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The Worng Soundstage and ALM Jumble Henge mixers seem to solve this problem with EQ and panning pre-set for each input. Every demo I have heard of each sound great for standard usage, and they can be used more creatively too.
-- farkas

would be cool to be able to use one of the above with my D.O.MIXX but dont know if thats possible?(Properly Not)

Wow, thanks for the detailed replies! Really appreciate it. Something I didn't mention is that I will be building my modular in a 19" rack. So for one 3u row I'm limited to the 84HP, but I still have enough space in the 19" rack and eventually I will expand to a second row. The 1U modules are very practical and somehow space savers. I haven't seen a 19" 1u rack yet but I'm looking into that.

There's a lot of valuable information to process here. I'll take my time to go through, check the modules you refer to properly and reply here later on. I guess the best is to build up slowly, test with the modules I already own and see what makes the most sense to add.

I'll sum up what I have already. I now realize that I maybe should have waited for your replies to make better choices, but heck, at least it got me started (I have a tendency to put things off when I start thinking too much about it :-) ). So here's the current list:

• 1 behringer 19" 84hp rack (possibility to add a second one + 1u row)
• 1 pamela's new workout (on order)
• 1 joranalogue mix 3 (on order) (veils might have been the better choice as you both suggested, but I think it will do fine for now, I can always replace it later + I checked and it's DC coupled.
• 1 ​plonk (probably not the best to have as sole sound source, because it's more percussion oriented, so I will definitely add a proper VCO, although I wonder if the plonk can output regular waveforms?)
• 1 kinks (on order)
• 1 links (on order)
• 1 befaco output V3

As for the next batch of things I think to buy, it will probably be a:

1. a VCO (Gravitational Waves sounds really good)
2. a tool like Maths or Quadra. Or maybe both?
3. a filter
4. fx
5. sequencer (steppy?)

I'm thinking of a tighter integration with my DAW (midi, CV) in a follow-up phase. For now I'll be happy just playing with the thing and record the audio into my DAW.

I still have a lot of questions but two things I'd like to know more about for now (and sorry for the newbie questions):

why? because a single sound source can be copied and processed differently, a few simple modulation sources can be mixed and >modified to become more modulation sources that are more complex

Could you explain a little bit more on how to achieve this? The part of the copied sound source I mean. To what degree can one sound source be copied and modified ?

By doing this, you can then move some of your functions up into the tiles, plus the header gives you three buffered mults (usable as one HUGE buffered mult)

What's the advantage to have many buffered multipliers, is it related to previous question where you would duplicate one sound source/cv signal to multiple outputs?

The image looks like it has a 50% phase offset in addition to mirroring the wave. If it’s just a “mirror” you want wouldn’t a standard inverter do that? Maybe I’m missing something.

EDITED Aug 20th 2021, 17:08

I would like EQ capabilities in my rack and might think about adding it when I eventually upgrade to bigger rack space. But as noted, without it I have turned to more careful sound design, filtering, arranging, enveloping, panning and effects use to avoid sonic clashes in the final mix (with varying degrees of success).

That Jumble Henge looks pretty compelling, and definitely sounds effective, but I guess I could only use it on things I want to sub-mix prior to hitting my main rack mixer.

@farkas do you set it so the pitch is kind of going between the + and - on the Disting. I can never get it to be exact on a C.
TIA

-- greenfly

Mine is usually just about spot on at the C+ pitch. Close enough for me anyway.

I often use a Korg TM-40 for tuning my Mother32 and Subharmonicon since they’re not in my 7U cases. I just prop it up in front of a monitor. It’s not ideal but it does the job and it’s cheap. I put Data in my rack and use that for tuning everything else. I know you said you weren’t really considering it, but I can’t recommend it enough especially for the scope functionality. Very educational.

I believe it’s known as contagion. Which is a bit of a creepy term. “Value” is certainly a complex philosophical concept, but at least it’s also a decidedly personal one. No doubt many would empty their bank accounts for an item that Jesus farted on. ;-)

@farkas do you set it so the pitch is kind of going between the + and - on the Disting. I can never get it to be exact on a C.
TIA

if you have a disting you already have a tuner built into that
-- JimHowell1970

Lately, I have used Disting almost exclusively for its tuner and sample & hold functions. It works very well for both.

The Worng Soundstage and ALM Jumble Henge mixers seem to solve this problem with EQ and panning pre-set for each input. Every demo I have heard of each sound great for standard usage, and they can be used more creatively too.

sound design, filtering and arrangement are the obvious ways to prevent clashing frequencies without eq

EDITED Aug 20th 2021, 09:54

Hi folks,

I'm having a problem with the Disting's (mk 3.1) sample and hold algorithm:

-Noise is coming out of output B as expected, and am feeding this back to input X
-I have a simple lfo ramp wave to input Y, and the led light in input Y flashes at the tempo of the lfo

Now I would expect random voltages changing at the speed of the lfo, but out comes a steady waveform. What am I missing? Or is the device/firmware corrput? I can get other patches to work fine (tested a few, not all yet...)

I'm kinda beginner in the eurorack world, but can handle synths just fine!

thanks, all ideas appreciated!

best,

Jussi Lampela

guitar pedals tuners - depending on the model they are easy to read and don't take up any rack space - connect with a 3.5 -> 6.5mm cable - and they are no more expensive than modules

if you have a disting you already have a tuner built into that

Hello,

I am looking for a module that can reverse the curve of a signal.
For example, as if I placed a mirror on the floor and reflected an object on it. A horizontal reversal of the wave.
an illustrated example: https://i.servimg.com/u/f90/20/36/39/92/captur12.png

Thank you for your answers :)

Is it a case of jumpers at the back to switch between VCA/Mix modes, or is it dependent on how it's patched? If it's the former, I'd maybe be able to live with it, as that's kind of versatile.

-- ryanthegecko

I would check in the manual if I were you - they often hold the answers you are seeking - sometimes manuals can be ambiguous or confusing - so come and ask specific questions if you don't understand something

for the time being i only use my modular in the studio have a bloodcells Audio D.O.Mixx going into my studiolive 16.02 then i record seperat tracks into Reaper,where i have eq plugs on every track.

but came to think about what if i want to take the modular out of the studio sometimes,how do you avoid frequency clashing in the modular world?

EQ Modules could quickly take up alot of space i would think??

Hi,

I am looking for a tuner to tune oscillators in my system. I currently have a bunch of analog and digital oscillators and i am struggling to get them all well tuned.
At the moment, i don't need functionalities other then the tuner, so i am more on the side to buy something cheaper then Data or O'Tool Plus (as i am not interested in the oscilloscope at the moment).

The below look like what i am looking for

L-1 Digital Tuner: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/l-1-digital-tuner
Antumbra Tune: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/antumbra-tune

Any feedback on those?
Anything similar in the same price range to consider?

Thanks a lot,
Ciao,
Matteo

EDITED Aug 20th 2021, 08:36

Just a note here, if the information about the Disting EX is correct, the module is too deep for the Palette. I even had to keep that in mind when putting it only at the Mantis's bottom row, not at the top.

yeah i had a more or less prepared midi-file. it would have taken weeks otherwise :) cheers

Anyway, have a look at this: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-168-1 Fits your bill exactly!
-- Lugia

Thank you for your answers.
I think the A-168-1 Doepfer seems to be a perfect fit.
The goal is to be able to modulate any source.

I'm looking for a module that can do PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) from any sound source.

Thank you for your help
-- lvbeethoven

Good thing Beethoven's around for the 21st century...maybe we can get him to chill by teaching him how to dab...?

Anyway, have a look at this: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-168-1 Fits your bill exactly!

OK...first up, 3U x 84 is just not a good starter case size. It's small, as Jim notes...small enough that you'll be making compromises that you probably won't like. So, taking your intentions and mixing 'em up with Jim's notes, I cooked this up:

First of all, I jacked this on up to an Intellijel Palette 104. Instead of the previous cab, this gives you a utility tile row AND the power supply/header half-row. By doing this, you can then move some of your functions up into the tiles, plus the header gives you three buffered mults (usable as one HUGE buffered mult) and two adders. And a MIDI port. Oh, and four 1/4" jacks. We'll get to those in a bit...

Tiles: MIDI Interface. NOW you can connect this to your DAW's MIDI. This will give you a synced clock, also. Then the Intellijel Noise Tools provides a noise source, slew limiter, sample and hold, and another clock that can also spit out random pulses. Then there's a utility VCO that doubles as an LFO with CV and sync. The QuadrATT provides mixing, but also polarization, and a breakable summing bus. Then the first 1/4" jack thing: a Pedal I/O, which lets you drop in various FX processors or, if you like, you can use the return line as an audio input. This makes use of a pair of the 1/4" jacks for its own I/O. And last, the stereo output. No, the Befaco isn't in here, because NOW you can output from the build via the Stereo Out and its 1/4" jack pair...no need to rob 4 hp for the output.

Row: Pams first, then a Ladik dual pulse delay lets you offset two channels of pulses on the fly. I kept the Steppy because now, it makes a decent sequenced trigger for the Quadrax...or you can use the Quadrax's QX expander's EOR/EOF pulses to fire it in ways that can, if wanted, turn the entire Quadrax into a complex LFO. Hell, you could even clock a channel or two of the Quadrax at audio rates to use those function gens as extra oscillators WITH CV over the rise and fall values. And in the same vicinity, there's the Disting EX to provide all sorts of ancillary functions...quantizing makes sense, but there's OTHER weird things it's very capable of with the other modules in here.

Now, for the voice section, I opted for a more "proper" complex oscillator, as that'll give you your dual VCOs for fattening up the sound. But you don't have to do that with this; instead, you can FM one oscillator via the other, you can AM them by using the ring modulator, or you can entertain a bunch more weird routings, all of which gives you some really rich timbres before even hitting the VCF. Next, a quad VCA (Veils) lets you strum through various waveforms, which more or less gives you some simple timbral sequencing, or you can use one half of it for audio from the Gravitational Waves while reserving two more for modulation amplitude functions.

The next two modules actually work in tandem. First up is Doepfer's take on the MS-20 Sallen-Key VCF pair...which, strangely, includes an insert loop in the resonance path. And for that insert loop, I added that second module, Recovery's Bad Comrade mkiii, which is a delay line with many ways to cause glitches, freezes, etc etc, which the resonance path then takes back in...so, as each sound loops through the Bad Comrade, you have ample opportunities for seriously messing with it, then it all accumulates back in the VCF...and around you go again!

Last, some effects. First up is a Stasis Leak, which I find comes in very handy for "stereoizing" audio. It's a mono in-stereo out reverb/chorus/tap delay...and yes, you can use the Steppy to define/redefine that tap delay length as a sequenceable function. Then the end of the 3U stuff has a Warps clone, which lets you do a lot of pitch change, various other modulations, stereo ring mod, and so on.

Now THAT'S a serious and small production rig. Instead of the previous version, this has a lot of open-endedness to it that keeps it from being a "one-trick" build. Timbral variety is REALLY big in here, plus the Steppy has the ability to mess with certain other functions, AND you can offset it in time from the Pams with the Dual Pulse Delay. But by going a big bigger, adding the extra tile and header rows, NOW this is working at the right capability for a really diverse system that still fits nicely under one arm.

EDITED Aug 20th 2021, 03:00

The dual envelope? The Doepfer website says the LED is for the output so it should light up once you send a gate into it.
-- catwavez
Can you send me a link that you looked at...i went to http://www.doepfer.de/home.htm and didn't find anything on the a-140-2...saw something for a-140, but they look quite different.

-- jb61264

Here is where I found it. http://www.doepfer.de/a1402.htm

Hi Ludwig van Beethoven,

It's great to have you back here under us, earthlings, I thought you left us back there in 1827 ;-)

Regarding your question... there are tons of modules that can do PWM. Just look for any VCO that has a pulse/square output and most of such modules have a PWM knob and then again most of them have a CV input for that too. There are so many of them that's close to impossible to list them all here.

Just have a look at Doepfer A-11x modules many of them have PWM. Like the A-110-1 for example. Rubicon2 from Intellijel has it in all kind of sorts and ways, even the Dixie II+ from the same Canadian club is able to do just that.

The Erica Synths - Black VCO 2 is able to do PMW too. As well as the ACL - Variable Sync VCO and there are many more of them, these are the first ones that come to my mind. Whatever module you are going to choose, my advice is to look for at least a module that has PMW knob as well as a CV input for PMW.

I am an admirer of symphonies and of course of your symphonies too! I therefore look forward to your next new symphony, I hope you don't let us wait too long before you are going to release and please us with a new symphony? Can't wait for it and perhaps you can demonstrate it on your Eurorack? :-)

Welcome back here in this new world where it is nowadays much about electronics, Eurorack fits in there pretty well and I am sure a new symphony of yours would fit in the world of electronic music. It would be an honour for me to listen at it! Thank you very much in advance for that and kind regards, Garfield.

I made my 1U. rack Pulp Logic size (vs Intellijel) because my Other racks accommodate lIntellijel.

Hi Anubiz,

Yes, great work and only done in 10 hours? That's unbelievable fast! You had the MIDI notes already somewhere ready I assume? Still, very fast, I think I would need 1000 hours but most likely longer ;-)

Did I heard this correctly and did I recognise some Isao Tomita influences here? Nicely done and I do think this is a nice piece of electronic work of the Bolero :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this with us and kind regards, Garfield.

I like the Zlob Diode Chaos. It's sort of like 1/3 of a Triple Sloths with a random trigger out at 3hp. I don't typically like odd sized modules but I had a 3hp hole about a year ago, and it was a welcome addition to my rack.

Maybe check this out:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/joranalogue-audio-design-compare-2

Hi Igor,

Great! Can't wait for your first solo album, please keep us updated about it :-) Kind regards, Garfield.

Hello,

I'm looking for a module that can do PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) from any sound source.

Thank you for your help

Hi Steve,

Oh that's a great track, it's nice relaxing to listen at. Are you going to add that to your After Beach Acid album or is this a stand alone track?

The track itself could be much longer, it stops far too early! How about your own 17+ minutes rule? ;-)

Great work and thank you very much for sharing this with us, kind regards, Garfield.

Two chaos modules from Elby Designs to look at:
IF 120 Chaotica
IF 108 ChaQuO

I am using the IF 120. Very happy with it.
Many of the NLC look interesting to me as well and have though about adding one.

Also, there is a difference between chaos and random. Nicholas is asking for chaos and some of the suggestions above are for random. See An Introduction to Chaos Generators by Chris Meyer for an explanation:
https://www.elby-designs.com/webtek/panther/if108-chaquo/chaos-generators/chaos-generators.htm

All the best

P.S. Some of the Elby Design modules are deep so not skiff friendly.

EDITED Aug 19th 2021, 21:33

It'll work as a mixer... but then you give up the ability to use it as VCAs. You could press the Maths module into mixing duty if need be.
-- Ronin1973

Thanks, that's good to know. Is it a case of jumpers at the back to switch between VCA/Mix modes, or is it dependent on how it's patched? If it's the former, I'd maybe be able to live with it, as that's kind of versatile.

Good point about the smaller clones. I'd envisaged the bottom row as a bit more spacious for ease of use and playability, but maybe there can be some compromise.

-- ryanthegecko

I don't know the ins-and-outs of that particular module. I have an Intellijel quad VCA that also performs as a mixer. But these types basically work the same way: the bias knob will act as a volume pot, each output is normal'ed and summed to the next channel's output unless a patch cable is inserted.

If you'd like to create a volume envelope for your sound, typically you'd want to start and end with 0 amplitude. If the bias knob is already set partially open, then the envelope will start at that volume level and end at that volume level... not zero (assuming you're using positive voltages).

It's probably possible to use one or two of the VCA channels as VCAs.. then use the rest of the available channels to mix volumes with... if you're creative with your patching. But a dedicated four channel mixer would be a useful addition to this set-up.

It'll work as a mixer... but then you give up the ability to use it as VCAs. You could press the Maths module into mixing duty if need be.
-- Ronin1973

Thanks, that's good to know. Is it a case of jumpers at the back to switch between VCA/Mix modes, or is it dependent on how it's patched? If it's the former, I'd maybe be able to live with it, as that's kind of versatile.

Good point about the smaller clones. I'd envisaged the bottom row as a bit more spacious for ease of use and playability, but maybe there can be some compromise.

Well... the A-135-2 is a yes AND no answer. It's more of a quad VCA. It'll work as a mixer... but then you give up the ability to use it as VCAs. You could press the Maths module into mixing duty if need be.

I'd go with clones of the Mutable stuff in less HP to make room for a dedicated submixer... else consider replacing something like the Intellijel sequencer with something smaller or a stand-alone sequencer. If you have your heart set on the configuration I would go for the smaller clones.

My $0.02.

The dual envelope? The Doepfer website says the LED is for the output so it should light up once you send a gate into it.
-- catwavez
Can you send me a link that you looked at...i went to http://www.doepfer.de/home.htm and didn't find anything on the a-140-2...saw something for a-140, but they look quite different.

The dual envelope? The Doepfer website says the LED is for the output so it should light up once you send a gate into it.

Hi all,
I'm a couple of months into my modular journey and having a lot of fun. I've been making electronic music for about 25 years, and going modular has really changed up how I'm approaching it. Much more tactile than a mouse!

This is my RackBrute plan, which I'm 8 modules into completing. Currently have Knit, Pluck, Euclid, Clep, Disting, Penrose, Quant Gemi, and the C4rbn. It's paired with a Minibrute 2s which is a godsend with it's switchable sequencer tracks, and I have an external Mackie mixer that's seeming to be doing ok padding the high gain from the direct outs of Plaits and Pluck. It also has 2 sends, which I have a Zoom studio delay, and EXH Cathedral reverb on. All this comes into Ableton Live for recording and layering, and also adding drums until the BIA fills that space.

Some really nice experiments so far include using Disting as an adder, and taking Clep's randomness, adding to a main sequence from the Minibrute, quantizing it with Penrose, sending to Pluck with the Euclid as a gate (also have combined this with gate from Penrose as notes change). Creates nice random shifting melodic top lines.

I was thinking 3 sound sources was not many for the HP, but then realised today that Tides can be an oscillator. The C4RBN has self-oscillation and v/o. Also there's the Minibrute voice (and the Disting can also be a sampler or oscillator, too!), so I guess it's 6 which is enough if I want to push it.

A question I have is: is the A-135-2 a reasonable solution for sub-mixing? The Mackie mixer has lots of ins, but I'm wondering if I can for example, sum Pluck and Plaits, and get them coming through a single out, to feed to Arhbar, or the C4rbn filter, perhaps modulating this level with CV? Or am I completely off the mark as to what that module is for?

I've also noted that it's quite nice to have a little space between modules, which I've totally not accounted for in my plan. What, if anything, could go to create some wiggle-room?

Any other feedback much welcome!

Cheers! Happy patching :)

EDITED Aug 27th 2021, 15:02

Looking for anybody that might be using the Doepfer A-140-2. I just received the module and connected in to my Rackbrute 6U and am wondering if there should be any light come one when I power things up. I've tried a couple different open locations on my Rackbrute 6U and made sure my ribbon cable was correctly aligned. I guess its possible it doesn't light up until something else is connected...not finding much information on Doepfer website (they only have a manual for the A-140 which is quite a bit different).

thanks mate. this one took about 10h

Thanks you two!

@TumeniKnobs, the rhythms here are driven by three modules. Firstly uGrids is doing its thing without much modulation going on, so it's pretty 4/4. Crow is running a custom Euclidean script with its Euclidean note count modulated by the Tirana, which is actually triggered by one of the Crow's own outputs. So I'm not sure I could say what time signature it's in because it's constantly shifting and having the Euclidean note count adjusted on the fly! Lastly, the Metropolis is set to have one extra step in its sequence while its VCA envelope is triggered from the Crow, so the pitch values are constantly rotating one step at a time while the rhythm is following the logic I laid out above.

@farkas I was having a lot of trouble getting Akemie + VCF303 to work, I ended up setting the Akemie's voice to some simple wave forms (after all a square wave plus a VCF303 is close to a TB303) and then added in the FM as triggered or hand adjusted modulation here and there. Starting simple and then tweaking made it a lot easier.

Great Work. I had a big smile on my Face when listening.

How long did you work on this?

Sounds great as always! That's cool that you were able to incorporate FM and still keep the acid vibe. I tried some similar experiments with the 2-op FM and wavetables from the E352 and wasn't getting anything I really liked. May have to give it another try.

Great sounds in this. Am I wrong that you have a 4/4 and a 5/4 overlapping time signature thing going on here? I've been trying to tap out the different rhythms and would like to know more about how this patch is working.

Good to see you back on MG Jim.

Hi,

Addac 506 is a good one.
Quad random enveloppe generator.

Beast tek double dragon is fun.
It's not a random generator but it can produces very weird waveforms.

Synthesis technology E352 gives good results too.

Cheers

or go very low cost diy - beg/borrow/steal tools and an off cut of wood - there are some cheap ok diy psus out there too (frequency central for example)
and build up modules slowly over time - either diy or used or 'budget'
if you want to keep costs down don't go for expensive trendy modules (unless you can find a used bargain) go for simple building blocks - eg ladik and doepfer modules or similar in diy

initial thoughts:

2 sound sources is 1 too many for this size rack, imo

steppy is a trigger sequencer - which is great if you want to trigger percussion etc, however not great for sequencing melodies, admittedly you could use the scales as I believe that has a small v/oct sequencer in it - but - pams will do random quantized sequences that you can loop and do most of the trigger sequencing that steppy would provide

so I would initially at least drop one of the sound sources and both steppy and scales

if you are planning on using this with other instruments how are you connecting them? keeping them in sync etc? would a midi or dc-coupled audio interface make sense?

advice:
a rough guide to building a decent modular in terms of ratio of modules:

sound sources < sound modifiers < modulation sources < utilities (including anything else like sequencers, output modules, vcas, mixers, switches, logic)

it scales from tiny cases right up to 1000s of hp

why? because a single sound source can be copied and processed differently, a few simple modulation sources can be mixed and modified to become more modulation sources that are more complex

Personally I don't think that this rack is good from the point of learning modular synthesis

a good starting point for learning modular synthesis is a sound source (anything - a cheap used analog vco will do, as will plaits), a sound modifier (a low pass filter - if you want to spend more get a multi effect like fx aid too), a modulation source (I like maths as a starter modulation source - see below), a way to listen (I always suggest a quad cascading vca like veils 1st, but you have the outs) and a way to play it (pams will do fine but is a bit of a pita to program and I can't see the screen in certain lighting conditions) - really useful additions are a utility starter set (mults, unity mixers, basic logic sample and hold, a dc-coupled vca)

why maths? google the maths illustratted supplement - it is a guide to self-patching maths in 32 different ways to get it to do differnt things other than it's most basic and obvious functions - working your way through this multiple times is a fantastic primer for modular synthesis - as all the principles/thought processes learnt will transfer to bigger systems - other modules can be sustituted, but they don't have the same level of

why veils? better bet than the mixer/vca you have - it has more channels, it is dc-coupled so you can use it for cv as well as audio (which is a fundamental technique of modular synthesis) it can be split so that you can use a couple of channels as a vc mixer and still use other channels for other things, it has enough gain to be used as an input module for external instruments if needed

what starter utilities? I usually recommend links, kinks, shades and veils - but kinks is now discontinued - if you can find one buy it! wmd/ssf toolbox is a very capable replacment as it has a lot of the same functions plus a few more - the modules themselves are not important - it is what they do so substituting other modules that cover the same ground is a great idea - just do you research - read manuals etc etc

btw I wouldn't recommend stages as a first modulation source - it's great but complicated and a lot of people find it a bit confusing to use for anything other than simple envelopes despite it's myriad of other functions - including sample and hold - simpler single mode modules are probably better to start with

NB sample and hold is not random - you need to feed it a noise source or random cv signal or any other signal to get anything out of it

You're definitely right. I haven't been able to locate all modules anyway!

I've bought the case and all the 1U modules except the stereo out (couldn't find it) already :)
I'll leave with the JF and the RE because swapping them is out of my price range for now.

This leaves me with 10HP that's supposed to be filled with a 3x VCA (6hp) and a filter or a stereo effect (4hp).

EDITED Aug 27th 2021, 11:52