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I have signed up for the unicorn account, but cannot find my module collection - where is it?

Thanks

OK...it's the latter half of 2021. Modular synth tech has reached a point where you can get bits and pieces even at certain big box stores. Recording tech has also reached a similar paradigm in that you can slap together a top-shelf multitrack for a couple grand; when I began, a couple grand might get you ONE circuit card out of a Studer A820. Synclaviers have become something you can get...at least in VERY comprehensive and accurate software versions...at Guitar Center for a few hundred bucks. Same goes for the Fairlight IIx. Every processor you can think of...even ones that would cost you a cool $20K+...is now out there as VSTs, often dead-on-accurate to the point that they're indistinguishable from hardware.

But just looking at Eurorack alone, we have a situation where if you want a vintage device, you can have that. Oh, sure, some VERY obscure things haven't been made available in the format, but even some of THAT is out there. Take G-Storm's Syrinx VCF, for instance. A real Synton Syrinx would cost you...hmm, I can't count that high. But if you want the "magic part" from it, that being the formant filter itself, it'll run you $320.

It was a couple of weeks ago, though, when I realized what a strange position we're in these days. It was the intro of the Tiptop/Buchla modules, and I couldn't help but think that we have come a LOOOOONG way in all of this. Consider:

If you want a Buchla 100, there's ways to get that via LA67, Tokyo Tape Music Center, maybe Buchla (haven't heard anything about their 100 series reissues as of late)
If you want a Buchla 200, same deal.
Moog 55/IIIp/c, etc? Behringer plus several other makers.
ARP 2500? You can pick either Phil Cirocco's version or Uli's.
ARP 2600? Modules out of that are in the MG database, plus Uli gave us a proper one while Korg continues to flounder around in the wake of the 2600FS fiasco. Meanwhile, the Antonius and TTSH are still out there for those who want the 1:1 experience.
E-Mu modular? Dave Rossum's got you, and he's even pushed the old E-Mu ideas further in the Rossum modules.

There's also digital-based modules that do things that we only DREAMED of back c. 1980, in the halcyon pre-MIDI era. Granular synthesis used to require things such as the ISPW (IRCAM Sound Processing Workstation) and a fast NeXTcube to run it on or, if you go back even further, DEC mini-mainframes (which are also pretty much what the original Synclavier's engine ran on). And don't EVEN get me started on how sequencer tech has metastasized and metamorphed.

And this all prompts the question: "Where does this go NEXT?" Hell, Eurorack systems have become SO commonplace that it's not unusual to see someone working with a skiff or cab...and not just one, either. I remember seeing Animal Collective on Colbert a couple of years ago, and I think I counted three separate(ish...there's really no such thing as "separate" modular synths in the end, after all) Euro skiffs amongst the pile of other toys.

So where is all of this heading? If you wonder what the answer is to that, just like I do, toss around some ideas in the comments and maybe we can cook up a few bits of the future.

ha, I was tuning my oscillators today and I was having this exact same issue with the fine tune knob. It went through my head to turn meta off after reading the manual and it sorted my issue, then afterwards I've just read this :)

Well, when you get back to using the Ears as an external preamp and you STILL want some overdriven grit, check out Plankton's NUTONE. It also gives you a pair of VCAs, but the big ticket there is...yep...TUBES. Or in this case, the Korg-created "NuTube", which uses a variation on a fluorescent display tube to give you a dual triode, but it doesn't suck amps like most other tube circuits. I've heard the NuTube in other devices and it's totally shocked my shit; I always thought this would require something heftier and requiring big current, but not this thing, even though it HAS that triode amp sound.

My eurorack rig is just a small side project in an already full studio.
-- asleepwheel

You're obviously confused. Electronic music studios aren't considered "full" until you start eyeballing the ceiling as yet another "surface" for adding gear.

Sequences are probably one of the coolest things to me in modular that offer more variety than hardware fixed platform synths.r
I love using VPME Euclidian Circles for tribal drum beats as it is very fun with the flashing lights and creative way of making beats versus a standard sequencer.

Latest in weekly recordings. Wanted to keep under 5 minutes, and be in a major key for once :)

Weird, it sounds OK here, though I agree it does start quiet, I was afraid of making the recording clip so i set things so I knew they would only pip the red-line with all parts playing.
It was a one-take live stream so not recorded on anything but direct to Youtube.

Thank you Wishbonebrewery :-)

Hi Wishbonebrewery,

I am not sure if this is just me, the first 6 or 7 minutes I almost don't hear anything, as from 7 minutes one can hear a bit and as from 8 minutes it get's better. Still I have to put the gain pretty high to hear something. Might you have some gain issue here or is it indeed at my side (but what could that be because anything else I can hear at a normal volume?).

The end sounds quite interesting but if you could re-issue this with a higher gain that would be great. Thank you very much and kind regards, Garfield.

Much craziness, Liking it :)

84hp - doepfer lc9 cannot be beaten economically (cost/ total hp) - but may be a bit under powered if a lot of high power modules - analog modules are fine - some digital ones are horrific...

104hp - mantis... exceptional case - a bit low on -ve rail for my purposes (video) but great none the less!! I have one of these and use it for video or as a portable audio case - fantastic and rock solid - quiet as you could want up to video rates (no dirt in video) so also perfect for audio

or build your own - if you have basic wood working skills - ie you can use a saw and a drill (I could even 35 years + after doing any)
and a screwdriver - then you will save yourself a lot of cash...

as with mixer channels, audio interface channels and vcas - always, always go bigger than you think you'll need... because you will, sooner or later...

exception (there are always exceptions) is if you have a massive case already and want a case specifically to concentrate on a new module or as a satellite - ie control, sequencing, effects... as for portable pull out cases - that's what my mantis is for... portable by anyone except small children, the infirm or exceptionally elderly - mine's been on many - otherwise beauty cases are for people who need to fit their modular synth in their handbags...

Digital Birds in an Analogue world.... freshly streamed.

Quite a messy patch, full notes would be a bit messy too!
Patchingpanda Punch bird song made with a resonating Omsonic FLF with Punch is plucking at it and triggers from the Befacosynth Burst and looping in Makenoisemusic Mimeophon :)

Damn, I need this and was contemplating a filter to separate voices by pitch... this makes a truly outstanding module nearly perfect!

kinks is good but discontinued - wmd/ssf toolbox is good substitute - but 6hp - I'd prioritise this over new sound source - more utilities better than more sound sources imo!
I was able to find kinks at detroit modular :)

no idea about rack wart... don't use them - waste of space if you ask me!!!
Can't disagree with you on that...the Rackbrute 6U was a 'post' Minibrute 2 purchase...like the idea that I could connect and possibly carry it all together...so I have to accept the wasted space for now (unless I find a really cool modification I can d0...that I would feel comfortable doing...to power it differently).

maybe in next case with next sound source!!!
Funny you should say that as I was just looking at cases...someone had a Frap 84HP case that I was looking at but you still end up having to install a power supply as a module with that...what would you recommend to complement my 6U now? Would like to keep the same size (84HP roughly) as the 6U width-wise as it fits nicely in the space where I have my 6U/Hydrasynth/Beatstep Pro

-- JimHowell1970

i will test it out on monday

also think i will get the Doepfer A-115 think that will be very usefull in my setup

Thank you it’s a pleasure to work/play with.

Great rack
-- GarfieldModular

No debate there! I've been looking at this for a hot minute, and the only thing I would change here would be to move the Ears to the left end of the top row. That would make it less messy as zuggamasta's audio input line could come in from the left edge of the cab, instead of over the middle-top. But the rest...this is clearly an experimentation rig, and it's a damn good one!

-- Lugia

The ears is still in the middle from some earlier single row experiments. I’m currently using it as an overdrive anyway so it’s not to busy with external gear ✌️

Final decisions and purchases made to complete my Rackbrute 6U build (although is anything ever complete in modular?)

never...

For the last 10HP that I had available, I decided to go with Instruo Ts-L and Mutable Instruments Kinks

kinks is good but discontinued - wmd/ssf toolbox is good substitute - but 6hp - I'd prioritise this over new sound source - more utilities better than more sound sources imo!

I do see one modification coming and that is to replace the Ladik Gateable Slew Limiter with a Disting MK4 (which has the slew limiting functionality and of course much more)

I do have a question, I am considering moving the Rackbrute power supply to the lower right...but this is also where I currently have my Bastl Ciao quad line output....bad idea to have the power right next to the output like that? maybe I move power back to upper left corner and Ciao next to the Cosmix and Preamp and Warps comes down to lower right...

-- jb61264

no idea about rack wart... don't use them - waste of space if you ask me!!!

wouldn't bother with mk4 you have ex...

maybe in next case with next sound source!!!

EDITED Sep 25th 2021, 10:11

A row-lock, or better, a module-lock; but I suppose it's difficult to implement.

We would be interested in features that support the eurorack DIY community, such as: 1) a rating for the build difficulty for DIY modules, and 2) a link to a Mouser cart for DIY projects (could be community maintained, or maintained by the person who adds the module).

Final decisions and purchases made to complete my Rackbrute 6U build (although is anything ever complete in modular?)
For the last 10HP that I had available, I decided to go with Instruo Ts-L and Mutable Instruments Kinks
I do see one modification coming and that is to replace the Ladik Gateable Slew Limiter with a Disting MK4 (which has the slew limiting functionality and of course much more)

I do have a question, I am considering moving the Rackbrute power supply to the lower right...but this is also where I currently have my Bastl Ciao quad line output....bad idea to have the power right next to the output like that? maybe I move power back to upper left corner and Ciao next to the Cosmix and Preamp and Warps comes down to lower right...

Great rack
-- GarfieldModular

No debate there! I've been looking at this for a hot minute, and the only thing I would change here would be to move the Ears to the left end of the top row. That would make it less messy as zuggamasta's audio input line could come in from the left edge of the cab, instead of over the middle-top. But the rest...this is clearly an experimentation rig, and it's a damn good one!

:-)

hahahaha
just you wait

Thanks! It would be nice to not spend valuable hp on power. Unfortunately, I don't have room for 6U in my rack. My eurorack rig is just a small side project in an already full studio.

Great rack

Hi Asleepwheel,

Doepfer has a rackmount case (A-100 G6) that doesn't require any power HP consuming module ;-) Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi All,

Or instead of the Doepfer A-160-2 clock divider, one could consider to take an audio divider (hence frequency divider) the Doepfer A-115 for example and it's cheaper than the A-160-2 :-)

https://schneidersladen.de/en/doepfer-a-115-audio-divider?number=120090

You can hear an example of that in my still to release review report of the Doepfer A-106-5 SEM filter, "The crazy bit" part 2 of the demo I made for the A-106-5 SEM filter on Soundcloud:

The small part from about 0:43 till about 1:30, I am using there the A-115 audio divider. Before and after that section I am using the Doepfer A-116 Waveform processor instead. Kind regards, Garfield.

Agreed, square wave into the Doepfer clock divider, and lower frequencies out from that. I've confirmed this works with my setup.

Additionally what I'd generally want to use:
-- original signal running into a buffered mult, so I can take the source signal, feed it to the Doepfer, but also have 1+ copies to send for mixing etc
-- a mixer to take 1 or more outs from the Deopfer and mix in various ways (with or without the original)

Beauty shot of the current setup:

can someone explain to me have a patch this up to work???from my Synth tech E352 through the Doepfer clock divider?
-- Broken-Form

A square wave from your oscillator will work well. Though some oscillators only allow one waveform to output at a time, so if you're using a triangle wave or something else... you might have issues. As far as mixing it in, there are two ways:
A) You mix both oscillators together at the output and then continue down your patching chain.
B) Your sub gets its own independent envelope generator, VCA and then is mixed in to the original signal at the very end of the signal chain.

My opinion is that it would be easier to patch in a second, independent oscillator tuned an octave or two down and just patch the same pitch CV and gate CV to it.

Sorry, I messed it up I wanted to set it to 18. Thanks for the notification

Sure it's 14HP ?

can someone explain to me have a patch this up to work???from my Synth tech E352 through the Doepfer clock divider?

Emilie rocks!!!

Got it yeah! I contacted Emilie at Mutable and she said turn Meta off. That took some finding but for anyone else with same problem here it is, go to FMCV in the menu settings and click encoder. You can then scroll through various options. META is one of them and although it wasn't set on, the one you need to set it to is FREQ which activates the fine tune knob. Then click encoder again and scroll to SAVE and click and hold that for a second. It should then activate the fine tune whenever you switch on.
Thanks again to all who suggested things. Happy now!

maybe try searching modwiggler ...

Couldn't find anything on the Mutable forum on this. I checked the firmware version on my module which is V4.1 which I think is the Bees in the Trees mod. I found an article about this hacked version and this extract refers to fine tuning.

" there are no new capabilities provided except that fine tune no long shares a CV channel with FM, and thus the FTUN setting in Bees-in-the-Trees is not really needed with the new version of Braids (so just ignore it!)."

I don't really understand that statement. It's saying the FTUN setting no longer needed but I guess the fine knob should still work but presumably you don't need to adjust it's settings. These seem to be the range in which the knob works and not whether it is enabled or not. I know I did get it working a while back but have rarely used it since but now I have more VCO's in my rack I want to be able to fine tune it to match them.

exactly!!!

there's a 2hp lfo!

Good point, thanks for the tip!

Lessee...10 hp left, and you're thinking LFOs. So, how about THIS: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/beast-tek-double-dragon

Basically, it's a complex oscillator but only works in the LFO range. LFO1 can be used to crossmodulate LFO2, plenty of adjustment parameters, and some wild results.

One other point...quite important, actually...get the level converter away from the power supply. Power supplies can induce crud on audio modules that are located in close proximity; it's MUCH better to co-locate them with modules that have no audio capabilities.

You'll have to build a massive rack for it to need more than a regular household 10-15A AC circuit to plug in to! :)
-- justarandomgeek

Or just have a metric fuckton of gear! The current setup I have DID require more amperage, so I had to get an electrician in to add a pair of 20A circuits. Not only that, I also picked up a cheap clamp ammeter/multimeter (Harbor Freight FTW) so that I can clamp it onto the power feed on each rack to work out a total and, once that's done, to figure out how to load the total 50A in here so that it's nice and balanced (power-wise, not balanced power which is a whole 'nother can of worms!) and free of ground loops. If you run several racks of gear, having one of those clamp ammeters is a MUST.

If you don't have a sense of humor, though...then why in God's name are you using a modular synthesizer?

Over here, I'm using a MOTU 828mkii as the interface for CV/G/T work. Ableton CV Tools is the source in those cases. If you have the room to put in a 1U rack device or two, that would be my recommendation. Just MAKE SURE that the interface is DC-coupled (all of the Expert Sleepers modules are) so that it can send/return subsonic data. This method is also cheaper than an E.S. module in that audio pros consider early digital interfaces to be "obsolete", so they're dumping these for dimes on the dollar.

ooooooookay...so, how does the clocking work?

Lovely indeed. I second the idea of an extended version!

I really like the track! Nice and dreamy and drifty. Thanks for sharing it.

any suggestions:

get another row??
take a look at thonk.co.uk - they have trimmer knob covers that make them a little bit bigger and easier to use
a matrix mixer would be useful as would 3*MIA and kinks or a wmd/ssf toolbox
fx aid xl... so you get the modulation inputs and knobs that are accessible

Hard yes, indeed! I‘m curious about the other thing(s) it does except audio outs and CV ins.