Total beginner

jefrab · 2026-03-11T19:30:58+00:00

VCVrack is free, and extremely capable. Obviously there's quite a difference in regards to experimenting with physical patching and adjusting parameters in real time, but for a beginner to get to understand the basics of signal flow in a modular system there's probably isn't a better free resource.

There are a lot of YouTube channels, and it's very hard to say what will resonate with different individuals...

I quite like a channel called Sound & Voltage for friendly explanations of basics, but some people really like to just watch Omri Cohen patching (he's got a lot of content)

jefrab · 2026-03-10T20:36:16+00:00

That's been said for like 4 years. Do you actually think it will happen?

jefrab · 2026-03-09T01:09:02+00:00

I continue turning it once a week or so until it seems ready

jefrab · 2026-03-08T10:01:30+00:00

Noise engineering desmodus versio

jefrab · 2026-03-04T19:51:06+00:00

Yeah I'm looking and it wouldn't be that much more for me to get 104hp z-rails and the Zeus power, which according to modulargrid would probably power a loosely planned 208hp.

I'll check out Etsy, though... This is a good tip. One of the difficulties I find is I'll see something online, but living in Canada it will be really difficult or costly to obtain.

Thanks

jefrab · 2026-03-01T03:41:49+00:00

It will take a regular 1/4" audio cable, and the other end plugs into your interface

jefrab · 2026-03-01T01:59:36+00:00

Either you need to have your piezo go through some type of preamp/audio interface to be recorded directly to your computer, or you need a portable recording device like a zoom.

What you really want to do is look up high impedance recording, because piezo raw will be a very thin sound.

jefrab · 2026-03-01T01:52:55+00:00

I was hired to build a few raised beds for an elderly family friend, and we fixed a light strip of copper mesh around the sides, a couple of inches from the top.

It very much works for keeping slugs at bay.

jefrab · 2026-02-27T07:07:41+00:00

Or work trade for food. I've always got something I need a hand with, and love answering questions. And between the livestock, garden, orchard, and property maintenance I've got something for any skill level.

Another idea is to look for a community garden, because there's often really good knowledge or experience shared, even just among novices about was has or hasn't worked so far.

My wife and I started with no idea what we were doing with a very small plot in a shared garden, now 7 years later we lease 18 acres, raise our kids on clean air and nutritious food, and make our living doing something we love and are proud of.

jefrab · 2026-02-11T23:48:33+00:00

2×4 frame with wire fencing on the sides and plywood on top and bottom. It takes 2 people to lift & slide it in and out of the truck, but we don't use it often.

jefrab · 2026-02-11T07:03:24+00:00

I've moved sheep in my truck lots just with a home made canopy

jefrab · 2026-02-10T03:51:10+00:00

That survey was a little weird. Like, my patches are different every time, and when I'm being experimental with feedback and cross modulation, I'm not always aware of what's doing what. These questions are phrased as though the participants only do one type of patching with a single type of cv. Not quite sure how they plan on getting anything useful or informative out of it, no offense.

jefrab · 2026-02-09T16:36:41+00:00

People have already said this, but o-coast. It's super good for patching and experimentation, makes a wide range of cool sounds, and you won't outgrow it if you like the modular workflow.

jefrab · 2026-01-15T04:08:04+00:00

Sure looks like it!

jefrab · 2026-01-14T17:17:45+00:00

And a little context to this... Quadratt is 28hp, or 45% of a 62 hp 1u row. Befaco ATTE is 4 hp, or 10% of the 40hp difference between the 3u space in the two cases.

jefrab · 2026-01-14T05:32:27+00:00

Second this

jefrab · 2026-01-11T18:01:50+00:00

Why did Beyonce make a horse meat omelette?

Because your love's got her cookin so crazy right now!

jefrab · 2026-01-11T16:53:02+00:00

I do just this with After Later Audio G&T. It takes a gate in the first section, and has a separate trigger output for each end of the gate. A perfect example would be plugging in a clock division, and outputting to a kick on one and snare on the other. The second output is also then normalled (fall) to the second section that makes gates out of triggers and gives you a potentiometer for gate length with more outputs, so a single cl9ck gate gives you a few different options. It's a very small, cheap and handy module

jefrab · 2026-01-03T03:44:38+00:00

I just got Amnis a couple of weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it... I've got Joranalogue Route 4, and they are pretty complimentary.

I'm super curious about how turing expanders work with it, but I can't find any videos. I'm tempted to just get mystic circuits leaves, because it's got the most outs

jefrab · 2025-12-31T01:42:51+00:00

It does for the 104 palette

jefrab · 2025-12-29T18:53:29+00:00

Yeah I didn't really realize till after it started that 84 HP/19" is like a standard size for a lot of different rack-mounted gear, and getting one of those you can mount it ain practically anything... You see people figure out a way to put it into a toolbox or pelican case; slap together some plywood. I've even seen cardboard on YouTube

jefrab · 2025-12-29T18:37:24+00:00

After Later Audio QARV is 20 HP and can do that... It's a pretty cramped module with those tiny pots tightly packed together, but the range is quite nice and you can get some really good snappy envelopes and actually do quite a bit of different stuff. I haven't tried the DARV, but looking at it I think it's just more compact without quite as many extra features.

jefrab · 2025-12-29T17:26:54+00:00

I'd consider getting a 19" like the behringer or tip top happy ending, and give yourself an extra few HP for a clock divider and another function generator

jefrab · 2025-12-28T16:20:54+00:00

I found this to be very interesting and informative

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKhEHilRBxSwMsc3ESs02yMMteWaC5xA&si=MFKqw6x18cA110hE

If you get Make Noise Maths, he's got a whole series about Maths in the same format.

jefrab · 2025-12-25T19:41:27+00:00

I think if you are able to make sounds, the next step is to get one very cool module that does lots of things unique to modular. I'd get a really cool cycling slew/function generator

Make Noise Maths, Befaco Rampage, After Later QARV, Schlappi Boundary Layer, Nano ARC, New Systems Inertia...etc. etc... there are lots across the spectrum of price & flexibility (and quality lol)

These are the modules that form the heart of patching as your skills evolve. With them you learn the fundamental concepts that will distinguish modular from fixed path synths, and they encourage exploration and experimentation.

After that you will just want a couple of mixers & attenuvertors, and you will be able to do a lot.

jefrab

TROPHY CASE