Thank you very much for your advice, it's really useful.
I'm becoming increasingly convinced, that a system this size will not be able to do all the things I originally imagined it would. I think I have to re-evaluate my plans. I'm glad I haven't invested much in parts yet.
just to add that in my experience it doesn't matter whether you buy used modules, new modules, cheap modules, expensive modules, DIY them yourself - you spend the same amount of money on modules - you just get more modules for your money (and possibly some tools - soldering iron etc and wood work equipment mainly - so you can build more cases)
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
distings can be used for lots of things - including almost everything I mentioned (not sure there is a granular algo) - I really recommend that you read the manual of every module you are considering buying before you buy it - otherwise you will be buying modules that do not do what you want them to - possibly confusing different types of module etc
but each disting can only do 1 thing at a time - unless you get the ex which mostly works as 2 mk4s - although some algos use all of it at once
for a complete basic synth voice you need:
a sound source (a vco), a sound modifier (a low pass filter), a modulation source (an lfo/envelope generator/function generator), a way to listen (I'd use a quad cascading vca such as veils to start with) and a way to play it (sequencer/midi->cv/cv keyboard)
I also strongly recommend links/kinks/shades as a great starter utility set
for a modulation source - I always recommend Make Noise Maths as it is a brilliant learning tool, mainly because of the 'maths illustrated supplement' it is a guide to self patching (patch programming) maths with 32 illustrated examples - a great way to learn modular thinking and patching - working your way through the supplement a few times is a great learning experience - in fact I'd usually recommend this as a first module to go with semis - it will replace both the doepfer dual slew limiter and function generator and add a second function generator and some other useful functions - and only take up another 4 hp
I'd much rather have Doepfer modules (I have quite a few actually) than behringer (I have none) - they are inexpensive, but have a much longer track record of manufacturing eurorack modules - Dieter invented the format - Uli seems to be an ass - not just because of cloning everything and anything (and sometimes in a dumb way - exact clones of early synth modules are not always totally compatible with other eurorack modules etc)
nb personally I wouldn't want a doepfer midi->cv module (I've heard some people have difficulty getting them to work - not sure which ones though) - I'd want more channels though
there are many other inexpensive brands - and some more expensive brands make modules that are more than worth the extra $/€/£ - due to combining functions cleverly
at the end of the day it comes down to do you want to support the big company with poor ethics, or a smaller company with (at least slightly) better ones - do you want to give your money to the original designer (if possible) or do you not care
personally I prefer smaller sometimes more innovative companies (Doepfer is 4 people in Germany, Mutable is 1 in France etc etc) behringer is 1000s mostly in China
behringer quality appears to be poor (nb this is based on watching a few videos and reading forums, I've never seen a behringer module in real life - although I have seen other products from them that were poor quality in the past) - they use stickers on their knobs that have a tendency to fall off, print on panels that is easy to remove etc etc
as always when something appears on the market and appears to be significantly cheaper than a lot of the competition - the 1st question should be how?
economies of scale - behringer can achieve economy of scale like no other synth manufacturer - partly due to their size, but also due to the fact that they own factories that manufacture a lot of 'reissue' chips - which they and other manufacturers use
quality of components - most module manufacturers use thonkiconn jack sockets - these have nuts for the front panel - and also use pots with nuts to hold them to the front panel (and put knobs on them that don't fall apart, see above) these hold the module together well - behringer uses neither from what I can see - they'd be much better if they had spent an extra 2$/€/£ on panel components and charged an extra 10$/€/£
cheap manufacture - behringer is effectively a fmcg company - all their manufacture is in china - most modular companies either build themselves in their garage or shed or attic - or get stuff fabricated locally - Mutable uses a fab in france for example
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
Thank you for all your honest opinions. Im just looking on a good deal on a Doepfer system with some basic modules, so I want to plan a system on this forum to get ideas and vision for the long way. I will also have to learn more about utilities and vcas. I will have to build up this system slowly, and maybe ideas will changes over time. Im just glad to plan a system on here, reading modules, and interacting with this nice community. Thank you so much!
however mostly when I think of ambient I think of delays and reverbs, vcas and sample and hold and to some extent granular - not really enough of these - unless you are intending to use the distings for this - in which case while disting is an excellent module - get dedicated ones of these - multiples in fact
What can I use the distings for this case?
what you have in actual modules is nowhere near being suitable as a synth voice.
Which modules should I go for to complete a synth voice with my basic modules?
And what are your thoughts on Behringer modules?
Thank you for your advices!
all publicity is good publicity - we are all talking about them - the more we talk about them the more people hear the name etc etc etc
there's an Irish airline called Ryanair - their CEO has a similar approach - so he's been known to suggest standing room only flights and charging 5€ to use the toilet
every time he comes out with one of these the share prices go up
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
some of the fx aid algorithms do the mono->stereo thing too
you are trying to do too much of it in too small a space
I would pick either evolving ambient or faster electronic music to start with and also leave out the drums (drum machines are so much cheaper)
there are too many sound sources in the rack - and not enough support modules to get the most out of them
a good place to start looking would be mixing - try to imagine mixing the sound sources/modifiers in the rack - some of them are stereo - some are mono - not enough channels to manage all of it well - no mono->stereo sub-mixing to feed to the effects - your mixing solution needs a serious rethink - yes you could 'mix' everything - using veils etc - but your options are very limited and won't leave a lot of mising /vca channels for other things
you probably want a filter for the MCO
Maths/quadrax/pams is probably more than enough for modulation - what's your use case for o&c?
mimetic digitalis looks very fiddly for a sequencer - I would do some research - if possible try one out before buying - sequencers are quite important in terms of workflow - if you don't get on with your sequencer(s) you will not get one with your modular
also the lack of something to combine triggers would seem frustrating - euclidean circles and pams - maybe a trigger combiner - or a switched multiple
and speaking of multiples - I would get a few stackcables and/or headphone splitters as well as looking at a buffered mult or maybe 2 (often they come in pairs) - perhaps links - that has 2 - one of which can be used as a a 2in 1 out mixer/precision adder (for adding v/oct signals) and a second simple mixer - very useful - as is kinks if you can find one (3 useful utilities you don't have)
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
I just wonder what sort of weirdass wiring in Uli's head makes him do things like this. One minute, he's reissuing synths and other devices that are legendary pieces of "unobtainium", and the next he's ripping off small manufacturers and insulting music journalists. When he's not putting out things that give modern players the ability to use classic hardware (to varying degrees of success), he's really giving his own firm a big black eye and making it embarrassing to own anything from Behringer. Doesn't seem like a sensible business model to me...
Oh come on, you must be joking! This "Drifting through Space" is topping everything about space here ;-) Clicking for the 2nd time the play button. I got stuck on earthlings-date 03-07-2021 on planet Ioptraly 7Y5, that's considered still within the inner-hyper-space zone, hence the 3-alpha-digit code behind the planet. I wasn't able to leave Ioptraly 7Y5, your music was good enough to get me there but so far I never made it to go much further...
I am saying this because here in the inner-hyper-space zone Ioptraly 7Y5 is rather known (I didn't know that when I just arrived on the 3rd of July earthy year 2021) as a famous transit planet to go to the intermediate-hyper-space zone. You need something seriously strong to be able to do that, never managed to do that just yet. However now listening to your "Drifting through Space" that seems to be just that what I needed to go to the intermediate-hyper-space zone, what an experience!
I will tell you upfront (kind of spoiler), this is seriously scary, never experienced this before and I would say I am kind of intermediate experienced with hyper space travelling ;-) This intermediate-hyper-space zone where I am now... that's seriously scary. I am travelling for how long now already? Need to Zopple to see how long in earthly understandings... give me a minute...
Ah yes, what we called light years, I have travelled around 785 million light years now and... seriously never seen this, all the way through this distance/time I haven't seen a thing. Nothing, seriously nothing, this is scary! Normally you use to see a few stars or a planet if you are lucky but at least something, but here is just nothing, nothing at all and that for such a long distance/time!
Time is disappearing here too. Here on earth this message would take me hours to write, here in intermediate-hyper-space zone it's a matter of a few micro seconds or something. Yo.. d.dn t not.c. ye th.t th. Int.rn.t c.nn.ct..n is dr.pp.ng?
D.d I m.nt..ned .lre.dy th.t th.s is s.r...sly f..k.ng sc.ry? W.ll th.nk. a l.t f.r th.s gr..t .xp.r.nc. not s.r. w.en I w.l. b. b.ck. K.n. r.g.rd., G.rf..l.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
Taking bets on us having a Behringer 'Algebra' by the end of 2021. A sub $130 takes on Maths, like for like in every manner, only they have scribbled 'fuck you' right where the make noise logo use to be.
Oh man…so much to think about. I dropped those modules in. I really like the Frap 321. I have to wrap my head around all of it. With the few modules I have…I go through the phase of just plugging things in and seeing what happens…to figuring out why that’s happening and then applying that knowledge to doing something planed out. I’m gonna have to take everyone’s advice and take out the DFAM. This has been super helpful. Gets me exploring other modules. Thanks!!!!
On trying to reply on posts regarding modules, I can preview my reply, but pressing 'submit' does nothing on W10 both Firefox and Edge.
-- tboy
Thanks for reporting, this should be fixed.
After I moved the module out of the rack into the scratch area, I was typing the name of another module into the entry field when I got a generic error message about something going wrong.
-- jreineke
Sorry for the trouble, there is currently a workaround: just disable the keyboard shortcuts. There is a slider above the rack to do that. One day there will be a real fix ...
Oh yes, you managed it, finally someone that managed to get me hyper spaced again. Wow, what a nice track! 6 minutes is the only negative thing I can find about this great track, this should have been 30 or 60 minutes! :-)
The last time I was hyper spaced here was by Troux on the 25th of January this earth year 2021, it took me a while to come back to earth, but having been far too long on earth, I have to thank you, Wedoh, on my bare knees, finally back into hyperspace ;-) Just arrived on planet Ioptraly 7Y5 (translated by Zopple), weird planet though, but hey, that's all part of this hyper space travelling, isn't it?
Ah come on, again your track just finished, going to press for the third time the play button, let's see if it can take me a bit further than Ioptraly 7Y5... in case you don't hear from me any more for a while... well that's because Wedoh's music took me too far away from planet Earth, no more Internet connection I am afraid...
Thank you very much Wedoh, hope to see you soon in hyperspace too ;-) Kind regards, Garfield.
P.S.: Don't forget to bring your hand towel!
-- GarfieldModular
Dear Garfield,
I don't know how to express my gratitude for your awesome appreciation. It makes me very happy to read your post, and it really makes me want to continue exploring. Thank you so so much!
Also i love the Hitchers guide to the galaxy references! :-)
Spacecraft really helped creating the spacey feeling. If you like tracks that are space inspired, you might like this track too:
In that track i use Clouds with maximum reverb and the NW-1 spectrum envelope to really space out slowly.
What are you, 12? What exactly did you not understand about the previous messages? Nobody’s saying they’re supporting Behringer (and even if someone is, that’s their choice). We’re supporting the integrity of ModularGrid’s information. Keep your hurt feelings out of the database.
I'm trying to put a system together and I'm trying to take my time as much as possible: to be able to gather information and of course, to stay within my monthly budget.
All I have at the moment is a TipTop Mantis case, Pam's New Workout and the 4ms Listen Four. I also ordered the 3x MIA at Schneider's, but it's not on stock. I'm trying to make a system to be able to create evolving ambient with some interesting rythms, and maybe also some faster electronic music.
My current plan looks like this:
I'm thinking of getting Plaits, Mimetic Digitalis and Milky Way to start, and then slowly progressing further. I'm also thinking of adding an external Sequencer, like a Beatstep Pro at some point. I figure the Mindphaser would be among the last things I'll get.
As you can see, filters are missing. I'm pretty unsure at this point how many and which ones I should go for. As for effects, maybe I should also get another unit next to the Milky Way.
Thanks in advance for anyone giving their opinion.
When I connected my ES6 to my ES8, I had all sorts of issues with the Mac defaulting to ADAT clock for the ES8. When I looked in Ableton the ins and outs from the ES8 and ES6 were not available to me. The workaround for me was to set the ES8 to internal clock which seems to have sorted my issue.
I have a UAD Apollo Twin, UAD satellite and Behringer ADA8200 and I think its my UAD Apollo that serves as my master clock.
Everything plays in time and works now with these settings, so I thought It might be useful for others reading this thread.
Our Fearless Leader is, in fact, very correct here. ModularGrid is designed as a neutral reference document, and just like how encyclopedias contain information that's quite disturbing, that can happen here as well. It's not a ringing endorsement of Behringer for their modules to appear here, it's simply listings...just like any other. And this isn't the first time that there's been listings by controversial manufacturers or for controversial products.
Yeah, I'll admit that what Uli's up to with these two new modules is pretty despicable. And what separates those from their other modules is that, while the other modules are also copies (sorta) of no-longer-existing modules (or, in the case of Moog, not-really-available modules, as you can only get theirs in prebuilt systems), the new ones are copies of VERY MUCH existing modules that are still in manufacture by Mutable and Intellijel. If Uli would just stick to reissues of the "greats", we'd still hear about him "ripping off" the designs, but no one would have bread taken from their mouth by that.
But does that mean that Uli gets tossed from MG? No. All MG is for here is making sure that you know what the module is, what it does, what size and power constraints does it have...and that's about it. Just like everyone other manufacturer who has listings here.
I spent a lot on modular this year and last but I’m done buying modules for a while. I need to fund a bunch of home repairs so that blows my music budget for a few years. All good as it will take me that long to really master my modules anyways.
Behringer has no manufacturer account on MG and it does not feel right to set a manufacturer lock on behalf of their name.
That is currently the only way to lock the entry. If the edits do not stop very soon we will implement a technical solution.
ModularGrid is a database, like a directory of modules, we just show what is there. Discussions about the module here in the forum are o.k. but please stop replacing the image of the module with other unrelated silly images. Especially don't change the power specs with fantasy values. That is not helpful and will lead to numerous copies of this module which are a pain to track and merge.
Funny that you mention the Happy Nerding FX Aid XL module as I just picked one up from Analogue Haven as that was the only shop that had one online in stock for sale and Shawn is a stand up guy and was helpful when I asked him some modular questions. Great module so fun and I am still learning mine. I love using it along with my Mimeophon for great results.
-- sacguy71
Nice! Can't wait to get mine....I think I've contracted a case of GAS...saw someone with a Warps avaialble and also picked that up this week as well. I think I need to stop for a while because I was just starting to undertsand some of the use cases for my Maths and then threw a Quadrax into the mix with it which quickly taught me that I know nothing...now with the FX Aid XL and Warps on the way, I think I will be busy learning for quite a while
Funny that you mention the Happy Nerding FX Aid XL module as I just picked one up from Analogue Haven as that was the only shop that had one online in stock for sale and Shawn is a stand up guy and was helpful when I asked him some modular questions. Great module so fun and I am still learning mine. I love using it along with my Mimeophon for great results.
Would it be possible to take some action against the users or lock down module information as there are people actively undermining this site by changing the graphics of modules and removing or altering current information simply because they seem to have some beef with Behringer.
I get that people are entitled to their views but this kind of behaviour could go both ways with others changing the current draw on other major brands like instruo, Intellijel, mutable instruments, doepfer etc.
This could then lead to people planning racks where the voltage information can't be trusted that the site is supplying on quite expensive modules may I add. I for one don't trust the numbers anymore since noticing this behaviour.
For inf0, I plan on buying the 4 play. The mA draw is 100mA on the +12 and -12 line for anyone interested in this. There is nothing being drawn on the 5v line.
Thanks
Greenfly
-- greenfly
I fully agree.
Module information is intended to be fully neutral, it merely informs.
If you want to share your "emotions" on the module, take it to a forum, or go on Facebook...
Would it be possible to take some action against the users or lock down module information as there are people actively undermining this site by changing the graphics of modules and removing or altering current information simply because they seem to have some beef with Behringer.
I get that people are entitled to their views but this kind of behaviour could go both ways with others changing the current draw on other major brands like instruo, Intellijel, mutable instruments, doepfer etc.
This could then lead to people planning racks where the voltage information can't be trusted that the site is supplying on quite expensive modules may I add. I for one don't trust the numbers anymore since noticing this behaviour.
For inf0, I plan on buying the 4 play. The mA draw is 100mA on the +12 and -12 line for anyone interested in this. There is nothing being drawn on the 5v line.
I am sorry to hear about your capital. If one is suppressed by militarisation then besides writing (that might be politically difficult and one might be easily "militarised" too :-( ) making music is indeed a great way of expressing your feelings or the stress that has to come out by the suppression.
I do think your track does translates this well and I hope through music you can feel some enlightenment and find trust and confidence for yourself in the future. Kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
Yeah, I think the Audio interface seems to have solved my problems with the pops and clicks.
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.
Wanted to post this rack that I’ve been working on that is semi complete but lots of room for change. I use this rack in a very deterministic (non generative) way. It’s all controlled from various controllers and ableton through an Endorphines Shuttle Control in a separate rack. That rack also has 4 adsrs, maths, pamelas new workout, ochd, s&h, couple vcas and noise modules, as well as line in.
This rack here is for making leads, baselines, hooks whatever from the top section. Also used as a way to mangle samples. Understood that it’s a bit specific and might be different. I think of it as a sound source/processor that gets recorded track by track, so no need for a big mixer or multiple voices. Ie, use everything for a kick drum then record, then make a lead and record, and so on.
Would welcome any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks!
That's a lovely long playful track. I like to lightness of this track, that put be back down earth on my both two feet :-) There is a kind of joyful and playful factor to it that makes it very enjoyable. This is perfect for a Sunday afternoon!
By the way, I don't hear any more ticks and stuff, did you manage to get to solve your audio interface issue? :-)
Thank you very much for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
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.
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.
3 sources of Sine waves; the STO, the EvenVCO and a self-oscillating Rebach VCF-AB filter.
3 effects; Mimeophon, Monsoon Clouds, Pico DSP.
I've just noticed, there is quite a lot of the top of my head, its all my own hair even if its gone grey!
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.
I never thought that I would see the day that I would title a piece what I titled this. Today people here will celebrate this day and I don't understand what they think that they are celebrating.
This is repulsive just blatant theft of Intellijel intellectual property. If I saw this module in an artist's rack I'd never buy another album from that artist. Art means nothing without ethics.