Eurorack: discussion, advice, learning, questions

[baleen]

also I encourage you to consider what you intend to do with The Squid and of course you are welcome to peruse and chat in the ALM Busy Circuits Squid Salmple Thread

there are of course many fine companions to The Squid and while it is totally serviceable as a drum sampler to pair with a sequencer there is much much more available for it to do, even/especially in a small case. it is a sizeable module (and odd hp) so it’s going to be the center of that lil case.

also second the above recs for nonlinearcircuits 1u (the wee splosh difference/rectifier tile!), a VCA, and a good look at the ALM Coupe System as it contains a good articulation of how The Squid fits in a smaller system.

[Cannabimum]

@hinterlands

Doepfer a-106-5 SEM VCF

Totally agree with you, Doepfer is great stuff and I should have thought about it in the first place

[Cannabimum]

Insightful support @renegog, thank you. I really liked the idea of having a sampler and a set of modules good for the sampler itself, but also for exploration. As you said, it’s about that modulation The idea was to have some sort of versatile modules that could be useful both for the sampler and external gear, like the Moog and future modules. I won’t have enough effects, filters, etc to start with. Not even an oscillator. But I def plan to add it! Then there is the drums or synth issue. Which direction? It’s though I know. I guess first I have to raise the budget haha. I hope I am not getting ahead of myself. After taking into consideration all the community hints, I came up with this. Let me know if this can be a really basic setup I can build upon, and once more thank you for the support.

@kveye and @oot, do you think this is more realistic to get started? Now there is the utility king (Maths), and actual filter, dual ADSR, delay & verb, VCA, mixer, and line out.
Still planning to use the Beatstep Pro. Thank you!

[kveye]

I’d change delay and verb to micro Clouds. Preferably typhoon one.
And I’d change the filter to new MI ripples. It will give you not only low pass.

[ElectricaNada]

Output module is not necessary. But my bigger question is: Why sample in euro? I don’t see the advantage over sampling in iOS, and it’s ridiculously expensive.

[baleen]

@Cannabimum

I won’t have enough effects, filters, etc to start with. Not even an oscillator.

tbh effects can really wait (I have no take on the 2hp Verb and there are plenty of great outboard reverbs). I think we’ve established there is a range of affordable, tasty and reasonably sized filters. I don’t know what you are looking to the Doepfer trigger delay for in this sketch, and personally am not keen on trad ADSR in eurorack. put MI Stages in for those instead and you will have plenty to keep you busy.

you can easily use ch 5/6 and 7/8 of Squid to do VCO duties (obvs the moogs as well, tho i’m not familiar with those). I’m not gonna argue “why sample in eurorack” as I think Squid is a great module that works for eurorack. yeah if you want to do trad sampling, maybe look elsewhere but that’s your call. you can Salmple from the Moogs and just let things cook.

personally I like an output module.

@Cannabimum

Then there is the drums or synth issue. Which direction?

Salmple means you can just do both.

[Starthief]

I really wouldn’t rely on Clouds for reverb, and I say that as a fan of Clouds

From demos it seems like 2hp Verb isn’t bad, but you might be better off with Happy Nerding FX Aid or pedals (or software, if you’re using a computer).

[hinterlands]

You don’t have to take my advice about the a-106-5, but I think it’s good to go with a multimode filter to start vs. just the lowpass on the a-120, especially since you already have a ladder filter with the Subharmonicon.

[license]

Anyone know what’s going on with Modular Addict? They goofed on my order and haven’t responded to the support ticket I filed Monday.

[chalkwalk]

I got some cables shipped from them a couple of weeks back which arrived without issue, so I can say that they were at least operational then. My guess is that they are working at reduced capacity. My approach with shipping/order problems during the lockdown has been to try and message them via all available means (reply to shipping email, email contact on website, use website “contact us” form, try calling). My logic is that they may not be monitoring all the usual channels in a timely manner and one may capture their attention.

[license]

@chalkwalk

My logic is that they may not be monitoring all the usual channels in a timely manner and one may capture their attention.

Yeah I hate to resort to the “shotgun” approach but here we are. It’s silly to kick up a fuss over a $8 PCB but it’s holding up my last DIY project. Thanks.

[kasselvania]

Can’t do much without a PCB!

[reallyok]

well… you could say the same about synthesis in euro.

and the stock euro answers apply to sampling too - i use the sts extensively in my setup. cv allows you to do things - in real time - that would be unwieldy to do by hand in, say, ableton. using cv to change samples or alter their direction and length, not to mention speed and location within a large sample… there’s a lot of potential for the same hands-on experimentation and happy accidentalism that people like so much about euro with oscillators.

[license]

You were right @chalkwalk - I just replied to my order confirmation email (which I hadn’t though to do) and they replied almost immediately.

[Cannabimum]

Hi everyone! I gave it some thoughts based on all your useful suggestions, and decide to drop the Salmple project for now. Instead, I’ve decided to start with 2/3 of the Moog toys and use the eurorack as an extension of it, in order to increase modulation capabilities. Later, once I’ve got a good hang of what I already have, I can start to expand the rack and add Salmple eventually.
What do you think about something like that?

I would have still one of the best and most versatile utilities (Maths), audio/cv multiplier, frequency divider, waveshaper, super effects, and super VCA (quad), mini mixer with panning, and outs.
I feel this could drastically empower the Moog(s). Notably missing filters, VCO, and LFO, but I was planning to use the ones on the synths (to start with).

Please let me know your thoughts. My inexperience is my limit. For example, I’ve added the Doepfer mixer and Intellijel OUTs, but if you can think of a module that does both better (around the same price) please let me know. Or if you see a module that won’t bring significant changes, but can wait. Any suggestion is welcome. I’d just like to keep it within the $1300 budget for euro

Once again thank you ALL. Every suggestion played an important role in my decisions, and I feel that with your help I am getting closer and closer to what is right for me

P.S.: can’t wait to get a bunch of answers!

[renegog]

@Cannabimum

Notably missing filters

i mean you’ll have the moog filters, i think they’re sort of well known

again, i would only get the moog right now, especially if you’re planning to get two of them (that’s most of your budget isn’t it?) that’ll give you plenty to modulate and mess with before needing anything else. If you must get some euro, I would only get maths everything else there can be done by maths or the moog stuff except for the effects (which I definitely would say to proceed with caution doing in euro, even more so than the sampling discussion above—just my personal opinion. some can be very cool, but think about which parameters you want modulation/hands on control over.)

Alternatively you could do one of the moogs and something like the 0-coast to mix it up

[Cannabimum]

I should have clarified $1300 for the euro (corrected above). Don’t you think that the quad-VCA could still be a powerful enhancement? But once again thanks for the precious input @renegog. Will scale down a little and focus on fewer modules! And I will go and read more about effects on the euro. @oot I’d love your opinion at this point. Man, I love this forum.

[renegog]

(pssst if you’ve got that much cash on hand I’d seriously consider skipping the moogs and getting the system coupé—just to tempt you back to the salmpler—okay this’ll b my last comment lol i’ll be quiet)

edit to not clog the thread: @cannabimum you get a wavetable oscillator, an analog filter, 2 very capable modulation sources (pams and quaid), mixing, midi connectivity for control and pedal/external interfacing for effects, and an output. plus case+power figured out for you. makes the whole thing good value for money to start out—if you want to keep a small system, that 84hp might be all you ever need case-wise, you can replace quaid with maths if you want, get rid of pam’s and midi for an ansible and something else etc etc down the line if you choose to.

[kveye]

I guess without knowing what you want to do with it it’s hard to recommend. Anything can be a ton of fun. Moog’s on their own are designed to be standalone, so they don’t require anything.
If I were considering Moog’s, I’d get maths + maybe some attenuation and a good delay. I’d skip multifx in euro and better get Eventide H9 for reverbs and stuff.
As a personal opinion oscillators on their own are not that interesting (unless you are into FM and are capable to control it, I’m not ) and the way to make them more interesting is usually FX, for me specifically it’s delays and loopers.
Delays I would recommend are Mimeophon, Magneto, Rainmaker, Morphagene and Norns Shield - it’s not euro but you should just get it, for midi sequencing also

[baleen]

@renegog

consider skipping the moogs and getting the system coupé

is the best advice so far. comes with a case and an output module and a really cool looking (exclusive!) filter.

also stick it to all the black and gold fetishists by napping that sick gray/blue/magenta colorway