All Posts

Yes, Clouds is another module that I have found to be less useful than its reputation suggests. I still have one but it's on my chopping block.
-- farkas

When I first got the Monsoon Clouds I didn't really get it, almost thought it was broken, its taken time but I now enjoy it for at least its lush reverb, but with reverb turned off is where it comes into its own, modulating it on at least 2 parameters at the same time with use of the Freeze Button and reverse grains there is much enjoyment to be hand. Brilliant Fun is the Transient Modules 7J Joystick to tweak Size and density, I could literally just wiggle the joystick for hours on the right patch.

Thanks for the feedback!

That's really dark. Great Work!!

And the Video kind of scares me :-)
-- Quantum_Eraser

thx so much for your feedback

That's really dark. Great Work!!

And the Video kind of scares me :-)

@farkas thanks so much for listening. ostalgie is an interesting concept that need to be discussed in deep

This creates a great mood. Excellent work.
I visited my friends in Leipzig a few years ago, and I could sense the "Ostalgie". In fact, I brought home a poster celebrating the beauty of industrial design in the DDR.

Just listened through some of your excellent soundscapes. Nice work.
Yes, Clouds is another module that I have found to be less useful than its reputation suggests. I still have one but it's on my chopping block. I'm anxious to see if the new version fits my needs.

Another rack? ;-)
-- GarfieldModular

Yeah! Now I'm close to finish this one, that's possible! :D

Hi all,

I just wanna present my latest dark ambient release: Ostalgie

In German culture, "Ostalgie" is nostalgia for aspects of life in DDR. It is a portmanteau of the German words Ost (east) and Nostalgie (nostalgia).

hypnotic depersonalizing experimental modular dark ambient

1. 00:00 Berlin Radio International
2. 05:20 Der Ostalgieschritt
3. 17:03 Modulpropaganda

BANDCAMP: https://mebitek.bandcamp.com/album/ostalgie

experimental video art all videos and voices are from original soviet and DDR footage and radio except extracts from the Soviet propaganda animation film "Interplanetary Revolution" (1924)

all music has been produced with Modular Synthesizers modulargrid rack:

artwork by mebitek

feedabck and comments welcome

best regards from Sardinia

@GarfieldModular, that is a sample from a Goldbaby collection put through the NE Desmodus. I love the sound of the Dixie in this track, I have been playing a ton with this one. I will likely be expanding my rack in a few months and adding a couple more analog osc. I do want to add a really good FM module to get some nice DX-7 tones if anyone has some recommendations.

I have a few more tracks I am working on, as I continue to get a good workflow going between performing (not quite there yet to pull a track like this off live quite yet, I have just started more song based programming with the squarp), sound design and arranging.

I also have my eye on a Novation Peak, and the Jomox Alpha Base if anyone has any experience or opinions on either of these, all comments welcome.

EDITED Feb 2nd 2021, 05:15

Thank you all so much. This is all really useful info!

the-erc: I have an 88 key M-audio controller going into my rack, I've also used an old MPC 2000 but didn't really get the same results I was going for. I've actually used these modules on two recordings so far, but I feel I've hit some limitations.

Lugia: I like giving myself obstructions and believed I could achieve what I want in 3u/104hp as I'm using a set up that involves additional components, eventually I'd like to only use my laptop to record into the DAW. But you're probably right on one or both accounts, replace Maths, fill that space with a proper envelope generator and get a bigger rack.

farkas: I had initially looked at the Zadar but went with Maths as it seems to be the go-to for most racks, but rewatching some videos I think your suggestions would definitely serve my needs better. In the end I'll likely purchase a larger case, it's inevitable. And I'll swap out Maths. Off topic/on topic re: popularity of modules that just didn't work for me, I had Clouds for a while but wasn't 100% happy with its sound. Either the used module I got was faulty or I couldn't figure out how to diminish its muddiness, for lack of a better word.

Lastly, if y'all are interested in checking out what i've done so far, the recordings are semi modular; I'd say 60/40 with the latter being guitar feedback, tape loops, synths and pedals, the link is here: https://andresanabria.bandcamp.com/

Again, thanks all.

EDITED Feb 2nd 2021, 04:36

Looking forward to giving these a read @GarfieldModular, and I've had my eye on a Waldorf Dual VCA, colorful VCAs being very exciting. One thing that stands out to me in Eurorack is the love and good energy so many people have for the field and for the people working in it. There are exceptions of course, but the community is something special and this will be a nice addition to it. Thanks for sharing.

Another rack? ;-)

Hello Farkas and Lugia,

Farkas: Thank you very much :-)

So far following review reports are ready for download from my website:

Doepfer - A-110-1 VCO
Doepfer - A-124 SE Wasp filter
Erica Synths - Pico Switch
Make Noise - Mult(-iple)
Waldorf - DVCA1 (dual VCA) but you found that one already ;-)

For this coming month February I hope to be able to produce the review reports of Doepfer - A-140-1 ADSR and A-145-1 LFO modules. Perhaps once a month I will mention it, I don't want to become known as a "spammer" ;-)

Lugia: Thank you very much for your kind post as well as your thoughts and views. I only can agree with you on how crazy Eurorack became and still becomes, the variety of modules is so immense that one can't keep a real overview of all of "what's out there"...

You mention you don't know how to compare it to or with, and I know you meant this in another context, just stealing here the subject ;-) In future review reports if I have reviewed more modules of the same function, let's say a few VCAs, then in paragraph 5.5 - Comparing this VCA module with other VCA modules I will start to compare in this example the VCAs I have already reviewed so one can (finally) start to compare... but for the moment that's the (hopefully near) future. I first need to get more reviews done of several functions and then more reviews of the same function so the comparing can get started... For the moment a long way to go.

Both: Thank you very much for your kind support and kind regards, Garfield.

Nice one @Exposure, great feel and I love the break in the middle. Looking forward to more.

Great sound design and arrangement, nice 90s feel too. I love it @mog00

Hi Mog00,

Wow, this is brilliantly done! Beautiful sounds, nicely different, what a piece of art this is! Would stand out grand in a piece of Jazz or Ambient.

How did you create that cymbal sound between 0:16 and 0:17? That's beautifully done! Is that a sample?

So much to discover here, I keep pressing the play button :-) Thank you very much for sharing this and I hope, one day you will make a longer version of this brilliant track! Kind regards, Garfield.

P.S.: Pressing now for the 8th time this track! I just can't stop!!!

you might also look into the AI Synthesis eurorack Stompbox Adaptor module. its 2hp (smol) but has been a real great addition to my lil eurorack and its cheap ($70 for a prebuilt module or $10 in diy kit form)

My tuppence : I think you are a bit over-endowed with randomness. Also quite a few modules take up too much space. I would :
- ditch the Chance;
- switch the Scales for a 2hp quantiser;
- switch Quad VCA for Veils (to save space).
- Swap the 2hp MMF for a filter with more controllable params (and bigger knobs!)
- Consider switching Maths for a smaller function generator.
- Add some voltage controlled envelope generators to eat all the triggers from steppy/noise tools/pulses
- Add a step sequencer

Nice! Found myself wishing it wasn't over. :)
Guess I'll play it again.

The facts:
New to Eurorack, and I've done homework, but don't know what I don't know.
Generative/random/rhythmic/live sampling is the vibe. I was floored by the MN Tape and Microsound Music Machine demos, and I'd like to build a rig like that, plus maybe sequencing in the rack and some oscillators? The 4MS sampler workflow seems to match my workflow more than the Morphagene or Squid (maybe?), but I could be persuaded otherwise.
I have a deep investment in guitar pedals (including some with CV control), so tweaking sounds outside the rack is really important to me, and I've looked at in-rack and pedalboard (Boredbrain) solutions for that.
I have a small studio full of analog/digital sound sources (guitar/bass/circuit bent/drums/keyboards/Volcas/etc.). Not especially interested in DAW integration, but definitely need to sync to Volcas, Rhythm Wolves, etc.
I have experience performing live noise sets with guitar, pedals, and a Boss RC-300 looper, and looking to extend that (though maybe in the studio more than in a performance context).
Ideas and suggestions welcomed.
Thanks.
The idea for the rig (though the modules aren't necessarily in order):

Beautiful and strange, well done!

Hey GarfieldModular,

Yeah, for me mixing the drums is one of the most difficult parts of making a track like this one too, sometimes it doesn't quite cut through the mix or lacks energy. With the drumbrute impact it seems like the kick goes deep into the lower frequencies, so I had to eq it a bit and add a some side-chaining, that seems to help.

Thanks for your kind words.

A filter?
-- the-erc

Interesting, I didn't miss it for the moment, but it could give me some different colors of sounds.

A filter?
-- the-erc

Good suggestion, maybe a Steve's MS-22 or a WMD MMF or C4RBN
-- troux

I'll check all of this, thx :)

Edit: Oh! That C4RBN from WMD is awesome and so flexible. That's ok, I'll get it! :D

EDITED Feb 2nd 2021, 10:08

Pam : save 2 ; 110 BPM
Bloom : save 2 sur les 2 channel

A filter?
-- the-erc

Good suggestion, maybe a Steve's MS-22 or a WMD MMF or C4RBN

A filter?

Hi,

I have 4 hp free in my rack, I think I have so many utilities now, and several sources of sounds. What do you miss there, and wich module do you get to fill the free 4 hp?
Thanks!

EDITED Feb 1st 2021, 17:15

I've been looking for a thread JUST LIKE THIS ONE. I'm new to modular - currently dreaming about my first system - but a long time and unrepentant pedal collector and knob twiddler. My pedal collection is on the noise/circuit bending/live sampling/experimental side of things, and the more knobs the better, e.g., Lightfoot Labs Goatkeeper (pre-Malekko big box), WMD Geiger Counter, Meris Enzo, EarthQuaker Data Corrupter, CoPilot Android 2, Subdecay Noise Box, OHNOHO Utter Stutter, Red Panda Particle, and some of the EHX stuff that goes out there like the Flanger Hoax, Tube Zipper, and Ring Thing, and sometimes synced with a pair of 8-Step Programs and live looped with a Boss RC-300.

Currently looking at options for bridging modular and pedals - Intellijel, ALM006 S.B.G., Retro Mechanical Labs GPI., etc. I've got the Patchulator 8000 on my board, but I just found out Boredbrain makes the 3 channel INTRFX which would put the modular interface on the pedal board rather than in the rack, so I'm also considering that.

All that would (hopefully) work in concert with something like this, though as I said I'm new to this side of the sound tweaking world.

EDITED Feb 1st 2021, 15:29

Thanks so much for the details on logic modules. Super helpful. I decided that to really get comfortable with them, it'd probably be best to just build a couple passive logic modules based on some schematics laying around here and there. It'll give me the chance to work on fashioning a finished, rackable module from scratch AND give me more insights into the practical usage of some of these module-types.

Thanks again. You are a saint.

Really spectacular and inspiring!

Multiple systems on one page will not come for several reasons.
But maybe as a workaround you can open two systems in different browser windows and use c und p shortcuts to copy/paste modules from one browser window to the other.

Not sure if I have much more to add beyond the-erc and Lugia, but my experience was that I mostly had to dedicate myself to the modular format. Aside from a few specific external hardware pieces (one polysynth and a drum machine), I got rid of just about every other piece of hardware that didn't interface well with my rack. And I didn't feel like I could quite accomplish what I was trying to do until I had about 9u/104hp full, but that's just me. I especially second the-erc's suggestion to avoid your computer for a while. I also agree with Lugia that Maths probably isn't the best option here. Maths can do a lot, and it has many disciples, but it's not the best option for every circumstance regardless of the hushed tones and legendary status it encourages. For your style of music, I would probably be more likely to recommend Zadar or Octasource and a bunch of utilities (aka "boring modules," switches, sample and hold, 3xMIA, Disting, etc.) to get the most out of what you do have.
Dedicate time to learning what your modular can and can't do, and invest wisely in expanding its capabilities. Sometimes the format just isn't a good fit so don't throw more money at it if it's not working for your workflow. Above all, have fun with it.

Main Synth Dixie2+, I-o47, Maths,FX-Aid,Bat Verb,FH-2
Main Sequencer: Pyramid
Sampler: BlackBox
U-He: Zebra
Dreadbox Typhon

Arranged and Mixed in Studio One.

Yeah, I built the Robaux LL8 which is great for x0x style sequencing very performable so its kind of just a matter of building in the percussion voices to go with it. Then I get Ratchets and Euclidean out of the DNiPro DOT.

I tried to keep up a monthly look at some of the more interesting modules coming out...until about a year-ish ago, when the DELUGE of new Eurorack modules just got to the point where it became untenable. Fact is, there's quite a bit of really intriguing modules and such hitting the sales floors now...I don't really know WHAT to compare it to, either. Some have referred to this as the "modular renaissance", but that seems more characteristic of 20-ish years ago, when Dieter had started putting out the A-100 system, and you started to see third-party firms building for the format. What we have NOW...well, damn...it's as if the entire rulebook on Things You Create Music With has been tossed in the shredder to make confetti! ANYONE can have one of these machines, and unlike the first huge period of modular (1968-80), they don't take up the same amount of room as the car you'd have to purchase in order to spend an equivalent amount of money.

Couple that with the continuing explosion of computer power available to Joe Average, the development of software suites such as Ableton Live or Reason and software instruments such as the ones from Arturia (and LOADS of others), and this situation actually starts to resemble 1977 and the punk scene's democratization of music making...albeit in a sustained manner, with little indication of this flaming out anytime soon. Plus, lines of demarcation that used to be there around what/how to make music are dissolving; it's not unusual now to see the likes of, say, Daniel Lopatin doing film scores, working as Oneotrix Point Never to do pop, or transforming into Chuck Person to become one of the founding vaporwave luminaries. Strange and interesting times, indeed!

Thorough reviews in a written format is an excellent idea @GarfieldModular. Just looking over your Waldorf review (wow!), I can see that this is a labor of love. I have always been an avid reader, and as much as I love DivKid and some of the other reviewers, I process things much differently when they are in-depth and written.
Thanks for doing this. Please share each new review.

Hello All,

I am still not sure about this, looking at the tremendous work that it costs... the idea of starting to review modules and writing a review report about it and publishing it in PDF format and not the usual video way by the even more usual YouTube, started around early 2020.

I then used about a half year to create the template for this review report and since end of last year I started to create review reports themselves. They are not the usual way of reviewing stuff, I took here a little different road if I may put it like that.

Since the enormous amount of work that goes into a review, I have so far only completed 5 review reports but I hope over the months and years this will grow. I know against over 8000 modules 5 review reports is not much... close to zero ;-) On the long run I hope to be able to do 10 review reports on average per year. So after 10 years that would still be only 100 review reports. On the other hand, if you never start, never something will happen.

Not sure if this crazy idea makes any sense, I might stop after a few years, let's see how it goes. Meanwhile if you are interested in a review report, they are in PDF format, nothing fancy really. You can download the reports from my website:

https://garfieldmodular.net/

Naturally, if you have feedback, see mistakes, missing important information or whatsoever, you are welcome to fill in the contact form on the above website and let me know about it.

Thank you very much in advance and kind regards, Garfield.

Edit: Removed typo.

EDITED Feb 1st 2021, 01:40

Trident, DPO, and Plaits are modulated unclocked by DivKID ochd, so natural drift occurs beneath a clocked Mother 32 and DFAM. Additional space created with Clouds and Mimeophon.

Something went awry with audio normalization leading to some unexpected redlines. Ah well.

EDITED Feb 1st 2021, 01:23

Thanks for the kind words. I'm going to stray from the usual for a bit. I'm getting too comfortable plugging and playing the same way.

Hi Mowse,

Very intriguing track this is. I love the main line whilst a beautiful kind of dripping sound (is that the Plaits?) goes around with it too. On top of all that beautiful stuff, you know how to put down a sequence as well!

Lovely work, I don't mind if you try here and there to "drift away", at least this unexpected drift, is in my opinion, very successful! Thank you very much for sharing this with us and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Exposure,

I love the melody line in here, that sound does it for me! :-)

I barely know how to spell drumz but you on the other hand know very well how to handle a decent piece of rhythm :-)

Thank you very much for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

This seems to me to be yet another too-small case problem, in tandem with the absence of suitable utility-ish modules that can unleash the ones that are already here. the-erc's observations are pretty much spot on, therefore...but where would you put those in this? Plus, I'm of the opinion that you'd do better with a proper envelope generator for envelopes than simply using the Maths...to me, that's sort of like having a vintage Ferrari Dino that you only drive to the grocery store. Maths is capable of MUCH more as a complex modulation source than what it's apparently being tasked with here.

Pittsburgher sv-1b to trade

Fact is, since the x0x-box methods are all well-established, they've got a very real "performance practice" around them, to the point that you've got a huge user base that's VERY accustomed to how they work/sound/etc. So, should you run dry on ideas, it'd be quite likely that you could run across another x0x user who'd hit the same creative wall...and they'll have ideas that are specific to those devices that YOU can use.

How do you usually set this up? And what is unsatisfying about the results?

I would say that you should add (i) attenuverters (ii) CV mixer (iii) more VCAs. That said, I would expect that with Pam, Maths, and your MIDI controller you have enough modulation capabilities to do something interesting.

I would also recommend throwing your computer out the window, at least for while.

This is very nice. Very strong BoC vibe at the start, and then moves off into something new. I like.

After years of utilizing hardware, soft synths, and messing around with VCV Rack I ponied up funds to build out a modest 104hp setup, primarily to accentuate and add character to dark ambient / drone noise that I create. I still use my laptop, external hardware, a midi controller and other interstitial devices like a Sony Watchman FD-20A 2" Analog CRT Television to create white noise. But what I thought would facilitate my needs is still lacking and I often end up pulling up a soft synth instead of patching out the sound I'm going for.

My current set up is below:
Pittsburgh Modular MIDI2
ALM Pamela's NEW Workout
Plaits
Piston Honda mkII
Intellijel Quad VCA
Make Noise Maths
Noise Engineering Desmodus Versio
Rossum Electro-Music Evolution
Erica Synths Pico OUT

I've got so many more questions than I'll bother any one with right now, but right off the bat, does anyone see glaring omissions and/or any additional modules necessary to get the most out of what I have, or do I just need to get off the computer and spend more time patching and experimenting -- I'm always doing the latter and spend probably 10+ hours a week messing about, which is why I'm reaching out to those who are far more knowledgeable and experienced.

Thank you all in advance!

EDITED Feb 1st 2021, 03:13

If someone will take few cables I'll have money for more modules:)
win-win