Rack wrapup: deciding between two VCA and two LFO candidates

I’ve been getting back into making music after many years of silence. This is for fun / passion / sanity / therapy vs a pursuit of money or fame, but i do value then right tools for the right jobs so i do research, try things out and reevaluate on the regular.

Synths are not new to me but Modular is - so I went semiMod at first (minibrute 2s, moog GM, then sound studio modules..) and have taken pains to select gear with cv IO (Hapax brain,Hydrasynth, a moog slim phatty, drumbrute impact and microfreak).

The Modular’s purpose is just to expand the menu of things I can do with the entire synth crew as a whole - and introduce granular capabilities and simple sampler function to boot.

I’m trying to decide between a couple options I think will serve my needs here well: the IntelliJ quad VcA at 12p and a PAIR of Doepfer A-132-3v modules that would consume 16hp.

Also idly looking at adding an slim HP LFO module that could modulate nearly anything I’ve got. Looking at Divkid’s 0chd and the Swiss Army knife of a MK 3 or 4 Disting.

Rack pic: (shows doepfer and both LFO options, but those aren't really in my collection)
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_2050088.jpg?1666316761

And yes I know, a mother-32 here is a hog, but I have my subharmonicon and DFAM in a custom hardwood rack and don’t plan on buying more modules (and needing better rack real estate ROI) until I master what I’ve got.

So what’s your opinion? Everyone’s got one :)

PS. I'm happy to answer questions about any gear I've mentioned...

EDITED Oct 21st 2022, 01:46

"I’m trying to decide between a couple options I think will serve my needs here well: the IntelliJ quad VcA at 12p and a PAIR of Doepfer A-132-3v modules that would consume 16hp."
it's a pity that veils is out of stock.
You can find some "clones", but most of them are "half veils":
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/calsynth-2vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/after-later-audio-dvca-
If you are going to have 4 VCA's, definitely choose a "in cascade" module like Intellijel quad vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/intellijel-quad-vca

What are the sliders like on the CalSynth clone? Ie the degree of resistance... I truly despise sliders without a decent bit of torque needed to move them (I'm looking at you, Grandmother sustain slider).

You can find some "clones", but most of them are "half veils":
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/calsynth-2vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/after-later-audio-dvca-
If you are going to have 4 VCA's, definitely choose a "in cascade" module like Intellijel quad vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/intellijel-quad-vca
-- ferranadsr

What are the sliders like on the CalSynth clone? Ie the degree of resistance... I truly despise sliders without a decent bit of torque needed to move them (I'm looking at you, Grandmother sustain slider).
I don't know, I have never tried any CalSynth module and I don't like sliders, of any kind, I prefer knobs

You can find some "clones", but most of them are "half veils":
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/calsynth-2vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/after-later-audio-dvca-
If you are going to have 4 VCA's, definitely choose a "in cascade" module like Intellijel quad vca
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/intellijel-quad-vca
-- ferranadsr

-- tailwindproductions

To answer the other half of your question: you absolutely cannot go wrong with Ochd. The only thing I'd take over it for a small system (though it takes twice as much space) is Pamela's New Workout.

Here's an idea for completing your rack, keeping your goals in mind:
—Substituted the ACL Multi II for two 2HP Buff Mults (one black/one white);
—Upgraded the Disting MK4 to the EX;
—Swapped the Ochd for a Batumi with Poti Expander (not necessary);
—Switched the 2 Doepfer VCA's for a Zlob Vnlcursal VCA;

That's 6 VCAs and Sum, 4x3 or 2x6 Buffered Multis, 4 LFOs, and a 'suped-up' Disting.

Something to play with.

Do you already have the dual filter? If not, I'd ask what you think the need is for it. You aren't adding any voices here, and you have plenty of filters in your various semi-modulars. You might have more fun using that space for other things.

@shakespeare I do already have the black dual filter. Since I don’t plan to carry all that gear around l, nor keep the mother32 in there forever- and at some point I’ll be taking the Modular out of the studio (playing w friends, or playing out) - I wanted some good filter options in the rack. Aside from the VcA I’m not getting more modules till i know mine inside and out - and that will be a while coming. So room isn’t an issue for me atm.
Re: your note on Pam’s, right now I’ve barely tapped the Hapax’s capabilities for clocking, lfo, gate etc - let alone that and/or Maths, and given I have 3 LfO between the M32 and Minibrute 2s I’ve concluded more LFO for this sized rack is simply Modular GAS talking.

@Toccata I don’t have the Disting or 0chd atm nor the pair of doepffer vcas- sorry I wasn’t clear. I’m definitely putting the dusting on my shirt list of mods once I’ve mastered what I have now.
Is your note about mult swap to get more buffered multi vs the unbuffered column on the ACL?

The ACL is 6hp, Buffs are 2hp, so it was for conserving space and distributing them where you’d be most likely to use them—close to the vcas, where you could split a modulator to control multiple amplitudes; close to the LFOs and envelopes, where you could split them to control multiple parameters; and close to a sound source, where you could split it for parallel routing. Justa space thing.

You can share your build by inserting the link and it will be displayed as a picture. That will save you having to take a jpg screenshot. But it sounds like you’ve mostly got this figured out, just the vcas remain, yes?

@toccata aha! That makes total sense. Right now I have the M32 multiple covering the right side while the ACL covers the left and acts to mult out pitch and gate from the Hapax sequencer (or Hydrasynth) to various inputs on the rack. I can definitely see the advantage in smaller and more dispersed mults - thanks for that insight!

And the rack LINK it doesn’t seem to show recent edits though - dang.

EDITED Oct 22nd 2022, 18:43