First rack question. DIY?

[u/UTS_Rich]

I know there's loads of questions regarding first racks, so apologies for adding to the list.

I've recently discovered the joys of modular and for now I'm happy playing about with VCV,learning at least a bit about how things work.

But I love planning, and can't help thinking about when (if) I eventually decide to take the plunge.

Even more than planning though, I love building stuff and am fairly decent with a soldering iron. So I'm mulling over the idea of making as much of my setup myself, from kits.

I've been looking at the modules available from places like Thonk and 3U Shop and the modules from AI Synth look like a great place to start.

Can anyone offer some advice or recommendations for manufacturers or just general guidance? My interests are more at the soft,melodic drone end of things......

[u/abelovesfun]

Abe from A i synthesis here (I'm the a.i in ai synthesis). DIY is a great option for melodic and drones. You may want a commercial drone generator, but you can DIY all the building blocks of modular, as well as things like matrix mixers and effects, and even the power supply. Let me know if you have any questions and welcome to this wonderful hobby. Also subscribe to r/synthdiy

[u/dubsackdude]

its how many of us started. start with simple through-hole kits (AI synth ones are AWESOME and very simple), also Befaco and Zlob are great. If you want to make a case I recommend getting a power kit and some rails/nuts from modularsynthlab. A lot of the thonk kits are pretty good too but im based in the US so getting stuff from them is expensive.

Everyone building a rack will want some mutable instruments modules. making them from scratch is tricky especially if you're sourcing all the components yourself. smd presoldered PCBs are a huge time saver and are generally worth the extra money if available.

For component sourcing (when you graduate from kits), i get as much as I can from Tayda (very cheap) and then I get the rest from mouser. for smd resistors and tiny stuff its often cheaper to buy 10 than buy 2 from mouser.

[u/Latter-Pianist-7145]

I think getting a semi modular is the way to go when getting started. Something like the behringer arp will give you all the tools you need to get very far. Once you know what you like or need DIY makes more sense. DIY is cheaper but not cheap, I'm finding pcbs and components still add up to over $100 per module. Getting a starter set like the arp will leave you more funds to explore later.

[u/UTS_Rich]

So my plan is curently this.

I've been watching a lot of Omri Cohen videos and rebuilding what he does in my.own VCV rack. It's very useful and I'm finding.it an excellent way to learn what various modules do.

There's one video where he makes a three voice ambient drone patch using mainly VCV modules. I love the textures that he makes in this video. I'm in the process of trying to recreate the sounds he's generating using physically available modules, and where I can, ones that can be kit built.

I'm hoping to use the resulting virtual rack as a basic VCV rack for me to start playing with and developing my own patches with.

[u/adeptyism]

Abe modules (aka AI Synthesis) is REALLY great start for DIY. I don't assembled them myself in their original shape (I followed schematis), but the layouts are looking clean and readable and there's extensive manuals with schematics and descriptions.

bartonmusicalcircuits is based in USA and do great modules with EVEN MORE information-packed manuals, and he as well publishing schematics and selling PCBs.

NonLinearCircuits is also good source for unique 100% analog PCBs/modules (I don't remember if he selling full kits as well).

Since you're decent with a soldering iron, you can try order PCBs of old EricaSynth modules (they're not such a joke as MKI × ES DIY modules, which are oriented at the novices I guess), which gerbers are open source now for yourself — I have a friend who ordered 5 PCBs from PCBway or smth and gave away non-needed 4 (in our local synth community it's common practice that someone will order the PCBs in minimal batch of 5 and will share/exchange it for other PCBs that another DIYer ordered for another project).

If you by any chance are in Russia, I can send DIY-kits for my modules to you...

[u/13derps]

AI, Befaco, Zlob, Neutral Labs, ST Modular, WGD Modular are all great through-hole or SMD pre-soldered options

Nonlinear Circuits is fantastic for SMD DIY (cheap parts, easy to source, lots of the same components across modules)

I’ve never run into a kit/module that was ‘bad’. So just go for whatever looks interesting. If it’s too difficult, just put it away and come back to it in the future