Hey @the-erc,

I'm not that good in describing things with words, but i know my way around diagrams. I also took this opportunity to setup the document for later patches. Muxlicer as sequencer, Rampage does the envelopes and the Disting is set to L2 (mono to stereo reverb).

patch016

What is really cool about this patch is that I finally got around facilitating the MIN and MAX outputs of the Rampage. Now I can blend between two different sounds with just one knob. In this case modulating the reverb wetness, and the CV to the filter.

Next cool thing, the Antumbra DVCA can also act as a mixer if the output 1 is not connected. I didn't notice that before, so in the video the two Outs of the DVCA first go to the mixer and then to the SVF.

A bad thing about this: I'm sending (attenuated) triggers to my headphone out, this could potentially harmful if the PO-33 is not connected or not set to a mode that receives a sync signal on the left channel. There is also the possibility to keep the stereo signal. Using the cue of the Output V3, but as I do not have a stereo mixer to connect the two devices to...

Voila: Eurorack and Pocket Operator synced, and no external mixer needed.


I recorded another Jam.

I re-ordered the modules in the skiff and added the Antumbra DVCA. Again DAW-less, the Screen is just for atmospheric lighting ;)
And yes, I'll need to build another drum break soon.


Big shout out to @Lugia !
The Antumbra DVCA is super nifty and only 2cm deep, which is great for the tiny skiff people like me. With the other modules I need to fiddle a bit more around, the proposed setup is great, but I think I'd still rather add some easy to play trigger sequencer and maybe do not add the FX Aid, or exchange it with the Disting.

I changed the Rack to my current setup and will build from there. The nearness modules will be a longer process as it looks like I will build the 2hp version. But I need to get into smd components and my soldering iron also needs an upgrade. In the meantime I'll wait for another Kick All kit to drop at exploding shed.

Noise Reap modules seem to be amazing, but I also came across this little fellow https://www.modulargrid.net/e/instruo-ts-l-v2 which of course is super crowded and not too "playable" if there is more than two cables connected. But the ability to go in LFO territory sounds pretty nifty to me.


I really enjoyed this track and the view :)

The patch notes are also really interesting. I need to document my setups better, and your descriptions style should work quite well. I started actually documenting ins and outs of the modules but that's way to tedious.


Thank you again Garfield,

just in the spirit of sharing my process and journey I'll be showing what a relatively small and basic setup can do. Also showcasing my black tape 6,3mm to 3,6mm jack module


Just looked into the Noise Reap Paradox, and jep you're right. It's more than just a VCO. Looks and sounds frigging nice. I'll contact them today if they currently ship to the EU/Germany, as a lot of people have shipping issues right now.

I switched out the unity Panning Mixers form your build and added these 2hp ones as the PCB and front available at pushermann. Seems like mouser has everything I need in stock, too but I need to check local suppliers too.

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-telexn
https://github.com/bpcmusic/TXn

It's probably a good idea anyway to have some wiggle room for the time I'm still in my jumpskiff.


Dang, Deleted my first Reply. So here we go again:

Thank you Lugia, first of all! I'm not only running out of space, but also out of Amperes! I'm considering/planing a bigger case but a big sturdy wood DIY box and the Befaco Excalibus (1.25A on both 12V rails) at it's core. In the end it probably will be around the same price as the mantis or more, but I really don't like the mantis looks/material. Even with the bigger case I will still use the tiny modules. If I'm cool with the tiny 2hp sine in the middle of all my cables, there is not much else that can shock me. And then there is room to grow and space stuff out.

I already ordered the Antumbra DVCA. I had this on my list before and saw that pusherman has the full kit in stock so I grabbed it at an instance. The LPG will be next, was also on my watch list but didn't put it in the build before.

I also shoot myself in the foot as I see now that pusherman also has the nearness panels in stock. Anyways...

For the stereo Mixer I need to look into the Happy Nerding 3x Stereo Mixer (2x mutes and additional TRS out) vs. the Befaco ST Mix (4ins + aux). both coming in at 6hp.

The Noise Reap Paradox looks cool, reminds me of my first synth/toy, the Korg Monotron Duo (which probably is a extremly unfair connection I'm making here, but both are dual). I'll do my research on this VCO, but a nice 8hp oscillator should be easy to find.

Thank you again for your fantastic considerations and explanation!
I will keep on tinkering with the rest.


Hello ModularGrid,

I'm warmed up with my skiff with lots of befaco utilities at it's core and now would like to fill this baby with some extras.
First up: I probably want to ditch the MidiThing and put in a drawer. I used the skiff stand alone 99% of the time in the last weeks, and I want to build on that. Midi in is nice and all but I'm neither a keyboard virtuoso nor do I plan to produce any daw programmed albums in the next years.

On my must have list is:
Befaco Kick All, I'm currently building my own kicks with the VCO, Rampage and AB+C, I want to free them for new stuff and have the kickall as voice.
Deddicated VCAs, The AB+C is currently abused as Audio VCA most of the time, but would be more usefull to invert and offset signals. I've choosen a small doepfer with the ability to switch between lin/exp and exponential response.
FX aid, to free the Disting a little from it's life of a reverb or tape delay module
2hp unity, to mix VCO + noise or simlilar or to mix CV

Things I'm considering:
Vox Digitalis or other quantised 8-16 CV step sequencer
Gate Sequencer or Shortbus

I'm really curious for other reccomendations or routes to go.
best
zugga


My teeny weeny 2hp VCO was already a non DIY module, haha!

More noise from the cave. This little skiff keeps on giving and is a lot of fun. I'm currently planning how to bring in another voice, additional sequencer and vca and and will show you the planning later this week ;)

Anyways here is my jam from last night:


Ha, such an honor to be in this compilation!
Great job everyone and thank you @troux!


Hey, doesn't look to bad to me. But I might not be the biggest pro around here. Just three remarks:
A. You can post the link to your rack here, not just the jpg. With that link other users can make copies of your rack with some additional tips. Just drop in the link without any other things, and it will show the graphic inline. Like this: ModularGrid Rack
(got the link from your profile)
B. You'll probably have a hard time finding the old befaco output, the recent one can be found as befaco output v3 and is a great output module with an additional queue switch to pre-listen to another signal via the headphone out.
C The multiple is nice, but it could also be done with stacked cables or these floating multiples. Not as pretty when pached, but you win rack space. https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/befaco-multiple/

Okay after looking into the rack there is more: Also you need some input module to make sure the signal from outside is on modular level, line signal will be to quiet and you could fry your outside gear just plugging it into the modular without any safety inbetween.

Next one is your performance mixer. You only added the 138p(Vintage) which will also need the 138o(Vintage or not) https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-138ov to output something. And the 138o will not replace the befaco output but would be additionally required. Plus point the 128o has an aux in so one signal can be added to your rack from the outside.


And this brings up another point: modular is the most amazing, liberating non-essential in electronic music. Yep, you read that right...they AREN'T essential. They're a working modality that allows you to get at that extra 10% of capabilities that you can't get to from a prepatched or patchable synth.
-- Lugia

I think this expresses the most why I would also not recommend the "automated list of functions", for a rack. While also signing that the small builds are sidecars. Modulars are amazing and should be machines/instruments that are suited to YOUR needs. Problem is just a lot of guys and gals here seem to not read into this before, so they don't see their needs but just their wants, e.g. morphagene or that crazy new oscillator.
So you get builds with only oscillators and no modulation, or no output modules.

Other point is a lot of modules can have different functions, but not at once. How would the system know if you use the befaco Rampage as two LFO or as ENV + OSC in your patch? You cannot list it to have 2 LFOs, 2 EGs and 2 OSC as they are exclusive from one another. This is the point where you need an actual brain to make sense of the build. The automated list would probably just give false hopes.


Christmas came a few days late. Treated myself a disting mk4 and Mutable Instruments Ears.
ModularGrid Rack
After some hours of fiddling with the disting I understand the love and hate for this little module. It is great to take over small jobs in the system but I tend to build my setup around this beast now. But as this thing is for me to have fun, and learn I'm ok with that.

I wish you all a good start into 2021


Oh damn it. It's the 29th already. I'll make sure to drop you something tonight @troux


Sounds great! Still enough time, at least for me, to build an exclusive for you ๐Ÿ˜‰ ๐Ÿ‘


Big honor to be on your list.
What is your deadline/eta so we can take some preparations?

@wishbonebrewery I can relate, but I also have some somewhat clean files in the archive ;)
Just not named well, or named at all.


Hello, this looks like a great utility module!

I took a few minutes and straightened your uploaded images, to fit better in the 16hp of modulargrid. It's not perfect, but feel free to use these for anything.

Images for Threshold, VCO-3A and Gate Step-Up
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ahbric9xuyrb3xv/AACYn5kULsTtSEGyO_wlSPKCa?dl=0

best,
Alex


Good stuff, it's always nice to listen to your Jams!


Subscribing to this thread to see how this plays out.
Also I'm all for DIY but are you aware that you have to unscrew everything on the 0-Coast first to fit it in euro rack?
And then have either the original power cable dangling around (taking up additional space from the front panel) or soldering your own adaptor with the potential of frying the whole thing?


Quick headsup: I'm also just on a smallscale rack with a bit of sequencing and modulation.

Looking at this build, even with the addition changes and everything I don't think this is a fun sound machine to have on the couch as you have a lot of menu diving, and program heavy, modules. While you still want to connect it to another device for also programming sequences for example.

Pams New Workout, Beehive, FX Aid XL, o_C, and the disting will all need time to setup for most new patches. And probably lots of "debugging" when stuff is not working out as expected.

I just checked and saw that (without midi in) my build currently weights in at 58 hp, so it might be interesting to see another approach of a tiny rack. And what I can do right now.
ModularGrid Rack
For shameless plug to a playlist of my exploration with the skiff (click here)

Also my biggest takeaway from my small setup: Get VCAs, linear ones for CV, exponential ones for audio. The Cold Mac looks fantastic, but might be also a good source for headaces ;D


Okay. I came to my senses. A little more research and now I am here:
- Expert Sleepers Disting mk4 to as sample player and 80 other modules, when I'm sick of my samples.
- Noise Engineering Clep Diaz as to play drumloop snippets up, down, updown and added randomness.
- Dropped the 2hp Avert and switched it for an achtual usable 4hp wide befaco Attenuverter

Turns out this probably is closer to what I can cooperate in my patches for less money and half the hp which leaves more room for other modules.

Any warnings and reccomendatios welcome!


I'm pretty sure that I will get some #### for this. BUT I'm still interested in some feedback and rough comments about this.

This rack is not planed to be seperate but fill up the rest of my skiff: ModularGrid Rack

The Plan: Have something that can sample Amenbreaks(Rample) or other other drum samples more or less chaotically (Mimetis Digitalis). AVert and A130-2 to go with the Mimetis Digitalis to tame it and to have more VCAs my system specifically logaritmic VCAs There is still place for an ALM SBG or a some day to come DIY Gate Combiner.

Why use the space for this sampler/sequencer combination? My plan for the whole skiff is: IF i want to go more crazy with voices going outboard with a 0-Cost or other stand alone.

Regarding bigger cases: I'm already thinking about that but LOVE how far I came with my utility based skiff already that I want to see what else I can fit in this small frame.

Basically I want to do more of this, but more structured and complex fashion:


I got around recording something on my daw-free setup, with some nice lights and the current Rack. I collected a lot of performance and structure ideas from this jam, which I should probably rehearse much more before recording next time ;)


Thank you Garfield! Here is the new setup and I'm really pleased by the zlob modules, but did some minor beauty/usability adjustments. All befaco bananuts so I'm not going around plugging outs in outs when jamming. I also updated the 2hp module with the same color coding. Also the Output V3 had to be switched for my tight packing.

I tried it all out with a long jam and had a lot of fun and good moments. Afterwards I tried to recreate some moments but with this super basic setup (only the skiff + small Teenage Engineering PO-33) it's all a little fumbly.

I'm not really sure if I want to keep the beefy settings of the SVF or bring it down a notch via the jumpers on the back. We'll see...
Thank all for tuning in and all your great feedback


I am pretty sure you will be able to fry your modules when trying to combine gates with a mult, switched or not. The thing that he is (ab)using is that some modules might have protection against this. But It's really no good idea to use this as a basis for your patch.

Better go for something that actually does the job. like the Low Gain Electronics Short Bus: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/low-gain-electronics-short-bus-v-3

I'm currently looking into fabricating my own dual or-combiner to go with my muxlicer. I'll start a thread on my progress later today.
easyEDA


The Rampage kit is actually quite easy. It's just A LOT of parts. But the muxlicer was quite the challenge for me with all these close sliders and different sizes of pots jacks and switches when aligning. Still not hard tho.

Here's a snapshot of the Entropy build ;)
next module


Ha, great having you, korpret1!

I enjoyed building the befacos a lot. But I should not have started with the skiff, as that build was the hardest for me -> soldering A LOT of SMT pins for all the power connectors.

My first reaction if somebody asks me about the DIY kits is always positive. The did pack a lot of goodies in my big order from Barcelona HQ with a branded desoldering pump and four good quality 50cm cables (big life saver now).
But I also had some really weird screws in the package of my jump skiff (m5 skink heads, instead of domes) which I then got in a local hardware store. And a missing thonkiconn in my bag from an order with exploding shed. But these guy's where super cool and sent me a replacement next working day, no questions asked!

The quality of the PCBs, and front panel Silkscreen is really neat and clean. I'm happy that the modules are super sturdy. Before diving into this I wondered if it will be as solid and level as a prebuilt module. But it's much cleaner than my 2hp module where the pots sit a little off center from the holes.
The instructions are also well done, every time I might have messed up it was always me not reading the manual first, or not reading the IC names fully ;) But it's also helpful that befaco sent some kits to the usual suspect youtubers, if you want to double check something.
The modules, being hit and miss could still be true, I have yet to find out why sometimes the midi in does not start to receive midi and a minute later everything works as I need it for the full time I use it. I also use the A*B+C as an audio VCA and wondered if it's correct that it's not fully closing, but reading more into this it seems a lot of VCAs have this issue.

Maybe I should flesh this out more but this sums up my experience quite well. Here is another super linear jam while I wait for the zlob entropy to arrive and modulate my muxlicer triggers.


Thread: Pedal Love?

The ALM S.B.G looks great! Added it to my whishlist! Thank you.


Thread: Pedal Love?

Let's talk pedals then!
I'm also a big fan of the Digitech Whammy series already mentioned here, mainly for guitar, but also mangling any other sort of sound source I had so far. But I yet have to slap it on the small modular setup I have.

Is there any reccomendation for signal hottnes when going towards the pedal? I'm using the outs of my befaco output, but always checking with my interface that the signal doesn't peak etc. How would a pedal I/O module modify the signal (except from also accepting somethingback from the outside)

My humble recomendation for use with modular is the TC Electronic Arena, which is nice to create all sorts of Plate/Room/Church/Custom Reverberations and just giving a mono out some stereo width. I'm currently also using a custom Setup that takes all the attack and dry signal out to drone all the input.

best
alex


Yes, I'm really feeling this track. Now I need to get my soundcloud up to speed to bookmark this.

Thank you for sharing!


Oh yes, this is really giving me some good vibes, the sound colors you create at around 3:00 and going on are really something. I'd also be here for a full version of this ;)

best
Alex


Back in the beginning of this year, when everything was kind of normal I sat down to mock up Eurorack Modules that more or less resemble the letters of the Latin Alphabet. I did not complete the series yet, but now that I actually have a small skiff it's really fun looking back at these. (Non of them seem to be skiff-friendly tho)
A, B, C, D, E, F,
Also some of them make more sense than others, but look for yourself. I will render a collection of all videos in the next days as the videos are all over the place on my twitter.
G, H, I, J, K, L
Just showing of a little, but let me know if you want to mock up something. As I have a nice little collection of knobs, sliders and other small stuff now :)


Yes! I might just loved the function to hp to price ratio I could get from these starter befaco modules. Iโ€™m having my eyes open for a beefy multi VCA and landed at befaco again. So let me know your recommendations ๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿ˜Ž


Oh yes, the quantizer looks super useful! I need to look deeper into surface mount technology though. I know some test/training kits; Which I want to order before. For now I have zlob entropy, and zlob SVF kits on the way due to the small form factor and the bastl cinnamon not being available. Also some thonkiconns to build a little or-combiner to go with the Muxlicer!

I'm having the a lot of fun just noodling with the small skiff without all the other tools and toys I have available.
Here are some more bleeps and bloops, again raw from the headphone jack :)

Thank you all for being so kind and helpful, it is great fun to read all the threads on modularGrid!


Thread: New rig

This looks like I would have a lot of fun with that rig. One thing I see missing is a row or three of buffered mults. Or a patchbay, like you can find on the the Make Noise shared systems? https://www.makenoisemusic.com/synthesizers/black-and-gold-shared-system-plus
I have no experience with bigger Racks yet, but feel like I would get great use of routing things through a bay from point A to B sometimes.


Thank you warlock016, good to hear that you could make good use of the quarantine time! My Filter building knowledge is limited to solder different kinds of capacitors in electric guitars, but thats it. I will keep my eyes peeled for a new kit.

For starters I'm going to build my own short bus / gate combiner, I found the schematics on the doepfer A-100 DIY page http://www.doepfer.de/DIY/a100_diy.htm and found additional input in a muffwiggler thread. While writing this post I remembered that might still have some parts from a baby 10 sequencer I (failed to) build back in 2013! So now I even have something to measure the fitting for a 5hp version:
diy module

Now I'm checking parts. I really want to get some of the sexy befaco bananuts for any DIY kit thats coming, and I even found a seller here that has black and red in stock! Getting only a few diodes will be annoying tho, so I'll check if I can get myself a good kit of basic resistors caps and diodes again.

@Kel_, Thank you for poiting me to the Krell Patch. It's really a fun exercise to create solutions to these kind of challenges for me. The entropy is a tempting offer, but exploding shed has the kit in stock and I want to order the jacks trough them anyway so I can also save a little bit on shipping.

Coming back to @GarfieldModular I have two of the Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators but don't intent do solder them in the rack. I read a bit about it but they don't sound nice enough to waste 12hp. It's still fun to trigger the respective clock in via the cue out on the headphone jack. Right now I'm also using the Teenage Engineering OP-Z to control the rack via midi, but need to setup a computer in between, as it doesn't come with native midi but only with an extension card.

More sonic explorations with the Rack here:


Yes, the guys at exploding shed are great. Had the misfortune of a jack missing from a kit and they quickly sent a replacement, no questions asked.
They also have great solder in stock, which is a plus ;)


I think this thread here is a good space for people that want to get into Modular and DIY with Befaco, so I will and some more examples what this thing sounds and feels like.

A Krell patch is not really feasible as of now, without filter and good random source. But this here was at least Krell inspired, main focus: Having really slow clock times for the Muxlicer and sampling from random positions in the sequence:

Now that I built most of this Rack from Kit's I have these on my watch list:
Zlob Entropy: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/zlob-entropy2
Bastl Cinnamon: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/bastl-instruments-cinnamon-aluminum-panel


Hey you two :)

The DIY modules where all fun and games, but the Muxlicer was annoying as hell: first a missing part, then a burned in switch due to overheated joints and now I noticed one LED did not sit perfect while soldering...

But it is working a at last. there is still so much to do and learn with this setup but I thought it would be nice to document what I was able to quickly come up with today. And after some tests before hand a Patch that is not controlled by midi this time!

I read a bit into the syncing of the pocket operators again and found the befaco outputs cue really useful to attenuvert the signal. And having a clock divider inside of the Muxlicer is great for converting the clock.

Onto more musical patches! And thank you for your kind words!


I also need to second this as the amount of info around maths is generally super good, and itโ€™s very reasonably priced. Especially considering the ratio of hpprice (I still got the rampage tho๐Ÿคž)


Also the

This might need additional confirmation, but you can't just hookup some external audiorate drum signal to a mixer section? because the levels inisde the module would be much higher than the outside signal. and you

I now understand you vision with the drum sync, but yeah you still need clock divisions and double check +12db is enough to bump the volca signal. But thats also part of the fun, right? :D


What is still missing for me is something like a headphone out to listen to the direct out of the rack. Because what is the use to mix your stereo drum singnal within the Rack if you're doing additional mixing listening outside of the box anyway. Also I'm not really sure if you really need the symmetric input of your drummachine singal you mentioned earlier? And wouldn't it will be line signal anyway? wWth lots of cheap adapters you do not get the performance you would expect from symmertric xlr cable.

I'm also just starting out but even looking at the updated rig I feel like there are a lot of complex boxes with just little facilitation? So maybe you could mix a line singal of your rack and then mix outside of the box with the drums. But thats just my 2 cents.

FYI, there are maths alternatives like combining multiple "Make Noise Functions" or "Befaco Rampage", but you would not get as much functions with the rampage as it is missing the two additional attenuverted channels. So you will always end up loosing more rack space with the Rampage in a system.

cheers
alex


Hello Kel,

thank you for your reccomendation around FM synthesis. I also have the Rampage which can use one function generator to also do a lowpassfilter if it's free. The open case was scary as hell so I got a nice strong 3mm foam board to cut my own blank panels. It's not the 2mm like the panels, but close enough!
And thanks frank! I'm really grateful for all the post on here wich tought me to first understand what to do with just little things I I can then expand. I also did my mistakes already as I now see how the 2hp sine might have been a little weird of a choice instead of a basic 2hp vco which would have square saw triangle and FM input. But thats just how it goes.

here is a look at the barebones with the diy blanks
barebones jumpskiff


Hey Garfield,

this is my trusty Reverberation Machine ;) TC Electronic ARENA. I'm not using this for my Guitars too often but I enjoy the diffrent reverb types and colors for all other sound mangling. In the Patch I use the "Mod" color, where there is also some chorus/lfo modulation in the Reverb.
There is also a programmable Slot where you can create a Custom Reverberation Profile. I'm using one that can takes all the attack from your signal and you can build a fat drone from an electric bass for example.

Current diy-build status:
Muxlicer 80% done - but I'm waiting for a missing thonkiconn jack
Rampage 40% done - the mainboard is complete but now there is the control board on the list.


Hey Garfield,

thank you for your reccomendations! The A-106 5 is a little deep for my humble skiff. The wasp looks pretty fun but I also got my eyes on the bastl Cinnamon now, to pack a lot of function in 5hp instead of the 8hp of the wasp. I will solder and build everything I bought first and then look into this deeper again.

Just as a kind of status of the Rack right now: We have lift of and are able to create Singal, A*B+C is in the soldering process, MidiThing is waiting and Rampage + Muxlicer are on their way :)


Thank you Garfield Modular,

It is great to have such a warm welcome after Lurking around here for ages. Without building the kit I already spotted the big hole: I havent planed for a nice filter.
But I will take your advice by heart and first get up and running with the most basic setup, so I can judge the further build better.

yours


Update: I ordered the case and first befaco kits!

I'm still thinking of getting either the 2hp VCO or 2hp SINE as a first "debug" voice which should be fine, right out of the box and then look into the even VCO as a stable and interesting main voice.

What would you recommend to get fore a barebones kit: SINE or VCO?

Thank you in advance
Alex


Current Rack:
ModularGrid Rack


Original Post:

Hello modular gridders,
in the last weeks I have built lots and lots of different iterations of a small footprint modular that will not break my bank and does the following things on day 1:

befaco MIDI THING, 2hp CV, befaco A*B+C, befaco MIXER, befaco OUT v3 in a 98hp Jumpskiff:
+ It does not have loose cables flying around (that's why I'm planning with the Jumpskiff instead of a even cheaper tiptop audio)
+ It can act as a midi playable synth voice, preferably rough and bassy.
+ It can feed in more than one gate and CV from the midi device. To modulate the voice from ORCฮ› for example

When everything goes well, I'm going to also solder the more interesting part with a Rampage + Muxlicer and something like 2hp hats to spice it up:
2hp hats, befaco RAMPAGE, befaco Muxlicer
+ Get another voice or LFO from Rampage, and generate an envelope for the Bass voice mentioned above
+ Have Muxlicer self trigger some fun multistep sequences in combination with the 2hp hats
+ Let Muxlicer be controlled from midi with clock to sync with the rest of my setup
+ Get funky with Rampage EOC and Muxlicer

The setup after these two steps would look something like this and would leave room for things I've missed/might want later. I have also planned to get some of the befaco passive mults and a bunch of 20cm + 30cm cables 20 in total.
ModularGrid Rack
Yeah, and I might need more Attenuverters and VCAs. (s&h, and lfo or rather the great looking befaco kickall)

Now my question to you all. I've tried to setup a similar system with VCV rack and felt pretty confident that this will workout in real live too. Am I somewhat on track or have I just made a huge mess?

yours

(edit: removed the gigantic images, not necessary for my point)