I decided to jump into modular with the new Bastl Citadel modules. I had previously owned two of their SP2's and loved them (quite buggy though). I have Moog semi-modulars but have never built a full modular rack so I'm worried about missing something obvious.
Do I need VCA? Sequencer? Any cheap 1u utilities? (Figured I can sequence w/ the DFAM/Subharmonicon if needed). Do I have to worry about power consumption? (503 mA +12V | 238 mA -12V | 0 mA 5V) I really have no clue what I'm going to be able to do with this rack besides glitchy drums - I know it would be cool to patch the DFAM in. I'm sure it'll be a learning curve.
Yeah, the learning curve can be a bit steep in the beginning. That said, this is a really weird rack. ;)
Power consumption shouldn't be a problem, the Intellijel 4U Palette provides up to 1.2 A per rail.
What you need depends entirely on what you want. You don't need a VCA if there's no need for amplitude modulation. But you might want something like this: https://intellijel.com/shop/eurorack/1u/stereo-line-out-1u/ to connect to your 6.3 output jack and reach the outside world. Be careful - modular level is not line level! Modular level is quite a bit hotter!
If you want the MIDI input to work on your Intellijel case, you'll need one of their 1U MIDI output modules to connect to it. If you don't need that, then you're fine, but it might help for sending pitch and gate information to the Crust and its other firmwares (Pizza is a great oscillator, and the Basil is not only a great delay but an interesting Karplus-Strong voice). Unfortunately, there isn't much room for my next suggestion, which would be a hands-on source of free-running modulation (LFO, function generator, etc).
Overall, I think this can absolutely be used as it is, but I am wondering how committed you are to the Palette case. They are pretty expensive and require at least two extra modules (a 1U MIDI out and a 1U stereo out) in order to get all the functionality you need. The 1U modules you've chosen can easily be found in 3U format. In other words, a lot the extras that make this case so expensive don't seem to be a concern for you, unless I am mistaken. Will you be using this alongside MIDI sequencing and mixing things outside of the rack?
Thought about that re: midi- Figured I'd save myself the $200 and use the mother32 for midi-cv if needed. (I just barely understand midi in general but at least have found how to send notes from ableton to the m32)
The Palette seemed like a solid, reliable case compared to the cheaper options.
Wouldn't the Neo Trinity be the source of hands-on modulation? it seems like a powerhouse that I hope could trigger the Crust. I'm also not opposed to using the Moog system to supplement a certain functions for now- The DFAM is like 2 8-step sequencers and I have like 6 or 7 envelopes to use in the whole system.
The Palette is rock solid like all Intellijel cases, but it is expensive in terms of buck per hp.
When it comes to hands-on modulation, the Bastl wouldn't be my first choice, not even second or third. I'm no Bastl fan, tbh, so I'm biased. You should also take a look at the Intellijel Planar 2, the Bela Gliss, Intellijel Quadrax / QX, Rossum Mob Of Emus and Make Noise Maths 2. The Ryk Envy Machine comes to mind as well.
The Palette will be too small soon, anyway. :)
the Neo Trinity has 6 LFO/env outs with gesture recording in addition to a clock, so that seems like a huge advantage over all those, esp the maths and quadrax for their price. I was wanting to get a Gliss though, and I just saw they make one in 24hp 1u! I will have to get rid of the touch pad though, since I got the stereo out module. Seems like a good trade.
