I sure did @yoof! I am both deep in the rabbit hole and more addicted to this then anything else. And I am loving every second of it! Been spending most of my “music time” just exploring and getting to know my modules. Finally after about 2 months I am ready to start making some tracks again! I am also very happy that my OP-1 is still an important piece of gear, mainly as a tape recorder and midicontroller/sequencer for the modular.
The System 90 was not enough and I quite quickly expandend with more modules in a new case (that still needs a lot more modules to be filled). I needed a sequencer (bought Make Noise René and Mutable Instruments Grids for drums> needed some dum modules > got MI Peaks and Hexinverter Mutant HiHats), then I needed more modulation, then another filter, then more vca´s, then more envelope generators and so on +++ But I kind of knew I would obsess over this and I had already put a side money to go a llittle crazy
For anyone euro-curious I would recommend to put together a starter system yourself rather then going the “easy way” like I did. At least to me the system 90 didn´t feel personal enough… I think one of the coolest things about modular is to make your own instrument rather then getting something that “everyone” else has.
I´ll be sure to post my first finished track here when it is done! And here is a postcard from the rabbit hole:
Just watched “I dream of wires” for the first time and it really made me want to keep away from the modular rabbit hole . . . with one or two exceptions. I like the Pittsburg System 10, because it would limit my “tinkering” and I really want a TTHS (2600 clone), though that’s only a semi-modular. I can appreciate the expansiveness of the textures available, but I’d rather spend time making music than (as one collector of modulars described it) helicopter noises. His joke, not mine.
I think it could be a smart move to avoid even the System 10 @Tribrix If you do not want to expand beyond it you should buy something else for 650USD! Because you will be wanting more… I promise you!
Thank you for the warning @slomen . I appreciate it. Since seeing the documentary, I’ve already been dreaming how to modularize the things I have (microbrute, guitar pedals, etc). It’s easy to see how it would get addictive fast. Since I also want a DSI (probably the Prophet '08 module, though I’d love the 12) you’re probably right that I should keep the modular lust at bay as long as I can. I was eyeing that Doepfer Dark energy too . . . must resist . . . will not be assimilated . . .
I’ve been tempted before to sell everything but the OP-1 and Oplab, buy another Microbrute, and build a modular. I’ve spec’d a eurorack out several times but just can’t bring myself to do it hehe. I could build sequencers in Max or Pd and get Silent Way, dust off my MOTU Ultralite and… No! No!!
I do really like the idea of a personalized instrument that a modular must eventually become, though
My first stop for FX would be right here:
why the fuck won’t it save the url to audio damage’s hardware section?? -_-
@Tribrix NP man I also think the Dark Energy will leave you wanting more… but who are we kidding hehe, what piece of gear (if not the OP-1) will leave us satisfied and not wanting more? One of the deciding factors of going Eurorack was admitting that I always will have GAS and that I actually can afford buying a new module every second month as I don´t go out or go hunting or play golf or do any other costly hobby
@KrisM Another Microbute? So you would have 2 microbrutes? Another great thing about modular is that the second hand market is great and that your instrument can evolve and change using the MuffWiggler marketplace. Buy a module you end up not liking and it seems like it is easy to sell it with no big loss, you just have to manage to write 100+ posts on the muff forum…
I sold my rainbowset before even trying them to buy a Pamela´s Workout… the guy I sold them to seems really pleased with them, are you happy with your patchblocks @KrisM? Is it easy to make your own blocks or do you use templates from other users?
I’ve made my own, modded existing patches, even modded blocks (software modules used in the patcher) to suit my needs. @darenager is pretty busy over there on the forums lol. I love the little guys.
I have a double rainbow >.>
I mostly make drones and sample them, so working with a eurorack wouldn’t be much different for me…
Thanks for the modular report @Slomen. Dabbling in modular sounds pretty addictive! I think I better not get too close to it, I know my weaknesses, but I did get pretty euro curious the other day after watching the Patch from Scratch videos in this post:
If I ever do dabble, I think I’ll follow your advise and pick a bunch of modules that I feel drawn to rather than going for something pre-prepared. Looks like loads of fun!
really liking the idea of selling off everything but the OP-1, Oplab, Zillion, and my Patchblocks, and building a eurorack modular. Cases seem pretty expensive, but I could do a 6U for $300 by using a couple Happy Ending kits and an IKEA RAST rack I already have.
really liking the idea of selling off everything but the OP-1, Oplab, Zillion, and my Patchblocks, and building a eurorack modular. Cases seem pretty expensive, but I could do a 6U for $300 by using a couple Happy Ending kits and an IKEA RAST rack I already have.
Pricey, yes, but so personal.
KrisM haha you must have lots of gear I don’t know about because the gear you listed is all i think I’ve ever heard you talk about. Noticed you don’t have a pic in the post your pics thread, but if you could sell it all off and get a modular then you must have some nice stuff hanging around. Oh ya, you have some Elektron stuff eh? RYTM???
I have a bunch of stuff I don't talk about much @Virtual_Flannel, gotten in the vein of "put it away for 6 months, if you don't miss it, sell it" that I've never gotten around to that part, and don't generally include them in my "setup"
I do have an Octatrack and Monomachine, though. Hard to part with all that power, but I just don't work much in the groovebox vein anymore, though I sorta want a new electribe.
But lately I've just been using the OP-1, Zillion (and thus Oplab) and Patchblocks, and having a wonderful time so that's mainly what I've been talking about. And when I work with a computer or OP-1, it's all about building drones and running those through effects, and building an arrangement with volume automation in a DAW.
I could build a nice 9U or even 12U eurorack if I sold everything but those things, and a modular fits into that workflow perfectly. Patchblocks make for cheap (and aliasing lol) sound sources to process.
Now that I'm thinking of it, just how good is the Oplab at MIDI to CV conversion? The manual says CV1 is internally calibrated and will follow MIDI data more closely, and that CV2 is for mod wheel stuff.
The big red thing is a quint mixer/VCA combo, the other red things are amplifiers to boost I can build voltage amplifiers to boost my Patchblocks to useable levels so I have LFOs covered (and somewhat ADSR-style EGs). Between the Wogglebug, Zillion, and OP-1 I have sequencing/gate/triggering/etc. I just want to kick The Harvestman in the nuts for his odd-hp modules -_- But if (when >.>) I expanded I’d be able to deep six the blank 1hp panel and rearrange some stuff. Still, 79hp worth of good times isn’t bad at all, and the Patchblocks multiply that by a good amount :). No multiples, yet, I’d get some stackable cables or something for the time being. Buffered multis if/when I expanded to 6U, though…
That’s still a $2300 system if bought new o.O The mixer/VCA module alone is $500 lol… Might look into alternatives, but it ticks my boxes and seems efficient in space with room to grow. Thankfully I never buy new unless I get a really good deal, and if I do go down this hole, I can post in the WTB section of MuffWiggler before 100 posts. And I can always get started with the just Maths, Hertz Donut, and Optomix.
@KrisM you should def post your modulargrid-rack on the Muffwiggler forum and get different views and opinions on it. My first thought is to perhaps wait with the Wogglebug. I own it and I find it really hard to tame or even understand… I’d look at some sort of cool sequencer instead (although it would be more hp and more expensive (here we go ) I don’t own Maths but I understand it to also be a module that it is a little hard to utilize to its full potential (want it bad though…).
Check out the modules from AniModule. They are fucking great and cheap and hp effective. Check out the demos from Flux, DivKid and Jesse/JRock/AniModule himself. Also, after buying 4 animodules all my other modules look like massproduced boring modules LOL.
I would also consider getting the 6 or 9U at once… I have the lowcost Doepfercase and it both works wonderful and I like how it looks (u can paint it or treat the wood to customize it to taste). Fill the wholes with blanks or cardboard or whatever
The second hand market is great at Muffwiggler (if you live in the US?). If you buy a module second hand you will be able to sell it again for the same price. Regarding the AniModule stuff I got the Lil´Monster VCO, the SOB filter, the XXX_OR and the MixMan. I´ll post my modulargrid rack soonish
I’ve looked at the lil monster actually, it’s on my list of things to look more at.
I’d definitely consider posting for opinions on muffs lest I screw up too badly hehe. But so far it’s pretty inline with standard west coast style synths. I just added some things to make it work with my Patchblocks
As for cases, it’s still cheaper to buy Happy Endings to stick in my IKEA RAST rack I made a few years ago (6U), $300 vs $390 for the Doepfer. I definitely don’t plan to buy a 3U case either way. I just broke it down into 3U blocks for organization/planning purposes in my head.
I wondered wtf the Mysterion was, the thread on MW was long and annoying. Make Noise doesn’t have it on their site -_- Very cool, though, I love String.
Speaking of Make Noise, they sell a 104hp 3U system that’s just their DPO (what I replaced with the Hertz Donut), Maths, and Optomix as the Make Noise “voice” hehe.
Still a lot to think about, research, etc. I’ve noticed that used modules seem to hold their value well, which is bad for buying but good in the case of reselling.
Yeah the risk is not too high, you can always sell… and I feel there is no way out for you now - you have at least one foot inside the rabbit hole
That 3U system sounds very cool! The Optomix can function as a VCA if the Maths is “striking” or “plucking” it´s vactrol. And the DPO is supercool! Somewhere in the future I want to buy a “complex oscillator” and the choice is between DPO, Verbos Complex Oscillator or Furthrrrr Generator. All bloody expensive. Leaning towards the Verbos Complex. But I am all set for oscillators. For now
