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Here's something I came up with: combine a free-running CV sequencer with a free-running trigger sequencer, two sample-and-hold circuits, and two oscillators to create interesting duophonic melodies by just turning knobs. In my case I use a Xaoc Devices Moskwa CV sequencer for its quantized output, a Mutable Instruments Grids, a Joranalogue Select 2 for its low-droop S&H circuit, and two Shakmat Banshees. Additionally, I like to use the Doepfer A-173-1 mini-keyboard to transpose the second VCO (not shown in the patch).

The result is a melody that is sampled from the active CV step at every trigger, but since the triggers don't always arrive at the same time and the signal is held until the next trigger, both oscillators will often play different notes that are always musically related. Change the clock speed of the CV sequencer two influence which notes will be picked. Change its track length to determine how many notes to choose from. A variety of musical intervals, accidental chord progressions, and other happy accidents galore!

Maybe this is a bit off topic but how do you like the ergonomics of the two RackBrutes?

Both horizontal and vertical positions have pros and cons:

Horizontal pros: right underneath your fingers, supports cables, headphones, and coffee cups
Horizontal cons: looking at it from an angle, gathers dust more quickly
Vertical pros: better visibility, less desk space, can use it as a phone stand
Vertical cons: slightly more effort to reach

The benefit of combining both a horizontal and a vertical case is that I only need short cables to connect lower modules to upper modules. The added benefit of the Rackbrute is that it can be folded up for transport.

If you're starting out, I'd recommend getting a vertical setup first. It looks nicer and takes up less space. I've always admired the no-nonsense stackable Doepfer cases for that purpose 👍

Curious as to why the variety of VCAs…why wouldn’t you just use one type of VCA multiple times? For example, you have the 3X VCA and then also the Veils quad VCA in the top row…why not just two of the Veils? Is it for different functionality that some have vs others? Different sonics? Looks like the Tallin is also a VCA?

Well, I just love VCAs, and each one has a different quality. The HN VCA has attenuverters so they can be used for inverting envelopes and even AM synthesis, the Tallin has 3 kinds of distortion to choose from, and Veils has offset and linear/exponential controls. Besides audio, I also like to use them for control voltages and as switches in logic patches. You can never have too many VCAs!

I do have the Arturia mini brute 2 which I was thinking to mount to the 6U…second guessing myself as to whether I maybe should have gotten the 2S instead for the sequencing

If it's any consolidation, I had the MiniBrute 2S before I got my second Rackbrute, and I was always second guessing myself on whether I should have gotten the one with the keyboard :-D

To add to @JimHowell1970's excellent answer: I designed to top two rows to be completely usable as a synth on its own - VCOs into VCF into VCAs with lots of modulation capabilities. The Grids can be used as the clock source and the Pico DSP can be considered its "output module". I have a Twisted Electrons Crazy8 laying around that I can use as the sequencer.

When paired with the lower half, the Clock 'O Pawn becomes the clock source and the Manther Growl and the A-110-2 become the main sound sources, or an added bassline to the sound of Plaits and tELHARMONIC, or just a mayhem of distorted sounds alltogether 😁

Another interesting tidbit about combining 2 Rackbrutes is that, by default, the lower half mounts "upside down", as can be seen in this video by BoBeats. This means the power supply of the lower Rackbrute will be in the bottom right, which disturbed me. However, by unscrewing the wooden side panels it's possible to "flip" the internal assembly so that the hinge can be mounted on the other side, making the two Rackbrutes in the same orientation again. Definitely something you'll want to do when getting your second Rackbrute!

May I ask how you are mixing your sound on this? is it "only" with the VCAs and then straight to the 2x3 µmix?
-- zuggamasta

I use the Veils as a voltage controlled mixer, and the combined output goes to one of the various effects modules, or to the Retroverb. The output of that goes into the Links and/or A-138u (depending on whether I'm doing stereo stuff). From there it goes to the HN Isolator, which has the most impressive output transformers I've ever seen in an output module! Its balanced TRS outputs go through two custom-made cables to Mackie's Big Knob (custom made to short the ring and the sleeve, because the Big Knob does not support balanced input...) and from there I can select whether it goes to the monitors or to the headphone amplifier.

The custom-made cables are actually Y-cables that mult the signal and send it to a PCIe audio interface (ESI MAYA44 eX) so I can record it using Audacity. The Big Knob allows me to switch the audio source to the output of the audio interface so I can listen to the recording (and watch movies). It completely eliminates the need for a mixing desk, and it's completely passive too!

I have never given a live performance but I'm practicing for one. When I'm on location, I'll plug the Isolator's output straight into front of house and let the mixing engineers be amazed by the quality of my signal 😎

EDITED Jun 25th 2021, 18:06

And I'm not even kidding. I've spent 5 years slowly upgrading from a single Rackbrute 3U to dual Rackbrute 6Us, and gradually all aspects were refined and eventually cemented into a complete system that I'm incredibly happy with. All my modules perfectly complement each other and they are arranged in an ergonomic, functional, logical and visually pleasing way. All the patch points are grouped together in logical places, and all the controls are exactly where I want them. Modules of the same manufacturer are clustered together, but only if it makes sense functionally. Cable length is minimized for patches I use often, and I can usually get by with using only 15cm and 30cm cables. I have experimented with all kinds of layouts and this one is by far the best one I've come up with.

It took me a long time to finally come up with a bass/kick drum sound that I liked. First, I used an external drum machine (DrumBrute), but when I discovered I could produce a much more pleasing drum using the STO and Maths envelopes I decided to get rid of it and go fully modular. However, the patch took up all of Maths, the STO, and my favorite VCA (Xaoc Devices Tallin) so I decided to replace all of this with a 2HP kick. Unfortunately, I did not like the sound at all; way to "clicky" for me. For a long time, I continued to use various patches to create my own kick drum but finally decided to buy a Vermona Kick Lancet. It was exactly the sound I was looking for! Together with the Vermona Retroverb Lancet they fit perfectly in the empty space inside the hinge of the two Rackbrutes. You should see it, it's really quite wonderful.

And now, my desk is full. There is no space to reasonably fit any more synth gear, and I have no desire to add anything anyway. I love the endless possibilities and the raunchy analog sound of my setup, and it will remain in this exact configuration for decades to come.

Here is a picture of the rack in real life:

You can listen to my music (freely!) on https://www.splendor.wtf/

EDITED Jun 23rd 2021, 21:02