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This is my best-so-far, fits the budget, small but I think mighty rack for making ambient soundscapes with ability for Max MSP and Ableton to get in on the fun. Overall I want to make a system that is like a Cat's Paradise - things everywhere to twist, trigger, physically hit and touch that lends itself to powerful improvised flexibility (so if you fine people can point me in the direction of that, too, I would be soooooo grateful!)
I couldn't find many demos and opinions on the omnimod but it looks pretty sweet and versatile (if I expand in other ways it could still be relevant). And the third party MI stuff with the different firmware and capabilities definitely appeals to me, though, sorry folks at MI. ES-8 is the crux of this whole thing being able to flow back into my laptop and become part of a larger ecosystem, and I think that one fits the price to power ratio pretty well.
Psychedelic Environments as I'm looking to get some interesting evolving soundscapes going from the modular, to layer with Max and Ableton + live instruments. I'm also thinking I can cover my lack of logic with Max and the ES-8. Are there any simple tricks to get this rig more "trippy" without breaking the bank?
Thank you for checking this out and helping me navigate the modular waters!
Ah, that's the Yamaha RX17 you spoke about it, okay, interesting.
He, he, I never even made a video or a sound recording and published it here. I admire people like you and many others here who are so creative and get some decent sounds out of their modular system. Though I am deep into modular, it's just recently and I still have to learn a lot and buy a camera to make videos too ;-) Give me more time to get first more experience then I might consider a video or at least a sound recording but I guess most persons will switch that off after a few seconds ;-)
And beside that I am currently more into playing and exploring the modules rather than really making music with it.
Just recently I work a lot abroad and barely have time to explore and play with my modular system so it will take even longer for me to get some experience to get at a level where one could consider to publish sound (or video).
Additionally I gave myself a "huge task" by not allowing to use my computer for modular. So whatever I do with it, I don't want to use my computer since I use that for business already 12 hours a day or more and that's more than enough... So for me modular is something to keep me away from the computer (I use the computer to read the manuals though and being on this forum). Thus... making a recording without a computer, I still need to explore that further how I want to do that. For simple and basic fun recordings I have now a Zoom H5 but that's just for some basic and fun stuff, recordings from that doesn't sound fantastic though.
So any suggestions to a mixer/recorder that's able to have most important recording functions and enough input & output possibilities, is very welcome. I had a look at the Tascam Model 24 and wonder if that would fulfill all the needs for a proper recording? But the thing is huge and currently I don't have the space for it (and might never have). Model 16 is space-wise of course a bit better, same for model 12. The big con, beside the space and the price, is the somewhat low sample frequency of 48 kHz. I rather look into something like 24 or 32 bit and 192 kHz (or better) but that's difficult to find without using the computer.
Kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
NOTES TO SELF
Make sure that all the modules are immediately playable. Remember that is why I am building this thing - to allow myself an outlet for spontaneous creativity. I don't want to be able to plan or save anything.
I envision using this setup in the following ways:
OPTION 01A
- Create soundscapes on Arbhar with inputs from either the internal microphone, Disting MK4, or my phone.
- Run Plaits into the Grandmother noise input as third oscillator. Play Grandmother keys into Mimeophon for delay.
- Use Pam's, Maths, SumDif and 3x VCA for modulation of everything.
- Arbhar and Grandmother/Plaits into XOH for final mixing, after Mimeophon.
*Alternatively, with this option I could use the modular sequencer to sequence Plaits separately for periodic input or baseline. Mix Plaits and Grandmother in SumDif before sending to XOH.
OPTION 01B
- Same as Option 01A, except run Arbhar through Mimeophon instead of Grandmother.
- With this setup, I may want to use the Disting for effects on Grandmother.
OPTION 02A
- Create soundscapes on Arbhar with inputs from either the internal microphone, Disting MK4, or my phone.
- Use the modular sequencer and Pam's to make drums from Plaits.
- Play Grandmother keys, or maybe don't and this option is just drums over the soundscape.
- Mix Grandmother and Plaits drums in SumDif, probably after Mimeophon.
- Arbhar and Grandmother/Plaits into XOH for final mixing.
*With this option, consider running Plaits through Grandmother for filter.
*Run either channel through the Mimeophon.
*If I don't want to buy a modular sequencer, I could use the Grandmother sequencer, if I don't intend to play Grandmother.
OPTION 02B
- Play Arbhar with Grandmother keys through V/Oct, using inputs from either the internal microphone, Disting MK4, or my phone.
- Use the modular sequencer and Pam's to make drums from Plaits.
- Run either channel through Mimeophon
- Arbhar and Plaits into XOH for final mixing.
*With this option, I could also sequence Arbhar with the modular sequencer, leaving the Grandmother free to play over top of everything. In this case, mix the Grandmother and Plaits signals in the SumDif before the final mix in XOH.
OPTION 02C
- Use Pam's to create drums with Arbhar and inputs from either the internal microphone, Disting MK4, or my phone.
- Run Plaits into the Grandmother noise input as third oscillator. Play Grandmother keys.
- Run either channel through the Mimeophon.
- Arbhar and Grandmother/Plaits into XOH for final mixing, probably after Mimeophon.
*With this option, the modular sequencer may be free, so Plaits could be separate for use as periodic input or a baseline.
OPTION 03A
- Run Plaits into the Grandmother noise input as third oscillator. Play Grandmother keys into Arbhar, then pass everything through Mimeophon.
* With this option, I could keep Plaits separate for periodic input or even drums. If so, select one of the channels to run through the Mimeophon, then send both signals to XOH for final mixing.
* I could also consider going into Mimeophon first, then pre-mixing and send everything into Arbhar before final mixing. I kind of doubt this would be a worthwhile sequence, but it might be worth trying.
OPTION 04
- Take any of the above options and pre-mix everything in the SumDif so that everything can be processed through the Mimeophon for crazy noise creation.
*There are probably other options, but these are the most interesting I can think of to start...
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS
If I need more HP for a different sequencer or a Links/Kinks, there are smaller VCAs. I just want to make sure they cascade to allow for signal mixing. I really may want to get an Ornament and Crime. It has a sequencer and many other modes. I have heard that many people had trouble with their Prisma+ Sequencer. There is a new model coming - maybe it will fix the issues.
The Disting MK4 can be used to play samples into Arbhar, as a stereo filter for Arbhar (stereo filters are rare), for recording the music I create, for effects on Grandmother or Arbhar audio signals, or for any of the other utilities. I may want to fit another into the system.
Find a sequencer that is enjoyable to use, like the Lifeforms Micro Sequence, which uses sliders for immediate control of the pitch of each step. The programmable ones look like a nightmare to use. The Micro Sequence does pitch, but it doesn't sequence gates. Do I want a sequencer that does both? The Micro Sequence leaves only 8 HP for my VCAs, though.
The VCA I get should have offset (can this also be called gain?) so that I can "locate" the waves of LFO's to accurately control my CV inputs as intended. There are many 8 HP VCAs, but I can't figure out if any of them do this. It appears that the Happy Nerding 3x VCA has these offset controls.
The SumDif looks like a great 2 HP mixer. However, it has no attenuators, so it will be very difficult to mix the Grandmother and Plaits at appropriate levels. It may be possible if I can patch an attenuator into the Level input on Plaits, then I can at least control the level of one versus the other, and finally the level of both together versus Arbhar in the XOH. This isn't ideal, but it might work. I should probably just switch the SumDif out for a 2 HP mixer, though...I'll have to investigate with the actual modules to see.
Hey, thanks very much for the support . I have contacted PayPal. I understand ModularGrid doesn’t want to get into disputes between people, but they really should inhibit sellers after a couple of complaints, I’ll contact them next.
Sorry to read that then but at least you've got the right attitude, I'm impressed by how you're able to easily remember that one bad experience shouldn't put you off interacting more with the rest of this amazing community so I respectfully tip you my hat.
If I were you, I'd try to contact PayPal nonetheless, perhaps repeated complaints (the victim from the other thread said he introduced one) against the same user could have an effect ?
Wishing you the best luck for the future ;)
No, and if I had done 45 seconds of research I would have seen the bad history.
I’ve bought at least a dozen modules from all over the world, and everyone, till this, has been great.
I love the community, and this won’t put me off. I’ll just do some basic research in the future.
At this point i wanna thank you all again for your input and give you a small update on my journey so far. In fact i went for the intellijel 7U stealth case and as i can tell so far it is a really great case. Concerning the modules i went for Plaits, Veils, Batumi with breakout, Mimeophon, BIA, Stages and a Disting which has sadly not arrived yet. Had a lot fun twiddling with the stuff i got already. For example it was quite interesting to learn that Stages has a hidden harmonic oscillator mode and the expert firmware for the Batumi added some nice features to it.
Nevertheless i updated my future rack plans a little bit after my first steps in eurorack. The new version must not be the final one, as i will update it probably on my further journey. As suggested i got rid of some fancy modules to incorporate some more classical and utility modules. I swapped the Rene for a Hermod because it uses less HP, has more channels and the ability to communicate with the midi world. I added an STO and Telharmonic as VCOs. The Telharmonic might be a Rings instead. The rack definitely needed more possibilities of filtering so i added a Wasp, Ripples and Forbidden Planet as Filters. Further on i added a dedicated quantizer and some logic modules. I went for the erica synths pico modules mainly because i needed to fill up the odd space left.
You mean that user with already one negative vote on his profile and a thread by another user getting scammed (https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/8359) ? Not surprising but at least you used the PayPal protection, right ?
Ha ha....sorry man, I forget that not everybody on here is english, yeah if something is Phat, this means it sounds BIG and FAT. And the Bollocks is short for "The Dogs Bollocks", or "The Mutts Nuts", basically means its bloody good. I know what you mean about buying stuff blind, I am starting to learn about this as I have bought several modules over the past year or so that I have gone on to sell as they did not live up to expectation. The steffcorp are a bit special, and are quite hard to get as the company only makes a few at a time and they generally get snapped up immediately. I will probably buy a third one when I can.
She's a very naughty kitten, I have a polysix and a moog opus 3 that are at the top of my jasper stand and she has started using them as a climbing tree, so I have ordered some covers for them. The big black thing you see is an old yamaha RX17 that I recently picked up on ebay for £35, they are a fantastic addition to any analog drums, as you get that retro 12bit sound almost like the more expensive machines from that era, mid 80's. And it sounds great with some good compression. Have you got any videos of your stuff, I would love to have a watch.
I always wondered why I /had/ to have Maths in my build. It seemed like a nice addition but feh.
Alright, after research I /think/ I understand what it does. It allows you to (among other things)
to increase or decrease frequency while keeping the amplitude the same. I guess based off of
some things the Buchla's did? Or am I misunderestimating Maths?
Ha, ha, it's nice to see you are busy with it and the creativity of it I like it! What sequencer you got there, that black quite big thing? What is it exactly?
Most nice part of it is your cat, looking curiously at you what you are doing, cute! Just be careful that your cat doesn't put one of your patch cables in her nose and got LFO-controlled ;-)
Keep up the good work and kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
That's an interesting point about the Mutes, to flick a snippet of something into it, interesting way of using it :-) Thanks for the hint, I will keep that in mind and I will reconsider the Mutes again.
Thank you and kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
You got a nice rhythm tuned there. Wasp filter is always fun, isn't it? By the way, how did you realised your drum sounds?
Divkids Mutes, at first I was interested in it, but now I am not too sure. Can you perhaps tell why you like it so much? What are the pros of the module? Any cons?
Kind regards, Garfield.
-- GarfieldModular
Hey buddy, Yeah what I love about the mutes switches is the fact you can flick them, so if I want to just flick a snippet of the beat into the delay, I will use this, I am using this technique in most of my performances. It reminds me of the sort of dynamics I would get when I use to DJ on vinyl, using the crossfader to flick bits of beats over the track you were playing.
I'm in the process of getting an musical instrument insurance for my entire studio, including my modular systems. The marketplace here can give a good idea of a module's "street value". This is also handy if you want to check how much to pay for a module on another site like ebay/reverb/craigslist etc.
But if a module is not on offer at that time, you're out of luck, nothing to compare. Just wondering if there are more members out there who would be in favor of some kind of price guide/price history. Like selecting a time period and getting an csv file with all offered modules in that period that you can than sort by name/price/date etc. Or old listings get filed in a seperate "history section"
On the Dutch synth forum there's discussion topic where people ask eachother advice on how much to pay for something, not really scientific but hey, at least some support/guidance.
Think about MI grids for triggering your drums and something more dedicated to pitch sequencing. Perhaps a Rene for more happy accidents or Q-bit Octone for a more standard approach to melody. Another option would be Pam's and O+C that would get you into a Rene type sequencing. I only mention these because there in a lot of peoples racks.
Your lacking envelopes. I would get a least one standard ADSR envelope this being its only function.
Stages with only six steps it a really expensive envelope generator. Any other functions Stages does with only six steps it does poorly. If you double up on anything get two of those.
Happy rack obsessing
That's better, but the same comment applies. Once you're putting four 2hp mix modules in your system, you should probably consider a single, more robust mixer module instead. Also, all of those 2hp modules so close together will be fairly difficult, if not impossible, to manipulate, especially during live performance.
You don't need two plaits, two tides, two rings. Keep one of each and fill that space with a greater variety of modules!
Story it whas wrong this i right :) this is my first case, the other case alla abought perkussion and bass. I have looken up alot on youtube but its not good for me, and i dont have any store to go to.
In this case i want to make lush medolic ambient/downtempo in one case, any more tip what i can do better, yes intellijel MI WMD and acl is the one i whant hole system from, i have 5 years plan for this :)
First question: how do you define "Fun"? What kind of music do you want to make? That question should dictate every choice you make. That said...
You're limiting yourself by sticking solely with two producers (Mutable Instruments/Tip Top). There are so many options out there to add variety into your setup. Also, once you start putting 3 2hp VCAs into your rack, consider whether another module might give you more bang for you buck, like, say, the Intellijel Quad VCA.
Instead of putting a system together in this fashion, perhaps take it a piece at a time. For example, you've got the Tip Top Circadian Rhythms. Ok...have you watched every video you could find about the various trigger modules out there? Are you able to go to a store to try them out? (Not easy unless you live in a major city, I understand.) On the drums, have you looked at options from WMD, Intellijel, Mutable, etc.? As you watch videos about various modules, you'll have a much better sense as to whether you're on the right track.
Oh dear - I completely agree and finalise a sale with @Jonjonjon , go to PayPal him, and literally the second before I hit Pay he messages to tell me not to bother because he's now sold it to someone else. I explain that this isn't cool, but I hear nothing back, so I perfectly reasonably down-rate him...and he then retaliatorally down-rates me in response for doing absolutely nothing except calling out his poor behaviour!! People, we act with integrity and honour here. This is not cool at all.
Moreover, I think we need a system to discourage retaliatory rating, although I recognise that that will involve more work for the site managers.
But what does it do?
The new options mcr1, mcr2, and mcr3 allow user-definable Morph Chord Ratios (detuning of 2nd through 4th Genes with Morph at its highest settings).
The Auto-level procedure has been replaced with an improved input gain staging, accessed with a 4-step gain selection.
Playback gain is reverted to pre-mg157 level to improve TLA and Record-Into-New-Splice functions.
Internal processing improved to work with (2) and (3) to significantly improve signal-to-noise ratio on input and playback.
And more! Watch Walker's video above for the details.
Sorry to hear about your bad experiences and it's good to let us know.
Please note that for this kind of feedback there is within this forum a special post for it (for good and less good feedback): Forums / ModularGrid / Good Traders on the Marketplace
Kind regards, Garfield Modular.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
Since I'm a beginner at Eurorack, I can't judge if your rack is good for generative ambient music or not.
But I have a pretty small rack myself, and when I try to patch something generative, the Maths - Plaits - Marbles combination is fantastic. So I can really recommend you to buy Marbles from Mutable Instruments.
Good Luck!
Many thanks to both Wishbone and and Garfield. It is very encouraging for a beginner to get a positive response to the first stumbling attempts to patch some "generative stuff".
And by the way, I like Wishbones cat ;-)
Howdy! This is my first rack; have been adding modules as I learn more about this stuff... I'd like to be making generative music, both ambient and percussive, but I'm still getting the hang of it. Anyone have any suggestions of how I can patch this sucker up to make some basic generative music, or what modules I should add? Thanks!!
Ha, ha, you had some more modular on your sleeve ;-) Yes all sounds good to me, pity that the René isn't as good as expected, for the space it takes and then being almost disappointing, that's a real pity then. Sorry to hear that, good to know as well, will focus for the moment on another sequencers then :-)
I am waiting for and hope to test soon the Endorphin.es Ground Control sequencer and the Erica Synth Black Sequencer, both not on the market yet, waiting patiently ;-)
He, he, the OP-1 is a nice thing to play with and for such a small thing amazing what it all can do, it's the (new) price I don't like though... the old price was already pretty steep but perhaps worth it.
How is the Morphagene coming along, do you like it? Is it worth? More worth than the René? :-)
And how about the huge E370? Is it the space (and financial efforts) worth it? You got quite a few modules that are interesting. Three 6-channel mixers... did you configure them as one large 18-channel mixer or as 3 separate mixers? I got myself the Doepfer A-138o/p combination with two p's (i.e. 8 channels), quite nice.
I see you got yourself an Octasource too, I enjoy mine almost every time, I love the craziness of it :-)
Enjoy your stuff and kind regards, Garfield.
For review reports of Eurorack modules, please refer to https://garfieldmodular.net/ for PDF formatted downloads
Just listened to it all while playing with cat toys with our cat :) The cat says she enjoyed it.... Good stuff.
Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.
Yeah, I could go via my own Yamaha Mixer.
And yeah the LH side would be having the FX Aid at the end of line but I guess it would be better before with a mult. The RH side is infinity more capable but a load of modules for a load of money.
Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.
Thanks for the correspondence and ideas. To give you some context, this is my secondary rack. While my "big boy" rack isn't much bigger ( ), between the two of them and several standalone synthesizers (one of the reasons I'm a bit light on oscillators and filters), including the Minibrute2 it is connected with....I can't complain about my hobbyist level. For the sake of space in my house and pocket book, filling out my eurorack and getting Glo the polyphonic whale, I mostly just want a rack that can do some intereesting sounds and rhythms.
Oscillators? Yes, I have two of them! The sinc iter is a tiny oscillator with lots of character (IMHO). I was originally going to get at least 4 of them and a midi->CV converter for some real polyphony. The MakeNoise telharmonic is quite nice as well (and if you haven't heard it, and like additive synth...check it out). Sure, I'd love more....so many delicious + lush sounding oscillators on the market today.
Ah, the Rene. I bought it thinking it would be the sequencer that would change my life. It....didn't. It's fine for what it is, but overall I wish I had gone for, say, a voltage block or something. If anyone wants to trade, I'd be down. Its actually one of the few modules I've bought that I kinda regret :/ I have a tiny rack it used to sit alone in, but honestly, I'd rather have other modules. I'm too cheap to just give it away at this point.
Overall, my main point of this rack is to design interesting (mostly monophonic) sounds and rhythms. So, yes, EGs, filters, and VCAs for the win. It is sitting on a desk with the minibrute2 (I love semimodular!), an OP-1 and the (admittedly seldomly used folktek mescaline) as (let's call it) station 2. My other rack is surrounding by...lots more keyboards and some pedals and what not in station 1. In some mythical world that I have space someday those stations will combine. I'd like to be able to do some decent drums....so the BI alter, yes, and something to make some creative rhythms....though I can always drive that from, say, the OP-1 sequencer (Kenton MIDI box not shown).
Re: Re: Re: well? from ambientandambience
Received Today, 13:32
Contact fucking PayPal you idiot. Paypal subtracted funds from my account and according to math and PayPal, I refunded you. You really need to stop harassing me especially after a fatal loss from a close member of my family you sociopath scumbag. Take it up with PayPal. Their service protects buyers, you will get your money genius! emailing you>
“Harassment” is asking why he hasn’t refunded my money. Module still for sale, refund bounced.
Believe it or not there is method in my madness, My hope was that someone may show me their examples of their stages to output so I can learn a bit from others.
RH side would have the ability to split signals, route stereo, Pan mono, mute, effect and then double back on ts self for an feedback loop arund the effects.
LH side, relatively minimal patching ability but CV control, yet Mix and output with monitoring all in one module.
I could leave out the level meters so it doesn't look like a Christmas tree ;-)
Enjoy your spare HP, don't rush to fill every last space, this is not like filling sticker books. Resist the urge to 'complete' your rack, its never complete so just relax.
