Eurorack lets you build professional-grade synth hardware using pieces from many different manufacturers. Everyone from the home-hobbyist to the cinematic composer is building their own custom synth laboratory with Eurorack! High-profile users of Eurorack include Vince Clarke, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Alessandro Cortini, Suzanne Ciani, Surgeon, John Chantler, Scanner, Venetian Snares, Junkie XL and many others! And manufacturers adopting the system now number in the hundreds, with Corporate giants of the music industry making way for independent companies creating dynamic and ever-innovating sound toys.
Each Eurorack setup is a personal journey of discovery with the intention to explore sound in any way you desire – with emphasis on the journey. You’ll find loads of Eurorack goodies to get started with a quick search on Tindie. With so many modules to chose from, you’ll find an almost endless supply of ways to make, generate and mutate your music. But what is it about modular that gets people hooked, and what benefits does it bring over traditional gear? Let’s find out!
Eurorack is a Modular Synthesizer Standard
Conventional synths and drum machines have a fixed-architecture, meaning you can’t change how the components inside interact with each other. It goes without saying that you’ve read my blog post on synths, so you’ll know they’re made up of many separate components such as Oscillators, VCAs, Filters, LFOs and Mixers; all usually set in fixed positions. Arm yourself with 20-30 patching cables, and using Eurorack you’re able to send audio and control voltages (CV) from one device to another, building your own modular dreamscape!
Eurorack comes with familiar musical elements — sequencers, synths, effects and filters — but the added depth is in the more complicated and abstract devices, enabling users to divide timing clocks, apply probability rules, deliver swing, store note sequences, quantize timings and bring logic to the proceedings. Each layer opens new doors to creating and performing music. Melodies multiply melodies (being simultaneously kept in key), enabling methodical, generative and highly musical compositions.
Eurorack Basics:
Control voltages (CV) are used to connect modules; these varying voltages can be sent and received anywhere you desire! For example, routing the output of your LFO to a filter frequency for some post-nostalgia bass wubs! There are modules which enable you to record loops of CV changes, meaning you can automate and repeat sections of changes for some seriously cool FX!
DIY kits are an affordable entry into the modular world, allowing you to solder your own devices, gaining satisfaction from building a working unit for yourself at a fraction of the RRP/MSRP. There are few things more gratifying than to see your newly-soldered-synth switched on and singing for the first time! Building your own modules comes with the added bonus of helping you to troubleshoot issues when any equipment malfunctions; familiarizing yourself with diagnostic procedures and finding solutions.
Aside from music making modules, like all of us, Eurorack needs a home, preferably with electricity! Many cases come with built-in power supplies, which will provide power to each module from one plug. Three main types of case exist; portable (like a big secret agent briefcase), tabletop, and stand. Make your choice based on what you want to achieve, and where you want to be with it.
Eurorack Jargon Buster:
- HP (Horizontal Pitch) – The width of a module, or case. 1HP = 0.2 inches or 5.08mm.
- U – Measurement of rack size, with each row at 3U high. A double tiered case will be 6U, and a triple tired case 9U.
- 1U tiles – Sleek horizontal devices which tend to be utilities, running along the top of a case.
- Rail – Method to attach your modules to the case
- M2.5 & M3 – Measurements of a screw thread for the rail.
- Flying Bus – A cabled connection to power the modules (not a magical mystery tour!)
- Busboard – A fixed PCB to power the modules.
- V/Hz – An electrical voltages which sets a specific frequency.
- V/Octave – An electrical voltage which equals 1 volt per musical octave
Top Tip:
Start your modular collection with an idea of what you want to achieve; this will limit your breadth of choice, and will make choosing your setup more focused and useful to you. Eurorack has been given the nickname of `Eurocrack’ for a reason; it can get very expensive, very quickly if you don’t have a goal in mind.
Eurorack has become so popular that there are now many software versions available which are a good insight into what it can do. I highly recommend the excellent VCV Rack, which is an open source modular environment to dip your toe into the rabbit hole of modular, and see if it’s for you!
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If you do visit the “ENL” Tindie store, you’ll notice that there is a wide variety of complexity in the products that are offered. 
It’s neat to see one’s knowledge and product complexity increase. It’s also important to note that without the right source of power, your project isn’t going anywhere. In fact the snapVCC is currently their most popular product. It’s both simple and something every electronics tinkerer needs. While you could whip up your own 9V power supply, I’d personally rather buy something than re-invent the wheel (or solder things together) again and again!
