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I just got my Arturia RackBrute 6u. And there seems to be some ac leakage which, when go softly touch the front plates of my modules I can feel a buzz. I also suspect that it messes with my modules, my marbles clock input is super sensitive, and randomly fires if I plug a cable into it. And I can hear slight seemingly random pitch variations in my telharmonic, I use an ungrounded plug. Will changing to a grounded plug work? Or what should I do? I have tried with both the supplied ac adapter, and an ac adapter from my make noise skiff (which don’t have this problem)

Thanks
-- Palme

I had the same problem with the Rackbrute, I measured 110V AC (exactly halve the Current in Europe), I have contacted Arturia, and they explained that their gear should used in a grounded socket.
I needed to get my power from the kitchen, but I would not let this get me away from Modular.
For the RackBrute this was a solution but I am not sure this is a total solution, because I ask myself if this is doable in all live situations.
Also I found out that between the earthed RackBrute and the miniBrute is a almost 100 Volt AC difference, I bought another power source with an earthed power plug, but that did not help.
My solution now is to have a constant patch cable between my PNW (a clock port) en the MiniBrute (sequencer clock in).
Same problem was with the keystep, but that I do not use at the moment.
I have also a basic Doepfer case and I noticed that a lot of modules use the rails as ground, but in the doepfer case this is not earthed. So they build up a power difference most add between 10 and 15 volt to the rails, and that also leaks to the front panels.
So with 5 modules I already had around an 50 volts difference with earth, and felt shocks when i touched the panels.
To be honest it shocked me that this problem is not covered right in a lot of cases and modules, but for now I have learned to cope with it, hoping it will not trigger the electrical protection systems in my house.
I have put the PNW in the doepfer case, and have a permanent patch to a MI Links, and from the MI Links the patch goes now to the MiniBrute 2S.

EDITED Apr 18th 2019, 22:04

Hey guys!

I am new to modular, and I want to have one to pair with my Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus+Lorre-Mill Double Knot setup that I have via a Low Gain UTL-3. I mainly want to do some noise/ambient music with it.

Tell me what you think and I miss important modules!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_897648.jpg

Hi folks,
This is my current rack:

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_899145.jpg

(ALM - Pamela's New workout / Xaoss - Batumi / Noise Engineering - Lapsus Os / Make Noise - Contour / STO / Make Noise - Dynamix / Make Noise - Rosie / Mutable Instruments - Links)
This all combined with a MiniBrute 2S

On my shortlist: Make Noise Maths, Mutable Instruments Kinks

I think modulation motion is covered for now by Contour, Dynamix and a lot of LFO's (Batumi / Pamela's new Workout / MiniBrute 2S / and the expected Maths).
I try to find a new module every month, and my current idea is to increase melodic motion.

Any suggestions ?
I am especially searching for 'golden couples', modules which work very good together with the ones I have (in the middle row).

EDITED Apr 19th 2019, 15:47

Hi there.

If you want Moog to finally mass produce the Subharmonicon, or get another manufacturer to clone it (I'll give mine for reference),
please consider signing this online petition.

I've started it yesterday, and already got a big Synth YouTuber to sign and support it.
So please be so kind to consider signing it as well and sharing it with your social network.

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/getting-the-moog-subharmonicon-in-production

Hi there.

If you want Moog to finally mass produce the Subharmonicon, or get another manufacturer to clone it (I will provide my Subharmonicon for reference), please consider signing this online petition. Within 24 hours I already got one of the big synth YouTubers to sign and support it. Which really helps. But if you want the Subharmonicon, we need more people to sign it!

As a participant of the Moogfest 2018 I was one of the lucky 120 who got their hands on a Subharmonicon. But after reading countless comments online of people hoping this machine going into production, I decided to start this petition.

So please be so kind to consider signing it as well and sharing it within your social network.

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/getting-the-moog-subharmonicon-in-production

Cheers
Carrot

Robert AA Lowe:

Top row: Kermit, Telharmonic, Twinpeak, FxDf, RxMx, Echophon, SSF DPLR, Erbe-Verb

Second row: Phonogene, Mysteron, ST0, Three Sisters, Just Friends, blank, LXd, Optomix, Tangle Quartet, Bubblesound Mix6, Rosie

Third row: 4ms power, MMG, Function, Rene, Tempi, MN mult, Maths, Wogglebug

https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=164786&sid=c36b4e51459f14e932218abea28fac04

EDITED Apr 18th 2019, 07:20

Complex VCOs are just as capable of doing ambient music as they are for creating gnarly, raucous racket. The deciding factor is simply how you use it. The nice thing about them, though, is that you can easily whip up complex spectra within one module...which was something of a key thing for the Buchla, which is where the complex oscillator idea comes from. In Buchla's synths, the main working method was to build up complex sounds, then run the results through a low-pass gate, basically a tandemmed LPF and VCO under the same envelope's control.

Anyway, the upshot is that you should be able to use a complex VCO however you see fit. The Buchlas were just as capable at creating delicate, atmospheric sounds as anything else, but the architecture allowed you a little "more" in terms of working with the sounds in real time.

Thanks everyone! Is the void modular oscillator only available in the U.S. at the moment? The doepfer one seems interesting too. So do you think a complex oscillator could be good for ambient stuff? I read somewhere that for example the DPO is a bit rough and aggressive, but I thought with the right effects I could get dreamy sounds from it too. Are there any VCOs that are more indicated than others for ambient/dreamy sounds? I ask because maybe I'm just fascinated by owning a complex one when instead I should focus on something else.

Hhm, seemingly we are coming from different experiences. How many used modules did you buy and how many were broken? I actually bought a new Doepfer module from a well known and respected dealer. A few days after when I unpacked it I found a popped capacitor and burn marks on the PCB. When I returned for a replacement they assumed I had destroyed it myself and denied me compensation. This happened to me 3 month into going modular. This may be a rare case, in my experience as rare as module seller intending to cheat you.

If you are new, apart from a completely dead module, how would you know if a module wasn't working properly? With a new module, you at least have the chance to return and exchange it for a working one (if bought from a dealer). With a used module, if you discover it isn't working right after a week... two weeks... then what?

As I said, most used aren't significantly cheaper than new ones. So my advice for someone who is new to Eurorack is to not buy used modules until you feel comfortable IN Eurorack. I realized you quoted me verbatim. But you have to read it in the context of advice to someone who is NEW to Eurorack.

The Intellijel quad VCA can be used to mix. But then you lose some functionality as a VCA. If you're doing ambient stuff with stereo panning involved, you'll want to run your signals into a dedicated stereo mixer at the end of the signal chain. I'd strongly suggest a stereo mixer with aux sends. You can get away with mixing your signals in an external mixer, but then you have to contend with eurorack synth level signals going into a line level mixer. Depending on the external mixer this may or may not work out well.

In Eurorack, you'll mix your final output as described above. But you'll probably also use other modules to mix/attenuate CV, sub-mix audio like your percussion or a combination of oscillators as a complex waveform to go into one filter, etc.

I'm using the Blue Lantern Stereo Sir Mix A Lot because it's inexpensive and has a decent amount of features. You'll find other modules like the Roland 531 that include headphone outputs as well as a stereo line level output... but no aux sends. Happy Nerding also makes stereo mixing modules as well.

I don't have the Zadar. It's a quad envelope generator. But I don't know if you can get traditional envelopes out of it controlling A,D, R times and the sustain level independently. The Maths can function as a dual attack, decay envelope if you trigger it. Or can provide attack, sustain, release envelopes if you run a gate into the non-trigger inputs on channels 1 and 4. An alternative to the Maths is the Befaco Rampage. There's a lot of overlap between the two but some nice subtle differences.

The style you cited as an example is heavily dependent on reverbs, delays, and other effects. A big part of the sound is the effects. the Disting has reverb, delay, etc. But it's a jack-of-all-trades and a master-of-none. So you may want to look at modules like the Z-DSP or 1010 Music's Series 1 module which gives you access to the Bitbox, SynthBox, and FXBox firmware.

I don't think you'll be able to generate the rich palette of your examples on your beginning set-up. I would go with what you have and see how far you can get with it, learn a bit more about your gear and your tastes and expand slowly.

a fine experience with @gesta for a VCA Quad

@NicoKeet tagging you here because it looks like we're in a similar position - i.e starting from 0-coast and slowly adding bits... Hope you don't mind :)

Cool, thanks again @Ronin1973
Just to clarify, in answer to my question regarding an output module; were you indirectly answering that when you mentioned having a mixer? Would the Intellijel Quad VCA serve as a mixer?

I forgot to mention that as well as the 0-coast and Keystep, I have the Morphagene already. So I have a Happy Ending rack (84HP), and my plan now is to get another 2 to 4 modules that I can fully dive into, and will enhance the 0-coast possibilities.

So, in your opinion, if I were to get the Zadar, a Maths and the Disting Mk4, would this be a workable, basic set-up? Or would I need a mixer and/or output module? And I might also get a micro Plaits to add another voice too.

Also, regarding headphones, yes I will be very cautious - I'm currently coming out of 0-coast, into pedals, out of pedals into an Alesis mixer, out of mixer into studio monitors....no headphones involved. was just thinking about the Rosie for live performance in the future.

To give an idea of what I want to create, I'm really into cosmic collage, stuff like Cool Maritime, Koen Holtkamp, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (not the stuff with voice particularly, but her collab with Suzanne Ciani blows my mind), ...also stuff like DSR Lines, Matthewdavid's Mindflight, Kosmische shit...Klaus Schulze, Didier Bocquet, Laurie Spiegel, etc etc

Check the track called "Forest Bathing" here to get a good idea of what I want to do:
https://coolmaritime.bandcamp.com/album/sharing-waves

Thanks again!

Your best friend is Youtube.
-- Ronin1973

I second.

Do not buy anything used from individuals.
-- Ronin1973

In most cases a broken module wasn't the problem, my limited understanding was.
My first two rows of 84hp were all second hand and they were perfect to start out with. Stll use most of them.

Can we get a rack planner for 4ms pods? If not I’ll use the shelf

Great, thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it :)

There's a new complex VCO ... has everything you'd expect out of the DPO, etc, ...
-- Lugia

Umm, been considering a WC style osc for quite a while but the usual suspects have a hefty price tag. Anyone have a pointer to some audio/video for this one?

EDITED Apr 16th 2019, 22:20

Heh...actually, my idea with all of those VCOs is to have them handy as either an audio or modulation source. All of them have that convenient VCO/LFO switch, which I wish we'd see more of as it's super-handy to be able to flip that and alter the oscillator function on the fly. Plus, given that the Gravitational Waves's oscillators can flip functions like that as well, you have the on the fly ability to completely alter the audio-range oscillator in one of those pairs by radically changing the FM rate. I like that; that functionality was one of the more convenient things about the ARP 2600's VCOs.

Your best friend is Youtube. Learn everything you can about a module before purchasing it. There are loads of tutorials, demos, and people simply showing off a patch/playing with all of the modules you are considering.

Do not buy anything used from individuals. How will you know if the module is damaged unless you have experience with it? The pricing on used modules is not considerably lower than new. That's just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

You can get a lot of the Mutable clones from dealers now. Go that route or find a maker with lots of experience/referrals.

Find a dealer that you like and check out their policies on returns. Sometimes a module isn't what we were expecting. I generally buy from one dealer with a couple of alternates for hard to find stuff. Build the relationship and get to know them on a first name basis. Depending how deep down the Eurorack rabbit-hole you go, some sage advice or recommendations can save a lot of heartache.

Most modules follow the same rules as far as what orientation the ribbon cable is plugged in. Get it backwards and POOF... you now own an expensive paperweight. Some modules have built-in protection from plugging them in backwards. Most don't. When you're setting up your case, do it slowly, confirm everything and double and triple check everything before powering it up. If you're into sacrificing small animals on an altar to bring good fortune... better break out a chicken before flipping the power switch. It's not the first time you plug something in that you fry it, it's when you're comfortable and overconfident.

That's pretty much what I've got. Take everything slowly and make the most of what you have before expanding.

EDITED Apr 16th 2019, 21:00

Awesome, thanks for the input. Anything else I should consider?

$2000 budget.

Behringer Neutron $300.
Tip Top Mantis 2x104HP case $355.
Micro Ornaments & Crime $250
Micro Temps Utile $250
Expert Sleepers Disting Mk4 $180

That will take you up to $1335. I'm assuming that you'll be using your laptop to do your sequencing and have an audio interface.

I'd save the other $665 for your next round of improvements (I'd start looking at effects like the Tip Top Z-DSP). The Neutron's LFO can be slaved to your MIDI clock. You can use it to sync the Temps and O&C. You can always use an external LFO from the Disting or O&C in place of the internal LFO on the Neutron.

DO NOT mount the Neutron in the case. HP space is expensive and you lose access to the line-level ins-outs on the back when you mount it.

Don't spend your budget all in one shot. No one gets it right the first go around and you won't know where you want to go until you get some knob wiggling time under your belt. It's college... experiment. :)

EDITED Apr 16th 2019, 17:01

There are no dumb questions. As a rule, attitude is more important than any questions. I've seen people come into these forums with a very bad attitude and wind up getting dropped off with no answers to their questions. You're doing fine.

There are lots and lots of multimode filters out there. I have an Intellijel Morgasmatron. It's a larger unit but it covers a lot of ground. There are better ones, there are worse. But this is the one that I have and I'm happy with it.

Being able to mix signals is pretty important: audio as well as CV. In my rig, I use a dedicated six channel stereo mixer, a handful of Intellijel Quadrats, a Befaco dual attenuverter, etc. I currently don't have a dedicated headphone out. I just use the stereo line-level out into my Focusrite 2i4. It does the job.

As far as headphones, be VERY careful with them. They are right on your ears and it's very easy to make a mistake and give yourself a nice blast of extremely loud synth while patching. If you're repatching something, just slide them off your ears until you're done patching.

You'll also find that you get listening fatigue a lot faster with headphones. A pair of powered studio monitors will extend your play time. Your experience may be different but that has been mine.

Here's my rig. I don't have the CV faders, Monsoon or the Befaco Muxlicer... yet. But everything else I own.

EDITED Apr 16th 2019, 16:34

I have the Rubicon II. It'll cover your basic analog needs. It has a tremendous amount of range with a ridiculous number of octaves available. Being able to switch octaves quickly is a big plus in my book compared to the Tip Top Z3000 where you have to manually sweep it. It also servers as a complex LFO, which is an undervalued feature considering the modulation possibilities.

The Rubicon is only as good as the modulation you pass through it as with any oscillator. Lately, my philosophy is to start patching modulation ideas first and foremost then connecting the modulations to different aspects of VCOs, filters etc.

Having a nice collection of oscillators and a wimpy amount of modulation is no bueno and not a lot of fun. I'd definitely research Lugia's sage advice. Honestly, I think I almost troll these forums to get a reply out of him. :)

Thanks for taking the time to have a look @Ronin1973
Got any recommendations for a multi-mode filter?
Regarding sequencing, was just planning on using the Keystep at this stage.
At the moment, I'm just coming out of the 0-coast into my pedals,....so (sorry dumb question, I'm new to all this) , do you mean that if I go from the 0-coast into say, the zadar and then the maths, that I need a dedicated output module?
I was looking at something like a Rosie, so I could monitor stuff on headphones.

so..
latest incarnation of eurorack for under £1000.
purchases so far...
erica synths wavetable - £140
4ms row power + cables etc. - £140
rails - £40
offcuts of wood from dads shed - free
next purchases..
make noise maths - £250
MI ripples - £145
doepfer mixer - £52

think i may go over budget slightly.

EDITED Apr 16th 2019, 08:57

Of course, I thought it over again... I’m heavily considering getting a Dreadbox Erebus v3 and then a couple Eurorack modules to accompany it. Would this is a better alternative, and if so, what modules should I get to work with the Erebus? Any feedback on my accessory rack here is welcome:
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_893143.jpg

I've wanted to build a modular synthesizer for years, but I think now's the time. I want to build something small and inexpensive (~$2000), but one that will keep me entertained and diving into new sounds while not updating it for a matter of months while at college. I have a general idea of how to go about it (I think), different sounds and artists I'd like to emulate, and modules I find really interesting, such as:
Mannequins - Just Friends
ALM - Akemie's Taiko, Akemie's Castle
Qu-Bit - Nebulae V2, Chance
Pittsburgh - Primary Oscillator
Malekko - Varigate 4+, 8+

I want to pair it to Earthquaker Devices's Avalanche Run because I love how that pedal sounds, but that's besides the point. Here are the modules I selected considering what I find interesting and what I think will keep me interested for a long time without updating it:
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_892010.jpg

Feedback? I'm a noob and I want the maximum potential out of my small system, so please give me feedback.

There's a new complex VCO on the market, just hit in the last month: VOID Modular's Gravitational Waves. It has everything you'd expect out of the DPO, etc, plus an onboard ring mod. The two big differences here are the size and price: 18 hp, $250. You could fit one of these into a DPO's space and only need to clear 8 more hp to put in a second...and two together cost less than a single DPO. Sounds like a win to me!

And yes, you do need three VCOs for maximal possibilities for sound design. Instead of the Rubicon, though...my take would be two of the above, plus a Doepfer A-110-6. That way, you also get TZFM capability along with a pair of West Coast-ish VCOs with a minimal footprint and minimal $$ outlay.

Thanks so much for your answer, you helped a lot to figure out what i need and confirm some things I had in mind, I'm going to check all the modules you mentioned.
About VCOs, I have some doubts about what to choose, I know Plaits and I also wanted to try something more complex that allows me to do sounds which are difficult to obtain with my regular synths, I think I need at least three to do all the things I'd like to do at the same time. Surely one of the three will be a basic one but to start I'd like something that can give me a lot of possibilities.
The first should be good for the ambient stuff, I wanted to buy a DPO but I'm not sure anymore it's the right choice, I'm also interested in trying a wavetable one in the future. What about the Rubicon by Intellijel, could be good for what I have in mind? Or do you think a digital one is the right choice to start?

Look into Euclidean gate modules. As a percussionist, you might enjoy them, especially when you use more than one Euclidean gate in relationships with each other.

Multi-mode filter. A band pass filter is great for adding some movement to a static sound. What are you doing for sequencing as well as audio inputs and outputs to your pedals, mixers, audio interface, etc.