Could you explain what type of music/sequencing you imagine for this? A lot of sequencers alone wouldn’t fit in this space, let alone with also a reverb. I love sequencers with 8 sliders and selectable/patchable step count (1 to 8 steps), like Metropolix, Verbos Voltage Multistage or Muxlicer+Mex. Smaller you could fit some kind of Turing machine or generative sequencer that uses knobs/pots instead of sliders. (Like Alan or Patchinko). Reverbs are very good and relatively affordable from the FXAid, FXaidXL or FXaidPro. I have and love the Pro, but it would be hard to fit that together with a sequencer (maybe together with the Alan). But it starts with the question which type of sequencing you’d like I think.
Since you’ve got MIDI in, you can use an external sequencer. Or if you go with an 84hp case, you will have enough space for the more playable sequencers that @lesstalkmoredisco mentioned. Clank Chaos (with its recently added sequencer mode) and FX Aid XL will fit in the space you still have, but you’ll have to decide if it fits your needs. You can’t expect much from a small modular case.
With 20HP left, you could go with Qu-Bit Bloom (16HP sequencer with 2 channels for the Atlantix’s A and B oscillators) and a regular FXaid (4HP for reverb). But it does look like you have reverb already in one of the 1U modules you have in there. And if that’s the case, I would use the last 4HP for an ochd, which will give you a lot more modulation options for changing your sound over time.
The 1U Intellijel Multi-FX only does one effect at a time, so I guessed it was there for delay/chorus, as Intellijel has a smaller 1U reverb. (I personally think 1U is a trap but to each their own.)
As it stands, that MIDI In module won’t do anything in this case: the Atlantix has no way to retrieve MIDI from it. I think the purpose of that module’s design is to add MIDI ports to a case without them, to be used by connecting it to the back of something like Intellijel MIDI 1U to turn your MIDI into CV to use in the case. If you’re intending to get the Intellijel 62HP 4U palette, you actually already have these ports built into the case at the top; instead you’ll just want something like the MIDI 1U to get CV out of MIDI. If you use the space for this, I would probably recommend sequencing with MIDI outside of the case, since space is limited; if you don’t, you have some more space for modules you can use for sequencing.
Atlantix is a full voice module (i.e. VCAs are built into it) so you might not necessarily need the Arcane Knowledge VCA. Perhaps you want it for the character distortion though?
Unless having a headphone out is important, if you’re using the Intellijel pallete I’d recommend the smaller Intellijel Stereo Line Out 1U, which will get you some of your 1U space back
You could get some more space from your 1U section by consolidating the Arcane Knowledge and the Multi FX 1U into something in the FX AID line, which will do a fair few more things in less space
With all that, you possibly either have space in your 1U row to put together a bunch of utilities you can patch together for sequencing, or you’ve got a solution for sequencing via MIDI and you can use the space to put in other interesting things that will complement the Atlantix.
If you do want to sequence in the case, you’ll probably need to decide what kind of sequencing you want to do
Generative sequencing: You’ll want some ways to generate CV, quantize it to notes, and generate gates. This is a fairly endless topic, but some building blocks could be a source of random CV, a quantizer and a trigger sequencer or clock module. Something like Pam’s Pro Workout can be all of those in 8HP, which is very efficient in a small case, but you’ll need to decide if you gel with operating menus in your case. You can get most of these building blocks as separate modules (some that can live in your 1U row) and patch together the functionality, which is more fun imo but has a learning curve.
Basic step sequencing: With 20HP left you’ve got quite a few options. Voltage Block is not a bad shout because you have 8 whole lanes of CV, which will give you something to modulate inputs beyond pitch (each lane can be quantized or not, though it’s a bit fiddly). 4MS Catalyst Sequencer is a more modern take on Voltage Block with some extra bells and whistles, 20HP again. Mimetic Digitalis is half the size with half the lanes but a similar concept. However you still need a source of triggers/gates, which may make this unviable with the space you have.
Battleship sequencing: Probably not a goer in a case this size. You might look into the standalone Metropolix if you don’t mind operating separate boxes - one nice thing is if you ever get a bigger case you can rack the Metropolix even if you bought the standalone version.
Something entirely different: to be honest, if I was starting from zero and wanted to build a synth around the Atlantix, I would probably just save up the few hundred bucks difference and get the Cascadia instead: to my ears the voice section of the Cascadia is the Atlantix, and you get so much more bang for your buck, as well as getting some confidence that some people who really know their stuff have designed your (semi-)modular instrument from the get go.
Honestly I would go a little bit bigger.
maybe forget about the 1u row, and go for
Atlantix + Metroplix + Sealegs. That would be 96 hp but you would have fun for years, and quality FX.
…and add an Intellijel Triatt for more attenuversion / mixing and then throw the lot of them in a Nano Caixa case (2 LFOs, mults, adder, S&H, stereo mixer, 1/4" in/out, headphones out) and you’re done.
But cost wise that’s quite a bit more than the OP was looking at, and you’re into Cascadia territory in terms of cost. But Cascadia doesn’t include a sequencer or FX, and can’t be reconfigured if you want to change things up…
In any case no perfect choices, but as everyone warns, if you’re going to enter the slippery slope of eurorack, hold onto your wallet!
It would be interesting to see statistics on people who start with a 62hp Palette, what they have and actively use a year later. My guess is that 70% have 0hp (sold or inactive) and 25% have 200hp or more.
I’m in that estimated 25%, and I use my “leftover” 60 hp case (from a DFAM that’s now racked in my bigger setup) when I want to force myself to focus on just a few modules at a time.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a group of users who have small, specific-purpose systems who don’t expand them, or pare back to something along those lines. I’m thinking about combos like “Morphagene plus utilities” or “Rings into Clouds” or the like.
This is partly why I don’t think standard advice around building a classic subtractive synth architecture as an opening move into modular fits everyone, when that need can be filled by a semimodular (and there are so many around now). I would probably advise people to try the module that got them most excited about modular, plus whatever utilities it needs to be reasonably self-contained.
I agree that building a classic subtractive synth in modular is not a good start. But I’m not sure about “module that excites, plus support”. First of all, the reasons for that excitement may not be the right ones: a video by someone skilled or talented, or using lots of support modules, and/or lots of effects. Second of all, a beginner will not know what modulation possibilities make sense, and someone experienced might not grasp what a beginner could best learn from. I would argue for a more general first system that demonstrates what modular is good at. I wish there were a semimodular that cost less than Cascadia that I could recommend.
Good call… I already have a solid rig and just want to add the Atlantix sound, but yeah maybe is better to case it with a cool sequencer / cool fx and try to stop there
That’s true sometimes of non-modular synths. I had a game of “spot the BigSky” going when I used to watch more demos of ambient or drone synths.
Couple of things to unpack here - one, is the user’s goal to “learn synthesis” (and what does that really mean?), vs fill a specific need or want in the overall setup? If the prospective user just really likes what Clouds does to a signal, they have the option to go further and learn more about synthesis, or they can dial in the settings they like and treat it like a guitar pedal. But they can start by knowing just enough to do the initial thing they wanted to do.
Secondly, I feel like there’s an opportunity that’s getting away from us a bit in terms of dealer education/support. That would be easier if people were more able to visit a shop in person and felt OK about asking questions. One interesting idea would be for the dealers to bundle modules and case in popular small configurations (and maybe offer a small discount for buying it all together). Think along the lines of the Tape and Microsound System, but mixed-manufacturer.
My answer to this would boil down to “the one you can afford”, trading it or adding stuff to make up for deficiencies as perceived in use. I’ve had a lot of fun with the Brutes over the years. I like the idea of the Bullfrog a lot.
(Hopefully this doesn’t come off as being aggressive in the way that point-by-point text responses sometimes do.)
Not at all, though any moment now, Discourse will complain that we are talking at each other too much.
I am an educator and researcher, so my bias is towards generality and a learning path that results in deeper understanding, rather than “just do this because it works”, because when it doesn’t work, one has nowhere to go. But I accept that people might just want to plug something in and turn some knobs. As long as it doesn’t frustrate and anger them. Eurorack seems an expensive thing to treat that way, but it’s not my money. (Well, it is my money, quite a lot of my money, but I didn’t approach it that way.)
I agree that dealers might do more. Some of them are, I think: Perfect Circuit has a lot of articles and a lot of videos talking about more than just one module. Elevator Sound is doing in-store workshops. Schneidersladen is a demo paradise and they are pretty good about helping, though they don’t have the personnel to actually tutor, I think. Yes, they’re all trying to make money, but I think they realize that demystification aids in that goal, plus they retain at least some idealism and community spirit.
I like the idea of the Bullfrog for kids / adolescents, though there are some quirks in the design. Not yet sure if it is sufficiently versatile for adults. (I bought a Blipbox After Dark for second daughter’s kid, currently keeping tabs on what to get for first daughter’s kid.)
Having a portable skiff is nice even if you end up with a wall of modules so you’re not shooting yourself in the foot - as long as you get all the space you need. I’d probably find a more compact I/O module and extend it to 84hp or more but that makes it more inconvenient on gigs, you need to try it. If audio out is enough you could just use a simple attenuator. Remember to budget for cables, I use tendrils to avoid the mess but some don’t like them.
Don’t do it. Run for the hills. Get out now, before you even start…this is how it all begins. In 6 months you’ll be $thousands deep, your friends will have abandoned you, you’ll have sold off everything else you owned, and the replies to your requests for help on Modwiggler will leave you with no faith left in humanity.
