LMS: Moving a Moog Mother-32 to a Eurorack Case

Are you ready to make your Mother-32 part of a larger Eurorack-format modular system? This movie covers removing the Mother-32 from its own case and moving it into a Eurorack case, including discussion of power requirements and other important issues.
This movie is a free-to-all preview from my Mother-32 online course: courses.learningmodular.com/c...

[@reekhavok2724]

Well done Chris. Your videos are always clean, informative and easy to understand.

[@LearningModular]

Thanks, Reek - I respect everything you do, so that means a lot coming from you.

[@j.fetzer5814]

Thank you! You helped me in reverse. I had to put a Mother-32 back together! Cheers!

[@NICUofficial]

After having my Mother-32 since not long after release (and then getting the Eurorack bug as an inevitable consequence) I am now FINALLY mounting my M32 in my case for the first time ever! And naturally Chris, yours is the instructional video I watched to make sure I don't make any dumb mistakes!! Hehe

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Thank you just installed mine !

[@korywesterhold]

Super helpful. Thanks so much 😊😊😊

[@LifeInSpacePodcast]

This is super cool. I haven't seen a video on doing this yet. I'm glad you shared this. This opens up a great deal of possibilities for the mother 32. Great video cheers!!!

[@LearningModular]

Thanks - an entire chapter of that course is devoted to expanding the Mother with other Eurorack modules. And I'm taking a break right now from editing the second-to-last movie for the follow-up course "Eurorack Expansion" which contains over 6 hours of additional modules and synthesis techniques to use with a semi-modular like the Mother-32. In the meantime, here's an article I wrote on expanding the Mother: learningmodular.com/the-eurorack-expansion-host-rack/

[@LifeInSpacePodcast]

Sweet sounds awesome. I'm there, can't wait to watch!!!

[@threeinitiates8260]

When will you be releasing the videos? over time?

[@LearningModular]

Yes. I'm ramping up to a plan to release a video a week demonstrating a different module, in the context of expanding a small system (using the Mother-32, to be specific, but it should apply equally well to other systems). I'll start in a few weeks by releasing select individual videos from my upcoming online course "Eurorack Expansion", and then move over to releasing new content beyond that course.

[@threeinitiates8260]

So this is a course as well as a KZbin series ?

I'll be waiting for more...

[@threeinitiates8260]

very helpful

[@blueberry2a]

Hello tks for this video question do you think I could create an auto bass on the M32 while playing lead on minilogue XD using its sync out?

[@Hellseeker1]

Was kinda hoping you would have continued instead of making a seperate video about the audio connections, thanks

[@alexandermontagnet3361]

Hey, what is that little Black & Decker power drill you are using?? Didn’t know they made them that small! Thanks!

[@SourceRE]

Quick question: I'm like you, were I to get a Mother-32, I'd like to put in my tiptop case. If I did this, is the mother-32 case, too proprietary or could I fill it with other Eurorack modules? I suppose anything can be DIY'd, but I'd like it if it "just works". I'd like to use the Mother case for controller modules and utilities that would be nice to shuttle around to other CV gear.

[@LearningModular]

You can certainly use the Mother-32's original case to hold more modules; you just need to also get a power module, as the power and audio board built into the Mother's case is not of a lot of use to other modules (although I think there is an opportunity for someone to make an adaptor module that put it to work).

[@SourceRE]

That's very interesting. Suddenly the Mother-32's cost seems even more reasonable if I'm gettting a small case in the deal. Thanks! I'm going to investigate further, because this might work out nice for me. I have 208 hp case that is mostly empty, so I got the room. Thanks again.

[@WellsOliver]

Did you ever post the followup video about patching the Mother-32 after installing it in the Eurorack case?

[@LearningModular]

I did, as part of my Moog Mother-32 course on Lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning: learningmodular.com/lms-moog-mother-32/ I'm currently working on a way for people to buy access to those courses for a one-time payment in contrast to the Lynda or LinkedIn subscriptions. It will probably be offered through the LearningModular.com web site. Check back there in a few weeks (and wish me luck with the coding).

[@sinepilot]

Can anyone tell me what the dimensions are for the screws that hold in the cheeks? I understand the screws going into the face are 3mm, but I'm curious about the cheek screws. TIA!

[@borasayer7417]

Can I get sound out of my mother-32 (in a eurorack system) just by plugging in a 1/4" to 1/8" cable straight from the VCA patch and into my interface inputs?

[@LearningModular]

You can, but watch your signal levels - standard modular level (which is what will come out of the VCA jack) is much hotter than even +4 dBu.

[@nycpny8396]

any chance you can explain (exactly) how to sync the m32 to the Po12 (pocket operator) I could not get them to sync , I'm not sure what sync mode po12 should be, I don't know which should be slave to which (I prefer m32 be master to po12, I don't know where I should plug the cables on m32 patch bay,gate out?, lfo square out?, and lastly mono or stereo patch cables? (po12 syncs with a stereo cable, 1 channel is sync signal & the other channel is audio) ??

[@LearningModular]

Sorry; I don't have or have never used a Pocket Operator.

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

As of 2022 there are some manufacturers who align the red stripe with positive. (Stupidly enough). So really make sure you've got the negative side correct. There should be a little triangle on the same side as the red stripe. If the red stripe is on the other side of the header, don't even bother with it.

[@bastardlasagna2759]

Once I've put the M32 in a case. how do I get sound out of it?

[@LearningModular]

Connect to the VCA output on the patch panel. That's covered in the next movie in the course: learningmodular.com/register/learning-modular-synthesis-moog-mother-32/

[@BushDoctor02]

Could I use the cabinet of the Mother 32 and put modules in it?

[@LearningModular]

Yes - that's what I've done. I removed the old power board inside to make more room. You will need a power module like the Row Power or Konstant Strong. I was pleased to find I could actually fit a Genus Modu LIBB inside as well (with electrical tape over anything shiny to make sure I don't short out anything).

[@BushDoctor02]

Kool Thx!!

[@WeirdMedicine]

hmmm...where is the Eurorack patchbay (including how to get audio out of it) video? Can't find the follow up to this one.

[@LearningModular]

This movie is a freebie excerpt from a course on using the Mother-32, including a while chapter on using it with a Eurorack system (including using the Mother's patchbay etc.). Here's more info on the course, including how to get a free trial to view the course with: learningmodular.com/lms-moog-mother-32/

[@WeirdMedicine]

Learning Modular oh cool, where do I sign up?

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

Run the VCA out into your Eurorack mixer.

[@KeithCanisius]

Can I use the m32 screws instead of getting new ones?

[@LearningModular]

If your new case has the same size threads, yes.

[@wolfdesk]

Would the process be the same for mounting a Dfam into a rack?

[@LearningModular]

I don't have a DFAM, but I would expect it to be the same.

[@wolfdesk]

@@LearningModular thanks!

[@chiptunasoundworkshop8257]

Can I do the same thing with a Dfam?

[@LearningModular]

I don't have a DFAM, so I don't know for sure, but I assume it would be exactly the same.

[@prospectnyc]

How do you get audio output?

[@LearningModular]

I personally use an output module separate headphone and balanced audio outputs. Many others just take the VCA out and run it through an input attenuator or pad on their normal mixer (you need a lot of headroom, as Eurorack levels are higher than even +4dB).

[@faustocastillo4740]

I don’t seem to get good volume from it, im running the vco pf my mother 32 trough a wave multiplier and then to a boss space echo pedal and the volme is ridiculously low, do you know what can it be? Thanks.

[@gesslr]

So, ummmm, how DO you get sound out of it??

[@LearningModular]

Patch its VCA output to dedicated output module, or to a mixer that can take a very hot input. (That and more are covered in the rest of that chapter of the online course: learningmodular.com/register/learning-modular-synthesis-moog-mother-32/)

[@infernall_blessfree_waghun8377]

whuat is the brand of your power supply :)

[@cybchris]

In this case, it was a prototype of the Malekko power board. The shipping version is even better.

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

I mounted mine in a case and then put it back in it's original skiff. I figured 64hp was too much real estate to be taken up by one module. Also, I've heard it said that the audio quality is slightly diminished when the unit is mounted in a Eurorack skiff.

[@LearningModular]

There's certainly pros and cons for keeping the Mother in its own case, or moving it into a Eurorack case. But I don't think audio quality is one of them: the same sound has to come out of the same VCA, and either go to the Mother's internal audio board, or to the output module or mixer of your choice. If you mixer or Eurorack audio module are lower in quality than the board inside the Mother's case, then the quality will go down; if it's higher, then the quality will go up.

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

I should still be able to route audio out of the VCA and into my Eurorack even if I leave the mother in it's case. Is that right? Thanks for your response!

[@LearningModular]

Yes!

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

Thanks, Man!

[@brotherjrthomas5917]

Never EVER use an electric screwdriver when working with anything with circuits on it. I'm glad that you had success, but recommending the use of electric tools is... NOT the best of ideas.

[@LearningModular]

Please tell me more. I did some searching online this morning after seeing your post, and couldn't find anything about it. Is the concern that there would be static or other shock built up by the moving parts?