through DAWless use both in the studio AND live and who went through several DAWs over a couple of decades-ish, lemme tell you...this trend is a load of #2s. Comparing my output done WITH Ableton against the work from before I settled on that...well, Ableton lets me work FAST, work EASILY, do things that a DAWless rig would find IMPOSSIBLE, and so on.

It's not the gear. Those who pin their musical failings on their gear are lying to themselves, as are those who think that having some "magic device" will be the express lane to SYNTHGODHOOD. All of that is 100% utter bunk. The fact is, if you're blaming some hardware issue for holding your work back, you only need to go and look in the mirror to see the REAL source of the problem!

One other point, also...people who try and sell you a concept like DAWless on YouTube are...well, the word "sell" is a key. YT is about clicks, about hardscrabble survival, and about self-marketing. I see nothing in that list there about concepts such as "art" or "self-expression". They'll toss out the latest trendy whateverthehell, then a few months later they'll shift their entire working paradigm in order to sell the latest concept that all of their competition is jumping on, because that's how you survive YouTube. But it's not how you do art. Just ask Chris Gaines...or rather, Garth Brooks, when he tried to pull something similar at the end of the 1990s by altering his modus operandi, believing that being "edgy" like Trent Reznor would rake in even MORE lovely ca$h. The result, however, was a CATASTROPHIC miscue that imploded and almost took his "regular" career down with it! DAWless is only the current "flavor of the month" on YT right now, and by summer, it'll be something else, with little to no consequences to the YouTubers pushing it (although there should be, just like Garth). Don't be fooled.