My setup currently consists of an Analog Keys, a 3-tier Tangible Waves AE modular system, and an iPad running various apps. The AK is the primary sequencer for everything (thank you Elektron!!!). I was building a small 84hp Eurorack system, but recently gave up on that idea and sold it off.
My first introduction to modular was through the Audulus app. With that app I first began to “think modular” and of course I enjoyed the flexibility and openness to exploration that comes with a modular system. From there, I started building my AE modular system. The AE world is ever growing and expanding into interesting areas, but of course it is not yet as expansive as the Eurorack world so of course I took an interest.
My interest started to wane when I started to delve further into other modular software environments, such as VCV rack and Drambo. of course running software on a computer does not provide the same experience as patching and tweaking real life hardware, but the difference in my opinion was not enough to justify the cost. Most of what I would’ve done in eurorack is now possible with AE modular, especially now that a host of new modules have been released. I just wanted to leave a couple of tips for others, so that they don’t make the same mistakes that I made should they want to dive into the euro rack world:
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plan your system carefully, and just buy the whole thing at one time. I made the mistake of building it piece by piece, which led to endless fretting on modular grid. I revised the whole game plan for my system countless times as I was accumulating modules. In the end, I see I should have just taken the dive all at once.
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consider sticking to a single manufacturer. Different brands have different design philosophies, and this becomes very important particularly in the area of placement of knobs and input jacks. Some modules are poorly designed compared to others, and lead to knobs That are impossible to tweaked when the system is fully patched. Of course this is not a problem that occurs in software.
In the end, I don’t regret this little euro rack adventure, as I was able to sell stuff for very close to what I originally paid for it.