Looks like a solid mutable inspired rack!
I personally don't think you'd need Plaits AND TelHarmonic -- having had both, I would go with TelHarmonic. That's not to say that they are the same, they certainly aren't. However I personally found Plaits to be kind of boring and not something I reached for. One thing I like about Make Noise is that they break it out where you have control over everything. Plaits is nice if you want to have Gameboy Sounds, but otherwise... meh...
Regarding Mutable, I might also suggest checking out some of the 3rd party builds that shrink the modules down to 8hp. Rings and Tides could both be found in 8HP and remain just and functional and accessible.
You have a Wogglebug and so I don't think you'd need Marbles, unless you really want staged out random voltages, which is of course fine if that's what you're going for. You wont need two Links... Chances are you wont even need one. I would go for Mults instead.
Not sure why you have 2 quad VCA's, again I'd go with Intellijel over Mutable -- better build quality IMHO.
That all being said: At the end of the day it's your rack! You might have a vision / sound in your head and based on who you are into, you might have insight into why you built the way you did! When I started, I based my rack on what was already existing -- Verbos Performance, Make Noise Shared Systems, and PGH Modular Systems. Very linear in patching, VCO into Filter, into VCA, Envelope, Delay / Reverb, out, before I started doing the gymnastics! And then it was a matter of figuring out which VCO, Filter, VCA I liked, fit and could acquire! Modular is largely about the journey, and sometimes we forget that there is a destination -- you'll get there! I can also promise you that what you are starting on right now... while almost be nothing like what you end up with!
Happy Patching!
That's been my biggest hurdle is trying to learn what I think looks appealing on youtube videos, vs what actually works for me. I've gone through things, bought, sold, rebought, resold more things than I'd like to remember, and it does get a bit tiring.
I concur, VCV is great for really getting a feel for what what certain manufacturers do, I.E. Befaco and Mutable. I learned how Clouds and Tides worked using VCV.
Looks like a lot of fun! Have you thought of a function generator, instead of Pamela's Workout? Something like "Function", or even "Mod Tools" might give you a bit more by way of modulation. I was always under the impression that Pamela's Workout was akin to a clock generator, not so much mod source -- just my understanding on it, though.
When I started building my rack(s), I based them on systems that were already existing, and I know Perfect Circuit has some small systems like this that might serve as a good template.
Keep it up!
Little sketch of a quick and dirty patch that I use that creates some incredible sonic timbres. Now that I have the Bitbox, I'll be sampling drums, but for pure analog acid, this is what I do! Criticisms are of course MORE than welcomed!
Excellent experience with @synthdaddy! Very prompt and engaging fellow who got my packaged shipped to me MUCH faster than I expected!
I wonder why so many people have been putting their SMRF (ahahah) on the market :S
I don't own one but it seems lots of fun!
-- TazioThere is now a software version available for 1/5 th of the price at softube.com
-- gbraakman
All things being equal, there is a software version of everything, everywhere. That is not the point, if we wanted to be software jockey's, we would not be here. If you want to play with software, download Audulus -- it does everything and everything well.
Regardless, I had one for a brief period and it's a neat module. However I like Verbos stuff and have a BARK filter which does more or less the same thing, minus the internal features of the SMR. The reason I sold mine was because I found it to be a bit cumbersome to work with. I personally am not a huge fan of 4ms, which is not to say that they don't make great stuff, just not my type of stuff.
He, and Bana Haffar are pretty much the ones whom I am referring too when it comes to the Shared Systems. Both highly trained musicians who have gone in very unorthodox directions. I've seen the Shared System coming up for about 4500$ new and as far as I know, there isn't anything like it; it stands on it's own.
And yes, Detroit Modular has a few on stock as well, however Perfect Circuit was doing a memorial day, 20% off sale... Way too good to pass up. I'll be patient as I have everything else!
Romans clones have a habit of popping up on eBay in waves. Best advise is to grab the eBay and Reverb apps, and set them both to notify you whenever certain keywords pop up. You'll almost be guaranteed to find an Easel for 3500$ eventually, and the Roman Clones do come up when the Easel comes up.
The Make Noise Shared System is admittedly, beyond me. His way of thinking is, as I stated, esoteric. Some people can do extraordinary things with it, I'm just not one of them.
That's what's so neat about this: You can build it and tear it down 6 ways to Sunday and never be done. I just snagged a HP/LP Verbos filter to swap out my Befaco BF22, and had to move everything around just so it'd fit (who say's those Tetris skills would go to waste??).
Glad your Dual Oscillator is coming -- Perfect Circuit said that they were waiting for them to be built and shipped....
OH OH OH and one last thing...
modularaddict.com. You MUST buy cables from him. He has the nicest, most inexpensive cables anywhere, period. We had a very nice conversation once about getting started in the modular world, and his intent is to not break peoples wallets buying boxes and accessories, but by making it accessible for everyone. I kind of when a bit nuts buying cables... Lets just say under a $1 for braided cables certainly caught my eye....
I can say this with the utmost understanding: I get it!!! My rack has evolved significantly since I started building it a few months ago. I had the quad VCA (Which really does sound great), and swapped it out for two Pittsburgh Modular Low Pass Gates, and I had the Sputnik Keyboard, but opted for a Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Keyboard. I still utilize the 6 channel mixer, but just an FYI only channels 2-4 are stereo, 1 and 6 are left and right mono.
The only issue that I really had with the Keyboard was the hold to arp mode is poorly placed. You have to setup an Arpeggio before you can hit the hold button. Which means you have to be pressing the notes and THEN press the hold button (doable but tricky).
The Buchla-esque modules are very popular and understandably so. The amount of control that they feature is unreal and everyone has a different take on them. Roman (Sputnik) made a name for himself by making very good clones before BEMI re-relased the Easel (and took a lot of crap for it from some....). Tony Rolando of Make Noise used to work for Moog before starting Make Noise. His stuff is complex and esoteric, but in the right hands can do some incredible stuff. Mark Verbos of Verbos has really caught my attention. He's an East Coaster who repaired Buchla's and then just out of no-where said "here I am" and is making Buchla-esque stuff if Buchla started out in the 21st century. So each one has a different flavor and personality all their own. If you can, BUY USED. Holy smokes.... buy used. Ebay is nice, Reverb.com is better. Also, Detroit Modular has a great team and will work with you to the point where you feel guilty cause their service is so excellent, and Perfect Circuit has seasonal 20% off deals (this is assuming you live in the States).
Here's my setup if you are interested. Only issue with mine is the Sputnik Dual Oscillator is on backorder from where I bought it, and because it snagged it at an incredible deal, I'd be stupid not to just sit it out...
Might I suggest checking out Verbos Electronics? My rack has sort of a melding of Verbos and Sputnik, flavored with a Make Noise Wogglebug. Also, the Spectral Processor doesn't exist yet, and it's been anticipated for almost 2 years now. Mark Verbos just announced his take on it, and actually has a working prototype.
Had the Sputnik keyboard, it's not bad. Responsive and good features especially for the price! Very light and thin, tho.
