Thread: Suggestions

matrix mixer, rectifier, clock divider, lots of logic modules...pams,maths, ochd.


Very happy with my purchase of Kinks and LxD from @Nikiji

Friendly communication, quick shipping, excellent packaging, and of course the modules themselves in perfect condition. Recommended!


Hi,

Thanks! I like both alternatives. Couple of extra VCA's always good..

/M


I'd throw in an Intellijel Amps (VCA + ring mod and mixer, doesn't matter that it's linear only since DUSG can do exponential curves), and either
1) a Mutable Kinks clone (logic + noise) and a Disting mk4 (tons of options and you can learn about different tools)
or
2) an Ochd + its expander (lots and lots of modulation possibilities)


@KitKadAndy Amazing seller, I received a brand new Monome Teletype silver. Fast and perfect communication :)


I'm slowly building a mini rack based on the random source serge modules. I have 14hp left that i'm not really sure of what to do with. The so called music i'm making spanning from just noises/drones to little arps etc, towards ambient i would say.

All modules in the rack i currently own. Was thinking about the random source adsr, but not sure. Feels unnecessary.

Suggestions? Mixer? Noise? bunch of logic to spice things up?

ModularGrid Rack


Thread: Suggestions

2024 Studio Volx 3 168hp + RackBrute + Skiffs

Got rid of my old small rack I never used. Newly inspired and jumping to a big setup. Currently own 99% of modules but waiting on Volx cabinet. Racking and reracking in RackBrute with Knurlies at the moment to learn and play with things. I've got tons of weird sound design tools but main focus is funky techno production. Heavily percussive, minimally melodic and lots of trippy effects. Work on 1-4 mono or stereo tracks in the rack at a time with the DAW as a multi track recorder and then use the rack as automation, insert and send effects during mixdown.

Not very advanced with creative patching and CV but understand the concepts. What would you change or what would you feel was missing? How would you organize a case like this?


Plaits! Plaits turned out to be the correct answer.


i just dont like the idea of another powerbrick on the desk.
I'm already starved for sockets as is. Anyone out there with a more elegant solution?

there are power strips... they can often be hidden behind other things, or under tables/desks

another option is a different case with better power supply - tiptop mantis for example!

"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia

Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!

sound sources < sound modifiers < modulation sources < utilities


Im chasing for 4ms pods

pls contact me if you sell (or swap) some - in (EU)

Greetings

Chris


Just the classic Doepfer A-100 P9 atm. Just sold the other one


Not sure there is a such a thing as a proper mains powered 2hp module, though if you can power via USB then there is this from Rakits https://www.rakits.co.uk/product/go/ which might let you lighten the load on the Rackbrute.
-- wishbonebrewery

That would imply that my pc would need to be running as well.
Don't like that idea but thnx for the suggestion.

-- Chrissozz

That would imply that you need a Phone Charger Plug ;-) No computer needed, a computer would / could introduce a load of machine noise into your modular.

Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.

https://youtube.com/@wishbonebrewery


It would be really nice if you could search for modules of minimum size. Also maybe by range. Like for example show me all modules between 4 and 16 hp.


A bit of an impulsive weekend... Moving to a Mantis case because getting a solid instrument in a single 88hp row (especially w/ 5HP for PSU) is a pain the arse :D.

That said, several new modules have arrived and/or are on their way. The main ones are the Harmonaig, Saich, and Lubadh.. all by Instruo. Something about the black and gold, and who doesn't love a 2 hour tutorial video on new modules from the creator himself.. Playing around with the setup on here spurred the switch to the Mantis... I've sketched out accordingly

I'll have 3 'cases' now:
1. Main (mantis) (pic above)

  1. Auxillary (& Alternate sources) - either 3U/6U rackbrute -- sell other. This case will either be physicall above or next to case one.

  2. Utility/IO (4ms 40hp). -- not in love with this extensions case, but trying to keep a stable location spot (I/O) from/to other gear. 4 cables will be run permanently and can quickly be used for in, out, scope (when curious/troubleshooting).

Part of this post is 'rubber-ducking' (talking out loud). but I'm asking again for anyone's opinions/thoughts on improvements on modules and placement? Especially anyone who has experience with 'Matrix' routing... I've used a Matrix before, but it was Live sound (sound reinforcement) scenario. Looking forward to exploring this, but still very green.

One thought I have is kicking Rings out to the 3U (or keep 6U and rack up DFAM) in exchange for Batumi (&poti) -- but the reason is it the way it is now, is it'd be great to have a "useable" second case at some point... (sigh I could move it then I guess...) without too much moving around (2 maths :)). Ochd, though great, can't be my only LFO, but stil finding out if I like Tides enough... or if "only Pam's" works without stepping on other uses.

RNDStep... I love the idea of it switching out the inversions/voicings -- TBD on if it stays in that spot.

Racks 2 and 3....

Modules I want to add soon (Much thanks to previous advice)

Befaco Noise Plethora, (definitely will :D)
100Grit (wish I could try it first!)

Thank you in advance :)


A Disting EX. You'll never get bored, you'll have multiple ways of playing polyphony and you'll have tons of space and tools to do other stuff as well. Get it even if you still get the Coral.



Maybe drop the bloom for a neo trinity?
You can use 6 channels for seqencing, envelopes, lfos, sample and hold and stuff.
The sequencing is differet to the bloom but if you like it, it works.
Its made for small systems

I guess you use Pams to trigger the drums on the rample, because of the channel logic feature
Pams + neo trinity could be a good combo

I personally find that ochd + expander is pretty neat for ambient stuff, but I guess you might choosed the caixa case also because you want to focus on those 1 row utilities. So this is more the cherry on top

Im pretty sure that the Nautilus can do delays that summ up in reverb-alike textures.

otherwize
maybe its an idea to drop the data bender for the monsoon.
Different firmwares of clouds offer also some feautres of the data bender + the reverb.
Then you probably lack of a filter. But there are also good 4 hp filters like wmd sclpt

Or just fx aid + small filter

-- VONDENFUNKEN

Thank you so much 🙏


Here u go.
All modules u already own.
Sequence the coral and the rample with hermod via midi.
Should leave u tracks for cv duties

ModularGrid Rack

Left some space in there for a filter or whatever u want to put there


just pointing out that if you got a plasma voice by gamechanger you would have another 12hp to work with. ... ...

never used it myself, but it looks nifty and i think it might even compliment the moog well, if you think its sound suits your purpose.

i just like playing around on this site. i am not an expert. you know you can search on here by exact size, right? in case just the perfect thing is there to be found that im too lazy to search myself.

peace out.


What are u trying to achieve with an other voice?
How are u going to play the voice? What kind of modulation u intend to use?
Squeezing another voice in 28 hp is a challenge imho.
Maybe something like oxi coral if u are willing to use midi.
Wouldn't u be better of getting some more modulation, fiters, saturation, folders and/or effects?
I'd start with that to complement the M32.
Later u could add a new voice and put the M32 back in its own skiff.

-- Chrissozz

I'm more interested in "stand alone" type voice modules than building out a voice across several modules. The Oxi Coral looks interesting, especially since I am sequencing the rack w/ midi (NDLR). I have a couple LFOs in the rack, plus those the NDLR can send via the midi->CV converter in the niftycase, so I'm not desperate for modulation sources.

I'm also considering grabbing an intellijel shifty to do some note hocketing between the two voices (splitting a single melody line), and perhaps a 2hp Euclid to send gate patterns to the shifty...


What are u trying to achieve with an other voice?
How are u going to play the voice? What kind of modulation u intend to use?
Squeezing another voice in 28 hp is a challenge imho.
Maybe something like oxi coral if u are willing to use midi.
Wouldn't u be better of getting some more modulation, fiters, saturation, folders and/or effects?
I'd start with that to complement the M32.
Later u could add a new voice and put the M32 back in its own skiff.


Not sure there is a such a thing as a proper mains powered 2hp module, though if you can power via USB then there is this from Rakits https://www.rakits.co.uk/product/go/ which might let you lighten the load on the Rackbrute.
-- wishbonebrewery

That would imply that my pc would need to be running as well.
Don't like that idea but thnx for the suggestion.

I guess that your cheapest option is a behringer cp1a in 4 hp.

-- Slim

Thnx for the headsup.
I found a 2hp power + mult from endorphin. If no other options i'd probably go for thin one.
To be honest .... i just dont like the idea of another powerbrick on the desk.
I'm already starved for sockets as is. Anyone out there with a more elegant solution?

I'm pretty bummed out by this. why did arturia put a 104 row power module in a 176 hp rack?


I want to add a second voice to my skiff, any recommendations? Sequencing and FX are handled externally.


Cheers :)

Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.

https://youtube.com/@wishbonebrewery


Another nice exploration. It’s a Venusian trilogy.

'On ne devrait jamais quitter Montauban' (Fernand Naudin).
https://soundcloud.com/petrus-major/tracks


those modules look interesting to me, but i havent looked into any of them, yet, personally, myself. i like that it looks like youre driving everything from a pam. i cant speak to how well i think it would work for performance. what would the whole performance setup be? just that? yeah, and i agree i dont see a lot of audio shaping or effects. why does everyone seem to want to include an ochd? what does it even do? super noobie, here, etc. etc.

peace.
-- singular_sound

Ochd has chained lfos that related to each other and are unsynced.
This can be handy to get a bunch of slow movments going, that drift a bit out of time and phase to send it to fx modules and other stuff that is itended to envolve slowly.
I think it shines in contrast to time synced modulation. You change it all by the twist off one knob, whats pritty easy to handle.
With expander it adds a huge functionality - it extracts triggers, cv, rectived signals and more stuff from the lfos.
So you get a huge kind of cv- and function generator in just 8 hp.

Greetings

Chris


Maybe drop the bloom for a neo trinity?
You can use 6 channels for seqencing, envelopes, lfos, sample and hold and stuff.
The sequencing is differet to the bloom but if you like it, it works.
Its made for small systems

I guess you use Pams to trigger the drums on the rample, because of the channel logic feature
Pams + neo trinity could be a good combo

I personally find that ochd + expander is pretty neat for ambient stuff, but I guess you might choosed the caixa case also because you want to focus on those 1 row utilities. So this is more the cherry on top

Im pretty sure that the Nautilus can do delays that summ up in reverb-alike textures.

otherwize
maybe its an idea to drop the data bender for the monsoon.
Different firmwares of clouds offer also some feautres of the data bender + the reverb.
Then you probably lack of a filter. But there are also good 4 hp filters like wmd sclpt

Or just fx aid + small filter

Greetings

Chris


those modules look interesting to me, but i havent looked into any of them, yet, personally, myself. i like that it looks like youre driving everything from a pam. i cant speak to how well i think it would work for performance. what would the whole performance setup be? just that? yeah, and i agree i dont see a lot of audio shaping or effects. why does everyone seem to want to include an ochd? what does it even do? super noobie, here, etc. etc.

peace.



STO into Veno then Monsoon Clouds and Mimeophon and Zverb.
Crackle from noise into VC T-Networks.
Sample of Thunder in the Sebsongs Sampler on look via a band pass filter.
Radio Music-flashed prok playing other samples with Sloths deciding when it comes and goes.
Bit of reverb & Feedback control of Clouds with the Transient Modules Joystick.
Marbles is in control, modulations mainly from Ochd & Expander.

Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.

https://youtube.com/@wishbonebrewery


Thank you all for replies. I will reconsider the setup.
All modules are those I already own. I came to quite a bunch of modules, but I’m still a newbie in modular world. Still learning.
And you’re absolutely right - reverb is missing there. I include Monsoon I also have in the collection. And most probably ditch a voice for proper EG


I dunno man. I think u could do with some more sequencers man.
If u want ALL the polyphony on all the voices/tracks
I mean .... something has to keep them in check .... right?
-- Chrissozz

im thinking ill have an es9, and a keystep, so its not like there arent options, plus the zazou outputs 4 notes, and the drum sequencer coukd use some extra tracks to trigger the one note sequencers and arpeggistor, but maybe you have a point.

i just found out about the 'brainstep', but its not on modular grid yet. maybe soon i will design a smaller 2 3u x 84hp case that uses that gear.

peace.


i just like how datach'i s case works on system and how its one instrument, and also, the physicality.

-- singular_sound

How would you say it works?

-- Zacksname

its like, he has a simple beat, and then there is a more complex beat on top that sounds kind of squelchy and strangely alive in an electronic way, with what sounds like 20 knobs being turned at once and then usually a simple melody, too, but the extra percussive texture i just have no idea how its being generated or sequenced. id love to know how those those sounds are designed and made.

peace out.


I guess that your cheapest option is a behringer cp1a in 4 hp.


Also on Patchstorage for further exploration.


Not sure there is a such a thing as a proper mains powered 2hp module, though if you can power via USB then there is this from Rakits https://www.rakits.co.uk/product/go/ which might let you lighten the load on the Rackbrute.

Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.

https://youtube.com/@wishbonebrewery


Whatcha got Russ??


Multiple cases makes a lot of sense to me as well. The monster case is neat, but ironically non-modular if you want to be mobile with (a) section(s) of modules. At some point it's definitely more economic to have one giant custom-built case, but I will probably never (even want to) have one.

That said... I'm currently working out this topic myself. I think my mind is currently at building a single row consisting of a primary chain sound. Then other rows are placed generally in their respective slot vertically (obv, this isnt hp perfect). scatter mults and other fx/utilities in the holes remaining 😉. I like the idea of building instruments over organizing by utility. Thats also tough to do when you have that swiss army knife module.

I'm a fan of arturia, so I ended up with a 3U and 6U Rack Brute. they are great, but now I'm kicking myself for not listening to the 'get 104hp minimum/row' advice I was given.


Turns out that the rackbrute 6U doesn't have enough power for what i want to use the case for.
Rackbrute power is rated @ 1600 mAmps. Well its 2 times 800.

ModularGrid Rack

Turns out modules want a total of 1664 mAmps of +12V
What do u do?
Is there something like a mini 2hp powersupply with flying busboards i could install?
Sofar havent seen one

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated


I love the Intellijel 4u/7u cases so good and 1u rows are fantastic to squeeze more mileage in a compact modular setup.
With a good drum synth module, utlities, mixer and effects and decent sequencer it does a lot! I call it my modular Elektron version.


Are these modules you use and own already? It's a lot of voices for one setup, but with ambient I understand there can be specific workflows people develop.

I dont know. I would ditch the ochd. Case has 2 lfo's.
Also for ambient u'd want a reverb. not sure if nautilus can do that? (or any other module for that matter)
Where are the envelopes? (guess pams?) I see very little modulation options here.
-- Chrissozz

Why ditch the ochd, then?

-- Zacksname

To make room for a verb. Something like fx-aid.
But i'm no expert in ambient so ..... just making assumptions here.
Most ambient seems to be drowning in verb so ... to me it made sesnse.
+ im not that big of an lfo guy. I'd rather have some cv recorders/loopers like neo trinity.
But i guess thats something personal


Are these modules you use and own already? It's a lot of voices for one setup, but with ambient I understand there can be specific workflows people develop.

I dont know. I would ditch the ochd. Case has 2 lfo's.
Also for ambient u'd want a reverb. not sure if nautilus can do that? (or any other module for that matter)
Where are the envelopes? (guess pams?) I see very little modulation options here.
-- Chrissozz

Why ditch the ochd, then?


I dont know. I would ditch the ochd. Case has 2 lfo's.
Also for ambient u'd want a reverb. not sure if nautilus can do that? (or any other module for that matter)
Where are the envelopes? (guess pams?) I see very little modulation options here.
Unless databender doubles for modulation duties and filtering i would heavily rethink my options


I dunno man. I think u could do with some more sequencers man.
If u want ALL the polyphony on all the voices/tracks
I mean .... something has to keep them in check .... right?


i just like how datach'i s case works on system and how its one instrument, and also, the physicality.

-- singular_sound

How would you say it works?


i just like how datach'i s case works on system and how its one instrument, and also, the physicality.

i want to pretend to own a whole eurorack studio, so i design it on here. is that so wrong?

what if my designs have great synergy, and you just dont see it yourself.

i think you were talking about empty daw syndrome, well, this would give me a smaller than daw palette, which you hinted was an advantage, and make me get more creative per module per patch

plus id have an expander for vcv rack, too. this is my dream maximalist setup. im designing it for fun. why do you hate that i have one?

peace. out.


hey zachsname: what if 'momentum dies while menu diving on a pam pro to sequence some random bs' is a super aesthetic sound that no one has ever tried before, huh?

p e a c e . . . .
-- singular_sound

In a way, your humor is not even really being done with yourself as the audience. You just kind of seem to be using it to dive headfirst into the void by choice, leaving everyone and everything else behind. Whoever it is you resent here, I hope you won't let them get in the way of your work and your music. You're clearly interested enough to get here and do all this.


I think you'll have better luck sticking to the DAWs to find your signature sound based on the descriptions you've given me, and that further experimentation will help you build more "aesthetic" designs that both work better and are less chaotic to whoever sees them. Definitely check out VCV Rack, where you can not only build these fantasy systems, but also patch with them and make songs and show off your jams to people. Not everything on VCV Rack has a real life counterpart, but it will be more helpful than just sort of guessing what you might enjoy from research alone.


hey zachsname: what if 'momentum dies while menu diving on a pam pro to sequence some random bs' is a super aesthetic sound that no one has ever tried before, huh?

p e a c e . . . .


um, ive played around in fruity loops and reason, i can program midi, and i kept a ukulele around for years. does that count?

":".


[CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED]

peace.