Serge thread

[Virgil]

Personally, I buy everything from trusted distributors only. It’s well worth the extra as debugging electronics doesn’t really “spark joy” in me.
Also, if you are just starting your DIY journey you might not want to gamble on iffy components. Thus, get everything but pots and headers from Mouser and be done with it.

[ansgaria]

[gnome666]

question for the hive mind: I’m seriously considering taking the plunge into 4U Serge land (already selling off a bunch of euro gear). I’ve read up alot about the different panels, modules, patch programming etc, which I have a faint understanding of. The only fuzzy part to me is the less exciting stuff. Specifically cases, powering, etc. I.E. looking at the random source website they have big metal powerbricks, and power connectors on the cases that seem totally alien to me. Could anyone point me in a direction that summarized the case/power/panel hookup stuff? Is there different power requirements for a “full panel” versus a 4x4 panel and “obilisk” (also whats the deal with the obelisk)…thanks in advance. what kind of power ribbons do I need to connect the panel to the power bus…etc etc. If I go this route its a bit of an investment, so I’d like to know as much about it before I dive in.

[GrantB]

Older Serge up to current STS typically uses a flying lead with a molex connector to hook up to their PS_A power supplies. A PSD power distribution board is sometimes used to split power to multiple panels. STS “M” mini panels were connected to the black obelisk in between just like a PSD and then to the PS_A.

Now we have the modularized Serge & friends formats: LW and RS. These two formats have different sizes and hole spacing, so they won’t share a prefabricated boat easily. RS uses 4 pin XLR to connect to their supplies and they offer a boat which uses a small external switching supply. I don’t think the LW format specifies a power connector, so it’s up to the builder/customer.

There are a lot of DIY panels out there which could have any sort of external power connector. My system is all DIY and I use a low profile “CB radio” type connector on the boat and a 4 pin XLR on the power supply side.

I can see how all of this seems confusing to someone coming from euro, but it’s really not a huge deal since the Serge player isn’t typically switching things up all the time. No matter what connector, it’s almost always +/-12V so you just need the right cable to make it work.

[pelang]

[markeats]

Finally filled up my XL boat the only way that made sense to me – with MORE SLOPES.

This feels like a really nice amount of synth to me right now, although I’m doing all my sequencing externally.

[haebbmaster]

You can never have enough DUSGs

[ThurberMingus]

Holy cow we need to take a minute to appreciate this great patch that @samule.edmoon posted on YouTube.

Pretty much sold me on the idea of a Serge setup. I’m considering building an STS euro setup in my skiff to complement my Shared System.

Would anyone strongly advise on going with a banana panel over the euro stuff? I mean I see that cable stacked four spots high, but euro is cheaper/compatible/purchases can be spread out over a few months/years.

[pelang]

Banana !

I started with eurorack but changed to banana.
-more space
-no bad connections
-stackable

[ThurberMingus]

That’s what I was afraid of! I’ll keep saving

[pelang]

btw: you still can crosspatch with eurorack. just make a few cables banana<>3.5mm

R**S offers 4x4 modules, basicly two eurorack in one 4U.

[cold_fashioned]

This is not conducive to GAS-free living… Why did I have to click and watch this video (and then others done with La Bestia II??

[ceedotgeedot]

I’ve been curious about Serge/Euro compatibility too, but more concerning the differences in voltage ranges.

From how I understand it, a bipolar Serge voltage is +/-2.5v (?) compared to Euro’s +/-5v. So would a Euro VCO be too hot going into a VCM to properly function? Conversely, would an NTO be too quiet for Euro processing?

I know there’s protections either way, so I’m less asking about breaking something than how it sounds in practice.

[ThurberMingus]

I would definitely avoid that channel like the plague if you are gas-averse. Fortunately there are plenty of shared system videos that make me gas for stuff I already have!

[niall]

Smart.

I wondered about the DUSG XL’s peak/trough section. Is the upper generator normalled to “peak,” and the lower to “trough?” Thanks!

[niall]

Honestly, even Serge oscillators are pretty hot going into the Wave Mults. The lack of input attenuation in a lot of Serge designs (both audio and CV) frustrates me, sometimes. But, in the case of the wave multipliers specifically, you can use no. 1 as a VCA in front of 2 and 3.

That said, I’d like to get some kind of step up/down scaling going between my Stroh and Bugbrand side of the table and the Serge side. Not just to match volumes, but to make modulation more predictable. Speaking for myself only, 10v pp without attenuation or scaling options isn’t all that useful.

As for 4u vs Eurorack, some of the Euro R*S designs have some really nice features, like cycle switches in the DUSG, expo switches, etc. That said, I sold all my Euro years ago to commit to Serge (and eventually 4u banana in general). I greatly prefer the extra room (and banana cables are, as noted, pretty great).

[qwoned]

feedback segment (VCM/VCFQ + SSG/AND + DUSG + DUAL PRC)

[markeats]

Not just normalled, hard-wired. So Peak is the higher of Peak In and the upper generator, Trough is the lower of Trough In and the lower generator.

Trough is super useful with the lower generator to create an envelope and apply it VCA-like to a unipolar signal (ie, just an oscillator plus this single slope generator can be a basic voice). I don’t find myself using peak much yet but I’d be interested to hear others’ ideas/patches for the peak/trough section!

[pelang]

As Niall said, signals in the Serge are ratter hot. Even within the Serge system, you run into saturations if you don’t take care. As well I use a lot of attenuators for “micro” changes… (the two black stripes on the left/right side)
I don’t drive a car, but can images it must be similar to a sports car…

[emenel]

The lack of input attenuation in a lot of Serge designs (both audio and CV)

I agree there’s a lack of input attenuation for signal, but most of the CV inputs have attenuators or even attenuverters in my experience… which is pretty great.

I do with there were more flexible mixers in the R*S panels, and some multi attenuverters … something like the CV Processor but with individual outputs for each input would be awesome.