Hi Guys
Im new in modular and even didnt start..
Im watching YT and try to deal with it, but its very hard to understand everything. So i wanna give a chance to modular to learning by doing.. i want a small case to start and i need some help go get the best for the bucks.
i wanna use it for ambient music and for learning and exploring.. (no techno machine or something)
i would be very happy if some guys can help me with some good decisions
all the best
mutable instruments Plaits,,or clone of it,,great multi sound oscillator..
The first module in my rack the Behringer Brains is a clone of Plaits..
My main question is: Does this case make sense? or is it a nonsense case? I am very unsure whether the modules fit together well and make sense
the racksize is much to small -
you need space for utilities
Better dont start under 104 hp 6u
Dual fx is not so cool for ambient stuff in my opinion
check out qubit and bastl, make noise and intellijel
what about a sequencer, sample and hold, lfo, envelopes, attenuverter....
bastl neo trinity has much of these in 8 hp with 6 outputs - for small systems
drop the dual fx, scales, mixup and talin
Here is a suggestion to start:
Later you could add a matrix mixer and more stuff in the empty top row .....
Greetings
Chris
I'm not going to necessarily disagree with the person above, since your open-ended goal will almost undoubtedly lead you to think about more stuff. A Mantis case is not a bad idea for an ambient situation, and even if you don't fill it completely, throwing some blanks in there and calling it a day will make it nice and spacious so things are easier to access.
However, I am a believer in small setups if they are focused, and I did not go the large interwoven case route (yet). There can be advantages to different smaller systems if you're organized about it.
My main suggestion is to not bother with in-rack effects in a synth setup this small. Save that space for LFOs, maybe a Sample and Hold, and an attenuverter/polarizer. Maybe another VCA that's more for CV. Focus on the stuff that makes modular modular for now and then just get outside effects. If a pedal or something has an expression or tempo input, you may even be able to modulate the pedal with CV if you're careful and look up the proper methods.
My other suggestion is to go all out on your filter. If you love the Forbidden Planet, go for it, but it's a bit workmanlike for an ambient setup, where texture makes a huge difference.
I started with a very small rack and one thing I learned was that a small case was a viable setup as long as it's very focused in its purpose. Especially if you are learning and exploring I would recommend you start with only 2-3 modules you really like, and then figure out what else you need through patching.
Going through the proposed rack left to right:
The ethics of Behringer products aside, an uPlaits might be a better choice due to its smaller size (hp is at a premium here), plus it can load Emilie's final firware, whereas I understand that Brains cannot. The MCO is fine I guess, I know many people like it. You might also wanna consider a Twin Waves for your first oscillator, again smaller than Brains, mutli-algo and you can use the second output as a noise source/lfo.
Forbidden planet is an interesting choice here, but I think a dual/stereo filter or one with multiple outs will do more for you here in the same real estate (frex, the ADDAC dual filter, Dual Dagger, Ikarie or one of the dual Ripples clones).
Maths (Abbacus ) is a fine modulator, but when people wax poetic about it it's usually for its snappy, percussive envelopes, not exactly a hallmark of ambient. It can do a lot more of course (at least Maths can, I don't know how faithful of a clone Abbacus is). Anyway, tl;dr: I feel you definitely need more modulation options and utilities like a CV mixer/attenuverter. Like a poster above said, ambient is about texture and that means subtle but complex modulation of timbre, fiters, panning, etc.
Tallin is a great VCA, no notes. Dual FX I'm not that familiar with, but again, since space is at a premium here, a FX Aid or MFX might fit better in here. Another option is to eschew in-rack effects and just add a pedal integrator module, as mentioned above (although I'm personally not a fan of that option).
Scales is good, but what are you feeding it with? Could use one of the Maths outputs I suppose, but again, some sort of extra modulation source, S&H, random source would be most welcome. Perhaps even a small rudimentary sequencer like a Tirana or Ryo Penta so you can add some intent to your music. Mixup is good.
Final question is how are you taking this out to your speakers/computer? Do you already have an outboard mixer that can take eurorack levels? Otherwise I'd recommend an output/euro-to-line module, or those Mixup knobs are going to be pretty much at minimum all the time.
tl;dr: 1. rethink your oscillator and fx choices to save space, add more utilities and modulation (especially to feed scales and modulate parameters on your voices and filter)
2. optionally look into a more versatile filter and (depending on your situation) an output module
You can also use a floating ring cable to connect pedals to your modular, or just buy a pedal/effects unit with CV inputs/outputs (there are some really good ones - I have a Finegear Dust Collector that I use on everything, and it even came with LFOs for extra modulation). You don't necessarily need a special module in the rack to interface with pedals.
(Edit: this next part is now irrelevant, apparently. I was incorrect.) Honestly, I wasn't going to comment on oscillators (or the Behringer thing) since it's so personal, but if Brains can't have the new firmware, I also agree that a different Plaits clone that can do the new DX7 patch thing would notably expand your sonic palette in this rack.
Final question is how are you taking this out to your speakers/computer? Do you already have an outboard mixer that can take eurorack levels? Otherwise I'd recommend an output/euro-to-line module, or those Mixup knobs are going to be pretty much at minimum all the time.
This is a good, small output / euro-to-line module:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/bastl-instruments-ciao-
That said, odd-numbered hp items (Ciao! is 5 hp) require another odd-number as racks are even-numbered,
or at least a useless 1 blank. I agree with above you need an lfo, and the Pico line has 3hp lfos that would
make an even number (8).
One annoyance on using ModularGrid is that, while things look great "on paper," so to speak, you'll find
that power cables come out of modules in different ways, such that some cannot be placed side-to-side
or on the far edge, as the cable won't fit or will clash with the body of the module beside it. It would be
helpful (but a programming nightmare) to have the reverse side of modules shown, indicating where
the cables are.
I stand partially corrected, Brains did add new modes in an update, but yeah, it's not directly compatible with Plaits FW as it'a not a direct clone.
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2023/03/02/behringer-brains-reloaded-adds-5-new-modes/
Before you buy anything, my advice is to download a free copy of the VCVRack software and play with it. Also the book Patch and Tweak is awesome for beginners. For first modules, get a larger case than you think to have room to grow. I recommend something like the Intellijel 7u case that has room for 1u modules which are fantastic. Focus on core utilities: LFOs, matrix mixer, a filter, a VCO and so forth. Like you can get an Intellijel Quadratt, and some mults plus attenuator to have features as modular places greater need on these utility modules than traditional fixed hardware synths.
