A little while ago my Braids seeemd to be working fine, but now it's stuck in the CSAW mode. Nothing in the edit menu seems to make any adjustments and when I can manage to get back out of the parameters to the main level, I can't switch to a different voice. Any ideas, it's like the module's locked. Very frustrating.

hello. you can connect them all...if your power can handle it. I use the Koma BusBoard Buddy myself to split one into 3 connections.

Ginkosynthese Compressor kit build and demo

A diode compressor from GinkoSynthese.
Pretty good build, but not much documentation so not a beginner kit.

Does some interesting compression, and would be a good addition to your audio chain.

Build

Please, solve first your case problem. You will find again ‘the light (and fun) side of the modular’ ;)
-- Sweelinck

Thankyou, my case issues are now in hand. When my original case is looking full I will be on the look out for a Rackbrute 6U. Fun has been had so far but with such a huge selection of options at what can be high prices, working out what you should buy and why can turn into a headache for the beginner.

Thank you for the new options,I need to research something new as I have been fixated on Qu Bit Aurora for a few weeks now. You are correct, that with my lack of HP I need modules that can do many things - it still is hard not to want an Aurora though...oh life is hard.

-- EuroBadger

I also got a Aurora for the purpose of Ambient stuff. You should be aware, that Aurora is not a easy module and very special. Its not a module to feed just anything in and get ambient stuff out. I guess it would be at first better to get a more versetaile fx module for starters. If you get Aurora and realize that you cant tame it - there is also a alternative firmware to use it as a conventinal reverb. Its worth to check it out in depth before you buy it - what it does excactly and if its suitable for your taste.

So I got a new case. Intellijel 7u 104HP. It has 28 slots on the power board but in my design of the rack I have 29 modules.

So what combo of flying buss cables would you use for this and which modules would you put on those busses.

Which modules would you connect to the flying buss cable(s) or does it not matter?

EDITED Sep 24th 2023, 10:41

(...) with my lack of HP I need modules that can do many things - it still is hard not to want an Aurora though...oh life is hard.

-- EuroBadger

If I may, think a moment about what you just wrote here. Music is not there to make you suffer...
Please, solve first your case problem. You will find again ‘the light (and fun) side of the modular’ ;)

Approved! 6:40 is perfection.
-- FredFoxtrott

Thank you! Many people seem to like the fuzzy reverby feedbacky bit at the end ;)

This video suggests some ideas for extracting extra melodic mileage (and an accompanying bass line) from the Easel’s 5-step sequencer, using the keyboard arpeggiator and external delay and reverb.
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Everything QuBit makes is top-notch, but for a smaller system I'd go with a module that can run different algorithms or one that can do multi-FX.
-- 33PO

Thank you for the new options,I need to research something new as I have been fixated on Qu Bit Aurora for a few weeks now. You are correct, that with my lack of HP I need modules that can do many things - it still is hard not to want an Aurora though...oh life is hard.

Disting MK4 is a great multifunction module that does a lot more than just FX. Unfortunately the interface is not intuitive and that can be an obsticle for some people. Disting EX includes a screen and has a better UI, but the interface can still be cumbersome.

Happy Nerding FX Aid Pro would be the way to go if you just want an FX unit. It does everything well and has a clear UI

Endorphines Ghost looks like an awesome all in one multi-FX unit

Everything QuBit makes is top-notch, but for a smaller system I'd go with a module that can run different algorithms or one that can do multi-FX. If all you're looking for is FX I'd go with FX Aid Pro (or one of the smaller FX Aid) or Ghost. If you think you might want FX+Tuner+Quantizer+SamplePlayer+CoffeeMaker then go with one of the Disting

-EDIT: Take a look at Noise Engineering Versio platform. These can load different FX firmwares

EDITED Sep 21st 2023, 16:39

Every rack will benefit from Pamelas Workout (New/Pro). Definitely a great 3rd module
-- 33PO

I am very happy with PNW with the minimal amount of dabbling I have done with it. My issue now is what effect module to get?

Yes having something that can do a wide range of things should be a good starting point - looked at the Expert Sleepers Disting MK4...then I saw the Qu bit Aurora! spectral reverb.

So many modules to look at but always fearful of too much of a function overlap.

What would you all consider to be a safe purchase within the ambient / generative field?

Thanks for watching, Fred!

We did not capture any video of the recording session, but I am pretty proud of this duet between me and electroacoustic double bassist and modular sythnesist ASDB. The visuals were magically made by artist Thoughtful. It's called Woodlands. It is a set-and-setting video to be sure.

All sounds are produced by the double bass then captured and manipulated by effect pedals and an A-100 rack full of modules, or they are Rings triggered by the envelopes generated by the bass' sound wave.

The main modules are:
Instruō Arbhar
Instruō Lúbadh
Make Noise Mimeophon
Mutable Instruments Rings

EDITED Sep 21st 2023, 04:23

This is expert level. Thanks for sharing.

Approved! 6:40 is perfection.

@cj18 great start

I really think that the patch bay would benefit from being in the middle row...
-- JimHowell1970

I think you're right. That would make more sense.

@cj18 great start

I really think that the patch bay would benefit from being in the middle row...

I really enjoyed that. Great dynamics and a lot of cool sounds and mixing in the different parts. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!

Ok, I've taken a lot of the suggestions on board, and I might pick up another VCO and VCF. My setup would look as follows:

-- photo shows old rack - I cannot get it to update, so just follow the link --

I do have a MI Veils module that is free at the moment, so that could be a winner.

Alternatively, I have a Waldorf dual VCA that is 20hp, and would fit the spot perfectly. I also have a Waldorf 20hp compressor module that would fit directly below. Thoughts?

I probably won't go that way, but maybe.

I'll start looking into some utility modules when I get a chance

EDITED Sep 20th 2023, 05:02

If it is aesthetics that you are after first, just buy another 112 and another 130. You'll end up with 4 functional voices and a solid grey System 100.

EDITED Sep 20th 2023, 14:44

Recently I've added a wavefolder to my rack to break out of traditional subtractive synthesis. I've been looking around for other types of synthesis and I stumbled upon through-zero (or thru-zero) frequency modulation. As far as I understand, through-zero FM doesn't have the pitch-shifting effect that you get when you increase the FM amount on linear or exponential FM oscillators. As far as I've also understand is that "traditional" FM sounds are typically made using sine oscillators.

This brings me to the Happy Nerding FM aid. It's advertised as "designed to perform through-zero linear Frequency Modulation (FM)". This module does not only have a sine output, but also triangle, sawtooth and square outputs. The way I interpret this module, is that with two sawtooth oscillators as inputs (according to the manual, this is what FM aid expects), I can create "traditional" FM style sounds with the FM aid when I use the sine output.

However, a lot of videos I've seen are going into the other waveform outputs of the FM aid, creating harmonically rich synched-like overtones and PWM type sounds. Happy Nerding themselves even have a video called "FM aid folds" and I've heard more videos in which someone mentioned "folded" waveshapes.

This makes me doubt if this module is designed to make tradidtional FM style sounds. Can anyone clarify this?

Also, a bit off-topic: I was assuming that an FM oscillator and a wavefolder added to an oscillator have different, distinctive sounds. Is this the case or do FM and wavefolded sound quite the same?

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I don't know if it has been requested before, but it would be nice to be able to "lock" the position of some module in order to exclude them from the "optimize rack space" command.
Grouping them would be cool too.

For instance :

• I want my mixer at the top row far left -> I place it, I lock it, then I optimize the rack space around that locked position.

• I have a batumi + poti + samara -> I group them, then I optimize rack space, and they stay next to each others as "one unit" in the optimization.

Combining the two tools would be amazing ("group" then "lock").

Many thanks !

EDITED Sep 19th 2023, 10:53

Unfortunately I cannot fit this on 2 rows, which would have been a lot neater.

definitely not something I'd worry about

I am pretty happy with the layout, but appreciate any suggestions on position changes that will improve workflow.

I'd move the vcas up to the top row, the mixer down to the bottom row and the middle 3 of the bottom row to the middle row...

I am also looking for suggestions for additional modules. I'd love to keep it all looking uniform, if at all possible, but realise that that is pretty unlikely. I have a random assortment of other modules lying around, so I'll have no trouble filling up the space, but I want something that both looks and sounds good.

I'd want more utilities... matrix mixer, more vcas (probably a quad cascading one like a veils clone or similar, they're for cv as well as audio), at least one clock divider (square wave sub bass from audio: /2 = -1ve, /4 = -2ve) , some logic, mults, at least a dual quantizer, attenuation/attenuversion/offset (happy nerding 3 * mia for example) etc

Possibly a Pams Pro... not just clock but also lots of triggers, gates, modulation... I'd keep the clock divider above (for the reason stated) and the logic (useful outside of Pams) - but a couple of the Pams channels could be used for quantization - and/or quantized stepped random...

An extra filter might be an idea... something that sounds different...

Also, thoughts on powering? I could use 2 microZeus, but would consider trying different power options (I've only used the Zeus in the past).

I like befaco power supplies - especially the excalibus... simple, but tedious DIY, or ready built... much quieter than the uZeus and avoids the rack wart...

Looks like a fun rack. I think I would want the sequencer in the lower left so that the knobs are unobstructed, and the output mixer in the bottom right. That way CV signal flow starts in the bottom left, goes up to the slew and VCOs, and then audio travels left to right and down to the phaser/delay and audio mixer. You could always add another VCO module, more envelopes, and some DC-coupled VCAs, but this would be a lot of fun as is if you want to keep it uniform. I don't have any suggestions for power aside from make sure you have some headroom. Good luck!

I have the following setup sketched out (and the modules ready to go), and I'm wondering what I should do next.

Unfortunately I cannot fit this on 2 rows, which would have been a lot neater. I am pretty happy with the layout, but appreciate any suggestions on position changes that will improve workflow.

I am also looking for suggestions for additional modules. I'd love to keep it all looking uniform, if at all possible, but realise that that is pretty unlikely. I have a random assortment of other modules lying around, so I'll have no trouble filling up the space, but I want something that both looks and sounds good.

Also, thoughts on powering? I could use 2 microZeus, but would consider trying different power options (I've only used the Zeus in the past).

Grateful for any ideas that you have!!

EDIT: I also have one rack unit free above this setup (not shown)

EDITED Sep 19th 2023, 09:36

Thank you so much. The implementation looks great and will be useful for many unicorn users. No need anymore to show links to other websites for their real pictures of the modules. Plus its now possible to send MP3s to show in a auditive way that a module is working or what have been achieved with a certain module. This is really great.
Kind regards
Chai Baba

EDITED Sep 19th 2023, 06:13

Hi,
IMO it would be a good idea to add some details, some phrases, some words when posting a rack.
Because if you don't know the reason for posting the rack, two things can happen: someone makes an analysis of the rack and makes suggestions that in the end are not applicable, as is the case with @JimHowell1970, or people simply don't comment on anything, since they don't know what to comment.

EDITED Sep 19th 2023, 05:21

Assembled around pairing it with a Digitakt

Thanks, these are incredble. Do you mind sharing how you think about planning/building a rack? I know you said they're kinda of anarchistic, but do you have a goal with each rack, or do you let them grow organically?

My renegade party days are behind me, but as a thought experiment I put together a little travel rig for the mission at hand out of stuff I already have. More often than not, when I'm sitting at the rack exploring, I am pursuing Emptyset-ish or Surgeon-ish sounds. In fact, a considerable part of my rack is dedicated to music like that. Through more trial and error than I'd like to admit, I've settled on about 208hp of modular (plus a few outboard pieces) for that kind of stuff. I tried to make it smaller than that, but one of the constraints I will NOT give myself is cramped tiny modules with minimal or confusing controls and knotted cable spaghetti blocking the knobs. That's one of those things you only learn after trying it and failing miserably. A larger case has more to do with building a playable instrument than chasing a dragon or consumerism, at least for me and many others that participate in this forum. We all have our own process and self-imposed limitations, often philosophical/artistic/aesthetic, often financial, often spatial... I'm not Emptyset or Surgeon, and I'm definitely not a wealthy man, but I have an artistic vision too, in fact multiple different visions, approaches, and projects at any given time.
Another trial and error process led me to purchase and ultimately get rid of most of my Noise Engineering modules. For me, the UI and sounds didn't match the experience and results I was working towards. Doesn't mean they won't work for someone else, but I'm hesitant to recommend them now. There are several euro manufacturers like that for me, but I only know that after trying them out for myself.
So anyway, here's my portable thought experiment crushing, dissonant, and chaotic rack. Some rhythm, some noise, some distortion, some feedback, some lo-fi... Take the suggestions or leave them.

Thank you for your insight and advice!
I assembled these modules in 2014, when I first found ModularGrid, just to try out the platform, and especially TrueGrid live browser patching space. So, I used modules that will run in TrueGrid. I wanted to try out something anorthodox, to see how the digital emulations would reproduce the behaviors of the analog in various scenaria. I have some patches there, made with the above abomination, for example this generative soundscape. Lots of fun!
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/synth/88651/516
I am using only one oscilator as voice, through two filters. Everything else is used for control and cross-modulates in chaotic fashion. Also, I use the delay for CV.
I would not buy these modules to build this as my synth case, I am just experimenting.
These days VCV-Rack works much better, but TrueGrid was pure magic back then. Have you tried it out? It only works with few select modules.
See some other stuff I do here https://www.youtube.com/stgiann
Thanks!

EDITED Sep 18th 2023, 20:25

Very nice, thanks for sharing. It's very instructive :D

Love the site! Adding all my racks slowly but surely to my profile, so check em out if ya want.... kind of a messy anarchistic setup for the euros, cept for the modcan... but building a new studio and time to do much much refactoring. :D

enjoy!

Hey folks,
I had several situations I wished I could simply send a picture of a real existing module in my rack at home or a soundfile to somebody else here on modulargrid via a messenger service like on Facebook and many other web sites. This would make communication within an ongoing trade much easier and I would not need to use sombody elses e-mail adress or send mine to receive more infos about a module. I do not know how hard it is to implement this into this site but maybe something worth to consider.
Cheers
-- ChaiBaba

We have this now as an experimental feature for unicorn users. See https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/view/40032

Image Upload in the Messenger

Besides module images I never wanted to host user uploaded images on the server because of the potential trouble with backups and malware.
But users pointed out that in case of the marketplace it is very helpful to send images via the messenger to not disclose their private data/ email adresses early. So that is possible now. You can send one image per message.
The images are hosted on a Google Cloud Server. Because that service charges money for hosting and traffic the new feature is an Unicorn Only feature.
Since I have no idea how expensive it is in the long run the image upload is an experimental feature, so save any important images localy, because the data might vanish again.

just bear in mind... no plan survives contact with the enemy... in this case you are the enemy...

countless times I've seen people with this attitude to start & countless times I've seen them either give up (and sell up or put the modular in a cupboard) or buy a bigger case very shortly after starting...

this is almost always caused by expecting too much from too little... constraints can be good, but too much constraint is constraining...

it's not a big deal there are many paths and learning by your own mistakes is an incredibly good one... although imo, learning from others mistakes, is significantly better...

anyway... good luck and have fun!!

I, too, place all of my mixers on the bottom row. However, after thinking about it, I think the top row would be best and the Behr may be on to something! With the jacks on the bottom and the modules in the top row, all cables would be completely out of the way. When the mixers are on bottom row, we still have to deal with all the sagging cables that sort of pool at the bottom from all the action in the rest of the case.
Something to think about....

using the "search similar racks" function i found a nearly identical rack:
maybe it includes the blurry modules that cant be recognized in the video...

hmm... I hope this is just a first pass at trying to design a modular synthesizer!

you are trying to do too much in too small a space without the support modules that are necessary to get the most out of the modules...

ie - too mnay sound sources, so missing a lot of useful (by that I meam necessary) things, particularly modulation & utilities...

I can almost definitely see what you're trying to do - 2/3 voices, some modulation, some sequencing an an effect... but it's fundamentally lacking... if you went and bought this - you would be seriously disappointed, not only because it wouldn't actually do the things you want it to, and possibly to the extent that it might be up on reverb (or elsewhere almost immediately), or in the closet gathering dust, but even if that wasnt' the case, because there's not enough space for the support modules that are actually needed to get it to do what you want...

modulation - one of the fundamentals of modular synthesis... modulate your modules & modulate your modulation... a single lfo is not enough!!

utilities: see my signature... more mixing - sub mixers for the vcos to mix them before filtering/further processing... and that's just really the beginning - I see how newbies fail at this - these components of a synthesizer are either hidden or just missing from fixed-architecture synthesizers, but they're way more important in modular than anything else, in lots of ways, they really take patching from 1:1 (ie patch cable out to patch cable in) to 1:N - patch cable out to lots of inputs - & in doing so multing, mixing and mangling those signals - this is where modular synthesis really shines, especially when combined with adequate amounts of modulation sources!!!

envelope generators... a lot of envelope generators - but only a single gate source (the sequencer) to trigger them...

sequencing - the sequencer is a single oupput... how are you envisaging sending pitch information to all the vcos? and is the same sequence sent to all vcos useful - it is if you're going to tune the lfos to intervals, but there's no way to create basslines & melodies that differ - so you can't for example play the root on the bass and a melody for a lead...

overall: take a look at my signature and specifically the formula - it's quick guide to how to get the most (versatility in patching) for the least expense & is scalable from the tiniest to the largesst conceivable modular synthesizer...

I'd also seriously recommend going to modwiggler and reading the intoductory pinned threads in the 1u & 3u subforum... and reading as many newbie threads as you can handle...

after that I'd recommend ignoring the size of the case - plan out exactly what modules you want (and those that you actually need to achieve your goals) and then build another rack here and get it checked... and then before buying anything work out the case you need to put it in - leave at least 20% free space - allow 10mA/free hp per rail... them allow at least 25-30% headroom on the power supply (to allow for inrush & potentially bad power specs)

then work out a minimal version of it... a single sound source, a single sound modifier, a single modulation source, some utilties and a sequencer etc and then buy those and start playing with it & learn those inside and out before adding more modules, slowly... and repeat... 1 or 2 modules at a time...

I know this sounds a bit boring, but it'll get you to a better place, quicker than anything else... & for less money!!!

good luck!

EDITED Sep 18th 2023, 14:30

hop

Hi,
Good goals. Go ahead!
Maybe I would change Clep Diaz. With Mimetic, Pipslope and Tides you are pretty covered for now in the modulation aspect.
Maybe you can leave that 4HP space free for now, and see what you need with practice.
Too bad you don't have space for a Pam's, it would give you a lot of additional play in modulation and clock control (divider, burst effect, Euclidean, etc...).

Sounds like you know where you want to go with it.
Have fun and good luck!

Ok, I want to start by saying that, as a noobie, I appreciate all of the perspective, especially on how to get the most out of the voice modules like the Mavis and BIA, as well as the helpful resources for learning more about various modular aspects.

I'm pasting below an update to my rig with the Mavis and a multi-fx (represent the MOOD pedal) outsourced from the palette case so that y'all can get a better image of the expanded system that I was alluding to. However, I realllly have to push back on this notion of an inevitably bigger case. I mentioned "financial and simplicity" as reasons before but this probably deserves to be expanded on, because it doesn't seem to have been taken very seriously, and I hope my own perspective on the creative process can help others that may have found themselves sliding down the slope of endless eurorack investment, or maybe even dragon chasing.

I'm attracted to eurorack for the same reasons I'm attracted to analog photography. The digital world has endless possibilities and I find this not just overwhelming but also uninspiring. I'm coming to eurorack to force myself to think more carefully about music. I want to find a balance between the sounds I'm imagining and the sounds that I can actually produce, as well as discover more creative ways to leverage the gear that I have - not just endlessly buy myself access to new approaches and sounds. I want the music to fundamentally emerge from the constraints, because the more severely that you are constrained, the more creative you have to be. As a noobie, I'm getting the sense that this has become somewhat lost on the eurorack community, but I understand how this can happen after years of investment and rabbit holes.

Obviously we're all fundamentally working with constrains in the eurorack ecosystem, and despite being able to create some really satisfying drones and with the Mavis, there's a reason why I'm planning to expand. I also desire more tones, textures, and flexibility, but the point that I want to say "enough" is probably a little sooner than most. I fully expect to gain interest in modules that won't fit in my case down the line by the way. This is when I will have to make some hard decisions about what to remove from the rack ;)

This is not to say that there is anything actually wrong with buying all the modules you desire. If you have the disposable income and inspiration, go for it. I simply don't want to spend my entire income on this hobby, and it's not how I like to work either. I'm also interested in more than just semi-modular because I want a unique system that I can modify as I go. I also really desire portability. I plan on hauling this system to some renegade parties that I host with friends, and so I want something that will fit in my backpack.

Treat your ears to the album Recur by Emptyset. I saw them perform and attended their forum at Moogfest in 2017 where they elucidated their process, and I found it really enlightening. They largely improvise their music and basically do each track in a single take. Much of what I've written about constraints was inspired by their talk, and their music also accomplishes things that I aspire toward. Despite my lack of experience, I hope that my approach can be respected.

the modular link above was displaying outdated to me for some reason, but in case that's the case for you as well, the following link is what I'm actually working with
https://imgur.com/a/jPjYSHD

With all of that said, I would really look forward to hearing what anyone thinks about the new 62(+)hp system that I've laid out. The Mavis will be in its own self-contained box and the Multi-FX 1U is representing the pedal(s) I can get. This system can now bring in MIDI (most likely from Orca https://100r.co/site/orca.html) with the 1U tile that replaces the attenuators (responsibility shifted to the O/A/X2), and samples can be brought in with the TipTop ONE. The old attenuator module that would have been my mixer has been replaced by a proper mixing module with an extra channel for the sampler (BIA+Mavis+samples), and I've included a bunch of other utility modules to modulate these three voices. Last but not least, Steppy has been replaced with the Mimetic Digitalis, as rightfully suggested.

I still have a lot of reading to do about all of these things but I suspect that the main source of learning will come from hand-on experience with these modules, so I don't really know how far in advance I can realistically plan, but I appreciate any additional input y'all might have :)

EDITED Sep 17th 2023, 18:36

I've been enjoying the new James Blake album a lot and was pleased to see this video from his studio:

I recreated his rack from what I could see in the video. A few modules are too blurry for me to make out what they are, but I think I got most of them right! Posting on here if anyone else is curious.

Hey @JimHowell1970, this gives me a lot to think about, thanks.

NP

For how I'm currently mixing everything I have with a Mackie mixer and so im using the sends for reverb and delay. At one point i was trying to understand if i could just use attenuators to reduce the module output so i could still mix them in my cirrent mixer (this would also let me add effects how im doing it now for the boutique's).

you might find that the Mackie is fine without any attenuation - I used to use a Yamaha module without any and it was fine... the Mackie might have a pad feature that could help - if you experience clipping then just get an inexpensive passive attenuator (they'll always be useful) - a 2hp trim would work fine - as it's set and forget - and if you still have problems then you could try the veils clone, and then if you still have problems investigate output modules - I've never had one in 7 years, though

Your formula in your signature confirms what i was suspecting, that just some sound sources aren't going to take me far enough.
-- sporkandfoon

imo, they're often the least important thing... it's what you do with them and how you modulate the signal path that's important...

have fun!

Hey @JimHowell1970, this gives me a lot to think about, thanks.

Makes sense about the full size Plaits. I definitely like the spaciousness of the Wave over the tiny dials of my other modules right now.

The TB-03 and SH-01a both have clock in (steps their internal sequencer), 1v/oct output and gate output. The TR-06 has 5 trigger outs.

I will look into some veils clones. At a glance that seems good since it also is a mixer?

For how I'm currently mixing everything I have with a Mackie mixer and so im using the sends for reverb and delay. At one point i was trying to understand if i could just use attenuators to reduce the module output so i could still mix them in my cirrent mixer (this would also let me add effects how im doing it now for the boutique's).

Your formula in your signature confirms what i was suspecting, that just some sound sources aren't going to take me far enough.

Solid transaction with @RTFM. Were some issues with courier, but was dealt with smoothly and swiftly. Recommended!

EDITED Sep 16th 2023, 19:01

I'd go for a full size clone if I were you.. much better ergonomics, plaits is small enough already, & you get full size knobs which are better for tuning etc...

maybe a Pams Pro would tick all your boxes, envelopes and synced modulation? as well as many other functions...

does the 03 sequencer output 1v/oct? idk...

take a look at my signature & spend some time thinking about it... especially the formula...

for utilities it's almost impossible to go wrong with a matrix mixer! and a quad cascading vca (veils clone for instance)

& you'll almost definitely want to improve your mixing from a 2hp mixer! thats much better

how are you mixing the rolland boutiques & the modules?

EDITED Sep 16th 2023, 15:39

I have the same case.
Power Consumption: 1836 mA +12V | 971 mA -12V | 90 mA 5V
All good :)