5 Eurorack Mistakes Beginners Do (& How I Plan To Dodge Them)

5 common mistakes beginners make in modular synthesis. I have researched what they are and how to avoid them so you don't have to! I also share some of my first-ever patches!! #eurorack #eurorackmistakes #eurorackbeginners
➢ My case & Modules I use: thmn.to/thocf/ddji0xqe5b
➢ Cables & Nest Tamers: www.signalsounds.com/
MORE LNA:
➢ My Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5T9ES...
➢ My Music KZbin Channel: / @lnadoesmusic
➢ My Important Links (Music, Socials, Merch, Patreon): linktr.ee/liina_music
RESOURCES I mentioned in this video:
➢ MY MODULAR MISTAKE - I failed at Eurorack, I'm not inspired:
• MY MODULAR MISTAKE - I...
➢ How To Plug a Eurorack Module In, Correctly (Eurorack Power 101): • How To Plug a Eurorack...
➢ ModularGrid: modulargrid.net/
➢ How to build a basic Modular Setup by Panic Girl | Thomann:
• How to build a basic M...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Mistake 1: Not Knowing Your Goal
03:29 Mistake 2: Overspending on Unnecessary Modules
05:59 Mistake 3: Neglecting Utility Modules
07:02 Mistake 4: Ignoring Power Requirements
08:44 Mistake 5: Neglecting Patch Cable Management

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

YAY my first Eurorack video! What type of content would you wish to see about modular synths on this channel?

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

What color(s) of cables should I buy? 😉

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Small case for starters, or big one that stays half empty for the time being?

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

@@fritsvanzanten3573pretty colours!

[@turbotambourine]

⁠@@fritsvanzanten3573I have my thoughts on this one that worked out well for me but definitely curious about the response. If you’re starting small and don’t have a big budget, get a small case so you can spend more of your budget on another module as the first few are crucial in you be able to make anything at all. If you plan on getting a large multivoice modular groovebox, you could go with a larger case but I would temper that with choosing one that you will be able to bring with you to places you want to bring it easily. I don’t believe in the “buy the biggest case you can afford” mentality. Happy researching!

[@NickHchaos]

@@fritsvanzanten3573 As big as possible + self restraint.

[@wishbonebrewery]

I've learned more about Synthesis using Eurorack than I ever have in software, some mistakes along the way and wrong items purchased but I wouldn't change those mistakes because you learn from them. Good luck with your modular journey.

[@alexstixx]

I really enjoy hooking my push 3 up w/ my eurorack. Thanks for this video, it's great advice for people starting out. I think starting with just a single voice in eurorack is also a good way to avoid going too expensive with it or getting overwhelmed for beginners.

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Apart from tactile experience, when you want to try out and find the things you want to work on, you might start by experimenting with VCV, free eurorack software. You can learn the principles , and find what kind of modules you want to use (and are necessary for your focus, being developed already or on the way of doing so). That way you know what you want/need to start with and how to maken things work in a basic way and without financial risk.

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

Yes this is a great tip!

[@michaelkonomos]

THIS! Used is the way to go. Eurorack does not need to be that expensive. I went used as well. Saved hundreds.

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

Agree! 😊

[@draconianrhythms]

Well done on starting your journey. Modular is a blast !

[@johnrowley727]

Great initiative and videos. I'll be following along. One thing, do not underestimate the value of blank panels - they can save you a lot of money. All it takes is one errant patch cable or screw dropping into an open space and there is a very real possibility of causing a short. If you are lucky a short will just result in one fried module, but if you are unlucky you could fry your whole system. As you get more modules, your financial investment also rises, protecting that investment with blank panels will be important..

[@XiXora]

My only suggestion with Eurorack is to get some VCAs as you can enable modulation of modulation and use an EG to open up the VCA amongst other things. (I assume running audio into an EG was experimenting for video, you can get by running the EG out into filter CV for now) I love seeing peoples journeys with this stuff evolve. Looking forward to the next one!

[@brumd]

Interesting video, especially since I started my own eurorack journey about 4 months ago. And yes, for me too budget is a thing. Buying modules off the shelf is really expensive; not that they are overpriced (there goes a tremendous amount of work into developing a quality, reliable module; the often small companies that create these modules mostly do this out of passion, and not to get incredibly rich.. ;) ). But on the other hand, if you start looking at the inside of these modules, you start realizing that the costs of the electronic parts is often just a few bucks. Of course, it depends on the module (e.g. oscillators usually have more expensive parts), but if you *really* want to cut down cost, DIY is the way to go. Even if you don't understand much of electronics it really pays off to invest in a soldering iron (they don't cost the world) and develop some DIY skills. Many modules are sold as kits, and that genereally cuts down the price by 40-70%. Some utility modules (e.g. mults, attenuators) are hilariously easy to solder, and from there you can take on some more complicated projects. Then, the next step, is to buy just the bare PCBs and front panels, and source your own electronic parts (this is an art of its own, and it takes time to know what to buy, but once you master it, it is really worth it). And then, of course, the next step is to design your own modules from scratch, or, from other people's schematics. There are whole communities out there. You need to invest quite a bit of time, and of course some money, but it quickly pays off. Also, you can save a LOT of money by just making your own case, also here there are varying degrees in what you buy, and what you do yourself. This week, I made 2 new Eurorack cases (2 rows (6U) of 84HP each), and it set me back €75 for each, including rails, power supply (MeanWell RT65b) and power bus with 32 connectors. Buying 2 Doepfer cases with the same size sets you back ~€800. It's *really* worth it. Material costs of a bread-and-butter attenuator? That's 2x 3.5mm sockets (~€0.30 each) and a 100k potentiometer (~€0.10), plus a bit of wire and some solder. Total:

[@fabianmartinez31283]

Nice video for beginners with a lot of advices, I really like your enthusiasm and your way to start your journey into modular world, or should I say universe or multiverse? Joking... A certain amount of mistakes is part of this journey I guess.. A good tip that comes to my mind, that was not mentioned is to take notes about your patches, to sort of reproduce them in the future. Your tip of buy cheap modules is maybe a little bit misleading. It has not to be overwhelmingly expensive at the beginning, but meditate very deeply on what your goal is when you go into modular. Cheaper modules are cheap for a reason like vice-versa expensive modules are too. Focus on what you want to achieve and save money for some special modules that are more expensive and you will never regret it. If you find those on a second hand market even better, but don't buy cheap modules just because you can afford them that leads to frustration in a short while. For every module you wish to buy make your researches, even better if you have a store where you can try them personally and see if they fit your expectations. The one tip about utilities is so true, they are initially often underestimated, but there are a lot more than only attenuators or mixers, just to mention a few..VCA's, clock dividers, frequency shifters, active and passive multiples with and without mute switches, sequential switches, logic modules, precision adders, offset generators, quantizers, CV to MIDI interfaces, bus board access for CV and gates... A very good price/quality relationship is found in Doepfer modules. Greetings from Switzerland and have a lot of fun with your modular journey 🙂

[@turbotambourine]

This is great! There’s lots of advice out there of things you absolutely must do and not enough of simple suggestions to avoid the problems can arise! You’re off to a great start and I can’t wait till you get this case to the spot where you can sit down and patch something up and marvel in how you can get surprised by the music that can come out. I am by no means a musician that people listen to nor do I have any releases even but it’s been really awesome to start a patch from scratch and not long after have a full blown party for my ears. That knowing what you want is so key. Something I’ve found is that each module I buy, it sort of changes or recalibrates what I imagine to be missing or what’s next. That’s a wonderful part of the process. In module selection, it’s helpful not to only look at what the module does but how it does it. Some may resonate more with you than others. What would you say your goal is with the case? A hybrid setup or an all eurorack one? And what type of module do you imagine you’ll be looking at next?

[@3dims]

One area which is often overlooked is tuning. Having a plan about how to tune your VCO’s (whether using a module like a Disting, external pedal or software) can make a whole world of difference. If I’m recording I use the Ableton Live tuner, if just in box then Disting Mk4 is such a handy and small utility.

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

The new CV tools Pack on Ableton are great for calibrating and tuning etc.

[@normanfreund]

Nice vid and totally unexpected direction from you. I am making a similar journey but digitally in Max, can see similarities in your suggestions and lessons learnt versus sound design in custom Max patches. A patch cable hanger, yes, I need one of those.

[@TonyThomas10000]

I use Voltage Modular, VCV Rack, and Cardinal virtual modular synths.

[@AdamsOlympia]

MiRack (VCV Rack Port) and Drambo on iPad! Drambo alone is the best thing since sliced bread. It's like taking all the best features of Elektron's hardware, combined with the best of modular + VST plugins, in the most intuitive and immediate interface in music technology.

[@GeorgeLocke]

I have an $8 standing file organizer that i use for cable management. It is not elegant but free standing cable racks are ridiculously expensive

[@sky3fallmusic]

Neat. It’s not something I want to get into, but I do have an Arturia Minibrute 2S semi-modular - that’s about as far as I want to get into this… :D

[@bobcardboard]

I think at some point you have to embrace the value of utter chaos, or maybe rather the significance of having to deal with the consequences of giving in to the chaos. Nothing quite like looking at a pile of modules and having to decide which existing modules are going to have to go in order to see how the new guys will integrate into your little world. (That, and the power of knowing that with modular you can always open up another tier....)

[@supercompooper]

My advice is start with buying 64 mults and focusing on perfecting a certain work by John Cage

[@jonaseggen2230]

Best advice ever. But could i not just draw the mults, or even just imagine them?

[@PlerbyMcFlerb]

But you gotta save room for the 20 blank panels too

[@supercompooper]

@@PlerbyMcFlerb ya but ya but inflation! If u do don't buy 20 blanks now soon it will be 27.3 blanks in the future!

[@NickHchaos]

Finally saw someone with that AMSynths Dual Env! Don't see many people using his stuff in general, but it's top quality, sorta flies under the radar. Ah, you're in the UK, that makes more sense at least..literally never seen someone else with one of his modules here in N America.

[@LNADoesAudioStuff]

What kind of stuff you like using that Env with? I have been still struggling to add it to my patches as I find it sometimes bit too "sensitive", but would love to figure out ways to utilise it more.

[@NickHchaos]

@@LNADoesAudioStuff I don't own it, but all adsr are basically the same with different variation and degree of slope, sensitivity of controls. If you find any voltage source too sensitive, it probably means you need to attenuate it more before using it. Envelopes are probably the single most useful modulation source (not including v/oct sequencing). Classic path is for the VCA and some percentage of the VCF CV cutoff, but you use them on anything.

[@Ryannaut_g]

Gud!

[@Hrotti]

VCAs ... Get a good one next... They really impact the sound and character

[@alexanderff6272]

feet back module XD

[@neuzethmusic131]

Tip nr.1: Don't get into Eurorack if you just want to do mainstream music or want to be cool. Get Fruity Loops instead. Eurorack or Modular in general leans more to sound design and experimental music. Also it's good if you already own a hardware synth and know your way around the building blocks and the signal flow (even if it is just a Microbrute or Microkorg or some Behringer). Another one, don't compare VCV to the real Eurorack experience, the feeling of patching, twisting knobs and pushing sliders cannot be recreated in software. Every Eurorack system is a little different, is the product of a modular journey of it´s creator. And it is an instrument, not a 1 or 0 on a screen. It keeps it's value, even on the second hand market.

[@michaeldulsky8492]

Eurorack modules are very cheap and very expensive for a reason. Don't go out and buy all the cheap ones because they're affordable. Trust me... you'll regret your decision after a week with a rig that does almost nothing. You'll be upset for blowing the money you could have saved for great modules thar you're going to want anyway. Haste makes waste. Knowledge is power. Research is key. If there's a module you want, make sure to find out if there are other modules you need to make it function correctly. It's an investment if you're serious. The sequencer you invest in is the route of what your rig will ultimately ve able to do. Choose wisely. Watch all the how to videos on KZbin before you buy. If your going to record your performance, make sure you learn about syncing your rig to your computer via CV to MIDI

[@snorrevonflake]

Not sure if there are any mistakes. Be sure that you can afford it, you should have a five figure amount of gambling money to burn.