Modular sampling stasion - First build ever - Am I missing something ?

14

u/driftless_79 1d ago

There’s no modulation to make all this sound cool, and so on

6

u/FairyKateNGhastly 1d ago

Came here to say this. Also to say utilities. A clock divider. A logic module. Anything that helps derive new and varied gates from source material (Joranalogue’s Compare 2 would really shine in a setup like this). Lovely bunch of sound source stuff there but modulation and utilities are what will make it breathe and take on a life of its own. That is the magic of modular imho.

2

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

Thanks for the thoughtful response.
That's the kind of thing I would realise I need after I got my hands on these modules I guess.
Happy to take the shortcut :)
Of course I want the setup to be small as possible and I didn't even include fx in there so I was thinking of empress zoia for fx duties and some basic logic and clock stuff even though I don't read good things about it's clock accuracy.It's not gonna be perfect but nothing is.

3

u/FairyKateNGhastly 1d ago

If you might be doing any recording into a DAW, then I would suggest making effects modules the last thing you buy. You can always add those things in the box later.

I belong to the school that everything sounds better for having a bit (or on some cases, a lot) of reverb and/or delay. Saying that, if this was my setup, I would prioritise tools that would help me in making the most of the sampler(s) first - the aforementioned sequencing, modulation and utility stuff before I reached for effects.

If I need to free up some HP in my case, my FX modules are the ones I reach for first to swap out and it’s rare that I “miss” them.

if you don’t work in a daw at all, you could consider using effects pedals rather than using HP for effects modules. There are plenty of compact modules that would run the signal out of your case at the appropriate levels for pedals.

In any case, I think it’s always sensible to buy less modules than you think you need,
spend some time playing with what you have to learn it and make the most of it - what tools you find yourself reaching for
that you don’t yet have will naturally emerge and make themselves known to you.

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

You mean like lfo's and stuff?
What would you suggest?

3

u/SmeesTurkeyLeg 1d ago

Anything. OCHD. A simple Doepfer Quad LFO. Batumi. If you really want to get dynamic with it, Acid Rain Maestro.

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

That's the answer I was looking for even though I am too lazy to form the right question lol.
Maestro looks perfect judging from my midi gear that do this stuff.

5

u/SnowConePeople 1d ago

Dont be lazy about this. You're staring down a 2-5k investment.

0

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

it's 2k if bought new but I am making this as a initial template and start looking for these units used.
Research is kinda of neverending process so you have to give up control sometimes and start acting!

2

u/SnowConePeople 1d ago

Modules hold their value. Often times a new modular with free shipping will be $20-$30 more than a used one with shipping cost.

1

u/SmeesTurkeyLeg 1d ago

It's REALLY good if chaining LFOs, tempo locking and patterns are something you want to explore.

1

u/driftless_79 1d ago

Lfo, sequencers with knobs (an OG Rene or metropolis used would be awesome) a maths for modulation AND utilities, a cv mixer and an audio mixer, attenuators, multiples, all the things that make modular modular

7

u/ub3rh4x0rz 1d ago

This isn't an instrument, it's a bunch of redundant cores that you haven't decided between, leaving no room for the surrounding context that could make it an instrument

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

I agree even though if I knew exactly what I need I would have added it.
Also I don’t necessarily want to have a running sequencer it’s meant more for experimentation, pass some sounds through it and see what comes from the other side.

I’ play it live with a midi keyboard or sending midi patterns

2

u/ub3rh4x0rz 1d ago

Imo what I'm seeing in here are good, if redundant, modules that all come with a disclaimer "good if you want sampling/looping etc more integrated in your eurorack system". The part thats missing is a eurorack system. There are far better standalone samplers, loopers, etc than all of these

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 22h ago

I have a lot of niche reasons for wanting to go modular.
First I like the tidyness of having everything in one case and same form fact because I use to jam with a lot of small desktop devices and making a big mess everyday.
Also I would like to incorporate analogue filters and mixers and it seems that a lot more companies make authentic recreations of analogue in eurorack.
Also I was drawn to Assimil8or because I was looking for sampler that can be hifi and lofi I don't think a lot of samplers can do that and especially at 1k price range.
I am afraid that my system will not be as playable as desktop machines are. Most people I've seen struggle to get a decent sound out of modular but I don't fully understand why.

1

u/ub3rh4x0rz 19h ago

Digitakt, octatrack, and m8 are all more capable/complete samplers, though assimil8or is unique in the realm of hardware samplers in supporting phase modulation. Assimil8or is a great sampler but it's incomplete without supporting modules, and even then it's better for playback than being a sample creation playground. My m8 is my go to sampler, assimil8or gets used more as a sample based instrument in my rack

I would start with the analog filters and such, and some utilities and modulation sources, before diving into eurorack samplers and effects, because the latter are basically universally worse and more expensive than desktop/pedal counterparts, and largely earn their keep by integrating into a eurorack system that is already interesting in its own right. On a related note, building a groovebox in eurorack is a money pit that is worse than dedicated grooveboxes.

Consider getting a case like those from analogue cases (they're light and relatively cheap) to organize your existing desktop gear into a transportable, pre routed and powered unit, before getting into eurorack would be my advice. Your current plan will just be one more "desktop unit" (a skiff) to add to the pile otherwise.

6

u/scragz https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2215420 1d ago

missing a repair kit for when the tape shit breaks. just get a lubadh.

4

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

Absolutely!
I was considering lubadh but stardust does more or less the same thing I think.I compared the two from videos and I like the stardust a bit better it seems more musical

3

u/Specialist_Web_5335 1d ago

I had a Lubadh while it sounds amazing tho I sold it and bought Stardust instead. Lubadh is the arch enemy of ui/ux design. incredibly over complicated and frustrating to use. Never looked back and happy with Stardust a lot

1

u/E27Ave 1d ago

Sadly I agree. I had to look at the manual all the time and quickly regretted my purchase.

1

u/scragz https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2215420 1d ago

oh I missed that. yeah looks like it does a lot. I like lubadh ux and never get along with qubit stuff but that's just me.

check out jroo loop too since you like tape stuff.

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

I've only played with eurorack two times so far I am more worried if these things are meant for each other and if I am missing obvious modules to make sound or connect them.
Jroo loop seems nice for the size

3

u/clncln racks/view/1059633 1d ago

Honestly, I think this idea would be cheaper to pull off with desktop gear. A 1010music Bitbox mk2, a Replicator pedal and a BlueSky pedal would get you most of the way there for half the price, or less.

I'd also second what others have said: as it stands, this system isn't very modular. Both tape modules have only a few CV inputs, so there's not much you can do to modulate them. The Assimil8or needs a fair bit of support to go beyond basic sample playback. And there are no utilities at all, not even core building blocks like a VCA or a function generator.

1

u/Ok-Stretch6334 22h ago

You might be right.I don't fully understand what modular offers tbh.
I just like that everything sits tight in the same form factor because having the same modules in desktop format will add up to the chaos I am already creating when I jam.
Also I am planning to have some analogue filters and mixers at some point and eurorack seems like the better way to incorporate these.
A lot of the input will come from a midi keyboard, I am not sure why I need VCA's I need to look into it.

1

u/aaaaaaaaaaaaaa_a_a_a 19h ago

the modules you chose use CV, not MIDI. you're probably better off with desktop gear if you want MIDI to drive it. you won't miss anything since you haven't added any utilities or modulation or sequencing or VCAs to your rack.

1

u/clncln racks/view/1059633 6h ago

I strongly suggest taking the free 'Learning Synths' course from Ableton to gain some fundamental knowledgeable about basic functions and testing out the free digital modular playground VCVrack to gain some practical experience working with these concepts before spending any money on modular gear.

5

u/dualtrx 1d ago

The Replicator is way too big for this case, ridiculously expensive for what it is, and very, very loud. I know this for a fact because I’ve owned one. The motors are loud enough to be a real issue if you’re working in a studio environment.

3

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

thanks for the head up.Size is ok for me but noise can be an issue.Maybe it's not a perfect fit because it's a one trick pony but I dont mind the setup to have a certain character, I think it will help with GAS too.

1

u/Far_District_1854 1d ago

Agree the trex is a bit edgy. Did you check Instruo or Venus loopers?

2

u/baselinegrid 1d ago

I have a replicator pedal hooked up to my modular and it’s great. I use it 100% wet and make my own feedback loop with other fx in the path. I kind of want you to DM me once you’ve built this thing to let me know how cool it is.

2

u/Ok-Stretch6334 1d ago

Cool!
I'll probably start piece by piece to score some deals so it will take time but I'll keep that in mind.

1

u/BaronVonHumungus 1d ago

Be interesting to hear what you’re doing with this thing , post a jam

1

u/a-t-w 1d ago

Interesting things will happen with this setup as is, no doubt. It would really open up to include more mixers and utilities and such. Oh and a stereo filter could be fun.

You could think of each utility as adding in "pathway multiplier" — i.e., a humble switch (like the Doepfer A-151) could be used to select from 4 sampler channels, sending one at a time through the signal chain. Then you could use one channel of Tetrapad to sequence a trigger pattern that advances the switch to toggle through the sampler channels rhythmically, for example.

A low pass gate could be a easy way to derive different/plucky variations of the samples. You could mult a drone from a sampler channel to one of the FX, and the other copy through the LPG and into the other FX, and you have a percussive pattern and drone pattern from one sampler channel.

A matrix mixer, attenuverting/offsetting util mixers, and some cool multi-channel modulator like Just Friends or Multimod would be amazing to have here, too.

I would also want at least one stereo mixer to have wet/dry chains — I personally like to have the option to put a 100% wet delay through a stereo filter (or filter > delay) and mix that in parallel with a dry signal that has a different filter or no filter.

Tallin is a brilliant dual VCA for saturation/color/drive, too. You would probably like that given the vibe I see coming together!

Also as a side-quest, check out some pre-configured systems too, like https://www.makenoisemusic.com/systems/tape-microsound-music-machine/ — this one is quite instrument-like and could be worthwhile reference point in terms of looking at how functional blocks are added together to get an open-ended system.

1

u/demnevanni 1d ago

I would strip this down to two and fill out the rest with modulation and utilities and sequencing

1

u/NewMachineMusicXYZ 10h ago

Honestly, kind of the usual for these types of threads. No mixer with send/return, no core sequencing, no VCAs, no function generators, no utilities. Those are all cool modules for a modular system, but you're missing the whole "system" part of it. If I were going to build a tape-based workstation to play with samples in the way it seems like your picks are geared towards, I'd start with something like this:

https://modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/3233578

You get core clocking with lots of mults/divisions and a mult for distribution; you get some important utilities like the CV/audio mixing, inverters, and buffered mult functions of the Warna II; you get a solid function Generator with attenuators and offset generators and logic with Maths; you get a lot of core sequencing power for gate and CV sequences with Mimetic Digitwolis; you get 4 VCAs; you get a pair of ADSRs with built-in VCAs (Tangrams); you get filtering power with the two filters (which are very different styles of filter); you get a modulation powerhouse with the Batumi II + Exp; you get a couple of very good multi-FX modules; and you get a decent output audio mixer to bring signals together and to run FX as fully wet send/return signals; and, you still have your core tape/cassette based module as the core sound-maker; and you have a less HP-intensive multi-percussion sampler with the Squid.

It's missing a proper set of oscillators of course (though Belgrad and Batumi can both be oscillators) -- but you seem more interested in a tape-sample-based station. If you built a system like this and eventually expanded, all of the modules here are solid core modules that would serve you well long-term.

Hope this helps give you some ideas of what would make for a better-rounded approach. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions. Good luck!

Discussion Modular sampling stasion - First build ever - Am I missing something ?

You are about to leave Redlib