Hi - I'm new to all of this, If some of you could check out my rack and tell me if it has all the basics essentials for starting out.
Cheers!
Hmm...good thing I'm kinda bored on my day off...
VCAs, VCAs, VCAs. More of 'em. Remember, they're not just for audio; using DC-coupled linear VCAs gives you the ability to control/modulate CVs as well, and with the MATHS and Wogglebug, you've got some great control/modulation potentials. Plus, if you're going to establish two signal paths (which the Rosie implies) you need more AC-coupled exponentials to deal with the audio signals in those paths.
More straight-up envelopes to go with the more VCAs, too...ADSRs or ASRs for those audio path VCAs are a must.
Not sure about the Rosie, also...with the Clouds and RT60 being stereo units, I would tend to go with a stereo output and stereo mixer. Plus, you can then patch these between the mixer outs and the output module and use them more as global effects (or in the Clouds' case, global sound tinkerage).
Remember: Braids isn't being produced anymore by Mutable, so the options there are either a used one or one of the open-source builds. Also, maybe consider something with some twisty modulation possibilities, like an Intellijel Rubicon.
I'd lose the A-145 altogether. The A-143-3 gives you three more of more or less the same thing for less than $50 more in only 6 more hp and all you'd lose is the sync input and your reverse saw waveform. Not a bad tradeoff unless the sync is essential, then the A-147-2 would be better as you not only get that back, but CV capability, a gate delay, and an onboard VCA for CV manipulation for about the same cost as the 143-3. Only one LFO, sure, but it's got way more potential.
Otherwise, not a bad start...plenty more space to work with, too.
I'll second the call for the mult. Also, if you have the O-Coast, you might consider pulling the MIDI interface and substituting something that can get audio into the skiff so the Clouds can chew on it alongside the other sound generation path. The O-Coast can handle the skiff's MIDI just fine via its MIDI 2 outputs since you only have a single VCO, etc signal path in there. Also, don't forget you can crosspatch this with the O-Coast for other functions, such as clocking, etc and then you'd just treat it plus this as a single device...which, actually, would be a pretty beefy device.
One of Ladik's mixers that has panning and line-level stereo outs might be a better fit in that same space where the current Ladik sits now, too...could be useful to sum the O-Coast and skiff's signals together as a single stereo pair, plus you can also use the O-Coast's output for something else entirely.
One thing I was always taught early on was that if you can tandem two full systems together...as in this case...you're really not getting the result of one device plus one device. The possibilities are a bit more exponential, more like two squared. The more you can crosspatch, the more complex and outright interesting the situation gets!
Grr...had a rather extensive reply on this, but MG logged me out while I was writing it and I lost the whole damned thing. Let's see if I can get the basics down from that again before it bongs me once more.
Drum rack: add some metallic/noise-based sources. The Mutant Machine and Plonk can do these basic functions, sure, but you want to use these for more complicated sound design, otherwise they're a bit of a waste. Look at some little Tiptop stuff for snares, cymbals, hats...the basics...then the other two beefier modules can do some weird variations on those.
The combo of the Field Kit FX and ER-301 is excellent...gets you way off into King Tubby-land or weirder. In fact, probably weirder...which is better!
Consider a dedicated trigger sequencer here to supplement the Squarp outboard one. Plus by using a more 'fixed' pattern sequencer against something more fluid like your outboards, you get lots of potential cross-rhythmic possibilities. I see there's a Grids, but those always stuck me more as a 'sequence manipulator' than just a sequencer, so it would also be a variation device.
Put in some things for making more old-school electronic percussion sounds...a few very basic AD generators + some resonant filters gives you loads of possibilities for sounds such as filter snaps, 'rung' filter sounds like in old beatboxes. Nothing too fancy; you would be just fine with a handful of 2hp stuff here for a space-saving solution.
Add the ability to modulate clocks and triggers...you want something for swing to get things a little more humanized, plus you can shuffle one sequence and not another, then use a trigger combiner (like Xaoc's Bytom) to get flams. Skippers can add a probabilistic dropped hit here and there, making more humanized variation. And then a few clock manipulators plus some logic that you can apply to rhythmic gates can create a lot of cross-rhythmic craziness. Both EMW and Ladik make plenty of space-conscious options that come in pretty cheaply.
Last, look at a mixer that's suitable for percussives, like Hex's Mutant Hot Glue. This thing also has some methods onboard for adding some 'grit' plus compression, and that last bit is important. I don't know how many times over the years I've found myself putting a bus compressor across my drum busses to 'punch' things, make them hit harder and get more in the listeners' faces. Percussion needs to HIT...and compression gets things 'hitty'.
Otherwise, not too shabby...I like the presence of the Elements and Rings for adding plenty odd sounds; it strikes me that the Plonk thru the Rings would have lots of 'abuse potential'.
Will get to the other rack later; don't want to have MG drop me and lose all of this typing a second time...
Would love some patch ideas from people as I am new to modular. Thanks !
Hey everyone. Please could I get some help with patch ideas with my new set up which i have put up on here? Would be awesome to hear back off some friendly modular mad people to talk to!
Im also new to Eurorack. I started with the Mother 32. I can speak for Maths and Disting. Maths was also my first addition and was really tricky for me at first and I didnt really understand it...But at a certain point it clicked and I was just like "...woah....this thing is SO useful..." I am also completely in love with the Disting. Its so useful (especially for a small system) I think I might get another one.
someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure clouds is going to start to get pretty hard to find...So if you see one you should try to grab it quick.
I would definitely squeeze a multiple in that open 2hp.
Not bad! Yeah, there's a few things I'd do a little differently, but otherwise I can see what you seem to be aiming for here, and it looks good. The use of the 1U rows does a nice job of splitting up the cabs, but you could also side-by-side the first and second towers and fill with blanks where there's not anything. I'd go more into the architecture of the modules themselves, but that would be sort of OT for this topic.
-- Lugia
Now there's a new post about the build if you'd like to comment! :)
Hi! Reorganizing my modules and would appreciate the feedback. Either on basic layout tips from you experts or perhaps some tips if I'm missing something really major in your opinion from my build.
These modules are yet to come, but other modules I have already:
ER-301
Field Kit FX
Quad Morphing VCO
Sequencing mostly with Deluge or Squarp - so I don't feel any need for modules for sequencing purposes.
Main build
"Drums"
Hi
Need some guidance and experienced ideas about this rack that I've planned. Completely new to the modular world...
I already have a 0-coast (tons of fun) and would like to add some modulation capabilities, so I was considering Math as the first step. Later on hoping to use the rack both as a stand-alone sound generation, and later on integrated with my DAW as sound-mangling unit. MI Clouds looks like a great second or third component, along with the ExpertSleepers Disting unit.
Would appriciate some ideas if I forgot something important, or units that I should consider before going ahead with the stuff placed in the rack right now.. Thanx in advance.
But conversely, if a used Akai S3000xl can be had for 120 UKP on eBay UK and a Doepfer A-100 LC1 48 hp cab alone costs 119 EUR, I'm not sure of why you'd go through with having just the ONE in a rack, even as a starter module. The Akai already has the signal level situation sorted, no issues with powering, deals with MIDI just fine, and does what the ONE does as well as quite a bit more. It sounds more to me like you'd be better off waiting until you can build up a system that's a lot more sonically open-ended in Eurorack, rather than just going with this single function which can be accomplished better and more self-contained in an easily-obtainable and inexpensive used rackmount sampler unit. Not saying 'don't' here, but just pointing out that there's other solutions outside of the modular synth box that you might find quite suitable.
Or
To connect the module to your other stuff your mixer should have a -15/-20 db pad switch at its inputs. That should bring your module level to line level used elsewhere. To get outside signals up to modular level, your cheapest option would the headphone amp in your mixer I guess.
hello, and a big ‘thank You!’, first of all, to any modular head who is bothering to read my thread and hopefully will be happy to give me some advice.
I have no experience regarding modular systems at all, and even though I’m very curious about them and wish to get into them proactively further down the line, at the moment it’s simply not an option due to the very limited financial resources and funds I have (or rather don’t have) available, so for the time being my concern is purely to be able to use the SAMPLE PLAYER MODULE “ONE” by TIPTOP AUDIO along the rest of my audio set up, which isn’t modular, and it is simply all fed into either an analogue or digital mixer, depending on the situation, which outputs to active speakers.
More specifically I guess what I need to know is
*how to supply power to the module (I’m based in UK but also travel to Europe regularly),
*how to get its levels right ( I know modular signals are hotter than usual line signals) so it can be inputted into the mixer,
*and perhaps how to be able to control it with another device, I imagine via Midi,
*as well as upgrading its firmware when it’ll be needed if that’s something relevant to modular setting?!
As mentioned what’s currently most important for me is to do the above in the cheapest way possible, but of course within this frame if there’s options that allow me to make this set up open for future modular development rather than not I’d definitely go for those options, though for instance if not having a case for the module for now doesn’t cause any safety issue I would be happy to do without until I won’t get more.
Can anybody spare a few moments to enlighten me and give me directions on the matter?
Ignorance isn’t always bliss, damn! :)
Thank Yous, a Gentle Werewolf
I just had a very pleasant experience buying from @pixfoil. Very recommended!
Didn't mean to offend when I mentioned the reverse panel post. I fully understand that not everyone is aware of the Panel Selector option, as I'm aware that not everyone will bother scrolling through all the panels.
As is the panel number increases with each edit, whether it was panel related or not. Then we have all the people posting duplicates because they can't be arsed to use the search function! Not even alternative versions, just mere duplicates. And then, my favorite, people uploading a duplicate just to promote a sale. Love it even more when it's not even a module!
Anyway, I think merge would do wonders here. But for starters a warning when someone presses the Submit button "Are you sure this module isn't already available? Did you check the Panel Selector for alternative versions?" :)
Love and piece
Just got policed by PP, not being aware of the new panel switch feature.
Great initiative, both the function and PP efforts.
Can i suggest to define some official guidelines on this and send it by PM to all users?
There may be more users like me that do not read often the forum, but are heavy tetris players.
Cheers,
BJ
A Eurocrack Pusher: "The first time is for free" ;)
Selectable Panel Images
...
TLDR; there are two arrow buttons to change the panels images.
-- modulargrid
Great feature! Thanks a lot for that.
A Eurocrack Pusher: "The first time is for free" ;)
Hey @modulargrid, all these ideas are just things that come to me while I clean-up each day. It's by no means a requirement or a request; merely suggestions. As always, I'd be up to discuss these or any similar matter to a larger extent. A clean DB is what we're both aiming at! :) And by the way, I know full well that implementation is a totally different issue, so again, no pressure whatsoever.
I think that being able to Force Delete a module entirely could be an abrupt yet functional method, at least for mods? Maybe add an option list when deleting to send a message to the original poster (OP) so that they get informed of what they did wrong. Or maybe not.
Still, if we can't have a merge I, for one, vote to delete duplicates of modules that are now set up as hidden.
It's not possible anymore to rate modules with an anonymous account. Before the change it was possible to manipulate the Top Modules list. I have removed all anonymous votes.
The system tries to identify forum spammer on registration and blocks them.
The system is very sensitive. If you are blocked and you are not a criminal please write me an email.
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
Thanks @ParanormalPatroler for all your engagement and doing! These are good points as always. When I understand that right there should be some kind of automatic duplicate detection on upload. That is a good idea.
You already suggested a merge mechanism for modules, I still have that in mind. And also a way to flip panel images without uploading new images, like we have in the pedal section.
I can not act as fast as I like to do and there are several issues behind the scene which are mostly invisible but have to be addressed with priority like the recent spam attacks. I am most interested in a clean database and a way to purge the module data will come.
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
I've been deleting a lot of duplicates recently. So here are a couple of ideas to stop this trend:
1) When someone adds a module, look-up the name / manufacturer added and if there's already a module with that name (yes, I know variations can exist) then suggest that the module MIGHT be a duplicate
2) If a duplicate of a module exists and is being used then add a warning (similar to the incomplete power info warning already available) saying that user is using a duplicate module and that they should revert to original version
3) Do a purge. Seriously, let's clean up this place of all the damn duplicates. They will get removed from peoples racks, so be it! I can't believe I have to hide modules which are the reverse panel of the original, which is already available as an alternative to the original module by scrolling the Panel Selector options.
Thoughts?
1 fader patch is a patch where at the zero level of the fader nothing happens, but as the fader is brought above or below zero. the patch comes alive and generates itself in a random but organized manner giving a harmonic cacophony. self modulating probably chaotic
1. At low positions on the fader, minimal notes played and soft tones farther the position is the more alive the patch becomes
2. tempo changes can be erratic and jolty
3. at zero level, nothing is being played
4. voltmeter needed to display position of fader
5. exponential changes in voltages are probably more than often preferred than linear
6.voltmeter that when a set threshold is broken can send trigger/gate to modulate other parameters
7. VCAs!!!!!!
8. offsets and attenuation
9. quantizer?
10. attenuated quantizer?
11. microtonal experiementation
12. try to be fluid with the patch
13. sample and hold
14. PPL YES! cause why not
15. a lot of modulation
16. clock divisions that can be modulated
17. will probably need a exponential VCA
18. attempt to use doepfer models
19. pad type oscillator with 2 complimentary oscillators
20. sub modulation
Feedback would be great, avtually! I could create a separate topic for that if you’d like to comment. :)
Not bad! Yeah, there's a few things I'd do a little differently, but otherwise I can see what you seem to be aiming for here, and it looks good. The use of the 1U rows does a nice job of splitting up the cabs, but you could also side-by-side the first and second towers and fill with blanks where there's not anything. I'd go more into the architecture of the modules themselves, but that would be sort of OT for this topic.
bj_gzp is a great seller, modul was nicely safe packed and mint condition,
would buy anytime again with pleasure : )
audiosphynx is a trustworthy seller from Amsterdam
Yep - started planning with a single "tower" instead of three separate cases to ease layout planning. And your divider idea gave me an idea to put additional 1U rows to separate cases from each other! This way it looks like the real deal.
Still - it would be awesome if I could lock certain rows and try to "optimize" the rest. And yesterday I came with an idea to have "groups of modules" - so that I could group some modules together and then move it as one group. And if you'd organize automatically - it would respect this group without separating the modules.
Love the Hexinverter drum modules...they're versatile, they can either behave themselves or not (and when 'not', they get fun). As for the sequencer, can't really say. That's a piece of gear that really has to be 'to taste', and not something that I think anyone can be 100% objective about recommending. You'll need to sort that one out on your own, depending on your final desired result, how comfortable you are with different sequencing environments, etc etc, and there's a LOT of excellent pattern sequencers out there. Also, with Hex's drums, you might also consider a sequencer that not only does gate/trig patterns, but CV as well so you can make use of the CV ins for pitching the drum sounds. Nice how his stuff gives you that option. Come to think of it...why just one sequencer? Consider: if you use something that's purely a trigger sequencer for your pattern (Acidlab's Robokop comes to mind; it programs pretty much like an old-skool TR-606) and then ALSO a couple of separate CV sequencers (EMW's comes to mind here; 8 steps of CV out, skip switching, and cheap) then you could mult the trigger to both fire the drum module AND step the sequencer, so that next 'hit' actually gets pitched differently. And when you get into that sort of complexity, you're starting to talk about an actual instrument to be played, rather than just a modular beatbox!
BTW, have you considered a suitable mixer for these, or some processing? Hex has a great drum sound-specific mixer (Mutant Hot Glue) with some nice dirt capabiities to beef the sound up. You might also consider a stereo compressor module after that and before your stereo outs to punch up the dynamics and get more presence.
Sounds like it's coming right along!
Hello again, I just want to hear what you think of these drums, and what sequencer you would choose for these drums:
Hexinverter Mutant Snare
Hexinverter Mutant bassdrum
Hexinverter Mutant Hihats
Hexinverter Mutant clap
Sequencer choice ?
Tiptop Audio Circadian Rhythms or Trigger Riot
// Henrik
Since you've got the Unicorn account, you could always set up all of the cases as a single 'mock-up' in a single case layout, and use the various blind panel 'dividers' in a proper case style to give you the right appearance. Of course, this gets limited if the cases, side by side, exceed the maximum row length, but you could still do this as two-over-two or something similar. Just make sure to do the math to allow for the extra 4hp or whatever to put in the dividers for the whole system mock-up. Done this a number of times, and it's worked well for me.
Ok - trying to organize my four separate cases and yes, MG helps a lot with that.
A few features could make planning a lot easier, though.
Otherwise this service is phenomenal, thanks a lot for it!
Bought a Bubblesounds uLFO from @mexicane. The man is smooth, communicative, reliable, and his module was in pristine shape. Thanks B ;)
got rid of the circadian? mainly because in same space you can have both trigger and cv with the eloquencer?
would i be able to use this as a straight up external signal booster on one channel (mic to modular level, for example) while using the other channel as expected?
Purchased an A-156 from @knart - nice and easy, recommended seller!
I understand the differences between ring mods and VCAs and the way they respond to voltage and polarity. I'm familiar with their similar sounds, but I want ring mods for their inverted signals.
Right...the VCA has to be something which doesn't switch off when you get the negative-voltage parts of the AM cycle. Have a look at: http://electronicmusic.wikia.com/wiki/Four_quadrant where the VCA-as-ringmod thing is explained. My bet is that Nyle's output VCA on the Synthacon I had was capable of working in this four-quadrant mode with VCO3's output, allowing for the ring-like results. Anyway, even in two-quadrant modality, you're going to get this half-waved dirty sound, which in of itself could be useful.
AF = yes, audio frequency. Old habit from way too much radio experience.
You can get the same sort of result by feeding two AF signals into a VCA via AM.
-- Lugia
what is an AF signal?
are you referring to mimicking ring modulation with amplitude modulation?
You can get the same sort of result by feeding two AF signals into a VCA via AM. Route 'signal' to the input and 'carrier' to the CV. Works best if you have a couple of attenuators before this, though. Had a Steiner-Parker Synthacon many years ago, and the final VCA was set up with a switch to use VCO3 for eaxctly this purpose.
Another bit: you aren't necessarily stuck with the setting behind the patch panel when you opt to change a jumper. Have a look at the 'Switch' or 'Expander' modules @ 4hp and down, and you'll see that a number of modules exist as 'assignable' switches, meaning that they can be connected to the jumper point and then you actually have options as to whether you want the 'jumper on' or 'jumper off' (or 'jumper in X position' or 'Y position') and have this option switchable from one of these little auxiliary modules. It's a cheap and space-thrifty way to up the game on some modules where jumper setting changes are possible.
Also, in some cases you can do the conversion/editing of the sample on a computer, then transfer this via means other than audio to something that can work with them. Several sample playback devices make use of SD (or micro) cards to store and transport samples, such as Tiptop's ONE, or you can move the sample via USB to some of these; Waldorf's NW1 is capable of this, as well as interconnection to edit/manipulate sampled wavetable data. It sort of bridges the divide between 'sampler' and 'oscillator', actually, being an outgrowth of the PPG wavetable engine.
You will need a module that can play samples (like Disting Mk3+ among many others). The module will take care of amping the sample to modular level. If you just want to get external line level audio into your rack for processing, a amplifier (+20 db) module is needed.
Think of a jumper as connector between certain parts in a circuit, much like a patch cable between modules. Either these parts get connected when the jumper is set, or not when it is left open. Does that help?
How it emulate Four Tet's sound?
-- eddock
CV pal is the link as far as note voltage and gate from the external sequencer (Logic). It can also be a modulation source with Logic providing external MIDI control. The MIDI part is of course emulated as this is a USB interface, but in practical terms it is the MIDI to CV/gate converter. As it only works with the USB 5V DC source, the keyboard tracking is limited. But I barely know how to play a keyboard anyway, so im happy if it tracks a few octaves.
what are the three jacks at the bottom?
would it be possible to make the VCAs switchable to ring mods?
