The DPO is proud of being a chonk. Even its logo is chonky.
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I thought a bit about what 84 hp I’d give someone to play with for an afternoon from my own current collection (not the question that was asked, admittedly):
Pam’s (clocks, LFOs, gate sequences, snappy envelopes) 12hp
Generate 3 (oscillator) 12 hp
Falistri (function generator: LFOs, envelopes, oscillators) 18hp
Delta-V (envelopes, VCAs) 10 hp
3xMIA (mix, attenuvert) 6hp
Veils 2020 (mix, VCA) 10hp
Ikarie (stereo filter) 8hp
Hyrlo (stereo mixer) 4hp
Ferry (send/return, mixer) 4hp
Out (output, headphones, cue) 4hp
Total 84hp
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I went small the last time. That was the problem. Mainly digital multifunctional modules, with mini displays and cramped controls to get as much functions into 84hp as possible…
The only real fun module I bought was maths.
If I would start fresh I‘d get only bigger modules with nice haptic and less functions… No easter eggs. Which would make the modular pretty huge and expensive. So I won’t start fresh
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I would have avoided eurorack and just gotten a Buchla easel. I’ve learned that small, self-contained systems with distinct limitations and no menus or hidden/shift functions are much more enjoyable for me to use.
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You can have a lot of fun with these cases - the top one does really nice percussion and tzfm weirdness. Both are 46hp. The bottom one cost £110 for all modules, case and psu; the top one is about £130 for all modules, case and psu (if you can diy !). Self-contained - has a midi to cv module as well as a headphone module - great fun to drive from eg op-z…
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Interesting topic as I have 2x54hp to work with (and really don’t want to upgrade to a bigger case) and I’ve been thinking on how to expand on it. I started on it years ago and then never expanded on it and now I’m having a hard time committing to which modules to get.
I’m using it with an A4 (hence the Synapse module) and this is what I have so far:
Now I’m thinking of maybe of expanding into something like these two concepts:
Between Pam and uO_c I don’t know what would be most useful here.
Maths is popular and probably for many reasons but it’s also a big module.
I’d like to keep it mostly white plates so that reduces the options by a bit. Disting MK4 seems useful as a jack of all trades. Alternatively could fit a uPeaks in there also (with white face plate).
Other than that I’m mostly struggling to plan ahead how many cva/attenuater/mixer/output modules are needed. Currently I’ve planned for a Veils and maybe an output/mixer module. Planning on feeding it back into L/R of the A4 (and using any FX from there).
What are some of your opinions? Pam or uO_c? Maths or no Maths? How many CVA/mixer modules needed? Utility that is missing? Beads/Rings/Plaits worth it or should I go for other modules?
Going all micro MI with some cva/mixing utility from Happy Nerding could be an option also although the availability of the micro clones in Europe is not as great
ALM 54HP. This is really portable, I am powering it with a 1000 maH power bank.
Voices, primarily. I am sequencing externally (Deluge, OP-Z with OPLab, and the OXI One).
Mixing primarily with the 1010Music BlueBox.
Goals :
Where I am today (Knobula is enroute, patiently waiting for Noise Engineering Melotus Versio) :
I watched that Perfect Circuit video and it’s a little like the “stone soup” fable. “These modules cost under $500”, but you don’t count the case because “there are so many options”, then you throw in a Bastl Dude and an SQ-1 and a Pocket Operator and a Keystep…!
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I know you inferred euro by the hp specification, but for a little bass modular I might go with a variation on a synth voice. Maybe something like 2130 vco, compact vco, dual envelope, dual filter, dual amp, DC mix, mono mix in a BugBrand powered frame. I could see arguments for any mix of 2130, compact, or quadrature sine vcos for the first three frac units.
I’ve never dabbled in Eurorack, so I’m not of much help there.
Things like the Syntrx, Weasel or even the KARP 2600 FS seem expensive unless you’ve built out a moderate sized Euro synth.
And the BARP 2600 is insanely cheap by any measure.
The Moog Sound Studio and the Makenoise desktop trilogy are also incredible values, but they are more likely to lead down the dark path to GAS.
I don’t regret buying a ton of Euro. I also don’t regret selling it off (years later).
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It would just be a tinier version of what I already have:
ER-301 30hp
Falistri 18hp
Three Sisters 10hp
LxD 4hp
HPO 2hp
Then I would pair this with a M8 Tracker which samples the modular liberally and does the rest of the heavy lifting.
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If I were to forget everything else and use only a very small modular rig, I guess it would be:
Hermod+Pamela might be too much here but I could save projects and have enough modulation.
Sample drum for sampling, drums, textures.
Surface for up to 8 voices of polyphony.
Plaits for a lot of different sound sources.
Delay/Clouds for fx.
or Rample instead of sample drum as it can be played as a polyphonic instrument, Hermod would be useful.
and Rings instead of Clouds as it has a reverb, a very nice easter egg mode and can apply effects with its input.
The mixer has no pan cv but I couldn’t find anything else. Rings can output its input in a left/right pattern though
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I would start with something like this. Big sliders sequencer, some modulation, a good voice (with built in VCA) and some FX. The LIP doesn’t need a filter but it does open up potential.
It doesn’t feel very modular though, until you go beyond a one voice mono synth kind of setup like this.
And like @Unifono said, don’t try to cram too many small multifunction things in there. The enjoyment is with good layed out modules. I could advice one Hemisphere uO_C because it will start helping you out with many possibilities, and the screen menu is simple. And I put a NE Versio in here too, because of the small case. But beyond that try and stick with what you see is what you get modules.
It’s an individual journey, so nice about the gear buying and selling too. We need to try stuff to know what fits best and also that changes. We get more experience along the way. We are blessed we can do this.
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You can have lots of fun with a few modules. I started investing in eurorack in august this year after almost one year of investigating/watching videos. This is how I started: really fun small rig with the possibility to add external line audio into the mixer.
Now I’m here:
If I would need to sell everything and start fresh on a budget I would get 4 modules:
- Pamela’s New Workout
- A good eurorack voice depending on the direction you want to go: Plaits, Bia, Qubit Surface, Tyso Daiko, VPME QuadDrum, Akemie Taiko, Modbap Osiris
- FX Aid simple/XL/ Endorphin Milky Way
- A stereo line out: Erica in 3hp, ALM in 2hp or whatever
You can even buy just 2 modules(1 and 2) and still have lots of fun or even build full tracks by recording different loops into a daw/sampler.
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I would probably take a look at some single panel designed by companies such as Random*Source or Make Noise, because they operate in realms a bit outside of the classic ADSR Subtractive synth one.
I guess my top inspiration would be the Crocodile by Random*Source, because it has a quantizer which I think is a lovely concept to explore if you’re into melodies, and reproduce it in Eurorack form. And if possible go for modules that offer a lot of patch programmability (they offer a lot more functions than their basic title suggest: VCOs that can become LFOs, Filters that can self oscillate and become LFOs and VCOs, Envelopes than can be looped and track V/O to become VCOs, LFOs and filters, etc)
I guess something like this would be super fun, especially if combined with a 0-CTRL for example:
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Hard to say … would be more of a particular FX or sampling unit …
My problem would be that I love to have some space to put my fingers on the controls and between all those wires. This said, those 2hp modules are great but a little too small for my taste.
When I work on an idea for a modular system, I quickly end up with a full rack of more than 200 hp 
Thinking about downsizing to a small, fun set up to accompany some Polyend Tracker explorations for Jamuary. This lot will sit in a NiftyCase, so MIDI to CV and clock duties are covered.
Probably not a popular opinion here, but if I could start fresh and small, I would not buy modules but only semi-modulars or complete synths with patch points. Neutron, 0-coast, Minibrute 2S… anything that can stand on its own and still play well with others.
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