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Hi all, first post here. After researching and watching tutorials for a year, I recently pulled the trigger and started my first rack. It's a hybrid setup: I am using Logic as my DAW, I program drums in Logic, I use Logic as the clock source via the Intellijel µMIDI module, and I record out audio via an audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2).

As I expand my rack to include more than one synth voice, I want to be able to continue to use my USB controller via Logic to play my synth. My goal is to be able to have multiple tracks in Logic, each track corresponding to a patch on my rack.

One (pricy) solution would be to buy more µMidi modules and a big USB hub—that way Logic would recognize multiple MIDI instruments, and I could send multiple gate and volt per octave signals at once.

Short of purchasing more USB -> MIDI modules, is there a better way? I've been researching some of the Expert Sleepers modules, but I can't tell if it would be possible for a single ES-9 to be recognized by Logic as more than one MIDI instrument.

Strymon have just released Starlab, which is basically a Big Sky in modular form. It's bigger and more expensive than most options, but good reverb is worth the footprint really.

Umm... I'll take a bath with that.

very peaceful :)
-- wishbonebrewery

Thanks, just that I've tried it :)

Only Module that died on me. Cheap Manufacturing...

u need to put the sequencer in step mode. Then send a clock to the trigger input :)

I believe by default the LFO modulates the filter frequency if the "mod depth" knob is turned up, and also is routed through ATT 2 to the pulse width modulation inputs for both oscillators, so I would look at where the mod depth knob and ATT 2 knob are set, and turn both of them all the way down to simplify things at first.

Hi QuirrelJibbly,

It shouldn't matter if you use your Neutron in its own casing or in a Eurorack casing. Of course you need to check that the power cable has been connected correctly on both ends i.e. on the module/Neutron itself as well as at the bus board. If I remember well then the Neutron has a boxed pin header so there the problem shouldn't occur however if you have a non-boxed pin header bus board, then there you have to be careful.

Other than that, the Neutron should just work in your rack. Keep in mind that it takes 1 A or 1000 mA from your +12 V power supply so make sure that you have that power available. So perhaps to get started put the Neutron back in its own casing and try to use the outputs VCF1 and VCA, they should work properly. Once that works fine and you are still convinced that you want to rack your Neutron in a Eurorack case instead of in its own case, then transfer it to the Eurorack. If it then doesn't work any more then there is something rotten in the state of Denmark. So either you wrongly connected the power cable or you are beyond your maximum power consumption for the +12 V!

Good luck with the troubleshooting and please let us know how it goes. Kind regards, Garfield Modular.

Jim speaks truth, the Tex Mix is a really good option, definitely more suited to this particular rack then the WMD ; )

Thanks Jim,
I'll do my homework in implementing your formula.

That's a good point. And it is possible to get a little more direct interaction with Pam's by appropriately configuring the CV inputs and driving them with a suitable utility – again requiring thinking and patching rather than just twisting knobs.

yes I agree about euclidean waves - but as a starter - I think it's better to get pams and then, if and only if, there is frustration with not being able to change euclidean ratios on the fly , get euclidean waves - Pams forces you a bit more to think about what you are doing, from what I can tell (not having euclidean waves) so may be a better learning tool too - rather than just wiggling away...

the rack looks very sound source heavy to me - not enough support modules to do justice to the sound sources...

I would want an extra row for utilities etc etc

see my signature, particularly the formula, for a rough guide to getting the most versatility out of a modular synthesizer for the least amount of cash

personally I like the tesseract tex-mix over the wmd performance mixer - it's significantly cheaper and more expandable and uses less power - I'm sure that the performance mixer is exceptional - but it is big and expensive and power hungry...

the advantage of these over the cockpit is that they have panning for mono sources to stereo, in the case of the wmd pm, this can be automated with an lfo*) - which allows you to put a mono source in the middle, fully left or fully right or somewhere in between - if you only have stereo inputs - then you only get the possibility of fully left or fully right - or both if you mult the signal (and then recombine using a special cable in the case of these cockpit modules)

the only "advantage" of the cockpits I see is that they have ducking - although imo this is better patched using envelopes, an inverter/polarizer/attenuverter, a small utility mixer and a vca - ie "modular synthesis" and not just "synthesis with modules"...

I see the 'mono/stereo/ios send/return' nature of these mixer modules to be a complete pain in the arse... I seriously would not want it in my rack... I'd be loosing any adapter cables in the pile of patch cables and/or confusing stereo cables with regular patch cables and wondering why my stereo field was competely shit constantly - ymmv, though

the cockpit modules only really stand up in a endorphin.es only set up and if you are willing to separate audio and cv - which is one of the advantages of eurorack over some other formats, in that it doesn't do this...

BUT saying that either way you need some smaller mixers like the 3*mia or shades or whatever - to use as sub-mixers... and then you get back to the mono/stereo patch cable malarky...

also at least one filter is a good idea - there are so many available and they are so personal, that I find it difficult to recommend them - I have a couple of ripples - which are rolandy/vanilla, various doepfer ones that are based on other classic filter designs (wasp, sem, moog) and a couple more - but they all impart their own characteristics and it's impossible to say x is better than y - as it's so personal - there are plenty of filter shootoout demos on youtube, which should give you a basic idea - what to look out for

*you can do this easily with a mult, a couple of vcas, an lfo and an inverter - if you want to patch it when needed - or buy cv-able panner modules if used constantly

I'm fairly new at this. I own several of these modules but plan to pick up the rest. I use a drum machine Roland TR-8s; so I haven't explored that on a modular basis; but have another case in the ready for drums and sequencers.

I also have Erica Synths DB-01 as a desktop sequenced baseline, and have the o-coast/strega/o-control on my desk as well.
I use Ableton Live, thus the ES-09. I have the Keystep Pro Midi sequencer/controller with Midi/CV connectivity.

I converted a beautiful burl oak humidor and has Mutable Instruments: Marbles, Plaits, and Rings plus the Disting MK4.
I'm into ambient and otherworldly sounds. Not into Techno just yet.
Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Thanks for the feedback. Damn, I thought I was gonna get the balance right, this time! I guess I'll need to do more thinking about it. Appreciate the suggestion of wmd toolbox, I'll check that out!

The Cockpit from Endorphins is also a 4 Stereo Channel Performance Mixer, so that is then 8 channel i have then in the rack, i have 2 of them.
So i need more then that to make the workflow better?

Thanks for your input ThePlate.

I saw the wmd mixer, looks really practical and the Roland 531 is also a nice module...also bit cheaper then the wmd i think..hehehe

How about forsaking the Erica mult for, say, a sub-mixer or two for the voices, and then a good performance mixer like the Roland 530 or 531? Some arrangement like that would fit in your case. Otherwise just get the wmd performance mixer. It is the best.

Small submixers: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/modules/browser?SearchName=&SearchVendor=&SearchFunction=6&SearchSecondaryfunction=&SearchHeight=&SearchTe=8&SearchTemethod=max&SearchBuildtype=&SearchLifecycle=&SearchSet=all&SearchMarketplace=&SearchIsmodeled=0&SearchShowothers=0&order=tag&direction=asc

Thank you JimHowell1970 for the feedback.

What would you suggest I do, what modules I need to look at and maybe take away?
Cheers

I think you're experiencing a lot of confusion relating to what modules actually do - a lot seem to be in the wrong categories...

for example - source of uncertainty is a random modulation source, not a sound source as the other's are that you've classed as "sources", what you've classed as 'modifiers' some are modulation sources and plog - I'd class that as a utility - as I would compare2 (both logic), O&C I'd categroise with Pams, etc etc etc

take a look at my signature - the formula especially - it's designed as a rule of thumb for getting the most versatility from a modular synth for the least money...

also agree strongly with what @plragde says - also I heard, but don't know how correct this is that ColdMac can be used for both audio and cv, but not at the same time - so what looks like a great bundle of utilities - is actually only 1/2 as useful as it could be - wmd/ssf toolbox & mutable instruments kinks are very useful combined utility modules that are easier to understand and maybe easier to find - kinks either used or NOS in stores or as a clone (it's been discontinued for a while now)

The outputs don't go to the next input, rather they are mixed with the next output if unpatched.
-- adaris

important distinction!!

Cool, thanks for the suggestion.

no still mostly the same problems

especially the mixing solution... the queen of pentacles is stereo out, the furtherrgenerator is lots of mono outputs of individual waveforms - these might need mixing, the godspeed has 2 mono outputs, the desmodus versio and the arbhar are stereo

other than the veils - good choice of vca btw, the cockpits are allegedly stereo, but on single jack (no idea how that works), feeding rosie, a stereo output! do you need a load of stereo cables that are specialist, either mono->stereo, or single stereo cables??

it just fails to work properly - no ability to sub mix waveforms - except for what's available onboard the actual vcos, no ability to convert mono to stereo... there's no panning - so the mono sources are only ever going to be hard left or hard right... no where in between...

& no filters?

You're not going to find anything that covers all the functionality of Cold Mac in 8hp. But you have some of that functionality elsewhere, and you might not need other parts of it. Maybe go through the technical map (https://github.com/whimsicalraps/mannequins-technical-maps/blob/master/cold-mac/cold-mac.pdf) and see what you really wanted from it. Anything you replace it with will almost certainly be easier to learn and use.

Thanks! Any suggestions on what might replace the Cold Mac?
Also, yeah, I'm probably being too eager about the Buchla / Tiptop modules. They just look so cool...

Cold Mac is very hard to get hold of, and the two Buchla/Tiptop modules feel a little out of place to me, but overall it seems fine. It's a lot to get all at once, though. Maybe think about an incremental plan, giving you a chance to learn about modules a few at a time?

The outputs don't go to the next input, rather they are mixed with the next output if unpatched.

Pam's does Euclidean, but in a more set-and-forget way, so if you want playability, Euclidean Circles is a reasonable combo with Quad Drum / Qex. But it does take up space. You might think about the other wide modules here (Morphagene, Qpas, Maths) and consider alternatives. There's also a fair amount of overlap among O_c, CVilization, øchd, Sloths, and Wogglebug. It's not so much that one can be covered by the others, but that there's a lot of similar kinds of modulation here and not much to modulate. Jim has good advice on thinking about voices and their paths through a possible system. Try not to fill the case more than 3/4 full in any potential plan, to leave room for discovery and expansion.

very peaceful :)

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/users/view/197880

no link?

Jim’s right- I’d ditch the Euclidean Circles and Mordax Data module in a case this size and replace them with something like the Intellijel Quad VCA and a good cv mixer and perhaps add a logic module.

I made some adjustments for my techno live setup case.
I am open to feedback if this setup is balanced?

Please leave a comment if I am on the right track here or not...?

Here is the link>

Cheers
and thanks

EDITED Feb 20th 2022, 17:22

'Lluvia' is one of tracks included in my mixtape Efímero, mainly with rings attempt to keep a minimal introspective and meditative state of mind.

Clock is generate by Rampage and Rings is sequenced by Rene. Desmodus Versio with shimmer reverb and Beads are mixed in Jumble henge together with Rings.

A longer version is included in mixtape available at bandcamp:
https://sergionunca.bandcamp.com/album/ef-mero

You could get two Antumbra DVCAs and chain them together with the jumpers on the back, that's Veils in 8hp
-- milkmilklemonade

Nice idea. If you chain them, since they'd be 4 VCAs does that make them cascade to the next input (etc)?

The newer Veils or two chained Antumbra DVCAs would be my choice as well (and is, I have them both).

Hello!

I'm trying to think through a generative system for a Doepfer A-100 P9 9U case. This is what I had in mind:

In/out: Joranalogue Recieve 2, Happy Nerding Isolator.
Sources: Doepfer A-111-4, Tiptop Buchla 258t; Tiptop Buchla 266t.
Computer/FX: Ornaments and Crime, Happy Nerding FX AID XL
Modifiers: Joranalogue Contour 1, Joranalogue Filter 8, Happy Nerding MMM VCF, Xaoc Zadar/NIN, Intellijel Plog, Mutable Instruments Stages.
Modulators: Xaoc Batumi/Poti, Ladik L-121, Joranalogue Compare 2, Mannequins Cold Mac.
Utilities: Intellijel Scales, Doepfer A-130-2 Dual VCA, Dopefer A-135-2 Quad VCA/Mixer, Intellijel Quad VCA, Mutable Instruments Veils, Schenktronics Attenuverter, ALM PNW/Pexp, Doepfer A-151 Sequential switch, Happy Nerding PanMix Jr.

I'd love some feedback. My plan is to have the rack be complimented by external gear (such as the Arturia Minibrute 2s - 4 sequencers, 2 lfos, an extra VCA and an inverter), but would still like the rack to be a largely self-sufficient system. Am I heading in the right direction? Any functions or utilities that I'm overlooking? Any modules I should switch out because there are better, more readily available options?

Thanks so much in advance!

You could get two Antumbra DVCAs and chain them together with the jumpers on the back, that's Veils in 8hp

yeah - veils is great - and mutable product support is outstanding - unfortunately it's 10hp - so 2hp over what the OP wants - but probably worth making the space for!

the older veils has been discontinued for nearly 2 years - the new one, veils (2020), saves 2hp and adds a couple of features, including offsets and sliders!

sounds like your instincts are reasonably good then...

take a look at and think about the formula in my signature - it's a quick and dirty, rough guide to getting the most versatility out of a modular for the least expense

Thanks for the feedback. I thought so a bit.. hehehe....
I need to revisit this system a bit more.

It was a headphones thing this morning with a pair of AKG k175's that are pretty bassy, think I would have woke the wife! Thanks guys :)

Thanks! Me too haha. I should mention that the resonance on the Modcan Multimode Filter was cranked all the way up, that was an important component of the sound.

EDITED Feb 20th 2022, 14:47

Very cool. I really liked that kick.

+1 to basically everything Jim said.
What about this:

I got rid of the scope and Clouds clone, added a better mixing option, attenuverters, some plumbing, and changed the layout to be a little more logical in the signal flow department. That leaves you with 26hp open. Cover that with blank panels until you play around with everything and start to realize what you really need. Saves a bit of money from your original design too.
Just a suggestion on how I would approach this. Have fun!

*Edit: Also, I think there is a newer version of Veils that could save you a few more hp. Not sure about availability of the newer one vs. the older one in Australia though.

EDITED Feb 20th 2022, 14:30

I can recommend the veils vca

Thanks! The drum sound was:

Doepfer A-111-3 (triangle LFO) -> Abyss Devices Saevitus -> Modcan Multimode Filter (lowpass) -> DIY Veils (for some amplification) -> Sketchy Labs Freak Shift -> DPW MoG -> Metasonix RK4. For the basic drum sound, the Freak Shift and MoG were dry/"off", but they still significantly affected the tone for one reason or another.

I added in the Abyss Devices Saevitum -> Happy Nerding FX Aid XL (Peak compression algo) later in the track when the drum sound is distorted.

too many sound sources - so completely unbalanced - especially with the massive sequencer
no filters
poor mixing solution
no real vcas
no mixing for cv
no utilities
no control

black panel maths are near unobtanium - maybe you can find a replacement panel...