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New to modular but have several years working with semi-modulars - needing to mix things up.
I have the Moog DFAM/M32/SH & 2 Bastl SP2's - a lot of free-range voices, filters, sequencers, etc. This will be to allow for more complex patterns, rythms, and better drums.
Does any of this make sense? Does anything here look pointless or worth swapping for something else?
I was first going to go with a moog 60hp case but then saw Intellijel had a 62hp/1u case for some extra utils.
Looks pretty good to me. I like the combo of batumi+maths with the MSS, a dense digital modulator and a roomy playable one. I also like having an extra filter.
What are you wanting to use Pam's for? I'd personally drop it in this case, with the MSS I don't like Pam's menu system and ended up just loading WYSIWYG modules around the Moogs, much smoother experience. Pam's reputation for being godlike in small cases is well-deserved though so don't let me stop you. You have a ton of clocking and ways to sync modulation already so she loses some lustre here imo, I'd personally rather have a patchable clock divider when you have so many sequencers, but I'm a Bindubba man so I get on with that kind of thing.
Couple random things come to mind:
-- MN modDemix is a fantastic module to pair with Maths, I love it in small cases. Basic functionality with much more at the right price. If you decide to add a VCA or small mixer, shortlist this one 100%.
-- A smallish EG/LFO is a great supplement to stick next to Maths if it can fit. ALM's Pip Slope mk2 is a favorite in 4hp with much of the same controls as on the main Maths channels.
-- Triple Sloths is another dense modulation powerhouse you could consider, much more hands-off but has the influence circuits so it's not just an island. NLC makes a lot of creative and unique modules, be worth a look through if you're interested in adding some chaos/random.
-- Check out the Turing Machine and brethren out there, could pique your interest. You may be the target audience for Ritual Electronics's Amnis, I love it in this category (shift registers), lots of fun with all the gate outputs especially and only 6hp. These are great for CV modulation, not just sequencing notes and gates.
-- Playable touch controllers like Bela Gliss or MN Press Point. Just fun interfaces that don't take up much room.
-- You may want a source of tuned voltages for transposing, something like a Befaco Voltio, but if you've got a keyboard or something handy to feed into the VCOs then I'd forget it. Especially the SubH really benefits from having a precision adder around, but if you're focusing hard on percussion and rhythm, skippable.
-- The DFAM has had a few 3rd party companions developed to expand its functionality that might greatly interest you. Check out the MAFD (midi adapter for dfam) and DFAM Thing. Grabbing one of these could totally change your approach and what you decide to put in this rack. Seriously this may be all you need to get freshly busy for months with your current setup.
-- With all of your instruments having standalone sequencers on them, maybe something else for the 1U row.
And hey you've got several Moog ladder filters and VCOs already, you can always synthesize your own drum sounds from simple building blocks like Maths. You could also sample them, by far the cheapest way to do modular drums rather than get individual voices. Check out the Squid Salmple which is a monstrous pairing with the MSS.
RE: the choice of Pam's - I think you're right, I do primarily want a solid clock divider - but I do really want something that I can set the BPM and have it stay in solid time. I currently use a cheap Volca beats to send clock signal but it's never that accurate (like 111.698 bpm when it's set to 112- maybe that's just analog though). The clock routing in the MSS is also a little annoying, it would be great to just have something to send 3-4 separate clock outs. Maybe that's just any clock divider though (and also a mult).
What do you use the ModDemix with Maths for? Still extremely unsure what exactly Maths does but it seems very versatile, both of them sound quite technical.
The DFAM thing looks handy but would these other modules provide similar functions? Not so interested in midi.
I initially had a MN pressure points in this rig but ditched it in favor of the drum voice- worth just getting the single MN pressure point though? I was looking at the 4-point one.
I also came across the IDUM that seems taylor-made to my wishes- gate/clock modulating. Ratcheting effects, breakbeats, etc.
IMO if you're not sure about maths then don't buy it, you need to know why you want that module for it to make sense taking up 20hp in a 62hp case, I'd be unsure on including it myself in a small case like that and I have several Maths. You need to watch videos/find some overview on it, the manual and helping docs out there are great. It does look confusing at first but is spaced and placed pretty well for playing live.
I don't have the DFAM modules and can't comment much on them, I know they have videos online, but I think they are bursting pulses into the Step inputs on the sequencer to pick out specific steps, change sequence length, and to add the Reset functionality. Unique.
If IDUM is the kind of module that is catching your eye, be sure to check out other gate sequencers. I like that its purpose seems to be to manipulate other sequencers because you have plenty of those, but it's kind of hands-off on the composing front. If it's going to be your main sequencer then make sure you add some helper mods for enhancing that experience. There are supposedly a bunch of great sequencers on the Ipad these days if you have one, you would technically bring those in with a cheap MIDI module, but it's the touch interface and ability to swap apps to other sequencers as your real "module" there.
I would say do more/deeper research, you're not being forthcoming with how you're using your synths here so I'm not sure how you're planning to patch this up or what the setup is like w/o the eurorack. The moogs make it easy to mix outside the rack, which if you take advantage of frees up some space. Try mapping out an example patch that you would create if you had the full setup you're looking at. That's a good way to find out something like "well I have 8 trigger outs and only need 3" or "I need X total inputs to use this submixer how I want to." I would say a stereo filter is awesome with the MSS but not if you're just doing percussive stuff, I'd proabably prefer a panner, but if there's a dedicated mixer then I might prefer a line/euro level changer (if the IJ case outs are insufficient) since no panner necessary. Your other hardware is going to determine a lot of what's useless/out of place in your rack.
One other thing is you could go with a "Battleship" style module, bigger/more expensive but offering something usually only found in euro with good playability. Some 30hp+ examples would be Make Noise Rene, Erica Synths Drum Sequencer, TipTop Audio Circadian Rhythms, WMD Metron, or Frap Tools Usta. Some 20hp+ examples would be MN Morphagene, Malekko Varigate 8+ and Voltage Block. I use my Make Noise Tempi the most for basic clocking/triggering and it's 10hp. The 104hp IJ case would remove a lot of concern and has some nice additions for not much more than the 62hp.
Also don't forget the cheaper behringer modules, they can get your feet wet before dropping big money on "regular" modules. The System55 and ARP 2500 series are solid in my experience and have earned their place, but you can get a Maths clone for a third of the price to see if that esoteric approach is for you.
Couple resources for you
Braintree is a solid channel and has a good series on expanding the MSS, some of your questions make me think this is right up your alley. He also has some good videos on Maths itself that help demystify it.
Great demo by Baseck for two sequencers. Voltage Block + Varigate 8 combo make for some compelling modular sequencing. There's a lot more to this than an IDUM and you get to work for it. Expensive but powerful combo.
Check out this rack, replaced Maths and the 1U Steppy with a Pip Slope and a Quadratt to retain some of the functionality but free up more 3U space. Now there's room to be made for something like a Varigate or Circadian Rhythms
Oh yeah last thing to mention is that if you check the "overall price" for your rack you'll see that these are up over $2k now in 62hp. Some manufacturers bundle their modules together into 104hp systems as a deal, you may want to check out what packages you can get for this price elsewhere. There's a lot of Doepfer you can get for this cash, but it's also around the price of Erica Synths, Make Noise, etc. systems as well as impressive standalone drum machines like Erica's Perkons and Vermona PerFourMer.
