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The VCA isn't really needed since Plaits has one built in and Rings doesn't need one.

Sequencing?
Output?
Audio mixing?
-- richc90

Can’t I patch the whole thing to my external mixer, or do I need a specific output-module? Which sequencer would be good but pretty cheap?

The VCA isn't really needed since Plaits has one built in and Rings doesn't need one.

Sequencing?
Output?
Audio mixing?

Marbles does a lot of this on its own.

Rather than planning it all out in advance, the best strat is often to get something like a 0-coast and a key step and then think about what you want to do that you cant do with that. You'll otherwise spend hours trying to pick modules based not on what you do need but on what you think you need.

Alternatively, get a key step and something like plaits (lots of tones with a built in vca), maths (envelopes, lfos, utilities) and warps (with parasites installed). Then worry about what else to get later -- e.g. if you always use the delay in Warps, get a delay...

EDITED May 6th 2019, 10:34

I’d suggest steering clear of the micro Marbles. The urge to go as small as possible to save space is understandable, but some modules lose more in playability through miniaturization than you gain from having the extra space. Marbles is a lot of fun to tweak, but those tiny knobs would very much restrict its playability IMO.
-- Skreetis

Ahhhh a very good point Skreetis thanks! You are right, from what I have seen so far, Marbles is all about tweaking...so those tiny knobs may get annoying after awhile. I guess Marbles and Elements may be going then :) and if I really want them later someday, I could get the full size versions and put them together in a smaller tabletop case/skiff of some kind.

Thank you for the feedback mt3!

A further reduction of MI style clone modules does free up space for other ideas, and the elements clone does take up 18hp... Something to think about for sure as I have those modules in VCV Rack....

For guitars it's....yah a kind of psychedelic/jazz/blues/ambient kind of thing.

Cool modules to explore! I think the Plague Bearer and Brainseed would fit nicely for the kinds of things I wanna do. Not so sure about the SSM but I will watch some more youtube videos, thanks again!

I’d suggest steering clear of the micro Marbles. The urge to go as small as possible to save space is understandable, but some modules lose more in playability through miniaturization than you gain from having the extra space. Marbles is a lot of fun to tweak, but those tiny knobs would very much restrict its playability IMO.

You have too many of the Marbles, Rings, and Elements style of modules.
Start with one, then decide later if you need more of the same.

What type of guitar music are you aiming for? Djent? Psychedelic? Freejazz?

Modules to explore:
Kuzminorgel
Bitcrushers
Plague Bearer
Brainseed
WMD SSM

Thank you so much for the feedback!
I'll take a closer look to the modules you just told me about

Hi there!

I am also new, however, the first thing I notice is the amount of space the Hermod sequencer takes up in such a small case. This could easily be solved by buying a bit of a bigger case, or moving the Hermod to a separate tabletop case...maybe the 4ms Pod case

I also see two different reverb units. Just starting out, I would say pick 1 of the 2.

This would then free up/create more space for another VCO to have more wave forms, another VCA, or modulation source of some kind. An envelope module would also be something to think about, a clock divider, or a utility module...such as something for logic or maybe a switch.

Hello everyone!

After watching countless YouTube videos and doing research on my own about modular Eurorack systems, the idea of building a modular system as an addition to my workflow is starting to feel very appealing and I would love some feedback about my current idea that I plan to build up slowly so I can learn one section at a time of the larger/finished project.

Link to this Rack Edit View

For a bit of background...I play guitar, have worked in studios as an engineer (both analog 2" tape and digital with various DAW systems), and in terms of electronic music creation I have mostly worked with a combination of hardware synths and software (Ableton/Reason/Logic/Motu). I guess you could say I am older than only some dirt? ha! Anyways...after a long day of work, yet more staring at a screen has become less appealing, so a Eurorack that I could plug my guitar into and loop/delay along side some percussion and other sounds sources/non-traditional sequencing/modulation sources seems fun.

For guitar/instrument input, I have both Merge and MI Ears added to this rack. I like the idea of having 2 input sources (jam with a friend? Guitar + Roland 606?...contact mic into the Ears module? lots of possibilities with pedals!). Still debating between Pams Workout as a clock, or if I would switch this out and change things to fit a few pieces from 4ms like the rotating clock divider. I don't mind menu diving, so Pams would not be a problem for me in this area (I have read some people dislike Pams because of the menu diving). I also have an interest in alternative sequencing methods, so there is the Rebel Tech Stoicheia for Euclidean rhythms and Rebel Tech Tonic for its unique approach to pitch sequencing. For more of a "master control center", I have also been pondering the idea of a Pioneer DJ Squid to have some trigger pads/step sequencing/groove options/etc...

To save space, I do have clones of Marbles, Rings, and Elements in here so that the Magneto delay and Make Noise Morphagene would fit. If there is a key idea I am missing please let me know as I could see an alternative where the Make Noise module is in a self contained 4ms pod case or something like that. Then, I can fit a different module or two in the main rack....or if the clones don't play nice with the other children, the regular Mutable modules in a separate smaller rack could be an idea. Overall thoughts on the MI clone modules would be very welcome!

I also feel like I don't have enough VCAs, so I am open to re-arranging things in this area :) Another key area I am trying to figure out is what to do for getting audio samples into the rack (to then mangle with Morphagene and Magneto). I do a lot of sound design/soundscapes with my field recorder, so it would be nice to modulate those sounds. I am thinking the Audio I/O and just run the field recorder outputs into the modular that way...maybe some kind of sd card wav player would be a better idea?

Looking forward to hearing from people, thanks!!

Thanks to @stevewhite whose careful packaging rescued the module he sold me from a post office mishap. Great seller.

Bought an Intellijel Buffered Multiple off @restlessboy and all was good, thank you :)

Hello! I'm super new but very interested in building my first Eurorack for ambient/drone type of music. I'm doing some homework on this instrument but I'm looking for feedback. What do you think?

Thank you very much for taking your time helping me.
I will carefully evaluate your suggestions.
I thought that the Minibrute 2s provided both modulation sources and some kind of randomnes to start with.
The idea with Disting is to test all the different algoritms and than decide what kind of dedicated modules I need.

I've just had a smooth and easy transaction with @indecentgesture. Thanks!

I actually think the Zadar is fine as a main ADSR, especially after the firmware update to 2.0 that lets you set a sustain point (so it is useable as ADSR rather than just AR). It is not the most immediately playable module though, and it does require some menu diving to use. But once you get into the menus, it has some fun envelopes that are difficult to generate otherwise, and it is very flexible (e.g., it lets you adjust envelope level which can be very useful, and which is not common for envelope generators).

Sewastopol II is fine as an I/O interface. The input has enormous gain, and it is really shines when amplifying very weak signals. E.g., when sending a passive electric bass into it, I only turn the input gain to 2-3 (out of 10). For line-level signals, the input gain is set well below 1, which can be a bit fiddly to dial in. The output gain is also solid, and I use it regularly to drive full-size headphones (this is not a documented feature, so YMMV). Third, it is an expensive and full-featured module, with a complex envelope follower and gate extractor. If you need that, it is great. If all you want to do is to send line-level signals in and out of you modular, something simpler may be easier to work with. One simpler module is Veils by Mutable Instruments. It is a 4x VCA with sufficient gain to bring line-level to modular level. Another module that many people recommend for line-level I/O duty (but that I have never used) is the Gozinta.

I hope this helps,
M

EDITED May 3rd 2019, 07:06

First up, your build's got some problems. That A-135-1 is outside the span of the rails. Plus, if this is a 3U Rackbrute cab, you need to put the Arturia power supply in there because you'll lose 5 hp from that necessary module.

Once those are corrected, my first suggestion would be to move to a 6U Rackbrute, at least while you're sorting out things on MG. Not only is it a good idea to "build big" then pare things down, generative music tends to require quite a bit more than you have here. For example, there's NO modulation sources here (Disting notwithstanding)...and modulation sources are essential to creating the internal variation that generative composition requires to sound effective. I also don't see anything that would deal with variations in timing, such as trigger/gate delays, logic, randomization. There's no random signal source (also pretty necessary in generative music).

My suggestion, ultimately, is that you should probably try and explore generative patch architecture before you jump into the cash outlay on a physical modular. If you haven't already, download a copy of VCV Rack (at https://vcvrack.com/) and load it up with all the free module packs. Then start in there...NOT with a physical device, at least, not until you've got a clearer picture of what a self-regulating generative patch requires in terms of hardware to make it work. Trying to create something of this sort without some adequate research will probably only result in an expensive device that generates more frustration than music. Then bring what you've learned back over to MG, whip up a 6U Rackbrute, and start.

EDITED May 3rd 2019, 02:49

Hi,

I have the Zadar, it is best to use as a more complex modulation source then a main envelope,
if you need an adsr for amp or filter, this is not really the field where this one shines...

Hope this helps
Johannes

Hello everyone,

This is a rack I've been developing as a companion instrument to my upright bass. The upright bass is my primary instrument but I am really interested in making noise/drone/ambient music (depending on who I am playing with or the situation). The goal is to have this by my side and play my upright while making minor adjustments to the rack and then at some point later in the performance be able to set the bass down and play the synth exclusively (if I want to).

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_908484.jpg

A few of my intentions:

Run the bass through the 2hp filter, into the disting using the signal to pitch CV function, and then sending that into the v/oct for Plaits. Also, use Maths as an envelope follower of the bass signal and send the output in to the level input of Plaits.

Use the Pressure Points (and the foot interface) to change various states in the synth of a drone patch while I improvise melody lines on the upright.

Use the wogglebug and Rene to generate events that I will improvise over.

Any advice on my rack would be greatly appreciated!

I’m making drone/ambient music, and that’s what I want from my upcoming eurorack setup. These are the ones I’m quite confident about buying:

Maths
Plaits
Rings
A-130 VCA

Please tell me if it sounds horrible or is missing something essential. I’ve been practising on VCV Rack with just Plaits and Rings, and I think they sound good together.

It's a good strategy to try and make what you've got work for you while you're getting familiar with your modules.

I've fallen back in love with my Temps Utile module and have a regrowing fondness for the Ornaments & Crime module. As my own personal experience and knowledge grows in Eurorack, I'm rediscovering the power of these modules. I think you will find that modules that you're initially less-than-excited about take on new-to-you functionality later on.

I have about 25 years as a professional audio engineer. I'm about a year into Eurorack with two 104HP Intellijel 7U cases full of modules and a third 104HP 4U case under consideration. Meaning that I'll buy it when I'm feeling less guilty about what I've spent thus far... Eurocrack is making me itch. :)

I have four main oscillator modules, three filter modules, and the rest is mostly modulation and effects. Here's my rack. If you have any questions regarding some of my choices or the purpose of a module in my set-up, feel free to ask. It'll be awesome to see where you are a year from now too!

EDITED May 2nd 2019, 19:06

Some great people I've bought modules from recently:

@x2mirko & @dmgd3ar

Excellent communication & packaging/shipping, thumbs up!

Oh hi Yonga!

Did not realise it was you! Hope you're doing good!

De module is inmiddels een stuk anders dan toen aangekondigd. Informatie klopt dus niet helemaal meer: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/birdkids/raven-a-100-analog-synthesizer-voice-made-in-austr/posts/2422351

Edit: here's the final version: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5A5XZgXsAEJ3Mv.jpg

EDITED May 5th 2019, 16:16

I’m new to modular and planning my first Eurorack. My goal is a system suited for ambient/generative music. I have watched the Youtube videos and read the exellent book Patch&Tweak but I need advices.
My base is an Arturia Minibrute 2S that I will extend with a Eurorack.
What I plan is this rack:

Now I need to know if this can be a good beginning.
What modules can I skip and what others do I need?
I would be very grateful for some help.
Kind regards,
Jan Melin

Oh.. toen ik er na zocht kwam ik alleen de zwarte versie tegen. Gezien ik de zilveren heb gekocht wilde ik deze graag op MG. Of is de zilveren er al?
Ik zal even zoeken.
Zodra er een foto van de final panel is kan deze natuurlijk vervangrn worden. Of ik moet ook hier even beter zoeken.
Groetjes, Yonga

This module has already been added and is also not the final panel.

I still get all the module shops / offers in the "Buy Online"-bar from Canada, US and Japan despite being in EU.

Tried wiping the browser cookies and cache clean, switching the currency to € and listing the offers only from EU and cross-checking with another browser and in private mode, but this behaviour persists. My VPN is set to EU as well so it shouldn't mess with geolocation if there's such. Also tried completely turning off VPN to see if it affects the functionality.

Is there a setting somewhere or is this a bug am seeing here?

-- pkkkkknn

Have you cleaned your cookies before turning on a VPN? Or maybe you should try incognito mode and VPN?
-- DeanLiles

You can just set your country in the user settings to fix this kind of problems:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/users/edit

Thanks again @Ronin1973.

I think I just have to go down the route of playing around with the stuff that I have now for a few months and then eventually start replacing the stuff that I don't gel with. I feel like now, while perhaps not set up to any one thing really well, I do have a decent setup for exploring and learning what can be done with a modular system. I can already see that eventually I might move either Elements and/or DFAM out of the rack and use that space for more modulation and effects. But all this stuff is so deep that it is kind impossible to know "what you need (or want)" unless you have some basic sense of the possibilities. I mean, I spent 3-4 hours yesterday just trying to wrap my head around the basic possibilities of the Clouds module, and realised there was so much there that I hadn't realised at all while just playing around before.

I still get all the module shops / offers in the "Buy Online"-bar from Canada, US and Japan despite being in EU.

Tried wiping the browser cookies and cache clean, switching the currency to € and listing the offers only from EU and cross-checking with another browser and in private mode, but this behaviour persists. My https://www.vpnunlimitedapp.com/en/extras/for-teams-and-family is set to EU as well so it shouldn't mess with geolocation if there's such. Also tried completely turning off VPN to see if it affects the functionality.

Is there a setting somewhere or is this a bug am seeing here?

-- pkkkkknn

Have you cleaned your cookies before turning on a VPN? Or maybe you should try incognito mode and VPN?

EDITED May 2nd 2019, 18:30

Dove has a couple of great digital modules out or on the way. There's the WTF Oscillator which uses some pretty neat calculations to combine two wavetable waveforms. There's another that I can't remember the name to which has four wavetable engines and uses two pots to move a small crosshair representing your mix of oscillators (basically emulating a joystick with etch-a-sketch controls).

I'd really consider one or both of them for some West Coast luvin'.

If you're using your Eurorack as more of an expander for your existing synths, I'd concentrate in two areas: modulation and effects.

Your effects do not have to be Eurorack but if they have CV modulations in them, they will be much more useful. There is a TON of effects modules out there. Z-DSP, Magneto, Clouds (and clones), ErbeVerb, Rainmaker are some of the popular models thrown around. Also consider overdrive/distortion modules as effects. A little dirt doesn't hurt.

As far as modulation, the sky is the limit on that as well: extra LFOs, extra envelope generators, mutes, sequencers (they are great for more than just controlling pitch and triggering envelopes, CV processors like the Worng Vector Space, etc.

You can also place additional filter types in your rack if you want to run your Grandmother synth through something different than the stock filter.

If you haven't bought any or all of the Mutable instrument stuff, I'd seriously recommend buying the much more compact clone versions of each module. They are generally cheaper and take up much less space.

Take a deep breath and start slow. You already have a decent collection of modules so see how you can augment what you have with them and what areas you feel they are falling short. It's hard to say "what you need" as everyone's set-up is as individual as the individual.

I think the Sputnik modules are not made anymore, and they may be hard to find, especially the Dual Oscillator.

The Quad VCF/VCA appears to still be in stock at Matttechmodular.co.uk

Thank you so much, Lugia, for your comprehensive and detailed suggestions that I have integrated in the new rack below. You helped me in a previous thread to set up my very first modular around semi-modulars and sequencers I already own. https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/3864

This current thread is just (at this time) a mental exercise, though potentially achievable later within a second rack (end of the year?) The reason is I recently rediscovered Suzanne Ciani works, including the Buchla Concerts 1975, and I'm mesmerized by this music!
MScale is paradoxically included here due to the Mother32 already on my desk.
I finally swapped the A-138s for the new Make Noise X-Pan which apparently seems more in the quadraphonic philosophy of the Buchla universe.
PS: the RackBrute depth could be a bit larger. "53mm on the upper part (power bus) and 75mm on the lower part (no power bus)". https://www.arturia.com/faq/rackbrute/rackbrute-general-questions
But I'll verify that point very soon (delivery is scheduled for next week...)

EDITED May 1st 2019, 18:42

The two complex oscillators cover a lot of the same ground --- I'd swap one of them out for something different like a Verbos Harmonic Oscillator or a Wavetable Oscillator.
-- richc90

Thanks richc90 for your relevant comment. Due to the relatively small size of the RackBrute 6U, I would opt for a Wavetable Oscillator as the E-352 Cloud Terrarium or the Erica Synths Black Wavetable VCO. And alternatively Lugia provides a perspective which could be great too.

gove money
pleas

Had a good transaction and a great deal on a
Grayscale temps utile from @Mooko

Big thanks to @MTW26 for a very smooth transaction on an E370. Real pleasure to do business with :)

dBs Music Presents the Electronic Music Weekender!

Following our success with last year's event, we are hosting a weekend dedicated to Electronic Music in Plymouth, held in the iconic Plymouth Athenaeum, one of Plymouth's oldest and most sort after venues.

Modular Meet II @ The Plymouth Athenaeum: Friday 3rd May 14:00 pm - 22:00 pm

Modular synthesis experts / enthusiasts / industry insiders / manufacturers / workshops / guest lectures / demonstrations / masterclasses / performances / Acousmonium / product launches / beginners to professionals welcome

Live Night @ Plymouth Hanging Gardens: Saturday 4th May 20:00 pm - 04:00 am

--
Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/597190694132017
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=118aRHlhijC9sl4R9UMdFDffACyof1gVo

Traded Ripples for a Polaris Filter (based on above suggestion), got a 4MS Pingable LFO at decent price (less than half of what Batumi or Stages would have cost me), and am now thinking of finishing it off with a Pam's New Workout.

I separated piece into 3 parts(melody, chord, bass) to manage polyphony

Oscillators
2x Rings : 1 for melody, 1 for chords
Plaits : bass

Envelope and Filter
A-111-5

Mixers
A138s and Quad VCA

Hope you enjoy and please subscribe my youtube channel:)
-- gasbug

Awesome. I really like what you have done with his incredible music.

EDITED Apr 30th 2019, 21:51

would be cool if the forum on modulargrid was called muffwiggler for a homage
not sure if the muff wiggler site is continuing or not.

-- tunnelsurf

I think Mike's daughter will be continuing the legacy

EDITED Apr 30th 2019, 21:51

Thanks @enn_n for selling me your quadra and its expander! Fast answer replies and shipping. Great seller !

There can be only one Muffwiggler.

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_907796.jpg
-- Johnprev123

Would appreciate any insights or comments- thank you!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_907796.jpg

Well, if the objective is to keep this very West Coast, I'd yank the DPO altogether and put in a Maths instead. Since Maths is a complex-wired version of what's basically a Serge Dual Universal Slope Gen, it fits. You can use the two slope gens as modulation, or you can cycle them at audio rates for extra VCOs. Lose the buffered mults; you don't have enough tuning-critical signals in here to justify their expense, and the rig itself is small enough that inline mults or stackcables make a lot more sense here. With those removed, you then might want to put in a 2hp delay to go along with the 2hp reverb (since reverb was key to the Buchla sound, and delay [via the Wilson Analog Delay] was a significant part of the original Serge sound). And since these simpler modules are "appropriate", then you can remove the DSP as being more or less redundant.

Another redundancy might be found with the A-149-1. The Wogglebug is actually an augmented version of the Buchla Source of Uncertainty, so having two of these is a bit much. The A-149-1 is also WAAAY too deep for a Rackbrute cab; you want to keep your module depths around 40mm or less so that you can have space for your ribbons and airflow inside the cab. With that gone, you might then want to add a stereo filter to tone-shape your mixer output; while VCFs that are typical to subtractive synthesis aren't 100% "West Coast", adding something that can act as an overall timbral shaper would be right. Have a look at WMD's Overseer, for example. It's not a "normal" VCF, but if you used it post-mix as a timbral control (either manually or modulated) that would be more in line with what the Buchla 291 is for, especially since you can CV the response behavior which makes it act more like the 291e's "morphing" capability.

Last, something additive as a VCO. The Verbos Harmonic is nice. It's also HUGE and as such, isn't really appropriate for a small build. The Mannequins Mangrove, however, is only 10 hp and while you can't directly address individual harmonics, you still have quite a bit of leeway in manipulating harmonic content with it.

This should be a lot more spot-on with the West Coast model. I am wondering about that MScale, though...if this is in an Arturia cab, wouldn't it be linked with a Minibrute 2 or 2s and not a Moog? Or does the MScale deal with a Moog that's somewhere else in your rig?

would be cool if the forum on modulargrid was called muffwiggler for a homage
not sure if the muff wiggler site is continuing or not.

Any opinions on this small starter rack?

Well, unfortunately the DrumBrute Impact is not connected to the modular, but I guess you meant the Minibrute 2S anyway. Yes, I plan to handle the sequencing portion with its sequencer, it's a 3-track and I think it will be enough for this small set-up.

I'll check out the Poti expander and the Blue Lanterm's mixer, thanks for the suggestions!