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What do you do when you run out of connections for a skiff (you have power to spare but more modules than connectors)? Is it simple to add or daisy chain on extras? Those 2hps save a lot of space but seem to add up quick where # modules-to-connectors go.

@the-erc I was thinking about it and thought "Why not swap the 4 step sequencer with a Micro Zeus?" I think that would work 🤔🤔🤔

Edited to add: I also swapped the CP3 with an Isolator so you can get the output levels you want.

EDITED Apr 10th 2021, 20:37

what exactly are you trying to do?

what do you mean by redundant? "functional duplication" in modular is often a very good thing

currently you seem to be quite modulation heavy - tetrapad/tete/quadrax/planar, melodic sequencer and adsr channel heavy - metropolix is I think 2 channels (and you only have one vco!) and you may not need adsr envelopes = the intellijel dual adsr is huge compared to similar modules from other brands

no vcas????

rainmaker is too big, imo, in a single rack like this unless some compromise is made with other modules being smaller than they should be (and I don't think you can do this in solely intellijel)

so you almost definitely need to add a quad vca and another vco - which means 20hp+ if you want to stay intellijel only (personally I wouldn't - I hate constraints)

I've got some ideas @the-erc, I'll take another crack at it this evening.

Ugh... my power supply is the Doepfer PSU2 which tops out at 1.2A on both the positive and negative 12V rails... gonna need a less power hungry solution @troux ! (I'm using a MI Volts to get the +5V from the +12V too.)

Thanks @troux!

I did not know about Vortices -- it looks like a great solution. Shame it doesn't have sends, but that would really be asking a lot from such a compact mixer. Also the Shakmat hi-pass -- on my current setup most channels have the bass heavily cut, so this would be great. Maybe I even need two!

The only thing you missed which I think is probably needed is some kind of output module to step down to line level. I doubt the sound guy will too pleased at getting modular levels into his desk. I mean, it's what I do at my place, but I know what's going on...

Thanks :)

Took a crack at this

1) Vortices for mixing, lots of inputs and tons of flexibility
2) An FX Aid and a second Disting for FX
3) A Happy Nerding Dual Cross Fade to fade between the two of them, letting you functionally use them both for the Vortices' aux out
4) A Shakmat HiPass to keep things clean when you want to
5) A MSCL and a SCLPL for compression and end of chain EQ
6) A Ladik 4 Step Sequencer for either melodies, bass lines, or even as a strong structure creator (have it control some non-pitch CV and triggered by PNW every 64 beats or even more
7) A CP3 which doubles as both another mixer and a distortion effect, could easily swap with another 4HP distortion module of your choice though.

A friend asked me to perform at night he is organising. I looked at my current setup and thought..."hmm, this isn't going to work."

Right now I am very much studio bound : big mixer, outboard effects, a bunch of smaller devices, big old synth keyboard etc. However I think with some judicious additions I could manage with just the rack. Here is what I have currently:

How would you change it to make this into a stand-alone techno machine?

Guidelines :
* The rack is a Doepfer 6u 84hp suitcase which has been hacked. It has 6 spaces which can fit a 4hp module, three above the main rows, and three below. This is shown by the blue blind panels: these panels don't actually exist so you cannot replace them to make more space. Unfortunately the person who did the hacking did not do a great job so you cannot fit 2 x 2hp modules in one slot because the screw holes are not well enough aligned.
* Outside of the rack I will have a BeatStep Pro. I might also get an external compressor for the master bus (FMR RNLA, Oto Boum, something like that, suggestions welcome)
* Things which I currently use which I would like to replace are : various delays and reverbs and a Sherman Filterbank, which is usually used as a source of filth, not so much as a filter. Filth is quite important for the sound. And the mixer of course.
* I'm currently using these modules to make music and quite happy with them. I'd really rather not change them, partly for musical reasons, partly for cost reasons.
* I am not going to buy a bigger case.

So it's a pretty tall order, but how would you solve this problem?

Eeeeeech.... didn't realise it was so scarce! Well there is always :
https://github.com/pichenettes/eurorack/tree/master/veils/hardware_design

@the-erc the only Veils 2020 improvement I can imagine is being able to buy it 🤣🤣🤣

Many people say that the Mutable clones have compromised ergonomics. I can't speak about the others, but I have a Pique (aka uPeaks) and it is very usable at 4hp -- it's actually half the size of the original Peaks! Another one of those very useful modules that does many things, sits next to my Disting.

My experience of the Disting is that it tends to get used mostly for one thing, and then you buy a new module that does that thing and the Disting becomes something else. When I first got it I mostly used it as a quantiser; then a combination of new firmware for Pam and getting a new sequencer meant I didn't need a quantiser so much. Now the Disting mostly plays samples and I'm looking for a sample playback module...

p.s Veils 2020 is great! Hard to imagine any improvements to this module.

@Exposure
:), thanks for your kind words!

Thumbs up from me too, very nice lofi vibe

Hi Mog00,

This track is fantastic, it has a kind of jazzy vibe that I love. Looking forward for more.

Thanks for sharing.

Cool track Jingo,

I'm also loving that kick and the resonance sweeps!

Thanks for sharing.

nice generative ambient tones! I like it :), would also love to hear more of your ambient stuff...

@the-erc thanks a lot :)=

Smart communication and nice transaction with @teethgrinder.
Merci Fabien !

Hey people, can you help me? Is there something redundant in the case? Are there to much controllers and to less vcos?
Let me know what you Think

This was one of the best I've heard around MG in a while. Really good.

Thanks a lot guys :)
I've been adding some modulation to animate the Hatz a bit.

PS, at 4.2% its actually our best seller.

EDITED Apr 10th 2021, 08:22

I've had the mixer a couple of days, and here are my niggles so far. Only two stereo channels. No gain controlled stereo effects send/return. The effects loops with gain control are mono only. There is a global effects loop (compressor is suggested), but it's sort of all or nothing. They have an expander that adds two stereo channels, but only one expander is allowed. To get mutes you have to buy another additional module. So with the two expansions you are another $350 in, and at 56HP. This thing draws a full amp of power. Lets face facts here, any Eurorack mixer must be a compromise with the space limitations. I think WMD did a pretty good job, and there is a lot to like. It would be nice to route various stereo sources (Ensemble, Cloud Terrarium, Clouds, Plaits, Rings and Morphagene all have stereo) through Magneto, Mimeophon or FX Aid in varying degrees. Ah well, it's not a perfect world.

Whatever you say bud

Hi Mog00,

He, he, very nice chimes-kind-of-sounds and then indeed that wrong kind of... timing-sound? That makes it quite special, indeed in a nice way!

Interesting material and I wouldn't mind to hear more similar sounds and jams from you into this direction, curious where you would take us during your sonic journeys and adventures! :-) Thank you very much for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Wishbonebrewery,

Oh that's a nice treat for the listener, this is a very interesting rhythm track. Indeed a quite nice snare sound and me, as a listener, I am enjoying your clap sound very much too! :-D

This is indeed a very interesting path you are going here and I wouldn't mind if you would explore this a bit further, with some more surprises for us, the listeners! Nicely done and thank you very much for making this a pleasurable start of my weekend, kind regards, Garfield.

P.S.: Nice beer can too! :-) But what do I see... only 4.2% alcohol, is that still called beer? ;-)

Hi ModLifeCrisis,

Now that's a lovely long track! The way you play with those sounds is beautifully done, it's a pleasure to listen at it :-)

He, he, very recognisable that you sit behind the computer and reshuffle the racks with your (future) modules and indeed quite additive; I experienced that as well. I need to start doing that for my new studio setup somewhere soon as well but still hesitating because I know once I start, I barely can stop...

Thank you very much for your nice demo video and the great sound, this is how every weekend should start, very enjoyable :-) ! Kind regards, Garfield.

Yeah I have been fooling with layered time pulsed with a solid grid by sync to slightly drifted off grid melody that dances around the main pulse. It was an interesting landing spot so I just hit record, not really designed as a track more just fiddling around hence the name.

Superb start there @wishbonebrewery and I like the direction you take it, big fan of this one.

I was planning on leaning quite heavily into the Disting modules for some of the things you've suggested (like wave folding and sampling, for example, since I generally don't use samplers that much and I already own a few of them). Do you find the Disting to be kind of anti-climactic when you start to use it for loads of different things?

Well, it's a bit of a problematic module. On the one hand, it DOES jam a lot of functions into a 4 hp space. But at the same time, it jams a lot of functions into a 4 hp space.

I'll explain...the Disting is intended as something of a "Swiss Army Knife", in that it can handle many different functions under a very basic control. And that control is where the problems start to creep in. Modules such as the Disting involve quite a bit of "menu diving"...and that with a rather minimal menu, to boot! It's a great fit if you need several different modules but simply DO NOT have the space for them. But when you start to rely on the Disting for specific functions, then things get a bit nebulous as to whether it's the right solution or not.

For example, let's say you're stuck on using the Disting's vocoder function. All well and good there; you're NOT going to find a vocoder that fits into 4 hp besides the Disting. But if the function in question is, say, the dual waveshaper...not so much, because there are more directly-playable waveshapers in that general size and price range that render the Disting version inferior. Take the Joranalogue Fold 6...also 4 hp, same sort of CV I/O arrangement overall...but with the Fold 6, you get a dedicated control for the wavefolding, waveshape, and waveform symmetry each. The Disting gives you only ONE control, and you have to menu around to get it onto the next function. If the idea behind modular synthesis is to make things MORE open-ended and MORE intuitive, the Disting is a bit of a fail on those fronts, even though it can be VERY useful for functions that you'll never cram into its 4 hp space and/or whose modules cost way more than the Disting. A tradeoff, basically.

Also, having midi capability (as opposed to usb-midi) is important for me to incorporate it into my current studio setup, so maybe I need to check out a third midi to cv module that is smaller than the Polyend but different from the one you've suggested.

Sure...you might have a look at Hexinverter's Mutant Brain, then. SYSEX-addressable, user configurable with 4 CV outs and 12 trigger/gate/clock outs, fits in 8 hp. This has a lot of flexibility, being user-definable in a similar manner to the FH-2, but you still get a 5-pin MIDI in.

I also wanted to ask about your experience with the shrunk-down Mutable clones. I haven't had time to look too closely at them but it seems like they might be more of a hassle to program than the name-brand ones (shrinking the face means hiding features?). Curious to know what your experiences have been.

It's worth remembering that these clones are different build variants on the open-source originals. As such, they have the original functions...but some "clones" take this to a higher level, such as the "Monsoon" variants on the original "Clouds" module. There's very much a school of thought that says you should get the original versions...but at the same time, if a build is really space-limited, the clones make sense inasmuch as you can get the same functionality into a tighter space, which then allows MORE functionality to get into the build. Even Mutable themselves have picked up on this, given the reconfiguration of their popular Veils module down from 12 to 10 hp, while adding slider controls for level and a DC offset for unipolar response (very useful with pulse waves to use them as clock pulses, or to keep a modulation signal out of negative voltages).

btw.... there is nothing stopping you follow your own path, though keep in mind some of the feedback from this forum which 'may' help guide future choices of gear.
It can feel like they are here to "Rip you a new one" but I'm sure they are all lovely xxx and actually trying to help.

You could start out with quite a lot less and still enjoy what you make before progressing to more modules.

But yeah.... Don't get into Modular, It will really screw *you up...

*Bank Balance.

Marbles is in control of the gates and pitches.
I made a little Snare from a fairly snappy envelope, some noise and a bit of ADDAC103 and the rolls come from the Ratchet on the DNi Pro DOT, other percussion triggers are from the Roboux LL8, I'm enjoying the Pr0k Clap module and I'm mixing/panning the percussion in my first Doepfer module A-138sv, there is the MakeNoise STO doing one part and the Befaco EvenVCO doing the more tweaked filtered bits which are filtered in the Omsonic Funky Ladder Filter, there's some Monsoon Clouds reverb and some 2hp Verb and some Erica Pico DSP reverb..... all the verbs!

Quite enjoyed this one, I need to dig a bit deeper withe the LL8 and work on more variation or progression on the percussion.

Always get a bigger case/power supply than you think you will need! I started small with 6U case but realized that I needed a monster base case with 12u monster case after a year.

I guess it is a little Brassy, cheers :)

This was good :)

Not how i do it now... But, what i want when it is out!
https://sonicstate.com/news/2021/04/09/mechanical-circle-guitar-interfacing-with-cv-and-gate/

Hiya, sorry to have been rude. I got busy with a bunch of stuff and was not checking in on this. I really appreciate you taking the time to make such a thorough proposal for a redux. I definitely see what you mean about me having under-utilized the space. I was planning on leaning quite heavily into the Disting modules for some of the things you've suggested (like wave folding and sampling, for example, since I generally don't use samplers that much and I already own a few of them). Do you find the Disting to be kind of anti-climactic when you start to use it for loads of different things?

Also, having midi capability (as opposed to usb-midi) is important for me to incorporate it into my current studio setup, so maybe I need to check out a third midi to cv module that is smaller than the Polyend but different from the one you've suggested.

I also wanted to ask about your experience with the shrunk-down Mutable clones. I haven't had time to look too closely at them but it seems like they might be more of a hassle to program than the name-brand ones (shrinking the face means hiding features?). Curious to know what your experiences have been.

Thanks!

That brass sound : mwah!

Thank you GarfieldModular, troux and sacguy71 for your kind remarks!
Very encouraging for a ”rookie”.

This sounds all kinds of wrong, but in a good way.

@sacguy71 -- Oh I know the Disting well, one of the first modules I ever bought. And I completely agree that the user interface is bad, especially the clickless "Z" encoder for selecting things.

OTOH it is half the price of the Sample Drum, 1/4 of the hp (give or take) and it has that lovely Crossfade Looper algorithm... and the 50-odd others which are part of the problem.

OTOOH having two of the same module just seems like a lack of imagination really.... although the Disting is the ultimate "utility" module, and you can never have too many utilities...

I may have been spending too long on Modular Grid recently. I have been building bigger, more elaborate racks on Modular Grid and can't seem to leave it alone. This is surprising because in my recent modular videos I have noticed that I never use all the modules I have for a single patch in just 84hp. So I decided to create a patch that uses everything, plus a few extras. I liked the result and recorded a YouTube performance.

Just curious how you all are using external instruments (specifically electric guitar) with your rack. I don't recall seeing a thread about this recently, so I figured I would start one.
I recently got back into playing guitar (sort of a post-punk/shoegaze style), and have a Doepfer A119 input and plenty of signal processors, but no good output module. Curious how everyone else is getting instrument signals in and out, connecting your rack to guitar amps (?), effects loops, pedal interfaces, etc.
I'm open to any interesting sound design ideas and recommended modules.
Thanks!

I would pass on the Disting- I have one and it is a big pain to use. Maybe because the encoders are tricky to get to do what I want and the vast number of algorithms packed into it make the UI not that great. For a drum sampler, my choice would be something like Erica Synths drum sampler.

Markets are weird... take Beeple's $65 million sale of an NFT. NFTs make absolutely NO sense to me, and the piece in question isn't even close to high art, or really good low art, in my opinion. Value is a vague noun/verb, however, so it's whatever people make of it.

Thank you!!!!

That's a great point!

Of the things I have that have this kind of inflated value, one in particular is absolutely 100% a work of art - I happen to think one of the most stunning eurorack modules ever made, out of print, and totally unobtainium!

For a bit of a giggle I did a quick search for expensive 'rip off' art:

https://www.oddee.com/item_98781.aspx

Suddenly, someone charging #5K for a rare module seems like a bargain!

EDITED Apr 9th 2021, 10:24

You see the inflated prices mostly on Cwejman modules. These were made by an ingenious inventor in high quality and small quantities. During his lifetime the modules were already the most sought-after and expensive. Now that Wowa has passed, it is clear that the price is no longer determined only by the functionality of the module. They are considered as a legacy, as pieces of art.
Sure some people want to cash in but if you think about it this way it is very relative: what is the price of any Banksy certified reproduction print.

Through the power of dialogue we all got on the same page. It's a Modular Grid miracle.
-- troux

I know I drop in and out here, but I have always found it to be the most level and reasonable group of people, adults who can have different opinions without turning to all out war :)

I would like the market to go back to how it was until recently, it's erm, slow to say the least, but then there are people who clearly still have plenty of disposable income.

This to me marks a subtle but seasonal change in the ever widening gap between the people who have, and the people don't - it's a global phenomena.

Is redistribution of wealth in this context such a terrible thing?!

It's definitely made me think about how I will list these things, if I do, and some words along the lines of 'priced as rare item' would alleviate all slime perhaps? I am open to suggestions for other wordings that would achieve similar or better!

One thing I have never done, and will never do, is act unethically or deliberately try to deceive someone, it's simply not in my nature.

There's another very old saying: A fool and his money are soon parted, I have been that fool on many an occasion, some would argue every time I dropped relatively large amounts of cash on synths heh :))

Maybe these situations are just an inevitable part of life, there will always be the con artist, there will always be the fool and part of growing up is learning to tell the difference.