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

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

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/

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

When will you be releasing the videos? over time?

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.

So this is a course as well as a RU-vid series ?

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).

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.

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).

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.

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

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/

Learning Modular oh cool, where do I sign up?

Run the VCA out into your Eurorack mixer.

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/

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).

Kool Thx!!

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

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

@@LearningModular thanks!

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

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).

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.

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/)

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

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.

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!

Yes!

Thanks, Man!

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?