Thanks well guys I know have walls of modular gear and when I was at a show a few years back, they brought their modular live rig which consisted of 20k in eurorack gear. Whatever you decide, make sure to get utility modules like a VCA and envelope generator and a nice LFO as they do so much in your setup. I am a big fan of the Intellijel Quad VCA that has attenuators and lets you mix CV and audio together. Plaits is nice but I’d rather get mutable instruments rings in my next setup.
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How’s the new system treating you?? First takeaways / tips, regarding Insights to what modules you’ve found to be essential in your first start in modular??
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Pretty well and lots of learning, exploration, and fun. The learning curve to modular is quite high as much needs to be read, studied and tested. It is more challenging now that shops are closed due to Covid but I have found people on forums super helpful and good experience buying gear from Detroit Modular and Noisebug. I recommend that you buy a larger case than you expect as larger modules tend to be the most fun and have lots of useful things that would require smaller modules. I have fat fingers and don’t like dealing with tiny 2hp modules. I recommend start with free VCV Rack software and try it out with different module setups and lots of videos online. The books Patch & Tweak is must have for those new to modular as it covers lots of good information and is a great reference.
Right now I have my first 6U case that came with Doepfer modules and 84HP free that I quickly filled with new modules. One thing to keep in mind: it is very expensive. So budget for that. You can buy the cheap $200 Crea8audio case and setup but I was not impressed with that. It is addicting fun habit so beware of that. I just got my second 6U empty Doepfer case and wish I had went 9U or 12U to allow for larger modules. The other thing to keep in mind is that you need support modules not just a bunch of flashy voice oscillator and filter modules! So budget space and cash for those. Things like mults, VCAs, matrix mixer for cv and audio, clock, logic modules, etc.
Noise Engineering has a great set of tips for new setup and also makes great stuff.
Worth the read:
I just got their BIA module and is quite a lovely hard hitting percussion module that brings back memories of the old Elektron Machinedrum! Here is a video of me testing it out
It also makes nice bass lines. One could have a few of these type modules and easily do a techno, dubstep or EDM show. Here is a good acid like bass line that I created
Using modular with Elektron gear is a great combination! I highly recommend it.
Awesone, great to watch too!
I’m slowly setting myself up to get swept up by this sickness :))
Great to see the Basimilus; I’m personally potentially even more leaning towards the Manis Iteritas. That shit sound naaaasty
Thanks @lesstalkmoredisco and the BIA is massive. Here is a quick techno modular jam that I threw together today:
Keep in mind that this is on very low volume as I currently suffer in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment until I can buy a home and move into a larger studio space without noise restrictions. Love my Elektrons but there is something unique and very special about modular drums and bass lines that brings back memories of the 80s techno dance scene. I have a NE Cursus Iteritas on the way for wavetable voice and new ideas. Should pair well with the BIA. I really like the simple approach that Noise Engineering takes on modular and no menu diving but powerful features in a small module.
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Nice, especcially when looking at a small Eurorack system to complement another setup, these types of modules seem super interesting, as they’ve got multiple functions built in like decay envelope, some lowpass, etc.
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exactly the BIA has envelopes and many slick controls in one small module for bass and drums. I also really love the dual borg filter and anti-oscillator.
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Okay so I went for it 
Just quit smoking, enter Eurorack.
Instead of a “minimal one-voice Eurorack addition to OT and A4” it’s become a two voice addition. Waiting for a bigger case, which I found discounted somewhere but is making me wait for a few more weeks (aaargghh). In the meantime I found this 48hp Doepfer second hand, plan to resell when the bigger one arrives (couldn’t wait).
Got some more utilities already, which will fit in the bigger case (Doepfer dual VCA, Doepfer SEM filter, Dreadbox Eudemonia filter, 2HP Mult, and a Befaco Rampage, all second hand which really helps in tricking yourself to think Eurorack is actually all very cheap:))) Still doubting which way to go for sequencing melodies and rhythm patterns. Will have to experiment with the current set in the bigger case and hooked up to the A4.
PS I do now very simply and easily understand why always when people ask if it’s possible to go for a véry small case, people advise to think a bit bigger. Not just because of the addictiveness of it, but because in the end that even if you pick only one or two voices, you want to make them shine which really does come from the additional modulation, filters, VCA’s, probably some interesting gate and pitch sequencers, etc.
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