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I'm looking for feedback on this rack build. I'm a composer trying to utilize integration with my DAW but also have my eurorack be able to stand on its own.
I currently own all of the modules and case EXCEPT FH2+expanders, bitbox mk2, Nautilus, and Desmodus Versio.
What do you think of this setup? The goal is using the FH2 for modulation options since it can generate complex lfos etc. as well as for polyphonic playing.
I will have a separate standalone mixer on my desk, so I tried to save some space not using dedicated mixer modules. Also included will be a Moog Mother 32 as well as a Keystep Pro, so there's more modulation options there.
Any advice, module recommendations/replacements welcome.
I’d black out the case and rearrange some modules:
The FH-2 is gonna have a long usb cable attached so best to keep it off to the side so it doesn’t hang over your Maths.
The X Pan Out at the top makes for cleaner patching to your In/Out just below.
2HP VCAs spaced apart for easier patching. (Wherever you put them)
Bitbox and Rene for faster dominant right hand navigation. Especially bitbox screen usage. And you can tuck the bitbox output cables up the side to your master out so they’re not in the way.
The top row progresses logically from Sound to Space, Mono to Stereo modules. Your sound sources then Desmodus for synthetic tail mono in / stereo out patching followed by your stereo modules: Qpas, Mimeophon, Nautilus, XPan. Or Desmodus after Nautilus if you’re using it as a final reverb.
Maths next to the LFO and Tempi (time defining modules), just below the mults for system wide patching.
Go to the “Sketch a Patch” in your My Modular, and draw up some patches. You’ll learn whether your modules and layout inspires you or needs improvements and tidying.
Thanks for the feedback! The layout you suggest does make sense. I plan on going line out from various modules into a desktop mixer so that I can multitrack stems...so not everything will be going out the x-pan or case outputs necessarily. I do like the black, but I already own a lot of these modules.
As I'm looking to finish my case, are there any obvious or helpful module/s that I could be missing? Or replacements to certain modules that may perform better/allow for more options? Do you think the FH2 plus expanders and Maths offer enough modulation options?
Do you think I need a dedicated mixer module or is Maths and X-Pan suitable if I'm going out into a desktop mixer?
Yes, with the FH-2 you have enough modulation sources: and if you incorporate it with your DAW you can assign CC numbers to the outputs and draw in your automation—any curve you can create. Including the expanders, no matter how you arrange them, 24 outputs is a lot for your case. I have no idea where you're planning on putting them all!
If you can describe the type of music you make or want to make or can compare it to musicians you're inspired by, other members with similar taste might have helpful advice on finishing your rack.
You seem to be missing a stereo mixer. You have a Bitbox, QPAS, a Mimeophon, a Desmodus and a Nautilus... all of them are stereo. Unless you want to use them as one big stereo chain, you'll need a basic stereo mixer. Something like a Happy Nerding 2xSAM or Make Noise's own XOH would do. You might even want to go for a larger mixer if you want to be able to play all those sound sources and effects together.
What kind of music do you want to perform/compose with this case?
Electronic musician, improviser, composer, sound designer in Berlin
Solo, Böseblick, Ephemeral Fragments, Only With You, Pep Talk, Lettow Erel Duo
If I have a Yamaha MG12XU mixer, why do I need a stereo mixer in the rack?
Perhaps I do not need one of the expanders for the FH2. The idea was to be able to play polyphonically and also have some slots leftover for random lfos etc. But I'm sure 1 expander would be good. If I drop one of those any suggestions for another 4hp module to fill the case?
I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor and his experimental scores so this will heavily be a sound design rack...however I want to be able to play live with my keystep pro. Bitbox for percussion, keystep pro sequencing that. Then I have many voices leftover in my rack.
Sorry I missed the part with the mixer. Sure, an external mixer would help.
I have an ES-3 and have used it for sound design and composition, but never for playing the case, mainly because I do not play a modular and use it solely for sound design and composition. Something like the ES-3 is good for communication between the DAW and the case. I also have a Mutant Brain MIDI-CV module that I had bought in 2019 for a specific project. I'll use that to send note/gate data to the case and use the ES-3 for sending envelopes, LFOs and also audio.
Personally I find most modular performances boring OR music that could easily be done using a laptop or other hardware boxes. Lots of reverb-drenched pointless ambient doodlings or never-ending arpeggios over 4/4 kicks. I think most people use a modular for the sake of using a modular - an extension of a pitfall in electronic music (academic or non-academic) - the tool or process is more important than the end result. I will, however, give myself a last chance at trying to play with a modular by focusing only on my Make Noise modules as a consistent, single-producer system.
If you want some more interesting, experimental uses of modulars in live performance and composition, I'd recommend checking names like Thomas Lehn, Richard Scott, Eliad Wagner, Thomas Ankersmit...
Electronic musician, improviser, composer, sound designer in Berlin
Solo, Böseblick, Ephemeral Fragments, Only With You, Pep Talk, Lettow Erel Duo
The idea was to be able to play polyphonically and also have some slots leftover for random lfos etc. But I'm sure 1 expander would be good. If I drop one of those any suggestions for another 4hp module to fill the case?
I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor and his experimental scores so this will heavily be a sound design rack...however I want to be able to play live with my keystep pro. Bitbox for percussion, keystep pro sequencing that. Then I have many voices leftover in my rack.
-- echo7
For FH-2 polyphonic playing you could setup in the configuration tool:
Type: Poly, 2 Voices;
Per Voice Ouputs: CV, Gate or Trigger, Velocity(?) and Envelope(?). ( 4 x 4 )
Then you'd have a full 8 expander outputs for whatever—the filter and repeater, one of the Noise Engineering modules, bitbox?
You have two oscillators yes, so to play your rig polyphonically you'd have to patch both oscillators and mix them down to a single centred output so you can then bring them into your reverb, delay effects and make them stereo. Otherwise you'll have two voices, one in left side, one in right—probably not what you want. Of course you can record each voice separately and have as many layers as you want in your DAW. But you basically have two subtractive signal paths osc/bb>filter>fx and osc/bb>fx>filter, so this is not gonna be complicated.
The bitbox does multisample polyphony too with MIDI, so you have that option with your Keystep.
Ultimately it comes down to you. Personally I'd probably not devote so much hp in a small case to a reverb and two different delays... but your name is Echo so that's your thing. Do your thing.
For FH-2 polyphonic playing you could setup in the configuration tool:
Type: Poly, 2 Voices;
Per Voice Ouputs: CV, Gate or Trigger, Velocity(?) and Envelope(?). ( 4 x 4 )
Then you'd have a full 8 expander outputs for whatever—the filter and repeater, one of the Noise Engineering modules, bitbox?
You have two oscillators yes, so to play your rig polyphonically you'd have to patch both oscillators and mix them down to a single centred output so you can then bring them into your reverb, delay effects and make them stereo. Otherwise you'll have two voices, one in left side, one in right—probably not what you want. Of course you can record each voice separately and have as many layers as you want in your DAW. But you basically have two subtractive signal paths osc/bb>filter>fx and osc/bb>fx>filter, so this is not gonna be complicated.
The bitbox does multisample polyphony too with MIDI, so you have that option with your Keystep.
Ultimately it comes down to you. Personally I'd probably not devote so much hp in a small case to a reverb and two different delays... but your name is Echo so that's your thing. Do your thing.
-- Toccata
Thanks for the feedback. There's 3 oscillators in the system when you count the basimilus. Plus I have a mother 32 so that's 4 voices. Technically the maths and I think mimeo could be used as a voice as well. So FH2 plus 1 expander gives me 3 voices + 4 outputs leftover for modulation. That's probably enough. I also might mess with MPE controllers...so I just wanted to have enough outputs for that. I plan on playing it polyphonically...saving those parts as samples into bitbox...looping a variety of those and reusing the oscillators for other things afterwards.
In terms of too many delay and reverb...I agree. I own the mimeophon already...but I'm very intrigued by Nautilus and definitely would like to pick that up. I heard they are very different and I'd like the sound design possibilities of Nautilus...it has distortion etc. For reverb, I wanted the starlab...but it's too large to be practical in my case...and wouldn't fit with the modules I currently own. So the NE reverb was what I came up with as a substitute....perhaps it isn't necessary and I can just use DAW reverb.
I will check out those modules. I just don't want to complete my case and be missing something that is important.
