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I see you've got a couple switches in there already. Do you blow your hair back the way they do mine?
-- wrecksmoondee

What would you say is your most recent "favorite" use for your switches?
-- merzky_shoom

I guess I love them for "generative" surprises. I love how I can load them like a revolver with different sound bullets and have them fire off and do their thing. Sometimes I'll have a suitably primed filter doing double-duty: taking (A) a percussive element and (B) a "tonal" element. So the switch will be loaded with (A) a trigger and, say, (B) a mixed pair of VCOs making a simple chord; these will alternatively be sent into the filter. If I have another switch handy, the CV-in of the filter can take alternatively an envelope and a random voltange or an LFO and an audio-rate VCO. The basic idea is alternating elements. I suppose one might use a crossfader in a similar way. In any case, I've found switches to be the utility that leads to me sitting back and listening to this strange instrument with a big grin on my face.

*EDIT: I should add that what counts as "enjoyable" and "musical" for me, and thus what makes me grin, is perhaps quite idiosyncratic, so, as they say, "YMMV".

EDITED Mar 6th 2021, 01:23

I'd want a lot more utilities
-- JimHowell1970

WRT this point, any kinds of utilities you see missing from this that you personally couldn't live without? Not assuming that your needs will meet mine, please keep in mind. I just haven't found much need for any others that can be replaced with something 0hp/outboard. With the one exception being a precision adder... which I reluctantly took out of this build.

-- merzky_shoom

It's not so much that you are missing huge amounts of functionality - the utilities you have I would all want I would just want more of them - especially vcas (modulate the modulation of the modulation not just audio!) and mixers (I'd want at least one matrix mixer, probably 2, for mixing modulation sources and feedback patching, and possibly some more small sub-mixers)

I'd probably also want to add rectifiers and logic modules and another sample and hold (so maybe a kinks)

I think you'd miss out on a lot by staying away from the community completely - there's absolutely no need to post if you don't want to - if only for things like the "today my small discovery was..." thread on muffs

tbh I'm not that interested in new modules - I scan them and maybe read the details of 1 in 10 and "watch" (skip through for interesting bits at least) a video of 1 in 30 - but in terms of gas it can be dangerous - I "watched" Robin Vincent filling a new case last night on youtube and now I want a deckard's voice as well as a magneto!

I'd be inclined to keep the nifty case so you have somewhere to expand into, just in case!

EDITED Mar 6th 2021, 01:17

The Tex-Mix system is definitely worthwhile, to be sure. I'll second that, plus add some points to this...

When you're choosing a final mixer for a modular system, it's definitely a plus to have a VCA per strip, as this can take some load off of other VCAs in the system to use in more "interesting" ways. While you can get away with manual panning, AUX send/return and the like, it's super-useful to have CV control over levels at the mixer itself. For one thing, you won't need to add VCAs before it, which should save a bit of space. Plus, if you find a suitable mixer that can do CV over the other functions, those then eliminate OTHER modules from the build, such as panners, AUX mixers/distros, and the like. However, keep in mind that when you add modulation destinations, you're ALSO adding a need for more modulation. But there's "workarounds" for that that won't have you adding loads of modulation modules...just depends on how creative you get with patching and module utilization.

But as for output modules...my fascination with them has to do with many years of gigging with dicey AC power systems plus external noise sources (RF especially). See, in North America (and a few other places, like Japan), we've got unbalanced power...one leg of a three-wire AC connection here is "hot", one's "ground", and the last is "neutral", intended as a return for the "hot" line which has the entire 120-ish volts on it. Plus, you often see older construction where clubs are with bogus grounds...looks like three wire, but the electrician violated the hell out of codes by tying the "neutral" and "ground" together...a BIG no-no! Or maybe the stage has its power coming off of two different breakers, so you plug the mixer into one and, inadvertantly, plug the synth into the other...resulting in the lovely hummmmmmmm of a ground loop. Now, much of the rest of the world uses BALANCED power...there's no "neutral", but you get two 120V "hots" referenced to ground for balanced 240V. This is the CORRECT way to deal with AC...but remember, 'Murrika invent 'lektricity, so we am rite!

BUT...if you put in an isolated output, what'll happen there is that the audio gets through the transformer, but the noise gets chucked out, especially if it's trying to crawl back up your audio out line (like in a ground loop or induced RF situations). It's not NECESSARY, mind you...but it does serve as a good "prophylaxis" against garbage getting into the signal, especially if a user plans to gig with their system (or, more likely, gets called to gig with it unexpectedly) and there's questions about the power at the venue. If one of these is in the build, one just proceeds as per normal; if not, you might spend quite a bit of time that you don't really have chasing noise, and being forced to use a kludge to get the gig done, such as using a ground lift (which isn't a good idea!) on some of the gear. The easier thing is to sacrifice 4 or 6 hp for an isolated output module...then you KNOW you're set before problems ever arise.

Beautiful. Well done @wishbonebrewery.

Hi Wishbonebrewery,

Oh my goodness, what a music! This is seriously beautifully done, nice long track. I totally agree here with Troux that it would be nice to hear an entire album, double CD or double record please, instead of a good 9 minutes it should be over 90 minutes! Are you the new Tangerine Dream? ;-)

I love the picture of your rack with those cables too :-)

This is enjoyment pure! You made my weekend start fantastically, thank you very much for that :-) Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Igor,

Oh that's a nice demo track for your album. The atmosphere is so... tense... cutting like sharp knife here through the air. Beautifully done!

I continue listening on Bandcamp :-) Thank you very much for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

Very groovy @wishbonebrewery, I wanna hear the whole album.

I see you've got a couple switches in there already. Do you blow your hair back the way they do mine?
-- wrecksmoondee

Oh jeez I love the Erica switch, especially for the price they were offloading them at. Had underutilized it as a complex modulation "source" for the first few months with it, as I was enamored with creating melodies from every audio signal I could push through it. But yeah I often find myself starting patches with "What could I do with the switch now?"

The manual switches have performed the job I got them for, but I haven't run into too many problems for them to solve for me just yet. I've also got a couple of complex modules that I'm still trying to get under my fingers and into my workflow, so time will tell.

What would you say is your most recent "favorite" use for your switches?

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 22:52

I'd want a lot more utilities
-- JimHowell1970

WRT this point, any kinds of utilities you see missing from this that you personally couldn't live without?

-- merzky_shoom

Sorry for eavesdropping. The utilities that I've especially fallen in love with are switches; the Doepfer A-150 and A-151 in particular. I'm always thinking "boy, what I could do with one or two more of these." So I'm planning on getting another one or two more.

I see you've got a couple switches in there already. Do you blow your hair back the way they do mine?

I guess a lot hinges on what "complex" means, but the Doepfer A-154/A-155 sequencer combo is certainly well-featured.

I shot a tiny promo video for new cassette release of my band.
Featuring reel-to-reel, modular, guitars and space :) Hope you will like it.
Album is here - https://gamardahfungus.bandcamp.com/album/polaris
Pre-orders started today.

Video is here:

I'd want a lot more utilities
-- JimHowell1970

WRT this point, any kinds of utilities you see missing from this that you personally couldn't live without? Not assuming that your needs will meet mine, please keep in mind. I just haven't found much need for any others that can be replaced with something 0hp/outboard. With the one exception being a precision adder... which I reluctantly took out of this build.

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 21:21

I have found a very good modular channel on Youtube.
”Monotrail Tech Talks”

There are videos like:
How to use modular utilities.

https://m.

Introduction to Eurorack drones.

Introduction to generative patches.

For a Patreon fee ($4/month) you can download all patches from the videos as PDF:s

I didn't think I'd ever want more than 144hp - until I did... took about 6 months to get to that point and now I have about 1200hp - but saying that I may have stopped at 208hp if I'd bought a bigger case to start with (mantises were not available at the time)

As a 40 year old who didn't upgrade live 8 until this year, still works with mostly digital synths from the early 00s, and rarely if ever sells/trades/upgrades gear... I really don't feel I have an issue. I'm not interested in collecting and I've learned that shiny new lights are only shiny for a week. With that said, there are bound to be moments of GAS in my future, but only minimally modular GAS. Famous last words... I know.

odd-pairings are probably a good idea and overlap is no bad thing

Good tip.

if you want to stay at this point - stop coming to modulargrid, don't go to any other modular forums, don't go to any shops either online of in real life - don't communicate with other modular synthesists - these are all sources of gas

Lol. That's sorta the idea yeah. I am not a community guy, per se. Wonderful community. But wouldn't want to be a part of any club that would have me. Plus, staring at a forum/blogs/videos is just not what I do, really. I prefer to spend my time in front of a computer either at work, or making music.

I'd want a lot more utilities - they make everything else go both further and different - probably another 100hp or so of them for that many voices - balanced rack = 30% utilties, 20% modulation sources - other 50% = sequencers, filters and vcos

Thanks that's a good equation to go by. I still have a NiftyCase hanging around, so I may try my hand at building some utilities once I'm done with my current projects and see how well they jive with the system then consider what they could replace in the main case. But my intention is to stay with this case and only ever add-by-subtracting-first, to allude back to your first point.

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback. Greatly appreciated!

Should be red stripe up. There is a little marking on the PCB that says "red stripe" near where it should be. At least on mine there is.

if you want to stay at this point - stop coming to modulargrid, don't go to any other modular forums, don't go to any shops either online of in real life - don't communicate with other modular synthesists - these are all sources of gas

-- JimHowell1970

LOLLLLLL I had the same thought Jim

Controlling: Triggers from Roland TR-09, Clocks into 2hp Euclid into 2hp Turning machine into 2hp Tune, Roboux LL8 & DNi Pro DOT.
VCOs: Befaco EvenVCO, Sine split off through Dannysound Timbre
VCFs: #Omsonic​​ Funky Ladder Filter & Happy Nerding HNVCF
Percussion: ADDAC103 & Patching Panda Hatz & Roland TR-09's hats
Effects: Monsoon Clouds Reverb & 2hp Verb & Erica Pico DSP
Modulation: ALM Pip Slope, WMD/SSF ADSRVCA, Divkid Instruo Ochd, Noise Engineering Clep Diaz for clocked LFOs.

Live recorded in 1-take after a few practices cos I always screw up my levels!
Cheers for listening :)

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 18:29

thoughts:

I didn't think I'd ever want more than 144hp - until I did... took about 6 months to get to that point and now I have about 1200hp - but saying that I may have stopped at 208hp if I'd bought a bigger case to start with (mantises were not available at the time)

odd-pairings are probably a good idea and overlap is no bad thing

if you want to stay at this point - stop coming to modulargrid, don't go to any other modular forums, don't go to any shops either online of in real life - don't communicate with other modular synthesists - these are all sources of gas

I'd want a lot more utilities - they make everything else go both further and different - probably another 100hp or so of them for that many voices - balanced rack = 30% utilties, 20% modulation sources - other 50% = sequencers, filters and vcos

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 18:24

The Joranalogue Compare 2 is on my list.

The Serge NCOM is pretty nice @JimHowell1970

I always forget about comparators - I think the only ones I have are in the doepfer instrument interface and in disting...

I tend to use the doepfer - but i'm going to go and have a look what else is available

the seller didn't leave the power cable attached?? boo

usually there is a small mark on the pcb by the header

I would not guess up - down is much more common- hence red stripe down being a saying! - but if there is no markings I would either contact the seller or the manufacturer to confirm before plugging it in

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 18:02

The Zlob Modular SVF is super small and super Nasty. I choose this for my small skiff, but the bastl cinnamon seems to be also a great choice for tiny filters. Also from what I heard filters are a very personal thing so you might need to find a way to try one out first. (or buy them all ;) )

output modules are mostly superfluous - mostly attenuators or vcas or mixer output or nothing will work perfectly as final output

if you NEED balanced outputs then buy an output module that has balanced outputs

if you NEED headphones out of the modular - then buy a headphone module (ALM HPO for example)

to be honest I wouldn't worry too much about mono/stereo at the moment - most modules are mono (including the 2 you have)

however, if you still want a stereo output from your modular, then you will need a module that can take mono signals and either stereo-ize them (some fx modules will do this) or pan the mono signal into the stereo field (a panning module - or you could patch it using 2 vcas and probably maths)

a lot of 'stereo' mixers offer mono inputs that they copy to both L & R equally - so still mono, but from 2 speakers

there are also quite a few that have panning - either manual or voltage controlled

this is the way I thin I would go if I were you, but only after more important modules - such as vcas, modulation source, some basic utilties (kinks, links, shades - or equivalents) and at the very least a filter - probably also a reverb or delay

in fact I don't think I would bother with this until you are ready to add more voices

I would just add the maths and the vca and a way to play it - either via a keyboard, a sequencer or a midi interface - if the one you want is unavailable - just find something cheap/used that will do the job for now - and get the one you want when it is available and either sell the stopgap or keep it for backup / additional sequencing duties

and work my way through the maths illustrated manual a good few times - this will help massively in your learning - it will show you what functions you want - you then have to work out if you need to add a module to cover one or more of those functions or if you want to add another modulation source - a disting would also be a good way of doing this - but, unless you get the ex, has the same restrictions as maths - that it can only really do one thing at a time

for midi converters as with mixers go for one with more channels than you think you'll need - the chances are that you will need them at some point in the future - for a mixer (with built in vcas, manual panning and headphone outs) a really cost effective solution is the tesseract modular tex-mix which is expandable - you just buy a master module and as many 4 channel mono or stereo modules as you want - you can even get direct outs - which are post fader! this is what I use - most of the functionality of the WMD performance mixer, but for a lot less money - knobs instead of faders and no vc-panning - but big deal - I have 8 mono channels and 4 stereo channels for somewhere around 300€

hello all, tiny question, just brought one of these off ebay..... red stripe up or down on the power cable connecting to the module itself please? up i think? no user manual online.....

the two LPG's by MRG Synths are good fun, 4hp and very low priced

I'm coming to a close on my modular journey. My sole intention was to create a (relatively) unique instrument that I could "finish" and learn and master, would provide ample sound design opportunities, generative capabilities, fill out some additional synthesis "needs" (such as an additional analog sound source and wavetable synthesis), and could integrate/sync well with my larger DAW'd and DAW-less setup (using Live as a clock/CV source in the former, and the Squarp Pyramid in the latter). Of course, all of this is with the understanding that time may change the needs/wants from my setup, but ultimately I don't think I'll ever want more than a 280 hp system.

So here it is: 4+ sound sources, 2 multi-mode filters, a few env gens, 6 vca's, some sound shapers/effects, and a fair amount of utility modules. I've got plenty of power headroom: (1A left on the +12v rail(s), about 350mA left on -12v [out of 1A], and I'm barely touching the 5v [of which there is an unnecessarily large 1A as well]).

I have a pair of catwalk LPGs, and 3-1x3 passive mults which are not visible for obvious reasons.

The only modules I have yet to purchase in this build:
ALA Tilt
Hexinverter Mutant Brain
2hp ADSR
Clank Chaos
Doepfer A-11-3v (currently have a 2hp VCO playing this role, but intend to upgrade eventually)

[Somehow I left these last two out when I originally posted. Significant for their hp relative to the ones listed above]
Befaco Chopping Kinky
Patching Panda MoonPhase

The only things missing from this build that I really wanted to get in there are a stereo mixer (leaning towards Hyrlo), and a scope (leaning towards O'tool, more for space than anything). However I feel the stereo mixer is a bit unneeded in this, especially since I can use the BitBox as a "mixer" of sorts. And I could of course purchase a standalone scope if I really need it that badly.

The first things I would consider replacing in here are the Cre8 modules only because their size:function ratio. Although the stubborn part of me doesn't want to push them out of the modular because, well, I feel they deserve to be honored for allowing me to get the journey rolling... stupid. I know.

Anyways, any thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Criticisms? Odd-pairings? Overlap?

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 22:42

Heh, yep, of course... these things happen anyway, always have, always will!

Thanks, I'll take a look at some modules with these features and the others you have recommended.

Under-compartment = Friedman Powergrid 10 (times two), Modified EHX Big Muff, EHX Silencer, Dunlop EP101, Boss FBM-1

Hey GarfieldModular! Thanks for your kind comments, much appreciated :)

Thank you guys so much for info! I’m very new to this. I’m very new to this and I will just be happy to get sound out of this. So far I have the Erica Synths VCO and the Tiptop 808 module. The others are in the mail. I ditched a few things, now I’m looking to see what else I will need. I’m curious about my outpost module. I would like an output module that will give stereo outputs.

Anyway this is what my rack looks like at the moment.

*I got rid of the A-190, The Dual ADSR, and the Make Noise Output module.

Thank you’ll a ton!

EDITED Mar 5th 2021, 07:44

Thanks folks, lots of interesting responses above!

And yes, as many have already done, do feel free to mention threads / posts on Muff Wiggler or other relevant sources.

Much appreciated!

Thanks @farkas, I definitely lean a bit more maximalist in my modular tunes to date, but as with all things it's about balance, so I've been working lately to see if I can build something I really enjoy from the ground up and with a smaller patch rather than assuming it needs another layer and more complexity to keep it interesting. This does seem to provide deeper results!

@troux I love the simplicity and tasteful use of effects and filtering here. I could listen to stuff like this all day.
It's funny, the deeper I get into modular the more I am attracted to minimalism.

Thanks @GarfieldModular! In a way this is a pretty simple track and not really showing the power of modular at its fullest, but I like simplicity sometimes. More developed tunes will hopefully be on the way soon though 🕺🏻🕺🏻

Hi Steve,

Oh yes, you got a real nice rhythm there, along with some nice, fun and interesting sounds as well! How about some more of the same :-) ?

Thanks Steve for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Systasis,

You got some lovely bits and bites there in that sample track. I specifically like the part that starts around 02:20+, really interesting!

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

Hi TeenageLarvae,

I tried to send you below message yesterday already but for quite some time Modulargrid was not reachable. Trying again now:

Wow, I think this is the most noisiest track I have heard so far here on Modulargrid ;-) Great noise stuff you got there! I guess for you a Wogglebug (from Make Noise) is peanuts and from your point of view most probably the Wogglebug isn't noisy enough, though I experience it as a difficult module to tame! :-)

Would be nice to see in a possible next video more details of your modules, looks like you got a few interesting ones in your rack! Thank you very much for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield Modular.

Hi The-Erc,

If you are willing to spend 8 HP then I can advise two filters.

1) Well okay LPG then :-) The Make Noise - Optomix with 8 HP not too bad.

2) The Doepfer - A-124 Wasp filter, for a full review report please download the PDF from my below link:

https://garfieldmodular.net/index.php/doepfer/doepfer-a-124-1/

Below 8 HP it's getting seriously difficult, no other filter worth mentioning comes to my mind with less than 8 HP.

Good luck with the search for a good yet small filter and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi TumeniKnobs,

Oh yes, those good old times... the 70's :-) Yes and Rush indeed and don't forget that long Telegraph Road number from Dire Straits ;-) But that was already the early 80's...

Oh long ambient, nice! Don't forget the "new rule" here that ambient needs to be 17 minutes or longer ;-) Can't wait for that and kind regards, Garfield.

I’m impressed with everything G-Storm Electro makes. This one and the Oberheim clone sound outstanding.

This: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/g-storm-electro-delta-vcf-8hp

Same OTA filter topology as in the Korg Poly-61, two-input mixer, plus you get either LP or BP modes, all for a whopping $140. And yeah, this WILL have some character that normally you don't hear in smaller VCFs.

I have the (perhaps wrong) idea that Ripples and Font probably sound pretty similar.

Of course once you go to 8hp there are so many Doepfers to choose from!

-- the-erc

Probably fairly similar. Ripples has FM, and a 4-pole low pass with VCA, but I imagine they're in the same ballpark. The Doepfer SEM sounds great too. As much as I like the unique Wasp sound, I've read a lot of stories of that particular filter burning up.

Another "multi-ute" that I like to see in builds has to be WMD/SSF's Tool Box, especially when there's sequencing involved. That thing gives you some VERY useful tools for that, including a comparator, diode-OR pulse summer, a two-in electronic switch and some waveshaping trickery. All in a mere 6 hp, with no controls to speak of...just a few POTENT utilities.

At 8hp, I have a hard time arguing against MI Ripples for features and sound quality per hp.
-- farkas

I have the (perhaps wrong) idea that Ripples and Font probably sound pretty similar.

Of course once you go to 8hp there are so many Doepfers to choose from!

Can't say, but I could use a little more of that vibe which is why I want it. If you want range I should throw out Intellijel's Polaris even though it's 10HP, it can get pretty squawky but can stay clean and smooth too. Definitely a good one.

I don't have one but I'd love to get a Steve's MS-22
-- troux

Seen some demos, seems good for dirty and overdriven, but can it do anything else?

Below 8hp, I've been impressed with and considered getting a Bastl Cinnamon. At 8hp, I have a hard time arguing against MI Ripples for features and sound quality per hp.