Hey mate,
you got yourself a nice little case set up there!
My feedback is based on the assumption that size is like you indicate above!
Pro:
I see a good balance between key elements of modular - VCAs, Utilities, Sequencers.

Con:
Too much space consumed where alternatives are available:
- Replace Rainmaker with Mimeophon
- Use the A-111-6 instead of the A-111-5
- Maybe consider getting rid of Data but if its a must for you take a smaller footprint like the O Tool from Dave Jones

Additions:
you need LFOs, Attenuverters, a decent mixer (the Intellijel Unity Mixers are not enough), consider the Intellijel MixUp...these you can even chain and have several in a row that can grow together with your case.

In summary I think you build that case with a purpose, which is great! I think it is a great starting point.

Keep on digging!

EDITED Nov 4th 2020, 09:09

hey all, Im going all out on a rack and wanted to get some thoughts/ advice
looking to use for techy stuff and all that
cheers

Thanks Garfield,

Yeah I really like feeding the output from Plaits into Rings from my tests in VCVRack but space constraints kept me from including it in my small rack. So I got Plonk to pair with it for percussion and string stuff as both can do a lot of things besides drum sounds. Maybe in my next rack that will be much larger, I will get Rings and clouds as they are the classic Mutable Instrument pairing and so forth. I originally wanted a Harvestman rack but most of the modules have been out of stock from shops for a long time and from emails with Scott Jaeger, he is currently in the production mode to get more available modules out the door for the holidays. So maybe for Christmas, I may get a Doepfer monster rack along with Rings, Clouds, support modules, and Harvestman modules plus a decent sequencer and mixer. But if not, I have plenty to keep me busy for the next year or so. I am waiting for covid to end so that I can visit modular shops and test run gear before buying much more. I do wish there were more groups in northern California that used modular synths!

Hi Sacguy71,

Such a coincidence, the Rings (Mutable Instruments) is very high on my wish list too :-) I want to check if I can give that one to myself as a Christmas gift ;-) But... same issue as you are facing... I don't have much HP space either, just bought a quite big rack and then, at least from a planning point of view, already full. I might need to reshuffle here and there a bit with what's more important and do the Rings before another planned module... sigh... choices, choices, choices ;-)

Kind regards, Garfield.

Roger That!

I marked you down for your appalling attitude and vaguely threatening posts.

It stands because I believe that people would be better off avoiding dealing with you, I certainly won't.

I don't care whether you mark me down or not and I won't be made to feel like I acted unreasonably, especially after you have deleted your offensive posts.

Incredibly, your latest post makes this whole drama even worse, not only have you had the unit for 2 weeks before it developed a fault, refused a fair offer to make good from Pibou, posted this awful crap on here, you now claim that you are more than capable of fixing the thing yourself for a small amount of cash and a little time, which I also see Pibou has offered to pay for.

I am utterly baffled, please, just sit down.

Hey t0b1,

The best part about modular is that it can be (more or less) whatever you want, if aesthetics don't matter to you, or you happen to enjoy terrible ergonomics or even not having enough modulation sources... who is to argue?

Hehe

-> kel_ & jletra
ok ok I'll give you the aesthetics part...it adds as well to the motivational and satisfaction part to simply look at your case(s) as pieces of art and be "proud" of the collection =)

EDITED Nov 2nd 2020, 16:38

My perspective in addition to the good advice given above:

Aesthetics are cool. I think they are important. I always make an effort to organise my rack using aesthetics as one of the guiding principles - it does make a difference to me. Of course this does not negate functionality, ergonomics etc. and you should always consider these too.

I would highly recommend an Envelope follower and gate/trigger generator:

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/mutable-instruments-ears

or if you want something really nice:

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/xaoc-devices-sewastopol-ii

These will allow you to take the sound AND the signal information from your bass guitar to influence your modular synth.

With this as your starting point, think about the kinds of things you would like to do with that envelope follower and gate/trigger/

e.g. each not played on your bass guitar could trigger a sequence played on the modular or a sample playback or provide the clock for your sequencer, an envelope for your filter cutoff, the possibilities are endless.

The point being is that you need lots of ways to process that incoming envelope and trigger - so as BORING as it is I would highly recommend a multiple and a clock divider/multiplier - so ONE trigger generated from playing your note on your bass guitar can trigger a whole sequence of events or events that only play once every four notes etc. etc.

Finally once you have melted your mind trying to figure out the millions of things you could do with clocks, triggers and envelopes, look at additional sound sources and FX modules.

I would also highly recommend looking into wave folders, tone shapers and compressors - ROAR!

Have fun, I too look forward to seeing what you do here :)

Thanks for sharing your creative process with your patches Kel_

I understand and for me, I don't really care if folks love or hate my videos. I really do it for myself and to share with others who are new to modular world and want to learn from my experiences. I am glad that I took advice from folks to buy logic module and other tools as I need them now in patches. S&H is great and I have a Doepfer one in first rack as well as two in my second rack that help spice up patches. The other Harvestman modules are on my list now that MK2 ones are discounted price once I get a larger new case. Just waiting for Doepfer Monster base cases to arrive toward end of the year then I can get a Hertz Donut MK2 and few other MK2 modules to pair with a sequencer/mixer/tools and so forth in the base case.

Gosh! Thanks... I mean it's just a little messing around?

The patch is quite simple:

1) SH mkII one channel sequence > Argos Bleak
2) 2 channels of Argos Bleak > HD mkII (already tuned as perfectly as possible as described in my previous post)
3) Main osc out of HD mkII > L&R inputs of TS mkII (in Tap Tempo mode tapped/clocked to taste)
4) Various outs from Kermit & ZC mkII direct to modulation points in all of the above
5) That's it - Enjoy & have fun!

I am sorry but I never make videos, even the thought gives me anxiety. I recommend you ignore the downvotes, it seems some people just do this, it's completely meaningless.

The only thing that truly matters is that you enjoy yourself!

If you would like to relieve yourself from the powerful psychological manipulation these views/likes elements invoke, I highly recommend 1Blocker - install and then select the elements on the page you want to hide - create a new rule - done! Never see the likes and dislikes on any YT video ever again, unless you want to - 100% win in my book :)

Hi Jorge...
you are a bass player, my first question would be, perspectival, how you would want to use the case - compliment the bass, integrate it, parallel it...you get my point I guess. Based on that you need different "advises" or directions.
I cannot agree to what Luigia enough...your "sexy module" choices consequently require a hell of modulation, additionally counting on voices you plan, you would need an extensive mixer, which would take a proper amount of space - or you want to go external here?
I hope you get the point that based on your choices there are consequences and especially modular is a great example of that =)

Answering your question of what utilities as well leads to counter questions: what is your ultimate goal? I do not see filters btw...
Usually utilities are following the main choices and compliment them...

OK, let me make it simple and tell you according to my humble experience what would be the steps I would follow, if I started all over again:
- Get clear what modular delivers to you and your journey. How would it compliment? How would it enhance or add
- Never let case size, style, color drive your decisions. At least not at the beginning of your journey
- Most videos, reviews out there are based on a single module and seen or experienced in isolation > take your selection/choice into consideration when choosing modules as they will work together in YOUR context
- Try to build building blocks of modules, instead of randomly buy "stuff" that does not compliment each others
For example, the Make Noise Shared System is an incredible example of building blocks being MUCH more than the sum of its pieces by complimenting each other module and PERFECTLY working together.
For example the Instruo Cs-l alone would require multiple triggers, envelopes, LFOs, sequencers input...in short "modulation (as Gulia already said...) > you would need to decide if the Cs-l is your goto choice and consequently go for complimenting modules to support your choice.
For example the Lubadh has at countless CV modulation possibilities, same choice and consequence as above: if Lubadh is your goto module, research what compliments it...

Its actually not easy to explain with words but I hope you see that the magic in Modular is the endless depth of choices and consequences and the key word is complimenting modulation!

OK, I took off a bit - sorry!
Coming back to earth: As I see it, you need
- ins/outs for your bass
- outs to the outside world
- more VCAs (mainly for modulation but as well for different sound characteristics)
- a multiplication of Maths functions (yes its THE swiss army knife but when Maths modulates Cs-l you need more for other modules...and yes you have disting Ex4)
- Not sure where you want your journey to go...but there is so much more...mults, logic, envelope followers ESPECIALLY to use together with your bass!

Some general observations on top of utilities:
- a least a sequencer to bring movement
- Filters?

Soo much to say but all linked to your choice(s), its a quest. Looking forward to hearing back from you!

Thanks Lugia for taking the time to answer and your insight!! Much appreciated!! :)

I see what you're saying and although aesthetic is a part of it, it's not the only one!! ;) My project is a "Shared System" but with, as much as possible, Instruo's modules. So, 2x3U rows would be the main space and I though the 1U would be useful for the same reason as the CV Bus in Make Noise's case is.
But I guess Instruo doesn't pack as much functionality in their Modules as MN, so that's where the other options have to come to the rescue. But I see my plan was misdirected!!

If you're so kind, would you point me in the right one for this project?
Thanks in advance, mate!

Obviously I cleaned the pots first.
The pots cannot always be recovered, sometimes they need to be replaced.
At home I have Deoxit D5, CRC, isopropyl alcohol, soldering station, air soldering station, etc ..
I also Fix the logic boards.

The pots for Make Noise Maths V2 2013 are:
Taiwan ALPHA B100K R09 23 mm
Taiwan ALPHA B10K R09 23 mm

Link Aliexpress:
6fd8a430d62546ecaea93ee0a3505559_595754$96662e33cc994621b4c1eb562947ea0d&ck=in_edm_other" target="_blank">https://it.aliexpress.com/item/33034803059.html?ug_edm_item_id=33034803059&tracelog=rowan&rowan_id1=user_add_cart_remind_1_1_en_US_2020-11-01&rowan_msg_id=9129biz_add_cart6fd8a430d62546ecaea93ee0a3505559_595754$96662e33cc994621b4c1eb562947ea0d&ck=in_edm_other

You can open up your Maths and see it for yourself.

PS: kaskonauta was rated negative by kalu_bandali, Kel_, farkas and digitalcrickets
WHY?
I don't leave negative feedback because I don't think the same thing.
Regards

Hi Garfield,

Actually, I have one Doepfer A-100 LC6V Low Cost Case - 6U (Vintage Edition) that came with my first Doepfer A100 Basic 1 System and then I have a second Doepfer A-100 6U Suitcase one that is much nicer with metal cover and so forth. I plan to stack these on a monster base case which will give me the room necessary for a larger sequencer, mixer and few complex oscillators/filters as well as more support modules and maybe a sampler and more FX processing in rack. I learned from folks here that these less glamorous support modules are the essential ingredients for superb melodic patches.

OK, looking at Mouser's site as well as Taiwan Alpha's, these don't appear to be sealed pots. They should have SOME sort of opening to the resistor and wiper, according to what I'm seeing.

Get this first: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DeoxIT--caig-laboratories-d5s-6-caig-deoxit-contact-cleaner-5-percent-spray-5-oz And frankly, if you're doing any sort of electronic music work, you really should ALREADY HAVE this on hand, and the knowledge of how to use it.

But we're going to presume that you don't know how it works. So here's how to use DeOxit:

Put little aimer tube on the nozzle.
Aim tube into an opening in a pot that's being difficult.
Spritz a TINY BIT into the pot.
Exercise the pot for 15-20 seconds.
If there are still issues, repeat.

If you're using anything with analog controls, you will find yourself doing this A LOT. Learn how now! You're using equipment that, by its very nature, is prone to develop scratchy pots and the like, and if you don't know how to clean these, you'll either be doing a lot of scratchy-sounding stuff...or if you can't bring yourself to do this, then perhaps you should try building a synthesizer out of sticks, rocks, and other objects that don't require routine maintenance by the user.

Ha, ha, yes, just right THAT ;-)

Hi Sacguy71,

Ah yes, the Doepfer monster base case (A-100LMB), that's a nice one, I got that one and on top it: the A-100LMS9. Nice combination! However your plan sounds good too, I guess you have two A-100LC9s? Those two next to each other should just fit on top of that monster base case.

Well, can't wait for your jams and videos of your new setup :-)

Kind regards, Garfield.

Lugia: Ha, ha, LOL! Okay what I am going to tell you now you most likely even less believe than my previous (first) explanation to Troux. But all right: Let's start with the costs, it's about twenty bucks a year, cheap right?! The good news is, you can get that "what I am on" here on earth, no hyper-space travel needed. I guess you now want to know where to get it, right? ;-)

Oh, THAT! That's easy enough here...and LEGAL, too! ;-)

It's this forum, Unicorn account at Euro 20/year (but even without Unicorn it works pretty good) and that's all you really need and you guys as patience listeners ;-)

Oh, THAT...and not THAT! OK...yep, MG does work great w/o the Unicorn, but the rack limits are a bit of a hassle if you're doing a lot of builds, doing bigger builds, etc. However, for those exploring, the basic freebie account is BEYOND an excellent asset! MG, even without the ongoing perpetual "clinic" that the forum offers, has likely saved synthesists many thousands of $$$ by letting them entertain ideas without resorting to hardware.

Here's the acid test for legibility of panels:

If you take the module in question into a room that's lighted like you'd find onstage in a basic gig situation and you can't figure out what the HELL is going on with the panel markings, then you probably need to find a module of that sort from a manufacturer who understands more about what working musicians need than they have this compulsion to do snazzy designs that fail under those working conditions. If you have any of those newfangled app-controlled colored LED bulbs, just drop your lighting to about 25% of normal, then change the color to a deep red and/or a deep blue. If you CANNOT read the markings legibly enough to make patching and control decisions at the pace your music requires, then you probably need a different module for that function.

One note about subjective analysis of your own work: you are, inevitably, the worst critic of your own work. If something seems "too long", it's probably not long enough. Too "bright"? Try increasing the bright-ish controls. And so on.

Never second-guess in the lesser direction in what you create unless something's GLARINGLY wrong. Otherwise, just push the HELL out of that envelope...go as far as you can. This is how you discover what you're creatively capable of...and how what you create becomes clearly yours. And you're far less likely to be pegged for "lifting" someone else's style.

Korg also dropped the ball on their small SQ-1 sequencer by not including a standard 9v power jack and requiring a USB dongle to power it or use 2xAA batteries.

Thanks Garfield,

Yeah the Doepfer Monster base case will let me stack my two 6U Doepfer cases on top to make things easier and more organized as well as give me another 200 HP of space for a sequencer, mixer, more support tools like logic, matrix mixer, switches and attenuators/offset/attenuverts plus another mult/buffered mult module with room for a few more percussion modules and complex oscillator/filters and another complex function generator like Maths or Falistri and noise generator like Sapel. More FX as well.

Thank you, Garfield,

I love teaching and while I am a beginner, can share my experiences and patch tips. Yeah, I bought a clock and sequential switch on Halloween sale this week plus more patch cables and knurlies to make swapping modules easier between setups. Looking forward to put Pamela to a full workout and Doepfer sequential switch once they arrive this week with Plaits and Plonk. I want Rings but not enough space so probably in future along with a sequencer.

Thanks Garfield!

I am experimenting and learning how to craft cool tracks and sounds. Big fan now of Noise Engineering and Harvestman modules they do so much and many patch points for crazy modulation ideas. Quadrax is great as well.

Hi Sacguy71,

Wow! There are some serious nice sounds in this jam! I like those sounds a lot. Bit of an industrial kind of touch to it as well, right? :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this, nice short jam and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

I can't wait till you get that monster case and all the modules you are planning to come up... I am quite sure that's going to be lots of fun too :-) !

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

Nice that you made a tutorial video for modular beginners. It makes hopefully beginners curious enough to get started themselves too!

It's good to hear you are having a clock coming on your way, you really need that! :-)

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

Fun with this one today

Thanks Garfield, yeah loving eurorack and my setup. I always stumble into a happy accident each time I patch due to my lack of experience and silliness. One thing that I love to due is to crank the hell out of filter resonance and feed lots of CV into the filters from other sources to make them self oscillate. I can take a single percussion module like BIA and make it sound like a complete instrument that sounds nothing like drums. Noise Engineering and IME/Harvestman modules are super fun and awesome due to lots of patch points to modulate and tweak for dozens of tones. I am saving for a Doepfer monster case and more modules like a complex all one sequencer and mixer central brain. I wait on that until Endorphin.es Ground control arrives in stores and I see reviews/videos or perhaps get Eloquencer or 512 Vector with expander that can sequence both CV and gates.

If that helps, the pots model for Make Noise Maths central mixer are:
Taiwan ALPHA B100K R09 23MMF.
The pots model for Make Noise Maths Rise and Fall are:
Taiwan ALPHA B10K R09 23MMF.
I will have to replace the pots of mixer channel 2 and 3

Accipere quam facere praestat iniuriam.
Ad maiora!

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 22:48

I'll pay for that

EDITED Nov 2nd 2020, 10:21

It is not a question of cleaning the pots, but of replacing them.
The pots cannot always be recovered.
In this case they must be replaced.

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 22:47

Hi Sacguy71,

He, he, looks like you got a lot of fun during your Halloween weekend! :-)

Thanks a lot for this and you have a Happy Halloween too, kind regards, Garfield.

@Kel_ dude that is freaking amazing very chilling halloween too! Would love to see a video of you walking the patch for learning and teaching purposes. One thing that I love to do as a beginner is help others. Here is me patching my system with Noise Engineering and Harvestman/IME modules:

I do get a lot of haters for some weird reason who downvote my videos on YT channel with no valuable feedback.

Fun experiment step by step for total beginners like myself:

Hi Ambientnun,
I'm using mmMidi, and it's a great midi couple to Pamela, you could send the clock thru x24 output and the transport to start pamela thru run output. It's only 4hp, and you got 2 channels midi to send CV/gate to your modules. No issues found in my use, so handy imho.

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 16:28

@the-erc, thank you for the kind words, and glad you enjoyed it.

And @ everyone here, thank you all for making this one of my favorite threads on MG, with a special shoutout to @GarfieldModular 🤣🤣

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 16:19

This looks like a lot of fun. One of these days I'm going to grab a few of the Serge modules. They sound so good.

Clean up the mess!

In the Edit menu on the rack planner page is a new entry called Clean up the mess!.
That function indeed cleans up the mess by deleting all modules that are placed outside of the rack.
It's a requested feature by a heavy user who was tired to delete the modules one by one.

Heh all good fun!

Agreed re. the new IME modules, too small for me!!

Here's a random recording of The Harvestman from the other night:

https://ln.sync.com/dl/708de7660/cj2tui8q-9gdhaxhg-hhs8cgx2-9gz6jwrf

BIA is an amazing module. I also like Plaits and Plonk both can do percussion as well as many other things. If you modulate a few modules then a basic groove box is possible in a small modular setup.

Totally agree with you Lugia, the old Harvestman name should have never been switched to IME- Industrial Music Electronics that was a bad move on Scott Jaeger's part in my opinion. Yes, sonic mayhem that is the sweetspot for me I love it besides you cannot really get that crazy madness in traditional synths and modular power in the exploration of sound. I plan to get a bunch of the older Harvestman modules MK2 as they are less expensive now and from working with the menus of MK3- I am not really a fan of them and prefer simple knobs, dials and switches. I mean the MK3 is great and still very much hands on for the most part and presets are cool but give me basic dials and switches and lower prices. Sonic mayhem like this patch I made tonite for Halloween:

Messing around Happy Halloween!

Hehe yep :)

I have the mkII modules except the Polivoks VCF & LIDER Suboctave and the mk I Double Andore, it's a very stable box, I am not changing much around in it, it could well be as it is now forever.

Agreed re. the new name, it's just so boring in comparison, I have no idea why...!

Hi Lugia,

Thank you for your point of view. Interesting thoughts about the Kyra indeed. So, I will test at my local dealer not only the Iridium but the Kyra as well :-)

Kind regards, Garfield.

Awesome! Have fun.

Looks like you kept the modules I suggested. Be sure that's what YOU want. It's your instrument, not mine, so go slowly and don't buy everything at once. Your actual rack will probably end up very different from this plan.
-- farkas

After a bunch of hand wringing I bought the tiptop mantis case plus the Euclid circles and the BAI to get started.

After everything arrived I realized no patch cables were included. So I ordered those and they arrived today.

And of course I don't have a way to hear anything yet. :-( I kept getting stuck trying to decide between an outboard mixer versus in case mixer. Finally today I decided to not decide and bought a basic four channel mixer that doesn't cost much and can be used for CV later when I get a big boy performance mixer. The mixer should be here in 3 days.

Next purchase I am thinking will be maths unless my exploring leads me in another direction.

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 01:34

Hi Troux, Lugia and Farkas,

Troux: Ha, ha, thanks :-) Well if you like to try to get out there in hyper-space don't forget to take your towel with you, the best hint I ever heard and used myself too! Not sure if it works with your own music, but hey, there is enough other good spacey music from other members, so use a strong one, once you managed to "escape earth" then the next difficult thing is that Zopple. It took me more than a year of this spacey music here on this forum available to figure out: A) That it existed and B) how to use it (I mean Zopple). Once you cope with that, hyper-space is yours!

Lugia: Ha, ha, LOL! Okay what I am going to tell you now you most likely even less believe than my previous (first) explanation to Troux. But all right: Let's start with the costs, it's about twenty bucks a year, cheap right?! The good news is, you can get that "what I am on" here on earth, no hyper-space travel needed. I guess you now want to know where to get it, right? ;-)

It's this forum, Unicorn account at Euro 20/year (but even without Unicorn it works pretty good) and that's all you really need and you guys as patience listeners ;-)

Farkas: Thank you! :-)

All: Sometimes I am in a kind of "funny mood" (usually caused by good music, hence the stuff I was listening at here, this time this funny mood was triggered by the good music from Troux) and this here was one of those moods and times ;-)

You all have a lovely Sunday and kind regards, Garfield.

Edit: Removed typo.

EDITED Nov 1st 2020, 01:28