How to Make a Eurorack Module: A talk by James Carruthers, NoBots

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If you ever thought about actually making a Eurorack Module, here's ma pal James Carruthers of NoBots giving you a '101' primer on the process and sheer effort that goes into making a module for mass production. Spoiler alert: It's a lot of work. But is it worth it? Stay to the end and find out!
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This was recorded at the recent CV FREQS event in London - follow Eden Grey for info on the next meetup!
Photo Credit (Rogan Knobs): Richard Shutt | www.tunnelsurf.com
For more on James and NoBots, visit:
www.nobots.co.uk/
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For more on CV FREQs (from the organiser, Eden Grey):
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12 янв 2018

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Комментарии : 96

@RedMeansRecording 3 года назад

Amazing resources

@painstruck01 Год назад

i write techno and electro, and people are blown away that i have that opportunity. but it's not how i make a living - the people who do that sacrifice a lot, and have to adapt to a professional life that is very different to a 9 to 5. i think his point at the end is - be under no illusion that Eurorack is anything other than an extremely small, and extremely competitive market, with an extremely critical clientele. but it exercises that part of the brain where you've contributed something of value to a culture worth sustaining. if becoming the next Behringer, Buchla, or Dave Smith isn't your goal, it can be good for your mental health.

@urmok6iv 5 лет назад

"you get very handy at navigating horrible websites for ordering parts" *Shows a screenshot of Farnell's catalogue* :D I can totally relate to that :P

@EllaJameson 3 года назад

DigiKey is the only site I have actually enjoyed using to source parts. I often actually use DigiKey to discover a part, then order that part number from wherever is most convenient.

@vintagesynthlab4425 Год назад

James talk really resonates with me, no pun intended. Even as well prepared as I thought I was entering Eurorack as a designer in 2015, much of these realizations are often found in hindsight. Thanks, Alex!

@mylarmelodies Год назад

You're welcome and hope you're well!!

@alancurrall 6 лет назад

Thanks for putting these talks up Alex. Excellent stuff!

@DarrylMcGee Год назад

I started with KiCAD, it was messy, but I’ve started using it again, it’s come a long way with release 7. Lots of great parts libraries from the likes of 4ms, so it’s got just about everything you could want for a synth or eurorack module. I’d suggest using a PCB vendor that can also do your surface mount PCB assembly. Saves a lot of time and fumes, unless you just enjoy soldering the tiny bits. We’ve manufactured thousands of pieces of our synth related products now, and having a good manufacturing rep is important when you want to make a relatively large volume of product. Frees you to do other things while they source components and handle manufacturing. Doesn’t keep things from going wrong, but if you’re not local to the manufacturer, you will need someone who is.

@DarrylMcGee Год назад

While it’s not the most fun part of circuit design, breadboarding your circuits is going to prevent a lot of wasted PCBs. Especially when it comes to CV inputs, DACs and such. It gives you a chance to dial-in you component values before committing to anything.

@voicedrifter 6 лет назад

Great talk, very insightful and made me much more appreciative of the love and care that goes into the modules in my system.

@massimookissed1023 4 года назад

_"It would be great if it could [do] that?!"_ Disting: *It does.*

@robertparenton7470 6 лет назад

Impressive. Thank You. May you have a million views ! This is a rare type of video that not anyone can do!

@kayvon_is_likes 6 лет назад

Back to earth with a huge bump. Just the video I needed right now either way 👍

@davidowle3772 6 лет назад

Thanks for posting! A compulsory view for all us patchlings indeed... 🤓

@AsteroidKiller 6 лет назад

Thanks for uploading! ✨❤️

@floozyspeak 3 года назад

Great talk, your content is always great, keep talking more about making eurorack modules etc

@leeman224 6 лет назад

great upload!

@FlippingTheBits 6 лет назад

So comforting to see that other projects have revisions too. Recognisable. You think you've covered and triple-checked everything, start assembling and then...oops. Great video, thanks.

@udomatthiasdrums5322 3 года назад

love it!!

@freshnelly 5 лет назад

That was really entertaining. Now I feel I'm not alone too! Once that module is out there though and everyone likes it, it is a great feeling of accomplishment (hence worth the pain)

@Instrumentals4Sale 6 лет назад

interesting. thanks for the upload.

@2mbst1 6 лет назад

This talk is great! Not only conveys it what goes into making a module, it's also shows why modules cost the amount of money they do, even if they do fairly simple stuff!

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

thanks, that was one of my key messages I wanted to get across- there's a good reason simple things cost money

@2mbst1 6 лет назад

Especially for those arguing that the actual parts to build those modules cost only a fraction of the sum. Shared this talk a couple of times already. Wished there was a 5 minute version of it. :D

@Apg002 3 года назад

Really solid.

@prettypointlessvideo Год назад

brilliant

@BeniRoseMusic 5 лет назад

I’m not making modules, but I’ve been dabbling in building MIDI controllers, and have done a handful of micro controller prototypes. The paper design and breadboard prototypes are a blast, but then figuring out where to go from there is impossible! There's so many domains that seem to require expertise to get from prototype to production: pcb design, 3d modeling, part sourcing, just to name a few. I haven’t been able to find a ton of resources that don’t expect expertise in one of the other domains. I wish this stuff were easier!

@lukejackman3802 6 лет назад

These videos are great since i can't be there in person thank you

@chriszanf 3 года назад

@14:41 That graph is visual representation of Kate Sanborns quote "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration"

@Rhapsodyinnoise 6 лет назад

The idea/pain ratio is pretty accurate lol

@davidhargrove5181 6 лет назад

Incredible -- You know, I have an amazingly similar background. While I started in the realm of designing tangible objects, I found myself in the realm of programming for my job and contributing to FOSS projects... I eventually began to realize it was unfulfilling to produce intangible objects, despite my contributions to some rather successful projects. Now, returning from Moogfest, and after recently developing my 3d-printing/Laser Fab farm, I am ready to build again.

@LillySchwartz 3 года назад

The first PCB I had manufactured needed no revisions. It made me a little paranoid using the thing I built 😂 That being said, it had very few components on there, it was mostly just routing pins of screen, keypad and pots to an Arduino. We‘ll see whether that‘s going to be the same for my first synth PCB + Panel combo. Probably not 😅

@EllaJameson 3 года назад

For failed PCBs, I like to mosaic them and make cool art pieces. It's like my history of growth as an electrical engineer, all laid out.

@4dvideos 5 лет назад

I rekt a pulses diy kit with my bad soldering so bought a new one but am planning on using old the faceplate and jacks to see if I can hack together some other type of simple module.

@Defusiv 4 года назад

That's great thank yu

@ogasi1798 6 лет назад

great

@beldeancatalinionut8885 11 месяцев назад

This is really cool! Thank you for sharing all this info! I was wondering how did Doepfer inscribe and made the panels for his series of modules? Anyone knows what techniques did he use to cut and graph the panels? Cause that stuff is pretty qualitative stuff! I guess it is not easy.

@krishna34674 6 лет назад

HA @ 6:11 Was not expecting that...

@bendickson3486 3 года назад

I'll never shout at my modules ever again. They've been on a long journey. I'll care for them and bring them treats.

@Jimbo386000 4 года назад

So I have an idea for a eurorack module. In fact it’s already set up on my computer. I wanna make something that clones it. It’s a multimode filter that has a really wacky personality. The only problem is I have no earthly clue how to even start on it.

@DBCisco 5 лет назад

Making a module for mass production is much different (and much more expensive) than building one for yourself or friends.

@swampflux 6 лет назад

Are you in my head??? I'm going down this path exactly

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

Yes.

@ruadeil_zabelin 6 лет назад

Great talk. Any tips for frontpanels? I'm aiming for a kind of vintage style with black panels and moog-style knobs, but i find it quite hard to make good looking frontpanels. I've found pod knobs and all that, but black aluminium and then having to make proper holes in them is a pain. How do you deal with this? Or do you just use a PCB as a frontpanel?

@johnfrench7452 6 лет назад

This one has an aluminum substrate panel in black. Same process as making fiberglass PCB panels (also shown). www.tindie.com/products/pmfoundations/micro-vcolfo-eurorack-pcb-set/

@professortrog7742 6 лет назад

Use maskingtape an proper tools.

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

One off front panels are a bit difficult - so I'm not really sure. Aluminium, drilling and matt black paint - I guess

@robindegen2931 6 лет назад

How would you go about doing the lettering then? My main concern is text. Not so much drilling holes and getting them to size. That should be alright. I'm surprised that there aren't really any cheap front panel manufacturers the same way as there are for PCB's, which you can get for really cheap nowadays.

@robindegen2931 6 лет назад

Markus Fuller did some experiments with that and he found that the black paint, while looking nice, comes off really quickly around the edges and will wear out pretty quickly sadly.

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

Who is this guy?!

@herbstmeier 6 лет назад

look at the description

@AName-mg2bd 6 лет назад

Yeah James Caruthers... look at the description which explains that it's James Caruthers. LOLZ

@rupertlally 6 лет назад

James Carruthers I dunno but he’s good...😉

@whaaaa869 6 лет назад

Did you figure it out yet?

@painstruck01 Год назад

sell the framed failed boards in a, "it would be nice if This did That" series of Attempted Art 0001

@Tillionz 12 дней назад

100% agree, these last 2 fractals have been extremely disappointing.

@davearroyo3856 6 лет назад

Yeah, James, that pain portion looks pretty big. Now that the software modular simulator VCV Rack is available it is also possible for people to design/prototype their modules as software versions. Front panel UI can certainly be worked out that way. So we may see something in hardware that had a start in VCV Rack at some point.

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

Not sure how involved VCV dev is - but I guess it's possible to prototype in it. Other ways might be a bit more efficient though. There's not always a need to prototype it to that extent.

@kingpishful 6 лет назад

What program would you use to prototype in code?

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

kingpishful whatever you feel most comfortable in, really. Processing is a good start.

@kingpishful 6 лет назад

James Carruthers I know nothing on this so I'll check that out. I'm just a dab hand at soldering.

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

In that case, perhaps something visual like max or puredata might be better

@kingpishful 6 лет назад

These are things ive wanted to have a go at anyway so Ill do that

@devcrew335 6 лет назад

Are any of those in the slides you showed?

@OJungell 6 лет назад

Testing in software. Enjoy that debug time, brah

@jamesecarruthers 6 лет назад

Huh?

@leeashleyanthony 5 лет назад

FPGA? Write a module in VCV Rack then transcribing that to FPGA

@sopalen 6 лет назад

eeh

@skunksmisery 6 лет назад

(yoda voice) View to Like ratio is high with this one

@mylarmelodies 6 лет назад

Naut but quality content here mate

@whaaaa869 6 лет назад

the herp to derp ratio is high with you

@hrnekbezucha 6 лет назад

_You'll end up with lots of boards that are completely useless._ Yes, been there, done that.

@DBCisco 5 лет назад

That is why I prototype on breadboards to assure they work first.

@soejrd24978 3 года назад

@jgyeaman3042 4 года назад

Feel like I'm watching someone present a book report when they only read the cliffs notes.

@mylarmelodies 4 года назад

Except they aren’t reading from notes and they’ve actually done it

@vprice509 3 года назад

So... not worth it. I'll buy modules and leave the making to those who are compelled to do so.

@travi5885 6 лет назад

this seems like a presentation for school and all the comments on the video are fake. hmm

@mylarmelodies 6 лет назад

Travi5 what

@travi5885 6 лет назад

Sorry for my ignorance BUT this is more of a "First Time I Built Something" experience told by James. I guess this video would be good for people without any at all prior knowledge in electronics or design. It is interesting to see how much goes into a design at first. Prototyping isn't easy and we all have to start somewhere.

@mylarmelodies 6 лет назад

Travi5 Literally is what he says at the start

@DBCisco 5 лет назад

@@travi5885 I learned electronics in high school (VoTech) and recently retired from teaching robotics, electronics and comp-sci (H.S. and College). I built my first modular synth when I was 17. Not sure why he makes it sound so difficult.