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I should have elaborated more on the sh101 vibe, I know the Atlantis isn't an exact clone but that's sort what made want it more from the demos I've heard. I appreciate that it can get in the realm of the 101 but can do much more. If I were to pull the Atlantis out of the rack I would probably go with a Malekko Manther. That box is wondeful, and what inspired me to pair a wavefolder with the Atlantis.
I do like your idea of potentially replacing the Atlantis with a Rainmaker though. How does Rainmaker compare to the Strymon Magneto or the 4ms DLD?
As far as the mutant brain with the digitakt, is there any reason to go with that instead of Yarns other than the HP?
Several things here...first, if something's already in a housing, leave it there. Eurorack cab space, when you start figuring it up, is actually pretty spendy and needs to be dedicated to things that must be in there.
Second, Clouds is discontinued. Has been for quite some time. So unless you have one, you need to use a 3rd-party version or source a used one.
The problem with the Moog and BSP is quite real. The BSP only outputs 0-10 V, while the M32's VCO CV in wants to see +/- 5V. And it's not possible to change either one to make them play nicely with each other. Really, a lot of the blame here rests on Moog for using that not-so-compatible CV; it's sort of their 21st century "answer" to their wack S-Trig incompatibility from their early days. I suppose that now that they decided to do positive gate/triggers at last, they felt compelled to screw up on the pitch CVs. However, if you insist on having the M32 in your build, Erica has their PICO MScale module which provides bidirectional rescaling between Moog and everything else in just 3 hp.
Lastly, modulation source of what sort? There's not that much here to go on to figure out an apparent need.
Well...it's not exactly an SH-101 soundwise...the filter is very different, since the 101 had a "sort-of" 4-pole LPF, and the Atlantis is more of a "proper" 4-pole, albeit a multimode, plus it has that "boost" circuit. I'm actually shocked and amazed to say this...but if the SH-101 sound is what you need, that new Behringer clone actually nails the sound. I've been checking some of the NAMM videos of that, and it sounds exactly as I recall mine sounding...that same little bit of distortion in the suboctaves, the odd filter response nonlinearities as you open up either the cutoff or resonance, and so on. Plus it has the FM mod that a bunch of people added, and a much better sequencer. If that's the sound that appeals to you, it might make more sense to go there...plus you get a sequencer (with memories), arpeggiator, keyboard controller, and external main clock as well. And it's cheaper, and frees up 40 hp in the process.
Yeah...me, recommending Behringer. Asteroid impact in 5... 4... 3.........
But the other reason for doing that is a very different thing from Intellijel: the Rainmaker. Common to the Berlin school, ambient (especially ambient dub), IDM, and generative is the need for a versatile and complex delay. The Rainmaker isn't small...but it has the power and flexibility needed to straddle all of those genres. At 36 hp, if you removed the Atlantis for one of the Behringer 101 clones, you'd then regain 4 hp from the Atlantis being removed and replaced.
No, continue using the Digitakt...but considering the 101 idea, here's a plan of how that can work:
Digitakt: master sequencer and master clock. Drives Hexinverter Mutant Brain to derive 4 CV/gate pairs for modular + clock out.
Pam's: trigger sequences, drive from Digitakt clock via Mutant Brain.
101: Digitakt clock (via Mutant Brain) drives 101 clock via EXT CLK IN or Pam's drives the same with a trigger pattern. Manually play kybd for live arpeggiation or bring in extra sequencer line for live counterpoint against Digitakt's patterns.
This way, everything locks up to the same clock source, with an interesting option on how to clock/step that manual arpeggiator and/or extra monosynth line.
Thanks for your response! I'm going to look into those micro MI modules. I'm pretty set on Atlantis as my main analog VCO because I love the SH-101 sound. I've heard good things about Three Sisters, I will just need to see how it compares to Polaris. As for sequencing I'm pretty set on using my digitakt. Is that why you mentioned the mutant brain? I've seen people talk about it correlation with the digitakt, but how would I go about running that with Pam's?
I have been using a uZeus with a 15v Toshiba laptop brick for over a year now. All I did was replacing the original straight (and wrong diameter) barrel connector with a 2.1 mm one fitting the uZeus (and is angled so does not stick out and strains the jack). Works like a charm.
Hi all! I'm about to build my first modular, in 3-4 days I will get a 6U 88hp rack and thinking about what modules to buy.
I already have a Neutron and a beatstep pro which can be useful!
I would like to start with 4 modules:
morphagene, maths and marbles are my favourite modules and probably will start with them.
What fourth module should I get in your opinion to fill these 3?
The rack has something important missing? (maybe something to get audio from external sources to feed the morphagene? another sequencer? A better reverb?)
I had some difficulties to not include modules like Erbe-Verb, Clouds, Warps, René, Pressure points...
I'm so excited to start this journey! It's like a week I get lost for hours in videos, forums... hope to get some suggestions!
Many thanks 'napper - the E330 sadly is overshadowed by its bigger brothers, the E352 and the E370 - both great, but considerably more expensive. I think the E330 is the best bargain in Eurorack actually.
@Fastus, this is a great way to showcase the module, and I enjoyed the track by itself, as well as the deconstructions on your other account! I am surprised I don't see the E330 mentioned more often in the forums, and I'm surprised its cloud mode doesn't get more attention---I think it's just so fun to use its FM capabilities.
I always loved the sound of the Access Virus Rack, which I cannot afford (space and dollars), and I've been looking out for something that could be used instead. The E330's cloud mode sounds so good that I think I can use it instead, because I want the sound for leads (and maybe bass) but not chords. (Bonus: At max spread, the E330 can make chords.)
I have a Behringer Neutron, and I don't like the sound of its oscillators when synced, so I've been looking at for a VCO that can sync. That's another thing that the YouTube demos don't really dwell on: E330 hard [I assume] sync sounds. Because it's a digital VCO, though, I guess the probably didn't mess up sync.
Let me know if any of your tracks have sections that show off the stacked saws of cloud mode or the hard sync of the VCO. Thanks for the great sounds.
You have three pins on this connector: 1,2 and 3 - Its a 3 pins so it can be used for whenever you need to conect the poser supply... bus to power supply, PS to case, case to case etc
The connector can be to connect one case to the other, so you can use only one power supply for both.
So you use one pin for each power rail (there are three power rails +12 , -12 , GND)
Now... imagine you want to power two case and only one have the power supply inside. you can use a couple of this three pole connectors (one on each case) to send the power supply from the case number 1 with power supply to the case number 2 without power supply
Of course you also have to make a cable to go from one to the other....
Alas, this has left me even more confused. TO clarify and restate my original problem:
I have two power supplies and two cases (in different locations)
I would like to use the second power supply (an external 15v Cincon-TTA laptop-style universal power supply) to power the Befaco regulated power bus (https://www.befaco.org/en/fuente-alimentacion/) in the second case.
This uZeus looks promising. Thank you! I will confess that I like the look of the Arturia RackBrute, but some of the devices I want to put in to a RackBrute 6U do not fit into it that well, because of how Arturia has wired and installed their power supply. This might do the trick for my purpose.
Gary Turner
BehrTek@gmail.com
GaryDouglasTurner.com
Looking good to me. Are these busses passive wires or are they buffered on both ends? Any plans fo additional feats such as amped audio input , headphone out, or line outs?
Hello,
I have two questions, I am looking for something to control my sequences, BeatStep Pro could be an option but I have read that transmits a signal of 10 volts and not of 5 or - 5 is a problem?
my other question is if someone could recommend me a modulation source?
Does anyone do these by hand?
Would this save you time?
I want to share this tool!
If you're interested, send an email to:
eknutdriver@gmail.com
Features:
- plastic: if you slip, it is less likely to scratch your faceplate
- torque: very easily torqued to proper tightness
- inexpensive: very little plastic material needed for 3D printed bit
One rookie mistake I made was to remain unaware of the micro versions of MI modules, esp Plaits, Clouds, but I believe Yarns and Rings are also available. Michigan Synth Works has some nice ones and there are pre-assembled Antumbra modules on eBay. So your Plaits and Clouds shrink to 8 HP and you can squeeze in some other neat stuff.
Also, are you dead set on the Atlantis? Seems rather voluminous for the HP. You could add a XAOC Zadar for 8(!) ADSR envelopes or Stages and a flexible OSC.
Regarding the Polaris: check out Three Sisters and the new QPAS, as they might offer some more flavor.
Also, a dedicated sequencer on the modular seems like something you might want. Rene MKII reigns supreme, but the Mimetic Digitalis is a superb and compact 4 track 16 step sequencer at 10 HP.
Disting MK4 seems to be missing and the Poti is a neat expansion of the Batumi.
Regarding clocking... how about a Hexinverter Mutant Brain instead of Yarns? Pam’s would then be your clock divider.
Here's what I've been working on, at least for starting out this would be the build minus one of the 1u quadratts. I'm looking to have a rack that can cover a lot of territory creatively from generative ambient, house, and Idm, to Berlin school.
I'm doing my build in the intellijel 7u 104hp case. I'm looking to use a digitakt as my main seuqnecer and drum machine but that's where I've been having some headaches with using that in conjunction with yarns and Pamela's new workout. I was thinking about usuing a midi splitter as well to take advantage of the 1u intellijel midi interface as a way to clock pams and yarns together from the digitakt.
If anyone else has some thoughts on arrangements or more modules to fill the empty space I'll have while starting out that would he wonderful. I'm definitely wanting to add a delay module down the line, possibly the 4ms DLD or the Strymkn Magneto.
I am confused about where you are getting the power current draw of over 1000, as the Roland page for the System-1m lists a Eurorack current draw of 700 (https://www.roland.com/us/products/system-1m/specifications/). The Aira Demora lists 450 for the current draw. The Arturia site (https://www.arturia.com/rackbrute-6u/overview) lists the 6U putting out 1600ma. It looks like I will need to look at, at least one other case that puts out more power to accommodate 2 of the System-1m units anyway. I suspect the power draw on the System-1m is due in part to all of those bright LEDs. So I am interested in some other case options.
Gary Turner
BehrTek@gmail.com
GaryDouglasTurner.com
The other nice thing about the Expert Sleepers stuff is that you have a range of expanders, which allows you to configure their interfaces with extra CV/gate outputs as needed. But another option you might consider is not using the Varigate 4+, and instead putting in a Squarp Hermod, which offers a MIDI interface, 8-track sequencer, clocking, and plenty of I/O. By doing that, you then flip the equation around so that it controls the M32 (with a lot more capability than the M32's own sequencer) as well as quite a bit more in the build, with no need to kludge up some sort of interfacing between the M32 and the rest of the rig just to get all of the modules talking to each other properly.
-- Lugia
I agree that the Hermod would definitely make stuff much easier (plus 8 tracks are amazing), but the idea of having to program all of my stuff on a screen really turns me off for some reason.. I absolutely love the M32's sequencer precisely because of this immediacy that I think the Hermod would lack.
The other nice thing about the Expert Sleepers stuff is that you have a range of expanders, which allows you to configure their interfaces with extra CV/gate outputs as needed. But another option you might consider is not using the Varigate 4+, and instead putting in a Squarp Hermod, which offers a MIDI interface, 8-track sequencer, clocking, and plenty of I/O. By doing that, you then flip the equation around so that it controls the M32 (with a lot more capability than the M32's own sequencer) as well as quite a bit more in the build, with no need to kludge up some sort of interfacing between the M32 and the rest of the rig just to get all of the modules talking to each other properly.
It's good...but don't neglect some of the other (sometimes smaller, cheaper) performance mixers out there, such as Qu-bit's Mixology, Toppobrillo's Stereomix, KOMA's Poltergeist (quad!), Strange Science's M-4, Xaoc's Praga, ADDAC's 807 system, and Doepfer's A-138 system and its options. Definitely weigh the size vs function options here; if you're working out a smaller build, you might find that going with a similarly-featured 4-in mixer may be a better choice.
I absolutely suggest that you DO NOT do this! The Arturia Rackbrute P/S has a capacity of 1500 mA on its +12V rail. Each AIRA module has a draw of 450 mA under normal operation, and a momentary higher draw on power-up due to inrush factors. And the System-1m has a draw of 800 mA! Plug in two AIRAs and a 1m, or all of your AIRAs at the same time, and you're running a very real risk of trashing the Arturia P/S!
The power draws of the AIRA modules are one of the big reasons they never got much traction with the Eurorack community. Why would anyone drop one of these into a typical build where you might only have 1000 mA to play with on the +12v rail, where a typical Eurorack module has a draw closer to maybe 40-50 mA. One AIRA module would equal the draw of perhaps ten or so normal Eurorack modules!
Leave these things in their cases and on their own power supplies where they belong. And this should be a lesson: just because something fits in a Eurorack cab does not mean it belongs in one. Also, size isn't the only important thing in modular synths...current draw is perhaps as, if not more, important, because if you pop your power supply and it doesn't simply stop working altogether, you might get all sorts of electrical havoc for a fraction of a second that could spell the end of your entire system.
ok I see, is there a midi interface you would recommend?
-- juliancoolian
i have a yarns, which i like, but kind of wish it had usb midi. i remember thinking the expert sleepers fh-2 seemed awesome when it came out, but i haven't used it. i'm no expert on all the options though.
This seems like one of the most interesting mixers around then. It's a big module but considering it provides 8 channels and 8 vca's + all the extra features + expansion possibilities makes it really worthwhile imo. I think I'll put this in my rack :-)
I have 2 Arturia 6U eurorack cases, they look beautiful, however...
I bought these cases so I can mount some of my Roland stuff in. I have several Roland System-1m synths, and the Roland effects modules (Bitrazer, Torcido, Scooper and Demora), but all of these units have finished backs so they can be used anywhere - in or out of a rack case.
The problem with the Arturia 3U and 6U cases is they use a tall power adapter jack soldered to the power distribution board that is too tall. I cannot mount any of my modules in these racks because of the poor design of the power distribution jack connections.
Can anyone help me out with creating an adapter cable with a few power distribution jacks on a cable? I need maybe 2 to 4 power jacks on the cable that could plug into the Arturia power source for these cases.
Thank you!
Gary Turner
BehrTek@gmail.com
GaryDouglasTurner.com
ok I see, is there a midi interface you would recommend?
-- juliancoolian
i have a yarns, which i like, but kind of wish it had usb midi. i remember thinking the expert sleepers fh-2 seemed awesome when it came out, but i haven't used it. i'm no expert on all the options though.
you're right, I totally forgot about this. That's definitely a good backup, but I'd kinda hate losing the option to output gate on accented steps. Do you think what I proposed would work as well?
-- juliancoolian
it looks like those cables are just din-trs adapters for use with the malekko sync module (or another midi port as long as the trs jack is wired the same way), and the clock in on the varigate is just an analog clock input. i agree that it would be a shame to lose the accent output from the M32, but i think you'd need another midi interface to get clock from the computer into the modular, or a device like the rk-005 (https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk005/) that can convert midi clock to a gate.
-- mrjorts
ok I see, is there a midi interface you would recommend?
you're right, I totally forgot about this. That's definitely a good backup, but I'd kinda hate losing the option to output gate on accented steps. Do you think what I proposed would work as well?
-- juliancoolian
it looks like those cables are just din-trs adapters for use with the malekko sync module (or another midi port as long as the trs jack is wired the same way), and the clock in on the varigate is just an analog clock input. i agree that it would be a shame to lose the accent output from the M32, but i think you'd need another midi interface to get clock from the computer into the modular, or a device like the rk-005 (https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk005/) that can convert midi clock to a gate.
The Mother 32's assign output can be set to send clock out, optionally divided /2 or /4. It defaults to outputting a gate for accented steps. The different modes for the output are described on page 44 of the manual and the process for choosing a mode is on page 50.
-- mrjorts
you're right, I totally forgot about this. That's definitely a good backup, but I'd kinda hate losing the option to output gate on accented steps. Do you think what I proposed would work as well?
The Mother 32's assign output can be set to send clock out, optionally divided /2 or /4. It defaults to outputting a gate for accented steps. The different modes for the output are described on page 44 of the manual and the process for choosing a mode is on page 50.
Does the M32's gate out not send pulses when the sequencer is running or when a note on/off message arrives in MIDI?
-- Lugia
I believe it does, but if I wanted to use that as a clock signal I'd need to always activate all steps of the sequencer in order to actually send gate on every beat, no?
That's what it means, yep. In fact, what you see there is a lot of VCAs, not just the channel levels. The panning is under VCA control, as are your two AUX bus levels. Note, also, that you can sum before the VCAs on the mono strips by using the A+B to mix two incoming audio signals at a unity level. And while the mutes and master don't have VCA automation per se, it's easy enough to 1) send a gate to the VCA per strip and switch the gate on and off for muting, and 2) you can insert a stereo VCA into the main bus insert point and then put the stereo master level under VCA automation that way. Quite an intricate little device...
I've had the Mother-32 for close to 3 years now and recently, I got another 60HP row as well as an Erica Synths Black Modulator and Black Hole DSP (and a Koma Strom for power). Now I want to built an entire system consisting of the Mother + 120HP and this is what I came up with. I want to make mostly techno kind of stuff.
Basically, the idea is to use the Varigate 4+ as clock source and to sequence the Black Wavetable (or any other oscillators I might add in the future) and either use the Varigate directly or via the Euclid to sequence the Basimilus for some perussion. Of course I'd also want to send tempo to the Mother-32. I'd use the precision adder to modulate the sequence from the Varigate. The rest is rather self explanatory I think.
Sooo I'd love some advice on the following:
- So far, I'm using ableton for drums (might add a drum machine or eurorack drums later), so I need to sync the system to my computer. Right now I have a Keystep hooked to my Mac and send Midi via 5-Pin to the Mother and that works just fine, but the Mother has no clock out so I need to find another way to sync. Could I, for that purpose, use this cable (https://www.loopsandbits.ch/produkt/malekko-midi-3-5-cables/) to send Midi from the Keystep to the Varigate 4+ (and then via its clock out to the different destinations)?
- do you know of any cheaper or smaller alternatives to the modules I'm using here?
- is there anything I'm missing completely?
The title says it all. Can this mixer module also be used as a proper VCA? The specifications say "Voltage control over Level and Panning for all channels" . There's six mono channels en 2 stereo channels, does this mean this can act as 8 VCA's? Or am I not getting it? I'm relatively new to modular, hence the question.
The two main voltages used in Eurorack are -12V and 12V. So there are typically three wires going from the power supply to the busboard, supplying -12V, 0V (ground), and +12V. The +12V is 12 volts higher than 0V (ground), and 0V (ground) is 12 volts higher than -12V. In many amplifier designs (and almost all modules have some sort of amplifier), it is convenient to have both positive 12V and negative 12V supplied.
+5V is not used by as many modules. +5V was a standard for digital electronics, so it tends to be digital modules that require it.
If you need +5V, some busboards must get it from the power supply (so they need both: -12V, 0V, +5V, and +12V). Other busboards can generate +5V themselves from the -12V, 0V, and +12V voltages.
No modules need -5V, and this voltage is never used.
When you connect modules, it is very very very important to line up the ribbon, so -12V on the module connects with -12V on the busbuard. Getting it wrong can destroy modules without reverse polarity protection.
Hi. Noob question. I keep seeing -12 V and 12 V on Eurorack specifications and I was wondering what the difference is between the the too. I'm not talking about why I see different voltages and amperage ratings for both, i'm just wondering what exactly does it mean and why don't I see -5 V in addition to 5 V. Thanks.
- Otto
Any basic mult should work. You're not sending the CV to a bunch of different locations, so there's no worry of a voltage sag and no need for a buffered mult. I'd suggest using some inline mults; save your cab's room for actual functionality.
That is great advice Lugia! Thank you! I think at least one more VCO is a good idea!
I have plenty of outboard gear (and plugins) so I have plenty of post processing capabilities!
One thing I am looking at is being able to send the same signal to multiple locations. So having the pitch control from the sequencer affect the Ring module and the VCO. Is the A-180-3 a good choice for that?
Bought a Doepfer Fixed Filter Bank from @fredeke and it arrived quickly (as quickly as overseas allows) and in great shape. Also bought a Doepfer Matrix Mixer from @harvestman a while back (before I realized I should post here) and that was a great transaction as well.
Well, several things come to mind. First up, is MIDI necessary here? If the idea is to mainly drive this with a Dark Time, you're better off connecting it via CV/gate to the modular and losing the A-190-4. Also keep in mind that the Dark Time, if I remember correctly, contains pretty much the same MIDI-CV converter, making the module redundant. Second, there are far better alternatives to that A-145 LFO that offer CV control...or even more LFOs...in about the same sort of space.
VCOs...OK, let's say you want to run the Dark Time in 2 x 8 mode. Now, having just one VCO is passable, but really you want two VCOs so that you can use techniques such as detuning, oscillator sync, and the like. So with two different lines at once, what you'll want is four VCOs...which might sound like a huge space-hog, but there are quad and/or dual VCOs out there that will give you what's really needed there in a decent amount of hp. In fact, a pair of Klavis Dual VCOs would do the trick and give you quantizing for your sequencer CVs all at the same time. After that, you'll need a mixer to sum your VCOs down; if you want full duophonic performance, you need a dual mixer to sum each pair separately, but if you're OK with feeding the two parts through the same filter (usually referred to as "paraphonic" voicing), one that can handle four inputs summed to one is just fine.
Filter choices aren't bad...the Wasp clone will have that dirty sound that the original was known for, and the SEM filter is sort of a clone of the original Oberheim state-variable. However, having just one envelope gen is a problem; with two different VCFs, you'll enjoy having a different envelope for each, so that the timbre can "morph" in a sense as EG 1 gives way to EG 2. But even with a single VCF, you'll still need more EGs because you'll certainly want different envelope curves for your VCF(s) and VCA(s).
Noise/random gen: good. But you'll want some sort of sample-and-hold module to make even better use of this, by 'freezing' random values as discrete CV levels to use elsewhere. If you go back to the middle part of ELP's "Karn Evil 9, Impression 1", that bubbling-on-one-pitch sound is done that way, by feeding a sample-and-hold to the filter that's in the patch. S&Hs have a lot of uses, and are very much as bread-and-butter module. You can also clock this via the Dark Time's clock, which would then sync up these randomized changes with your sequence timing.
Multiples: not in this. This build is too small; even a 2 hp mult will be better left out in order to make that 2 hp space available for some active functionality. Instead, use inline mult "widgets" that several manufacturers have available.
Lastly, the end of the chain. While the Quad VCA is a great choice for both mixing and enveloping the VCFs' outputs, plus leaving a couple of VCAs handy for altering CV/modulation levels (which is another reason for having more LFOs and EGs), that shouldn't be your final module. The output level will still be at synth levels, and optimally should be backed down to proper line level before leaving the cab. Also, you're missing any sort of reverb, etc at the end, post-VCA...this was a huge part of why the ARP 2600, as one example, sounded as cool as it did. No room for a proper spring here, so a spring emulator like the Purrtronics Purrvrrb would be ideal, as it's small, PLUS it's a mono-in, stereo-out device, giving you a nice, wide stereo image. Couple that with a stereo balanced out with a level control such as Happy Nerding's Isolator (which also has transformer balancing and isolation, helping to avoid noise issues, ground loops, and other annoyances), and there you are.
That altogether would be a lot more solid...and still, if done carefully, will fit just fine in the space you've allocated.
