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do you want suggestions?

if so modulation (Maths and stages perhaps) and utilities (kinks a matrix mixer) would seem like a good place to start
-- JimHowell1970

Hey, I have quadraPol with Delta-v to cover almost everything what Maths does.
OTOH, Stages look cool! Never considered it and it seems like can cover what I was planning to do with Ladik 4-step sequencer and even more . .
Thanks for the tip!

EDITED Sep 14th 2020, 18:43

Nice, thanks for sharing. I'll try and aim in that direction and see how it goes.

I'll try to provide some details when I'm done with the track I'm working on. Played with the shift settings quite a bit, not sure what they're set to. Mostly using the Octatrack to sequence it right now.
Right now got the scale set to Tet12 either fully CCW or one of the first four scales. Detune at 11-12 o'clock. Balance slightly past noon. Root at 9, Spread at 12, cross FM CCW, twist and warp somewhere between 9 and 11. Like I said, not sure about the shift settings and I also add CV to pitch, root, scale, twist and warp via Octatrack CC to CV and a heavily attenuated Ochd.

EDITED Sep 14th 2020, 18:13

do you want suggestions?

if so modulation (Maths and stages perhaps) and utilities (kinks a matrix mixer) would seem like a good place to start

1) OSCs
- SV-1b main OSC and second OSC
- Mangroove
2) Filter
- Three Sisters
- SV-1b Filter
3) VCA
- quadraPol has 4 VCAs
- Delta V has 2 VCAs
- Doepfer A-147-2 has a VCA
- SV-1B has a VCA with distortion
4) Mixer
- Unify
- quadraPol
- SV-1b
5) Envelope
- SV-1b has ADSR envelope
- Delta V has two VS envelope
6) S&H
- SV-1b
- Pamela's New Workout
7) MIDI interface
- mmMidi has 2 melodic, 8 drum MIDI outs
- SV-1b has 1 melodic MIDI outs
8) Gate Sequencer
- Euclidean Circles v2
- Stoicheia
9) CV Sequencer
- Mimetic Sequent
10) Clock divider/multiplier
- Pamela's New Workout

Missing units

11) Waveshaper?
12) Delay?

EDITED Sep 14th 2020, 18:42

one sound source - any of the VCOs
one modulation source - maths
one sound modifier - a filter
a way to play - either use the BSP you already have or get the es9 - up to you
a way to listen - quad vca

maybe add kinks to this

learn everything inside and out

add one module at a time - unless you realise you need more utilities to make it work properly - and repeat....

Two loops of a forty year old Hondo II POS acoustic guitar through the Cocoquantus 2, along with some Tetrax, and pedals. I'm really enjoying the cracked/anti-rhythms the Coco produces.

Hey Garfield,

thank You for your participation and your kind and nice words! Its not always as easy as it should be...

But as with all things we have to return to a "normal state" and go on!

In this spirit,
all the Best,
jingo

Hello all,

This is part of my morning jam sessions where i'm learning to play my modular better so that I can eventually do a live show.
For today I put in an new OSC for a bassline and I am working on trying to blend the voices, keep the jam going, and most of all have a good time doing it. :)

Have a listen if you like:

All comments/questions are welcome.
Thanks and may you have a great day today wherever you are.

A few notes:
1) the kick is coming from my Octatrack MKII
2) I have the Manis running into the clouds for the lead(ish) line
3) I am sequencing in two parts:
a) the O&C is running hemispheres with Enigma Jr.
b) the steppy

EDITED Sep 14th 2020, 13:16

One last question:
Do you have a recommendation which modules I should definitely start with?

Thanks again for your help!

other than ergonomics - no - but they are very personal - go slowly and expand slowly (with what you need, not just what you want) is the key to getting a playable and interesting modular

Thanks for detailed answer @JimHowell1970 and @Lugia
Indeed I need to change my way to procede. Looking for modules on Youtube isn't the best way to explore patches and trigger your creativity. You get easily seduce by sexy modules while being new. I totally agree

learning....

First yeah I have to take those moog modules out of the case to free the space in order to add a bunch of utility and logic modules (I haven't looked up for a matix mixer but now that I did, I cleary need one) I think I'll go for a joystick too (Planar² seems great fun)

yeah a matrix mixer and a handful of stackcables makes you modulation go a lot further - especially when paired with a kinks

For sound sources, it's clear that I need more. I was planning to get a piston Honda and some filters (one Polivoks filter for sure)

Not convinced - I count 6 in total (including clouds) already!

I was planing to get more VCAs (Hexvca Befaco) and a quad attenuator in order to throw a bunch of them in my patches to have more control of each patches and send them to my mixer Worn Soundstage. I believe this enough to have a good mix of all my patches, but I'm not 100% certain.

I would just go with 2 2hp trim modules for attneuation - and see if you need more vcas - you may not

I'm not planing to sell anything yet, I'll buy more modules and explore the patches. See what do fits the best and then sell what I don't need anymore.
Thanks a lot for bringing your expertise!

-- Angular_drift

I haven't sold a single module in over 3 years

Mind you in the last 30 years I have only sold 3 guitars and a bass - to fund modules - I still have guitars and a bass though

Bought modules from @Halfgeleider @x2mirko @hirnlego and @duda within the last few months. Smooth transactions all around. :)

EDITED Sep 16th 2020, 15:30

Thanks again for your feedback!

I distributed the VCAs in the rack and exchanged the hexmix with the quad vca. So I count 9 VCAs now.
I also added planar 2 as it seems to be a very interesting tool for me.

Still something crucial missing ?

@sacguy71:
I want to use the ES-9 for that and I already have an Arturia Keystep Pro with lots of cv output possibilites. But thanks for your idea!

Thanks for detailed answer @JimHowell1970 and @Lugia
Indeed I need to change my way to procede. Looking for modules on Youtube isn't the best way to explore patches and trigger your creativity. You get easily seduce by sexy modules while being new. I totally agree

First yeah I have to take those moog modules out of the case to free the space in order to add a bunch of utility and logic modules (I haven't looked up for a matix mixer but now that I did, I cleary need one) I think I'll go for a joystick too (Planar² seems great fun)

For sound sources, it's clear that I need more. I was planning to get a piston Honda and some filters (one Polivoks filter for sure)

I was planing to get more VCAs (Hexvca Befaco) and a quad attenuator in order to throw a bunch of them in my patches to have more control of each patches and send them to my mixer Worn Soundstage. I believe this enough to have a good mix of all my patches, but I'm not 100% certain.

I'm not planing to sell anything yet, I'll buy more modules and explore the patches. See what do fits the best and then sell what I don't need anymore.
Thanks a lot for bringing your expertise!

EDITED Sep 14th 2020, 09:42

Nice one @GarfieldModular, that groove is pretty funky for a frog lol, good depth too! Well done.

Hi Garfield,

Sorry yeah I looked at the Erica Synths Drum sequencer but for the size and price point, would go with something like 512 Vector Sequencer, Winter Eloquencer or see what the new Endorphin.es ground control is like as these provide tons of useful features to chain songs and presets and more. I may just get a simple trigger sequencer for drums/bass like VPME Euclidian Rhythms and clock it with Pamela for the short run until I get a much larger 3rd case next year.

Yeah I ran various test patches after I hooked it up. By itself, it is very boring. However when you modulate it with a crazy LFO like Batumi it comes alive and sounds amazing. The only two modules that I am having trouble getting on with are the Malekko Varigate 4+ sequencer and Malekko Quad Envelope. Those work but are tricky to figure out and not very precise. I like precision in my sequencers. Probably need a good trigger sequencer and clock modulator like Pamela's New Workout. Thinking that and Expert Sleepers Disting EX will be the next modules for the year to round out my build as I need these tools. Maybe add Plaits and Erica Synths pico drums then have a solid jam portable modular system.

Hello All,

Today I was playing around with the Make Noise - Telharmonic and the QPAS, these two fit quite well together. The below track starts with these two modules only (except some LFOs and other stuff, naturally), slightly bit reverb on top of it, but not too much (though it doesn't sound like that but really not too much reverb), then later the track has some joining elements of "Searching For The Frog" (for details see: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/8963) and a bit of percussion.

This is third take since I am not having/using a DAW (yet), I have to redo the entire recording if I am not happy with it. Still not 100% happy with it, one of the percussion sounds on the left hand channel sounds a bit too loud in my opinion, but wanted to have this posted before saying goodbye to this nice weekend and have to start to work this coming week ;-)

Thanks a lot for listening and I wish you all a good start of this coming week, kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

I am so glad that you like the Polivoks filter :-)

Maybe I do just something wrong with it, I might consider the Batumi, got that one on my wish list anway, so perhaps that helps me to get the best out of that Polivoks filter.

Thanks a lot and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

Well to be precise here, Erica Synths - Drum Sequencer is not a drum module as such, it's rather a sequencer that can control your (Erica Synths or others) drum modules :-)

Kind regards, Garfield.

Thanks Garfield,

It is really fun building new setup from scratch. I love the black polivoks filter from Erica Synths! Especially when modulate from batumi it really comes to life. I can get some crazy acid bass lines to drones to weird bubble pads. Thinking pico drums or drum sampler would be great addition to my second case.

Hi Garfield,

Yeah think 2 Erica Synths Pico drum modules would work as the BIA has good bass/drum and that would not take up much space in the rack since I want another synth voice and support modules, clock source and sequencer. I've heard that Hexinverter and WMD also make superb drum modules. I really only use a bass, kick and clap drum in my music anyways.

Cool thanks Lugia. I plan to get some logic modules to pair up in my second rack. Trying to balance enough voices with filters, VCAs, envelopes and support modules is tricky. I think in a 6U case if you have 2-3 oscillators, LFO, and 2 filters then you have a base for tone and can spice it up quite a bit with support modules and sequencers. I look at the Moog and ARP 2600 synthesizer as reference point.

Hi Sacguy71,

Or how about Erica Synths' - Drum Sequencer? Would that be something suitable for you?

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Lugia,

Thank you very much for the additional information and hints. I put Der Plan definitely on my wish list and once I am going to do another "music order" (meaning CDs and Vinyls), at least one album of Der Plan will be on my shopping list :-) I just done recently an order so I have to be a bit patient. Difficult, knowing there is lurking so nice/fun music around there.

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Jingo,

I am sorry to hear about your lost in the family :-( My condolences.

Glad to hear that you are picking up making music again and wow! You just plugged in a few cables and you come up with something so solid as this track! Nicely done, it could go on and on and I still wouldn't have enough of it. So give me more :-)

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

P.S.: Welcome back :-)

Yeah, logic and related clock modulators are the key to sequential voodoo. I include in that things such as pulse delays, as well, since that also shifts timing. Logic modules are infamous for looking boring as hell while ALSO unlocking plenty of rhythmic trickery, so they get the short end of the Sexy Module stick like a lot of other things...and this is a mistake.

F'rinstance, if you'd like to just play the last note of a triplet for a bit of polyrhythm. Normally, this would be a bit of a hassle. But if you have a Boolean module, it's easy...just use a NAND gate. Then send it your triplet pulses plus a pulse that covers up at least half of a beat. When both signals are present...nothing. But when only the triplet pulse is there at the end, THEN you'll get a pulse out of the gate that can fire things for JUST that note. Way easier than trying to gin up a second sequencer on a wholly different timing.

Thanks nope I have it on low power monitors. Hopefully can move into larger place and have more freedom to crank it. I want another couple of drum modules for clap and snares. The BIA is great but hard to get more than one drum or tone at single time from it. Looking at VPME drum machine module as it has 4 voices in one module or maybe Mutant drums modules. Bass, lead and drums in portable case are perfect for jam sessions.

Der Plan is excellent. For a more avant-garde take out of them, look for the soundtrack they did for the ZDF film "Die Letzte Rache"...which was ALSO partly their production as well. VERY Residential. "Funf Jahre", if you can find it, is a great overview of their synth dadaism.

Hi Mowse,

Oh I missed this track this weekend. Nice demo of the mentioned devices. Nice picture by the way :-) Love to look at it while listening at your music.

Nicely done and thanks a lot for sharing this, kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Lugia,

Ha, ha, and I thought I would be the only one knowing Pyrolator or Kurt Dahlke, if you prefer ;-) Yeah quite funny music, especially "Wunderland" album is fun. Thanks a lot for mentioning Der Plan, totally overlooked that one (how could I?!), will check it out, sounds even more funny.

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

He, he, indeed some massive beats. Cool! Didn't you got any complains from your neighbours? ;-)

Kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Sacguy71,

Congratulations on your second case :-) How is the Black Polivoks VCF from Erica Synths coming along? I hope you are able to get some nice sounds out of it? Let me know your opinion on that module.

Nice demo and I wish you much fun with your extension of your modular synth! :-) Kind regards, Garfield.

So I am planning this build

Does it have enough support and utility modules and if not, what else would you change to improve it?

The AI Synthesis matrix mixer is on my list for my second rack. Kinks arrives this week. I also should receive the Intellijel Quadrax with expander for maths type stuff this week. Since I already have Batumi in one rack, for second build went with IME Kermit MK3 which has 4 channels of LFO and EG goodness and ability to create presets as well.

I need some patch notes on string machine style pad state, that sounds rad 🕵️ The style I was referring to above is kind of pad-y too, spread up, root low-ish, put an analog osc underneath it for extra weight, add a pinch of the FM, and then run it through a smooth lowpass filter with just a bit of resonance.

@troux thank you. So far I've spent most of my time exploring the EnOsc on its own, understanding the modes and figuring out how the other parameters interact. And then left it in a string machine style pad state, which is stunningly beautiful but I feel also kind of underutilizing it. Forgot to set it into full mayhem mode and patch it through filters somewhere along the way... will try that once my current patch is done.

@senor-bling in the less melodic modes (high spread, many oscs, FM up) I mostly end up using it as a drone noise source. That said with the right filter you can tame the crazier modes and get some really interesting full but melodic textures, ones that I haven't seen elsewhere in eurorack, it's just a lot of work to get there.

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 19:27

Thanks for the jam and patch notes.

I agree, it's really worth reading the manual. I still find it tricky to integrate the EnOsc in a track. It's easy in unison mode, of course. And when using only a few oscillators and little spread. But for every other mode, I feel I need to "compose" a track around the EnOsc instead of just starting somewhere and then patching it in when I want to. Maybe that's just my haphazard songwriting style and could be solved a more theoretical approach?
How do you all work with the EnOsc?

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 19:10

I'd add an AISynthesis matrix mixer and kinks - multing your modulation to these will add more much variety than either zadar or batumi

looks like you'd have 2hp left for a 2hp trim module or a dreadbox div

I agree about maths - it is way more than the sum of it's parts - check out the illustrated manual online for (self) patch ideas

another option would be to buy another case now instead of a module - that way you don't have the I only have xhp left itch - hehehe

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 18:51

@nokulture, I think you'll find if you try a Maths out that it's super intuitive and solves so many problems, especially in a rack this size. That said, we're all on our own journey, do what makes sense to you and let us know how it goes!

Thanks a lot for tips troux.

5) Add an Ochd
I've considered a lot ochd, it's great to have 8 lfo on 4 hp, but I always wonder how useful could be it, considering all lfo are unsynced and it isn't capable to sync with a external clock, or maybe I miss something? Anyway I guess it was always in scope, just I've hope to find something more handy.

4) Add a Kinks
Yeah, you make me to validate :).

3) Add a Doepfer A-118-2 for your Clouds (and for #2, keep in mind that this needs a square cutoff to trigger)
Interesting... but adding this is worth it , considering you could generate differents waves on PNW (including random)?

2) Add either a Batumi or a Zadar, depending on your end priority here of modulation (Batumi) or expression (Zadar)
I think my priority is expression, but I'm afraid I haven't got enough modulation... maybe if I add an Ochd I'll get enough?

1) Upgrade the Function to a Maths
I'm not sure with this, function it's enough complex for me to keep it a while, upgrade to maths make me a bit scare. Sure maybe in a future when I feel more comfortable. For now, I try to learn and discover.

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 16:31

Hello,

I did another jam today adding in the BIA and taking the clouds mono.

Notes:
1) I made Manis to clouds mono (I lost some volume here for this round, but i'll look at why later)
2) I added in the BIA
3) I was playing with some mods on the devices and playing a bit with the filters and envelopes to change it up a bit

I hope you all enjoy.

Any/all feedback is welcome!

Thanks!

@Quantum_Eraser thought I'd share that you prompted me to reread the manual and to watch some more vids, and I'm finally getting some melodic stuff out of my EO to go along with the craziness, thanks for the inspiration!

I am guessing Jim will likely tell you you don't have enough utilities, which I'd agree with.

What I'd suggest, in order of importance:
1) Upgrade the Function to a Maths
2) Add either a Batumi or a Zadar, depending on your end priority here of modulation (Batumi) or expression (Zadar)
3) Add a Doepfer A-118-2 for your Clouds (and for #2, keep in mind that this needs a square cutoff to trigger)
4) Add a Kinks
5) Add an Ochd

To do all that you'd have to cut a module or two (downgrading a Veils for a smaller mixer is one idea to make space) but I think you'll get more out of what you leave in the case.

Oh Oh,

time flew by as I had to get some things going after a family member passed :(. So I was not in the right mood to explore the worlds of sounds any further.

Since yesterday: I patched some cables into my modular and just let one loop run. Recorded it and here we go, just wanted to share.

Have a nice sunday out there! :)
c u soon...

Hi Jim,
my actual rack is this

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_1154618.jpg

The place available I would like to add a modulation source, a multi... and maybe if it's possible a kind of utility module like kinks. But I guess the modulation is more prioritaire...

Thanks

@Lugia Power really is the next upgrade, and ensuring that I have more power than I need.
The List and other people's suggestions helped.

"What single module would add the most to this?" The single module that would give the most wide-ranging enjoyment, the single module that would expand the possibilities the most.

Since adding Beats into my case with the DNi Pro Dot + ADDAC103 T-Networks I've been enjoying much more beat and rhythm based music, I now need to take a step back and experiment with more long-form ambient with what I've got. A lovely moment was discovering what the ADDAC103 was like going through granular processing in Clouds without the reverb wash and lovely step away from beats with a creaky, glitchy and slightly spooky sound.

Other sensible additions with the most advantage would be:

Arturia Keystep - so I can get a bit more hands-on with the notes.
Pamela's New Workout with Pexp-1 Expander - so I can properly sync my external gear (While adding re-sets across my rack) while still leaving the Disting for Sample Playing.

I think Pam's has to be next after a case power upgrade.

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 08:34

Playing two Moog Mother 32's and Rossum Electro-Music Trident through QPAS, Panharmonium, SoundStage, and Mimeophon. Just having a bit of fun tonight. Nothing too serious. The West Coast is on fire.

EDITED Sep 13th 2020, 15:23