Hi everyone, I'm a beginner to Eurorack and I'd love to get some feedback and module recommendations for my rack.

My main goal is to make techno, but I also want to be able to patch polyphonic sounds occasionally.

I've attached a picture of my planned rack. Out of the modules shown in the picture, I have already purchased the Cwejman QMMF-4, Livewire AFG, and R-56.

Could you give me some advice on what modules I might be missing, or suggest any changes to my current plan? Any feedback or recommendations for a beginner would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_3099526.jpg

If you post the link to the rack, people can click it and see the modules.

That's quite the budget you have, you are moving straight from beginner to extremely advanced.

I see you're spending 28 HP on just a reverb, you're probably going to need a much bigger case.

If you're making techno, where's the techno stuff? You can go two routes here, either get some modules that do one job, or use the modules you have selected now. I would go route one, because I would not sacrifice one of two channels of that big oscillator just to get a static kick.

For route one
- A dedicated kick. For your budget you'll probably want the full Bohm set (Bohm, Bohm performer, Bohm groove).
- Highhats
- Just two envelopes from Maths will not get those five oscillators running, I would add at least four more but maybe six or eight so you can play the oscillators and move the filter independently. Maybe Intellijel Quadrax?
- Just four VCA is not enough to get five oscillators running, I would add four more.
- Sidechaining (can be done with that Bohm set)
- A delay
- A distortion or maybe two (Schlappi Engineering 100 Grit)
- More LFO to keep it fresh and not result in static sounds
- You are missing one sequencer for those oscillators

also want to be able to patch polyphonic sounds occasionally

Your sequencer of choice does not have MIDI IN. How will you play the polyphony? You'd need some keyboard with four v/oct on the same channel.

EDITED Sep 7th, 15:23

First of all, thank you very much for the detailed and thoughtful response.

It's true that my rack is packed with hard-to-find and expensive modules. Since I'm a beginner and didn't know much at the time, I naively thought that buying high-end, rare gear would save me from future regrets.

I now realize a bit late that the reverb module I bought on impulse takes up way too much space in my planned rack setup, haha. As you pointed out, I definitely need to add more VCAs, envelopes, and distortion. I also recently discovered the Bohm, Bohm Performer, and Bohm Groove lineup, and they look incredible—I'll definitely keep them on my radar.

As for the keyboard, I picked up a Doepfer LMK. It does have MIDI capabilities, but I will likely need to expand my case or completely rethink my current rack plan.

To add a bit more context, I'm a jazz major, so I'd love to use these modules not just for drums, but to explore richer and more diverse harmonies—which is why I asked about polyphony. Of course, assuming my rack capacity allows for it, polyphony is a secondary priority; crafting solid, techno-ready drum grooves remains my main goal.

I'm sure that these modules will be really really amazing, but it's a bit like buying a Lamborghini car for your weekly grocery run. If you have the funds to get something like this, go for it! But please be aware that even for recording or playing live, you don't need this level.

The Orthogonal Devices ER-101 + ER-102 sequencer has four channels, that's not that many in a techno setting. Think kick, hihat, closed hihat, maybe a clap or other percussion, one or more voices, some control over a reverb wash or delay, you can easily fill eight channels. You could look into Erica Synths Black Sequencer instead of Orthogonal Devices ER-101 + ER-102, that's four channel with MIDI IN for four note polyphony, but for techno you'd need to combine that with a trigger sequencer like Doepfer A-157-1. You can take CLOCK OUT from the Black straight into the Doepfer. That last one is really nice because you can see all the moving channels in real time. Robaux LL8 2 is much smaller and cheaper and does the same job.

I see you made some great changes to the rack on Modular Grid. From here I'd maybe reconsider the QMMF-4 due to its size, and get something like Erica Synths Graphic Resonant Filterbank or Schlappi Engineering Angle Grinder or 100 Grit or another of many many interesting filters so you have some open space for things you may feel you need after playing with the system for a while.

EDITED Sep 7th, 21:44

Yikes.

Hi everyone, I'm a beginner to Eurorack and I'd love to get some feedback and module recommendations for my rack.

My main goal is to make techno, but I also want to be able to patch polyphonic sounds occasionally.

I've attached a picture of my planned rack. Out of the modules shown in the picture, I have already purchased the Cwejman QMMF-4, Livewire AFG, and R-56.

Could you give me some advice on what modules I might be missing, or suggest any changes to my current plan? Any feedback or recommendations for a beginner would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_3099526.jpg

-- dnrkdntlr

The modules you have purchased are really really good. I'm jealous.

And I see that you have a large budget.
But more money doesn't automaticaly mean more quality.

For live techno you need. (I don't know if you want to do live techno. Or that you have extra equipment.)
1 - A kick. That's not in your case.
2 - Hihats. That's not in your case.
3 - Some toms. That's not in your case.
4 - 2 complete synth voices, or more.
5 - A delay, a reverb (R56 is very cool) and some modulation.
6 - A sequencer. I don't know the ER-101-102, but it has only 4 tracks.
7 - A mixer. Better is to have 2 so you can do sidechaining.

But you can make all these things with the chosen modules. Just not all at the same time.

Some tips:
A spring reverb is great, but with some extra it can be awsome.
I have a Benidub spring reverb that has a filter added with modulation. I use the S&H modulation on that all the time.
And I send it through a BBD echo and compressor. Now the reverb becomes like an extra voice that is alway's there in the background.
So spring reverb into filter with modulation, into BBD (or other echo), into compressor, into mixer.
Cheap BBD's and compressors are imo better in this case than expencive ones.

Modulation like, chorus, phasing and flanging is handy , so your sounds are never static.

Echo, I use 2 of them in series. The first is a bit longer than the second and it has very little bass and trebble.
So the first one can be a BBD echo with the low's cut into a digital echo. A quarter note into a dotted 8th is very nice.

Kicks. Try sending it to a highpass filter in combination with a crossfader.
So kick into crossfader (for the normal kick sound) into mixer.
And then a parallel signal path. Kick into highpass filter into crossfader.
By combining the 2 signal paths with the crossfader and various filter settings, you can get some very interesting kick sounds.
Great for transitions to.

The Bohm system is mentioned and seems atm the most popular kick module.
With the complete system, you can do amazing rumbles, sidechaining, and transition efx.
It is a lot of money, but not expencive.

A synth voice consists of a oscillator, a filter, a vca and an envelope.
This is the minumum. But there are lots of single modules that contain all of this.

Last tip: Go slow on your purchases.

I'm sure that these modules will be really really amazing, but it's a bit like buying a Lamborghini car for your weekly grocery run. If you have the funds to get something like this, go for it! But please be aware that even for recording or playing live, you don't need this level.

The Orthogonal Devices ER-101 + ER-102 sequencer has four channels, that's not that many in a techno setting. Think kick, hihat, closed hihat, maybe a clap or other percussion, one or more voices, some control over a reverb wash or delay, you can easily fill eight channels. You could look into Erica Synths Black Sequencer instead of Orthogonal Devices ER-101 + ER-102, that's four channel with MIDI IN for four note polyphony, but for techno you'd need to combine that with a trigger sequencer like Doepfer A-157-1. You can take CLOCK OUT from the Black straight into the Doepfer. That last one is really nice because you can see all the moving channels in real time. Robaux LL8 2 is much smaller and cheaper and does the same job.

I see you made some great changes to the rack on Modular Grid. From here I'd maybe reconsider the QMMF-4 due to its size, and get something like Erica Synths Graphic Resonant Filterbank or Schlappi Engineering Angle Grinder or 100 Grit or another of many many interesting filters so you have some open space for things you may feel you need after playing with the system for a while.
-- stefvanriet

Reading your reply is definitely a humbling experience for me. Taking your advice into account, I’ll take a step back and gradually tweak my planned purchase list. This has been genuinely helpful, thank you so much!

Hi everyone, I'm a beginner to Eurorack and I'd love to get some feedback and module recommendations for my rack.

My main goal is to make techno, but I also want to be able to patch polyphonic sounds occasionally.

I've attached a picture of my planned rack. Out of the modules shown in the picture, I have already purchased the Cwejman QMMF-4, Livewire AFG, and R-56.

Could you give me some advice on what modules I might be missing, or suggest any changes to my current plan? Any feedback or recommendations for a beginner would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

https://cdn.modulargrid.net/img/racks/modulargrid_3099526.jpg

-- dnrkdntlr

The modules you have purchased are really really good. I'm jealous.

And I see that you have a large budget.
But more money doesn't automaticaly mean more quality.

For live techno you need. (I don't know if you want to do live techno. Or that you have extra equipment.)
1 - A kick. That's not in your case.
2 - Hihats. That's not in your case.
3 - Some toms. That's not in your case.
4 - 2 complete synth voices, or more.
5 - A delay, a reverb (R56 is very cool) and some modulation.
6 - A sequencer. I don't know the ER-101-102, but it has only 4 tracks.
7 - A mixer. Better is to have 2 so you can do sidechaining.

But you can make all these things with the chosen modules. Just not all at the same time.

Some tips:
A spring reverb is great, but with some extra it can be awsome.
I have a Benidub spring reverb that has a filter added with modulation. I use the S&H modulation on that all the time.
And I send it through a BBD echo and compressor. Now the reverb becomes like an extra voice that is alway's there in the background.
So spring reverb into filter with modulation, into BBD (or other echo), into compressor, into mixer.
Cheap BBD's and compressors are imo better in this case than expencive ones.

Modulation like, chorus, phasing and flanging is handy , so your sounds are never static.

Echo, I use 2 of them in series. The first is a bit longer than the second and it has very little bass and trebble.
So the first one can be a BBD echo with the low's cut into a digital echo. A quarter note into a dotted 8th is very nice.

Kicks. Try sending it to a highpass filter in combination with a crossfader.
So kick into crossfader (for the normal kick sound) into mixer.
And then a parallel signal path. Kick into highpass filter into crossfader.
By combining the 2 signal paths with the crossfader and various filter settings, you can get some very interesting kick sounds.
Great for transitions to.

The Bohm system is mentioned and seems atm the most popular kick module.
With the complete system, you can do amazing rumbles, sidechaining, and transition efx.
It is a lot of money, but not expencive.

A synth voice consists of a oscillator, a filter, a vca and an envelope.
This is the minumum. But there are lots of single modules that contain all of this.

Last tip: Go slow on your purchases.

-- R2D2

Wow, thank you so much for the spring reverb tips! I'm definitely going to try that chain out—it’s such an inspiring idea. Also, thanks to stefvanriet’s earlier advice, I’ve decided to go with the Bohm. I’m definitely planning to put your other tips to use as well, like the HPF/crossfader kick patching and the series echo setup. I’m literally saving your entire reply to my notes! :)

One other tip:

Digital modular synths are great for trying out stuff, without costing much money.
VCV Rack is free.
https://vcvrack.com/

There you can do lots of stuff and find out what you want.

My own live techno improv stuff here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NldN7yfeLbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89AS0JdbqcY
It's 180bpm, so not for everyone.

EDITED Sep 9th, 09:38

It's for "Industrial Dance Music" but could do techno too:

https://modulargrid.net/e/mystic-circuits-idum

The Leaves add-ons provide fun polyphony that you can change on the fly.

Beginning with Cwejman and Macbeth? :D

Cool move :D

It´s like getting a rolls royce straight after passing the driving licence .... but niice :D

No offense, I´m just jealous

Get a "Rabid Elephant Portal Drum" as kick :D

EDITED Sep 9th, 21:15