Getting started with modular - 4 eurorack systems explained

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! While finishing up this video the channel crossed the 20.000 subscribers!!! Never thought it would go this way when I started a few years ago. I am enjoying this a lot, still have lots of plans, and am very grateful for all of you watching and supporting my Patreon. Non of this is possible without a great community! So a big thanks to you :)

[@insidesound]

Dude ! i owe You . thanks for making this journey less confusing and stressful 🙏

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Happy to help! All the best :)

[@dualtrx]

The explanations were clear and concise, making the complex world of modular synthesis much more approachable. Great job!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! All the best :)

[@markridlen4380]

Personally I think VCV Rack free should be your starting point to see if it even appeals to you. I think my desire for generative ambient is satiated with VCV Rack, but I still want to build a live performance techno rig.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for sharing! That's very solid advise. I think for quite some people a part of the attraction of modular is the physical part. But I agree I should have added that tip! VCV rack is free, and a wonderful playground to test ideas and make music! Cheers :)

[@CatFish107]

​@MonotrailTechTalk, yeah, for me, it was really helpful for narrowing the types of modules I would want in my physical rack. Having ochd available for free made it so I noticed that I used that lfo in nearly every patch, so I bought a hardware one. Going to hardware also eliminated interruption from windows update, or the cpu going on strike due to my excessive delay module abuse. Can't afford unlimited physical delay modules, but I can make the patch as nutso as I like with what I have, and it will work, because it's hardware.

[@pitchkinker]

The best channel on yt. I love you man 😆 getting me addicted to modular again

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! And hope you are enjoying it :) Cheers!

[@damianmorillas7189]

Great tutorial, as usual!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@gregvittore5004]

Great as usual!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@tychoclavius4818]

Great timing. Both my dad and I need to give each of our different cases a purpose and this helps a lot

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, glad it was helpful! All the best :)

[@jvf6257]

What a great video started the journey with a Moog GM and now putting all this separate system as you described, got to the point quit my job and get deep in the modular world had to subscribe to your patreon thx for all your time in educate ppl congrats on the 20k 🎉

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it! Enjoy the Moog and the modular journey :)

[@SidRockett]

Definitely falling in to the exploration/ experimentation category. Your tutorials brought me back to eurorack. Keep up the great work 🫶

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, that's nice to hear! Happy to keep this up, and happy to hear people get use out of these! Cheers :)

[@larix.elektro]

Very good explanation ! The next time somebody ask me how to start with modular, I will recommend your video.👍

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it was helpful! And thanks for sharing :)

[@vertigev]

Great content ❤

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you!

[@TheNaboen]

This was a very informative and not least inspiring video! Thank you

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fathomisticfantasy2681]

I chose modular synthesis due to how I want to become an audio repair guy. I studied Ben Eaters bread boarding computer stuff before analogue. I was fascinated by the challenges involved with building modules and really liked Look Mum No Computer and especially Notes and Volts. I also studied Kevin Durraghs stuff because this helped expand midi for me. However, my biggest struggle was understanding Midi and patching it to modules. So, I inevitably purchased modules already built. Then expanded my areas with KZbinrs like you. Which has been a really big help. So keep up the good work! Amazing and very helpful videos thus far.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for sharing! The technical side of modular and electronics is a solid reason to like and be interested in modular for sure! Not something that's much on my mind, but it shows the diversity of people and their interests :) Very happy to hear you get some value out of my work though! All the best :)

[@nielshulgard3722]

Thanks for the video! As always really interestung and well presented. I am currently developing three archetypical, single row, all doepfer cases for education and this was a really interesting conversation piece for my thoughts.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for the kind words :) And that sounds like a fun project to do, enjoy!

[@nielshulgard3722]

@@MonotrailTechTalk it really is, thanks a lot!

[@unsoundmethodology]

Really great information and advice. I started off wanting to build my own DIY system, sort of aiming at a monosynth, and settled on Eurorack as a framework/specification to build to. Early on i was fortunate to be able to get a Minibrute 2S to help bootstrap things into playability; having both that monosynth to expand and a sequencer to play what i was building was invaluable in the process of building things; at the moment, only one of my modules was assembled commercially, though more came as PCB/panel kits. I'm right now building my second case, going from an overflowing 1x84HP case to a 3x104HP one, and i think the system fits solidly in your "Sonic Exploration Lab" category.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for sharing! The 2S is great, would have went for that when it was available in my time, the patch bay is a beauty! Enjoy your journey, sounds like you're taking a solid route! :)

[@TripleTSingt]

My modular system started as just some more modulation for my Microbrute, then became a standalone synth-voice with VCOs, Filters, Sequencers… and now, I added some drum modules and start working on a more performative layout

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice! I went for the same route, think it's a great way to explore things step by step while having a functional synth voice at all time. Enjoy!

[@CatFish107]

A good way for a total newcomer to get an idea of what does what and to start envisioning which modules they would use is to experiment extensively with vcv rack first.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

True! VCV is a great way to explore thoughts have fun with modular patching! :)

[@CatFish107]

Trouble with the pricier, complex modules for me, personally, is I will look at the price, and compare it to the strega. If it costs nearly as much, or more than a strega, it will have to be an incredible module that amazes me in exciting new ways, or else I'd prefer another strega. The bar has been set on top of the clouds.

[@pennywise5095]

What kind of speakers or monitors can handle modular systems? (I had a mono/poly a long time ago and it blew my speakers with high resonance.)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Never patch a modular or other gear directly into a monitor! You need something to control the volume of your sounds, like a mixer or interface that functions like a mixer or volume control. When you do, every speaker can handle everything.

[@shreddie]

My only complaint is this video didn’t come out a year ago before I made some expensive mistakes 😂

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, I'll take it :) Cheers!

[@CatFish107]

Well, I suppose you can at least get most of that back with resale.

[@fragile1980]

4:21 hey, where did you get these caps for the sliders on the microbrute?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, these are stock? :)

[@fragile1980]

@@MonotrailTechTalk oh wow, and still alright? Mine got sticky as for the knobs and I have found knob caps but no slider caps that work

[@hendriks_]

Great video! As always these are excellent solid advices! Learnt many of these the hard (and expensive) way 🥲

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for letting me know! All the best :)