Listen IO will be officially announced and released soon; please stay tuned for more details including pricing and availability!
Hmmm...this IS weird. The listing is apparently from 4ms themselves, as it has their manufacturer lock on it and shows it as available, but 4ms's site doesn't list it, nor do my usual 'go-to' retailers.
My suggestion: Ladik's A-545 input and A-540 output. 2 hp more, but it splits up your input and output for a bit better cable routing, and has pretty much the same functionality. The Happy Nerding Isolator (also 4 hp) might also be suitable for the output module as well.
I started wanting a Behringer Neutron. That was delayed by about six months of waiting. In the mean time, I filled an Intellijel 104 case save 3HP. When the Neutron arrived, I just threw it on the pile.
I find Eurorack is about discovering me. The BIGGEST challenge is discovering the way that )I( work... not my modules. For example, I loath menus and secret button presses (hold this while turning that). Temps Utile, O_C, the Disting, and I have a love hate relationship that's more hate than love. So I probably will progress with more modules that have dedicated functionality and more intuitive interfaces, analog, interfaces.
I see in my future a BitBox Ver 1 for sampling and looping, probably a few TipTop drum modules, uBurst, an Eloquencer, a mixer, a boatload of Joranalogue, and another Intellijel case, inverted so the 1U is at the bottom and I can use Quadrats as modulation controls and submixers.
What the devil is the 4ms Listen IO, I need a stereo in and out and this seems perfect for my needs but I can't find a word about the module on the net - does anyone have any information on pricing and availability?
I have the 301 on the way. Nervous to get to know it. But it seems like it should provide the things that might be lacking in the system otherwise. The 101 I don't have and is something I am going to decide on for sure if I like the work flow of the 301. Everything else I have and love.
What are your thoughts?
It's not that doing it with VCOs is costly...it's the whole concept itself. Full polyphony means that you have a fully-independent synth under the control of each voice signal, so you have to replicate the VCOs, VCF, VCAs, EGs, LFOs and so on over and over until you arrive at your final output mixer, where you'll mix the different voice signals together for a single mono or stereo output.
The next step down from this isn't actual polyphony. It's something referred to as 'paraphony'; each set of sound generators is controlled by a single voice signal, but instead of replicating the rest of the audio and control chains per voice, the mixdown to a single signal happens after the VCOs, then this goes through a single VCF, etc etc chain to the output. This method actually makes more sense in a modular context, since you can branch and recombine all sorts of paths along that post-VCO chain for sonic variation and arrive at a more controllable (and affordable!) system as a result. This is what I'd recommend as an approach, as a true polyphonic modular is, by default, going to be very spendy and also hell to patch and control. Think something along the lines of Junkie XL's MU 'wall' or Hans Zimmer's monster wall rig of Moog, PPG and Roland modules.
-- Lugia
Thank you for answering and sorry for the late reply.
Yes, a paraphonic instrument is what I need for starters. I've done a lot of research and concluded I'll start with a wavetable module that does chords too (leaning towards Shapeshifter).
This way I will have a patch for chord duties along with external sources for my live needs, and I guess will be a good starting point overall..
I've decided to invest in a 14u/96HP flight case with lots of clean power and low noise and start with 10 or modules, already above budget but functional enough. After that I guess I'll try and fill it slowly and wisely.
Except if I win the lottery. Then it will be sth like 6 Bateleurs for a chord drone and a monster rack for modulation only
Wish me luck
KICK ASS!!! for September 2018
...in which I rummage through the latest offerings in the perpetual deluge of Eurorack modules to pick out a few things that you, the reader, might find useful. Let's do this...
1) Patching Panda shuby: These guys again...and this time, they've tossed out a really neat noisemaker for the chiptune/noise crowd. This module reminds me of a controllable, repeatable version of what you'd get with an old Atari 2600 game console when you'd crash it, sometimes resulting in weird screen glitches and various flavors of sonic racket ranging from odd square-wave tone combinations to grinding sheets of noise. Of course, this version is minus the video mayhem, but sonically, it gets you into that pocket. $118-ish, 4 hp.
2) Vinicius Elektrik OverFolder: Who couldn't use a wavefolder? Better still, who couldn't use a wavefolder with loads of CV parameters over the various folding functions? The OverFolder is a five-stage circuit that allows a second wavefold over the initial fold, resulting in some really interesting results that normally would require two entire typical wavefolder modules. And you get CV over that, the initial fold, and the wave symmetry, all allowing lots of CV-driven timbral capability. $179, 6 hp.
3) Tiptop Audio Forbidden Planet: I've always had a real soft spot for the Steiner Synthacon filter. It has all sorts of behavioral quirks that lend themselves to a wide variety of uses, everything from stonkin' fat basses to ear-splintering Merzbow-style screeches, and a wide latitude of choices in between. Nyle did this thing right...and Tiptop does it here for the low, low price of $120. It's the classic architecture...three different inputs, internal gain + resonance...yeah! You ought to be able to find 8 hp to jam one of these babies in...you won't regret it!
4) Majella Audio VVCA: On first glance, pretty simple stuff: two linear, DC-coupled VCAs. Then you notice that second CV input on each one, labelled VEL. Yep...two CVs, one for the usual control signal, but a second for an additional modulator! And you don't have to use a velocity signal, either; any secondary modulation signal is fair game here. Very smart idea, this; those looking for more expressivity in a performance-type modular really need a look-see at this. About $78, 4 hp.
5) VOID Modular M+Mixer: I like that this is a six-input mixer. I also really like the extra inverted output. But I really like the mute system. Yeah...each input has a pushbutton mute control! This is another one for the live performance set, but really, anyone should be able to make use of something like this. It's a really smart, simple and cost-effective (yeah, even with the mutes) idea that pretty much anyone looking for a compact DC-coupled mixer ought to jump on. $80, 8 hp.
6) Konstant Lab PWR Checker: When these guys say that this is “...the most useful 1HP panel”, they aren't lying! Three LEDs monitor your power rails; if these dim, you're undervoltage, and if they go off, you're either beyond 1V under or the rail in question has dropped power altogether. THIS IS USEFUL! If your build has 1 hp free and you have no front-panel power rail indicators, you need this. Period! And at $21, it's a no-brainer of epic proportions!
7) Tokyo Tape Music Center Dual Square Wave Generator Model 144: After Catalyst's reissue of some of the core Buchla 100 modules a while back, I figured that there might be more popping up in this direction. And sure enough, here we are...Tokyo Tape Music Center not only offers the same five 100-series modules as Catalyst, but this one as well, the 144. As opposed to the 158, this is a pure square-wave dual generator, with the usual FM and AM modulation inputs, tandemmable pitch CV and the like. Currently listing as 'out of stock' on their website, I certainly hope there's more of these in the pipeline...as well as more retreads of the classic Buchla 100 on the way! $330, 14 hp.
8) Schlappi Engineering Angle Grinder: Aw sh*t, son...Schlappi's back! And they've got yet another highly quirky and amazingly useful offering, their Angle Grinder, a simultaneous quadrature sine VCO and state-variable VCF. And if that were all there was about it...well, suffice to say, there's way more to this little 18 hp monster. The architecture of this craaaaaazy thing is such that loads of sequenceable waveshaping can be done, timbral modulation mayhem galore, and loads of outright strangeness that seems to redefine the whole notion of what a 'complex VCO' is. Sheer brilliance! And a VCO so complex in of itself that you could get away with _just this_ as an oscillator in a build and nothing more! I can't do this justice in this post; go and see the video, and be mind-boggled. $310.
9) 2 hp Vowel: Whoda thunk it? The minaturization whiz-kids at 2 hp have managed to leave a formant oscillator in the dryer long enough to shrink it down to their preferred size! And this is a nifty little (very little) thing, sporting two different formant algorithms and full CV over pitch, formant index, and overall vowel shaping. Nuts! Lots of 2 hp's devices are more on the basic side, but this is a real twist-and-a-half, and worth checking out. $149.
And that pretty much finishes off this month's installment of things that really caught my attention. Not as saturated as last month's list, but there's still plenty of interesting and build-worthy toys popping up on the radar. Get busy, folks!
Added ALM Beast’s Chalkboard.
Thanks for your suggestions!
I started of because I had a moog minitaur and I wanted to use something similar to its filter in in stereo. So I bought a mmvcf (which I am selling now btw because I found out that stereo is overhyped lol). 3 years down the rabbit hole I own about 6000 euros worth of eurocrack modules. I have not finished many tracks in the last 3 years but I have played spontaneous live set and I feel that I have vastly progressed in my understanding of electronic music.
And: I am slowly finding my own language in music, unique tones that I like and feel like I own. Big helpers there where wavefolders and the like. Also not trying to emulate classical synthesizer pathways but patching more freely (modules sometimes patch into themselves etc).
Now to the question of adding a Dixie to the mother. A friend went exactly down that road. Needless to say he sold his mother and now has a 2 row 80hp system with the Dixie, ripples, vcf 74, some mutable things etc.
And also: the best 2nd Osc for a mother and the only one that really works to do that: being the 2nd Osc for a mother is... Another mother :).
So tread carefully... :)
It does however look like doepfer use differnt colors than the colors in sketch a patch; http://www.doepfer.de/a100z_e.htm Also the sketch a patch cables seem to have a maximum length, it cycles through colors until they hit black, then stops.
-- clnclnclncln
Top right you can select the color scheme in the Patch Options
There is Doepfer and Stackable, I guess you had selected Stackcable.
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
A precision adder and a logic module might be tasty for generative stuff. You have a quad LFO, so mixing those signals and comparing them could lead to some nice modulation.
The patch cables change color when you drag them. The color represents the original color of the necessary Doepfer cable. Doepfer cables are color coded by length (at least in 2014 when I build that patch tool).
Oh, I didn't notice! Nice detail. I'd personally prefer a small note next to the cable displaying the centimeter length of that stretch.
It does however look like doepfer use differnt colors than the colors in sketch a patch; http://www.doepfer.de/a100z_e.htm Also the sketch a patch cables seem to have a maximum length, it cycles through colors until they hit black, then stops.
Feature idea for unicorn accounts; Patch cable length calculator. Connect two points on the rack and get a recommended minimum length for the patch cable.
-- clnclnclncln
The patch cables change color when you drag them. The color represents the original color of the necessary Doepfer cable. Doepfer cables are color coded by length (at least in 2014 when I build that patch tool).
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
Feature idea for unicorn accounts; Patch cable length calculator. Connect two points on the rack and get a recommended minimum length for the patch cable.
Easy-peasy. Doepfer A-171-2 VCS (half of a Maths, more or less) and Konstant Labs' new power rail monitor 1 hp module. At least, that's what I would do for those sort of musical purposes.
Bought a Harmonaìg from @tomlaan a couple of months ago and have to say that everything went smoothly, great seller, highly recommended!
Hy,
I started building my first rack and learning every day. I have 9HP left to use and I'm looking for your suggestions to fill it up.
I'm doing generative ambient stuff and from times to times using the modular together with Maschine MK3 via the Mutant brain.
I'm looking forward to your Ideas and suggestions!
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_745818.jpg
Why mute at the Beatstep when you can mute the outputs of your Tip Tops? Void Modular makes a six mono channel mixer with six mutes for $80 in 8HP. I'm sure there are other solutions... some use switches rather than buttons, etc.
Bought a uO_C and a uTemps Utile from @MatrixModulator . Buying custom made stuff can be a little nerving. I had no problems. Great communications. Delivered WITHIN the time frame promised (he finished a couple of days early and shipped early). MM checked and double-checked I that I was getting the modules and panels that I wanted. I'm giving an A+.
The only thing I can even think to mention that I didn't like was that the cables included seemed a little short unless you're plugging in directly over a power supply. I'm using an Intellijel case where the power is under the bottom rails. I swapped the cables out with a couple of units that were closer. On the plus side, he goes the extra mile ensuring that the module won't fry if you plug it in backwards. It will work with the power cable in either orientation.
The bottom line is that he'll be the first person I contact if I need anything else built. I will definitely repeat.
Would love to be able to select multiple manufacturers at once rather than just one at a time. There's getting to be so many different manufacturers now that it really dilutes searches and some of them are more obscure than I'm interested in. Lots of alternate panels and such too. This would be great for when I'm looking for a certain type of module and would like to compare what a couple manufacturers offer.
Thanks alot for the input! Will definately look into it, cheers :)
The Wasp is a stylized filter. As long as you have a reasonable expectation of what to expect from it, you're good. You might consider a multi-mode filter. Joranalogue has a really great filter coming out for around $200US or so. It might be a good idea check it out. It's about twice the cost of the Wasp. But I think you'll get a lot more functionality out of it.
I'm assuming that you're going to use the MS-20 for most of your basic needs? Envelopes, LFOs, VCAs? If you're augmenting the the MS-20, perhaps you'll want to think about effects like reverb, delay, etc? Tip Top has a DSP box that seems to be pretty popular. 1010Music also has their BitBox Series 1 that can do looping/sample playback, DSP, basic sequencing. You have to load it with the appropriate firmware to do anything that is in each of the three categories. But you might get a lot of use out of it. The ability to record within your rack could open up creative possibilities when you run out of modules but want to continue with an idea.
I have Maths and love it. But I am wondering if maybe you would want to consider Stages? Mostly because it could be used to sequence
-- UserFriendly
Hey! My initial idea is to invest in another sequencer and mixer actually. But they're quite expensive, so I thought I'd start with some simple modules and add along the way :)
Also, I forgot to mention: I have a Korg SQ-1 which I will use for now.
Seemed OK for a basic translation to English, but...OK. Should be more readable now.
I have Maths and love it. But I am wondering if maybe you would want to consider Stages? Mostly because it could be used to sequence
I have a bigger case and other modules but I am struggling to stay focused with it... So I am working on a smaller more focused case. What do you think about this set up? my main focus is interesting percussion generation.
cheers!
I bought a used Jones O'Tool Oscilloscope from @mt3. Nice trade, just a little delay in shipment because of personal reason, but just a couple of days. Package good (maybe not perfect, but anyway it survived a trip from Canada to Europe, so good enough ;-)), and quite responsive. Good seller.
I bought an used DYI version on MI Peaks from @polyana. It has been a quick and nice deal. He provided me also a video of the working gear to prove that it was in mint condition. Recommended seller!
I bought an uClouds and uO_C (with little customisations) from @PinPinKula, it was a nice deal, he is very responsive and patience (he answered a lot of my dumb questions). Good packaging (even too much impenetrable ;-)) and quite fast! He is a pro maker, so he is recommended!
I had a great deal with @Tambo buying a MN Renè. He was very responsive, super fast in shipment, good (and original) package, mint condition... So, long story short he is a great seller, recommended!
Just received an ADE-33 Event Boss in perfect order from @loorenz. Exceptionally nice guy and extremely helpful.
The definition of a Good seller.
There is an alternate firmware for O_C that further divides O_C into two usable modules. I can't recall the name of it but it's out there. You may want to hit the second O_C with that. You may want to go analog with your envelopes, though. I find cycling through menus to adjust a parameter when all I want to do is tweak the release a tad to be a bit tiresome.
-- Ronin1973
hemispheres is what it's called i think. I may try it. and that's fair about the analog EG's. esp since tweaking analogs is a fun way to 'play' and give it a little more life. I may spring for a couple analog egs for that. honestly I've been looking at the pico mod and it's a simple AR/ASR eg but with a built in vca. seems like a good use of hp.
Title!
About to order up my first modules and case in a while.
The thought with the rack is to make it a jamstation at home basically.
The English Tear is for integrating the Korg MS-20.
I am trying to get some basic modules, and add on drums and more texture later on.
Is there anything I should remove and get instead?
All tips and ideas welcome, cheers.
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_749250.jpg
I had a quite pleasant deal with @paco_mod. even though shipment part was quite a journey : ) . He was all the time present and communicative during the whole process. Definitely recommended Thanks @paco_mod.
Please, the description should be corrected, it is a pain to read through!
After selling my op1 and buying mahts and erbe verb from a friend (also added z3000) this is what I've got now (this is the real situation of my case at present):
now I have to wait a bit for future modules. How's the situation going now? what can I add in my future buying list?
Thank you very much for your help and for your patience
I was wondering if it would be possible to add the AE Modular synth format to ModularGrid. There are already plenty of available modules and it would be awesome to plan the racks with ModularGrid too. I’d be happy to provide the required measurements and graphics and add modules to the database of course.
YouTube videos about the format:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa9Em_H8Xs_YqhS8lbwsDdOXHucNug-hF
@JimHowell1970
wow just watched a video on the disting! very cool.
looks like that coupled with an lpg can make some cool noises (along with a seemingly endless other uses haha).
also didnt know what an lpg is so googled that and learned something else too :D
thanks for suggestions!
huh actually nevermind, i found in the fh2 manual that:
Each output has a 'smoothing' amount. When enabled, a low pass filter is applied to the output to
smooth sudden changes into an exponential response. Zero means off; other values apply
progressively more smoothing, up to a time constant of about 1 second
so i guess wont need one of these modules after all!
Kinks is really useful in 4 hp (there's a wave modifier, a comparator, noise and sample and hold) and so is disting (yeah it's a bit difficult to use, but it' so useful)
Marbles could add a nice degree of randomness into the mix and maybe a smaller vco (dixie 2 or something) and an lpg (lxd)
"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!!!
sound sources < sound modifiers < modulation sources < utilities
not sure why that rack isnt rendering properly above... may need to click it to view whole thing.
thanks @Lugia for the response/recommendations!
the Flame Quad Cv Recorder looks like the exact kinda thing, even mentions in the manual that the:
Smoothing algorithms eliminate the so-called 'stair-step effect' and ensure smooth playback even at very slow speeds
That said, it does look like it might be tricky to record fixed length automation without sacrificing a gate track for specifically start/stopping the record. I think thats where the voltage block is more appealing... downside being its limited to 16 steps and has quite a lot of crossover with what the digitakt would be used for anyway for the size of it.
I tried out just slewing the recorded envelope from the digitakt through the maths. Couldnt get as large a range wthout having the stair step effect occur, but worked pretty well!
With this in mind ive revised what I think want to buld next:
feedback and advice on what I should add/replace again really appreciated!
hi modulers :)
i’d like to use this module to alter the gates receveid from the pulses expander from a turing machine.
would it work ?
bests and enjoy !
gregg
OK...I think this might work better. Case is an Erica Aluminum Travel Case, 2 x 104 hp, fully powered, and I checked it against typical ATA carryon restrictions and it fits perfectly. Here we go:
There are definitely some differences here. First up, I kept the ES-8, but then combined the clocking and logic with an Intellijel Plog. Turing Machine was eliminated in favor of just the Permutation, and the Wogglebug was changed to Make Noise's current version, which saved a few hp. ANA is still in place, but the Maths was changed out in favor of a pair of Doepfer A 171-2 VC Slope gens...which, basically, gives you the same functionality as a Maths, but saves another 4 hp.Added a pair of Erica PICO EGs, then the oscillators were totally changed in favor of a Mutable Plaits (the revised version of the Braids) and a Doepfer A-111-4 Quad VCO, which gives you your 'drone bank', but also allows for CV control over all four VCOs in various useful ways, as well as submixing down to a single output. Two Erica PICO VCFs were added: a Polivoks state-variable and a regular 4-pole LPF.
Bottom row starts with a Konstant Labs bus indicator in 1 hp. There was a single hp space, and...believe me...having indicator pilots on your bus voltages is very useful, especially in a travel rig that sees a lot of moving around. Drums: kept the Tea Kick and Plonk, but went with a pair of Moffenzeef Dial-Ups...glitch-based percussives...and a 2 hp Pluck, which gives you a Karplus-Strong modeled percussive/plucked-string voice. Added a Bastl ABC to submix drums down to one or two voices as needed. Also, the Tea Kick was switched to a metal plate version; wood's nice in the studio, but you need to keep durability in mind here if this is going to be used on gigs.
Rene mk2 was retained. Then, there's a mono-in, stereo-out digital effects unit, which I chose to tandem up with the same AUX send capabilities on the Qu-bit Mixology. This stereo mixer gives you VCA control over levels, panning, and AUX send levels across four inputs. Last, there's an Erica PICO OUT, which drops your synth level audio down to line level via a stereo 3.5mm TRS jack.
I think this should fit the bill. It interfaces directly with Ableton via either Silent Way (PC or Mac) or Volta (Mac). Everything is very straightforward, very controllable, which you want if you're also working on a live instrument at the same time. As for multiples, get several in-line multiple widgets instead of having them in-panel...this also saves space. And lastly, this was all checked against Perfect Circuit's catalog; even if they don't have something in stock, you can still purchase it while there and PC will ship the module to you when it's in stock.
Good luck!
-- Lugia
Thanks for your advice dear LUGIA. Have a wonderful time. Peace&Light:-)
1 get a 104hp 6u rack - maybe tiptop mantis - but check with the airline that the dimensions are good to go - I know they are in the eu, but not sure elsewhere - and remember to pick up the case - it's cheap and poorly built but will get you going
2 find an actual store near where you want to go - one or all of these 3
Analogue Haven (Los Angeles, CA)
http://analoguehaven.comBig City Music (Los Angeles, CA)
http://bigcitymusic.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_18Boutique Pedal NYC (San Diego, CA)
http://www.boutiquepedalnyc.us/eurorack-modular/and check what they actually have in stock - probably not a lot of time to order things in if they don;'t have them
3 some of the modules you have in the rack are not easily available anyway - so that makes things a bit easier - giekses nodrums may not be available (think he only sells from his own site, but may be wrong), snazzy dronebank - and the maths you have there is the old version - so i'd ditch all those and
4 you probably don't need both the turing machine (if you could find a built one) and permutations just get marbles!!
4 I'd really look at kinks - it's really useful in 4 hp - the same for disting - which even has a pitch follower and a tuner, both of which maybe useful
-- JimHowell1970
THANK YOU SO SO MUCH DEAR JIM. HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK-END.
