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Functionality - Modules - Total - Status

Attenuverter - DPW-Att Av-1, TH-At-at-at - 2 - sufficient
Clock & random - 2HP-TM, OM-Clock Div Mk2, 2HP-Rnd v2 - 3 - sufficient
Drum/Percussion - 2HP-Bell, AD-T-networks - 2 - consider more
Effects - ES-Pico DSP, MSW-Monsoon, 2HP-Verb - 3 - sufficient
EG - SSF-ADSRVCA, ALM-Pip slope - 2 - sufficient
LFO - NE-Clep Diaz, DK-øchd - 2 - sufficient
Mixer - OM-UPE, BF-StMix, IN-Mixup - 3 - sufficient
Multiple - 2*MA-4x4x4, MI-Links - 3 - (more than) enough
Others - 2HP-Vowel, ExS-Disting Mk4 - 2 - sufficient
Quantiser & Arpeggiator - 2HP-Tune, 2HP-Arp - 2 - sufficient
Sequencer - 2HP-Euclid, PM-µSeq., NE-Bin Seq, DM-Dot - 4 - enough
VCA - MI-Veils - 1 - requires more
VCF - HN-VCF, AD-4 voice cluster - 2 - consider more
VCO - MN-STO, 2HP-Pluck, AD-4 voice cluster - 3 - consider more
-- GarfieldModular

@GarfieldModular Words cannot express how much I love this. How would you order the list if you were to rank them by importance, instead of alphabetically? And how many of each would you say meets the criteria of sufficient?

EDITED Sep 12th 2020, 23:13

Sounds like a good candidate for my utility pod, thanks @Lugia 👍👍

Good point @JimHowell1970, White Knobs Maths >>>>>

EDITED Sep 12th 2020, 18:20

yeah - not a bad go - not a fan of xpan or rosie - do you really need crossfading? I'd go happy nerding panmixjr/stereo mixer instead and a 2hp headphone module

which would save 4hp with the 3hp you already have free - that gives 7 which is a pain - something 4hp and something from the erica pico series - or maybe 2 2hp modules - maybe they do a crossfader if you need it

you might want to update your maths to a more modern version - the one with white knobs is the latest!

Hi guys,
I started my journey into eurorack world some years ago with a semi-modular modulor114, this year I gave it a little brother with a nifty case and my first modules (fluctuations magnetiques and multimode VCA). These two play with a digitakt which sequences throught MIDI.

Now I'm planning to get a Mantis and having a full row for complex voice : Dixie, Rubicon, ufold, FluctMagn, rainmaker.
Around this voice I'd like to use at first the modulor to make that small world moving and adding step by step more
utilities (maths, zadar, mixers, output ..) and a sequencer (metropolis or rene.. can't decide now).

Am I in the good or will you do otherwise ? Thanks you for reading me.

I am learning modular and really enjoying 64 HP it keep me focused.

Today I wanted to try the Manis running through Clouds.
You can take a listen to what I have crated here:

Overall I like how the sound evolves through the filter via the 0cht.

Hope you enjoy.

Note:
I am using send effects via my DAW:
1) H-Delay (Waves Audio)
2) H-Verb Long (Waves Audio)
3) Overdrive and Distortion Stop pedal (Waves Audio)

Nice, thanks Jim, great advice there. Yeah, a self oscillating filter would be a good addition, I didn't think about that- multi use modules are key in a small system aren't they.

SQRP.RMP:20200912 ͓̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋ ̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋

͓̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋̋̐̋̋̋̐̋́̋̐̋̋̋̐̋ ̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̂̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̎̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̏̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̅̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋̋̋̊̋̐̋̊̋

Hey GarfieldModular,

I've never heard of Pyrolator or Kreidler, I'll check them out.

Thanks,

Something I find with my rack is that I can sometimes stretch my clock sources too far and occasionally a module won't react to a pulse. I solved this by sending the clock to a Buffered Mult before splitting / distributing it around my system.

thanks yeah I have enough to keep me plenty busy learning for the next year or so. Really had fun tonite using the crazy percussion module from Noise Engineering B.I.A. and new Erica Synths Polivoks filter with Batumi and Varigate 4+ modes. Now I can the case for the utility modules and ways to split signals. Probably order the things I need like matrix mixer and what not. Fortunately these are way less.

Nice recommendations @Lugia, I'll check em out. Would those take euro voltages, or would I need to send and receive at line out level? 🤔
-- troux

I would strongly suggest getting some sort of balanced output module for your build. My faves for a while have been two different Happy Nerding ones...the 4hp Isolator and the 6hp OUT. The former is rather basic...just I/O and a stereo level control. But the second one is VERY nice if your case can handle the depth. The OUT offers metering, headphone out, stereo output level control, the same sort of I/O...but it ALSO has a second mixable stereo input, which makes it great for parallelling-in another FX process inside the synth, or you could simply have two separate global mixes and switch back and forth via the OUT. But you want one of those, and you'll want to run 1/4" TRS cables from the modular to the FMR since it also uses these.

Good discussion and we should come up with a sticky for newbies to modular builds. One reason I got into modular was to get away from computers and menu diving. I prefer simpler knobs, sliders and switches over massive computer screens like those found on the 1010music modules which are computers for modular.

That is one reason I am hesitant to get the disting but the new one has better screen and exploring wide range of modules and functions in one place is helpful to me as a beginner with limited space and experience. I think that and Pamela's New Workout are on my holiday shopping list and some tools/utilities.

EDITED Sep 12th 2020, 02:01

Just got my new case and hooked up Noise Engineering BIA and Erica Synths Black Polivoks filter. Both are superb!
It was fun to have Batumi modulate the Erica Synths Black Polivoks filter and the Noise Engineering BIA modules.

It is @GarfieldModular, maybe that's why I'm disappointed in it 🤣🤣 Enjoy your weekend too, and thanks for listening.

Hi Mowse,

Oh yes! This is you all right: nice, good and solid. Definitely worth it to listen at :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

Hi Troux,

Nice one, kind of mellow isn't it? At least to me it sounds like a nice mellow entrance into the weekend :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing and kind regards, Garfield.

nice
good idea try not to buy modules - I have only bought 6 this year so far - I'm going to try to keep it down to about another 3 and maybe a couple of diy ones - plus at least some of the components for my diy backlog - otherwise I'll be needing a new case too

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 21:14

nah it's a great module as is
I just think I'd rather have a zadar or a batumi or another stages...
or some inexpensive doepfer ones with resets

@JimHowell1970,

Correct! Well at least the support utility modules cost less than fancy voice ones. My new Doepfer A100 6U case arrived so will hold off adding to it for another year or so unless it is a few key support modules and maybe the new Expert Sleepers Disting EX that will be useful.

@JimHowell1970,
Realizing that half of a modular setup is utilities and support modules and not 20 fancy oscillators or filters
-- sacguy71

even when one has a massive case!

@JimHowell1970,

I am using the quad VCA for attenuator duty they have them built in may as well take advantage of that! I will look into a 2hp trim to fill the empty space. In my second case, I have kinks and links and hex vca coming soon so perhaps throw in a sequential switch and random generator plus logic modules, clock, matrix mixer, and quantizer? I have some passive mults on order to arrive soon. No rush will fill second case more slowly! Realize the third case will be much larger probably in year or two to fit the larger fun modules and plenty of support modules, utility and tools and a better sequencer like Hermod, 512 Vector, Winter Eloquencer or Frap Tools USTA. Realizing that half of a modular setup is utilities and support modules and not 20 fancy oscillators or filters unless one has a massive case!

yeah I'm mostly looking to buy/build only knob per function modules myself - not that I haven't got quite a few multi function modules - mutable and the like

Mixing is super hard @mowse, keep us updated as you keep using the SoundStage, I kinda want one myself!

Full disclosure: This was my first 30 minutes with WORNG SoundStage.

I've been getting good feedback about sound mixing and separation in my tracks. I've found myself wanting more space, depth, and clean separation of sounds. This is what I'm trying to achieve more of by incorporating SoundStage, because I don't enjoy adding more to DAW workflow. I acknowledge also that I have a lot to learn about mastering.

So, this is about gaining as much as I can, modules first, DAW and studio (monitors, mixer) changes second. For this first bit, I'm using vertical stacking only, not horizontal stereo field placement. Just going for cleaner separation of sounds.

Would love to hear from folks on this aspect of my next few patches or tracks.

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 18:13

I do agree @JimHowell1970, a reset's the one thing I think it's missing (fyi @DivKid 👀)

we'll see... I doubt it though - I'd want a reset I think!
I already have a decent amount of modulation!
who knows what the future holds though... it's a definite possibility - if only it was twice the size and pingable!

Of course! But to each their own - I'm just a real fan of one knob/button - one function. Batumi/Varigate are about as divey as I'll get, but that's my preference, and I know plenty of folks dig deeply complex modules. All good!

yep disting does require a little menu diving - but it is really minimal - unless you are trying out lots of different algos in a single session - same with referring to the manual - setting up favourites on the sd card really helps in this regard as well - you might have to read a bit of the manual - but you'd do that if you got a new module anyway, wouldn't you?

tbh I probably only use 4 or 5 of the algos and at least one of them I should replace with a dedicated module

One idea is to get an external sequencer that has the ability to sample and use drums like Elektron Octatrack via MIDI to CV or perhaps an Elektron Analog 4 MK3 that has CV in/out to sequence and modulate the entire modular system. I do that with mine and it works great and leaves space for interesting modules and utilities. Plus way cheaper than full on modular drums and FX as you can layer the effects from Elektron to modular quite easily. Just a thought :-)

@JimHowell1970, we gotta get you on the Ochd train, the control is in what you patch where as each output is in relation to the others. Using outputs 3 and 8 will get you a very different result than 7 and 8. In the end it can be pretty expressive c.f. this piece where the Ochd is driving the whole melody https://stevehand.bandcamp.com/track/akemies-drone

Nice one as usual @mowse. I'm curious how the SoundStage helped out here, is it mostly to do with the relation of the different elements dynamically?

this is how I use them too - in between things

I see a lot of newb cases with them jammed in next to each other though

often I find the sam issue with 4 hp modules too - need space around them Disting is a good exaample of this
-- JimHowell1970

Disting also requires menu diving, which I'm really not a fan of. That said, they really pack a lot of functionality, so, as with nearly everything in life, it's about the trade-offs/pros/cons. I'm moving more and more into non-Buchla banana jack land, so that level of control is becoming less of a concern for me.

kinks is always a good addition for modulation imo

other than that I would want a decent mixer - preferably something that has both mono (with panning) and stereo inputs - so maybe split between 2 mixers - probably I'd go happy nerding panmixjr and stereo mixer

I'd also probably look at adding another filter or 2 - at least one of which I would want to be able to produce sine waves and accept v/oct and track a couple of octaves accurately

I've been wondering about this module, will give it a listen.

Good convo here! I feel like we need a pinned thread, "So you're gonna build your first rack? Take a look at these suggestions." Would help a lot of folks start off on the right foot.

you really can never have too many vcas - watch the mylarmelodies video on youtube called "why you can never have too many vcas"
6u/104 is still a small modular!!! it won't fit in your handbag - but it is portable etc etc
always allow space to expand - you might not think you will want to expand from this now but you probably will - if your case is full that means buying another case - a bigger case to start with will work out cheaper overall
why filters: so you can stick a filter between morphagene and monsoon for example
why kinks: modify modulation - stop it being boring - the current rack is basically one patch - kinks will add a lot to it
why fx aid: so you have choices about how to route stuff - add layers etc etc
as for a modulation source - pams is great (i believe) but not so hands on - personally I like maths - its sort of a microcosm of modular - see the "maths illustrated manual" online to see why

personally I'm not that big a fan of ochd - no control really

modulation is quite personal though - it's a journey not an end - some things you have to work out yourself

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 11:51

how are you expecting to do final mixing/monitoring - always through the es9 or with an external mixer?

Good question...
I added a Erica Synth Links so that I can use an external mixer, too.

I would try without this first - you may or may not need it or passive attenuators to do this

I would drop the tritone and compressor

Why?
I think I will need the sidechain of the compressor and I am also looking for a way to saturate signals.

VCAs - you could just use vcas to do both of these roles - but you may want to swap to different vcas then - for example one that actually amplifies rather than attenuates - veils and intellijel quad definitely do this - side chaining can be done very easily with vcas - mix an envelope with an inverted copy of the signal you want to use to sidechain and send that to the vca

kick hat snare are next to each other - so very cramped - each of those modules is 1.16cm wide - you may want to spread them out a bit in reality

Yeah I almost thought so :)

I would swap the doepfer matrix mixer for something a bit smaller - AISynthesis does a 10hp one!!

Thanks for the hint!

spread the vcas about

What do you mean ? You mean I should also spread them like the drum modules?

vcas are useful throughout the system for modulation as well audio - so maybe 1 top left, 1 bottom right for example

unless you are smitten with the Milky Way I would swap in an fx aid xl - more options for effects - similar hardware

Thanks again! Did not stumble upon this module yet.

Here is the updated rack.
As stated in the first post, the system is a first idea for the future and I wanted to get a feeling for a balanced system.
So does this look good now?

-- le_tmp

it's looking better - not sure of the purpose of the 2hp TM - you probably need to add a quantizer to get it to do what you want - provide another v/oct channel - if this is the case you may be better off with marbles instead of bloom

I would stop stressing about it and just start with a minimum viable synth as outlined above - the plan will always change no matter what once you start patching

Wooaa hey guys and girls! Exciting; long time lurker first time poster!

I've been working on a system for jamming and live performance focused mainly around taking care of bass/lead/atmos/fx sounds (Analog Rytm taking care of beats) and wanted to plumb the depths of MG.net knowledge to see where I could take this! I have most of the modules in the top two rows already (minus matrix mixer and maths and plus rene) sat in a nice mantis case but I feel I need to add elements to mix properly (currently using veils as a 'mixer' and built a patch in Torcido editor to act as mixer/output/oscillator) and add the matrix mixer to get some really nice, smooth, performable modulation happening!

I'm very much into slowly developing textures and evolving patches but with a dancable tempo that I often mix with field recodings etc. Any ideas/suggestions would be really greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

*For some reason in posting this the grid has decided to give me an erica black out against my wishes haha

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 09:54

Hello! Thanks a lot for your feedback. After more searching it looks like Ears is not needed for Monsoon and Morphagene indeed.

I would really like to keep it small and i've no real desire to expand it, but probably 84hp or 104hp like you suggest is more realistic for the long term budget yes! So instead of Maths, maybe PAM which would provide the modulation in 8hp (envelopes+lfos+randomness) and ochd?

Duly noted for the Triple Sloth instead of the Woggle Bug and for the Veils, maybe a dual VCA based on the Mutable Instruments Veils like the one made by After Later Audio could be enough for most of the patches?

As a start, I don't really see the point of adding filters+kinks+fx aid as most of the work will already be done on the Digitone (effects+filters) and the audio processing is done on the Morphagene and Monsoon? Could you please explain?

So here is a second version of the setup : PAM+Ochd+Morphagene+Monsoon+DVCA+MakeNoise XOH and later on, for more slow randomness, the Triple Sloth as suggested?

Thanks!

how are you expecting to do final mixing/monitoring - always through the es9 or with an external mixer?

Good question...
I added a Erica Synth Links so that I can use an external mixer, too.

I would drop the tritone and compressor

Why?
I think I will need the sidechain of the compressor and I am also looking for a way to saturate signals.

kick hat snare are next to each other - so very cramped - each of those modules is 1.16cm wide - you may want to spread them out a bit in reality

Yeah I almost thought so :)

I would swap the doepfer matrix mixer for something a bit smaller - AISynthesis does a 10hp one!!

Thanks for the hint!

spread the vcas about

What do you mean ? You mean I should also spread them like the drum modules?

unless you are smitten with the Milky Way I would swap in an fx aid xl - more options for effects - similar hardware

Thanks again! Did not stumble upon this module yet.

Here is the updated rack.
As stated in the first post, the system is a first idea for the future and I wanted to get a feeling for a balanced system.
So does this look good now?

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 10:31

this is how I use them too - in between things

I see a lot of newb cases with them jammed in next to each other though

often I find the sam issue with 4 hp modules too - need space around them Disting is a good exaample of this

if you are currently using vcas as attenuators I see nothing wrong with adding a trim module to free up vcas - in fact probably what I would do - unless there is anything else you feel is missing - or just leave it for now - you don't have to have every case full to the brim!!

it's a little better

throws up questions though:

how are you expecting to do final mixing/monitoring - always through the es9 or with an external mixer?

I would drop the tritone and compressor

kick hat snare are next to each other - so very cramped - each of those modules is 1.16cm wide - you may want to spread them out a bit in reality

I would swap the doepfer matrix mixer for something a bit smaller - AISynthesis does a 10hp one!!

spread the vcas about

unless you are smitten with the Milky Way I would swap in an fx aid xl - more options for effects - similar hardware

Thanks for your quick and detailled reply! That helped me a lot to orientate myself :)

I tried to address your feedback and started a second rack version:

Just a sidenote: I already have an Arturia Keystep Pro that I plan to use as an alternative to the ES-9 if there is no laptop available.

For me it looks way more ballanced now, but I am still not sure, if there is something essential missing?
So it would be really nice, if you could again have a look at it. Thanks in advance!

EDITED Sep 11th 2020, 08:39

@GarfieldModular Thank you very much! Wishing you all the best too. Have a nice weekend, hope my music will hepl :)

Also, I've recorded a new video, but I think it's perfect to show it on Helloween, because of its sound, ahahah :) A bit of dark ambient, influenced by Bernard Parmegiani... So, well, I need to record another one for the start of my favourite season of the year.

Cheers,
Igor

Great stuff! A very nice exploration.

Exploring the WORNG SoundStage with a little 2xMother-32 improvisation. Other VCO's are Trident and Telharmonic.

Nice recommendations @Lugia, I'll check em out. Would those take euro voltages, or would I need to send and receive at line out level? 🤔