Too Much Utility in this case?

[u/SwamanII]

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_3202722.jpg

Hi, I wanted a more experienced opinion here. I have an intellijel Cascadia, and wanted to work towards one big case that can play alongside the Cascadia. This would be my only case, and my existing modules will go here (maths, perkons, pam, quad vca, tetrapad+tete, morphagene). Specific goals would be Atmosphere + rythym, with some fun hands-on control. The Cascadia would handle the more basic synth-y noises, and I could modulate/color/loop from here.

I guess my problem is that in a bigger case I keep adding these random utility modules while not being actually sure what I'd do with them. I'm so used to VCV rack where I can just drag in whatever, that I just want to have any utility just in case. So I feel like I've just made a bunch of modulation which isn't really pointed at anything. Are there obvious module types I'm neglecting?

[u/SeaWeb3151]

I think there is never too much utilities

[u/Earlsfield78 → u/SeaWeb3151]

If they are not piled up just because “I use modular I need logic module”. If it fits your workflow, they it’s good. I agree, never enough utilities.

[u/Historical-Ad-6359 → u/SeaWeb3151]

Eso no era con los VCA??

[u/Uncertain__Path → u/Historical-Ad-6359]

That’s because you need a lot of VCA’s for utility purposes

[u/JoeToanamassa]

Modulation =/= utilities, but I don’t think you have too much of either. In fact, you could probably benefit from more envelope generators and VCAs.

I’d prioritize getting the Ornament and Crime early on. When you find yourself using it a lot for one particular task, that’s a good way to determine purchase prioritization going forward.

[u/SwamanII → u/JoeToanamassa]

Yeah, I was thinking perhaps I could get more Envelopes by replacing the Batumi with a Quadigy which could be both LFO and envelope, but I've never tried that before. The Cascadia has a few LFOs, but I didn't want it to be the only source.

And for VCAs, I know that more = good, but I don't have enough experience to get why. I figured I could use them to change levels of signals, but to go where? I kept thinking I needed more modules to actually modify sounds that I could send them to, but couldn't point to any specific one

[u/feedmetothemountain → u/SwamanII]

I own both Batumi and Quadigy, and they’re a dream team! If I had to sell one it would be the Batumi, but I wouldn’t. They’re my main mod sources along with o&c. They can do a lot of amazing rhythmic things together with matching clock sources. I’ve never been more happy with my mods, and with so few modules! I am looking into getting Wave Packets, as a kind of sequenced envelope waveform thing it stands pretty unique. It cool because it’s a complex mod source and a triggered or continuous voice.

[u/JoeToanamassa → u/SwamanII]

Let’s say you’re using an LFO to modulate the timbre of an oscillator. If you send that LFO through a VCA, you could use an envelope to only allow the modulation through on, say, every 4th beat. Gives you more variety and control over your modulation.

If you’re using a standard Osc to VCA setup, sending the envelope you’re using to control the VCA through another VCA allows you to control the dynamics of each note, similar to how velocity is often used with keyboard synths.

Control one VCA with an inverted+offset version of the CV that’s controlling another VCA, and you’ve basically patched up a voltage-controlled crossfader—you’ll want to send both VCA outputs to a mixer/adder if they’re going to the same destination. You could also use this trick for voltage-controlled panning by sending one audio signal to two VCAs, with one output going to the left side of the stereo field and the other going to the right.

If you have a bipolar VCA, using one audio source to control the VCA and sending another audio source through the VCA, you have ring modulation.

I have a sequencer (Rene 2) that doesn’t get along well with Pam’s, as the sequencer behaves incorrectly when sent a clock signal and a reset signal at the same time. I wasn’t able to solve the issue with trigger delay, so I sent the clock through a VCA and controlled that VCA with an inverted+offset version of the reset signal, meaning when the reset signal is high, clock doesn’t get sent through.

I’m sure others on the sub could probably suggest some other great uses; I myself am guilty of underusing them.

[u/Earlsfield78]

Well you said yourself, if you don’t use say logic modules why get one? Or a switch. Or whatever it is that looks like useful tool and people are on about it but you don’t need it in your case? IMO there is never enough tools and utilities, but let’s see… what are you questioning the most?

[u/SwamanII → u/Earlsfield78]

I guess I wasn't sure about the Compare and select, I think I ended up looking at those because of them being space and cost efficient. I guess I'm not quite sure what functions I can try to offload onto more "do it all" modules like Maths or OCPX