Serge thread

[rycolos]

Do you have a Carnivore? I built mine up this week and seem to be having some issues with the Slopes/DTG side.

I calibrated so I’m getting about 0-5V from all of the outputs. I don’t have a scope, but that’s what my multimeter shows. However, I can’t seem to get either gate output to reliably trigger the Stepped side of the SSG. It triggers fine from the Smooth Cycle out, so I don’t think it’s an SSG issue.

Any ideas? Strangely, I did note that I can kinda sorta get the SSG to trigger if I have the Freq of the left sides of the Slopes up to almost audio rate, but anything below that and just silence. Interestingly, I also notice that I’m getting a steady 5V from the right side Slopes gate out, even with nothing triggering it. Weird stuff!

Update: Well, I can trigger it with the Unipolar out but not the Gate out.

[shreeswifty]

i was looking for a serge thread
does anyone know of any Serge Kontakt Instruments?

Hey Slate & Ash folks!

[vals]

new R*S boat

[hawksquill]

just noticed that. planning to get la bestia as my first serge panel and wondering if this will (further) complicate that decision

[Jonny]

I was hoping they’d release a panel with the res eq, but this looks like another voice panel… guess we’ll have to see the other half.

[markeats]

Cool to see folding in the oscillator, NTO always felt a little sparse to me (the portamento is nice but easy to get elsewhere). Interesting for sure!

[gnome666]

R*S marketing always perplexing to me. Been months since they announced that new 4x4 oscillator, and peak and trough combo. No word yet on availbility for that (last I checked its not even on their website). Now, a teaser for this. Which looks very interesting. I get that they are not as high volume of a manufacturer like alot of the Eurorack companies, but as one of the few 4U Serge readybuilt options out there, I wish sometimes that as a consumer I’d get a better sense from them as to when stuff is coming out, pricing, availiability, re-stock estimates etc…

but thats just me being a whiny little wanker

[caelmore]

Patch Point seems to have the Dual PCO / P&T in-stock, without any other info besides the mockup photo and the price with and without VAT. They haven’t bothered to update their site since April, at least as far as COVID shipping-related updates are concerned.

https://www.patch-point.com/serge-modular-random-source/serge-modular-dual-pco-peak-and-trough

[wheelersounds]

Ok y’all, I’m about to put in a sizeable Elby order to build a custom 4U Serge system (I’m in the US). I’d appreciate some thoughts/advice.
First up, goals:
I sold a Korg reissue of the Arp Odyssey to a friend to start funding this project. I loved the sounds it made, but it wasn’t adventurous enough for me. So for my new system I need at minimum a 1v/Oct voice, filter, env, and VCA.
Additionally, I want to build a few very unique and noisy/left field things into the system. So I’ve chosen an envelope generator (CGS 1973) that can act as a voice/LFO, as well as the wacky Bi-N-Tic filter, which seems to lean pretty hard into glitchy heaven. I’m also going to build a Teensy 4.2 panel (possibly with an audio shield) so I can create custom firmware.
I’m getting everything from Elby except for maybe a R*S Carnivore, but I have a couple questions I thought I would seek advice on:

If you’ve built the DIY R*S Carnivore, did you source your own hardware (pots, switches, jacks etc)? If so, does R*S provide a decent BOM?
Can anyone think of any reason why I should buy the Carnivore vs. building my own version with boards from Elby?

Am I missing anything vital?

Does anyone know of a general guide to building these modules (suggestions for wire gauge, mounting brackets, other tips)? I know I can scour the Elby site and muffs, but if someone has already aggregated the info I’d love to avoid it…

Thanks y’all!

[jorgen83]

Random Source gives good documentation, check it out here for the carnivore: https://randomsource.net/docs/RandomSource_Serge_Carnivore.pdf

Reasons to go RS: high quality presoldered smd boards (just add a couple through hole components. With CGS boards everything is loose wires, nothing is panel mounted), the panels are really nice (way nicer than what I saw from Elby who seems to be more about functionality less about esthetics), Serge Tcherepnin is personally involved in RS and receives royalties for his work (as he should (Elby might also do that, I’ve read Rex from STS doesn’t)).

As far as modules, give me four slopes, a reseq, triple wavefolder and SSG and some utilities and I’m good. Perhaps I should get back into Serge actually… after I build my DDRM.

[mlogger]

I need to dig out my Marsh panel - there is gold in that thread - thanks for sharing

[louwrens]

If @wheelersounds is going to be building a whole bunch of other CGS and Serge PCBs from Elby I don’t really see how a presoldered smd board is a big plus. The fact that it is smd really also doesn’t make it better quality. I would argue that since it is a custom system it will also be better to have panels require wiring for a more flexible and custom layout.

In terms of the panels from RS I can’t really say but by the look of things they seem really nice. I wouldn’t say that the Elby panels aren’t nice looking, perhaps just different. More so I don’t see a Carnivore panel on Elby’s page so it’s not really fair to make a comparison between RS and Elby on that front.

What I know about the Elby DUSG is that if you build it in its default configuration it will not compare to the RS Carnivore ito tracking, there are modifications that you will have to do to the Elby version to get it to behave in the same manner as the RS one. That might be a good reason to choose the RS one instead. These mods are not difficult and are documented on Loudestwarning’s website. I have no experience with the SSG so can’t comment on that section.

And Elby does their production in partnership with Serge and Ken Stone.

[jorgen83]

I didn’t say smd was better, but it is more convenient. Plus these boards have been optimised, not just the slopes. Since this is a modular, there is no reason not to mix R*S and CGS, so I wouldn’t say panel wiring would be better. It’s a nuisance and a source of problems in my experience.

[Lord_237]

I’m just building my own Serge system, so I’ve done a lot of research into building my own system (still just a beginner though, feel free to correct me). I think the first question to ask is which form factor to go for. Basically, the options are

1. Full 17" panel
2. R*S 4x4 modules
3. Loudest Warning format modules

The two latter formats are not really compatible with each other, since LW uses multiples of 1" and RS 4x4 modules are 4.25" wide. If you want to have the left field modules such as Bi-N-Tic filter and 1973 EG in your system be aware that these are not readily available in the 4x4 format.

As far as the R*S Carnivore goes, it might be possible to ask LoudestWarning for a custom LW format panel or include it in a custom 17" panel. Might be a tight fit though, the PCB is exactly 4" wide so there would be little tolerance for the next module. Or you could go with a (modded) SSG DTG NOISE.

One additional consideration are the case options. The classic Serge form factor is a single 17" panel containing multiple modules. This can be mounted in a custom Bud/Hammond enclosure or a RS boat The RS format is more modular, allowing for 4 (normal boat) or 6 (XL boat) 4x4 modules in one case. The LW format is the most flexible, since it uses normal Eurorack hole spacing. The basic unit is 1" = 5 HP, so your 14" system could be fit in 70 HP Eurorack rail set. A ready-made option is the CLee 4U boat.

[philmaguire]

Check the Elby and R*S panels are mechanically compatible. I know Loudest Warning has its own 4U format, not sure what Elby uses.

[ludo]

The RS 4X4 will not be mountable in the same case as far as I’m aware - if you want LW/elby you’ll need something like the clee LW boat, RS have their own. Mounting holes and panel sizes are different.

There is a LW format “carnivore” and very good it is too. Check loudest warning’s site for the ssg/dtg combination 4" module panel. It’s thru hole using CGS PCBs - you could roll your own or ask Charlie to build you one. LW usually comes out much cheaper than RS and is better value and arguably better quality (at least more serviceable) when well built.
I have 3 rows of LW Serge and love it. Built by Charlie LW it has a much rawer sound than the RS I’ve tried, more like classic Serge and there are many many more choices available!

[ludo]

I think I have regurgitated lots of your post on mine, apologies. Another thing that’s cool about LW format is that you fit the equivalent of 17 modules in each frame as there’s no border at the edges. Normal RS and STS etc only fits 16. Not sure if the OP is aware of that but it’s nice to fit in a bonus small module like a mixer or vca

[gnome666]

been experimenting with visual stuff to go with my noisey bits lately. heres a little snippet, all sounds coming from my 4U serge system.

triangles

[Claude]

Here’s a new (and very Serge) release by @VicenteJr

http://angelovicentejr.bandcamp.com/album/den-ersatz

[gnome666]

SO GOOD! thanks for the share