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Hey all—

Started this outside of the modular thread, as I don't wanna clutter it up too much with noob questions.

I got an 0-coast and love it. Of course pretty soon after getting it, I was like MOARRRR. For anyone else who's gone this route (or a similar complete-voice point of entry), what did you buy next? I played the Braids and Tides at a shop here in town, both of which seemed like pretty cool places to go next. Also, I'm interested in hearing what some of you might have done in terms of using Eurorack to process audio vs creating synth voices. Would be cool to expand into a setup that could work with the 0-coast but also process some guitar, etc.

Help me plan the desolation of my already sad wallet, friends.

I did the opposite. Started with a 104hp 6U and made a couple voices outta Braids, smaller vco, filters, VCA, adsr, pams, drum modules, Circadian rhythm.

Recently decided to scale "down" by going with 2 M32 paired with some extra shit for processing. Still rocking Circadian and drum shit (808 series, Matter) and have some effects (Clouds, Conduit) and a Mescaline on the way.

Honestly reason I scaled back was more for experimenting with making the Moogs my sole full voices so I could focus more on the rhythm side of things. I have a gigantic pedalboard that I use in tandem w the eurorack, so processing my guitar wasn't a big concern once I realized exactly how powerful the Moog is and how capable it is of providing melody and texture.

So here I am again, no help at all.

My suggestion for your next step would be research, research, research.

There are way too many fucking options to do the million different kinds of synthesis that are available, so I think it helps to really know what exactly you are interested in achieving before you start to jump down the rabbit hole. If you have the ability to check out a shop that has a bunch of modules, i suggest spending a lot of time there getting to know what you like.

Important things to consider: the amount of space you want to dedicate to modules, the types of sounds you are after, the workflow of modules that you enjoy, what synthesis techniques you want to use, what other gear outside of since you might want to use, YOUR BUDGET.

In the end only you will be able to know what gear will work best to turn your ideas into something tangible. Eurorack is definitely caught up in the flavor of the month dynamic, so take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt (as you probably should anyways ).

Yeah it's daunting to say the least. There's so much stuff. I have gone to the local shop (Switched On) and chatted with the guys—I can go by there anytime and check stuff out, as they're super cool/friendly/helpful about it.

I've been trying to do some research but frankly not a ton of it has been helpful, or at least hasn't left me feeling any more clear than before. I guess I just would sorta like to know what a few people have done to get started, what modules you first got, and why. Also of course what you like, what you realize you did wrong and would change... if anybody wants to share their stories, please have at it!

I started with Braids, Twisted Electron Cells, 2hp adsr and vca, Pico vco, Bastl Cinnamon, Clouds, pams Workout, Pittsburgh outs and a 4 channel mixer.

It was actually pretty great as far as learning how shit works goes. Braids has infinite possibilities and it was really cool to learn how adsr and filters affect different waves in different ways. I then got the Tiptop 808 series modules. Then Circadian Rhythms to expand rhythmic possibility and Folktek matter and Conduit. That's what fucked me up.

I then wanted more tweakability out of Matter and noticed I was using my voices less and less and focusing more and more on drums. Which is cool. But it kind of showed me I'd be better off with a full contained voice or two. I'm also moving from a 6U 104hp to a 9U 168hp. So it is as dangerous as it sounds.

And now I want some random sources and arpegiattors for my voices (2x M32).

One thing I missed in my original rack was multiples. Super useful.

I started with no semi-modular stuff (I had an MS-20 briefly but got rid of it it fund the euro), so I was trying to build more or less a full voice immediately. I had one oscillator, and quad vca (for the future!), LFO, low pass gate, and Maths. I choose the specific modules for the variety of functions they could do that I thought I wanted/helped me learn what I want. There were a few modules that I got because I thought they had a bunch of stuff I needed. However, when I used them for a while I found myself saying "I kinda wish it worked like this:", then I changed up my plan.

I started with a 90hp skiff and filled it over the course of three months, then waited until I had a better idea of how big of a system I wanted to get a bigger case (6ux104hp). I tried to be very conscious of a space constraint from the very beginning, because I know how GAS is real. I started with the skiff so I didn't have a bunch of space to think about filling, I just had to use what I had. I got to a point where I had more modules than I could fit in my skiff for weeks, and it surely was frustrating at times to not be able to use everything at once, but I'd still do that again. It encouraged me to try stuff that wasn't obvious and helped me refine my idea of where I'd like to go, because it's always shifting just a little bit. ModularGrid has been a really helpful tool to visualize all this stuff, but can be a bit of a time suck... I think I'm a perfectionist when it comes to rearranging those fucking things...

I've been doing my best to assemble my system with a set framework of how I want to operate and interact with it. I found an overarching goal very helpful in fending off desire for the cool shit I'd never actually use.
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If I was in your shoes, I'd probably grab a Make Noise skiff and start to fill it with cool stuff to compliment whatever you like about the 0-coast. At first I'd probably add three modules at first, one VCA and two other things I'm excited about (modulation, oscillator, effect, sequencer, touch interface...). Live with that all for a bit, add one more thing, live with that a while... etc. Expanding slowly will help you realize what you like and dislike.

I started with a SV-1 and stayed with that for a couple of months or so before I wrapped my head around everything. then I got a Peaks cause I really wanted modulation/LFOs. ended up snagging one with DMC firmware installed and that was awesome to get to know (beat bytes, turing machine, etc). then I got a Phonogene and Scooper cause I wanted to delve into the processing side.. Phonogene was amazeballs, like an ultra CT5. flipped it planning to replace it with a Clouds. got rid of the Peaks planning to get an o_C. the scooper was too much dicking around on the comp, so I got rid of that too. now I have a sv-1 with clouds and ears. ..but I would like to get rid of ears and swap in a disting or music thing for a sound source instead.. then I will need some mixers or VCAs lol. I want to try and fit another VCO in there with an SQ-1 driving everything as well. that'll probably be it.

like kbit said, i think it's important to know what you're trying to do. with the plethora of options is easy to want to try all kinds of shit but honestly it's such a bitch to flip euro without a loss unless you're hella patient or have something in demand/rare. so I'm actually kind of stuck moving forward cause I want to be 100% about it and I don't have much space to play with (96 hp total)

I started my modular and then snagged an 0 coast as a compliment to it, but I suggest ignoring the modular thread gear churn and actually decide what you want your modular to do.

People seem to be pairing o coast with double knot very nicely!

D.o.S. wrote:but I suggest ignoring the modular thread gear churn and actually decide what you want your modular to do.

Pretty much my plan in starting this thread... just wanted a few starter tips to see how people got going, without the "hey look at that, no wait THAT, what about THAT???" that my brain starts doing after a few minutes on the modular thread.

I don't have really lofty or specific goals at the moment, just wanna have fun making some new sounds. I think I love the 0-coast and the idea of modular in general specifically because it's such uncharted territory for me, and wandering into it aimlessly and without intention is honestly where all the good times are. It's radically different from the guitar music I make, which is almost always song based and very quickly goes from sound creation/discovery into "make this a song." Maybe that lack of planning sounds like a nightmare to some, but it's frankly the most refreshing thing I've done in a while.

I actually bought a Braids earlier because I saw one pop up on Reverb for a good price, so I guess now I need a skiff . Basically just want to start by getting some stuff to further modulate the 0-coast and vice versa, another oscillator, maybe a sequencer eventually. The Metropolis and the Rene both look fun, but are pretty $ so maybe not at the top of the list. Also like the Erica stuff I've checked out, might do one of their oscs.

With that in mind, Kbit's definitely not the first to suggest research and planning to me re: Eurorack. I'm definitely heeding that advice. I think I'll start with a couple of simple things and play a little bit, then will proceed pretty cautiously beyond that—I don't wanna buy anything too wacky or too specific early on, don't wanna end up steering things in a direction on a whim.

I started with a Scooper, which can do full voices and mangle them up. Quickly got Wogglebug, Pressure Points & Brains. Found muffdeals for Rosie and the Plague Bearer, then got Yep, Great Destroyer, Voltage Memory & 2 DPLPG, and the Bitrazer, doubling up the voice & fx power. On to Peaks & Warps, then started to get frivolous...

I'd suggest adding triggers (some kind of clock mult/divider would work great with the 0-coast as a master clock), get an LFO or two (going with the Peaks myself, though a Contour from Make Noise looks pretty hot, esp with the inverted envelope out), and a nice utility. I'm looking at a Mutable Braids because it not only acts as a VCA (with the option to ring modulate instead of use a normal envelope), but it's also a set of 4 attenuverters, to which you can add offset voltage or envelope. Super practical. Maths also does this kind of thing I think + a little more?

Good news is you don't need a Random, sequencer, or VCA until you start adding voices. An STO might be a good place to look if you want a voice complimentary to the 0-coast. You can do some awesome inter-FM-ing between the two, and if you're patient you can find them for $100-120.

Consider if you want to use modular as your FX platform (good because of CV control, bad bc of cost), where you plan to do your audio mixing, etc. That'll change the kinds of utility modules you chase down.

I got another set of modules (Mannequins) to start off my rig, but now I'm pretty much focused on Make Noise stuff. The 0-coast made me fall in love with their engineering & their production line is pretty fantastic in terms of feature set.

Aforementioned Braids + Skiff acquired. Only have messed around a little bit so far, but man so fun. Here begins the fast descent...