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Hi,

I am looking forward to building a modular system focused on playing and altering samples. The system will be sequenced by a digitone, which is also handling all of the usual synth voices. I would like the sampler to fill the role of hard to replicate sounds and textures, that i want to manipulate further by other modules. Here is where I stand at the moment:

1. O_C 4.1 for midi to cv and everything that is missing (lfo, simple envelopes. quantization).

2. Behringer 173, Math clone and a 4 channel VCA for further envelope generation, attenuation or sequencing the sampler (module recommendations welcome)

3. 4ms STS for sample playback. I want to create a patch that uses playback speed, direction, pitch and sample selection for interesting sounds/rhythms and then switch to a different bank and be surprised by new and probably bad sounding audio. I think the STS fits nicely and will be at the core of everything.

4. Some kind of filter would go here to further shape the output. I am open to suggestions, as I really have no idea what is needed here.

5. At the end I would like some kind of mixer with line in and line out, so that I can route the final sound from digitone back into the system and record it with the STS. Does a module like this exist, or do I need multiple modules?

Here is the link to the rack:

I would love to hear some feedback on all of this. Is this enough to get started with sampling fun?

Thoughts ? suggestions ? :)

You power that with a single 4hp supply?
How did you distribute the power to the other 41 modules?

Can you show the "rest" of your system?

here is the complete skiff:

sorry, it's not showing all the modules:
Left to right:
Sample and Hold
Mixer
Amp./envelope follower/Integrator
Noise Generator/Rig Mod
Frequency Central Process 26 (ARP 2600 styled Volt Processor)
3 Mults
Analog Switch
Between these three racks/skiffs all modules are accounted for on the original Roland 700 Synth.

EDITED Yesterday, 18:16

I'm not giving up:
https://modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/edit/45224

EDITED Yesterday, 18:11

Yeah, the learning curve can be a bit steep in the beginning. That said, this is a really weird rack. ;)
Power consumption shouldn't be a problem, the Intellijel 4U Palette provides up to 1.2 A per rail.
What you need depends entirely on what you want. You don't need a VCA if there's no need for amplitude modulation. But you might want something like this: https://intellijel.com/shop/eurorack/1u/stereo-line-out-1u/ to connect to your 6.3 output jack and reach the outside world. Be careful - modular level is not line level! Modular level is quite a bit hotter!

Lastly, I do have another support skiff which I had not updated on ModularGrid (it was a 6U 104 rack, which I broke down part of it on Nifty Keys the other is a 104hp 3U skiff which I just updated here):
The little power thing is a monster power supply by Synthrotek. These are all analog modules so they don't have tremendous draw. Also I didn't mention in my post that most I built most of the Pharmasonic modules.
Thanks for your insights, you arrived at them quickly and exposed that I in fact failed to share that extra row, more or less that you spoke of. Still, I'm not thrilled with the Behringer 305; so likely I'll replace it.

    I decided to jump into modular with the new Bastl Citadel modules. I had previously owned two of their SP2's and loved them (quite buggy though). I have Moog semi-modulars but have never built a full modular rack so I'm worried about missing something obvious. 

    Do I need VCA? Sequencer? Any cheap 1u utilities? (Figured I can sequence w/ the DFAM/Subharmonicon if needed). Do I have to worry about power consumption? (503 mA +12V | 238 mA -12V | 0 mA 5V) I really have no clue what I'm going to be able to do with this rack besides glitchy drums - I know it would be cool to patch the DFAM in. I'm sure it'll be a learning curve. 

EDITED Yesterday, 16:55

I tried to stay true to the components of the original Roland 700, but I ran out of real estate so I sacrificed a few of the redundant utility modules. I used clones from Pharmasonic in Japan. The founders were involved with Roland. The modules sound amazing.
This was built into the back of a Vox 4x12 speaker cabinet. I kept the speakers and purchased the Vox Head that went with it. It is a digital amp with tube distortion but with loads of FX to play with. It sounds huge!

There is also a Nifty Keys that goes with this synth:
including 8 note polyphony and an output mixer. Plus when I want more control over melodies, a sequencer and a sampler.

It kind of wants to be 8 note polyphonic, but there's no easy way to do that with just the sequencer and S&Hs.
Needs active mults and a mixer. I get how it could be patched, but it seems tedious,
especially to group CV the oscillators.
There's tons of potential there, the essentials x 8,
but it's missing about one row more (more or less) of what would make it great.
That sequencer is taking up a lot of room...
What's that little power supply in the lower left do?

EDITED Yesterday, 15:56

Guess it depends on how far you want to go but Jake's Custom Shop do a Eurorack DMX controller

There's a video on it here:

-- andydavies

Bought a musical clock divider module from Jake's and was pleased with it and his service. Have not tried his lights, though.

thank you for sharing that. thats why im here for. Learn and enjoy. Do you have a link to your grid?
-- fsticher

Oh I only see this now, thank you so much! Yes I have: https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_2966939.jpg

how about 3U version?

Beautiful!

So, I have NOT used this particular product or website, but for example:

https://tradecmps.com/products/g-geekeep-music-activated-led-strip-lights-16-4ft-5m-12v-color-changing-rope-lights-pulse-to-beats-of-music

Led rope light with beat-synching, color changing, cuttable to length, includes tape and brackets for mounting.

If this doesn't work for you, try searching for "music-synced led rope lights" or similar.

Probably, similar products available at hardware stores such as Menards, or if you are okay using scamazon, they'd have something similar too. Not sure what the anagolous local companies would be in Japan, but look at hardware and/or lighting stores and they should be able to help you.

Well within budget, will move to the music, can adjust speeds/colors, cut to length, mountable, reusuable.

Just make sure you're getting a complete kit, getting individual items in led rope lighting is more fiddly and confusing than a complete kit.

Best of luck!!
-- Jukeshoe

Thank you Jukeshoe! I greatly appreciate your feedback and it has led me down a better path.

All the best:)

I'm terribly sorry for the late reply! I really appreaciate you taking the time to provide feedback. It's still a work in progress:)

Solo ambient live in Japan with Microfreak (sequencing) and Crave filtering modular gear (Mutable Rings and Beads) and creating drones. Please check it out:)

Another VCV Rack & Bitwig Collab

I tried to stay true to the components of the original Roland 700, but I ran out of real estate so I sacrificed a few of the redundant utility modules. I used clones from Pharmasonic in Japan. The founders were involved with Roland. The modules sound amazing.
This was built into the back of a Vox 4x12 speaker cabinet. I kept the speakers and purchased the Vox Head that went with it. It is a digital amp with tube distortion but with loads of FX to play with. It sounds huge!

Andrew Haung's video (at least one from when it first came out, not sure if there is a new one) was actually one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. However, I was never able to get it to do anything I liked, and I sold it, and am incredibly glad I did. Could just be me, that I didn't vibe with it, but I have plenty of eurorack and semi modular synths that do nothing but weird stuff that I love.

It's a fun noise maker and experimental machine. But you have to go on the instrument's journey, rather than take the instrument on your journey. If you have a musical idea in your head and want to make it come out of a speaker, the subharmonicon has a pretty difficult workflow to make that happen.

You can get a really thick tone of out it, due to the architecture of its sub-oscillators, but like mentioned already, it takes a little bit of math and music theory (or just a lot of tinkering) to find the proper ratios for a properly harmonious stack of subharmonics. I also like that it has separate VCA and VCF envelopes, it'd be nice if the Mother-32 had that (not sure how they'd fit the controls on that panel though).

It has 2x 4-step sequencers. That's limiting in a way that can be creativity-inducing, but the fact that they're only controllable by liiiiiittle tiny potentiometers makes it difficult to dial in or perform live. The quantization options don't help either: You've got chromatic (reasonable, but it means you need to be careful for dissonant out-of-scale notes if your other instruments are tuned to a diatonic scale), and a few different xenharmonic scales (which can be cool but are really hard to play with other instruments unless you've gone all-in to microtonal world).

The rhythm/gate generation aspect of it is very cool. It's a great polyrhythm machine, just an awful lot of HP for that job :P

I just received mine from Perfect Circuit, which looks to be a revision that features a LP/HP switch on the front under the Q / Resonance offset rather than via a jumper on the back. Super convenient and wicked sounding filter! I wish there was some manual or documentation that was either included or accessible somewhere though.

EDITED Saturday October 25, 01:26

This thing sounds absolutely awful. It doesn't create either interesting musical sounds, or interesting non-musical sounds. The sequencer is great, its the only thing going for it. But at $600 there are far better sequncers to get. It's not much use having a huge semi-modualr with a really cool sequencer, that sounds horrible in every other capacity. Further, you can tell that the Moog quality has severely dropped. The first three semi-modulars they put out all had really well done manuals with super useful starting patches. The manual for this is pretty sparse, and having gone through all the starting patches they had, I can't think of a single use for any of them.
-- johny5w

Did you ever find a use for it? The Andrew Huang video made it seem ok.

Very cool indeed. I think this is a fantastic idea but it'd be great to have the unit as a fully self-contained performance rig, ie with the speakers still working.

cool homogenic poster :-)

For my taste I experienced the subharmonicon way to hard to play with other instruments.
Because of the subharmonic character it can be hard to get musical results if you dont have a deep understanding of music theory, intervals, tunings and stuff.

If you do just noodleing and experimental music it might be a good playground but dont expect to get regular music out of it immediatly.

Now that I am selling xVox module kits directly on my website I am able to drop the price. Kits are now available for $285 [(https://www.gregsbrain.co/xvox)]

Are they terrible? Limited? Boring? Too big? Don't play well (in tune) with others?
I was thinking about one to go with the Spectravox I have.
Thoughts?

Wow. 2:30 onwards is gas! Thank you for sharing.

thank you for sharing that. thats why im here for. Learn and enjoy. Do you have a link to your grid?

EDITED Wednesday October 22, 07:05

Hi! I have made a new IDM - AMBIENT music video:

This piece is called “Keep On Keeping On.”
It’s hopeful, but also a bit melancholic —
a reflection of the times we live in. Enjoy the music!

That's super cool.

This patch is also on patchstorage. Cheers!

A granular synth module will give you dreamy ambient soundscapes and happy accidents.

I've been tweaking and patching for only the last 6 months, so be nice to me :) I'm looking for some feedback on the updated rack pictured.

My style:

I don't like screens. I like to make evening jams. I don't like to record or interface with any outside gear. I love the ephemerality and chaos of modular and I just want to make:

• Dreamy, evolving ambient soundscapes
• Interesting percussive patterns
• Melodic sequences to massage my brain

I don't have the Qu-Bit Bloom nor Pamela's NW (yet), but I'm seriously considering ordering both.

Until now, I've been sequencing with an external Korg SQ-1, but a trusted friend recommended the Bloom to get something in rack and matches what I want, so I'm leaning towards it pretty strongly. (I know, I know: get an external sequencer!)

I also am feeling a strong pull for a master clock in Pam's.

Is there anything you would recommend taking out or replacing, given my style and goals? Any modules you think are must haves for acccessible jamming, even with my limited 104 HP.

I've been kind of drooling over the Qu-Bit Data Bender as well, I freakin' love the scratchy, glitchy weirdness I've seen in vids. Is there a smart way I could drop or replace (I do enjoy playing everything in there right now) some gear in my existing rack to fit a Data Bender? I guess I wouldn't be opposed to swapping out a piece from time to time depending on my evening mood, but I'd like to keep the amount of modules I have down (increasingly hard)

Thanks in advance!

A little more versatile.
I don't trust rackmount/flying bus power supplies.

Another lfo/vco would be nice instead.
Then the not-mother section could be a voice on it's own, along with the guitar input.
Mother can be on it's own, mixed into stereo.
I switched rows so the m-32's controls aren't draped with wires .

Did you have a specific case in mind?

EDITED Oct 20th, 00:45

would need to have some kind of stereo mixer if i wanted to combine guitar and a synth voice.
-- sgr1104
Only if you want the results in stereo. Guitars are, by nature, mono. So is that Mother-32 that you have there. But Stereo would afford you the ability to pan and to use stereo fx. It would also really open up that Clouds module.

sick.

A video has been uploaded.

The beat was patched using a minimal set of Eurorack modules. Intellijel modules like Dixie 2+, Quadra, and microVCA generate the drum sounds, all triggered by Pamela’s New Workout. LIQCS is driven into self-oscillation with added harmonics through a mixer, while high-hat sounds come from Rainbow Quantum 2 processed by Delta V. A vocal vocoder effect was prepared in a DAW, played back from Mutable Instruments Beads buffer, and triggered by Pamela.

To add depth, the track uses Tiptop Audio’s Zverb reverb, and all different phrase sequences are saved and cycled through Pamela’s banks. The final video and audio are enhanced with a VHS tape glitch effect, bringing a “back in the day” vibe to this modular jam.

Thanks for watching!

Good doing business with @sugarfreedaddy. He seems to be a very busy man so expect a little bit of a wait but he's been very good at keeping me informed as to what's going on and is a very nice guy to deal with. Won't hesitate to buy from him again. Go for it.

I’m presenting one of my first patches with the Polimaths.
In this one, I didn’t use the QXG.

I created a percussion sound using the XPO and QPAS, sequenced by the Divskip.
A “boom-tchak” from the Divskip is used to trigger the “Activate” and “Accumulate” sections.
Using the Round mode, it generates envelope sequences that create the rhythmic patterns you hear.

Then, the Multimodale provides LFOs that modulate the timbre of this sound, along with some variation from the RND STEP.

The rest is a drone coming from the Multigrain, with rhythmic textures from the Mysterion combined with the MMG.
The Plaits is playing the snares, cymbals, and toms.

For global effects, I chained the SEALEGS and DATA BENDER.
The Pamela’s NEW! Workout sequences a few things, including the clocks.

I also made a matrix effect, linking the percussions from Plaits and Mysterion together.

Thanks for listening!

Okay guys…
unfortunately, the DFAM was no longer available. But I managed to get the Mother-32. I thought I’d start with two sound sources for now and shortened it by one row. I think it makes more sense as you guys told me, to start a bit smaller. I’m not sure yet which case or what size it will be.

But I’d be really happy and very grateful if you could take a quick look at the modules-setup to make sure I haven’t made any big mistakes. If the setup makes sense as it is, I’d just dive into the modular world :)

A really beautiful looking module, that sadly pales in front of the competion in terms of features, size/hp and flexability.

Hard to justify when modules like nano quarts,pams, batumi, Zone b.f etc etc exist. but none of those admitadly look as cool as this.
if a mk 2 comes out with killer features, i'll certainly take a look as it's a visually stunning module!

Now I do enjoy a 2hp module, they are literally what started me down my Modular journey.
https://modulargrid.net/e/2hp-blur-silver-panel
Other than buying 2 of these and putting 2hp blanks around them, I really wish this was 6hp stereo with bigger knobs, the 2hp concept is a great one though the logistics of fat fingers and tight rack space means its probably not going to happen.

EDITED Oct 17th, 06:49

Just try it if you can.
As much as I think a build is just right, it always gets changed,
and I don't think I've ever done the same setup twice.
Eurorack resists being static by design. I guess that's its charm.
That elusive perfect box.

Just had a really good transaction with @-ADR- , sold me a Malstorm - Madrake in perfect condition, well packaged.
Recommended seller!

thats a great name for them, thanks for the power info, and that what i have will play nicely together. much appriciated. i was thinking about replacing the ochd expander with a junction from acid rain, for more overall unification. would this be a good move?

You should be fine as far as power.
Looks like everything there could contribute to fun patches.
I like those tiny builds. I call them spirit radios.