his my first time posting here, i’m quite new to elektron gear and have been blown away by the power of these little machines.
I’m hoping to get some advice from any members on here that are using the Analog 4 to sequence eurorack moduales. I’m thinking about staring a small system and would like to know what moduales would complement the analog 4, and more importantly what moduales i will not need if i’m running it from the A4.
I read on an old post from Elektron users that you would not need lfo’s or enevelopes. Are there any other moduales that i would not need to buy, if it’s all running through the A4?
Basicly cash is limited, so i don’t want to buy any moduales that i won’t absolutly need. So if anyone on here is using the A4 to the run this kind of set up, or just knows the minimum i would need to get going, i would be most greatful for any advise you could give me on what a good starting set up would be.
Thanks in advance
PS I have been controlling a Doepfer Dark Energy with the A4’s CV and it’s Savage!
blimey - there is no answer to that, only you know what you might like - but there is one thing i’d say - the dark energy and the A4 lack an analog noise source, i like noise, that’s me though
i’d concentrate on getting a eurorack rig that works for you independently from the A4 ,you won’t need a sequencer, use the FX track for that and use the CV track for whatever you like, clocks/lfos/envs/sequence/arp
keep in mind that the A4 is a modulation source (via cv) so your euro rig will need some sound making things !
Thanks for the advice avantronica, it’s much appreciated.
My original plan was to just get the Doepfer basis system, then i noiced someone had posted on Elektron - Users that they had bought the basis system to run along with their Analog 4, but then regreted it because quite a few of the moduale where not needed as the A4 cover some of these dutys. So i’m basiclly trying to work out which moduales i won’t need.
I’m extremly green when it comes to modulars, so i hope you’ll forgive me for any stupid questions.
If i was to buy 2 VCO, 2 VCF, 2 ADSR, 1 nosie mod, 1 sample and hold, would this work be enough to star off with? Or would i need a mixer, clock seq, clock div, multiples, etc?
I will probably buy the other moduales down the line so it can run stand alone when i have a bit more cash, but for now i just want to test the modular waters the cheapest way possible.
If anyone has this kind of set up already running, any advice on some nice moduales would be great.
dunno I don’t have any but if I were to start out, just to dabble, I’d get a tiny Doepfer beauty case & either 2 “special” oscillators (wavetable or something) or one osc and one filter… and a multiple/and or mixer to fill it up.
I mean it’s quite obvious that eurorack tends to explode… something like the beautycase introduces a hard limitation which might be good to explore what you can do with only a small number of modules in combo with the A4, and I bet it’s a ton already.
+1 for the beauty case idea - personally i’d be starting with clock dividers and resonating filters and i’d skip adsrs and get something more flexible like makenoise maths - your suggestion is rather conservative, i don’t think you’ll extend your options if you think inside the box - you can’t have enough devices which double up as lfos
the doepfer SEM (oberheim) filter is really lovely
i think if you are unsure you really should wait until you know what you want - try some modular permutations in software if you can, like e.g. in Nord modular to get a feel for how you might patch (don’t worry about the sound)
A4 is a fantastic “brain” for your modular. My intention was just to add a few complementary modules and now I’m planning my second case.
I would actually add digital oscillators like the Mutable Instruments Braids, CycleBox etc and filters that aren’t covered by the A4 already.
As you can see I don’t have any “traditional” sequencers in there. It’s all done with the A4, however, I do prefer to use envelopes/LFOs in the modular itself as it suits my workflow better. I can grab the env knobs and sculpt sounds more quickly than diving into the A4 UI. The A4 sequencer is perfect though and you are not limited to the CV track … you can send 2 separate sequencer tracks to the modular using the 4 CV outs.
Thanks for your feedback Void. I thought about getting the Doepfer mini case, but i know that’s just not gonna be big enought to contain my gear lust. So i think i’ll go for the Doepfer low cost case 6he. That way i can get a few moduales to get me started and then add a few more bit by bit.
But your probably right, it’s going to end up growing into a monster.
That’s an amazing looking set up you’ve got there man. I take it your sampling your modular stuff with the octatrack. That’s what i’m planning on doing further down the line.
I get what your saying about trying to get moduales that will bring something to the party that the A4 can’t. Thanks.
A4 has been my gateway drug to eurorack and I started with just one oscillator that I think is the only thing that you cannot avoid to start: a sound source.
You can do all the rest with A4 signal chain if you feed the oscillator output to EXT IN
You send V/OCT from A4 to control oscillator tuning and assign linear value to LFOs or envelopes of the CV track to send CV to oscillator’s patch points, if it have some (and mine have a lot of them… XD)
If you use EXT IN from the FX track you will have just drones and A4 fx, but if you use EXT IN from a synth track OSC you will have all the vca, filter amp envelopes lfo of that track.
Beware, modular synths can ruin your social life and bank account…
Thanks man, you’ve answered my question perfectly. My back account has been in danger for a while now, but thanks for the warning. I’ve been looking on modular sites the last couple of weeks rubbing my hands together Golem style.
We’ll, I chose an Intellijel rubicon. A bit expensive, but it gives you many modulation options, tracks beautifully, sounds awesome and does thru zero FM (ok it will need a second oscillator to use as a modulator to do this, but you know it will come soon).
another module to chuck in is one of the various versions of the VCS - its an envelope, VCO, LFO, waveshaper, timbral gate, coffee maker and transport to mars- doepfer do one its the http://www.doepfer.de/a1712.htm
also look for some different filters the tiptop 2040 is fun, and the makenoise optomix, MMG or moddemix too, oh and wavefolders and waveshapers take any VCO and double their output - look at the ADE-10 Abstract Data Reactive Waveshaper drool…
but the whole thing with eurorack is that the community is like one big swap meet, buy stuff 2nd hand for 70-75% of new and you can pretty much sell it on for what you paid for it, so try a module out, if it doesn’t work for you, flip it and move on
also start small, learn each module inside and out, especially with the added complexity of the A4 in the mix, then add another module and another and another and another and another hehe
TipTop Happy Ending Kit w/tabletop rack ears (power supply is the uZeus)
The Harvestman Hertz Donut (great dual oscillator w/waveshaping)
Make Noise Maths (analog computer: envelopes, LFO, crazy good stuff)
Make Noise ModDemix (ring mod, mixer, VCA - perfect partner for Maths)
Make Noise MMG (really useful, tasty VCF with handy Strike & Accent inputs)
Pittsburgh Modular Outs (gotta have a way to get the audio out to my A4+OT)
That’s it.
My rack has room left for one more handy sound source, and I’d love for that to be a Braids from Mutable Instruments. Those vowel formants could really compliment the other textures nicely.
I do something similar … I use the din sync out from the A4 into Pamela’s workout using an Expert Sleepers DJ-1200 cable (actually you can see that patched in the pic above). Perfect sync between the A4 and modular.
I do something similar … I use the din sync out from the A4 into Pamela’s workout using an Expert Sleepers DJ-1200 cable (actually you can see that patched in the pic above). Perfect sync between the A4 and modular.[/quote]
maybe you could help support those of us without a Pamela’s Workout to get in on the din-sync dividing action by commenting on this cause, so Elektron can gauge the user demand
Thanks for all your help folks, you’ve given me some great tips.
The happyendings kit seems to be the way to go.
I think using the cv outputs does add a whole other dimension to this little machine, it is the gift that keeps giving .
I do something similar … I use the din sync out from the A4 into Pamela’s workout using an Expert Sleepers DJ-1200 cable (actually you can see that patched in the pic above). Perfect sync between the A4 and modular.[/quote]
maybe you can help me , I’ve been trying to sync the a4 to the pamela’s workout all day , but the result coming out of the trig outs of the pamella is always a bit off , it seems like its a little late all the time . i tested it at very low tempo and its obvious . did you ever experience that ? it works beautifully when i use the a4 clock out from one of the cv outputs
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