I have not used the Crazy8 Beats but it's on my purchase list as I can use it now before I have any eurorack modules. It's a standalone sequencer that can be removed from it's desktop case and placed in a euorack case.

A mutable mixing module would be a great way to utilize the the joysticks of this case. Using the Crazy8 Beats for sequenced changes (since it can do something akin to parameter lock w/ CC's) would require using a MIDI-to-CV converter (which is actually sort of a bummer since it already has trigger and sync IO).


Another misadventure into ridiculous-costing-rigs land...

This all started after seeing a case like this:
3 7 4 DJ Workstation Case

I was thinking how neat it would be to use this case as a eurorack workstation! Since this is a disc jockey case, it would need some kind of catchy new name: Mod Jockey! Can't tell if that's terribly cliché or kind of clever (all my best ideas ride this fine line).

So the eurorack modules will sit in the very top portion of the workstation (where the LCD monitors are in the image). But that's only 3U so my 1U modules will actually sit directly below in the rack unit closest to the top portion. Using Synthrotek's 1U eurorack bracket. Hopefully this slight angle between the 1U and the 3U modules will not be an issue for ergonomics.

What will the remaining 6U of slanted rack space be used for?
Mode Machines Seq-12

The Mode Machines SEQ12 is a 6U 19" rack-mountable sequencer. The SEQ12 has 3 MIDI outputs and they can be put into "CVFASTMODE" which sends MIDI data at a much faster rate (not sure if this will work with the Bastl 1983 or not, I'm also interested in exploring the Hexinverter Mutant Brain for this purpose). My plan is to use one MIDI output for the 1983, one for the Treadstone and another will go to my external daisy-chained gear.

The 4 rack units at the very bottom will have a 3 rack unit mixer of some kind and a 1 rack unit compressor. These will let me master the sound just a bit while performing live. The Analogue Solutions RP08 will be used as a "trunk" connecting my eurorack to my mixer from inside the case (saves me some HP from a true mixer module and avoids extra patch cable clutter heading into the case).

So, about $2,500 for the eurorack modules, another $400 for the case (including the eurorack brackets), the SEQ12 is $1100 iirc and the mixer and compressor will set me back at least another grand. So about $5,000 for this whole rig all things considered (which I still haven't considered a power supply!)....I must be dreaming...


I have been interested in getting started with modular for some time and I have been keen on getting the twisted electrons crazy8 beats for the reason that you can take it out of it's desktop case and add it to a modular rig. I figured this would be an easy way for me to use it standalone and then place it in a case once I am ready.

Fast forward a few months and I am really enjoying the videos about the Black Noir from Endorphin.es. So I just had a random thought that I could probably put together an all-black modular drum machine.

Some random google picture searches later, I found a really cool case called Mechanism that has some joysticks and other audio/cv utility modules in a 1U format and 95 HP of space.

Mechanism Eurorack Case

So I plopped in the Crazy8 Beats, Black Noir, and an Erica Synths Drum Sample Player. Originally I had planned to use Erica Synths clock generator as it fits perfectly in the remaining space (11HP) and would provide some extra clock utility for other gear. But after some though, I just don't see this being terribly useful to me right now. Also, I realized I needed a mixer to pull the main mix from Black Noir, the two sample outputs and at least one extra channel for a sound pulled from Black Noir's main mix. So I settled on a small mixer than can double as two mixers! The extra space lets me put in two Pico DSP modules.

I figure this is covers all the bases for a neat starting point into a modular drum machine.