How to Make a Eurorack Module: A talk by James Carruthers, NoBots

If you ever thought about actually making a Eurorack Module, here's ma pal James Carruthers of NoBots giving you a '101' primer on the process and sheer effort that goes into making a module for mass production. Spoiler alert: It's a lot of work. But is it worth it? Stay to the end and find out!
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This was recorded at the recent CV FREQS event in London - follow Eden Grey for info on the next meetup!
Photo Credit (Rogan Knobs): Richard Shutt | www.tunnelsurf.com
For more on James and NoBots, visit:
www.nobots.co.uk/
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For more on CV FREQs (from the organiser, Eden Grey):
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[@RedMeansRecording]

Amazing resources

[@urmok6iv]

"you get very handy at navigating horrible websites for ordering parts" *Shows a screenshot of Farnell's catalogue* :D I can totally relate to that :P

[@EllaJameson]

DigiKey is the only site I have actually enjoyed using to source parts. I often actually use DigiKey to discover a part, then order that part number from wherever is most convenient.

[@massimookissed1023]

_"It would be great if it could [do] that?!"_ Disting: *It does.*

[@DarrylMcGee]

I started with KiCAD, it was messy, but I’ve started using it again, it’s come a long way with release 7. Lots of great parts libraries from the likes of 4ms, so it’s got just about everything you could want for a synth or eurorack module. I’d suggest using a PCB vendor that can also do your surface mount PCB assembly. Saves a lot of time and fumes, unless you just enjoy soldering the tiny bits. We’ve manufactured thousands of pieces of our synth related products now, and having a good manufacturing rep is important when you want to make a relatively large volume of product. Frees you to do other things while they source components and handle manufacturing. Doesn’t keep things from going wrong, but if you’re not local to the manufacturer, you will need someone who is.

[@DarrylMcGee]

While it’s not the most fun part of circuit design, breadboarding your circuits is going to prevent a lot of wasted PCBs. Especially when it comes to CV inputs, DACs and such. It gives you a chance to dial-in you component values before committing to anything.

[@vintagesynthlab4425]

James talk really resonates with me, no pun intended. Even as well prepared as I thought I was entering Eurorack as a designer in 2015, much of these realizations are often found in hindsight. Thanks, Alex!

[@mylarmelodies]

You're welcome and hope you're well!!

[@painstruck01]

i write techno and electro, and people are blown away that i have that opportunity. but it's not how i make a living - the people who do that sacrifice a lot, and have to adapt to a professional life that is very different to a 9 to 5. i think his point at the end is - be under no illusion that Eurorack is anything other than an extremely small, and extremely competitive market, with an extremely critical clientele. but it exercises that part of the brain where you've contributed something of value to a culture worth sustaining. if becoming the next Behringer, Buchla, or Dave Smith isn't your goal, it can be good for your mental health.

[@alancurrall]

Thanks for putting these talks up Alex. Excellent stuff!

[@FlippingTheBits]

So comforting to see that other projects have revisions too. Recognisable. You think you've covered and triple-checked everything, start assembling and then...oops. Great video, thanks.

[@voicedrifter]

Great talk, very insightful and made me much more appreciative of the love and care that goes into the modules in my system.

[@robertparenton7470]

Impressive. Thank You. May you have a million views ! This is a rare type of video that not anyone can do!

[@kayvon_is_likes]

Back to earth with a huge bump. Just the video I needed right now either way 👍

[@AsteroidKiller]

Thanks for uploading! ✨❤️

[@davidowle3772]

Thanks for posting! A compulsory view for all us patchlings indeed... 🤓

[@leeman224]

great upload!

[@floozyspeak]

Great talk, your content is always great, keep talking more about making eurorack modules etc

[@2mbst1]

This talk is great! Not only conveys it what goes into making a module, it's also shows why modules cost the amount of money they do, even if they do fairly simple stuff!

[@jamesecarruthers]

thanks, that was one of my key messages I wanted to get across- there's a good reason simple things cost money

[@2mbst1]

Especially for those arguing that the actual parts to build those modules cost only a fraction of the sum. Shared this talk a couple of times already. Wished there was a 5 minute version of it. :D

[@freshnelly]

That was really entertaining. Now I feel I'm not alone too! Once that module is out there though and everyone likes it, it is a great feeling of accomplishment (hence worth the pain)

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@chriszanf]

@14:41 That graph is visual representation of Kate Sanborns quote "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration"

[@Instrumentals4Sale]

interesting. thanks for the upload.

[@Rhapsodyinnoise]

The idea/pain ratio is pretty accurate lol

[@lukejackman3802]

These videos are great since i can't be there in person thank you

[@Apg002]

Really solid.

[@prettypointlessvideo]

brilliant

[@BeniRoseMusic]

I’m not making modules, but I’ve been dabbling in building MIDI controllers, and have done a handful of micro controller prototypes. The paper design and breadboard prototypes are a blast, but then figuring out where to go from there is impossible! There's so many domains that seem to require expertise to get from prototype to production: pcb design, 3d modeling, part sourcing, just to name a few. I haven’t been able to find a ton of resources that don’t expect expertise in one of the other domains. I wish this stuff were easier!

[@EllaJameson]

For failed PCBs, I like to mosaic them and make cool art pieces. It's like my history of growth as an electrical engineer, all laid out.

[@davidhargrove5181]

Incredible -- You know, I have an amazingly similar background. While I started in the realm of designing tangible objects, I found myself in the realm of programming for my job and contributing to FOSS projects... I eventually began to realize it was unfulfilling to produce intangible objects, despite my contributions to some rather successful projects. Now, returning from Moogfest, and after recently developing my 3d-printing/Laser Fab farm, I am ready to build again.

[@LillySchwartz]

The first PCB I had manufactured needed no revisions. It made me a little paranoid using the thing I built 😂 That being said, it had very few components on there, it was mostly just routing pins of screen, keypad and pots to an Arduino. We‘ll see whether that‘s going to be the same for my first synth PCB + Panel combo. Probably not 😅

[@bendickson3486]

I'll never shout at my modules ever again. They've been on a long journey. I'll care for them and bring them treats.

[@Defusiv]

That's great thank yu

[@4dvideos]

I rekt a pulses diy kit with my bad soldering so bought a new one but am planning on using old the faceplate and jacks to see if I can hack together some other type of simple module.

[@beldeancatalinionut8885]

This is really cool! Thank you for sharing all this info! I was wondering how did Doepfer inscribe and made the panels for his series of modules? Anyone knows what techniques did he use to cut and graph the panels? Cause that stuff is pretty qualitative stuff! I guess it is not easy.

[@ogasi1798]

great

[@krishna34674]

HA @ 6:11 Was not expecting that...

[@DBCisco]

Making a module for mass production is much different (and much more expensive) than building one for yourself or friends.

[@jamesecarruthers]

Who is this guy?!

[@herbstmeier]

look at the description

[@AName-mg2bd]

Yeah James Caruthers... look at the description which explains that it's James Caruthers. LOLZ

[@rupertlally]

James Carruthers I dunno but he’s good...😉

[@whaaaa869]

Did you figure it out yet?

[@ruadeil_zabelin]

Great talk. Any tips for frontpanels? I'm aiming for a kind of vintage style with black panels and moog-style knobs, but i find it quite hard to make good looking frontpanels. I've found pod knobs and all that, but black aluminium and then having to make proper holes in them is a pain. How do you deal with this? Or do you just use a PCB as a frontpanel?

[@johnfrench7452]

This one has an aluminum substrate panel in black. Same process as making fiberglass PCB panels (also shown). www.tindie.com/products/pmfoundations/micro-vcolfo-eurorack-pcb-set/

[@professortrog7742]

Use maskingtape an proper tools.

[@jamesecarruthers]

One off front panels are a bit difficult - so I'm not really sure. Aluminium, drilling and matt black paint - I guess

[@robindegen2931]

How would you go about doing the lettering then? My main concern is text. Not so much drilling holes and getting them to size. That should be alright. I'm surprised that there aren't really any cheap front panel manufacturers the same way as there are for PCB's, which you can get for really cheap nowadays.

[@robindegen2931]

Markus Fuller did some experiments with that and he found that the black paint, while looking nice, comes off really quickly around the edges and will wear out pretty quickly sadly.

[@swampflux]

Are you in my head??? I'm going down this path exactly

[@jamesecarruthers]

Yes.

[@Jimbo386000]

So I have an idea for a eurorack module. In fact it’s already set up on my computer. I wanna make something that clones it. It’s a multimode filter that has a really wacky personality. The only problem is I have no earthly clue how to even start on it.

[@davearroyo3856]

Yeah, James, that pain portion looks pretty big. Now that the software modular simulator VCV Rack is available it is also possible for people to design/prototype their modules as software versions. Front panel UI can certainly be worked out that way. So we may see something in hardware that had a start in VCV Rack at some point.

[@jamesecarruthers]

Not sure how involved VCV dev is - but I guess it's possible to prototype in it. Other ways might be a bit more efficient though. There's not always a need to prototype it to that extent.

[@painstruck01]

sell the framed failed boards in a, "it would be nice if This did That" series of Attempted Art 0001

[@kingpishful]

What program would you use to prototype in code?

[@jamesecarruthers]

kingpishful whatever you feel most comfortable in, really. Processing is a good start.

[@kingpishful]

James Carruthers I know nothing on this so I'll check that out. I'm just a dab hand at soldering.

[@jamesecarruthers]

In that case, perhaps something visual like max or puredata might be better

[@kingpishful]

These are things ive wanted to have a go at anyway so Ill do that

[@devcrew335]

Are any of those in the slides you showed?

[@Tillionz]

100% agree, these last 2 fractals have been extremely disappointing.

[@OJungell]

Testing in software. Enjoy that debug time, brah

[@jamesecarruthers]

Huh?

[@leeashleyanthony]

FPGA? Write a module in VCV Rack then transcribing that to FPGA

[@skunksmisery]

(yoda voice) View to Like ratio is high with this one

[@mylarmelodies]

Naut but quality content here mate

[@whaaaa869]

the herp to derp ratio is high with you

[@jgyeaman3042]

Feel like I'm watching someone present a book report when they only read the cliffs notes.

[@mylarmelodies]

Except they aren’t reading from notes and they’ve actually done it

[@sopalen]

eeh

[@hrnekbezucha]

_You'll end up with lots of boards that are completely useless._ Yes, been there, done that.

[@DBCisco]

That is why I prototype on breadboards to assure they work first.

[@soejrd24978]

eh

[@travi5885]

this seems like a presentation for school and all the comments on the video are fake. hmm

[@mylarmelodies]

Travi5 what

[@travi5885]

Sorry for my ignorance BUT this is more of a "First Time I Built Something" experience told by James. I guess this video would be good for people without any at all prior knowledge in electronics or design. It is interesting to see how much goes into a design at first. Prototyping isn't easy and we all have to start somewhere.

[@mylarmelodies]

Travi5 Literally is what he says at the start

[@DBCisco]

@@travi5885 I learned electronics in high school (VoTech) and recently retired from teaching robotics, electronics and comp-sci (H.S. and College). I built my first modular synth when I was 17. Not sure why he makes it sound so difficult.

[@vprice509]

So... not worth it. I'll buy modules and leave the making to those who are compelled to do so.

[@subtitles1492]

cut out all the "ehm" to make the video watchable and snappy

[@Instrumentals4Sale]

interesting. thanks for the upload.