Modular Synth Basics #06: Powering a Eurorack System 

Seriously some of the most helpful beginner info out there. Cheers!

Your way of describing things is ideal. Concise and very clear. It's easy to miss these little bits of important information while reading long manuals and documents. Thanks. I've been a lab teacher once and I can say "good job".

You're very good at explaining this.

This is a great video. It's refreshing to get your clear and concise take on the subject. This is definitely going to help a lot of people (myself included!). Thank you :).

This is amazing. I need is spelled out like this. Can't say thank you enough for doing this!

0:26 - there's a mistake in a description. The bus board isn't connected to the transformer's positive and negative voltages. It's rather connected to the power supply, as it is correctly shown on the picture (we can see some circuitry, ie a rectifier and the regulators with black heatsink after the transformer). The transformer, as we can remember from school, provides an alternating current. :) Of course from the average user's point of view the power supply can be called "a transformer" (if it only makes sense, because not all PSU need a transformer) and nothing will go wrong, provided that someone won't grab a soldering iron and make the connections literally as it was described. :)

That was so helpful.

Amazing series... One of the best videos about modulars on you tube !!!! keep the great work!!!! Cheers from Portugal!!!!

Thank you. I had a feeling that I needed to test when I got my 2nd module ever and the cable that came with it had the red stripe on the opposite side of the cable that came with the 1st one

Thanks!

Everything was very clear, save one bit: "A transformer is rated for a certain mA number as well, usually for +12v and -12v". Is this to say that, when determining if a module will fit within my power supplies output range, I only have to compare each side of the +/- spectrum against its specifications? For example, say I had a horrible power supply that was rated -12v 100 mA, +12v 100 mA, and I had a module that demanded -12v 90 mA, +12 40 mA. I'd be able to run this with 10 mA to spare on the -12v bus, and 60 mA to spare on the +12v bus? I'm fairly certain the answer is "you are correct," but on the off chance I am not... :)

I’m looking to upgrade from a flying bs board to the doepfer psu2 but after watching this I just wanted to ask about the cv and gate connections on the bus board.. can I just power my modules from the bus board without having to think about the cv and gate pins? Or would I have to adapt my modules to suit? And how come you don’t have to think about that with the flying bus board?

Hello, just about connecting the actual modules to the bus boards via the ribbon cables... you said dont' rely on the red stripe, however... on the module side, it doesn't actually say which connections are which... On the bus board itself, it says +12 and -12 ... however, on the actual ribbon cable - how do you know which pin is which if it doesn't say on it?

Do modules come with the cables, or do you have to buy them separately?

for example im wanting to build a three tier eurorack does it plug into three seperate sockets or just one with a bigger power supply

great video btw... my question is hypothetically speaking but, how would i get a bigger power supply or add to the existing ps... just want to clarify cuz im getting the bug lol. are u saying that usually one 3u is ie 84hp or 106hp which is enough to fill one that size?

+12V rail and -12V rail? Is one rail/busboard negative and the other positive? That makes no sense in my head? Or do you mean the individual ribbon connections (+12, -12, 5, Ground etc)? Also, I can't get a really clear answer on this one... Would appreciate it if you had a tip cause it's probably a pretty easy answer. 1. Is it evenly distributed throughout the system or do you have to worry about dividing this example of 1200 mA in half if you, let's say, had a two rail/two busboard system? Like.. Do you need to worry about making it 600 mA per bus board or just the total off of the transformer? 2. I'm always told to leave some space/not exceed the power limitations... But, how much space should I leave? I know that varies, but by mA what is probably a safe bet? 3. I have Tube modules from the Erica Fusion Line (the Mk3 Mixer and the Erica Fusion VCO). Both draw power from the tube heater via smaller cables. I've heard there is a fluctuation, at least when not choosing to use the tube heater too, but I suspect there still is bit of one when powering up the system/ as the tubes heat? When configuring this all on modulargrid, it shows the draw of the Erica Fusion modules, but I have the tube heater installed and it's drawing that tube heat function from them. The Fusion VCO manual says : ' Power supply: .................bipolar +-12V , eurorack standard and/or Erica Synths 6VAC PSU Power consumption: Tube heater PSU configuration: ..........................60mA@+12V, 30mA@-12V, 300mA@6VAC Eurorack PSU configuration: ..........................................................215mA@+12V, 185mA@-12V (NB - start-up power consumption for few seconds is +-250mA) ' Curious if this specifically means that it takes from the Tube Heater Configuration only the 60 and 30 mA versus the whopping 215 and 185 from the rail, as opposed to the tube heater. Trying to add a couple of LFO's from Pittsburg *dual LFO2 or w/e* And a Make Noise STO. My current grid as of today... cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_511249.jpg www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/511249 I dunno, I'm pretty sure this link works... Thanks. Just trying to clarify these things and make it safe cause of the SID chip and the tubes and... I've spent time on it... I love my system and love patching it and I love how it mutates creativity.

do most module's come with their own ribbon cables?

Maybe a Noob question but I cant figure out this. Why use a modular mixer if you can plug outputs directly to the mixing console. If I plug it directly to the mixer em I gonna loose too much flexibility that if I use a modular mixer? I kind of think that 4 channel, no eq or aux of the modular mixer is more limiting than plug the module output directly on the main console mixer. Can anybody explain this to me please? Thanks in advance!!

Great video. Silly question here but I am really confused. Do I need a power source for powering a Doepfer A-100LC9 PSU3 Low Cost Case ? Power source refers to this: www.reddogmusic.co.uk/catalog/product/002528/4ms-row-power-40-black Also, do u know if this case has the adapter you mentioned for the 5V supply ?

im having some trouble understanding if my modules will be compatible with the case's power supply. www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/353258 here is my plan. While I'm asking, could you by chance give me some advice? I am trying to make an ambient and industrial synth with atonal and noise capabilities as well. Are the modules I've chosen going to help me reach this goal?

I want to build my own case with a high quality power supply or multiples. Should I buy linear or switching power supplies? Any brands that have good power filtering? Don't want the power supply to adversely effect sound quality.

Hast das ganze Tutorial auch in deutsch?

Which power supply should I buy? Doepfer a100 kit (www.analoguehaven.com/doepfer/a100diy1/) Tip top Happy ending kit (store.muffwiggler.com/collections/power/products/happy-ending) Tip top studio bus (store.muffwiggler.com/collections/power/products/tiptop-studio-bus) Any other?

subliminal messages!

WTF I don't understand a single thing here... Doesn't mean it's not a good vid though!