Hi all,
I've had my fun with standalone analogue synths and am looking to begin my eurorack journey.
I am looking to build a setup to be used for live performance and studio recording of hypnotic techno/groove.
My current studio setup is centred around using my elektron digitakt 2 for drums, sampling, midi sequencing and arrangement.
I intend on using my digitakt paired with the Mutant Brain to handle all my clocking and sequencing, therefore my ideal modular setup is only to be used as a synth voice and rhythmic noise generator.
I have linked my current idea below, any and all feedback appreciated!
I have changed the Buchla modules and clones (Buchla format) to something more consistent.
An example:
Modules made by Buchla (or clones of their output) should be named "Model 123" etc, followed by "Sequential Voltage Source" etc. This way, we can sort them by name and actually find all modules listed of an individual model number.
There are quite a few duplicates. I have taken care of a few as of now...
Another problem is all the CBS and San Francisco Tape Center modules - what to with these? They are in fact Buchla modules, but they are all over the place; some listed as Other/Unknown and some as Buchla.
Same goes for many clones: LA67, I Must Scream, R (RomanF), etc. These front panels are sprinkled everywhere among the listed modules. A huge mess.
If you care, give me some input on your thoughts about it all.
oh yeah, absolutely that’s why I edited my previous post added the last sentence saying "having to turn off option at settings page instead of by account default"
Because there are people who actually runs a company just doing replacement panels. Removing their visibility would affect their business.
i mean it could even be a unicorn account feature.
I can see both sides of this for the sake of manufacturers, if there is to be a default it should be either Both boxes ticked or both boxes Unticked, so we have Show Other/Unkown and Blank Panels.
There is honestly more interesting stuff in having Show Other/Unkown Ticked than the Blank Panels.
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.
Similarly, I also wouldn't mind by default hiding the manufacturer info panel either ( which shows up above search results when the manufacturer is set in search criteria).
Saving whatever the user chose last could also make sense for these items.
I'm looking for beta testers for 2 modules I've been working on.
The first is a clock module ( roboDNA Pulse ) which is a master clock and allows creating and saving complex clock configurations for up to 12 devices. You can label which device connects to which clock and save to EEPROM, cloud or local store so complex setups can be easily re-patched. I have a full iOS/iPAD control suface in the Apple App store and it also has a web browser app via USB. It has an API so can be controlled via Javascript in the browser or from other microcontrollers via SPI, MIDI or USART. It does sub-divisions/polyrythms, up to 4 sub-divisions per each of the 6 clocks. All the control surfaces ( MIDI, web browser, iPad and hardware control panel ) are all synced using a packet protocol ( roboDNA Double Helix ) which can traverse bluetooth, wifi, ethernet, rs485 etc. The modules can be chained and auto-addressed via a 3 wire and the protocol. Each module has 6 clock with 2 output for each. ( 12 clock output total ) It has bluetooth for studio/home and USB for live connections.
There are several other features baked-in and have the full user guide and API Reference guide at https://roboDNA.com
I'm not a musician and am looking for real-world feedback to compliment the simulations I'm running for testing. I realize not many mucisicans require all those clocks and clock features, but hoping I can find some here. If anyone is interested in helping BETA test, please PM me.
P.S. I also have a sequencer module ( roboDNA Sequence ) which is my main project and will need BETA testers for that as well.
Searched the forums but couldn't see anyone asking this - also didn't see in the settings either. Is there any way to turn off the blank panels by default?
Monsoon + Disting might be a challenge to control using what's there.
When I've run them in serial, the details turned mushy and high end gets lost,
but I like that dual filter. It works well as a mixer with three inputs on each filter,
so maybe those three will be interesting together.
The usual next step, the boring things; active mults, attenuator/offsets, CV mixers,
maybe a quantizer if you're doing note-ey stuff.
Looking for advice on my first rack. I put a lot of thought into it but I'm still very confused until I get hands on with this stuff, so I am seeking advice/opinions.
So far I own Maths, Monsoon and Beehive. I will be sequencing externally and can get drums externally but I did add the Expert Sleepers to the build for drums in a pinch and also the many other things it can do. I'll probably be using my polyend tracker for drums and sequencing via midivolts 4 channel cv/gate and clock output. I also have a few other things I could use if needed but I love my tracker and would be the preferred device.
My end goal is to have something to make spacey ambient stuff, and sounds and melodies I can sample for hiphop and electronic music production.
I have a B2600 I will be using with the rack for a while as I build up my collection.
I am getting my amp and mixer next. What modules should I be looking to get afterwards?
I would like to expand to a 6u build at some point.
I just received mine. When I plugged it up, it was making a hideous screeching noise. But in less than a minute, just playing with the knobs (not even knowing what they did), I had it making a beautiful dreamscape. This is my new favorite module and I think I might create a 3u /104 hp system just supporting it.
Has anyone processed external audio? That's my next adventure.
This module is awesome!
I make sounds that sometimes might be considered music.
Yeah, I have Delta-V in there because I didn't have any module in mind at the moment. They definitely overlap. I like Maths better, and it'll be the one that stays, even though it takes up more HP. If I had at least the V2 of Delta-V that might have won over Maths, though, since that would have a sum out, as well.
I was thinking of adding in Ornament & Crime with the Phazerville firmware in place of Delta-V. It adds a lot of utility and modulation, imo.
I do like the A-118 for noise, but could probably get better use of the HP and get noise for cheaper. 8HP for a noise generator is quite a bit, and I can reduce that to 2HP.
Thanks for the suggestion on Clouds. I know the FX Aid does grains now, but I really do love the distortion and sample rate reduction on FX Aid in addition to grains. I have the modules already, so I'll give it a shot with removing Clouds from the chain and see how that works out for me.
If I do get rid of Clouds and with the savings of space from the A-118 to a smaller noise generator, that would give me enough room for Marbles (or at least Pachinko).
I'll probably be using my Digitakt for the majority of the drums at this point, though. Even though I've been using my KeyStep as my main sequencer and leaving the Digitakt out of it.
Thank you for the suggestions. I'm already making some changes and gives me a bit of thinking to do with a couple of other modules I could swap.
Just a short note that RackDocs 1.4 is now approved by Apple, and it comes with some requested features and changes:
- Three new annotation types have been added!
1) Fader for linear slide controls with optional LED illumination support
2) Card Slot for documenting SD card slots and sample storage
3) Joystick with full 9-position state documentation covering all eight directions plus center
Then the knob documentation has been enhanced with an "Encoder Type" checkbox to distinguish rotary encoders from regular knobs. Encoders now display with a distinct icon and are properly labeled throughout the app, which is particularly useful for modules with pushable encoders for menu navigation.
All icon designs have been refreshed for better visual clarity.
By the way, the last version 1.3 brought beautiful export and sharing features for Cheat Sheets.
As always, feedback is more than welcome. If there are annotation types or features you'd like to see, let me know.
New live video, this time diving into a heavy Trap / Hip-Hop atmosphere at 84 BPM.
Expect groove, dark textures, and gritty modulation with a full Eurorack setup.
🪘 Drums & Rhythm
The Stolperbeats drives drum patterns inspired by J Dilla, featuring:
• Bohm handling the kicks
• Rample for the rest of the percussion, enhanced with repeat effects from the Er4mer
🎹 Synths & Atmospheres
• Leads, bass and pads: Analog Four
• Polyphonic synth: Plaits
• Dark / industrial ambiences: a Make Noise combo → Mysteron + 2×MMG + Polimath + Data Bender
• Deep drone: Vhikk X
🎛 Modulation & Sequencing
• Voltage Block: master patterns for Stolperbeats & Rample
• Z8000: variations on the Rample and on the kick bass decay
⸻
💥 Hope you enjoy this performance!
Feel free to leave a like, comment, and share to support the channel 🙏
Subscribe so you won’t miss the next live sessions!
But for me, Maths and Delta are unnecessary. I'd choose one of the two.
I don't understand what you're going to use Doepfer A-118 for? Just as a noise source?
I'd also remove Clouds, even though I love it. With Mimeophon and FX Aid, you have enough effects. In that space, I might put Marbles to add some randomness for both modulation and triggers.
Best regards,
Hi all. I'm fairly new to modular and only got started about 8 months ago and I've gotten to the stage where I'm starting to really figure out what's working for me, and where I need to swap and acquire new modules to fit what I want.
I put together this rack for what I think will work for me for my more industrial-leaning IDM focus, but not know what I don't know, do you think there is something here that doesn't work so well or that can be replaced by a better module? Do I have too much overlap? Not enough of something? I'd really love the advice of those of you who have more experience than I do.
I sequence externally using an Elektron Digitakt or an Arturia KeyStep. I also send CV and Clock info from those, as well.
Would it be possible to add a separate function of "Replacement Panel" that is treated as a blank panel for the "show/hide blank panels" option but is specifically distinct from "Blank Panel"? This way things like Audio Parasites/Mork Modules/et al. replacement panels don't flood searches for regular blind panels.
-- ebulkin
I second this request. It's a bit much to have every single semi-popular module pop up again and again with alt panels.
Would it be possible to add a separate function of "Replacement Panel" that is treated as a blank panel for the "show/hide blank panels" option but is specifically distinct from "Blank Panel"? This way things like Audio Parasites/Mork Modules/et al. replacement panels don't flood searches for regular blind panels.
Hi! I was rehearsing for Club Synth this Saturday in Ruigoord, Amsterdam. It’s a techno set, a genre I don’t play very often.My camera was still set up from my previous session, and things were going well, so I thought: why not hit record? This video is the result — completely spontaneous.It’s a different style than people usually hear from me, but I enjoy exploring these danceable directions, and I’m curious what you think. This Saturday I’ll play a full hour of live modular techno together with Estroe. With her many years of experience as a techno DJ, I’m in very good hands and I’m really looking forward to it.
Sequencer section of the Moog is great and inspirational but the synth part of it is so limited that all you can create is a handful of stereotypical moog sounds. I bought one and sent it back after about a week. the Behringer version its so much cheaper and sounds the same so if I decided to revisit the idea I would just buy one of those personally.
-- Bigbadger65
Are you talking about a Behringer version of the Subharmonicon?
-- wiggler55550
Nope, the Moog Version. I never had the Behringer version and said I would get one if I ever decided to revisit the idea of a Subharmonicon". Sorry if my post was difficult to understand or unclear. I can see how it could be misinterprited.
wiggler55550PM Posted: Friday November 07, 23:18 Quote
I never heard about a 'Behringer Subharmonicon', that's why I asked.
Behringer SPICE. Its like £189 and does exactly what the Subharmonicon does. Its ugly by comparison but hey there you go.
My guess is that there's A LOT of Mutable Instruments clones out there since they made everything open-source.
So i think it's not that they are bad - it's just that there are a lot of them made and people just buy, sell, look for what's good for them.
Hi,
It seems that there are a lot of Mutable Instruments Beads for sale. Is there something really annoying about Beads that so many people are selling it ?
Hi, thanks for the feedback and all your comments noted. Very new to modular and need to get to grips with the Moog system before diving in so will be while before i get a Rack, hence the advise needed. True I have been influenced by the flashing lights and eye catching facias. Have managed to get some nice ambient patches so far with the ss3 but watching what some people are doing with generative music on YouTube along with the module tutorials makes me think I should start with LFO, random voltage and Envelope generator modules to get more movement and dynamics into what I've got so far. But as I said I have a long way to go with my current setup to really understand what will prove to be useful additions rather than just look good! More advice or suggestions would be appreciated. BTW, on the subject of Instruo, I have ordered their Pocket Scion having been impressed with the videos online, its MIDI capabilites (and my plant collection) will fit well into my current workflow and music aspirations along with my Roland Fantom. Thanks for sharing your experience of the module, don't want to make any expensive mistakes if possible.
For all the things in that setup, you could probably justify not only the Hermod+ but also its expander, which would give you 32 assignable outputs for gates/triggers or pitch or whatever. This might be more costly than anticipated, but this is a big system with a lot of voices or voicelike elements. Before going that route, you could also use the 8 MIDI tracks, completely separate from the 8 CV/Gate tracks, to sequence the Bitbox (and anything else in the rack via MIDI to CV conversion such as what can be done in o_C.). o_C and Pam's can also fill in some of the drum duties, since they have a variety of sequencing options.
This is a thirsty system, and it will absorb most of what you throw at it. Sequencing for eurorack helps not only with placing drums and melodies, but:
sequencing modulation parameters
changing the state of an effect at a crucial time
sequencing switches/crossfaders/mixers/logic/etc. to switch elements of your patch on the fly
using the more predictable sequencer tracks to clock, manage, and tame other, more boutique sequencer concepts
...and anything else in your system that takes voltage. Plus it spits out LFOs and envelopes, which you will definitely want more of. Overall, I don't think you could overdo the sequencing in there even if you cut out a voice/effect or two to add in some stuff for signal flow and routing. Just be sure to buy things carefully over an extended period and make sure you use the system frequently as it comes together to troubleshoot problems and get the best sense of what is or isn't missing. You never really know what you can and can't do until you sit down with what you have so far, and you only have two hands.
Wow, thank you so much for your very detailed help… that’s a really good idea — a sequencer like the Hermod+ and then maybe a Keystep 32 or something like that. I really want to make music completely independent of a computer, so software and such aren’t an option for me. I’ll only be using this setup at home — no live performances. I’m still relatively new to the Eurorack world; I’ve had a lot of synths before, but now I want to try something new and go fully into Eurorack.
Here’s my setup that I’m slowly putting together… of course, some things might still change, but overall this should roughly be what my setup will look like.
What I’m still unsure about is whether I’ve included enough utility modules like attenuators, VCAs, multiples, and so on — or if I’m missing something or completely forgot something.
So, when you look at it, would you personally recommend going for the Hermod+?
With the Hermod+, I do have 8 tracks — but if I really want to make full use of the drums on the sequencer, wouldn’t that already take up all the tracks just for the drums? The nice thing about the Ground Control is that it has an 8-track drum sequencer plus three additional tracks for melodies. Or am I misunderstanding how that works on the Hermod?
Personally, for all of that plus the modules to sustain it, I would recommend a sequencer with more outputs and tracks, like a Hermod or Hermod+, Nerdseq+trigger expander, Per4mer, Eloquencer, etc. Plug a cheap MIDI keyboard in there for note entry in there and suddenly you've got a lot more going on for almost the same price.
You could get by with the Ground Control, I suppose, particularly if you find a good deal on it and have looked into the workflow to confirm you'll like it. The Pam's will be really important alongside that as well. I don't think Rene 2 can handle the job alone, though it may complement another sequencer very well. A Rene 1 can be found quite cheap to achieve something like this, or you can try the Hemispheres app that roughly emulates it.
Are you planning for this case to be at home or more of a live thing? Do the sounds need to be fairly melodic and gridded, or are you looking for things to be looser and more chaotic? You also have the option of getting MIDI to CV converters and just running this from your computer or other more traditional midi sequencer.
Overall, my personal opinion is that CV/Gate sequencing is better off having a free track or two that can be used to sequence weird stuff to see what happens, as opposed to having not quite enough when you want to do something full and alive with all those sound sources, samples, and triggered drums. If you decide less sequencing and more creative stretching of other modulation for musical results works better for you, that's fair, but it's worth considering - especially when a Ground Control is pretty expensive.
For some context, what functionality do you think you were missing the most when patching up the Moog ss3?
I'll second noddle_huts suggestion adding that you should think about what you want to add to your patching and do you have the utilities to integrate the new modules with your existing rack?
Needs less ear candy and more boring parts: active multiples, offset/attenuators, mixers.
-- noodle_hut
Needs less ear candy and more boring parts: active multiples, offset/attenuators, mixers.
And oh boy, the Harmonaig. We all have modules we deeply regret and the Harmonaig is mine.
It does the trick, a quantizer with chord tables, but for me, always did it poorly.
I tried, a lot, but there's too many obscure button combos to make it 'work'.
It seems musical, but never got there.
Really dissapointing, I keep it around now, just to look at it with distain.
Instruo stuff seems too expensive for what it does and for how it's made.
Their raw board aesthetic just comes off as cheap to me.
Grrr. Instruo.
erica synths has a massive sale... you can buy as example all parts of the Erica Synths Black System III for around 2000.- (without case)... normal in stores it costs 4000 (with case)...
my sound sources are
-Make noise XPO with QPAS, morphagene, mimeophon and effect
-befaco oneiroi, ochd
-bitbox micro
- endorphin.es queen of pentacles for drums
i have a pam's new workout
would you go with the endorphines ground control for sequencing all? pro: keybed for playing and 1 melodic cv/gate more
or would you go with make noise rene mk2 ? pro: less space, total different and more experimentive (but not the best for the drums?)
which one would you take and why? or would you go with total different?
