Excellent subject, nice modular achievement, educational and aesthetic video. Pleased to see this here!

There are several modular synth renditions of Terry Riley’s “In C” out there, but none (as far as I know) of his keyboard studies. So here's my take on the first of those studies. I'm using multiple MIDI files and random S&H to turn this into more of a generative piece. Further patch notes in the video.

Matrix mixers are recommended pretty frequently here, and I would suggest investigating how you might use one of those to inject some life into your current workflow. They're fun for feedback patching, combining modulation sources, and using as parallel routing. The Doepfer A138 is awesome but large at 20hp. I'm sure there are smaller options.
Have fun and good luck!

this is the usb expander not the hdmi one you linked to

There are already two entries for this module: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/sleepy-circuits-hypno-hdmi-expander-panel-diy and https://www.modulargrid.net/e/sleepy-circuits-hypno-hdmi-expander. Do we really need another one? ò.Ô

Please check out my latest track:

The description includes a list of equipment I've used.

Links to my Eurorack:
Synths rack:
Control rack:

Thanks.
YV.

Thanks!

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/intellijel-stereo-mixer-1u

Hi everyone,
I am starting to build my modular system but, since I am a newbie, I need some advice.
I just bought the Intellijel 7U Case 104 HP so I would like to make use of the 1U for utilities and mixing.
I need to mix 4 inputs (VCOs and drum modular) and then to output the mix to the PA and headphones.
What mixer/utilities would you suggest to buy, in order to take advantage of the case features?
Thanks in advance!
Giamnaria

bump!

Hi, anyone using the Bluebox Eurorack Edition – Compact Digital Mixer? Is it rock solid or buggy like the desktop version?

I've previosly owned the deskop version and on a good day it was was fantastic. However, it was a bit unreliable and froze too often. I've owned a BlackBox and currently use a BitBox without drama. There was some online discussion about problems with BlueBox deaktop beesion and its USB power supply. I'm hoping new one is more reliable.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Cheers.

This thing is just beautiful.

EDITED Nov 23rd 2023, 13:15

Hi all. Could I sell eurorack cases on modulargrid?

join our discord!

https://discord.gg/eMjea5CcZu

EDITED Dec 15th 2023, 17:23

Some wild responses here. Obviously the law should be considered here, considering it is a matter of law when there's a conflict. Something being lost, that sucking, but the retailer fixing the issue doesn't count as a conflict.

In the US it is quite clear. Sellers ship, sellers insure (even if they ask you to pay for it), sellers are the ones who have to file lost package claims, etc. It's on them. The one case it becomes the buyer's responsbility is if the buyer specifically waives a signature delivery. For example, Perfect Circuit requires a signature by default, but you can select the option to have your package just dropped off.

Private sales are the wild west, though. Always confirm terms in writing. I'm sure you could civilly sue someone, but you'd have to have been screwed out of quite the expense for it to be worth it to hire a lawyer.

EDITED Nov 13th 2023, 20:47

I've had packages lost and the sellers immediately replaced or refunded, without question. Because it is the right thing to do. It isn't the buyer's responsibility to insure anything. It is the seller's. And they, in turn, charge the buyer. If they don't offer insurance, then it is on them. Period.
I will now use this thread to inform my fellow Gridders that I purchased a pedal from COAST SONIC (don't ever buy from them!!!!!). It was a Chase Bliss 1978 Reverb pedal ($900 big ones!). They provided "free shipping" but I never got it. The post office simply left it outside (no signature required, no insurance). We were able to use their GPS pin (they do that now) to pin it down to the approximity of my address (actually said next door). Either way, they refused to replace it, citing that it is MY responsibility to purchase insurance (which they, of course had never offered or even mentioned.)
That was a $900 loss for me. I will never forget.

why such a small case? I'd go bigger - 104hp - that way you have room to expand once you realise theere are more modules you need, without buying another case

why do you think that the main purpose of a waveshaper is as a vca?

I would suggest looking for similar threads on modwiggler - I know there's at least one good one where a lot of euroserge 'experts' discuss recommended 'smallish' systems

Hi,
just one thing about insurance:
you can pay insurance when you ship something, but in case of loss or damage you have to prove the value of your gear.
So you must have the original invoice to prove it.

If you don't have any invoice you will receive the fixed compensation. Even if you have paid an insurance.
It's useless to pay insurance if you don't have an invoice.
I don't know if the seller has the original invoice, but if he has it he should have pay insurance.
No need for the buyer to ask it.

In France, fixed compensation is 75€ + shipping paid for the parcel (for a module most of the time it's ~15€).
That means, if your parcel is lost, the seller will receive 90€ from La Poste...

so next question is...
if the package will be lost and the user is not refunding me, do i have the right to write his name/username in the "bad trader list" here on MG explaining the situation?

this is his full response on my complain about not wanting to refund:

I know well how it works, and when people want to use paypal protection service or ask me for insured package (and so they pay for that), i make sure that the package is insured at the value of the material. I make a lot of transaction in France and EU via multiple platform and i never had any problem with that. If you don’t pay for an insured shipping, you take a risk, and it is what it is unfortunately. I know it sucks but i’m not a shop so if people want security for shipping, they have to pay for it…

Hope they will find it, of course i will keep you in touch of the news.

Sorry about this situation but i can’t do much more

Have a nice day

EDITED Nov 13th 2023, 10:26

EDITED Nov 13th 2023, 15:36

there is no benefit or standard in patching a lpg and a filter together in any particular order - more often than not just an lpg and no filter as a low pass gate is a vca and a filter in series with the closing of the vca and the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter linked (often using a vactrol or something to emulate a vactrol) so that as the vca closes, the frequency of the cut off reduces - the vactrol (or substitute) acts as a decay envelope

the lpg is more 'west coast' - think buchla - where theere was less use of deedicated filters as 'west coast' synthesis was more additive (wavefolders etc) - ie add harmonic content

patching vcas and filters is more 'east coast' ie subtractive - think moog - in the minimoog architecture the filter is before the vca - which imparts the characteristics of the filter on the oscillator 'drone' before the amplitude is effected by the envelope (in this case an adsr) which means that the filter will be driven, especially noticable with a resonant filter... if the vca is before the filter then depending on the envelope applied to open the vca, the vca will not be as driven - the same would happen if you use an lpg instead of a vca

as you said the only answer is which ever sounds better to synthesist in the context of the piece of music they are making

To much Modulation?

No

Big faults?
What lacks?

Not enough attenuversion/attenuation/offset

I'd fiill the 1u with quadratts - the steppy in particular kind of looks superfluous...

Well done for not getting shot down for being a Reason user, I seem to recal when i made my first post I didn't fair so well with certain people's comments.

Welcome to the addiction and the quickly emptying wallet!
-- wishbonebrewery

I used to use Reason years ago... it's great & it's one of the things that got me into modular - that along with the realization that some of the guitar pedals I was using were effectively (part of) a modular synthesizer...

EDITED Nov 12th 2023, 22:49

I'm sorry you had to deal with that kind of behvior. We are all just trying to express ourselvs as artists, and how you do it should not matter. It's pretty juvenile and quite embarrassing for the community I'd imagine. Anyway, still not quite sure about the modular step just yet. They say do a ton of reseach before plunging in, so that's the stage I'm at now. I have and always had musical direction so that's coverd. I'm not doing this because it's "cool" and everyone else is doing it. I'd just like to create a performance Dark Drone/Ambient case I could knob tweak along with a couple other pieces of gear, away from the PC. I really don't have an addictive personality and I really don't want this case to go beyond the Tiptop Mantis's capacity. This will only be one component (Drones) of a larger picture. Not a closed, self contained monstrosity I could could barley manage, financially or mentally. What I'll probably end up doing, to start, is just get the two Groan modules I mentioned with a zlob diode chaos for each (maybe), KM mixer,and the reverb and delay. Mixer has a line and phones out so that will save me on an out module for now. Once I learn those few things I'll check out the suggestions offered here, for support and modulation modules. If anyone has any other suggestions... I'm all ears! I hope to become a valid member of the community some day if I venture into Eurorack.
-- CadaverKev

I think this is a good idea.... at the end of the day the things I recommended above will add massively to the usefulness of your rack... as would some filters... but aren't 100% necessary... twiddling knobs is great, until you realise you need 16 hands to get where you want to go... adding the odd module from time to time (especially used) should be within anyones reach - even if it is 1 module every 6 months or even year...

could anybody comment on which order to patch and lpg and filter please?

obvious answers i expect would be patch both ways and see which you prefer - and there is no 'correct' order that's the beauty of modular

but i wonder if anybody could define the benefits of patching order with these two. is there a more 'standard/classic' order? why is that considered the standard?
if so what would somebody lose / gain sonically by patching in the other order?

EDITED Nov 12th 2023, 22:31

I'm sorry you had to deal with that kind of behvior. We are all just trying to express ourselvs as artists, and how you do it should not matter. It's pretty juvenile and quite embarrassing for the community I'd imagine. Anyway, still not quite sure about the modular step just yet. They say do a ton of reseach before plunging in, so that's the stage I'm at now. I have and always had musical direction so that's coverd. I'm not doing this because it's "cool" and everyone else is doing it. I'd just like to create a performance Dark Drone/Ambient case I could knob tweak along with a couple other pieces of gear, away from the PC. I really don't have an addictive personality and I really don't want this case to go beyond the Tiptop Mantis's capacity. This will only be one component (Drones) of a larger picture. Not a closed, self contained monstrosity I could could barley manage, financially or mentally. What I'll probably end up doing, to start, is just get the two Groan modules I mentioned with a zlob diode chaos for each (maybe), KM mixer,and the reverb and delay. Mixer has a line and phones out so that will save me on an out module for now. Once I learn those few things I'll check out the suggestions offered here, for support and modulation modules. If anyone has any other suggestions... I'm all ears! I hope to become a valid member of the community some day if I venture into Eurorack.

Well done for not getting shot down for being a Reason user, I seem to recal when i made my first post I didn't fair so well with certain people's comments.

Welcome to the addiction and the quickly emptying wallet!

Absolutely get a matrix mixer (for example the Doepfer A-138m). It won't seem sexy or all that necessary until you start messing with it and then it will open up worlds of possibilities.

Based on your last post, maybe a small rack just for mixing/sculpting the sounds produced by your other devices, and for creating/manipulating modulations that end up feeding your other stuff, would be worthwhile. Your rack doesn't necessarily need to produce any sounds on its own, if you have enough other gear to do that. For example, even if all your rack does is create and manipulate modulation that then feeds the other gear, it could provide a great way to interact and control things in a tactile way. Off the top of my head, maybe include the following:

• A joystick for creating and manipulating modulation directly (for example, the Intellijel one)
• A matrix mixer for mixing modulation sources (again, the Doepfer one is a great example)
• Attenuverter/offset for macro control (for example, Happy Nerding 3x MIA)
• A sophisticated envelope generator like the Xaoc Zadar
• Some LFOs (lots of great choices here)
• Probably some kind of function generator like Maths or Rampage

You could pack all that into a relatively small case and have loads of hands on (and hands off, if you choose) control over all your other gear. And then later if you feel like expanding your eurorack capabilities all of these will be essential anyway.

Oh wow, so much to consider! Thank you very much for the suggestions. I will be looking into these.

Hey Jim! Thanks for all the info/input. I'm glad I looked more into it with the equipment you suggested before I started building this thing, but unfortunatley, this is surely going to be beyond my paygrade. I'm probably realistically better off sticking with Reason and maybe looking into a decent hardware synth for untethering from the PC. I was under the impression that knob tweaking the Groan instruments would be enough to produce interesting drones and soundscapes with the setup I planned. Thanks for your time anyway! Cheers!

& the link because jpgs are not very helpful:

needs more modulation sources & utilities...

modulation sources because they are what create movement

utilities because they create opportunities for patching...

take a look at my signature, especially the formula and see how you can apply that to your rack... it will exponentially improve it...

I'd add at the very least a quad lfo, a simple matrix mixer (for combining modulation sources), an attenuverter/attenuator/offset module and a quad cascading vca and probably a function generator or envelope generator (with at least 2 channels - so something like maths or zadar)

these will stop your drones being static and boring

there's a very good chance that you won't need the compressor...

Hi :D

Im working on a Rack for Ambient + Techno

A portable Live + Studio Rack 98 hp 13u.
It should be my Rack for everything.
I have all the modules, but those in the 1u row.

It´s for this case:

https://www.casefromlake.com/product-page/12u-98hp-flight-handlebag-eurorack-powered-case

I think its good portable, light with much hp, in a nice form factor.
I dont like to take 2 Mantis or something like that.

Do you have some thoughts, advices, improvement ideas?
To much Modulation?
Big faults?
What lacks?

Greetings

Chris

Some ideas for a rhythm/percussion system.

• A compressor, like WMD MSCL or Cosmotronic Messor.
• A resonator, like Rings, great complement to any percussive audio source.
• A low pass gate, like Optomix or LxD... There are many options up to the small (and passive) but very efficient DPLPG.
• There is a new version of BIA, the Basimilus Iteritas Alia. I did not test it but the alliance of the first version with Jasmine & Olive Trees Traffic is ideal.
• A logic module, like XODES LB5!
• Last suggestion: I also share a dislike for ‘menu diving’ and I was slow to approach Pam’s... Today I would refuse the divorce if I may say so ;)

I think it´s pretty cool. Looks nice.

Maybe you could consider to spare the buffered mults and use stack cables, if you dont like it to have it in the case. Would save you 8 hp. But I guess you thought about that, already.

Hello everyone. Newbie alert... at least with the Erorack stuff. For a little context, I have been creating Rhythmic Dark Ambient material for some years with Reason Studios software on a PC/laptop as a hobbiest. I've been wanting to put together a Eurorack system just to have a little tactile performance fun at home, to integrate with other hardware I have, or to just drone-out by itself on the living room floor. Right now I have an MPC One for rhythmical/percussive elements, a Korg Wavestate, a 1010 Blackbox for sample playback and a 1010 Bluebox for mixing it all down. I would love to put together a Erorack case, dedicated to Dark Drone soundscapes to round everything out, preferably around the size of 6u/104HP. After a couple of month’s research, this is what my tentative plan is as far as intial modules go, based on my current budget. Sound generators: Maneco Labs Groan Drone 2 and the Maneco Labs Groan Wave. I loved the demos and the sound produced. Zlob Diod Chaos(x2) for modulating the Groans. Feedback Modules Mix KM for mixing the 2 Groans and any other future sound generators (possibly an E352 Cloud Terrarium) together. Maneco Labs Otterley Dual Reverb and an Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay2 as send/return effects on the Mix KM. Cosmotronic Messor Stereo Compressor to glue the mix together after the Mix KM and the Befaco Output v3 if I need balanced outs for any reason. All packed in a TipTop Audio Mantis 6u 104HP case. Does this sound like a feasible plan, or am I off base as far as the Erorack system goes? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Thank you, both ! Nin + matrix mixer are great additions.

All I can really say is that you only have too much of something if you don't use it and you don't have enough of something if you find yourself constantly reaching for something that isn't there. Other than that, it looks like a fun system if you enjoy the sounds and workflow. About 9u / 104hp is where I started really enjoying my system.
Have fun and good luck!

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2396916

Hi! I am looking to upgrade from 6U to 9U and wanted some advice. Particularly, I wanted to see if I have too much of some things in lieu of something else.

A few points:
- I own the modules in the top two rows (except for ochd and Tangle Quartet; conversely, I own SHTH and Clock O' Pawn on bottom row)
- Z8000 would replace Korg SQ-1 external sequencer
- Not using MIDI, avoiding menu-diving modules as much as possible (simple toggling/scrolling is OK)
- Predominately a rhythm/percussion system
- Please excuse the module order!

Thank you so much!

Three more feature ideas that are probably easier than AI:

• A filter on "My Modules" to show only modules not in the current rack would be very helpful when contemplating swaps.
• A way to "diff" two racks so that I can see what modules are not in common between the two would help for what seems like a common use case around here: versions of the same rack. Bonus points for movement notation or visualization (e.g. this moved here and that moved there and this was added and that was removed).
• A way to say that I own more than one of each module, and a counter in the “My Module” list that would show me how many I have used (e.g. 2/3). If this worked with the “not in this rack filter” in a smart way, so that if I had used 2 of 3 I own it would show 1 not used in the rack, all the better!

EDITED Nov 11th 2023, 17:06

A multi-purpose module, shaper, VCO, envelope, slewer, and maybe a few more.

Build is straightforward once you figure out the the build guide pictures are for an earlier revision of the board, NOT the 2.0 in the kit. Might be frustrating to a starting builder, folks, update your build guides when you update your kits.

Works OK. Not as aggressive a shaper as some I’ve done, and the VCO is interesting. Does produce nice envelopes. Could be perfect for you.

Build

I think it would be cool to use AI image recognition to build a rack from a photo of a real world setup. Sometimes someone has a cool rack in a photo and I wonder what the modules are: how great would it be to leverage all the module photos on MG (let alone faceplate variants) to recognize and reconstruct their rig?

I don't know what the sparkles next to some manufacturers' names (like Xaoc Devices) mean, but in the module list they flicker incessantly on my iOS devices... is that intentional or broken? It is very distracting.

the nin expander for zadar is also potentially useful...
-- JimHowell1970

I confirm that, and more :)

a matrix mixer is always useful, especially for extending modulation - copies of 4 modulation sources in gets 4 related, but more complex modulation signals out... doepfer for ergonomics and economics! although once you have one, you'll probably want a second one... they are so useful

the nin expander for zadar is also potentially useful...

Awesome kickdrum!!!

Hey, I've been working on my setup for a while, and would love some advice.

This is my setup, it works alongside an Elektron Digitakt and my interface/Ableton. Sequencing, some triggers/gates and clocks come from Digitakt via CVOCD. Goal of the rack is to be able for sound design (both from scratch and processing external audio), genres are house, techno, dubstep, drumnbass, so all beat based, heavy bass and non-generative. everything gets mostly arranged in digitakt/ableton, so only need 1 voice at a time. which also makes me think that since its really just 1 voice i have enough modulation, envelopes, etc already, but maybe more mixers?

would love some advice on the rack. not sold on all of this, but ive been building in piefew and am very happy with what ive got so far. the bottom 2 rows are mostly audio and the top row is mostly the modulation.

im pretty much set with the audio stuff in there (brenso, angle grinder, 100grit, miamsa, altar, rabbit hole, belgrad) and some modulation (falistri, pams, zadar) but open to any suggestions! some other things i have my eye on: xaoc's Leibniz system, compressor/expander, envelope follower at least, and other than that not really sure. would love to hear suggestions on any additional audio processing that could be good, or if things look reptitive!

lmk what you think!

EDITED Nov 10th 2023, 22:24

It's not on the buyer in any case because if we enter in an agrement for goods in exchange for payment and the payment was made regardless of the method, then the seller needs to deliver the goods. There is no grey area, the payment was made, the seller has the money. Buyer has no goods, seller needs to ensure the goods are delivered or refund issued. If the seller wants to play the "you didn't get insurance" game, then the buyer should say "you chose a subpar courier service". I have zero tolerance for this kind of fuckery, and I buy insurance anyway whether the buyer pays for it or not because I accept the responsibility to get the goods to the buyer and know the mail service providers don't give 2 shits about customer packages.

1 rule: Don't fuck with other people's money.

This seems to have gotten lost cause people don't get their asses beat anymore for pulling bullshit like this.

Edit: Also, seller tried to place the onus of buying insurance on the buyer, when in fact the seller is the one who trusted the courier to ship without insurance.

EDITED Nov 10th 2023, 20:10

If we're talking morals though, I personally would consider splitting the loss instead of covering the whole amount because that's what F&F means to me, as in if this happened between me and a friend of mine, we would definitely split 50/50 I think.
-- toodee

But people on MG anren't necessarly your friends. As warned by MG (you can find this warning at the bottom of every ad):

Always prefer having Buyer Protection when you make a purchase using PayPal. Don't use Friends & Family unless the seller is your friend or family!
-- MG

MG is just an old school ad website.

why do we need to bring the LAW on this...
-- lazarusgordon

Because it's exactly the purpose of law, solve ambiguous situations like this one. I know it's a lot of money, it is frustrating, and one can feel scammed, but wait for the answer of the french postal service. They might just have missed a scan. Also, check with your local postal service, they might have missed a scan too, who knows. It happenned to me with USPS, and also LaPoste. Otherwise you can contact LaPoste yourself to ask for more information https://aide.laposte.fr/contact/colissimo . A google trad should work well enough.

I wish you good luck !

On all other selling platforms it is the seller's responsibilty to up to the point of delivery regardless of insurance. Ive been on eBay for 24 years 2000+ transactions and have 300+ transactions on Reverb in the last 2 years. I've seen and experienced it all from both sides. The seller is being an asshole because he knows there's no way for you to get the money back without his approval. If he doesnt give it back I would post his info so no one else has to deal with this person.
-- obscuremachines

One very important distinction between those 2 you mention and MG using uninsured shipping + PayPal F&F is precisely the responsibility of the seller being engaged by the terms & conditions everyone agrees to prior to the deal, as opposed to here. As far as I know, both these platforms retain a portion of the sale money in order to protect the buyer until receipt, which could have been done here as well using PayPal Buyer's Protection.
Basically, a selling platform isn't the same as a classified ads section, in the latter the user is responsible for most of its security. If that same deal had happened on Modwiggler instead, I'd wager it would have gone the same way, for the same reasons.

If we're talking morals though, I personally would consider splitting the loss instead of covering the whole amount because that's what F&F means to me, as in if this happened between me and a friend of mine, we would definitely split 50/50 I think. There's also the question, which I think wasn't really cleared out, of whether the seller offered insuring the shipment and was turned down or if he/she didn't mention it at all and then says "you didn't ask for insurance, sorry, too bad for you" - first case is on the buyer, second is definitely on the assholery side :-)

Also, to be clear, linking a user name to a bad reputation in the thread created for this is totally fair game when the dust settled and one person feels they got a bad deal, but I wanted to say that posting personal info (e.g., names and addresses) is a bad idea and could land you in legal troubles.

@lazarusgordon I would suggest to wait for the result of the enquiry started by the seller, and if it doesn't succeed, you can suggest to use a State Mediator by sharing this link with him/her: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11064

Best of luck, I really hope La Poste finds the lost parcel soon so this ends with smiles and patch cables !

On all other selling platforms it is the seller's responsibilty to up to the point of delivery regardless of insurance. Ive been on eBay for 24 years 2000+ transactions and have 300+ transactions on Reverb in the last 2 years. I've seen and experienced it all from both sides. The seller is being an asshole because he knows there's no way for you to get the money back without his approval. If he doesnt give it back I would post his info so no one else has to deal with this person.