2024: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2024)

[Shabdahbriah]

So I ordered a Spectravox and some right-angled patch cables and I am looking at euro rack cases.
I've already decided I don't want one with a little plug like the kind that broke on my HP laptop years ago... Right now it is between an Erica Synths traveler (6U x 104hp) and the Pittsburgh modular studio case (3 rows of 100hp) because they both have universal power supply.

Long as you're not assuming that just because these psu's have a housing rather than a brick, that they are somehow better than the brick type, essentially they are the same (e.g. switching type, that must convert to 5v), except that the one with the housing is more of a hassle and more costly to replace.

*I say hassle because you have to be sure not to electrocute yourself changing it out,
where with a brick you simply have to plug it in.

+1 ... However, either of your expressed choices would be fine, though all of the Pittsburgh cases I'm familiar with have twice the amperage (5A@+/-12 vs 2.5A@+/-12) of the Erica case.

I now have two Behringer Eurorack Go Mobile 2x140 HP, and some older DIY fabs @126HP with several 4MS power bricks. No issues with any of them.

I actually prefer the more compact 126, or even 104HP, for cable management and visually, but I have quite a few larger modules (32-40+HP) that eat those up really quickly and necessitate vertical growth that I find similarly (organizationally/visually) difficult/unmanageable beyond four rows.

[vurt]

laptops tend to move around a bit more than modular synths.
i wouldn't use my experience with one, to form my plan for the other.

i have 3 mantis cases, 2 x 104 hp.
never had any issues with power. they use a brick, rather than inbuilt.

[Constructed Identity]

So I ordered a Spectravox and some right-angled patch cables and I am looking at euro rack cases.
I've already decided I don't want one with a little plug like the kind that broke on my HP laptop years ago... Right now it is between an Erica Synths traveller (6U x 104hp) and the Pittsburgh modular studio case (3 rows of 100hp) because they both have universal power supply.

Long as you're not assuming that just because these psu's have a housing rather than a brick, that they are somehow better than the brick type, essentially they are the same (e.g. switching type, that must convert to 5v), except that the one with the housing is more of a hassle and more costly to replace.

*I say hassle because you have to be sure not to electrocute yourself changing it out,
where with a brick you simply have to plug it in.

Yes, I know they are essentially the same, but I like the clean of internal power. The only thing is the power can get in the way of depth: from their website, erica synths state a depth of 66mm to the back and 45mm over the power brick.

[elxsound]

Make Noise DXG & Channel Saver ordered.

I’m removing Steady State Gate and Beads to make it all fit (with Countour and Erbe-Verb).

Whenever I change cases, I’ll likely add them back. I keep looking at those Behringer Go cases, but I think the TipTop Mantis cases along with the Mantis travel bags could work nicely for storing when not in use.

[vurt]

nice!

mantis also have hard shell covers.
i keep contemplating covering the covers in all my stickers!!

[elxsound]

nice!

mantis also have hard shell covers.
i keep contemplating covering the covers in all my stickers!!

It crazy how these modules add up. I will have enough for a 3rd case… it just wouldn’t be a very good rack.

I keep thinking of adding Rene, or another similar in size sequencer. I just don’t know if it needs to be in the same case or maybe keeping it in a Pod would be more effective.

Nothing to worry about yet, but all things to consider.

[pekbro]

So I ordered a Spectravox and some right-angled patch cables and I am looking at euro rack cases.
I've already decided I don't want one with a little plug like the kind that broke on my HP laptop years ago... Right now it is between an Erica Synths traveller (6U x 104hp) and the Pittsburgh modular studio case (3 rows of 100hp) because they both have universal power supply.

Long as you're not assuming that just because these psu's have a housing rather than a brick, that they are somehow better than the brick type, essentially they are the same (e.g. switching type, that must convert to 5v), except that the one with the housing is more of a hassle and more costly to replace.

*I say hassle because you have to be sure not to electrocute yourself changing it out,
where with a brick you simply have to plug it in.

Yes, I know they are essentially the same, but I like the clean of internal power. The only thing is the power can get in the way of depth: from their website, erica synths state a depth of 66mm to the back and 45mm over the power brick.

Hmm, Erica synths doesnt use the MW RT 65B like
pittsburg does. i have bought some of their power
systems direct. They dont make them, they are
outsourced and they are the brick type, unless
theyre are doing something new for the big cases.
All the images i saw on their site are the brick type,
the little box they show as part of the header board
is just the regulator, they still use a brick.

Anyway, most eurorack power sucks, someone
like cioks needs to step up and make some
decent ones. I have a nice linear psu from
L-1, but all the really nice psus are for DIY
systems. Which is the way to go imo, from
those Pittsburg cases, only about $50 of the
$900 cost goes towards the psu (2 x $25).
I do understand that DIY is not for everyone tho.

[cryophonik]

Oontz oontz oontz oontz…

632650EB-0864-4E8D-87DC-6C88CAB12123.jpeg

[pekbro]

kind of a neat sample player, not too costly... might be fun to play with : )

https://zeptocore.com/

https://youtu.be/FZ2C9VIMgeI?list=PLCNN ... kbMl95-293

[whyterabbyt]

Gave in and finally bought the one (original) Dreadbox Chromatic-series module I didnt have, their Euphoria phaser. Pure Pokemoning, but now I have them all.

Well all the original ones, not the Telepathy and Psychosis, but they're not brightly coloured, so I dont count them.

Yet. :sigh: I do want a Psychosis, tbh.

[elxsound]

Gave in and finally bought the one (original) Dreadbox Chromatic-series module I didnt have, their Euphoria phaser. Pure Pokemoning, but now I have them all.

Well all the original ones, not the Telepathy and Psychosis, but they're not brightly coloured, so I dont count them.

Yet. :sigh: I do want a Psychosis, tbh.

I saw black face plates on Audio Parasites available for the chromatic series. That just feels wrong… but a grey scale series would be lovely.

[whyterabbyt]

but a grey scale series would be lovely.

yeah, i reckon so...

[Constructed Identity]

Just arrived:

[foosnark]

My old Line6 FBV Express has crapped out on me. The expression pedal (most important part) just doesn't send any data anymore. I could maybe open it up and see if there's anything easily fixed, but I've been looking for an excuse to go with a two-pedal setup anyway.

My ideal thing would be... pretty close to a Roland FC-300 (too expensive) or Behringer FCB1010 (too large and too Behringer). But just maybe 4 footswitches and nice and compact and simple.

At the moment I'm thinking about a Blackstar Live Logic or maybe an Audiofront MIDI Expression Quattro, plus a couple of Nektar NX-P pedals. On the switch side I really don't need something super programmable and with multiple banks and stuff; I'm not going to use it to control a pedalboard or send Program Change, I literally just want MIDI CC and I'll assign it in Bitwig.

[elxsound]

My old Line6 FBV Express has crapped out on me. The expression pedal (most important part) just doesn't send any data anymore. I could maybe open it up and see if there's anything easily fixed, but I've been looking for an excuse to go with a two-pedal setup anyway.

My ideal thing would be... pretty close to a Roland FC-300 (too expensive) or Behringer FCB1010 (too large and too Behringer). But just maybe 4 footswitches and nice and compact and simple.

At the moment I'm thinking about a Blackstar Live Logic or maybe an Audiofront MIDI Expression Quattro, plus a couple of Nektar NX-P pedals. On the switch side I really don't need something super programmable and with multiple banks and stuff; I'm not going to use it to control a pedalboard or send Program Change, I literally just want MIDI CC and I'll assign it in Bitwig.

If you’re not dead set on a 2 pedal setup, I do have an extra Line 6 FBV express mkii. I haven’t used it in many years and it should still work (I can verify too). No cost other than shipping if you want it.