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1 post your 6u rack
2 state what type of music you are intending to make
3 what the purpose of the rack is - ie what you hope to achieve with it
4 how you are going to integrate it into other gear you might have: how you'll play it - sequencer, keyboard, DAW; how you'll listen to it - external mixer, audio interface; what other gear you have to use with or alongside the rack

the answers to all these will help us help you!

-- JimHowell1970
Yeah this definitely makes sense my bad, I'll do that now! I'll listen with an interface I have and play it with a keyboard or DAW. I want to make fast paced, textured, sound collage type music. I love lilien rosarians work thats the most obvious comparison I can think of. I don't really intend to make music to release its more self expression and experimenting that I want to do. Hopefully thats not too confusing and is enough info. This is the 6u

it might be a good idea to

1 post your 6u rack
2 state what type of music you are intending to make
3 what the purpose of the rack is - ie what you hope to achieve with it
4 how you are going to integrate it into other gear you might have: how you'll play it - sequencer, keyboard, DAW; how you'll listen to it - external mixer, audio interface; what other gear you have to use with or alongside the rack

the answers to all these will help us help you!

Hi everyone, I've planned out a larger 6u 84hp case, but it will take a while to complete as I'll be making the case myself, and it's obviously going to be expensive. In the meantime I'm planning to construct a smaller 3u 60hp case out of some plywood which will be less time consuming and will serve as a good introduction for me. Lettting me familiarize myself with a few modules before I end up with an overwhelming amount I'm not practiced with. I am wanting very textured sample based sounds, this is what I've planned so far, looking for any advice. The AI001 multiple and sloth chaos are unchangeable (unless you know of a more useful 4hp DIY I can replace the chaos with, or I can get my hands on a Radio Music). Anything else is fair game and I'm very open to criticism.

Buchla Easel + Eurorack cover of Terry Riley's "In the Summer” (1974). Experimenting with the sequencer and envelope slowly shifting in and out of phase with each other. Detailed patch notes in the video.

Thanks so much for this feedback! Going to take the time today to rearrange the modules. You're probably right. Might not even need the DUAL ADSR. At least, not at the moment. And good shout on the Mantis case!

NP

Also yes, you discovered my issue when pasting the link. My rack didn't populate properly. Not sure why!

-- mattheo

I think you have to do a refresh... but I'm not 100% on that

& the link because... well, jpgs are useless...

the thumbnail doesn't match the rack though!!!

pip slope & adsr: depends if you use both of them or not - I'd try taking the adsr out & see if it makes a difference to your patching... why the adsr & not the pip slope - it's quite big and will free up more space... if you decide you do need an adsr - there are smaller ones...

filters: get the one(s) you like the sound of best...

layout: I'd probably move maths (& the adsr if you decide to keep it) down and the filter & veils up - order depends on if you usually go vco->filter->vca or vco->vca->filter... I'd probably try to move the midi module up (to the left of pams)

suggestions: more modulation (batumi or another similar sized quad lfo), attenuators, switches, a matrix mixer, a multi-fx module (I like fx aid pro)... but by the time you add those you'll need a bigger rack (get a mantis!)

-- JimHowell1970

Thanks so much for this feedback! Going to take the time today to rearrange the modules. You're probably right. Might not even need the DUAL ADSR. At least, not at the moment. And good shout on the Mantis case!

Also yes, you discovered my issue when pasting the link. My rack didn't populate properly. Not sure why!

I just listened to his "Why We Bleep" podcast episode and found it so fascinating. He did talk about using Mutable Instruments Yarns as part of his live setup to basically get signals from his live drummer and his modular systems instantaniously adapts to the change in tempo/swing. I read somewhere, however, it was perhaps mistated and it's actually a Mutable Instruments Peaks module.
-- mattheo

it's almost definitely yarns... it's a midi input - if the drummer is using a midi enabled kit...

peaks is a versatile module and could be used for this if the drummer was using triggers or contact mics or the like - but the signal may also need amplifying 1st

saying that I can't see either of those modules in the posted rack

& the link because... well, jpgs are useless...

the thumbnail doesn't match the rack though!!!

pip slope & adsr: depends if you use both of them or not - I'd try taking the adsr out & see if it makes a difference to your patching... why the adsr & not the pip slope - it's quite big and will free up more space... if you decide you do need an adsr - there are smaller ones...

filters: get the one(s) you like the sound of best...

layout: I'd probably move maths (& the adsr if you decide to keep it) down and the filter & veils up - order depends on if you usually go vco->filter->vca or vco->vca->filter... I'd probably try to move the midi module up (to the left of pams)

suggestions: more modulation (batumi or another similar sized quad lfo), attenuators, switches, a matrix mixer, a multi-fx module (I like fx aid pro)... but by the time you add those you'll need a bigger rack (get a mantis!)

EDITED Oct 25th 2023, 23:58

Hi everyone,

Hope you are doing well and are happy modulating and creating sounds. I just released my new video on my youtube channel Raaf Modular. I would love for you to watch and listen to it. If you like what you hear and see please concider to leave a comment there, like and subscribe. It helps me to build up my channel. Thank you so much and have a great day/night!

Raaf

I just listened to his "Why We Bleep" podcast episode and found it so fascinating. He did talk about using Mutable Instruments Yarns as part of his live setup to basically get signals from his live drummer and his modular systems instantaniously adapts to the change in tempo/swing. I read somewhere, however, it was perhaps mistated and it's actually a Mutable Instruments Peaks module.

Thanks for posting this! What's everyone's opinion of Intellijel's Outs by the way?

Hey all,

First time posting, but have been slowly learning and building my rack over the past 2 years. My style of music is very melodic breakbeat type of stuff. My goal is to build a rack to help compliment this style of music, so things like FM drums, weird percussive and melodic fx, basically things difficult to achieve using MIDI and some basic hard synths. I use an E-RM MIDI clock to sync all my gear hence the Erica MIDI-CV module.

Here is my current setup using Arturia's RackBrute 6U. Not shown is also my Make Noise 0-coast.

I have several questions for you all that I can't seem to find the answers for online:
- Does it make sense for me to have PipSlope AND Dual ADSR?
- I'm not totally sold on my Filter module. Any suggestions on something more playable for filters?
- Does the layout make sense to you? I find myself moving things around a ton b/c the workflow just doesn't make sense to me sometimes.
- Any other module suggestions would be great! The goal is eventually to have this part of my live setup for additional percussive/melodic elements.

Thanks!

I'm going through a Tangerine Dream "Rubycon" phase again.

-- farkas

Trying to get back on great classic tracks is a good thing. Especially an album like 'Rubycon', almost 50 years old (time flies); and with your AJH Synth modules conducted by the 960, I guess... it shouldn't be unpleasant.

Personally, I'm re-exploring another planet, Altair IV, inhabited by the Krell people 2,000 centuries ago. In support, the 1956 film and a few manuscripts found by Todd Barton... :))

Sequencer > square vco > filter > vca > fx1 > mixer? No...

-- Sweelinck

I feel attacked. This is all I've been doing for the last week. I'm going through a Tangerine Dream "Rubycon" phase again. Haha

My first series of modules was piously positioned according to common logic.
Then, with the newcomers, we worked it out as best we could... we pushed each other, we made room ;)

For me, order is of little importance, since potentially any chain should be possible (except out > out!). This also avoids automatically reproducing the same eternal chaining.

Only common sense counts! Eg. If you're right-handed, a module like Tetrapad will be easier to handle placed to the right of your setup. And vice versa if you're left-handed.

Use long cables (three quarters of my cables are 1 meter long). This makes repositioning easier as you work.
Sequencer > square vco > filter > vca > fx1 > mixer? No...
Lfo > random > sine vco > folder > vca > fx2 > mixer? No, no...
Lfo > random > square vco > filter > folder > vca > fx2 > mixer... Et voilà!

This is exactly the chorus it promises to be! It's like a sugar cube - you don't get much say, but it doesn't matter because it's so perfectly sweet :)

Questions: Do you really have an extra empty row? I'm jealous. Also, any thought as to what type of music/sounds you want to get out of this rig? You have quite a nice collection of modules here; without too much tweaking you could turn this into a pretty beastly instrument, depending on what you're goign for.
-- HGsynth

I do, this is in two TipTop Mantis cases. This was built originally for my wife to create ethereal beds for her job as a music producer for a online game, running her guitar and/or keyboard through it. She ended up going software route instead.

I have no real solid direction of what I want to do with it outside of learning what it can do and going from there. I'm assuming it can do ambient fairly well, but I'm open to any suggestions. And no need to be jealous, the open row means I'm probably dropping another ~$2k on this over the next year. :)

I appreciate the advice on workflow from both you and @bopodoq

EDITED Oct 23rd 2023, 23:41

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Lots of information I have to get sorted, but I get the more vca’s and mixers tip.

Rgds.

MD does have some quantization options if you press the knob down and tune each step, however there is no scale selection, its just chromatic: https://noiseengineering.us/blogs/loquelic-literitas-the-blog/does-mimetic-digitalis-need-quantizer

but it sounds more like you want a sequencer that had a transpose by CV option? some of the ornaments and crime apps offer this (just as an example, there are many options out there)
-- Sythic

that's good - I didn't see that in the description... personally I like to be able to tell what I'm transposing by... not that it's important unless you are playing with others (or other instruments)... I also like to be able to transpose individual sequencer channels - so a sequencer that transposes isn't necessarily that useful - especially if it's multi-channel - personally I use a sinfonion - which can do transposition to the correct root and scale - based upon the currently selected chord (which itself can be sequenced)

& the link again!!!

why the original pams & not the new or pro version... either of these & you can dispense with scales!

EDITED Oct 23rd 2023, 11:25

This is my newest iteration of my small techno rack. Again, I am aiming to add this to my Syntakt and maybe one more external synth. So it is a real focused system. I want to use the BIA for kick/Bassline stuff. Not sure about the dixie though. Would I be even able to use it as a second voice with this rack? Otherwise I would rather put a dedicated lfo. Currently I plan to use the pnw as lfo and clock.

Since I am new to modular, I want to make sure I can get the most out of it and learn each module really well. Which of these modules would I absolutely need to get some best going? So that u don't have to buy these all at once. So far I have only the BIA since I found it used and took the shot.

Version 3

MD does have some quantization options if you press the knob down and tune each step, however there is no scale selection, its just chromatic: https://noiseengineering.us/blogs/loquelic-literitas-the-blog/does-mimetic-digitalis-need-quantizer

but it sounds more like you want a sequencer that had a transpose by CV option? some of the ornaments and crime apps offer this (just as an example, there are many options out there)

I think it kind of depends on the style of case you have, and whether you care about color matching your panels or not. However, I generally agree with what @bopodoq says. I tend to visualize the signal path as going bottom left > top left > top right > bottom right.

Clocks and sequence / pattern creaters, etc create the signals on the bottom and send them up to be modulated, quantized, and played with. The VCOs are top left and send their lovely cacophonies right and then down towards to filters, fx, and audio manipulators. Finally the bottom right has some utilities and the in/outs.

I also like to consider how much I will be playing a particular module, and how many cables are going to be going in and out of it. I keep the modules that are more manipulatable around the outside of the case, to make them easier to play, while the set and forget ones can sit happily on the inside, buried in the spagehetti. Maybe it's just me, but reaching into the heart of a patch to delicately wiggle small knobs is not the most fun part of the modular experience.

Questions: Do you really have an extra empty row? I'm jealous. Also, any thought as to what type of music/sounds you want to get out of this rig? You have quite a nice collection of modules here; without too much tweaking you could turn this into a pretty beastly instrument, depending on what you're goign for.

EDITED Oct 23rd 2023, 04:13

hi Tunegirl,

I have been following you for a year or so. I truly enjoy your music and find inspiring.

Lately, I have been trying to understand how you use your system to help me to shape mine.

Seems like you have five voices and five filters. I also designed mine to have enough filter for each voice. I saw you play the drums wirh your RD-9.

I also see you use 2x pice seq. I am curious if you program them or if you use the random feature when you play live.

I also see you have Pulsar and Knight's Gallop. Assuming Pulsar is for fills and rolls, I wonder the role of Knight's Gallop. My intiution says that is for triggering SY0.5 assuming it is used for sub bass.

Finally, I am curious what do you sequence with Metropolis. Based on my previous assumptions, Plaits and Rings are the only two voices left. If one or the other, Metropolis has only one track. I wonder do you then use the same sequence for both?

I hope you wouldn't mind me asking and I can completely understand if you don't want to answer and explain how you patch your system.

In both case I am grateful you shared your system publicly and hoping to catch your live set one day...

best wishes,
sin

The way I organize things for workflow:
Audio moves left to right, and then eventually cascade top-down through/down to effects.
Sound sources/ oscillators --> filters --> vcas.
I also do tend to arrange adjacent horizontal rows as 'voices'.
Bottom row would be clock sources and sequencers (things that require hands-on input and adjustment). Modulation sources (Maths etc.) would be in the bottom two rows. I like Pam's in the bottom left corner.
Effects (Starlab etc) to the right, mostly bottom right. In my cases, clock enters bottom left, sound exits bottom right.
The reason I arrange things this way is so I can visualize the signal flow a little better. It also tends to shorten some of the patch cable lengths. Just the way I do it...

I've recently decided to dust off the eurorack I built for my wife at her request. LSS, she didn't use it and I've taken it back over. I know very little about Eurorack and at this point I have no real direction outside of learning exactly what kind of sounds I can make from this. I've been focusing on the marbles/rings combo with haing a rudimentary understanding of PNW.

Any guidance on what to learn first and suggestions of arranging the case to be more user friendly would be appreciated.

![]

EDITED Oct 22nd 2023, 21:45

Hi @JimHowell1970
Thanks for your input.
What exactly do you mean by "the precision adding in links is superfluous"?
Not precise at all?
-- Loersatz

links is a precision adder... so good for adding 2 quantized signals together and getting a 'quantized' output ie c1 + c1 = c2

MD output is not quantized... so if you add this to a quantized signal the output is not quantized anymore... so using a precision adder to sum the 2 signals is unnecessary - any old mixer will do the same job - output a non-quantized signal...

if you want to stay in 12tet (or whatever scale) then you need to quantize either the MD output (before adding - so 2 quantized values are precision added to another quantized signal ie c1 + c1 = c2) or the links output has to be quantized (to get c1 + unquantized signal = unquantized signal -> quantizer = quantized signal)

another option is a cheap outboard mixer - I've used an old inexpensive yamaha MG10 for this for years - works great... no output module, the mixer handles modular levels well...
-- JimHowell1970

I will check this out, as always interested in other peoples set ups- thank you.

hard to go wrong with the Knob Farm Ooots.
-- clwilla

Yes, thanks for pointing this one out. I had a look at this as it's a great looking module but managed to scoop up a pre owned module now.

Hi @JimHowell1970
Thanks for your input.
What exactly do you mean by "the precision adding in links is superfluous"?
Not precise at all?

another option is a cheap outboard mixer - I've used an old inexpensive yamaha MG10 for this for years - works great... no output module, the mixer handles modular levels well...
-- JimHowell1970

I've got a Yamaha MG8/2FX and I used to do the same, plenty of well-priced mixers on eBay too.

some concerns...

you have an expander module for a module you don't have... the alyseum hold

you have an expensive, discontinued (and almost uniobtanium) joystick which is way over specced for audio (it's avideo module - much higher specs than audio)

I'd want more vcas and mixers (probably combined into a quad cascading vca) - and more modulation...

I'd drop one of the 1u rows for an extra 3u row.... and add a simple matrix mixer...

another option is a cheap outboard mixer - I've used an old inexpensive yamaha MG10 for this for years - works great... no output module, the mixer handles modular levels well...

OK so just trying to use what I currently have as of now.
Could I do the following:
1. Send a quantised sequence from Voltage Block to MI Links In1
2. Send a random sequence from Mimetic Digitalis to MI Links In2 (which could go through an attenuator for more control)
3. Send MI Links Out 1 to an Osc Pitch In
MI Links would actually transpose, no?

Edit:
@farkas
Works great :)
Thank you all.
-- Loersatz

I'd want a quantizer at some point after the mimetic digitalis - as it's not quantized - immediately before or after links - both will work... unless you don't want 12TET, in which case any old mixer will do - as the precision adding in links is superfluous

+1 for Jim's suggestion of Maths, but I'd hold off on getting a full size Quad VCA because the 2hp VCA is adequate until you have a larger system.
-- 33PO

And again, not to mention Optomix with its vca function on each channel...
-- Sweelinck

you can never have too many vcas!!! especially dc-coupled quad cascading ones - as they double as both audio and cv mixers - which you can also never have too many of!!!

well not totally true, but the more the merrier!!

The new version of Arbhar used.
tape recorded piano source sound.
https://on.soundcloud.com/sMqBVMKCaZdMsbYe9

A versatile VCO/LFO.
Mostly surface mount pre-installed, so an easy build.
VERY simple to calibrate, and seriously accurate across voltage ranges. And the signals are very straight, no jaggies or steps.
Audio range down to multiple seconds between pulses, very useful. Sounds fine, coupling it with a good filter would make it pop a little more. Overall a nice unit.

Build

Maybe a 4ms ensemble oscillator, for drones and chords?

I feel like I made some relatively informed choices with my rack but I also can't help but wonder if I'm completely discounting some essential modules that would be needed for these to work. Like maybe I don't have enough VCAs/VCOs for the ones I picked out here. Maybe I have too many redundant modules (not that redundancy is always bad but if it hurts the function then it's gotta go).
-- Cat

I think you have fully anticipated the problem. Unless I’m mistaken, Manis is the only vco here capable of providing you with a real drone source (excluding the Swiss Army Knife Disting mk4). At least one complementary vco, with a wide sound palette (like Plaits or Twin Waves, for example) would be needed. And I will add a quad vca to replace or complement the small After Later Audio DVCA. I do not see either lfo and at minimum a small sequencer (although on this point the Doepfer midi to cv indicates perhaps an intention not expressed here). Other comments or questions are possible... and I sincerely hope that others formulate them.

The Befaco Out is a good price, especially if you don't mind doing a little soldering https://www.modulargrid.net/e/befaco-out-v3 / https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/befaco-output-module/

hard to go wrong with the Knob Farm Ooots.

Hey Magerit crew,

can you please send out KAIROS for review... to some of the you tube reviewers
i would like to see this in action... or is it still a pipe dream at this stage..?

even if its close to pams it could be a game changer....

here's hoping for some news soon.

OK so just trying to use what I currently have as of now.
Could I do the following:
1. Send a quantised sequence from Voltage Block to MI Links In1
2. Send a random sequence from Mimetic Digitalis to MI Links In2 (which could go through an attenuator for more control)
3. Send MI Links Out 1 to an Osc Pitch In
MI Links would actually transpose, no?

Edit:
@farkas
Works great :)
Thank you all.

[]

Hey yall.

I decided recently I wanted to dip my toe into this rabbit hole after having spent years exclussively making music through DAWs. The main function that I was looking for in this rack would be to have something that's capable of producing a wide range of rhythmic drones and textures that could evolve into completely new sounds with a few nudges. All while being as compact as possible.

I feel like I made some relatively informed choices with my rack but I also can't help but wonder if I'm completely discounting some essential modules that would be needed for these to work. Like maybe I don't have enough VCAs/VCOs for the ones I picked out here. Maybe I have too many redundant modules (not that redundancy is always bad but if it hurts the function then it's gotta go).

Let me know what you guys think, because I'll be DIYing my case for this to save on money. I would like to feel a little more confident in my choices before I go out to get materials for the case.

Thanks

+1 for Jim's suggestion of Maths, but I'd hold off on getting a full size Quad VCA because the 2hp VCA is adequate until you have a larger system.
-- 33PO

And again, not to mention Optomix with its vca function on each channel...

+1 for Jim's suggestion of Maths, but I'd hold off on getting a full size Quad VCA because the 2hp VCA is adequate until you have a larger system.

IMO it'd be more fun to get Maths + Plaits clone first. Then start thinking about adding modules to get more out of the system

Yes. That's what I suggested initially. Give it a try and let us know if that's what you were hoping for.

OK so just trying to use what I currently have as of now.
Could I do the following:
1. Send a quantised sequence from Voltage Block to MI Links In1
2. Send a random sequence from Mimetic Digitalis to MI Links In2 (which could go through an attenuator for more control)
3. Send MI Links Out 1 to an Osc Pitch In
MI Links would actually transpose, no?

EDITED Oct 21st 2023, 15:47

Check out the Noise Engineering Quantus Pax if you want multiple quantized Voltage Block channels added to multiple random cv signals.