i had excellent transactions with @razzkazz shipped from Spain and @Nod Flenders from Canada, all smooth ad good chat about modular stuff thnx guys!
During the past six months I've had good experiences with buying modules from @bark, @zannielzynga, @hadj, @bj_gzp and @AmbrexMeer. Thanks all!
Flame now makes a knob/CV recorder called "quad-CV-recorder". It is a bit expensive, but I really like it.
hi !
anyone lnow where to still find any - or a similar module ?
looks awesomely simple :)
-- LeSlow
Hi, just found this one by looking through the internet.
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/flame-c-3-knob-recorder-modular-eurorack-doepfer-/1071129840-74-23691
best bastian
Budget?
Morphagene
4ms STS
Tempi
Rene MKII
Erbeverb
Rainmaker
Magneto
Voltage Block
Morgasmatron
Zadar
Poti
Turing Machine
Intuitive Quantizer
Marbles
Ornament & Crime
QPAS
Optomix
Quad VCA
I thank you for the advice, but I state that I have no intention of reducing it, indeed, here also missing a 2 row section for 28hp with hotweels and other manual controls, switches etc. .... I put to the left of my next moog 37 CV.
for the speech of reducing the space, mine is a comfort solution ... to not stumble between the cables.
What interests me most is the choice of the modules, if the exponential and the vca linear are correct and sufficient, the mixers as well, if in short the structure works
hello from vienna
may i ask for your help ? i tried to find a downloadable pdf version of the book for quite a time but do only get a lot of fake or rip-off sites or expired links but no real hit ... i wonder if you could direct me in the right direction ? thanks !
cheers
matthias
hey,
essentials: case & power supply
what i'd like to do: JUST Sampling (v.keen interest in granular sound design), Reverb + Effects/Filters, Generative Sequencing
recommendations would be very helpful!
ta
P :)
There are some that would say that building a subtractive monophonic Synth using modular gear is almost missing the point. I don’t necessarily agree, but it raises the central and FIRST question you should ask: what is it that you want your modular to do? No one can tell you, that is for you to figure out and it very much determines what build you should explore.
I think that the extensive modulation options of pretty much every parameter in many modules offers unique sonic possibilities, even in a subtractive synth. In addition to the excellent points that Lugia made, consider that many well revered standard hardware synths use multiple envelopes and LFOs per voice: pitch, volume, filter at a minimum and that some of them are five or six stage (delay, attach, hold, decay, sustain, release). A four multi stage envelope module is ideal and XAOC Zadar reigns supreme here. LFOs also in fours (Batumi), so that you can get some tremolo and movement (pitch, volume, PHASE, PWM etc.).
That said, I personally would consider Zadar and Batumi a must for any monophonic subtractive build. Also, I’d second the SVF comment, albeit I would advise to also include one of the really interesting multi-mode filters, such as Three Sisters, QPAS, or Belgrade as they REALLY open up sound sculpting.
Lastly, Reverb and Delay are must have effects, followed by Chorus and Phaser. Classics for a reason. Also, here is where things get interesting, as you can do neato things with a sequencer and those parameters. At a minimum, add a decent multi FX (Black Hole DSP2) and Pamela’s New Workout. Sending a Euclidean sequenced saw to the reverb size can make for some interesting effects.
Now for the interesting and unique:
Sample based sound engines: 4ms Stereo Triggered Sampler and MN Morphagene. The former is better suited for pre-sliced samples (albeit you can experiment with start and length parameters) while the latter is just awesome for all sorts of sonic mayhem that involve dynamic playback speeds and slicing (including triggered) and cross fading. Both are excellent choices. Both can do granular synthesis, albeit the Morphagene with its dedicated CV control has a bit of an edge here.
Additive synthesis:
Audiospektri HG-16 is high on my want list for this purpose, albeit, I could see some of the FPGA based technology really take a hold here. XAOC Odessa should be interesting, but I’m really hoping for a true FFT based engine at some point (Fast Fourrier Transformation) with full control over the resulting harmonics. Any sound source can go in, like a sampler, but it is actually re-created using additive synthesis.
Wavetable synthesizer:
Preferably with custom wavetables to be loaded. The Piston Honda MKIII is a nice example of what can be done with this, particularly the CV controlled morphing. The more you like percussive noise, the more you need to look into this. Manis Iteritas and the other Wavetable Oscillators from Noise Engineering reign here.
FM synthesis:
Bring on the noise! Akemies Taiko and Castle. Harsh, metallic, mental. Love it, but I’m out of space.
Sequencers and clock:
The beating heart of your setup. Nothing comes close to Tempi+Rene MKII, albeit for percussion I’d suggest a Trigger Riot. These can be easily substituted for using a MIDI-to-CV module and whatever other sequencer you have. The Mutant Brain is a decent choice.
The unsung heroes:
It is ALL about generating and mangling CV. That became clear VERY fast to me. Hence, modules that attenuate, modulate, cross-modulate, and otherwise combine CV are the heart of what makes a modular unique. This has been my biggest epiphany since I ventured in head on. Half of your setup will easily be those types of modules and 2/3rd will generate and mangle CV without ever making a sound themselves.
Modules I love:
WMD Triple Bipolar - CV controlled attenuverter with three individual channels and a SUMMED out, also does fine work on audio signals
Noise Engineering Roti Polar - Four CV input attenuverting mixer (e.g. add two envelopes with opposing signs to get a bidirectional envelope to control the playback speed of a Morphagene)
4ms VCA Matrix - it’s big, yes, but it’s a CV modulated four channel CV mixer for all weird complex waveforms
Ornament & Crime - for the ASR alone
Branches - a dual Bernoulli gate: if you have two different timbral versions of a sound (two oscillators or two Signal paths) having a probabilized sequence of the two can be fun. Example: open and closed hi-hat in a percussive sequence
Marbles: still very much learning how to use it, but we all love happy accidents, don’t we?
How do I sell thru here and link my reverb.com account properly? I see that some sellers have a link that says Reverb instead of their account name.
Wondering...
-- AudioResearch
The Reverb offers are pulled automatically from their website so if you put an offer on Reverb it will find it's way to ModularGrid
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
Another nice thing about the Rene mkII + Tempi combo is that those two can work together in some exclusive functions that only that pairing is designed for. But yep, liquid_air is spot-on...going with a 7U Intellijel cab allows you to remove some basic functions to that 1U row, which then opens up more 3U space to functional modules. It also lets you move your external connections to the cab, taking a bit of spaghetti off of the jackfield itself.
Not bad for a basic runthru...now, I'd suggest starting to pare this down. See what you can remove but still arrive at essentially the same sort of functionality. Also, are there modules that allow you to consolidate the functions of several discrete ones in this build into one or two in the next? Can you increase the functional density, but reduce the physical? Start with those questions first.
As for substitutions outright, one I would strongly suggest would be to remove both the Vermona and Doepfer MIDI interfaces and, instead, install an Expert Sleepers FH-2 + the FHX-8 expanders. That drops your MIDI interface footprint from 30 hp down to 16...cutting the space needed by nearly half, while upping the outputs to eight CVs and gates, plus another eight assignable outputs and two inputs, adding internal pattern gens, arpeggiation, and two return channels to allow you to master-clock your DAW from the Eurorack. Now that's what _I'm talkin' about! Keep applying that sort of logic to module choices, and you can almost double what this could be capable of while making it maybe 1/3rd smaller!
Well, of those two, only the Optomix is a "true" LPG. It uses the vactrol design, which puts it into the same operational category as the original Buchla LPGs in that the decay aspects are going to have that "organic" envelope drop-off. Other versions that use a much faster/more responsive VCA+LPF combo (like the Dynamix) aren't going to have the blurring of contour that the vactrol designs tend to possess. So with those, you could easily shift to a VCA that's being fed via a lowpass VCF (or vice versa, if that works) controlled by similar envelopes...but you can't quite do a 1:1 replacement of a vactrol device like a LPG with that combo.
Another thing about the Codex Veils clone...you have that sweepable VCA response curve on it, which will offer you more flexibility than simply having either fixed linear or exponential responses. Very useful if you want a VCA to respond more or less aggressively, as the situation might dictate. Plus, if you want to break out VCA 1 on it, you can still mix the outs of VCAs 2-4, etc.
How do I sell thru here and link my reverb.com account properly? I see that some sellers have a link that says Reverb instead of their account name.
Wondering...
How do I sell thru here and link my reverb.com account properly? I see that some sellers have a link that says Reverb instead of their account name.
Wondering...
For smaller systems, I find the Intellijel 7U case neat, as you can use the extra 1U tiles to take care of the I/O module and some other features, such as an Audio/CV mixer (Quadratt), a step sequencer (Steppy) and other neat utilities. Keep in mind: only Intellijel 1U tiles will work in that case.
The Erica EG/LG is neat, but you’ll get way more bang using a XAOC Zadar.
Devoting that much space for a mixer in a system this size seems like overkill. There are smaller solutions from the Erica lineup (Fusion mixer is nice, as it has a pleasant tube overdrive and six channels).
I would also suggest to have a more performance oriented sequencer, especially for live performances, same for your clock. Tempi is hard to beat with it’s UI and a Varigate is much better suited for per step changes. Manis Iteritas is great, but not well suited for per step on the fly changes, albeit loading from one of 16 banks can work. Rene is big, but really outstanding (MKI going for $350-380 now). The Trigger Riot could be a neat option as it’s a clock/gate/sequencer unit, well suited for performance in mind.
If it was me, I’d go 7U, Quadratt as mixer and I/O in tiles. Another tile for noise. Trigger riot, Zadar, Quad VCA, Tallin Dual VCA w/drive, Maths (if you must), Logic Module, and then fill ‘er up with sound sources, filter, wave folder etc
I was thinking that if possible, it might nicer if the Info, Zoom, Rotate and Trash icons were in a sub-popup menu that is opened by clicking on a single icon
They are too prominent, in the way? You can hide them quickly by pressing ESC.
-- solitud
This is SO much better now, thanks for the recent improvement!
I've been thinking it would be nice to have a checkbox for sort parameters that would "Exclude Modules Missing Parameter" to more quickly find what we are looking for. This would be particularly great when searching for modules with a maximum depth since, as it is now, all of the modules that don't have a depth parameter entered are all at the beginning (when sorting ascending) which of course makes sense BUT since there is no way to tell how deep a module is short of adding it to a rack or going to the info page for the module it is a bit laborious to find a shallow module.
Or maybe it would just be more efficient to just add a little grey box with the depth next to the grey box with the HP size?
I tried to compose something working, not a ton of modules thrown at random .... I want to play .. I accept opinions and advice from those who know more that
Thank you for your suggestions, Lugia! I didn't know about Codex Modulex, but they look great and their VCA looks like what I've been looking for. You've suggested before that I didn't need two LPGs with the Optomix and the Dynamix, but I find they function so differently that I couldn't get rid of either one of them. I'll have to try out the Rainmaker before I dive in, though. It's a pricey meat-a-ball, and a big one at that.
I would agree...up to a point. This would be a good course of action if MG didn't exist, and/or if dealing with a very limited build overall. However, given that we DO have this site as both a reference and a testbuild sandbox, there needs to be some prefatory points to that list...
1) Make your ModularGrid build bigger than you know it should be. This can then be pared down in size over time prior to making any move toward purchasing physical devices. Once you have that under control, then start considering cases, preferably ones that offer room to expand from your build's basic elements...because you're going to want to do that, eventually.
2) Two VCOs are always better, even if one is a simpler device and the other is more complex. The ability to detune, mix different waveforms, have one modulated and the other not, and the like results in a far richer palette of sounds. This doesn't necessarily require a separate mixer, also, as there are VCFs that have dual audio inputs available.
3) Some VCFs are not necessarily the ones you would start with. Your best bet is a state-variable VCF, which allows for low, high, and bandpass (and sometimes notching) in the same module, sometimes with separate outputs for each available simultaneously. Keep in mind that the VCF is the "timbral heart" of any synth, and that you will be playing it in of itself just as much as any other controller-connected device such as VCOs, etc.
4) When looking for envelope generators, there are actually two basic types: ADSR and AR (or AD, depending on how they treat incoming gates). Many of the latter have the ability to loop their envelope settings, also. It's also important that there are at least two EGs in a synth...one for applying to the filter for timbral modulation, and another for use with the main audio VCA for dynamic modulation. Technically, you can use one for both, but the results are far better with two separate ones under the same gate/trigger control.
5) VCAs: there are two types of these. Linear VCAs tend to be more useful for modulating the levels of CVs, modulating signals, and so on, and these also tend to be DC-coupled so that they can pass sub-audio signals. Exponential VCAs, however, are what's needed for best performance with audio, since human hearing responds to changes in apparent loudness as an exponential curve.
6) Modulation circuits come in more flavors than just simple LFOs. One can use looping AD envelope generators, which allows the user to define the rise and fall rates of the modulation curve. Then there are voltage-controlled slope generators, which are like those but which allow CV control over the rise and fall rates; these circuits are the backbone of such Eurorack staples as the Maths, for example. LFOs can also have delays, which allow the user to define the time needed for the LFO to reach full amplitude; this is useful to allow variable vibrato and/or tremolo effects depending on note length. This is also a situation where more than one is much better than just one, hence multiple-circuit modules such as the Maths, Batumi, et al.
7) Multiples are and AREN'T necessary...it depends on the build size. If you're only dealing with sending your pitch CV to two or three VCOs, you won't need a buffered mult. Those are useful when you have several VCOs (or other CV destinations) for the same CV and you'll need to regenerate that CV to prevent tuning issues due to voltage sags from the exponential converters in those modules. Also, if you have a small build and need every last hp for primary functionality, consider using inline multiples, stackcables, and so on instead of dedicated mult modules. But you'll invariably find that your build needs at least one multiple module, preferably something with at least a pair of 1 - 3 mults. And remember, you can't use multiples as mixers without a certain level of risk to any module that doesn't have diode protection on the output; mults are only designed to split outgoing signals, not to combine incoming ones.
8) You will need something at the end of your audio chain to attenuate your signal level. Synthesizer levels often exceed 5V peak-to-peak, and this is usually too hot for the front ends of many mixers. Either add a passive attenuator at that final point, or an output module that's designed for stepping the level down to proper 1.2 or .775V p-2-p line levels.
9) Colored patch cables are...pretty. And that's about it. As long as YOU know what you're doing in YOUR patch, it doesn't matter what color the patchcables are. This really only applies to systems such as Buchlas, where you have separate paths for audio and control signals...and in those cases, the cables are terminated differently anyway. Buy plenty of cables that you can afford, but don't splurge on decorative notions.
This is all based on some 40-ish years of experience of poking around with these things, across many years of their development...where some things have definitely changed, but many of these basics still remain the same.
Not a bad idea, although the king of delay functionality is probably the Intellijel Rainmaker. It's bigger...but you could conceivably fit it if you yanked the Dual VCA and the Dynamix for starters, replacing them with a Codex u4xVCA (8 hp clone of the Mutable Veils) in the Dynamix's spot. This would also open up 2 hp in the top, which could then allow you to put a Xaoc Zadar in for four EGs in the spot now occupied by the one EG in the Contour. More cost, perhaps, but much more functionality!
Not too complex, unless you want it to be, as in the example of a "window" comparator. This is a little something from nuclear instrumentation circuits, actually, although there's now a couple of adaptations for Eurorack (such as Joranalogue's). In that case, you can have three gates...a window comparator allows you to set a voltage "window" with an upper and lower limit, either as two separate levels or via a "width" control. With that, you can have a gate for "below", "in" and "above", and you can also potentially allow for triggers to be outputted on each limit-crossing. Another cool device, which Ladik makes a cheap 4 hp version of, is a "discriminator". This is a specialized comparator that detects CV movement, allowing you to output a gate or trigger for "rise", "fall", "steady" and "any change". Ladik's actually the king of these little 4 hp specialized logic-state devices...worth a look!
Hi.
I've read many threads. One thing is for sure - Where do I start?
Once you have this you can add modules: sequencers, multis (passive or bufferd), clocks, MIDI/CV converters, delays, reverbs...and more!
My suggestion: read about the modules you're interested in! Make a budget. You can easily go too far and end up with economically problems.
Good luck!
/Viking
Looking for advice. I find the Echophon pretty bulky for what it does and have been considering using a Morphagene to replace it. This is largely because I want more flexibility with my system, and it seems like the Morphagene does everything that the Echophon can do plus much more.
For reference, here's my system, which is in a Make Noise 6U case with the buffered mult. In addition to this, I have a Mother-32 and a standalone Yamaha MG12XU mixer:
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_612113.jpg
As always, appreciate the thoughts.
I bought a 2 hp version of the Poti expander from @jmason, he had to order parts to build it but maintained communication, keeping me updated on the status and then shipping the assembled product ASAP along with a cheat sheet in pdf format. It works great and I would definitely do business with him again.
Hmm, the ones with the letters are tricky ones.
Thought so :)
I think it's weird to start with Z so I see it that way:
-> it's ASCENDING from A to Z, so the arrow up makes sense.
The other thing is the Number of functions. That is clear from the meaning.
But I don't want to reward the modules with the most tags to appear first on first click. Because that would lead to tag spam.
Maybe this can be renamed to Speciality or something ...
For now I have changed PRICE, HP and DEPTH.
solitud.de | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
Hmm, the ones with the letters are tricky ones. I'd go with the reverse but others might disagree:
Arrow up > Alphabetic : modules with letter Z first
Arrow up > Manufacturer: manufacturers with letter Z first
Seems that depth works the wrong way? [...]
-- ParanormalPatroler
Good point. The other sort options are discussable, too.
I would like to define all orders at once so what would you and everybody else say is this correct/expected:
Arrow up:
Newest: newest module first
Popular: most popular first
Alphabetic: modules first with letter 012..ABC
Price: most expensive first
Manufacturer: Manufacturers first with letter 012..ABC
HP: widest first
Depth: deepest first
Number of function: modules with MOST assigned functions first
solitud.de | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
Oh, I definitely have plenty of self soldered contact mics at home. The Ears is more of a nice option to have another input. and i really like the surfacing of it.
And regarding the qu-bit... well... it's definitely out of price range right now...
The OR was acutally the only 2hp-wide logic module that i was able to find. would have been nice to find a 2hp-wide comparator. maybe solder one on my own... can't be so complicated, right? :D
Just small improvements and fixes.
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
Seems that depth works the wrong way? I'm trying to sort MyModules by depth and even though the arrow points upwards I get the modules with no depth on top. Is that normal? It doesn't make sense. I also get the shallowest modules on top and that is wrong.
By comparison arrow in Popular points to the most popular, in Newest points to the newest. I'd expect it to act the same way for Depth, it should point to the most deep.
Hmmm...keep in mind that that contact mic is going to pick up every little bonk and scrape in the cab. You'd probably be better off using an actual one such as this: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/crank-sturgeon-classic-contact-mic.html and inputting it thru the A-119. The Ears is a great module...but it needs to be in a separate enclosure along with similar things, such as a small 4ms Pod or such, not where it'll pick up a lot of jostling around.
As for logic: look into adding a comparator or two. These can be a lot of fun, as they output a gate when a given voltage threshold is crossed. That way, you can use an AND gate to let an LFO switch a sequencer clock on and off by outputting the AND to a linear VCA that's passing the clock, and by inputting the AND with the comparator output and another gate signal, such as from a clock divider/counter. That's just one example.
Stereo mixer? Check Qu-bit's Mixology...gives you CV over level (VCA), pan, AUX send, plus you get a proper parallel FX send/return, and manual solo/mute switching. As of late, I think that might be the best bang-for-the-buck stereo performance mixer.
And they look awesome. The problem is that his sole point of online reference is that one website for the Cluster system, and it's literally not changed in years...which is why I dismissed it offhand. And I'm sure I'm not the only person who's thought that the project was dead for the same reasons, because when a project goes dark, pretty much what you're left with is a dead website, and the website does look pretty dead. Next time you're in touch w/ Geeklapeeno, you might want to let him know that zero progress reports and info updates on the site over about three years time is really not a good look, and if he's still working on making the Cluster system fly, it would probably inspire a lot more confidence in the product to maintain a lot of interaction there...otherwise, people will view this (as I did) pretty much like KAHNCO.
The Geeklapeeno Cluster is real. I have chatted today with Mr Geeklapeeno and he even showed me new build, non-render models with curved design.
I don't know when they come but there is so much work inside the project that I think they will materialise eventually :)
Image shows my own Cluster
solitud.de | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
I bought a Cwejman module from @marcelpagnol3 and it was a great experience all around.
-- dforman98Hello :)
I sold couple of modules lately including you...I thought you bought an Orthogonal Devices ER-102?
Or Did I send you my Cwejman module by mystake? ;)Great experience here as well! Enjoy your ER-102! :)
-- marcelpagnol3
Ha, you're right, it was the ER-102, I got the Cwejman elsewhere. I think maybe it's a sign my GAS is out of control. But thank you, the ER-102 is in perfect condition and is a joy already.
Didn't noticed the Intellijel Quad with the cascading structure looks really handy, thanks for that. And by dropping the mixer there is now space for a contact mic and another logic module.
I'm not so sure about the Lifeforms mixer though, but it' seems to be the only stereo mixer I'm really able to get my hands on... Do you know an alternative?
https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_865772.jpg
I bought a Cwejman module from @marcelpagnol3 and it was a great experience all around.
-- dforman98
Hello :)
I sold couple of modules lately including you...I thought you bought an Orthogonal Devices ER-102?
Or Did I send you my Cwejman module by mystake? ;)
Great experience here as well! Enjoy your ER-102! :)
I bought a Cwejman module from @marcelpagnol3 and it was a great experience all around.
Yeah, that's a lot more on-point. I'd even go one further step and delete the VC Mixer altogether, and swap in something with better functionality and space use with an Intellijel Quad VCA. Plus, the VCAs in that module can be swept from linear to exponential responses, making them useful for a wider set of possible signals. With that, you'd then have the space for a stereo output module of some type. Also, shift your A-119 to a side (left makes more sense) so you can avoid having an input cable running across your patchpoint field. But yeah, this is pretty close to where it ought to go.
I had high hopes for Geeklapeeno's case idea, really, as did (apparently) MG's powers-that-be. But it's been years since that initial site with zero functional info went up, so my assumption is that it never got beyond the conceptual phase. Quite a shame, really, because that setup fixed a lot of the inherent problems in Eurorack case design, IMHO. And yet...
Are you sure that my starting set doesn’t work???
If yes, I think you need more experiments to do...
Fortunately music is an area where creativity always has the upper hand on the cold technique.
-- wmw2019Let's see... MIDI to CV converter... a VCA... a mixer, and a noise generator. Wow... what an awesome set-up. Tell me more about what inspiring and creative patches you've come up with. I can't wait to hear. What other advice do you have for me? So knowledgeable... you should create your own tutorials. If you get a filter, you might be able to create your own hi-hat. That's awesome.
I'm done with you, troll.
-- Ronin1973
Bye!!!
Ahahah
Are you sure that my starting set doesn’t work???
If yes, I think you need more experiments to do...
Fortunately music is an area where creativity always has the upper hand on the cold technique.
-- wmw2019
Let's see... MIDI to CV converter... a VCA... a mixer, and a noise generator. Wow... what an awesome set-up. Tell me more about what inspiring and creative patches you've come up with. I can't wait to hear. What other advice do you have for me? So knowledgeable... you should create your own tutorials. If you get a filter, you might be able to create your own hi-hat. That's awesome.
I'm done with you, troll.
Thanks for reporting, that should now be fixed.
Beep, Bopp, Bleep: info@modulargrid.net
Geeklapeeno, which is similar, was also much talk, no walk.
-- Lugia
I have a Geeklapeeno late prototype. It's a beautiful, well thought out enclosure.
I don't know why he did not manage to release it yet ...
solitud.de | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
