All Posts

no

cables and jack sockets generally work with signal and ground

you'll send the hot signal to ground and the ground signal to where you are wanting the actual signal - which may or may not cause damage to your modules - you are free to try it at your own convenience!

if you want to reverse polarity use an inverter or polarizer module - this will take the signal and reverse the polarity

+1 on this is unworkable and probably horrible to play - due to ergonomics - unless you have tiny fingers!

start with a blank sheet - decide what modules you want (and which modules you need to get them to work properly - hint - if modulation sources and utilities take up less than 50% of the rack then you need more of them - and for generative music maybe even more) and then find the right case - which may be slightly more expensive in the short term, but will save you money in the long term - remember it's a journey not a race!

as people have already said almost all these instagram/youtube influencers with tiny cases are taking modules from their actual rack to demo specific things - and the resulting racks are almost always one/two trick ponies

output modules are another point of contention - you almost definitely don't need one - unless you need balanced outs - if you need it for headphones there are smaller modules that will do the job - alm hpo

First off, nice track, thanks for sharing!

Secondly, if you're committed to this smaller rack size my suggestion would be to get an ES-9 next and stop there for a couple weeks or so. You're good with VCV Rack and VCV Rack + a Rings + an analog filter will go a long way. From there you'll get a good sense of what you need next and how to integrate all the utilities Jim mentioned (even if they're virtual).

Thanks for your reply farkas!
I'm aiming for a sort of ambient sound, something close to ann annie, or state azure (definitely not going to get close to his sound with this setup though haha). This was something I put together in vcv rack a while back:

I guess this kind of style is what I'd like to get close to, but with capability to branch out a bit.
That's a great point about limiting myself with on the fly tweakability. My thinking behind adding all those in was trying to get the most flexible utility capability out of the small set up, and allowing me the most variety between patches. In vcv I really enjoy spending a lot of time setting up my patch and getting it just so and then letting it do its thing, so I feel like I might be okay with the loss of on the fly tweakability. But not sure how that'll translate to real life in this setup.
Thanks again, really appreciate the feedback! :)

you appear to have started out with a case and then crammed functionality in

lots of people do this - it seems like a way of limiting costs - but really it just leads to either dissatisfaction and abandonment or another case very quickly - once the owner realises that modules are not VSTs - but lots of people also have no idea how small an actual eurorack modules is - they really are quite small - and are shocked when they actually get modules

however, this is, in my opinion, the exact opposite of how to put together a modular

there are for example almost no utility modules! - a token dual vca

a significantly better way is to find the modules you want, work out what modules you need to support them and then get a case that will house all those modules, with some space left over for future growth and then buy modules slowly - so that you get a chance to learn them in depth before adding more modules that you need to learn in order to use them properly

my advice = double the size of the rack, swap to full size versions of the MI clones you have in there and add more utilities

expect 50% of the rack to be taken up with modulation sources and utility modules - & imo this should be mostly utilities - you can do a whole lot more with fewer modulation sources and more utilities than with more modulation sources and fewer utilities

USB from the Odio goes into the camera connector kit for iPad so that the in/outputs can be used. MPC One is used as clock/trigger for eurorack, Grandmother is just to play keys and sample the output. Creating sounds/loops is the main goal.

While thinking of it...I think a VCA could be worthwhile to look for. Speaking in metafor: I have the tools to create/sculpt/clay something but do seem to miss the water

A couple thoughts here: First, what kind of music are you hoping to make with this?
Second, you mentioned the "fun factor," which is my highest priority with my rack/music, and always what I encourage above all else. With the collection of modules you have here, do they all have the fun factor? I love Disting and Pam's, but they are not what I would consider fun modules. If you add uO_C to those two, you are REALLY getting away from on-the-fly tweakability due to the menu-driven set and forget nature of these modules. Is that the direction you want to go?
I have a few things that I would probably change about this for my personal tastes and goals, but I'll wait to recommend anything until you respond.
Have fun and good luck!

What about Pico DSP ? I could also use a smaller out instead of the Ooots and shave some HP.

I own both and the algorithms on the FX Aid are waaaaay better than the ones on the Pico DSP. I think you should use the Zoia and save some HPs.
I also have an Ooots and while I really like it as an output module you could definitely use that extra space better,

I read some posts somewhere talking about how difficult it was to work with some of the more smaller versions of Plaits so thought I would make an exception and just use regular Plaits. I'd be interested to hear others experiences with the other compact Plaits clones...

I own a 8 HPs one and the ergonomics are not that bad but YMMV.

As far as Clouds go, I really wanted the Microcell (Im assuming you know it has three different Clouds firmwares which kinda makes an amazing module)

Switching firmware on Clouds is easy enough, and, again, you may definitely benefit from squeezing some more functionality in that space.

That said, I agree with everyone else in saying that you will be very limited with this setup. If you really (really) want to do this within the 42 HPs limit I'd recommend you to at least get a Marbles instead of the Turing Machine.

Odio has 1 in/out pair, each. That would serve the phone to work either as a sound source or fx processor or a recorder. Pick one.
Where is the USB from the Odio going? Where does the MPC come in? How do you work with the MIDI clock coming from the MPC? How do you actually use the modulation from the MPC in your rack? Where is it all being mixed/coming together, where recorded?
You have multiple sound sources but without the necessary utilities and plumbing it's going to be a disparate collection of gear rather than a workable instrument, as it appears to me.

You are very welcome! I love putting these together! Thanks for chipping in!

I’m using the Audio Damage Odio for that. It brings up the volume to Eurorack level so audio could be passed through and send back for effects, could be recorded and/or the iOS synths could be used to be processed by the external gear. If I want to sync it to tempo I have several options for that, most logical would be the MPC as masterclock through midi and/or CV/Gate by creating a separate track to send a pulse.

Having looked at several VCA’s I’m in doubt.....yes I definitely see some advantages on expanding with such a module, but my current setup already has quite a lot of attenuation possibilities. So an extra VCA could be added later on, it’s not necessary at this specific moment. Rings seems to be fun although I question myself if I’m going to use it actively....also got a resonator app within miRack and another separate plugin. Although I expect the physical Rings module would sound better, the characteristic is already there. Peaks seems to be fun for its diverse functions, envelope, lfo, small sequencer etc. Have also been thinking of an extra oscillator but also think I got that covered too.

Moog Grandmother (2 oscillators, a 3th when using the LFO)
Moog DFAM (2 oscillators)
Mutable Instruments Braids (1 more exotic oscillator)
Mutable Instruments Tides (1 “limited” wavetable oscillator)
iPad with a lot of sources for sound.

How do you interface your phone and MPC with the modular?

At the moment I have a minimal setup (and would like to keep it that way 😉). My gear outside of the Doepfer Eurorack case consists of:

• Moog Grandmother (I see/use this as different modules and use it as keyboard controller)
• Akai MPC One (lots of CV options, still exploring this one)
• iPad (with LOTS of synths, drumcomputers and effects)

My 2 x 84 HP Doepfer rack has:

• Mutable Instruments Tides (for modulation stuff and as oscillator)
• Mutable Instruments Braids (different digital oscillator stuff)
• Ornament & Crime (with Hemisphere) (for modulation, short sequences etc.)
• Erica Polivoks filter (nice dirty filter with character)
• Malekko Dual Borg (an even more dirty filter, brilliant for its sweet spots)
• AJH Synth ringmodulator, mixer, sub (a warm sounding ringmodulator, can also add a nice sub and overdrive)
• Audio Damage Odio (to bring the iPad effects and synths into my Eurorack)
• Moog DFAM (great and fun tool!)
• Jack Plugg Typhoon (just received this one, pretty cool)

Right now I have about 8HP left, in the worst case scenario I could remove the DFAM and put it in its original case (I guess I will eventually do that). At the moment I have about € 300,00 to spend and am in search for a new module. I’m not using the Eurorack to sequence complete tracks, it’s meant to be my tiny soundlab where I sample the sounds from and eventually use them in my MPC. This could be drums, leads or even some soundscapes and pads.
The reason I’m asking for some advice is that I don’t want to end up with a lot of overlap. I had seen a Malekko Voltage block, but I can also use the MPC One to sequence and modulate stuff, I could invest in a multiFX but also have that iPad that has quite some nice FX onboard like the plugins from Eventide. Most preferably a module that could be used in several ways...some things that came to my mind were:

• Mutable Instruments Peaks (with or without the Dead Man’s Catch Firmware)
• Mutable Instruments Rings
• Intellijel Quad VCA

Also had a look at the Intellijel Plonk because of the physical modelling aspect but after reading a bit I think I pass on this one....

But.....I’m open for suggestions....goal is to be able to get the most possible variaties of sound out of that small case. Truly hope you guys can help me out on this 🤞

EDITED Feb 23rd 2021, 09:29

@Greenleo
Thank you for this compilation.

Another nice one @EroGumby, let's see you hit 30 minutes next!

I was wondering if a patch cable is wired tip-to-ring and ring-to-tip, would it reverse the polarity ?
Or is there a posibility of electronic malfunctioning?

thanks!

Ha!
I hadn't paid attention to the date...
-- jihel

Just a heads up, I did get your track added. Thanks so much for getting involved!

Hello,

Thank you for the feedback and the question! It is a great question all up for sure. :)
Here are two samples I played through on Sunday:

Here are things I have improved on.
1) Getting the sounds to change up a bit while using the switching
2) I learned I need to tune the drums and patterns so it can work better.
I didn't quite make my goal there, but I learned some things and have a few new ideas to try! So i'll call that a success .
3) Creating parts - Still much work to do here, but being able to change up the drums and such will also play a part in that. I do feel like I am starting to get parts to emerge and that is super cool for me personally as I have not really accomplished that yet in most of my work.
4) Managing the effects: Yeah, getting better at that for sure - part of the issues is learning how sensitive the controller is with the BlueBox.

If I were to sum up my learnings i'd say:
1) Fun progress on starting to get sounds that can evolve
2) The concept of switching up the drums can work, I need to tune the patterns and the choices
3) I'm getting better with the effects and morphing the sounds.

Great question and thanks for asking it helped me reflect on progress.
Much appreciated!

Brett

>

Hi EroGumby,

Wow you set some tough targets/goals for yourself during this jam. Now, knowing what the goals were you set for yourself, it would be interesting to know how many of them were accomplished? :-)

Good work, thanks a lot for sharing and kind regards, Garfield.

...

Consider me in with farkas and troux. REAL generative work requires a much more comprehensive system. Trying to do this in 42 hp is a grave error. Also, picking up ideas from YouTube is dicey at best. Some YT "influencers" do these tiny builds, it's true...but as farkas mentions, they're "mission specific" as a rule.

As an example, here's one of the first, designed and assembled by Bob Moog working in tandem with Joel Chadabe at SUNY Albany: https://modularsynthesis.com/moog/cems/cems.htm Now, sure...this is a 5U synth, and it was put together around 1970, but the concept of generative patching in Eurorack remains much the same in scale, although these days we have more options for elaborate timing behavior and CV generation/modification that do tend to shrink things down somewhat. Also, Moog's modular systems could be a bit of a bitch to get working in a generative configuration because they were missing things like logic, probabilistics, comparators and other related devices, etc. But the upshot is that it's not even really possible to do a FULL-BLOWN generative patch on even a 2 x 84 or 104-sized Eurorack. You simply need too many modulation sources and the modules to "read" what they do to output notes to make this work optimally in even those sizes.

Hi Zuggamasta,

Oh wow, that are beautiful sounds you produced there with the Paradox from Noise Reap. Pity the Paradox seems to be sold out on their website and I couldn't find a dealer in Europe yet that keeps Noise Reap on stock.

Glad to hear you like the OP-Z so much :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing this and kind regards, Garfield.

Lugia, you ding Korg pretty hard for snafus and special editions and availability, and that's fair - they should have their act together given who they are and how long they've been at it.
-- TumeniKnobs

Yes, and watching them gradually stumble like they have over the past few years is (and continues to be) upsetting. I have a LOT of Korg gear in my studio...but of that, the most recent has been a second MS-20 mini and a Monologue. I quit buying anything of theirs in the wake of the 2600 fiasco, which to me seemed to be the culmination of a LOT of screwy behavior on their part....or it DID, until they put out the multicolored MS-20 FSs for $1400 when you can still get the electronically-identical MS-20 mini for a fraction of that.

I've used Korg gear since I started, back in the late 1970s. And all through that period, they were ON IT...until they started trying to come out with "workstation" keyboards with dicey programmability around the end of the 1980s. Then after I and everyone else had gotten sick and effin' tired of the "M1 House Piano" on every Brit house track (check The Prodigy's "Weather Experience" if you've forgotten what that hyperused preset sounds like), suddenly they started coming out with REAL SYNTHS! Yay! And while things like the MS2000 were sort of...eh...this period also gave us the MOSS architecture that kicks ass wholesale. We got things like the KARMA and the Prophecy. Then the Volcas and the Odyssey reissue, along with the MS-20 mini. It's a pretty high peak to fall from, and they seem to be doing that as we speak.

,

I knew that the Paradox would be well-received once you got it in the cab! It might be one of the best-kept complex VCO secrets on MG.

I’m with @troux 110%, unfortunately. This will be unusable and not much fun super quick.
I just looked through the other videos of the first artist, and he appears to have a much larger selection of synth gear to choose from. He just put together a tiny rack for a singular purpose (what Lugia calls “mission specific builds”). In this instance, the mission was a single short composition in a garden.
Without even basic functionality, I would say this is an unwise investment. Good luck, though. Let us know what you decide to do.

Thanks for putting this together @Greenleo.

Those are great videos, but the first has a Marbles and the second a Temps Utile and an Ornament and Crime, which all do significantly more than the Turing Machine you have in your rack. They're also only a few minutes long, so while they sound good here, will they sound good after 30 minutes? After an hour? Is there enough variation to keep things interesting and do the changes feel related to each other? Are there surprises? I'm not the expert, but without the right support modules and a vision for how they'll hang together it's a distinct possibility you'll get bored with this pretty quickly.

42HP seems fairly unworkable to me if you want generative, or anything that's not laser focused.
-- troux

I'd go with smaller versions of both Clouds and Plaits to squeeze out 4 HP for a FX Aid.
-- oliodnb

I have a Zoia pedal which I could use, though onboard FX is nice.
What about Pico DSP ? I could also use a smaller out instead of the Ooots and shave some HP.

I read some posts somewhere talking about how difficult it was to work with some of the more smaller versions of Plaits so thought I would make an exception and just use regular Plaits. I'd be interested to hear others experiences with the other compact Plaits clones...

As far as Clouds go, I really wanted the Microcell (Im assuming you know it has three different Clouds firmwares which kinda makes an amazing module)

Do you plan to combine this with any external gear? I can’t imagine this will be very useful as-is.

I did not leave room for FX in the case but I have a Zoia pedal.

EDITED Feb 22nd 2021, 21:01

Comp is released! - https://communitymodularelectronic.bandcamp.com/album/modular-noise-compilation-cme-021

If you still want to get on it, no problem. Just shoot me something and I can add it tomorrow. Thanks everyone!

Another question :
100% modular ?
(I mix modular sounds with circuit-bent devices and virtual genarators)
-- jihel
It does not have to be 100% modular. This is a just for fun thing. What ever tools you have, they are open season.

Ha!
I hadn't paid attention to the date...

EDITED Feb 22nd 2021, 20:15

Duration of the track ?
-- jihel
As long as its under 600mb, the sky is the limit. But release time is in 29 minutes.

Duration of the track ?

EDITED Feb 22nd 2021, 19:57

It sure looks like it has 8 drum track gate outs like the BSP. Did I miss something?
-- TumeniKnobs

Both actually have 16 drum tracks, and only output 8, which means a MIDI converter is needed to get access to all their drum sequencing capabilities.

Interesting perspectives. Thanks. That it'll run three note lanes and a drum track, and at a $299 price point, I might give it a shot. I think it'll do what I want in my home studio. I won't be doing gigs with it.

Xodes you wrote "interesting to see new hardware sequencers with generous amounts of I/Os, yet it would have been great that unlike the BSP they put output jacks for all of the drum triggers..." It sure looks like it has 8 drum track gate outs like the BSP. Did I miss something?

I'd still love to have a Rene Mk2, but Make Noise isn't Korg, and the cottage-industry nature of Eurorack makes it a bit frustrating that sometimes you can't get the stuff you want. And in the case of Intellijel and 1U modules, need. Lugia, you ding Korg pretty hard for snafus and special editions and availability, and that's fair - they should have their act together given who they are and how long they've been at it. I sold my Prologue for a DSI Rev 2 - it's much more fun and feature rich. And I dumped the SQ-1 because I did not get along with its UI. Still love my Kronos 88 though.

Yes, definitely add me. I am working on new tracks using modular as foundation. So far, I can cut techno, house and ambient songs easier now that I have a decent sequencer.
-- sacguy71

Want me to add one of your Soundcloud tracks? Which one?

Do you plan to combine this with any external gear? I can’t imagine this will be very useful as-is.

.

I put my hands on the new Paradox dual VCO in my rack. Lots of things to learn as I now have some characterful FM synthesis at my fingertips, which I am not doing full justice yet:

Some Patchnotes for the curious
Melody:
Random Pitch from Zlob Entropy
Random Slices from of Bass from Muxlicer
Both quantised by Disting MK4
Modulation:
LFO and Envelope from Rampage
FX Loop:
BOSS Waza Craft Delay and TC Arena as Reverberation

@Garfield
The OP-Z is a long loved tool/toy on my desk and in my backpack. Making Music not only without DAW, but also without screens.

42HP seems fairly unworkable to me if you want generative, or anything that's not laser focused. Take a look at my proposed rack for someone with 62HP just for the CV + mixing (all their sound sources are racked separately) https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/9628

Daw: Ableton 10
synts/gear: Moog37, S1, Volca FM,Tb3,mx1,tr8,Push 2, 88keymidi piano. and some analoge stuff:)

Hey Lugia thank You v much for ur thoughts
and hello to everybody else who stumbles upon my misery,

I am currently at
1452 mA +12V | 830 mA -12V | 0 mA 5V

Thats the Case I have:
Intellijel Designs - 7U Stealth Case (104TE/TPS80W MAX)

https://schneidersladen.de/de/intellijel-designs-7u-stealth-case-104te-tps80w-max-inkl.-kaltgeraetekabel

Power Brick :
https://schneidersladen.de/en/intellijel-designs-mean-well-90-w-power-brick-incl.-power-cable

I think the problem might be the beads that would be bad I will trouble shoot the whole system again today.
The noise-high frequency Sound only appears when I patch something into beads input.
like Plaits, but I give plaits no trigger for example.
When I trigger Plaits, the tone disappears nearly but its still audible, but it does come back fully after a short time.

I tested it like this.
Still there
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sdovpdyr1lyb6bn/IMG_2098.jpeg?dl=0

Thought my case must be the Problem...

But I have to Point out I have already tested it in this Modular Case
(Intellijel Designs - Palette 62)
https://schneidersladen.de/de/intellijel-designs-palette-62

Still there...

I tried with this Power supply in my old skiff :

https://schneidersladen.de/de/4ms-row-power-45

But to make it audible I had to go thru my Vermona and Intellijel InOut

I then didn't hear the high tone, but wow that was noisy.

I live in an old shit DDR building my the electricity be the problem? I don't think so :/

I will try everything again.
I have the Digital Modules-Fx the Databender for example
There is no Problem with this...

If its still there I will try out my Mutable beads at a friends place in his case.
As the Sound was still there when I unplugged everything else and only kept in a few modules at a time,
I think the power consumption might not be the problem.

If anyone has an idea what I can also try
would be appreciated :)

I'd go with smaller versions of both Clouds and Plaits to squeeze out 4 HP for a FX Aid.

Lately I'm enjoying building small systems in my old single row case and your setup looks like a lot of fun. I can't listen right now as I'm at work but I'll do it as soon as I can.

I guess this one was all about Filter Animation, Cheers Garfield

Fun alternates for Maths would be Stages or Zadar.

I'd start with Pam's, Zadar and Disting. Then add a wicked effect module like Mimeophon, Beads, Nebulae or Arbhar.