Next steps More sounds Inbound triggers
At this stage, it’s fairly likely that the Eurorack bug will have bitten. All Eurorack users report the allure of adding modules to a setup, hence its tongue-in-cheek branding of ‘Euro-crack’
The most logical next stage is to build upon what you already have. In much the same way that large-sounding commercial synthesisers offer more than one oscillator, adding a second and/or third in Eurorack is easy, but you will need to think ahead.
It’s never quite as simple as just adding a module! If you intend to add further oscillators, you’ll need to consider that it will need to share its CV signal. The easiest way for you to do that would be to invest in a small module known as a Mult or Multiple. These are cheap and abundant, and will allow the inputting of one signal, with the exit of more than one. You can also get cables which will split the signal in a similar way.
You will also need to consider how you get more than one oscillator into your filter. Some filters have capacity for this, by offering more than one Input, but if this is not the case, as it is with our Doepfer filter module, the investment of a mixer module will be required. These normally offer control of each oscillator’s level, with a summed output which can head in the direction of your filter.
Mutable Instruments Clouds is a great mangling option
In terms of which oscillators to choose, there’s a veritable wealth of choice. We have highlighted some of our more basic and obvious examples, but there are literally hundreds of oscillator options, from classic vintage through to completely bizarre and contemporary. Do your research and see what tonal colours take your fancy.
The same can also be said of filters; there’s a wealth of choice and colour, with something for every musical style.
Getting modulated
Where you’ll see Eurorack starts to get really interesting is with its enormous capacity for modulation. In fact this is something of an understatement, as the modulation potential is so great, many regard this point as the primary reason for Eurorack, and for good reason. Hence, a logical further step is to consider modules that can modulate both CV-based signals and audio signals.
CV signal modulators can be as simple as a common LFO, or as bizarre as modules that specialise in creating random sequences. One favourite is the Make Noise Wogglebug, which will send out completely abstract signals, creating unpredictable creative potential for your music. Thanks to MIDI Clocks, the rate of this (much like LFO) can be placed in time with your DAW’s clock tempo, keeping everything nicely in time.
Another avenue to explore is the ability to alter audio signals within your modular, a little like a set of guitar pedals. Companies such as Make Noise and Mutable Instruments offer all sorts of mangling modules that will imitate tape, allowing for recording, mutation and playback, or stray into worlds such as granular synthesis. Placing these effect treatments within a Eurorack means that they are open to control from within the Eurorack, allowing you to get completely lost in sound exploration.
While we have concentrated on creating a very simple synth voice in our example, which we are placing under DAW control, many users prefer to consider Eurorack systems as an organic performance entity in its own right. It almost becomes a great big groove box, and if you think you’d prefer to go in this direction, you may want to explore step sequencers that can be installed as part of the Eurorack system. This could be considered both a staple of commercial music, and a throwback to a bygone musical age, as you find yourself working with a series of notes, rather than the larger canvas available with a DAW or more extensive sequencer. It’s all up for grabs, and it is possible to combine the two successfully, if that field of sound exploration is calling you.
Avoiding melt down
With such an exciting domain laid out in front of you, it could be very easy to go out and buy loads of modules. It is addictive; but, a big word of caution. In order to get the most out of every module, there is a learning curve. We have dealt with the very basics in our example, and while these modules are fairly easy to comprehend, many more complicated and expensive modules are literal musical entities in their own right. Time spent thoroughly learning what each module can do will doubtless unleash musical potential, so be methodical, and you’ll not waste money in the process!