Eurorack advice needed: we're gonna need a bigger case

Hooger · 2023-12-23T18:12:58.591Z

So, everyone I asked warned me in advance: if you are going to step into eurorack country, you will eventually be expanding and expanding…

The first milestone is here: my Make Noise 104hp 7U case isn’t cutting it anymore. I need a bigger boat.

I am looking for a 104hp case, 4x3U and 2x1U. Also would like to replicate the Make Noise cv-bus with 1U modules, because I really like the visual feedback of the pos/neg leds in the MN case.

Any good tips for/experiences with manufacturers in the EU?

Tips for 1U mults with lots of visual feedback also very welcome.

closencounters · 2023-12-23T18:29:00.618Z

i heard case from lake is pretty good. free eu shipping as well

jamesstiff · 2023-12-23T18:38:45.628Z

Case wise, I’d be inclined to get 2 x Intellijel 7U Performance Cases and joiner plates for flexibility. Here are some EU case manufacturer options:

2 Many Synths

Home - 2 Many Synths

Synths come in various sizes; you buy something new, sell some gear and try to organise them in your (home-) studio. Let’s be honest, this puzzle will never stop because obviously … you never have too many synths 🙂 – … Read More

eowave

7U Black | eowave

Befaco

Befaco 7U Case - Befaco

The ultimate Eurorack case. At home, stage or into the studio, the Befaco 7U Case brings your system to the next level.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

addacsystem.com

Frames & Power - Products - ADDAC System | Instruments for Sonic Expression

All things Eurorack Modular manufacturer based in Lisbon, Portugal

Case From Lake

Products | Case From Lake

Here is the most researched ideas

NONO

modular solutions

Regarding the 1U utilities, check out ST Modular’s options, in particular, Lange Anna.

spacelordmother · 2023-12-23T18:51:01.232Z

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Hooger · 2023-12-23T19:35:36.366Z

I’m really having the time of my life with all this modular stuff. Only serious synth left is an analog four MKI I bought recently. Sold a lot of stuff to fund this new route.

plragde · 2023-12-23T19:38:41.758Z

My current “on an open tab in my mind” next case is from Damaru, sold by Elevator Sound. They’re in Bristol, and the cases are made by someone local. All the reports on MW are quite positive, though there aren’t a lot of them. Elevator Sound has a store in Barcelona, and what you have to do is contact them with a specific order, and you’ll pay and receive within the EU without any complications. It might take a while, but that’s true of Case From Lake also (my previous open tab).

Also, yes, rethink expansion, and please rethink 1U, because you’re not going to be able to replicate the CV-bus, and it’s a limited, awkward format.

sacguy71 · 2023-12-23T19:40:01.328Z

I am a big fan of the Doepfer 12u monster cases and Doepfer monster base case combo. Lots of power, room for large modules, case covers and handles and solid build quality.

dokev · 2023-12-24T11:50:07.398Z

Have you considered adding a separate 6/7U case to your Make Noise one? You like the Make Noise CV bus and are unlikely to find a good substitute (all 1U mults I can think of are extremely utilitarian); great + reliable 6/7U 104HP cases are plentiful; you give yourself more flexibility wrt moving your modular stuff around/taking a small case to a gig etc.

I built my 22U / 104HP setup gradually, adding additional cases every so often, eventually ending up with 3 Tiptop Mantises connected by brackets and an Intellijel palette case at the bottom as a sequencing skiff, with some other small cases sold off or in the cupboard along the way. If I did need to downsize, selling a Mantis would be much easier than selling a custom built 22U case, and I have two nice options for a portable setup (1 Mantis or the Intellijel case). A few 6U case manufacturers (Tiptop, Intellijel) sell brackets to join 2-3 of their cases together if you did want a fixed configuration later.

Hooger · 2023-12-24T13:14:57.490Z

Yeah, I considered that option: just buy another case of the same size, maybe even another Make Noise one. But the space I have is very limited, especially depth (I conquered a small corner of the mansion after a fierce battle )

So I was thinking: I need height. Thought that combining several cases would take up too much space, so was looking at something custom with enough height and max depth around 40 cm. How deep is your Mantis stack in cm?

dokev · 2023-12-24T14:03:55.608Z

This diagram from tiptop is pretty accurate. I’m in the same situation as you re: space constraints; had to use vertical space to keep the eurorack train going.

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Hooger · 2023-12-24T14:36:05.749Z

dokev:

This diagram from tiptop is pretty accurate. I’m in the same situation as you re: space constraints; had to use vertical space to keep the eurorack train going.

Something to explore further. Thanks!

jamesstiff · 2023-12-24T22:32:08.298Z

plragde:

because you’re not going to be able to replicate the CV-bus

Easily missed in my post above but ST Modular Lange Anna comes close to replicating the CV Bus.

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d4ydream · 2023-12-24T23:03:11.715Z

Hooger:

Also would like to replicate the Make Noise cv-bus with 1U modules, because I really like the visual feedback of the pos/neg leds in the MN case.

Zorx Electronics

Zorx 1U CV Bus

***NOTE: All Zorx 1U products follow the Intellijel 1U size format (see note below if using Intellijel case) of 39.65mm high. The circuit board for...

Price: USD 349.00

It also has a 20 HP expander module that takes it to 104 HP.