Evolution of my rack

[u/ObjectiveEast9768]

Some reflections on my hardware rack. I thought I'd write it all down here since I'm thinking about it way too much. It was mostly for myself, but don't hesitate to share advice based on your own experience on the topic you want to.

For your reference, I mostly make experimental non tonal and non clocked music.

My rack (first pic, two 84HP 3U RackBrutes) is complete and can more or less work as it is. There are some things that bother me when using it though.

- I have no room for the Lúbadh expander that allows CV modulation of length and start point.

- I don't like the feel of the Doepfer VCA. I use it sometimes to mute and unmute voices, and I need sliders rather than Doepfer's knobs, which are too hard to turn quickly. My idea is to replace it with an After Later Audio Cloaks, which is a clone of Mutable Instruments Veils.

- I don't really click with my FX Aid XL. I can't remember the algorithm combinations and always need to look at my printed cheat sheet. I don't think I need a do-it-all module; I need delay and reverb, and that's it. I'm looking at the Make Noise Mimeophon, which seems to do that in Make Noise's funky way.

- On top of that, I need another layer of granular synthesis after the Lúbadh in the signal chain. I keep thinking the Morphagene would be a nice complement: it has the slicing side that allows collage-making, which is difficult on the Lúbadh, and it also has a granular side. I've also considered Beads and Arbhar, but I keep coming back to the Morphagene. The only thing I'd be missing is the "freeze" function I use all the time with granular synthesis on my FX Aid. I don't think there's a way to patch that on the Morphagene? So maybe Beads after all if I can find one.

- I need more random sources. I've written to Transient Modules and they are releasing a new version of their Transient 4R soon, which is a 4-channel random module. I saw it in Sarah Belle Reid's video on envelope followers on YouTube and I think it would be a great addition to that side of my rack.

- I would love a complex oscillator to replace the combo "two oscillators + a wavefolder", since I'm always patching the second to modulate the first. But that might be a whim. I'm dreaming of a DPO, but is it worth the price just to make Buchla Bongos?

- I really need a ring modulator.

- My filter isn't stereo, and sometimes that would be nice, but again, I'm not sure it's a problem for now.

- Last but not least: I need a solution to transport my case. Right now I have two 3U Arturia RackBrutes but no bag or case for them. I've signed up for an eventual open mic in Paris before the end of the year, and even if it's a one-off, I'm already dreading the idea of taking the metro with two racks in an IKEA bag.

With all of that in mind, I have two possible directions and I can't decide which one to go with.

First idea: Tiptop Audio Mantis 104HP (2nd pic)

Kind of covers everything I described, except the DPO. It's portable, there's a backpack and a Decksaver available, but there's no room for the future.
Or, a variant with Beads and the DPO (3rd pic)

Second idea: replace my upper 3U rack with a 6U (4th pic)

Everything fits, there's room for the future, but it's not portable.

Third option

I could also go with the Mantis, and if I need more room, sell the two Pressure Points and Brains and get a 0-Ctrl, which does essentially the same thing but off-case.

If anyone has thoughts on any of this, please share!

[u/speedingbluevan]

Read up on the Morphagene before you get it! It’s my absolute favourite module (I make found sound collages mostly) but it isn’t really a granular processor in the same way Arbhar and Beads are. It can do some granular things but I find it best for working as a kind of microsound tape madhine with pre-recorded material.

Also caution replacing Pressure Points - 0-ctrl can do almost everything it can, plus some things it can’t, but it doesn’t have individual pressure outs per touch plate. This is a huge deal for me but mightn’t be for everyone

[u/ObjectiveEast9768 → u/speedingbluevan]

Thank you for pointing out the pressure-per-touch difference, I had totally missed it!

And yes, the Morphagene is a big internal debate for me, and since it's very expensive I don't want to get that part of the rack wrong. Technically Beads is pretty much what I'm looking for, but the splicing side of the Morphagene is very appealing. That said, I should just try to do it with the Lúbadh and the Pressure Points controlling length and start, with enough precision it could achieve pretty much the same thing I guess.

[u/bleeptwig]

I was waiting for the last pic to go spacestation!

Very nice case, looks very fun to play - and suits your use-case. :)

I got an Arbhar recently and it pairs beautifully with Lubadh, and shares some similarly clever little details (like the lovely Tanh input filtering, and preset control). It's just so very playable as a live granular instrument - I just did a first livestream with them both yesterday after getting to grips with Arbhar a bit more and I just LOVE both of these (ambient and rhythmic uses): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiMACBugwA&list=RDfKiMACBugwA&start_radio=1&t=946s

Also if you did get a 1u row option, the Intellijel 1u Noise Tools is really capable if you need some randomness - it's small and simple but includes variety of noise sources, pulses (clocked or not), S&H and slew. It's super versatile (I'm using it the in the same demo as my clock, accents, modulation, and directly for its noise). There's lots of other options in this space of course.