After seeing this video of Monotrail Tech Talk, I've settled to a "function" organization.

Basically he divides systems in four main categories :
1) The MonoSynth
2) The Sonic Exploration Lab
3) The Performance System
4) The Dedicated Tool

It helped me a lot to think about my systems this way.

Within a case, I follow the signal flow from left to right, with sequencers in the middle.

Hey everyone,

I am currently planning on building a new ALM only 54HP synth to combine with my Digitakt and Digitone. Just wanted to know if you see any issues with my build or something I am missing/should replacing :) Just keep in mind I am not looking for a complete Eurorack setup with drums etc. Just want to have fun and sample/sequence this little ALM setup.

Before this I had a small build based on Noise Engineering Modules.

Thanks!

EDITED Nov 25th, 14:26

I have adjusted and refined my setup many times over the past five years. I've bought, sold, re-bought, and rearranged countless modules and have finally (mostly) settled on what works for me. The general idea is aligned with the signal flow of a traditional fixed-architecture synth. After so much experimentation, I know how I usually use each module and I have arranged them to have the shortest cable runs possible. I like to constantly tweak knobs, so keeping cables as short and out of the way as possible is important for me. I try to have my signal flow going from left to right and top to bottom so I can avoid too many criss-crossing cables, which is visually important for me so I can remember where everything is going. I'm getting too old to remember how I've routed everything otherwise. Haha
Good luck and have fun!

Troubleshoot one thing at a time. First, check the jumper as has been suggested, with the power off. Next, remove every module from the bus ribbon cables, then remove the ribbon cables and inspect for damage. If one cable is pinched or shorting, then that will likely be the problem.

If the ribbon cables are OK, then plug back in and then plug ONE MODULE AT A TIME and power test each one. If there is a problem with a module, or the orienttion of the power cable for that module, you'll know straight away when it's plugged in. Test the Elements module last.

Just make sure that you've plugged in each cable correctly, with the -12V stripe on the correct side of the header. Sounds like maybe there's an issue with the power side of the Elements module. Also, keep in mind that a clone might not adhere to the -12v Doepfer standard, so be sure to check it carefully for proper orientation.

EDITED Nov 24th, 21:25

I second the Squarp Hermod suggestion, and suggest looking at the Pyramid. It's not a rackable module, but it includes MIDI and some very interesting polyrhythm and Euclidian options. It's ridiculously powerful and I think one of the best sequencers on the market now. It has become the central hub for my system. I even use it to control the other sequencers in my rigs (I have a 24-step trigger controller, a Korg SQ-1 and a Qu-bit Bloom for randomness and polyrhythms), as well as five other hardware synths in the studio. It does it all without a single hiccup, a rather impressive feat. Have a look.

A workflow question to the forum: do you organize your racks by function or as an instrument? I used to organize my rack according to instrument workflow, for example left to right through a subtractive chain VCO to VCA. Because of the sheer number of modules I now have, and my experimenting with folding signals back and forwards and sideways, the linearity doesn't seem to matter as much.

I'm building a new studio and I will be putting things into dedicated racks instead of a bunch of mismatched cases—mobility isn't an issue. I am leaning toward lumping all the VCOs in one section, all the VCFs and another and then the utilities and such in a third and so on. I realize that this will depend on how many modules and/or cases one has (I have a lot), and the "whatever works for you, man" thing, but I'm interested in others' thoughts on workflow arrangements.

So, what do you do and why? Thanks and Happy Noodling!

EDITED Nov 24th, 20:39

Yesterday one of my bandmates and I recorded this improv and thought it was good. What do you think of it? We used his minifreak to control the neuzeit warp and the metropolix does the arpeggios.

And here we go for a new session. This one again starts quite gently, but goes very badly into noise territory!

EDITED Nov 24th, 19:55

Hey MoDuLard,

there will be no pre-order. I will add them to my webshop by the end of this week and other shops will also get them very soon. There will most probably be enough and surely in the first days.

could I use it as a stereo synth voice controlled by 1 CV Gate channel (modular).
Its oscillators, not really a voice (your would need to add your filter, envelopes... yourself.) You get a new tracktype dedicated for the dualchord and can control everything from it.

Can I use it with a midi channel? is it automatically on polyphonic mode? polyphony with CV Gate?? (1 note = 1 channel I suppose?)..Is it the purpose of the extra Gate ( In or out? not specified)
Yes you can fully control it through Midi in many ways. From one finger single osc/ multi-chord to poly 4 finger note etc The Gate is an output and can be used as an additional trigger/gate to be used for the envelope for example.

Last one, How to connect it and setup? Is it same as "More CV or trigger" and same way to assign it (in track assign: NSA#)??
Yes exactly like these.

I will have a live stream most probably by the end of the week to showcase the dualchord and all its features. There I can also live answer questions.

More info to come..

Hey there, Wonderfull news!!!
Is it possible to sign up for a pre order, black+grey alu design ... I can't wait to test it in my "Nerdseq eco system" 😉...
But I have questions too... could I use it as a stereo synth voice controlled by 1 CV Gate channel (modular).
Can I use it with a midi channel? is it automatically on polyphonic mode? polyphony with CV Gate?? (1 note = 1 channel I suppose?)..Is it the purpose of the extra Gate ( In or out? not specified)
Last one, How to connect it and setup? Is it same as "More CV or trigger" and same way to assign it (in track assign: NSA#)??
Thanks in advance for enlightening me😉👍
Best regards
G

Tiny changes over time are crucial to minimalist (and ambient) pieces. This video demonstrates how to create gradually evolving sequences with a sequencer and a “sample and hold” that are not perfectly synchronized (on the grid). Any sequencer and “sample and hold” will work. Detailed patch notes included in the video.

The one withing I wish the BSP had was a programable step sequencer like a 303 (Press a note it moves a step, press a rest it moves a step etc etc), so you literally program the steps rather than having to stab things in while its playing.

Yeah the OXI and the OXI pipe could be a shout. Someone somewhere else mentioned a Hermod + which looked good aswell. Need to get on youtube and watch some videos of people making these things look good.
Any suggestions on anything else for the rack??

ive got a Intellijel Bifold and A+B switches on the way.

A very interesting unit from Befaco, an effects unit that uses multiple swappable cartridges to give you many effects from one module. Comes with 7 carts, which is really cool.

A big build, three circuit boards, tons of components. And one connector, the cart connector, which will challenge your soldering abilities!

Works just fine, and sounds good. Another good one from Befaco.
Build

I use it as a kitchen sink, but it´s not made for that.

In this video, I’m using three looping melodies and a baseline, each with a different length. In this way you can start with a simple melody and build it into something complex and beautiful. By using melodies of different lengths, they fall over each other in new ways. This creates fresh harmonies every time the loops start again. I’m using the Moog Mother-32, the Make Noise XPO and STO and Mi’s Rings for melodic lines, while Mi’s Plaits is creating deep and textured bass. Together, they form the core of the sound.To add more depth, I use the Quadrax envelope generator by Intellijel. It shapes the sound’s dynamics and builds up to a beautiful climax. Please enjoy the music!

Well done, sounds nice!

Nice to see you here. I'm the commenter JustTekkno on your YT channel. :-)
-- Christoph1972

Hey, small world isnt it?

Thanks very much.
Techno / Trance was at its peak in the 90's for me, though things were starting to get too minimal for me as in I do like a bit of Jeff Mills but I can't listen to it for a long time.
Need that acid squelsh!

This is a recording of a Techno session with my modular system. Kickdrums and one shots are played by Bitwigs clip lauchncher, mixed my Akai APC40 MK2. Top drums are played by TR-8S.

Flashed back to 1995, super cool, I like it!

Well done, sounds nice!

Nice to see you here. I'm the commenter JustTekkno on your YT channel. :-)

Hi,
Monotrail has this video

-- ferranadsr

thanks

Agreed on the suggestion for OXI One. I have an OXI One + a Metropolix and that covers plenty of territory. The OXI One is great for drum programming and chord progressions, while Metropolix / the in-rack sequencer is more for hands-on evolving bassline and melody exploration. They are good complements. The OXI One is very flexible if you need to interface with multiple pieces of hardware.

An Expert Sleepers FH-2 and its expanders are very useful with the OXI One if you are sequencing a lot of voices (and I'd say 6-8 voices is a lot for modular). The OXI One can output a lot more CV than there are physical jacks on the hardware, so you can use a MIDI-to-CV converter with lots of CV outputs to extract as much CV as possible. With an FH-2 and expanders, the possibilties seem endless.

With this kind of setup, I can sequence 8+ drum sounds, 3- or 4- part harmony / chord progressions, a bass line, a lead, a counter-lead, and possibly other stuff depending on what I am feeling. I can make whole song in one take, and I do sometimes, but my difficulties now revolved around coming up with good ideas, arranging, and transitioning between sections (all the stuff you need to do around sequencing to make a good song, which the sequencer itself doesn't really solve for you). Those are good problems to have instead of feeling held back by your hardware limitations.

Dionisi sounds online !
https://alfadelta.be/dionisi.html#sounds

Oxi One plus an Oxi Pipe to mount in case if OK with external unit vs all in case.

EDITED Nov 20th, 15:16

Cheers for the suggestions, Amount of steps would be between 8 - 16 but more than likely i can extend the length and notes with someway of patching it up. I cant say ive heard of either of them sequencers so will defo have a check.
My aim for the system is to have a complete system capable of everything, Lead, Bass transition FX etc. ill have a DFAM and a TR8s tackling the drums externally.
I feel i just need a few utility modules and maybe another few bits to fill the spaces.

thanks again

@ferranadsr I had a similar thought about Clouds and definitely agree that's where it naturally tends toward, but the Spectral Madness mode can get some pretty gnarly sounds so I thought, "Why not keep it in?" haha, but definitely agree the Versio modules are a bit better suited for industrialness.

@BenjaminPoirier The output of the modules will be substantially higher than the line level outputs on the Behringers, but I have a little Mackie mixer that I've used with my modular many times, and as long as you have enough headroom on the gain knob it should work fine. I'd still recommend a submixing VCA within the rack so you can experiment with mixing things pre and post effects with voltage control over levels, but even just adding the matrix mixer would give you a lot of flexibility minus the voltage control. Unless you want to go crazy and get something like the NonlinearCircuits Clump or the 4ms VCA Matrix!

Thanks for all the detail @Progspiration, about the mixing I have a good old mackie 1202 VLZ3 which then goes into my audio interface, is it a problem to plug some modular out in it?

EDITED Nov 20th, 13:55

Hi,
IMO Clouds is perhaps not the most suitable module for "industrial" sounds. I associate it more with "ambient" sounds.
Perhaps the NE Electus Versio reverb is better, more aggressive?.
As @Progspiration rightly says, Matrix Mixer is good for feedback

Howdy!

Generally speaking I'd say the Proton and Neutron already have power, and with the cost of power and rails it's more economical to keep them separate. One thing you could do is to get rack ears for the Proton and Neutron and get something like the Tip Too Happy Endings kit (or 2) so all of it could fit in a 9u (or 12u) standard 19" rack.

As for specific modules, Clouds is a classic and Data Bender should work splendidly for industrial effects. Chaos or another Marbles clone from a smaller builder gives a lot of modulation possibilities. Piston Honda is also great for industrial sounds, but do you have a plan for mixing it with the semi modular outputs? I would recommend a quad cascading VCA (like a Veils clone) for that. Personal preference, but I would also recommend an extra filter to tame it : )

As for feedback patching, a matrix mixer is a no-brainer. You could also use the matrix mixer to mix smooth random from Chaos with LFOs or envelopes from the semi modulars to create multiple complex mod sources. Maybe the Doepfer or AI Synthesis matrix for audio and something like the Tip Top Miso for CV (although any of these can handle audio or CV)

Overall, modular sound sources and effects are fun, but really shine when you have the utility modules to support them. Mixers, attenuators, vcas and the like are your best friends.

Cheers!

-- gimbalgambit

Not trying to be a dick but are they even great panels? At least grayscale created a new cohesive design direction

Some of these adaptations are actually depressing me, I'll have to look away now..

-- intowhite

My question wasn't about personal aesthetic or functional preferences regarding modules or panels. Some people might like them, and that's ok.

Hey Everybody -

It looks like MG added a toggle on search to hide blank panels. Works perfectly now!
Thanks Modular Grid!!
-- TheRealDocMo

Great!

I agree that some alternative thing like panels listings would help reduce the noise from dozens of new panels pushing new actual modules down the most-recent list.

Mork makes great panels, and i get why you would want to list them in what is basically a storefront venue, but it is starting to become annoying.

I note that this seems like a site-admin created problem: Ilez tried to ask for a way to do this (considerately!) months ago: https://modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/13133
-- gimbalgambit

Not trying to be a dick but are they even great panels? At least grayscale created a new cohesive design direction

Some of these adaptations are actually depressing me, I'll have to look away now..

EDITED Nov 19th, 22:41

Hi I already own a neutron and proton from Behringer and a beatstep pro. I would like to add some modular effects and modulation to it, what do you think about this little rack and what should I add/take off? I make noise/industrial/drone music.
I am also interested in making feedback loops with the effects. Finally, do you think I should get a bigger rack to put the neutron and proton inside? Thanks !

Hey Everybody -

It looks like MG added a toggle on search to hide blank panels. Works perfectly now!
Thanks Modular Grid!!

We will very likely change the alternate faceplate functionality soon.
Until then I have deployed today a filter option to hide Blank panels from search results.
-- modulargrid

Works perfectly! Thank you!!

You can have it both ways, as you wish! That's the beauty!

I don't know how many times I have put my SV-1 into the rack to have it all together and out again into its own case. As I move my stuff around a lot, the separate gear get's forgotten more often than not. And sometimes that's a shame.
Btw, right now it is out again because I need the space

Filter option for Blank Panels

There is a new filter option Show Blank Panels in the module search form that let's you hide modules with the function tag Blank Panel assigned.
This is a workaround until we have refactored the entire Alt Panel functionality.

We will very likely change the alternate faceplate functionality soon.
Until then I have deployed today a filter option to hide Blank panels from search results.

maybe with a zadar or dr phil ter, in a new thread, maybe in a couple months from now. im kind of obsessed with the idea of controlling 4 full voices from a brainstep in a not huge case. idk how im going to get over that to switch over to one or so fully sculpted voice, etc. thanks for commenting.

✌️
-- singular_sound

You don't really have to change the concept. The Demon Core isn't a trick. If you like it, you can totally get it and base your system around it. It even has the "gated" mode, so when you hit it with a note it will kind of automatically do the ADSR shape as indicated on the expander. With the Phil Ter, it'd be kinda like the Polymoog sound (think Gary Numan). It's not full subtractive polyphony but it does the thing. It's not the easiest way to learn modular synths, but it could be worse.

I know I'm walking into a trap here, and the joke will be all on me for getting involved, blah blah blah...but...

This is a (more or less) functional version of what you're talking about. It's just an example, and it's still a bit cramped, but hopefully this gives you an idea of how the things you mean to do can be accomplished in a way that does what you say while providing a number of musical options. I know you won't do anything with this information, but here it is, I guess. Enjoy your...concepts? If there are any specific choices you are curious about, just ask.

EDITED Nov 19th, 14:39

Or maybe just use a voltage controlled switch, e.g. A-150 or so. Not as fancy/flexible as the other options but should do the job. Just wondering while I write, that could be funny/wierd when triggered with audio ;-) Need to try myself later...

My bad. I thought the taigh was an lpg..
And i figured after i posted that most of the inputs would probably have attenuvertors.
Like i said. havent sat behind your rack.
What u think ur missing then? fx maybe?

Hey,
thanks for the reply! Several of the modules have in-built attenuators or input vca's, such as the bionic lester. In addition, the optomix, multi delay processor and also the CV processor can serve as mixers, the latter also as a VCA. But you are right, sometimes i could use for some attenuverters or offset modules and use them together with a multiple to build my own macro-controller. But I don't mind maxxing out the capabilities of feature-packed modules, so far I always found ways around that.

The instruo module is the tagh, which is a random, sample and hold, noise generator.

How many steps does it have to be? Why a second moskwa?
Hermod something for you? Maybe more handson like erica black sequencer?
4 ms catalyst look pretty cool and capable. not that many hp aswell.
Good luck picking something u like .... So many out there

Seems like a capable system at first glance.
I can't really comment. Never sat behind that rack so.
But what i am seeing is only a few vca's. 2 in doubla andore and 2 in taigh which is an lpg
I'm not trying to bash or anything but ..... i would opt for more vca's, mixers, attenuvertors and utilities.
Allows for more (precise) sweeping or gradual fm'ing, am'ing, etc, or whatever floats your boat.
Just my 2 cnts

My new module scan is getting cluttered with faceplates presenting as modules, tags and all.

A faceplate of an oscillator module is not an oscillator.

Any word on mod position on this? I thought MG had an alternate faceplate functionality.

Fellow Eurorack Enthusiasts,

this is my current 180 HP setup (barring tagh and the teia shifter for which I currently have the Kamieniec). Don't get me wrong, I have tons of fun exploring the system. I use it to produce backbones of tracks, such as basslines, lead patterns or sometimes pulsating drones with the multi delay; or generally any weird elements that might be missing from my productions.

I am just wondering whether you spot any redundant elements, if you would replace one module or set of modules with something more versatile that I am not familiar with, and above all, what you would patch up first when sitting in front of the system. I would love more people come over and take a spin with the rack, but unfortunately, I don't have many eurorack people around.

What I tend to do a lot lately is to clock pamela's with some triggers from the rack (EOR, EOD of the Double andore, for instance, or with a square wave with a small pulsewith at varying frequency from the kermit) and in a sense desync it from a general master clock, or let the eurorack system determine the clock of the overall production. That way, I feel like I can achieve more organic results and grooves. Sometimes, I send the modular sounds into the analog heat fx or the octatrack if I feel they are missing something, because I don't want to go bigger with eurorack necessarily (so please be modest with your suggestions, haha). Another thing to share is that one can and should use kermit/zadar as support oscillators, they provide some interesting results. The mutant brain might look like overkill, but I use it to send triggers or CV to the Pulsar 23. I also havean outboard mixing desk, so I don't need much of that in the rack.

Just one more thing, for those who have a make noise control - would you recommend it for a more exploratory approach to techno production?

I hope this is interesting to somebody. Anyways, thanks for engaging and have a good week!

EDITED Nov 18th, 07:35

So beautiful
/s

EDITED Nov 17th, 19:15

Not sure but maybe there's a way to set an og panel as default? So when someone uploads an alternate panel, one can choose to show that in your own rack (as you allready can if there'd alt panels available.
-- geusensdriesmusic

Yeah, that's a good idea! There are two problems:

• We need a way to add panels to existing modules, even if those modules are "manufacturer locked", as some sort of add-on that users can pick.
• There needs to be a way for these alternative panels to NOT replace the default/OG panel art, so the pic-upload thing needs to have a setting for "primary" vs "alternative" panels, with different links for the alternative panels so that you can know where to get them / who makes them.

And of course the hidden third problem of fixing the existing mess, which is probably bigger than these two obvious problems.

EDITED Nov 17th, 18:56