Planning Your First Eurorack Synthesizer with Sarah Belle Reid 

Read our companion article going into even more detail : bit.ly/3cUfzbu If you want to learn more about modular synthesis from Sarah you can sign up for her course here: www.soundandsynthesis.com

I have to say, I love how your intros for your videos look like a 90's film logo.

I just sold my car so I can afford to get into eurorack.

Her presentation style is most admirable. Her information on how to build a small system is invaluable: extremely pragmatic and simultaneously very artistic. Excellent job!

This was probably the best intro to modular system building I’ve seen. Great hosting, great length. Super easy to understand, and very level-headed.

my goodness those sounds are incredible. brand new to modular synths but I love learnig about them. Thanks for the video Sarah!

Honestly, I rely on your understanding and know how when it come to sound design. You’re on of my favorites in the field.

one of most informative modular videos ive seen! ! thank you so much!

I started with a Doepfer A100 Basic system then got a new case and had fun. Love the 0-ctrl in your video a great little sequencer.

Subscribed to Sarah's YT channel last week - great work with a Hydrasynth and that touch controller with the Buchla-style overlay, a real bracing listen!

SBR is a wonderful teacher. This is the first time I’ve finally “understood” creating a system.

This is an excellent guide! From my experience starting from a smaller case can be frustrating because if you find a new module you want to try you have to swap something out. I started with a 60hp case and upgraded to a Mantis quickly!

More of this sort of thing please 😎 This is useful, well thought out advice.

I pretty much randomly bought stuff but according to "I believe" what is NEEDED to start. I actually forgot what I bought so it'll be a surprise when it all comes in an I assemble. 👍

This is by far the most balanced small system I’ve seen, very cleverly and wisely chosen, very nicely presented! You rock, Sarah!

So incredibly helpful. Thank you Sarah!

Great advice and selections for getting started!

Bravo! Great information. Small and tiny modular systems are awesome!

I have an MS20 and a 2600. They fulfil my primeval urge to stick patch cables into things but keep the costs from spiralling.

Didn’t realise you could manipulate sound without having to sample directly with Morphagene . Thanks Sarah, clear teaching as per usual.

Thanks for explaining in such an easy and calm way. Got yourself a new subscriber ^^

Loving the frap tools cases. Have the 4MS Sperhical Wavetable Navigator, Hermod + Stereo Filter + Clouds in there with a Polyend Anywhere so it is fully mobile.

Very clear explanations! Thank you

Eurorack doesn't have to be expensive people! You can start cheap and small, after getting a semi-modular. There's also DIY! The Plankton Electronics Ants! has all kinds of utility and flexibility to get you going beyond a 0-coast or something.

That bass (intro) sounds great!!

I have an 88hp system (with Minibrute 2s) and I couldn't be happier with where it is now. There certainly is an occasional desire to expand, but I think it's safe to say I've reached a happy plateau with my modular. It doesn't have to be endless spending by any means!

My (planned) starter system consists of Pam and an Intellijel Plog for logic gating, Basimilus Iteritas Alter, Verbos Noise & Filter + Make Noise LxD (primarily for high hats) XAOC Tirana sequencer, Erbe-verb, X-Pan, Mutes, Shakmat hi pass and Alm PE-1 eq for mixing 84hp, primal-techno powerhouse 🔥

Thanks for the great advice!

Oh yeah! Thanks for the inspiration!

This is an excellent, insightful and clear video, which isn't great because it takes away a reason to keep away from it modulars. I'm down for to my last two reasons, namely money and time...

Loved this, great introductions to each of the modules! Can relate to much of the reasoning here, while mostly using other modules to do similar things. Cool sound rexamples also. Perfert Circuit, could you add links to the modules in the description?

Sage advise & badass sounds 🌟🤙🏽

The Roland SYR-E84 is an incredible beginner case. Definitely not the cheapest 84hp case out there, but it's insanely overpowered so power is all but a concern, and the power is built in so you get the full 85hp. Got a lid with a handle on top, looks great, wood cheeks, nothing to really complain about. Maybe just that the rails are too recessed to use Knurlies, which aren't long enough.

How to descend into madness and crippling debt in 3 easy steps :-)

amazing vid thanks!

The Behringer Neutron is a good system to start with. It comes with everything you need to get started and it's under 350 dollars. Doesn't sound bad at all from the demos I've seen of it. With that and the Arturia Keystep or (Behringer SWING) You literally have a complete setup for Under 500 Eurorack systems aren't cheap. I would recommend doing something like the Behringer Neutron-Keystep/SWING setup. Or even better download Cherry Audio's Voltage or VCV Rack and practice on them. They're both free and you can get an idea of how to setup and use a Eurorack system before you spend 1000s sometimes north of 10-thousand dollars .

Hey, Sarah B R ! Good discussion.

Great video! The balance in a small case is a tricky thing. When I try to assemble a small setup I usually end up screwing and unscrewing everything infinite number of times.

Finding my way around Eurorack for a few months myself now, I'm beginning to doubt the value of 'starting small' when this means that you start with these complex modules like a benjolin and morphagene, which certainly offer loads of variety per HP and are fun to mess around with, but are also opaque when you try to actually control them or try to make something specific (and musical) and you're just starting out. You could also get twice or thrice the HP of more basic building blocks for the same price, and then you can actually see what's going on. This is a great small setup, but I doubt it's a smart starting point. Get some more rails, hang them in a cardboard box, buy some second hand doepfer utilities and one or two modules you're drawn to, and develop from there?

might be a shot in the dark but was wondering if you could tell me how to get the type of signal decay on time stamp 1:32 of a lorn song called all corrupt everything, cheers!

Of course I have dreams of building a Mutable Instruments based Eurorack (Elements, Ears, Rings, etc.) but you're right that I need to start small plus a system of my dreams would cost a lot and I don't know yet if I am really going to be good at this and throughly enjoy it. Does anyone have experience with Koma Elektronik Field Kit (& FX model)? Was sort of digging their DIY kit because that would give me the what's under the hood knowledge. Currently I'm a Garage Band Junkie who uses digital instruments such as the Orba and a mini keyboard and hopefully soon the Joyst JV-1 and later on the Chordmonger, yeah I'm a Kickstarter Junkie too. I'm into creating music that helps me tell stories. I work in the corporate education field and my background is primarily in graphics, video, and web sites. I am really having fun learning how to create digital audio, got two playlists up on Soundcloud. What happened is I was a backer for the Artiphon Kickstarter project thinking it would be something I could give our son to play with, only to discover he had zero interest and then I started playing with it and got hooked. Prior to all of this I played the guitar and a little piano but never in a million years thought I would be composing and producing music. Life's a trip. I signed up for your class wait list, I can tell that you (Sarah) have a great depth of knowledge that I would love to tap into plus you seem very pragmatic.

Thanx a lot!

How is this being recorded/heard? Is it through them two black wires coming out of the one on the right going into an interface or speakers?

So with a small system I can still get as many modules as I want and just swap out from time to time as needed well here's my problem I don't have room for a monster system and my budget is tight I'm looking at the Cre8t Audio nifty bundle for $269.00 sounds expensive well it has built in cv gate output power supply midi and two modules cells and chips they do a ton of stuff

Best bang for buck case is the niftycase. Get one without two module bundle. Find one used and you get a perfect sized case with power supply, flying bus and built in outputs and midi for less than 200 bucks. I also disagree with this choice of modules for a beginner. This would frustrate most people. 10 different people will recommend 10 different module combinations. Trial and error is the only way to find what works for you and your style of music and performance. If i had copied this setup out of the gate i would've given up after a couple days of frustration. Get a beringer neutron and arturia keystep and add a few modulation or effect sources. Clouds, full Maths,and maybe an interesting probabilistic sequencer or clock divider/multiplier. Start there and in less than a year you'll be running out of room for new modules and cases.

the bass at the beginning has a similar vibe to inertia creeps by massive attack

Small system, but powerful sound !!!

Very good

Seems impossible to start small and plan things out when you have no idea what your doing... I started medium. Every "small" eurorack seems connected to an external sequencer or keystep keyboard... :) I ended up with a tip top 240hp and a nifty case ~86hp. I assumed I'd just try a bunch of different modules and resell ones I don't think I need. But so far I love every module.

So how much would this setup itself cost?

Really great teacher. I bet a class would rule

Is she using the Morphagene sampler as an Audio I/O module!?

Very nice intro music :)

I’m a brass player (never mind my name hear I’m no saxophonist although it would apply there to I guess) starting me journey into modular eras works, any tips on using eurorack with my horns? Great video and info too many thank yous

That modular is about ~$2100 and If you add the CTRL thats $400+... That's if you can find any of the modules in stock. For now I'll just continue with VCV ipad to narrow things to "most depth per dollar".

Very useful! But I will still stay away from monstroular. It’ll keep being a platonic relationship.

i have started with Behringer Neutron and i'm fixed :-D

I'm looking for a grand piano sound. Can it do that?

I'm wondering what's the advantage of using two Make Noise Function modules instead of a single Maths?

Noob question here but... The module with the four sliders (presumably volume) - does that mean you could have 4 separate sounds playing at once?

All sounds fantastic but I see the mini system there & it probably costs more than my mini wall of second hand modules

exactly,take the whole fun out of the equation!

I actually don’t want big setup. More modules - less focus. If you want to make lab at home - go ahead. To stay focused, IJ Palette or 6-7U and 80-110 hp case will be good compromise. More modules you can have to swap them, but focused small to medium setup is important, because things can get complicated very quickly

I just sold my kidney to get into eurorack

I might afford the case for now

Looks and sounds great, but buying a >500€ module for beginners doesn’t seem like a very common situation.

Get an ipad and Drambo. To master this will take a looong time and be more then a lot of beginner Modular systems.

they should sell a function with an inverted interface.

Is building these from scratch yourself any cheaper???

how much would a rack like this cost? like...this one xd

'Take your time with this process' ............ ah, too late!! :-/ Dove straight in, bought a Tip Top Happy ending, filled it and bought another. Filled that and upgraded to a Tip top Mantis. Have probably spent about 10-15 minutes total with manuals for all the modules I have. Oops!

PS: Seeing the strain on that power supply cable makes me cry.

First!! And I didn’t plan a thing!

Modular synth and trumpets.... Some patient parenting right there...

Give someone a fish and they'll eat for a day. Teach someone to fish and they'll eat for a lifetime. Teach someone to play electronic instruments and buy eurorack modules and they'll be impoverished for the rest of their life!

hot

"..starting small.." and with the first two models breaking the 1k € mark..well then..

Waiting list for classes check, Brute 3u rack check.. Benjolin 2v,.. check , 0 control ,,, check , Patch cables ... check MATH on the way, Sample Drum on the way, how to hook up to Guitar amp, where is the sound coming from >? Sarah shows everything but the amp & speaker...

How much are kidneys going for these days?

It's all about the Benjolins baby.

If youre reading this dont go too crazy. Make sure you have a basic oscillator, filter, vcas, and sequencer. Youll regret not having a standard flexible synth

I don't think the idea of eurorack is to keep it small. Look at what Sarah or others use in their videos, that stuff might cost more than your car (or house). Don't start if you are can't afford to spend 5 K (will be 10 soon). Unless you know exactly what you want, then you can put together a small setup like this for 2-3 K. But thats hardly the case with beginners, you would want to try many flavours thats what eurorack is about.

Ok so, you showed us some sounds that at first do not come across as musical, then some nice tasty bass.. an ad for your course.. but why not offer an example of how these modules perform in a live setting? Can it create something that people can dance to?!

You can also start by connecting the power cable properly

I bet all of this sounds great with a good sequencer so you can actually make melodies and coherent beats instead of random noises only stoners space out to. Cos the sounds are really cool and spaced out.

Step 1: Have money ... Damnit...

Can you do something melodic with all that money ?

why nobody speaks ridiculous prices per module?

cool video but two functions over a maths...

Just say No to Drugs Kids.

I was really curious, but sorry, this is just noise.

I have to poop ☹️

"We all dream of that wall of modules that can make any sound in the world..."... Could it make the sound of her voice ?

Sarah used to be such a nice girl... until she got a Benjolin.

sorry! your "music" sounds like a diesel engine on a start

No, thank you.

No mention of music here. Just random farting noises. Buy a Whoopee cushion instead

Modular is crap. Grow up kids

sorry but 2.30 intro before you get to the main..... I had gone

Consists of two screenshots. Her moving her hands over a small synth and her standing moving her lips and her mouth. I saw no synth planning or synth building going on. Boring. Pointless.