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Careful, though...the A-135-2 only offers linear VCAs, plus it's DC-coupled. Given those two facts, it's something that should be "deeper" in the modular...with the best location being somewhere in the modulation environment to control modulation amplitude.

What's needed for audio paths...especially end-of-chain situations...is exponential VCAs that are NOT DC-coupled. For one thing, our hearing doesn't follow a linear curve; the decibel scale is exponential, and that's how we perceive "apparent loudness". Also, DC to your amp...I love that thumbnail pic...well: Sort of explains it all, really.

Get rid of the two passive mults in the top row (+4HP). Passive mults as modules are a waste of space in a small build.
With your 16HP buy a Disting EX and an Ornament & Crime Micro.

It's two modules. But it's Christmas and your worth it. :)

EDITED Dec 8th 2021, 18:12

Just to confirm a few ideas that have already been mentioned.

If you want something that has a lot of possibilities, you should definitely get Ornament and Crime. It does so many things from sequencing, LFOs, and much more. You can change the firmware to make it (using Teensy) into a drum/rhythm module even.

Secondly, as @Ronin1973 mentions, a VCA could be useful in many situations. I have a Intellijel Quad VCA and indeed it gets used a lot. However, I noticed that Doepfer have what looks to be an even more (useful) VCA with the A-135-2. Although I don't have this (yet) it looks as though it has a more interesting set up. It has attenuators, like the Quad VCA, but more interesting two extra mix outputs, 'Selected' (takes the signals from Inputs, provided they've not been diverted via an Output) and 'All' (all signals going to the Inputs). This can/could be particularly useful, and the Quad VCA doesn't have this possibility.

It's also a lot cheaper too.

get rid of the a-138 and put a cosmotronic cosmix there

Dear all,

I've got 12 HP left. And I'm treating myself for Christmas another module. However I don't know what. I'm not really missing any function. My rack goes together with a Minibrute 2s for sequencing.
The 12 HP doesn't need to be filled completely. Budget i haven't determined.

On a longer term I want to get a better mixing for the four sound sources. Not sure if this is in the box or outside of it. I miss some basic EQ and easy volume control.

cheers,

Hi, made some in 4hp and they are on their way and soon in my shop.. :)
www.etsy.com/shop/bearmodules

EDITED Dec 7th 2021, 19:28

A minimal piece with Instruo Ts-L, Mannequins Mangrove and Disting Ex. Basic patch info in the video description.

The gated clock IS the output of the And gate. One and the same. So again this will cause a reset on each transition of the (gated) clock, and no division will occur.
-- jamos

I think Random is right and you're conflating the patch example with the normalled functionality. The webpage isn't laid out very well.

Buy some inexpensive aluminum blank panels. Drill some holes in them. Rough up whichever side you want to be face-down with course sandpaper, then superglue some wire mesh (like screendoor material) to the bottom. Leave enough space so you don't interfere with mounting the panels to rails.

Now you have the airflow you want and a barrier to stop any loose items (like screws) from falling into the drilled holes.

Also, these two premade panels aren't that expensive:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/steady-state-fate-ssf-8hp-vented-blank
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/endorphin-es-42-blind-panel-cable-holder

EDITED Dec 7th 2021, 19:17

@JNH-83 thanks for that Shapeways suggestion! They look like good candidates, IMO they are also a bit $ for plastic, so I may continue to look for some other alternatives. But I'm happy to have at least 1 good pre-fabricated option here!

@wishbonebrewery, yeah, how is it vented blanks are not more widely available and used?

I suppose we may as well compile a few of the better DIY options in this thread, such as preferred materials, potential preferred BOM vendors, dimensions, etc. A few weeks ago I'd found a good vendor and dimensions BUT I seem to have not noted that (sigh)... I'll post more on DIY options when possible.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but any steel or aluminum with (appropriate sized) vents would be a candidate material right?

I read the original post and I'm going to come at this from the angle that your current workflow isn't going to change but you just want more options. So I'd recommend adding three modules:

Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis
My thought is to add a Mimetic Digitalis from Noise Engineering. It's a four channel 16 step sequencer. You may or may not use it for pitch. But where it should shine for you might be four channels of stepped CV modulation of four different parameters in your set-up.

Intellijel Quad VCA
I'd also add a true VCA module (the Mix 3 doesn't have individual outputs). So something like an Intellijel Quad VCA would work. That way you can either attenuate the amount of CV coming from Mimetic OR use the Mimetic to modulate the amount of CV coming from another modulation source (like an envelope or LFO).

Blue Lantern CMOS Party (discontinued but still available on Amazon)
Finally a logic module. Any generic logic module should work that has at least OR and AND outputs. Being able to take two patterns of gates/triggers and derive a third pattern is always useful. There are other logic outputs that also might be interesting when comparing.

I think between these three modules you'd be able to add some dynamics to Plaits or Marbles timbres that would make for some good sample fodder.

This is something I keep thinking about too, something in maybe 3 and 4hp, so you can get a bit of air flow with a couple at the bottom and a couple at the top. Electronics do last better when kept cool don't they?
I'm sure I could make my own but I'm not sure it would end up looking very tidy marked out and drilled by hand!

Should probably add some sort of EG…Zadar or Doepfer A-140-2…more modulation is always good, maybe Quadrax…ornament and crime adds a lot of functionality as well but some don’t like menu diving

Hi folks,

This is the current state of my Rack. I started building it a few months ago and have already had some good fun playing with it in its current state. I guess it's rather basic. I mainly use the Marbles or the Pam's to generate random tunes that I send to the Plaits. I like to jam on it trying to get some sounds and loops I enjoy. Eventually I record those for later use when I produce music.

Now, I would like to expand it somehow but not sure yet what to get next.
Do you have some tips and ideas on how you would improve/use this rack?

Made a new video for the final track «Iris» from my debut solo album «Still Life».
Romantic polyphonic composition for modular synthesizer based on subtle melody and dreamy strings.
Better to listen with headphones. More explanations on YouTube.

Just got the TUL by rides in the storm, this has offsets built into the 2 channels itself that can be enabled by a switch. And another switch to change between nuation/nuversion ;) This made much more sense to me and want to get more to replace blinds/shades. With blinds it can be hard to get a true zero value, and on the shades it takes 2 channels to add offset, the problem also mentioned above. Cheap and perfect companion for stuff like grand terminal/vortex or rampage etc. that don't have the maths CH2/3 section.

Hi Nicholas,
I found these... They’re 4hp and 3D printed so they’re presumably pretty customizable.
I hope these are what you’re looking for!

https://www.shapeways.com/product/67YKP7968/eurorack-blank-panel-4hp-vented?optionId=70725951&li=more-from-shop

If the link does not work (not sure of Modular Grid’s rules), just search “3D printed euro rack panels.” The store is called “Shape Ways.”

I have no affiliation with the site posted nor the product mentioned and therefore cannot vouch for them.

Kind regards,
John

If you have any spare protoboard you could drill holes and mount it to your rails?

You should check out wigglehunt.com great cross site modular search, not always 100%, but I was able to find some modules from smaller vendors that aren’t in my usually check list.

you would connect something to the reset to break it like another divisor or lfo

The gated clock IS the output of the And gate. One and the same. So again this will cause a reset on each transition of the (gated) clock, and no division will occur.
-- jamos

"Gated clock" is just the signal in that particular patch example, where they are using the AND to combine a clock signal and a gate signal before patching it to the CLOCK input, instead of letting it go to the RESET via the normal (which is broken by patching RESET to 8)

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.
-- sacguy71

I was considering a second Pams for my drum skiff rework, but I think I am going to go with the Clock O Pawn/Time Wizard route. I want the drum rig to be as immediate/hands on as possible and that combo looks like tons of fun.

-- xnax
Oh yeah you will love Shakmat Clock O Pawn and Time Wizard! I get some cool tribal drum grooves with mine.

I will second the 4MS Ensemble Oscillator and also recommend the 4MS Spherical Wavetable Navigator. Same company, two very different synths geared I think towards generative/ambient music. I wound up selling my Ensemble to justify buying the SWN, but now I wish I had them both, they are beautiful and do very different things. Someday I’m sure I’ll wind up with another Ensemble.

I go to Reverb first to see if there might be a reasonable deal on a used module, but do the math - the asking price can sometimes be close enough to retail that when adding tax and shipping (sometimes outrageous shipping), it is just as much if not more than retail from say Patchwerks, which includes free shipping and zero sales tax. I wish I could buy more from Midwest Modular, but since they’re local (Minnesota) they have to charge me sales tax. Patchwerks is great. Perfect Circuit is great. Detroit Modular is my favorite because they have a loyalty points system, and that is totally great. Mostly, I tend to surf them all to see 1) who has it and 2) is there a lower price between them. If the price is the same everywhere, I’ll buy from Detroit Modular to rack up a few more points. Ah, consumerism.

Hi folks,

Do any of you know of good "blank" panels that vent (such as via metal screen or mesh)? I'm hoping to find something available and at a reasonable price.

Use case: parts of my rack get pretty hot, despite my having left intake / outlet spots for outside air to enter and exit the rig. I'd like to add some "venting blank" panels to more of the rig so it can move more air, while still protecting the rig from unwanted wires, screws, or other objects potentially getting inside and causing a damaging short. I'd love to lower the internal temp to help my modules have long lives!

I probably need 5-10 4-8HP "venting blanks," not a lot! So I'm hoping to find a ready to use alternative vs. having to mess around with DIY for such a modest HP usage.

I have to say, I'm surprised there isn't already something like this widely available in the marketplace.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Nicholas

Here in the US, Patchwerks has become my favorite, with a tie between Control, Control Voltage, and Detroit Modular after that. Also one source I haven't seen mentioned yet is Juno in the UK. They don't have the widest selection but their prices tend to be pretty good on the whole. Unless there is some reason not to support them that I am unaware of, they can be a good option depending on the manufacturer you are looking for.

One other clock-gen module that I think is very worthwhile is https://www.modulargrid.net/e/evaton-technologies-clx This thing is actually a dual clock...except that, with its internal logic gating, you can squeeze out a host of other clock-based signals depending on which gate's in use and what rates the clocks are at. Very interesting idea with a deceptively-capable module; looks simple, does way more than "simple" implies!

Heh...well, I got to watch Kraftwerk's rise to importance with "Autobahn" and the follow-ups. If you go back to that time-zone and check the reviews of something like "The Man-Machine", you'd think Kraftwerk were the biggest culture-wreckers in all of music history. Amazing how that's not even close to the case now.

Of course, many of those same critics shat all over Led Zeppelin when their first album dropped, so this is a pretty good example of why to not listen to music critics.

Look into Schlappi Engineering Boundary to replace/complient Maths.

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.
-- sacguy71

I was considering a second Pams for my drum skiff rework, but I think I am going to go with the Clock O Pawn/Time Wizard route. I want the drum rig to be as immediate/hands on as possible and that combo looks like tons of fun.

Yeah I agree Lugia and the thing is music has such a wide range of types and tastes. I mean take pop music today most of it sickens me and I don't listen to it. I like weird stuff like Kraftwerk, Art of Noise to modern metal music and jazz. I did get a new 7u Intellijel case to pair up with my 4u palette case and Doepfer 6u case so think it will be good for mobile stuff. I do want to get some more modulation sources as that is the thing I run out of the most in advanced patching. Dnipro Krait looks interesting for a modulation LFO type source and Divkid 0chd as well. I am having good results with the new Erica Synths Black Sequencer and Endorphin.es Ground control for my sequencers. Now I can save pattern presets for recall, multiple live playback modes across a dozen tracks and mix it up.

I have two Pamela's New Workout modules and my new favorite is Shakmat Clock O Pawn with Shakmat Time Wizard. No menu diving, easy to use and works great. It does not have as many features as Pam but far simpler to understand and use. I bought it as an extra clock and clock divider/multiply module to improve my understanding of clock modulation with Eurorack.

Don't overlook inexpensive VCOs that can work at LFO rates.
-- Ronin1973

I just got the Doepfer A-143-9...messing around with it using Warps and WMD ultrafold...whoa

Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

-- mntbighker

that's what new cases are for - my 2nd case was because I wanted Maths and didn't have room for it!

-- JimHowell1970

I have three 4MS pods and an Intellijel Palette case in addition to my main rack. No more cases are in my future. I'm to the point now for something to enter, something must leave. It's actually a good discipline at this stage in my journey.
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/users/view/182046

Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

-- mntbighker

that's what new cases are for - my 2nd case was because I wanted Maths and didn't have room for it!

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 18:07

The gated clock IS the output of the And gate. One and the same. So again this will cause a reset on each transition of the (gated) clock, and no division will occur.

the only module that can do both attenuation and offset per channel, that I know of, is the happy nerding 3*MIA - but you'd need 3 if you want a channel per ochd output
-- JimHowell1970

just checked wigglehunt and there appear to be some in at analogue haven and there's on listed in the market place here in the eu as of yesterday

-- JimHowell1970

Thanks, I just ordered from Analoguehaven, and I may even order a second MIA. I never need to offset all the OCHD channels, and I tend to keep two set up with Veils. But I do have two OCHD's in different parts of the rack. One is in my percussion section, and one is with my modulation section with the Maestro. I think they will be a powerful combo. Lately I'm starting to think I need a second Maths too, but I have nowhere to put the darn thing.

... why on earth is reset normalled to the gated clock? This will force the dividers to reset on each clock, rendering the device useless. Shouldn't it be normalled to the gate input?
-- jamos

I looked at the webpage. I think you might be mistaken. According to the webpage, the reset is normalled to an AND gate. The AND gate has two independent inputs, an output, and THAT output is normalled to the reset-input.

Let me know if I've misread something from the manufacturer's page.

... why on earth is reset normalled to the gated clock? This will force the dividers to reset on each clock, rendering the device useless. Shouldn't it be normalled to the gate input?

Don't overlook inexpensive VCOs that can work at LFO rates.

In the USA,
Detroit Modular has been my go-to place for most things.
Perfect Circuit is second. Their shipping can be a little slow.
After that, I just hunt around. For most modules, there aren't any big runs on product. So finding a lesser known brand of module usually leads me to whatever online store has a unit rather than me giving deferential priority to a specific vendor.

My standard search has become Reverb/Ebay, then Perfect Circuit, Patchwerks, then "well who's got it in stock?"!

Edit: oh, and buying from makers directly where possible is early in that list too!

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 14:56

its amazing - I had to spend 1000's of pounds on Eurorack to appreciate the software version as every time I sat down to work out how eurorack worked I used to give up and get really frustrated in the process. Now I use Softube modular and vcv as an ideas playground to try out patches which I can then replicate with hardware -- love it

I’m pretty much all reverb and ebay and paying anywhere between 50% - 70% of rrp. The only module I bought close to rrp recently was metropolix. Just got to walk away if the bidding gets too high than what you are prepared to pay.

One other point regarding both Reverb and eBay these days: I'm seeing prices drifting upward, so both places might be a good source for outboard effects for a while longer...but certainly not forever!

Ah Lugia, you have given me a valid reason to buy a new computer next year.
-- sacguy71

You too, huh? Yeah, I'm thinking that if I'm going to get VCV to REALLY work, I'll have to figure out how to pipe the send/return VST signals from the Ableton machine to a dedicated machine for VCV. Could be problematic for that, but any other use would work.

Or, hell, I could just pipe the send/returns out as analog signals (the FIVE is set up for that sort of craziness to a certain extent) and then add an appropriate interface, then run ALL outs via that. It's not too dissimilar to how I'm going to deal with running Grainstorm on my Tab A.

EDITED Dec 6th 2021, 04:09

@Lugia - I thought I read somewhere where the Keystep Pro gates can be configured for 5V? I thought I recalled you have one?
-- jb61264

They're pretty flexible, yep. And I do use 5V trig/gates from time to time. But what I usually do is to set these to 8V so that they can trigger those AND most other modules. The only time this doesn't work nicely if when I DO need +5V for working with the AE...which is based around a +5V architecture for everything.

I am at a point of frustration as I've tried to work through this BSP/Disting EX deal with the Multisample algorithm...I currently am routing Pitch from BSP Seq1 to Frap Tools 321 channel 1 and Gate from BSP Seq1 to Frap Tools 321 channel 2.
I completely reinstalled the latest EX firmware 1.10.1 so I could be relatively sure any settings I may have screwed up were reset.

Offset switches are off on the 321 and the Phase switch is to the left for all three 321 channels. I just have a gate on the 1,5,9,13 steps and am getting decent piano sound but it still gets wonky if I enable say step 11...it will make 13 pitch go way up.

Ugh, about to consider the EX a waste of space for sample playback...I get the RTFM and I have been, but at a certain point it just shouldn't be this difficult

Ah Lugia, you have given me a valid reason to buy a new computer next year. I’m good on modular gear but my old computer needs a replacement.

@Lugia - I thought I read somewhere where the Keystep Pro gates can be configured for 5V? I thought I recalled you have one?
-- jb61264

They're pretty flexible, yep. And I do use 5V trig/gates from time to time. But what I usually do is to set these to 8V so that they can trigger those AND most other modules. The only time this doesn't work nicely if when I DO need +5V for working with the AE...which is based around a +5V architecture for everything.

BIA is my favorite single drum module so far in modular that I own since it can do so many things especially when fed tons of well crafted modulation. Plonk and Plaits also are superb because they can do drum and non drum sounds like bass, chords, and string instruments. You could almost craft a case out of sounds from a few Plonk, BIA, and Plaits modules and tons of modulation.