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Hi everyone,

I've decided to start the dive into Eurorack this year and have put together what I hope is a good first rack to start taking a crack at it. I'm hoping to give my thoughts on why I chose the modules that I did, what my goals are with this rack, and to get some advice on if there are any holes, overlaps, or better choices to be made within the rack.

My goals are:
1) personal fun and exploration
2) ambient and generative music

I tried to pick modules that focused on function for cost that also look like they would work well together from start to finish in a signal chain. I tried to make choices for modules that could serve more than one function but still maintain a sense of exploration and treasure finding without being too complicated.

Modules:
1) Morphagene - this is the module that got me interested in taking a closer look at Eurorack. The whole idea of the rack is centered around interacting with this module and one that I am geniunely excited to explore.
2) Pam's Pro Workout - a Swiss army knife module. It looks like this module can do clock, clock divisions, sequencing, quantizing, LFO's, and lots more. I think this is the most bang-for-my-buck module in the list and one I'm hoping will help deliver results.
3) Dixie II+ - a simple VCO to pair with the Morphagene for added voice layers.
4) Quart - a simple 4x AD envelope generator for modulation.
5) Dual Dagger - a dual stereo filter with HP and LP that can each be CV controlled.
6) Intellijel Quad VCA - cascading VCA for mixing and modulation.
7) FX Aid XL - covers effects like delays and reverbs in one module.
8) Intellijel Outs - output module so I can hear everything.
9) ZeroScope - small ossciliscope just because I want to see how some voltages and waveforms play with each other while I learn.
10) 3x MIA - this is the one module I'm not 100% sure on and wouldn't mind a suggestion or two for something different if anything would be better suited.

I understand this is probably a lot for a first time. "Start small" is the common piece of advice I see others give to newcomers (along with you can never have too many VCA's) and that's something I'm trying to do by picking modules with more than one use case.

I plan on running everything through a Tiptop Mantis case so that there is also room to grow as I learn what works and doesn't work for me.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Any overlaps in modules, any holes in modulation or other facets that should be covered. Any modules in the list that don't really serve a purpose and could be left out so as to pair things down.

Thank you all in advance for taking a look and helping me out.

Roland's own SYR-E84 eurorack case is tailor-made for the four Roland effect modules, at 84 hp it can house all four (Scooper, Demora, Bitrazer, and Torcido) and provides enough power to run them all smoothly. It's a lovely set, and if you get into the configuration software you can build your own effect processors out of them. They all slurp 450 mA, so yeah, they're hungry AF. Cheers -- Nuutti.

I'm building a PGH Lifeforms Foundation 4 EVO from scratch, module by module, and I'm currently missing only four modules from the complete set (I have a Structure 208 which is the right case for the set). So, if youre willing to part with any of the following, please contact me privately; I would prefer to buy/trade within the EU, but outside offers are also welcome.

• PGH Lifeforms ADSR
• PGH Lifeforms Binary Filter
• PGH Lifeforms Analog Replicator
• PGH Lifeforms Double Helix Oscillator

Thank you for your time and attention & cheers -- Nuutti.

Very underrated, started getting more out of the module when i saw it as a one oscillator being modulated by various parameters (similar to an FM synth). will continue to explore:

Haven't seen too many people showing off this module so thought i'd share this here:

The first sound in this video is coming from the Laniakea. Picked a little while, my first run with was a good one. Plan on experimenting more with this module in the future

i know its a quantizer, but i thought it worked pretty well as controller for transitioning to different parts of a song. Definitly not a long term solution:

Do you plan on playing the Buchla stuff by itself, or with a larger setup? Also, what do you envision doing with the Buchla stuff?

I just ask because they'll have different strengths and weaknesses. I have a friend who has an Easel Command (no touch keyboard, just a Keystep 37), and he pretty much treats it like a solo instrument and spends most of his time playing it by itself. Seeing a person run an Easel on pure instinct is as impressive as any other instrumentalist to me, and the interface is very enjoyable whether you're entirely conscious of what's happening or not. It is a great single instrument, but I think that means you'll want to interact with it a lot in order to get your money's worth from it.

I, however, own a small 84hp rack of TipTop Buchla stuff, and that works great for me. I mainly wanted to work some of the concepts into my setup so I got the 258t (I wanted sine wave FM), the 281t (I like looping envelopes), and the 266t (everyone loves the Source of Uncertainty) and finished it with some cheap passive low pass gates (enough for up to two oscillator-based signal paths and/or up to 3 percussion sounds using the noise in the 266t. If your plan is more to weave Buchla concepts into your existing setup like me rather than going deep into playing the Buchla itself, the TipTop stuff will probably work better. Slightly less ergonomic (though I think they're spacious and well thought-out for Eurorack, which you already seem fine with), but more flexibility and less financial burden looming even if you do a whole 6/7U case of them.

In short: only do the Easel if it's specifically the Easel and its layout/function that you like. If you're like me and just love the sounds and ideas associated with it more than any single configuration, maybe try the modules first. If you have the money and the urge, I feel like both paths are potentially rewarding.

EDITED Today, 10:51

hello all im really keen to get into buchla - was thinking of buying a Buchla Easel Command x7 but as i already have adecent sized eurorack im thinking it could be better to build a tiptop buchla alternative would love some thoughts and feedback - ive attached a picture of my rig below. looking to spend $5000-$10000](https://storage.googleapis.com/modulargrid.net/easymde/185903_def4d196ab951a93c876f1edf82a006f_1738113914.jpg)

EDITED Today, 01:32

To hide the cat, enter the following lines

You can just hide the cat in your user settings at https://modulargrid.net/e/users/edit
Search for miau.
-- modulargrid

Cheers for that, makes it a lot less annoying!

To hide the cat, enter the following lines

You can just hide the cat in your user settings at https://modulargrid.net/e/users/edit
Search for miau.

I love this thing

Based on this build, using modules I have:

Gone to the other shore

Haven't seen many people using this module as a oscillator so thought i'd share this as an example:

patching the right out into the left in to create a feedback signal. Then freezing that signal and using warp to alter the pitch. all other parameters alter the quality of the wave form.

EDITED Saturday January 25, 16:34

The only thing missing is fine-tune control. Great module.
-- nndmlsvc

Right, there's always something missing. I for one could do with a version that duplicates the right side osc, without s&h.
You can still route your pitch/Speed CV through a precision controller (that would be twice the size and money of the DMO ;-))
All in all. the cross modulation is the most useful feature for me. Creates both highly complex timbres including voice sounds as a VCO and twisted melody lines as a modulator.

The only thing missing is fine-tune control. Great module.

Raaf, I sense the positivity radiating from your music.
I like it a lot! Thank you.

This is the most bang-for-buck/EUR oscillator / modulator I have seen in years. Goes to complex osc territory on a two-figure budget.Just got a second (probably not the last) one,
@-}--
@-}--
@-}--

Erm, but its nice to be nice.
The UK is vastly more accepting of people whoever they are, do not believe the Right's sensationalist narrative.

Watched a great Documentary the other night, it was called Will & Harper on Netflix, brilliant display of the love of friends and acceptance.

Love Wins.

EDITED Saturday January 25, 09:49

Can we keep modulargrid free of politics as it's supposed to?
Unless we're talking about taxes and how it affects prices, I don't see how US politics relates to modular.
If a post was made in support of the current state of US politics, the post would get removed straight away.

Are people allowed to make political remarks as long as a little jam video gets attached to the message?

Also, for your own safety, do not come to the UK. There is a rise in illegal immigrants, extremism and islamism. The UK is becoming highly unsafe, specially for the LGBTQ community.
I don't see how the poster above would think this is a good place for trans folk to live.

Howdy,

When I inevitably begin my modular journey, ">Heinbach's Collide 4 will be one of my non-negotiable modules. I'm very interested in that raw, uncompromising, test equipment sound which this is built for. However, he mentions in the linked video that it may be wise to have something that saturates/overdrives nicely in the signal chain following Collide4, since it has a habit of outputting high-gain signals.
I'm also looking for a simple utility compressor for my prospective rack. Since I'm not that interested in having sprawling spaghetti monsters of various devices, I'm looking for a module that can fulfill both of these parameters at once. Preferrably on the smaller side, but I'm not set on it being sub-6 HP or anything. Oh and this should go without saying, but I'm not afraid of distortion! Feel free to recommend things that get dirty when you push them.

All the best!

This is kinda a very light version of

(Light, but not cheap!)

It really needs at least a sequencer to do much of nothing...but luckily I have a few of those (KSP, SQ-1...)

Make beats / Ride bikes

To anyone hoping to use MIDI to control this module, be warned:

Yes - Dimension mk3 responds polyphonically to midi through its midi jack, but that's where the midi implimentation ends. MIDI CC assignment is not implemented meaning that, apart from the three assignable CV inputs on the front, there's no way to control this module's many parameters via physical knobs or sliders. What a spectacular missed opportunity!

I've attempted to contact the manufacturer to ask whether they plan to further develop Dimension's midi implementation in the future but have not had a response. So one has to assume the answer to that question is "probably not."

But for this glaring oversight, Dimension Mk3 is excellent. I sincerely hope Ziqal will address this shortcoming in a future firmware update. If they do, Dimension will truly be the best one-stop-shop solution for polyphonic voices in Eurorack.

EDITED Friday January 24, 11:45

Seems like anyone who doesn't conform to the political narrative in America is about to start suffering because of being human, this makes me fearful for people.
Come to the UK, our politics are thankfully still progressive, at least for the moment.

Lovely stuff.
-- frozensmoke
Thank you!

Lovely stuff.

Hey! Thanks for posting your rack. I’m interested to know your workflow and how you visualize your signal path with this instrument? I love the SIG+ but still learning it; I’m quite curious how you use it and integrate it into the system as a whole?

This video is dedicated to all the wonderful and brave people of the non-binary, trans, and queer community. Because of worldwide political changes, things have become more complex for a lot of us queer folks. Especially in the US, people have been scared by some vile remarks of the president about gender and identity. It makes me sad and angry, and always when I feel like this, there is one simple solution, creating music. So I made this patch. I wanted to create something lighthearted and soothing, something hopeful. This track is available on my bandcamp. All the proceeds will be donated to GATE, the Global Action for Trans Equality :

https://raafmodular.bandcamp.com/track/you-are-loved

There is not much I can do, at least it's something. Thank you for helping out. For all the non-binary, trans, and queer people watching this, know that you are worthy, know that you are seen. Sending you so much love from the Netherlands.

To hide the cat, enter the following lines into the console in the Browser/Developer Tools in your web browser of choice:

var link = document.getElementById('wrap-cat');
link.style.display = 'none';

ahh, that's better. Note: will not persist between page reloads.

EDITED Thursday January 23, 22:22

looks tasty.

I guess 1. as voice and 2. for sound processing?
I guess Hainbach does it also like that.

But all good things are 3 .... I meant 4! :D

EDITED Thursday January 23, 22:07

If I can find a power connector for my tiny Pittsburgh Modular Cell 48...I can do this :) I really want the Collide 4. Thoughts? Is this silly? It will talk to my other racks...not really meant to be standalone, I'm just not going to buy a new case right now.

Hey!
I really appreciate,
Thanks mate !
(;

that´s a good one !

thanks for the tip! I already had my eye on the 100 grit, I'm not familiar with sovage engineering but I will check them out!

hi there,

do you know an Oscillator than have a similar sound to the Foundation Oscillator Verbos Electronics ??

In small HP ??? (other 2 verbos oscill. is too big HP)

thanks

How about here in the UK - https://pushermanproductions.com/product/antumbra-knit-2/

Kits and Built only though.

EDITED Jan 22nd, 18:23

Hi all does anyone know if Antumbra are still in bussiness
as i have been trying to source Knit pcbs, Ive checked stockists
with no joy.
Regards
Archaos

A Decay ramp generator when triggered, gives you a 5 vdc peak that decays at the rate you set. Could feed a VCA, could modify a filter and so on. At the shortest time can simply be a pulse generator.
VERY simple build, great first kit. And a useful device!

Build

EDITED Jan 22nd, 21:56

Error Instruments:
Indian Reasonator
SoundScaper

Both modules you could play an entired weird set with.

Error Instruments and Erd pretty much specialize in this. Nonlinearcircuits has a lot of cool weird stuff. Mannequins/Whimsical Raps as well – their aesthetic is pretty obscure, but even when you get through the marketing and understand the modules, they still have a very unique take on whatever function they do. There's also the Instruo Scion, if you happen to have any plants.

EDITED Jan 21st, 10:35

wildfire laboratories whole catalog!

The 2hp gap is because of a tolerance issue with the case. I cannot fit a 2hp module in there.

A Benjolin is a fun and weird thingy :)

Also the Xaoc Drezno and friends are very interesting units!

Get 100 grit, it's an excellent module for sound destruction and check out sovage engineering stuff they have some wild modules.

Constraints: I don't want modules whose full potential can only be unlocked by carrying an SD card back and forth to a computer. Not saying that stuff isn't cool, it just doesn't reflect what I want out of hardware in general.
Example: my prospective system has an https://modulargrid.net/e/erica-synths-plasma-drive">Erica Synths Plasma Drive in it, because while it's absolutely not the most versatile distortion out there, the idea of physically (not simulatedly) turning sound into plasma arcs and then back into sound is so damn cool that the joy of the concept it self makes it worth the cost and the space.
The MGrid Module Finder doesn't have "Experimental" as an option for searching by Function, so I turn to the forums. Show me the wackiest, coolest-in-concept modules you know of, with no regard for how versatile they are. I've got 184 HP worth of balanced, versatile utilities in my rack already.
Love you guys!

Just bought @Shifted808 's Polygogo. Not only does it work perfectly, but it is as clean as new. Great seller.

You can always have a "best of all possible worlds situation" and get the super cheap, super fun, and mostly analog Korg SQ-1, which will allow you to keep the rack space for other stuff and still experiment with the kind of off-grid weirdness you can get with a flexible analog sequencer. It's less dense and capable than the Renee, but that may actually suit your plan more.