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Need some advice about which modules to get for my first rack (programming.dev)

submitted 1 year ago by Unquote0270@programming.dev to c/synthesizers@waveform.social

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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/655754

So I’ve finally decided to get a real rack and I’m looking for advice on a couple of areas. I will be making drone/dark ambient and I already have a digitakt, 0-Coast and NTS-1. I want the rack to create slowly evolving drones and textures which I can layer with the 0-Coast for fx/bass and the digitakt to play more textures, glitchy fx, or whatever sounds right. I also plan to use VCV for CV modulation and sent to midi which seems to be nice and easy with the Nifty case.

So far I have decided to get the Nifty case and Morphagene, along with FX Aid XL for big reverbs and probably Befaco Out v3. The areas I am undecided about are modulation, distortion, and perhaps utilities.

For modulation, I would like a few different LFOs that I can use with both the rack and with the 0-Coast. I’ve been thinking about Ochd + some kind of mixer because I love it in VCV and it seems hard to beat in terms of separate LFOs and footprint. But then, perhaps Maths might be better? I would get less choice of outputs from it vs Ochd but I could potentially do more with it?

For distortion, I really have no idea. I want it to be stereo in/out as I plan to use it before or after FX Aid but I don’t know what kind of distortion I need for creating filthy distorted pads/drones. I quite like VCV's Debriatus’ saturate and fold sections in VCV. I’ve been looking at Erica Synths Pico DSP since it is small, stereo and could be useful to have other fx when I don’t want distortion. I think I also want it to have some kind of tone/filter to tame it and make it dark.

For utilities, I don’t think I need a great deal, at least for this iteration of the rack. It looks like I can attenuate the inputs on Morphagene and I don’t really need to create envelopes for now, nor do I need sample and hold (although this might be handy later on).

So any advice on modules? I’m also thinking that a stereo mixer with a few different inputs might be useful so that I can route the digitakt (which will have the 0-Coast running through it) because I only really have a stereo output to my speakers/computer.

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[–] pansapiens@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I would suggest as a starting point maybe just start using the FX Aid XL and Morphagene with your current gear, make some sounds and start to find what's missing. When you think ... "I've really love to be able to ... or "I would really like to tweak this VCV rack module in hardware", then find a module to help fill that function. This will give you time to learn and master the new things you have before adding more.

RE Ochd vs Maths - even though it's a bigger footprint for less LFOs, I feel like you might have fun with all the interesting generative feedback type patches you can do with Maths given the style you are aiming for. It can even be an extra (non-V/Oct) VCO for drones. Maths does take a bit of time to learn and understand. Another interesting module in this space (which I don't have but very much want) would be the After Later QARV. Or Pams New Workout - lots of modulation options beyond simple LFOs, but not everyone's cup'o'tea since it has a screen and some non-divey menus.

No specific suggestions for a filter, but it makes sense to have one given your existing gear. If you are going for a stereo signal path, I'd suggest a stereo filter since you can get some great spatial effects by modulating channels independently.

With regard to Befaco Out, it could be worth looking at small stereo mixers as an alternative, especially one that lets you attenuate the master output level, since this could go straight into your line-level speakers/computer.

[–] Unquote0270@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, lots of points to consider here. You're advice about just getting just a couple actually pushed me to jump in and make the order so hopefully I'll be receiving Morphagene and Desmodus Versio this week! I came across Desmodus while looking for distortion and realised I had to get it, it seems like it would be perfect for what I want.

I think I agree about Maths, the ability to have another drone could be very useful. I hadn't seen QARV but it looks like beast. I will have to research and think about the modulation aspect more, I was also looking at Ornament & Crime which looks incredible as well but I'm not sure how I feel about the screen and menus. Hard to dismiss that and Pams though considering how much they can do.

I've been looking at the Roucha Legio, which is how I came across Desmodus, and it's very tempting with it having distortion/shaping and filter in one smallish stereo module. It's a little pricey and I can't find much in the way of opinions at the moment but I guess I'll see how it goes with Desmodus, if the distortion there is enough then perhaps a cheaper filter will be all that's necessary.

I'm really glad you mentioned the output module, I realised that I do need one with an additional input so that I can incorporate my existing gear with the minimal connections I have available for the computer/speakers. I had some trouble finding one that had a) more than one stereo input, b) level for main out and c) level for headphones. There was one by 4ms that looked good but it's was bigger than I'd ideally want and a bit overkill so in the end I went for the Make Noise XOH. I'll see how this goes, seems like it will do everything I need at the moment and wasn't too expensive.

Thanks again, I'm starting to realise that this journey never ends and quickly becomes very expensive!

[–] pansapiens@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Roucha Legio looks interesting - a good balance of features in a fairly small space. I'd sort of stopped paying attention to all the new Legio modules, but with so many options now, the ability to just swap the firmware to try one out is becoming pretty compelling.

[–] Unquote0270@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

There are loads and a few of them don't hold much interest for me but it is amazing that you can swap them out and try something entirely different. Certainly makes it feel like a better investment.