Must-have Modules for Filling Your Empty Eurorack Synth Slots

Date:2020/2/10 20:50:14 Hits:

When building your dream Eurorack system, you’ll often find that you have empty spaces that are just begging to be filled. Sure, you could put blank panels into those gaps, but here are some slim (8HP or smaller), lower-cost modules that will dramatically increase your modular synth system’s sonic possibilities:

Intellijel Mult Eurorack Passive Multiple
The Intellijel Mult Eurorack Passive Multiple is a 2HP-width mult that will split either a CV (control voltage) or audio signal input into three similar outputs. There are two sets of these splitters which can be joined by a blob of solder to create a single one-in-seven-out mult. Mults are great for sending a control signal to multiple destinations, like sending an LFO to three different oscillators, or an ADSR envelope to a filter and an amp. And, since this is a passive mult (unlike all of the other modules in this article), it requires no power supply. You can just add them anywhere they’ll fit in your rack and you’re done.

Intellijel Buff Mult Eurorack Buffered Multiple
The Intellijel Buff Mult Eurorack Buffered Multiple is another 2HP mult, but this one is buffered. It basically means that the connections to the three (or seven) split outputs won’t interfere with each other. It also means that you’ll have to connect it to your Eurorack power supply.

Intellijel Unity Mixer Eurorack Dual 3:1 Audio & CV Mixer
This 2HP module allows you to combine CV or audio signals. There are two sets of three-into-one unity mixers, which means that the levels of each input remain unchanged as they’re summed together. By not plugging anything into Input 2 you can sum six different signals into one output. These mixers are great for combining audio from multiple modules or for combining multiple control signals (like keyboard pitch, pitch bend, and LFO) to control the same oscillator at once. Be sure to check out the Intellijel Unity Mixer Eurorack Dual 3:1 Audio & CV Mixer.

Doepfer A-132-1 Eurorack Dual VCA Module
The Doepfer A-132-1 Eurorack Dual VCA Module 4HP module allows you to control the output level of either a control voltage source (like an LFO or envelope) or audio signal via a pair of CV inputs. There are two of these VCAs on one panel. One use would be to connect an LFO to the CV input, which would add tremolo to an audio signal. Or, you could connect an envelope to the CV in to create an Amplitude envelope. If you used an envelope to control the level of an LFO that’s then going to an oscillator or filter, you could create a vibrato or repeating-wah that fades in and out based on the envelope’s shape.

Doepfer A-183-3 Eurorack Amplifier Module
This Doepfer A-183-3 4HP module can attenuate (reduce) an audio or CV signal, or boost its energy up to 4x. This is useful for when an audio source is too quiet or, if a CV signal isn’t pushing another parameter as far as you’d like. Because it has two input and two output jacks, it also serves as a merger as well as a splitter.

Doepfer A-138A Eurorack 4-ch Linear Mixer Module
Doepfer A-138B Eurorack 4-ch Logarithmic Mixer Module
Also, the Doepfer A-138A Eurorack 4-ch Linear Mixer Module and Doepfer A-138B Eurorack 4-ch Logarithmic Mixer Module are 8HP 4-channel mixers that will combine up to four CV or audio signals to one output jack, and then allow you to attenuate the combined signal, if you wish. Either module is good for CV or audio signals, it’s just that the linear version’s knobs are optimal for setting CV levels, and the exponential version’s knobs are optimal for setting audio levels.

Doepfer A-148 Eurorack Dual Sample & Hold Module
The Doepfer A-148 Eurorack Dual Sample & Hold Module useful 4HP module allows you to create two sets of stair-stepped control signals by sampling and holding each of the input sources’ level every time the Trig. Ins are tripped. If you fed it Noise and sent it a Clock, it would give you random values that you can use to create 1960s “computer sounds” or Karn Evil 9 random filter bleeps.

Doepfer A-160 Eurorack Clock Divider Module
This Doepfer A-160 Eurorack Clock Divider Module clever little 4HP module takes a clock input and divides its time into 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64 time divisions. Another way of saying that is that the speed of the clock input is multiplied by 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. If it were triggering modules that were each set to sound like a certain drum, you could use the original clock to trigger a snare, the double-speed clock to trigger a kick, and the quadruple-speed clock to trigger a hi-hat. Or, you could use it to have different sequencers play at different time multiples.

Intellijel Triatt Eurorack Triple Attenuator / Inverter / Mixer Module
This Intellijel Triatt Eurorack Triple Attenuator / Inverter / Mixer Module is simultaneously a three input CV or audio mixer (with the option for each knob to be positive, negative or bipolar), or three separate attenuators (again with the three choices), or three separate voltage sources (also with the three choices). You can make any of the inputs an independent voltage source simply by not plugging anything into it. There are also internal switches for each allowing them to be set to 5v or 10v.

Tiptop Audio BD808 Eurorack Analog Bass Drum Module
Tiptop Audio SD808 Eurorack Analog Snare Drum Module
Tiptop Audio HATS808 Eurorack Analog Hi-hats Module
The Tiptop Audio BD808 Eurorack Analog Bass Drum Module, Tiptop Audio SD808 Eurorack Analog Snare Drum Module, and Tiptop Audio HATS808 Eurorack Analog Hi-hats Module feature the famous 808 Kick, Snare, and Open/Cloed Hi-hats with all of the accents and variations available in the original drum machine.

Pittsburgh Modular LFO2 Eurorack Dual Utility LFO Module
Extra LFOs are always welcome, and the Pittsburgh Modular LFO2 Eurorack Dual Utility LFO Module 6HP module delivers a pair of them in with some really useful options, including an LFO 1 that can be shaped from Triangle to Saw, or Square wave to a narrow Pulse. LFO 2 has both Triangle and Square output jacks. A small toggle switch for each LFO allows for a Slow or Fast range.

Pittsburgh Modular Toolbox Eurorack Slew, Noise, Sample & Hold, Inverter Module
The Pittsburgh Modular Toolbox Eurorack Slew, Noise, Sample & Hold, Inverter Module 6HP module is called a toolbox for a reason. It can add Slew (Glide) to any CV source, provide White Noise for your filters to shape, and can act as a Sample & Hold that will add stair-stepping to an external control source or, sample the noise to create a Random CV (with or without a variable rate of Glide).

Prev:X-Keys XK-80

Next:X-Keys XK-8 Stick

Leave a message

Message List

Comments Loading...

Products Category

Products Tags

Fmuser Sites

Must-have Modules for Filling Your Empty Eurorack Synth Slots

Leave a message

Message List