How to make ambient textures with a tiny (42hp!) Eurorack modular system

I made this tiny sampling-focused Eurorack system so I could take it to a local tech meetup and show my fellow nerds the addictive power of modular synthesis.
It ended up being a really fun little "ambient texture generator", and feeding in simple acoustic guitar loops created some very pretty ambient music.
The star of the show is Morphagene (Make Noise), but the case also relies heavily on the FX Aid (Happy Nerding) and Dual Dagger (Shakmat Modular) and Ochd (DivKid / Instruo). The full case can be viewed on Modular Grid here: www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...
00:00 Intro
00:51 Case overview
01:42 The modules
05:19 Starting to patch
08:13 Modulation
12:00 The finished ambience
12:48 Closing thoughts

[@ilyandilymusic]

I have done so well over the years not getting into modular because I know it will take over my house. But you are making it really difficult with videos like this! Absolutely fantastic demo and tutorial. You have a talent for teaching as much as you do for playing.

[@advaita9156]

This is actually the PERFECT tutorial for creating a small Morphagene system! Love it mate, I’ve had my eye on Morphagene as my entry into Eurorack, this video has given me some inspiration and some focal points of where to start. Thank you

[@TomHazledine]

That's great to hear! Be sure to come back and let us know how you got on. Morphagene is a beast, and I wish I'd bought it earlier in my modular journey. I started out with a Clouds clone and an Arbhar because I thought that was the sound I wanted, when really what I needed was a Morphagene; I just didn't know it yet.

[@advaita9156]

@@TomHazledine Arbhar looks great too, but I’m drawn more towards the Morphagene! Thanks to your video in part :) I’m thinking to get Morphagene, and LFO and attenuator first off, and pair with Borderlands Granular on iPad and run through Zoom CDR-70 FX pedal (both of which I already have). Can add filter later maybe, it’s an expensive rabbit hole that I’m on the cusp of diving into

[@advaita9156]

@@TomHazledine quick question mate, the AI006 Stomp Adapter, can it only bring signal in in mono?

[@TomHazledine]

@@advaita9156 Yep, just one mono in and one mono out. The DIY kits are cheap (compared to other modules!) so I’ve got two for when I need stereo in. Worth noting that Morphagene has a gain control (hidden in second functions, but easy enough to master once you’ve read the manual) so you can put a lot of signals straight into it without even needing the AI006

[@advaita9156]

@@TomHazledine thanks for reply Tom. I have an iPad that I want to use within the system…not sure if the iPad can go straight to Morphagene or straight to the FX modules I will be buying (FX aid + Versio or Monsoon). So not sure if I need an input module or not. I will have to do some more research, but I would ideally like stereo input, so I think Pico Input may be better option despite it taking up more space

[@moldythoughts4765]

Morphagene was the reason why I started my first skiff...

[@DrTacoPHD665]

From the title alone I am almost afraid to watch this. It might convince me I have enough money for a new hobby.

[@TomHazledine]

It’s a dangerous and slippery slope, for sure! 😉

[@Jamesjimjimmy]

Haha same

[@advaita9156]

Ditto! Really want to get into Modular and Morphagene seems like perfect starting point, especially for morphing ambient soundscapes which is what I would like the system to be used for :)

[@jimmyfrigginpage]

Wonderful video. Tons of ideas already coming from this. Thanks for sharing.

[@glieb]

great vid and production value. deserves more likes and views

[@JAM-rp6fi]

What I love doing is self-patching Ochd. You get much more interesting modulation for so cheap.

[@TomHazledine]

It's a great trick. Took me way too long to figure out I could do it, though! Makes Ochd even more powerful in mini systems like this

[@vinylarchaeologist]

Yes, not a particularly well-documented “trick”, self-patching Øchd gives you fluctuating random.

[@NICUofficial]

I love small Eurorack setups! Very fun to listen to you think through your setup here and beautiful sounds along the way :) and yes, everyone does love Ochd

[@TomHazledine]

Thanks so much. I love small setups too, obviously :) I often wonder if newcomers should *start* with a small case, but I did most of my learning on a much bigger system and now I really enjoy selecting small batches of modules for short-lived systems like this one. If this was my *only* case I'd fill it very differently, I suspect. Ditto if it was my *first* case... (potential future video ideas, maybe)

[@NICUofficial]

@@TomHazledine That's so interesting! You're lucky to get started with a large system, how did that happen? XD In my "case" (ugh) the bug bit me with a Moog Mother-32, but it was about 3+ years with that as my only modular synth simply because I couldn't afford expanding I also really enjoy having a variety of case sizes without too much overlap, and swapping setups frequently for learning purposes, with the big downside that I waste a lot of time removing/installing modules and plotting things out on modulargrid lol

[@TomHazledine]

@@NICUofficial Ah, sorry - I definitely didn’t start with a FULL large case 😛 Took me a few years to fill it up (and by large I mean 6U/84hp, so a lot smaller than some of the epic systems you see on here!) Case was DIY, too. Ironically I thought the M32 was too pricey, so started with some DIY and cheap 2nd hand modules. It meant I could pick modules based solely on function rather than having to think about hp too much. I guess the classic advice of “start with a bigger case than you think you need” worked for me.

[@NICUofficial]

@@TomHazledine haha I definitely understand now, at first I imagined you being a professor in an electronic music studio or something getting access to a wall of modular synths on your first day O_O it's fascinating how many different paths people take into modular, almost metaphorically similar to all the crazy wires going everywhere in our systems!!

[@calderbischoff9739]

Super lovely video!

[@drewphillips]

great video!

[@gapster77]

Nice vid, well explained 👍🏻

[@mindsoundmeditation7962]

I'm appreciating this idea.. I've been considering the hologram microcosm.. But alternatively I've been considering building a little custom sampling kit like this. Really like what you've done here. Cheers

[@HumanMotives]

Lovely video and agree on small cases! ❤️☕️

[@jackduxbury1632]

Tres tres Dope Monsieur ❤

[@aevai]

Really nice

[@TonyEdwardsPZ]

Love it!

[@jjbing3]

I just bought this case. Now I gotta see what modules I want 🤔

[@firstandlast4415]

i like it. i like it a lot. jam on it.

[@calebpuro9734]

Very beautiful sounds and case. Really getting me to get a morphagene! Can you use the morphagene in real-time with audio going into it at all times? Or just recorded bits to manipulate? Would love to run a mic into it for live use like a live voice granulator on the spot.

[@TomHazledine]

You can! It sounds really great as a real-time effect

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Very nice....less is more, and sometimes, more = cacophony

[@sinesurfing6029]

Absolutely mind blowing demonstration! How might you expand on this setup if you were given a 62hp case to get even more sample mangling?

[@TomHazledine]

That's a great question. My current favourite module for sample mangling is the Instruo Lubadh, but I'd have to sacrifice some utilities to fit it in a 62hp case alongside the Morphagene and filter. But if it was a palette-style case with a 1U row too... well, then things could get interesting!

[@studio48nl]

Two attenuators left on the far left 😉

[@LeonTrimble]

Check out the 4ms podX range for deeper modules. Might even get the ES-9 in there haha x

[@TomHazledine]

Oooh, I didn't realise they did deeper versions. Nnot a fan of the pod's "forehead", though, so still prefer cases like the Erica one.

[@organicfrequencies]

Very inspiring. Don't mind if I copy your setup 😄

[@cataraxis-jn9fu]

this video got me into modular, so thank you! …or not, if you look at my finances.

[@TomHazledine]

Oh wow! That’s amazing to hear. I know what you mean re: finances too 😂 My bank manager wants to have serious words with Jeremy from Red Means Recording and Andrew Huang…

[@cataraxis-jn9fu]

@@TomHazledine yes Jeremy and Andrew Huang! I’m starting a class action lawsuit…

[@mod.3x]

I thought you sampled under the bridge by rhcp at first haha

[@mod.3x]

Good stuff :) your table looks so clean :D

[@labismusic]

❤❤❤❤❤🎉!!

[@jjbing3]

I had a Morphagene, sold it, crying everyday. 😔

[@DBPawlan]

Do you really need to bring up the line levels to input into Morphagene? I've just plugged sources in directly, the only issue being possibly extra noise.

[@TomHazledine]

You're totally right - you CAN just plug directly into the Morphagene and set your levels using the secondary functions. I use the AI006 because I often capture a snippet of an instrument through the Morph and then re-patch the line-in elsewhere to build up layers (plus I find the in-Morph level setting a bit fiddly, so the single pot on the AI006 is much quicker)

[@DBPawlan]

Totally makes sense. I have a 42HP case and love its restrictiveness.

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

Me realizing I mite like ochd better than marbles. They are diff things. But I like the eight different LFO’s. Can ornaments n crime do anything like that?

[@rayderrich]

About 1300 Euro to mangle a guitar sample, well it was very fun to watch and listen so I guess it is okay.

[@Fajfaj]

how deep is the case?

[@TomHazledine]

Externally it's 56mm high, but internally it depends on the position - the power connection headers take up a lot of space at one end (more than half the width of the case), and there's the power supply caps etc at the other end. There's 32mm space between the headers and the back of the faceplate, but there's a small section where there's 42mm of space (enough for a 4hp module). If a module advertises itself as "skiff friendly" you'll probably be able to fit it in, but don't expect to be able to use any deep modules (like Doepfer or Expert Sleepers or 2HP)

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

Do you have the STFU module?

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

Does this dude ever stop talking???????????????????????