My 7 favorite sub €100 eurorack modules

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello everyone, this one was fun to make :) If you have favorite modules around or below €100/$100 let me know. Would enjoy diving in more options! All the best. Generic affiliate links: Perfect Circuit - US - bit.ly/3Yn0Gll Sound of You - EU bit.ly/3DzdFYi Clockface - AS - bit.ly/3YkDJ1B

[@CatFish107]

My fav low cost, high excitement module is the doepfer PLL module.

[@CatFish107]

And for a low cost, high value / functionality oscillator, the cre8 audio Captain Big O is solid. Multiple waveforms, pwm, sync, lin&exp FM, a wave folder, and an overdrive for entry level pricing.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ah, yes, really fun module!

[@CatFish107]

That A162 divider with primes is a great backbone for getting some staggered rhythms.

[@quantum_ocean]

you can also use an Oxi One and send out gate triggers at different rates by changing the pattern length on your multitrack lane.

[@clonn]

I bought the 3X MIA and the Doepfer clock divider following your recommendations, very useful modules indeed. I also own the Wasp filter and I love it.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, that's great to hear! Enjoy :)

[@nielshulgard3722]

I bought a 3xMIA after the first time you showcased it on your channel, and it is probably also my favourite module. Brilliant idea for a video!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, that's nice to hear :) Enjoy!

[@nielshulgard3722]

@@MonotrailTechTalk thanks!

[@ekisnaar]

Just got Dreadbox Utopia earlier today, definitely fits the bill.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice! Enjoy the module :)

[@rayderrich]

That 3 x MIA goes on the wishlist for sure. I also really enjoy the little active MULT and SHTH (Sample/Track and Hold) modules from After Later Audio.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for sharing! Will have a look at the SHTH, that seems like a fun package :)

[@tgiencke]

@@MonotrailTechTalkthe SHTH is very good.

[@vandermore]

Storytime is something I like. Looking forward to seeing the new format as well.

[@griffithmorgan4966]

I always enjoy your shows, yet, real life has kept me from watching lately. I do a super low budget modular, though I am good at soldering I have zero interest in soldering my own anything at this point. I mostly buy used modules or things less than 100 dollars. Since you ask about low cost modules here is a huge rant. I saw the 3x MIA in another video you did and wanted something like it. I found DPW AV1 and it was amazingly on sale at 30% off too. It is essentially a 2 Channel version of that one. I do have a 1 channel Smart Vert attenu-vert with a multiple out, so the two make for a lot of power and the smart vert is a mult out. Many of your builds involve VCAs taking alternating CV so they each are opposing on high or low signal. The Takaab VCA has a inverted CV input which is helpful and only 2hp. I follow a lot of your ideas and when you did a show on making a small rack featuring ONA oscillator I really wanted something with a Sub Osc. out like Ona. But for a while the ONA was not available here. I ended up using a Dreadbox Hysteria I already owned and adding a Feedback (the company) complex sub. as a combo with it - it is sort of like the Ona now. ;) Also found a guy selling a built up Polivoks filter out of Latvia for 85 Euro with shipping - always have to think of how shipping raises prices. I was trying to use those modules to build a single instrument based off the ideas in your small rack design video. But, also mostly paying attention to the concepts you present rather than specific units, thus I was replacing what you were using with cheaper units, or things I had as extra left over modules. Some others of interest the Wild Fire Laboratories 6 passive utilities in 6hp is really cheap. It's called Weird Vector. The 0hp quad random by Tidbit Audio is fun and low cost. All their 0hp stuff is so cheap and useful. People hate it, yet, Cre8audio Chipz dual VCO can be found for almost nothing used. When I first got it I had seen reviews and comments calling it bad. So I pulled mine out of my rack because I was still new at modular and assumed people with more knowledge were correct. Then I realized that what I needed was something that is not good for making kind of terrible sounds, and back in it went, and out came the more expensive VCO. :P If you use it to make complex oscillators and slow down the LFO on noise setting until it becomes like a S&H, the Chipz is a monster. I used some ideas in your videos and put the LFO into an attenuverter and into the OSC pitch control and it was awesome. It's unstable and weird, but for noise fans it is pretty amazing actually. At slightly more than 100 bucks is the Spherical Audio Vortex Generator. It is my all time favorite module. I understand if this is way too much to read. he he he

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks for sharing! Used modules are a great way to get good deals! I really like the MIA as a great starter package, but if you have a functional system as it sounds like you do, indeed you already have those functions available in other modules :) Someone else mentioned the dreadbox series as well, have to check those out! And will go over your other suggestions to. Glad to hear you gave the Chipz another chance! Most important is to explore and give yourself space to see how you like to use things,, and what you can do with something. That's often where things get interesting :) All the best!

[@PatternRecognitionMusic]

Chipz and Cellz, while no longer in my rack, are pretty underrated. I continued to use them until I couldn't justify the hp they were taking up as I expanded my setup.

[@sergez75]

I use a few modules by dreadbox, the chromatic series. Nostalgia is a great delay and hysteria is a interesting vco

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Oh yeah, have to check those out for sure. That VCO passes the 100, but some others don't, very interesting lineup in any case :)

[@PatternRecognitionMusic]

Came here to say the same - I've got Hysteria, Eudemonia and Dystopia and don't see letting them go anytime in the foreseeable future.

[@AndreaCichecki]

Great video! I love the low pass gate patch. 🤗

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks, glad you like it :)

[@gregordys2640]

Props for the DPLPG! 🎉

[@wishbonebrewery]

This is your love letter to the MIA, I keep seeing it recommended, Happy Nerding make some good kit.

[@tgiencke]

Just try to Beat this: Ladik D-430 Drum Boy for £55! Grooves well with a MI Grids clone! 🤣

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ah yeah, nice one!

[@BluemanGil]

Thanks for the video

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Very welcome! :)

[@walrtbstudios5430]

My fave module under €100? The Ladik S-610 Composer N- a variable-length sequencer that is exactly as random as you want, and even has a built-in quantiser. I must admit that the 3xMIA had never previously crossed my radar- but it has now. I fear that it may be rather over my head however…

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ill check out the Ladik. And then check out the video I made on utilities! Understanding the use of mixing, attenuating and inverting signals helps a lot when making patches :)

[@tracyharms3548]

3xMIA is pretty straightforward. Once you grasp a couple simple things I expect it will be easy to use.

[@xv920nl]

Another affordable versatile module: Dreadbox Utopia. A mixer/atenueverter/multiple providing offset and a triangle LFO

[@SidRockett]

You can get most of these modules even cheaper if you buy used or cloned by many boutique manufacturers.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

For sure! Buying used modules is a great way to cut some expenses :)

[@kellerfrequenz2001]

Or DIY! There are some simple diy modules which are not hard to Finish at all when mostly pre-soldered

[@quantum_ocean]

1. Happy Nerding 3x MIA 2. Eowave Zone B.F. 3. Meng Qi DPLPG 4. Doepfer A124 Wasp 5. Doepfer A160-2 clock divider II 6. Doepfer A134-2 dual crossfader 7. Doepfer A133-2 dual VC polarizer

[@NEVERSLEEPmovies]

Very funny you mentioned that crazy noisy bleeding of your Wasp filter at our Berlin Modular Society event 😂 at Lark.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Felt fair to make a mention :)

[@ofootyeabicc201]

The wasp filter, if I recall correctly, abuses the crap out of the main IC intentionally in its design. You can easily swap it out as I think it’s nested in an IC socket. Look into it online as I swear I heard it somewhere and it’ll cost you like $5 maybe(and since no one sells singular ICs, this is your cue to restock your DIY bench if you have one). Hope this helps!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there, you mean that's causing the bleeding? Unfortunately I have no DIY bench :)

[@Overcrox]

Just want to give a shoutout to the Antumbra ATN8 as another 3xMIA alternative. 8 attenuverters, offset, and mixer, and only 8HP, basically a slightly larger 3xMIA in a different shape. Not as price-efficient (unless you assemble it yourself!), but if you're really trying to maximize space efficiency, it's pretty great and it looks gorgeous.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, nice! Didn't know that one, and looks great indeed. Seems like a build module will end up around €240, which is a steep change from the MIA, but the DIY seems nice if you can handle that :)

[@freddiefranklin1]

@@MonotrailTechTalk +1 for this module for me. I picked one up used for £140 and swapped it out with my MIA. I think it offers more flexibility than the MIA for only an additional 2 HP

[@apaleslimghost]

the ATN8 is great, but the controls are a lot more cramped than the MIA, it's a lot harder to use in a performance situation

[@freddiefranklin1]

@@apaleslimghost Yeah true it is more cramped. I actually find it easier in terms of performance than the MIA though as I never really got on with the dual pots. I use my rig for slow evolving ambient anyway so I don't need to make quick changes . I think atn8 would be a bit difficult in a situation where you want very quick control. My favourite attenuversion module is blinds but I just didn't have room in the case for it any more. If I move to a bigger case I'd consider it again for sure

[@Overcrox]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Definitely. They also have a nice selection of miniaturized MI clones that look quite nice, and a *very* compact take on the Yusynth Fixed Filter Bank, although I haven't tried any of those modules (yet)!

[@quilubru]

Hello, sympa cette vidéo. J’aime bien aussi les pico dsp et pico seq de Erica Synth

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! The pico range is absolutely amazing! Lot's of great options there, but most are a bit over 100 I think :) Cheers!

[@quilubru]

@@MonotrailTechTalk pico seq2 : 85 € (Thomann)

[@els1f]

5:25 I would like to recommend the Takaab 2LPG by Siam Modular. It's inexpensive, sounds badass, and I often think about getting more of them lol

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! Didn't know that one and doesn't seem to be easily available in EU, but good to hear there are more great options for the dual lpg! All the best!

[@fragile1980]

Takaab 2LPG, Ritual Electronics Krach, Doepfer 121-3, Rides on the storm FEG

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks! Some good options. Rides in the storm has a whole lien of well priced modules I should look more into some time. Cheers!

[@fragile1980]

@@MonotrailTechTalk yeah, very good stuff and really nice communication when help is needed

[@gregvittore5004]

I love my pico vcf from erica synth,slightly over 100 though

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice module indeed!

[@jherekco]

In 1U - Intellijel Quadratt, similar to Mia? Intellijel headphone out! In 3U, doepfer theremin, divkid mutes

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Quadrat can do the same things, just slightly less. I love the Mia's dual pots, so it has 6 pots instead of the Quadrats 4. Mia can be 3 2>1 mixers, Quadrat can be 2 2>1 mixers. Quadrat has the bonus of switching between unipolar or bipolar, which is nice if the 0 point is important in your mix, for example when mixing audio. Both great. Divkids Mutes is nice indeed!

[@unfamiliarenvironments]

+1 for Doepfer PLL and Siam Modular RLFO

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for the tips! Might have to get myself that ppl and make a video, it's been on my list for some time, and it seems like a lot of people like it .)

[@unfamiliarenvironments]

@@MonotrailTechTalk cheers - if dare call it the best value in eurorack and also the most underrated, look forward to it

[@pmwmartens]

Check out Ladik, lots of excellent modules below 100 euro.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

For sure! I think they only sell directly which makes it a bit less accessible in some way, there not so exposed. But there's an incredible range of useful modules there for good prices!

[@sonicspecter]

8:56 the Wasp circuit (like the original low cost synthesiser) breaks by design. If you are lucky, you get a screaming distortion filter 😂

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! Yes, the raw screaming sound is the beauty of the filter :) Just to be clear though, I say 'bleeds', meaning that if the module is set to low pass and the filter is fully closed, quite some high oscillator frequencies bleed through the circuit and come out audible. Cheers!

[@RobK496]

​@@MonotrailTechTalk late to the party, but that might still be a blown Integrated Circuit. A new CD4069 is less than one Euro to buy and very easy to replace. You might want to try that to bring new life to it!

[@joseph.nicolaus]

3xMIA yummmy

[@CatFish107]

Agreed. With modules like that, where there are several similar options available, it can come down to what is available at the best price on the used market at the moment. 3xMIA may retail lower than a 321, but used, the prices and availability may vary. Good to know what else can fill that role.

[@xavierxeon]

my favourite module under 100: Intellijel OR

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ah, nice, that's a great function to have access to indeed :)

[@tgiencke]

I got to mention it… Behringer Chaos (MI Marbles), Four (XD Batumi), Abacus (MN Maths), and Victor.

[@PatternRecognitionMusic]

I've got little need for the others, but I've got a Victor and love it.

[@studio48nl]

1 Got an OAx2 and SPO (4 polarisers in 8 HP) 2 Zone BF, sold it. Still have the MFB :D LFO. 3 Got it 4 Sold it, a bit to aggressive for my taste 5 Got it 6 I got the HN Dual x-fade (with CV!) 7 Got it, the slim version Ladik makes very nice cheap modules too!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice! Sounds like you're set :)

[@VinceFinemMusic]

Does the 3x MIA not do the same function as the Doepfer Polarizer but better?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there, MIA doesn't have VC over polarization. The Doepfer polarizer doesn't mix. I'd say they are really quite different!

[@VinceFinemMusic]

@@MonotrailTechTalk is there anything that combines the best of both?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

I love the Malstrom Arkan. It's effectively a dual polarizer, but with 2 inputs each, so also two 2:1 mixers. Inputs can invert, one can be used as offset, the other has a huge gain range, and it even offers some interesting folding. Really great module, but I would say it's a module for people with some modular experience. Really helps to have a scope module or plugin to see what happens when you explore the module. I did a video on it a while ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXSQoHqtgpZ8aqs

[@earlsfield]

you don't use 1U modules right?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

No, but if you have amazing suggestions you're free to share :)

[@earlsfield]

@@MonotrailTechTalk I am not big on 1u, but there are a few super useful ones. Quadratt, I saw you have 2 Triatt - I think it’s 90 quid - you can’t beat 4 ins, bi polar/unipolar switch, it can be a mixer, attenuator, many things. Noise tools is often overlooked little module that gives you s/h, clock, can track and hold, two noise types. Other than that I would say 1U should be used to add more utilities, depending on the build - double VCA is also under 100 quid I think.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks! Quadrat is great indeed, I still prefer the MIA over it just for the amount of inputs and mixes it can make But Quadrat has the nice unipolar/bipolar switches. The noise tools is very cool for sure, that's a great suggestion. Cheers!

[@earlsfield]

@@MonotrailTechTalk always thought about these two as two different purposed modules. Yes you are right indeed, MIA is fabulous due to channel modularity and more inputs, I just mostly use Quadratt for offset and attenuation and MIA for mixing both cv and audio in the same patch. I knew you’d like Noise Tools since it has slew and smooth random voltage :) also love your module with ADDAC, I tried it recently and will get one for myself.

[@GeorgeLocke]

Haven't watched it yet but if this list would have to change if were 97 euro, I'm gonna be mad.

[@jominhas]

R2R ladder (DAC) circuits can be found at the heart of many well-loved modules. Some manufacturers (Herzlich Labs, Olegtron, Vaemi, Wavefonix) sell them as cheap, passive designs. Great for mixing, attenuating, waveshaping and sequencing. NLC 1U Difference-Rectifier is another strong candidate! It can be used as a waveshaper/modulation source, as a building block for min and max (analog logic), as a nonlinear function in a feedback patch... the list goes on.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for the info! Will check it out :)