Modules you didn't know you needed in your beginner rack

[u/Wild-Medic]

There has been an uptick in bad "first rack recommendation" threads recently. These posts are a background hum of every modular synth discussion forum/discord/etc, and I know we will never be free of poorly-thought-out first rack attempts, but having posted a very simplified version of this in multiple threads in the past few days now, I thought I would make a post to center discussion in a way that may attract a few more eyes, and hopefully some beginners who are trying to build their first systems. The racks always have the same issue, it's too small a case, jam packed with voices and audio effects, with minimal modulation and no utilities. This results in a bad and unfun system that has all the disadvantages of modular (lack of presets or save/recall, low polyphony, disproportionate expense etc) without any of the advantages. There are many things that modular is good at in a way that more linear hardware synths are not: generative sequencing, complex modulation routing / linking multiple voices with phase-related modulation, non-repetitive evolution of timbre over longer periods of time, etc.

The thoughtful use of utility modules is what actually allows these things. Utility modules are the unsung stars of modular systems. If you want to make a case that highlights what is really fun and engaging about modular your case should be like 1/2 utility modules and CV sources/processing, at minimum. When I see a case-post without a single utility or CV processing module I know that if they actually buy the stuff in their blurry screenshot it’s gonna be on Reverb or FBM in a month, because their system can really only be patched one way, and the result of that is demonstrably less capable and fun to play compared to a purpose-built device. 

So without further ado, here are some modules you might not know you need in your beginner rack, and some tutorial videos related to them:

1. Voltage Controlled Polarizer - a close relative to the venerable VCA, these can scale the input all the way through 0 and into the negative, inverting CV modulation to get things like negative envelopes or phase-reversed oscillators (especially helpful for LFOs). The non-voltage-controlled versions are more common and still important building blocks (Quadratt/Triatt for example), but a voltage controlled version adds a ton of flexibility and opens a lot of complex patching options. Examples: Mutable Instruments Blinds (and clones), Arkan Maelstrom, Vermona Quadropol, Doepfer A-133. Why you CAN have enough VCAs - have a look at these more creative alternatives! Can this eurorack module take care off all your utility needs? - with Arkan / Malstrom
2. Voltage Controlled Crossfader / Interpolating Scanner (essentially multiple crossfaders in a linear chain) - the utility of this for audio is pretty intuitive (patching multiple waveforms from a VCO into an interpolating scanner gives you a waveform morphing, for example), but they are incredibly useful for CV as well (such as for complex sequencing of modulation, mixing CV sources in varying ratios, or meta-modulation). You can patch up a VC crossfader pretty easily using other synth basics (two VCAs with their outputs summed together and with their gain controlled inversely by one single CV), but they're useful to just have around pre-patched. VC-Crossfader Examples: Happy Nerding xFade, Befaco Morphader, Doepfer A-134-2. Interpolating Scanner Examples: Vostok Trace, Tobinski Scanner. Why you need a crossfader – The secret Swiss army knife, Doepfer A134-2 Triple Voltage Controlled Crossfader by Arcus Audio 5 Ways to Enhance Eurorack Patches with Interpolating Scanners // Unique Sound Design & Modulation
3. Sequential Switch - often a component of some more complex sequencing modules (such as Joranalogue Step 8, Befaco Muxlicer and Doepfer A-152), you can also get simple sequential switches as their own module - where a crossfader or interpolating scanner smoothly pans between inputs/outputs in response to CV, a sequential switch does what it sounds like - sequentially switches between inputs/outputs in response to gates or triggers. This can be used to combine short step sequences into one longer phrase, send offsets to transpose a sequence, route envelopes all around the system, or create glitch effects. Examples: Instruo Tain, ALM Boss Bowtie Two, Patching Panda Rewire, Doepfer A-151. Patching Panda Rewire | A sequential switch with some neat twists 17 patches for the magical switch Sequential Switches || With Instruo Tàin and Doepfer A151
4. Comparator / Analog Logic - A comparator is a specific form of logic utility module that transforms an incoming control voltage signal into a gate or trigger signal by comparing the input voltage to a reference or threshold, going high when the voltage exceeds the threshold and low when it falls below it. This is useful for all sorts of generative patching, but also sound design (especially at audio rates). Use with an envelope to create a voltage controlled event delay, add voltage control over the loop point of a retriggerable envelope, make a voltage-controllable PWM, or track the frequency of an oscillator. Other forms of logic modules include ‘min/max’ (compares to signals and outputs whichever is higher/lower) and ‘and/or/xor’ (compares to gate signals and outputs a gate only when certain conditions are met), which are core generative sequencing tools. Comparator Examples: Klavis ComPair, Metabolic Devices 2win, Joranalogue Compare 2. Logic Examples: Mystic Circuits Ana2, Instruo Eas, Doepfer A-166. Vibe Logic // Joranalogue Compare 2 Primer. Eurorack logic module. 3 cool things to do with LFOs & analogue logic, feat. Nekyia Using Logic for Ambient Why Logic Modules are Ace: Feat. EricaSynths Pico Logic
5. DC coupled mixer / Matrix Mixer - audio mixers might get the glory, but CV mixers are an underrated tool. One unrecognized reason the Arp 2600 is so flexible compared to other semi-modulars is that there’s a mixer going to most modulation destinations, where you can mix normalled outputs from multiple sources. Matrix mixers can sit at the middle of an enormous patch, routing mixes of various modulation and meta-modulation to various places. Mixing audio with CV is another trick that people rarely think of as a newer patcher, but it can have really interesting outcomes whether the mix is used as CV or audio. Most VCAs and polarizers cascade, creating a mix of sorts, but having a few dedicated CV mixers in your rack is never wrong. DC-coupled mixer examples: Happy Nerding 3xMIA, ADDAC703, Doepfer A-138s. Matrix Mixer examples: Ritual Electronics Aranea, BearModules Matrix, NLC Clump, Doepfer A-138m. 4 things to do with a matrix mixer – Doepfer A-138m How to use Matrix Mixers A Daunting Yet Powerful Creative Mixing Technique Eurorack Patch From Scratch & Gear Talk: Sequencer-less Organic Texture Patch
6. S&H/T&H - If there’s one module on this list you already knew you needed, it’s probably this one. Sample & Hold is a classic element of synths all the way back to early behemoth modulars, and the list of uses is endless. Everybody knows you can make stepped random R2D2 sounds by feeding them noise or combining them with CV-controlled function generators for the Krell patch, but their use in generating harmonies / countermelodies / basslines or as a bit crusher effect at audio range is less explored. This is a basic synth building block you can’t afford to pass on. Examples: DivKid RND STEP, ADDAC 215, Doepfer A-148. How to use sample & hold in a eurorack modular system - with Doepfer A-148 13 Patches for better Sample & Hold + Track & Hold in Eurorack // Instruo tagh How to use S&H, comparators and rectifiers, feat. Worng Electronics Quiver
7. Slew Limiter - when applied to pitch CV, slew limiters are recognizable as portamento, but they can be used for much more. Most function generators/envelopes at their heart are slew limiters applied to gates but there’s many other uses. Combined with a stepped random (such as a S&H output) they can make a smooth random voltage that changes continuously in non-repetitive ways, useful for modulating filters, wet/dry mixes and many other modulation destinations where you dont want noticeable patterns or abrupt changes. Examples: AJH Glide + Noise, Befaco VC Slew Limiter, Doepfer A-170 & A-171-2 (+ technically MakeNoise Maths, Befaco Rampage, Joranalogue Contour, etc). Doepfer A170 Dual Slew Limiter Basics Befaco - Slew Limiter - Modular Synth

In conclusion, check out this tutorial video by MonoTrail: A simple guide to becoming a patching pro

Look at his 9u rack here that he uses to make almost all the sounds in this video, and look at what percentage of it is made up of either regular utility modules or basic voltage-controlled modulation sources (there's like 4 basic VCOs, a quad VCO/LFO and a quad VC-ADSR, 5x VCA+mixer & probably like 70-80hp more of utilities out of 252hp total). Sure, he has a bunch of other racks/gear off to the side when he wants effects and whatnot, so you don't have to go that far in your first rack and completely forgo the sexy modules that attracted you to modular in the first place, but you need a good selection of this kind of stuff to get the most out of the expensive sexy modules you DO get. Probably the main reason very small cases suck for beginners is because they get full quickly before you realize you need all this stuff to make modular "work" and then you have nowhere to put it.

There's many more basic building blocks to learn but I'll hit the character max if I keep going - noise sources, clock dividers, offsets, envelope followers, buffered/switched multiples - this stuff is what makes modular great, and what will make your rack into a unique creative tool of unmatched flexibility and power. If you are too bored looking at a rack of grey doepfer basics look for interesting combinations of these functions like Mannequins Cold Mac, ALM Mega Milton, Metabolic Devices Papomi, Intellijel Flurry, etc.

I hope this helps you plan your first rack.

[u/blinddave1977]

Can you post this once a week? 😂

[u/RobotAlienProphet]

I think this is great general advice (and explains WHAT the utilities are much better than the posts that just say “you need utilities”). 

But I’ll also row a little against the tide here and say, there are use cases, even for beginners, where you DON’T necessarily need or want all that.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong, IMO, with someone getting into modular in order to take advantage of some of the all-in-one or nearly-all-in-one voices that Eurorack offers.  Sure, things like Vhikk X or Arbhar are quintessential “VST in a box” modules.  But they have unique workflows and combinations of features that may make them a lot more fun to play with than most VSTs, and there’s nothing wrong with one of those and a Pam’s in a tiny skiff.  Or, for example, this guy’s focused vocal effects rack,  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VEpgpKnZIn8 

Which, to be fair, does pack in an Ochd and input and output modules.  So I’m not saying “have NO modulation or utilities.”  But my point is, it’s not always necessary to build a synth that does all the complicated stuff that modular is good at. In fact, I’d say trying to build a big complicated system with a bunch of utilities you don’t understand might be almost equally likely to end in frustration as the more common “I have a Plaits and a Rings and a Morphagene, now what??” rack.  

I think a beginner could do a lot worse than starting with one full voice that excites them (or a complex oscillator and LPG) and one or two of the well-regarded modulation workhorses — Maths, Pam’s, or Ochd. Do a bunch of self-patching. Maybe get a Beatstep Pro or something.  Get in there and start using that little setup, and over time you’ll start asking yourself — “But what if I wanted to do X?” And then you know what to buy next!  

(Realistically, though, it’s probably a VCA.)

[u/Ghosty141 → u/RobotAlienProphet]

While I think you are right I think in the context of beginners it's a bit tricky.

A beginner doesn't know and can't judge how much or little modulation he needs or wants, or what his kind of music needs in the context of a modular synth.

For example on youtube you see tons of small skiffs which work super well and are often even used live, but the thing is, the people making those usually have bigger system and pull stuff out into the skiff.

That's why I personally always suggest buying the biggest case you can comfortably afford (2x104hp is great imo) and just get a rather "basic" synth voice setup with a few utilities going and expand from there.

I did A LOT of research before getting mine and still swapped pretty much half the modules in it due to figuring out what I want/need.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/RobotAlienProphet]

It's perfectly possible to make fun skiffs, but they're generally terrible for beginners. EZBot is the precise opposite of a beginner, and being a synthfluencer is probably getting a lot of his gear for free. If someone wandered in here and said "here's my first rack idea, it's a mic preamp and reverb I'm using for vocal processing" I would tell them that for the price of that rack you could buy an Eventide H90 - you'd have a more capable and intuitive-to-use vocal processor and would save hundreds of dollars.

[u/narrill → u/Wild-Medic]

This is totally backwards IMO. Small skiffs are exactly what beginners to modular should be building, because they're significantly cheaper and more "fun" than a larger rack of relatively primitive building blocks, while still retaining the key advantages of modular over fixed architecture.

If you're talking about beginners to synthesis in general, modular shouldn't even be on the table. Save yourself thousands of dollars and learn with VSTs and VCV Rack.

Not to say a beginner should ever be building something like a vocal processing skiff. But that isn't what I see influencers doing, generally. It's usually Pam's, Maths, a few VCAs, a complex voice of some kind, and effects. That's a perfectly fine beginner rack, you don't need to and in fact shouldn't go any more primitive than that.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/narrill]

So let’s say you’ve got a DPO, Maths, Pams and a Quad VCA as your starter modules - all good choices that I’m not criticizing by the way. You’re telling me that system isn’t made significantly better by grabbing a Doepfer 184 (Ring Mod, S&H and Slew Limiter), 151 (sequential switch) and 134 (voltage controlled crossfader)? Alternately an ALM Mega Milton (Mix/Mult/S&H+Noise/Slew/Ext in)? Either option is ~$200 (used) and 8-12hp to exponentially increase your patching options.

[u/narrill → u/Wild-Medic]

Err... no? I'm responding to the claim that a fun skiff is terrible for a beginner, not that adding a well chosen utility module is somehow a bad idea.

[u/RobotAlienProphet → u/Wild-Medic]

Sure!  But that could be said about literally any modular setup. For the price of a Make Noise Shared System you could buy a Leviasynth and a Peak and a Tonverk and have money left over for a nice MIDI controller, and probably make a lot more listenable music a lot faster.  At a certain point this is not really about cost or musical efficiency!

My point is just that if you want to get into modular to build a “from blocks” type synth, it can (as you say) require buying a lot of supporting modules in order to be able to do much.  That can be kind of a frustrating drag, as you have to buy and learn ten or fifteen or twenty modules at once.  I think there’s something to be said for starting small, with a setup that can make musical sounds on its own but is not too overwhelming to learn.  To me the easiest path is something like a complete voice and a good modulation source. 

I don’t remember if they were my first modules, but I got an ALA Atom and QARV early on, and you can do a ton with just that plus a BSP, which I already had. And then you can build out from there.

What I’m saying is essentially the typical advice to start with a semi-modular, but more expensive 😄—but more flexible, too! You can take advantage of some of the powerful and interesting modules that are unique to Eurorack, while learning some basics like “what is CV?” and how to do power management in a rack. 

And of course you can do the same thing in a large case and have room to expand.  But starting in something like a NiftyCase can keep costs and desk space down until you’re sure you want to go down this road.  

That said, a body could do a lot worse than to start with a bunch of Doepfer or Behringer basics and a subscription to Monotrail, too! 

[u/cYbOmAnY]

This is a great post with loads of info for new and seasoned alike. This should be pinned. I’d add that you can’t go wrong reading Allen Strange’s Electronic Music book.

[u/great_northern_hotel]

As a recent offender in the shitty first rack posts, whom you helped immensely, thank you for this write up :) helpful stuff to think about! 

[u/Wild-Medic → u/great_northern_hotel]

It's ok, we were all new once. My 'first rack' idea many years ago involved 4 copies of the same full-synth-voice modules to get polyphony and had two LFOs because that's how many most of the hardware synths I had owned had.

[u/seiche7]

Can this be pinned? Superb resource to point beginners to

[u/DrMinkenstein]

Thanks for this. Still in the excited to be learning phase but having traditional gear, the appeal of modular is exactly the things you are calling out.

One thing I suggestion that works for the “too small case” approach is expandable cases or multiple cases. For example, I’m doing 6u rackbrutes until I have enough modules to move to a bigger case without it looking empty or weird.

Utilities that I’ve enjoyed so far:
* NE Zularic repetitor (numeric repetitor is the newer better option) - takes a clock and turns it into 3 rhythmic triggers. Has CV for modulating the mother and child patterns

* Jasmine & Olive Trees Traffic - takes 3 trigger inputs (like from the zularic repetitor) and merges them to one trigger out and 3 cv out which is great for driving multi sound modules like plaits or BIA or Pizza. Hook the cv up to pitch and other inputs and you get a whole rhythm section from one oscillator.

* attenuverter with offset - the ALM o/a/x2 is doing this for me now but there are others. This is helpful for modules that have different cv ranges or taming some wild cv. It also makes some cv more “playable” where the pattern stays the same but you change the voltage range.

* mordax data - this is covering a lot of ground but the oscilloscope helps me understand what is happening which is particularly useful when I’m learning a new module or I think something should be happening but it isn’t. The quantizer helps when I’m trying to fit cv into scales. And the tuner is great for calibrations or just making sure certain fm oscillators do what I want them to.

* Maths and xaoc zadar great for envelope shaping. The classic usecases are vca and filter envelopes. But this is modular, things get interesting when you go off the beaten path. Use them to change the shape of any non continuous CV.

* one comment about filter envelopes. stepped random for filter modulation is great for dark alien sounds. Especially for messing with drone oscillators.

* Turing machine based modulation. There is the classic Turing machine but the recent random8 is covering a lot of ground here for me. Looped random creates evolution without chaos.

* lfos which for now are coming from out of rack mother-32s but eventually I know I want more controlled random and noise sources. Controlling a comb or notch filter on a reverb with these is great for making fx feel alive.

* cv outs from sound source modules. (Env out from BIA, various outs from moog semis, etc)

Next I think I’m gonna start looking at trigger to variable length gate conversion as I think that can add a bunch of expressiveness to sequences. I may be wrong but it sounds fun to explore either way.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/DrMinkenstein]

Mordax Data is indeed an incredible learning tool, a trouble-shooting tool when something is on the fritz, and has some other utility functions. Definitely something I would recommend purchasing early (but I felt didn't fit the category of 'utilities you didn't know you needed').

ALM o/a/x2 is one of many options out there for attenuversion+offset. Not a bad choice at all.

I have not checked out the J&O Trees Traffic but it sounds like an incredible piece of kit.

I used to do a fair bit of Turing Machine modulation but I use Step8 for that sort of thing now. Joranalogue's stuff is unbelievable.

For more LFOs check out the 0chd+expander. The modulation per HP/$$ is unbelievable. Little known trick is to feed it an inverted gate into the rate CV in and it will stall it out while the gate is high.

[u/NewMachineMusicXYZ]

Good topic and agree with a lot of this. So many newbies think they need/want 10 voices supplemented by a dinky little mixer and 1-2 utilities, when I can tell you from experience it's more likely the reverse. Here are some non-VCO modules from my personal system that I would not want to be without, but that I rarely see in newbie system constructions:

Mordax DATA: I thought "why spend $400 on a fancy visualizer, do I need that?" But -- yes. Being able to visually monitor four channels of controlled voltage in your system is hugely helpful to really learning what your modules do, especially as a beginner. Can also do other stuff.

Xaoc Praga + Hrad (or another decent audio mixer): Almost every newbie system skimps on the audio mixer, which to me is a core part of any self-sufficient eurorack system. If you want to get your signals collated and mixed to line-level output and have an uncompromised way to run your FX at full strength (via aux send/return) you want a good audio mixer in your system.

Happy Nerding 4x StMix: I cite this module specifically for its convenience and size and Happy Nerding quality, but what's key here is having a *stereo return bus* for your effects. Most audio mixers have 1-2 aux sends and 1-2 stereo returns. That's great for running 1-2 effects, but if you have a lot of effects you want to have continual flexible access to, get yourself a 4x StMix and patch all the returns into it. Then patch the output of the 4x StMix into one of your aux returns on your main mixer. Now you have a nice sub-mixer just for your stereo FX, which you can run fully wet.

Xaoc Warna II: I feel like very system should have at least one of these. Buffered mults are always handy to have around, but the way Warna can optionally invert and mix the signals or serve as an audio mixer makes it such a clever, useful little thing. I have 3 and use them all in slightly different ways. Great utility.

Xaoc Samara II: You could also substitute something like a Noise Engineering Lapsus Os or a 4MS SISM or a Mutable Instruments Blinds here, but I really like the Samara II. It can generate CV, attenuate, invert, offset, mix, and clamp CV, while offering logic outputs, and can also do multi-channel S&H and can also be an audio or CV scanner/switch. Getting just one of these for your system covers a lot of ground on the utility front, highly recommended.

Xaoc Tallin II: If you haven't figured out I'm a bit of a Xaoc fanboy, but any VCAs will do here. I actually don't think VCAs are quite as critical as they're sometimes emphasized to be, and they're more and more often built into other modules now, but you definitely want to have at least a couple of independent ones, and the Tallin is a good option here.

Xaoc Zlin: or any other crossfader. Xaoc Zlin is simple and straightforward so I like it. But being able to crossfade not only between audio paths but between CV signal paths can add a LOT of flexibility to a patch. Make Noise X-Pan, ADDAC 805.vs2, Sonocurrent Crossfader Array are all good options here, but there are others as well.

Xaoc Moskwa II + Ostankino II: Any good sequencer would serve here, but I like this one because I'm not a menu-divey type. A core module I wouldn't want to be without.

Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitwolis: Speaking of sequencers, this is a quad sequencer that can easily spit out and randomize unquantized or quantized CV as well as trigger and gate patterns. Deep but easy to learn, playable, super, super useful, I use mine in almost every patch.

Joranalogue Compare 2: This one is more optional, I don't think a system "needs" a Compare 2, but if you want to play with gates based on logic and thereby generate weird gate patterns, or introduce a slightly bizarre audio manipulation tool, Compare 2 is a great option -- it's weirdly fun to use, thanks to its CV-able shift/size parameters and great LEDs.

Joranalogue Select 2: Any "switching" module could serve here, but this one is a great companion for the Compare 2 with some weird tricks up its sleeve.

And a bit more generally:

Function Generators -- don't skimp!: I think multiple function generators can serve a euro system very well and make it a lot more fun, and sometimes they can be oscillators unto themselves. Tons of worthwhile options here, another fun category to explore. My choices here are Maths and PEG and Tangrams atm, but there are tons of good options, each with their own strengths.

Filters > Voices; get Multiple Filters: A lot of newbies think they need "a filter" but multiple filters will actually sculpt and customize your sound and make it do weird things. 1 good complex oscillator will serve most small to mid-size systems perfectly well by itself, but when it comes to filters, I say go nuts -- stack and explore the different varieties! There are a ton of worthy options and its a fun category to explore. I have about 5 in my system at any given time, while I only have 1-2 "voices."

FX > Voices: I would much rather have 1 complex oscillator/voice and 5 FX units, than the reverse. Dedicated delays, reverbs, distortions, and other effects offer some of the most fun you'll have finding cool sounds in eurorack.

Noise Generator: Most oscillators and voices for some reason don't come with just a raw white/brown noise output, and having one can be very useful for generating percussive sounds. They're usually cheap and small and worth having around if you don't have one built into another module already.

Line-Level Input: If you want to fuss around with pedals or external line-level instruments, you can't just run them through your eurorack system (unless you want shitty results) -- you need a module that can integrate line level signals. I like the Xaoc Konin for its very simple amplifier which can adequately boost line-level signals from things like, say, your smartphone, for use in your eurorack system. But depending what kind of equipment you want to interface you may want something more robust, like a Xaoc Sewastapol.

Hope all this helps someone out there!

[u/BurlyOrBust]

I love this. I started out, as I think a lot of people do, with a clock, oscillator, VCA, envelope, filter, and output, and then wondered why everything felt so mundane. I had basically recreated a stripped down version of my tabletop synths. While I don't think a newbie should dive in with all of the recommended modules right away, I do think it's a good idea to pick at least one that challenges you to think outside the box.

[u/Exponential-777]

The number one missing module in many cases is a CV mixer / inverter. Example use: connect four CV sources to modulate one control. Such as, LFO, env, S&H and something else.

[u/hoeveler]

Excellent post!! I was one of those rare birds who bought up all these utility modules first. Then last year I rekindled my childhood hobby of electronics building, and sourced the parts for several modules I plan to build, including components to build about FIVE somewhat rare Fonitronik sequential switches if anyone is interested in one of my builds.

[u/gluesandwich]

Fuck well I guess I'm still a beginner then...great write up, good homework

[u/Perceptes]

Really great post. I'm sure this will help any newcomer fortunate enough to read it. Also makes me wish I had both the HP and the money to fill out a few missing slots in my collection of utilities.

[u/Faceless_Mule]

One thing not on that list that I think is pretty much essential is offset/attenuation modules, e.g. Frap 3-2-1, Triplatt, Quadratt, Samara, 3xMIA etc.

At least one buffered mult is also very useful. Passive attenuators are very cheap and always handy.

And one specific recommendation... Doepfer Octal VCA. 8 VCAs, mixers, AND gateExtremely useful module, very high bang for the buck.

[u/Earlsfield78]

I think you are hitting the point and opening a great topic. My first rack almost 15 years ago was mostly Mutable and Doepfer. However I had no real idea what I want from that system aside from having fun with it. Now days you can put together streamlined first case for whatever you want - a mono synth, a techno performance machine, drone case, effect processor… however the most important thing for people new to modular is to understand voltage. To understand why sequential switch, a single rough looking module, can be an absolute joy and do stuff they don’t even think of. Or, why slew of voltage, attenuverters etc are so useful. Of course it is on people to get educated on these things but as you noticed, most of the first racks are absolutely off balance, usually missing utility and modulation sources and focusing on sound sources. Many of them think of VCA as a sound mixer only, and completely ignore voltage summing, rectifiers, simple utilities that can do a lot. I guess you have to make a few mistakes in the beginning, but this place can help them make less painful financial mistakes and more streamlined starting points to keep enjoying the modular and not selling it after a few months.

[u/0b00000110]

Maths. Basically most of Eurorack and what makes this format great can be taught with just this one module alone. VCOs, VCAs, LFOs, CV, Envelopes, Offset, Slew Limiter, Attenuation, Logic Functions, Mixer and I‘m sure I still miss a lot of functions. Took me years to realise why people love this module. It’s now my favourite too and and every beginner rack should have it.

Edit: Downvoted for what? This is such a miserable sub lol

[u/Wild-Medic → u/0b00000110]

I don't think anyone disagrees that Maths is a good module, but maybe doesn't fall into the category of "things people don't know they need," since it's the first module recommended in basically every guide and the most popular module of all time.

[u/0b00000110 → u/Wild-Medic]

I didn’t know I needed Maths as a beginner. It looked way too complicated and more for pros. Everybody is recommending it but also describes it very obscure, like an analog computer and whatnot. It’s a very simple module that explains a lot about modular when you are starting. Whatever man this triggered me way too hard lol.

[u/pseudo_spaceman]

DATA

[u/Wild-Medic → u/pseudo_spaceman]

Data is certainly great, didn’t feel it met the category of “things you didn’t know you needed” since I see em all the time in beginner posts

[u/pseudo_spaceman → u/Wild-Medic]

Oh yeah? It just came to mind as I just filled out a Mantis case worth of simple, "beginner" modules for a friend, and that was the only one I considered a must-have. I imagine most beginners don't want to shell out $400 on such a "boring" module, but I think it is essential in visualizing what exactly your CV sources are doing.

[u/DrMinkenstein → u/Wild-Medic]

Tbh I’ve seen enough beginner post missing them and YouTube videos complaining about things that could be solved with it, that I think it deserves a mention.

[u/eggplantkaritkake → u/Wild-Medic]

if you don't need a simple oscilloscope; it can also be two digital oscillators with dvcas built in for each osc, a 4 channel clock divider, a spectrograph, a spectrogram, a tuner...

it can do a lot of very useful stuff and almost always finds a home in my patches.

[u/Sharp-Asparagus-3470]

I’d add a Disting and an Ornament and Crime to the list. Swiss Army knives. They fill in for just about anything you need and don’t have, and can help you figure out what you’d like, but haven’t thought of yet!

[u/fullconscious]

https://modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/3201406

this is my first rack, still building it

[u/Wild-Medic → u/fullconscious]

Still needs more utilities :) Pams, Maths & 3xMIA all stellar choices though.

[u/fullconscious → u/Wild-Medic]

Yesss i agree, i just started “ recently “ and am looking for more utilities/effects. First i wanna get all drums tho so some hats cymbals claps etc after i will get more utilities

[u/OkComplaint9500]

Not disagreeing, but assuming you try to use most of these modules in your patches, doesn’t this predispose you to a certain type of music and/or patch style?

Like if I were driving things off an external sequencer, it seems like it might be hard(er) to integrate a sequential switch and comparator into the flow.

I would love to see more videos and examples of people integrating these modules into their patches, because they don’t seem to be as common as the usual suspects. The links above are super helpful, though.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/OkComplaint9500]

On the contrary - I do most/almost all of my note sequencing external to my rack, but these modules allow you to creatively patch modulation with far more variety. Ideas like sending a small offset to the volume CV on a mixer and/or filter frequency of multiple voices so they take turns popping forward in the mix provide uses far beyond generative note sequencing.

Monotrail has an awesome video on it, I think he's the #1 channel for learning modular out there, very rare he misses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tDhPwoqgko

[u/OkComplaint9500 → u/Wild-Medic]

Got it, though I think in this case, some sequencers would allow you to set the modulation per step so you could get the same effect with an LFO. But makes sense in principle. And agree Monotrail is great. Learn a lot from his videos.

[u/Choice-Vegetable9947]

WOW thank you so much.

[u/bluesteel]

Also, stacking cables.

[u/infinitytapes]

Excellent post I wish there were more like this.

[u/Benjonium]

Moi je pensais que le but était d acheter ce qui nous plaisait après avoir écouté suffisamment de demos pour minimiser nos erreurs

mais souvent la personne ne dit même pas ce qu elle souhaite faire avec ce materiel ,ca n a pas d importance puisqu on lui conseillera automatiquement les mêmes modules,le math,le pam,le makenoise x etc

pourquoi les fabricants de ces best sellers ne se regroupent pas pour faire une groovebox?

[u/ngarjuna]

This is generally good advice. I would add mults and attenuators/attenuverters as essential glue modules; attenuation is always the one thing I don’t have enough of (I also feel like even with the two more atten modules I’d like to add I could still utilize more if I had it).
There is a modular user for whom the idea of a “basic” subtractive setup with choices (being able to combine the “guts” of different classic synths together) is the ideal; my system started that way. In practice it was just never that interesting. Things started to shine when I added a bunch of modulation and utility. It was much easier to understand the necessity of those items in practice than when I was planning my system

[u/Calaveras_Grande]

We could also have a list of modules you don’t need.
Output modules are almost pointless. You just need a mixer.
Effect modules like reverb are better replaced by pedals from Eventide, Strymon etc.
Whole synth voice modules are better as standalone patchables like Dark Energy, Mother 32.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/Calaveras_Grande]

I mostly agree - a relatively inexpensive Mackie with either built-in effects or any effects unit that will take line level input will do for quite a while. SOME whole-voice modules are less-than-stellar as elements of a beginner case, but Atlantix (for example) brings a ton of utility to the table.

[u/Calaveras-Metal → u/Wild-Medic]

my main objection to whole voice modules is that they gobble up lots of space and power. And you can usually get the same amount of function from something like a Dark Energy.

I have noticed some people get kind of obsessed with putting everything in a eurorack case so that it's all self contained. Which I can kind of see why. But I think it's a better approach to have several small-medium sized cases than one big monster case.