Hi,
Disclaimer: I'm a modular novice myself. So take my advice with a huge grain of salt. ;)
In general, I feel like you have too many audio modules and far too few cv-generators & utilities.
I'd like to pass an advice on to you - which I got myself:
- choose a rack-size, which is slightly larger, than you anticipate needing
- have a concept, what you want to achieve: like ambient with occasional drums
- buy and fill up your rack incrementally:
- think about your most minimal combination of modules for your first "complete voice" and start from there
- take your time getting to know your modules
- if you find some specific "feature" missing for your goal, check if you already planned your rack with such a module and add only a (view) single one(s)
- take your time again fiddeling around
- revise your plan for the rack, as you gain more experience
I took some time to work out a rack suggestion:
It's quite different from the setup you presented above, so I'll try to lay down my reasoning for the module selection and my thoughts about the rack below:
- I tried to stick to your concept of having a rack for ambient (generative?) music with ocassional drums or different genres in general.
- Overall I tried to find a good balance between hp per module, ease of use, flexibility and functionality
- I kept all the 1U modules you chose: they are quite usefull
- I only selected very view oscillators, a sampler enables you to still mimic more sound-sources
- enough cv sources enable complex movements and automation
- enough fx to create atmospheres and more interesting voices
First row, mostly audio modules:
- BitBox Micro: since the rackspace is quite limited, I feel like a good sampling module - like this - will provide you with the most felxibility: You can use drum samples (save space by not having a couple of percussion specific modules!), layer several sounds to make your arrangements more complex or record cv
- Ensemble Oscillator: You chose this originally, so I kept this. It seems fitting for the task and quite flexible
- Basimilus Iteratis Alter: Oscillator, I also kept this from your original design. Seems fine if you like it: bass, lead, percussion, etc
- Falistri: similar to Maths, but different (and less hp), can be used as sound and cv source, besides all other usefull and versatile features, I like the ring-modulation capability to sculpt your oscillator's sounds even more
- A-132-4: quad exp vca, probably for audio, excellent hp to usefullness ratio, you always need more vcas
- Squawk Dirty To Me: nice digital VCF, selectable filter mode, includes vca, filter mode also selectable via cv
- QPAS: nice advanced VCF, which you already wanted
- Black Quad VCA2: good 4ch vca & mixer, you already wanted
Switch: filler for empty space to enable more advanced patching
Second row, mostly cv modules:
Pamela’s NEW Workout: famouse clock based cv generator, you already wanted, unbeatable
- Ornament & Crime: another power-house of cv generation
- Bloom: generative generator for 2 voices, you already chose this
- ochd: lots of oscillators in view hp, excellent for movement in ambient
- Zadar: deep, quad envelope (and cyclic = lfo) generator for more complex movement
- Pons Asinorum: versatile quad envelope / lfo generator in view hp
- 333: small mixer & mult
- OSD: combine cv in several kinds (3 times) in only 4hp
- A-130-8: 8 lin vcas and mixer in only 6hp, best hp / vca count ratio
- 321: all the necessary cv utilities
- Melotus Versio: very nice effect module you already chose
- Milky Way: nice multi-fx module, instead of your chosen "large" Doepfer fx module I suggest 2 separate smaller ones, you could think about using effect pedals and use the space of the fx modules for something else
- FX Aid XL: another nice multi-fx module with LOTS of fx to choose from (not sure about the current availability though)
- Jumble Henge: innovative mixer for an easy "final" mixdown
What you might find missing (or not?):
- more advanced sequencing
- midi control
- dedicated performance controls
- more random voltage sources
Let me know, what you think about these suggestions.
Best regards,
Woeps