Make Noise STO (Simple Touch Oscillator)
Best First VCOMusical, stable analog VCO with triangle, saw, and square waves plus elegant waveshaping. Intuitive enough for a first oscillator, deep enough to keep in a "grown" system.
Building Your First Eurorack System
Starting a Eurorack system can be overwhelming. This guide focuses on versatile, well-regarded modules that work great together. A good starter system needs: sound sources (VCOs), amplifiers (VCAs), modulation (envelopes, LFOs), filtering (VCFs), and utilities. You'll also need power and a way to sequence or control your patches.
Budget tip: Start with one voice (VCO → VCF → VCA → output), then expand with modulation and utilities. Plan for 84–104 HP (horizontal pitch) to leave room for growth.
VCOs (Oscillators)
VCOs are your primary sound sources: they generate the raw waveforms that everything else in the rack shapes, filters, and modulates. A solid first oscillator should track well, offer a few core waveforms, and respond musically to modulation so it can grow with your system.
Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas Percido
Complex Digital VoiceDigital oscillator with multiple synthesis modes including FM, waveshaping, and wavetables. A powerful second oscillator once you're comfortable with basics.
Intellijel Dixie II+
Full-FeaturedAnalog triangle-core VCO with PWM, FM, sync, and sub-oscillator. Flexible and precise tracking for melodic patches.
Instruo Ts-L
Triangle CorePrecision analog VCO with triangle core, saw, square, and sine outputs. Excellent tracking and modulation inputs. Built-in sub-oscillator.
VCAs (Amplifiers)
VCAs control how much of a signal you hear or send somewhere else. They turn static tones and modulation into notes, swells, tremolo, and evolving textures by letting envelopes and LFOs shape level over time. In practice you use VCAs for audio, CV, mixing, and panning—it's why modular folks say you can never have too many.
Intellijel Quad VCA
Essential UtilityFour linear VCAs in 12 HP. Use for audio, CV, mixing. Pairs mode for stereo. You'll never have enough VCAs—this is a great start.
Happy Nerding 3×VCA
VersatileThree VCAs with individual outputs and mix output. Linear and exponential responses. Clean, flexible, perfect for audio or CV.
2hp VCA
CompactTiny dual VCA for when you're tight on space. Linear response, DC-coupled for audio or CV.
Envelopes & Function Generators
Envelopes describe how a parameter changes over time—for example how a note attacks, sustains, and fades. In Eurorack, "function generators" generalize this idea so the same circuit can act as envelope, LFO, slew, or even oscillator. These are the modules that make otherwise static sounds feel played and alive.
Joranalogue Contour 1
Precision FunctionHigh-precision voltage-controlled function generator. Works as envelope, LFO, oscillator, or VCA. Incredibly versatile and clean.
Make Noise Maths
LegendaryDual function generator + analog computer. Envelopes, LFOs, slew, logic. The "patch programmable" heart of many systems.
Doepfer A-140-2 (Dual ADSR)
Simple & ReliableTwo classic ADSR envelopes. Straightforward, affordable, and gets the job done. Great if you just need envelopes.
Intellijel Quadrax
Quad EnvelopeFour independent envelopes with extensive CV control, looping, chaining, and attack/decay shapes. Expander adds more outputs, mixing, and modulation options.
LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators)
LFOs are slow-moving control signals that automate parameters you would otherwise wiggle by hand: pitch vibrato, filter sweeps, panning, FM depth, and more. A few well-chosen LFOs turn a basic patch into something that breathes, drifts, and evolves on its own.
Instruo øchd
Modulation HubEight related LFOs in 4 HP. Great "set and forget" slow modulation source that brings patches to life without menu diving.
Doepfer A-145-4 Quad LFO
Simple & CompactFour basic LFOs with triangle and square outputs. No menus, just reliable modulation sources for pitch, filter, or amplitude.
After Later Audio Currents
Flexible ModulatorVoltage-controlled function that can be an LFO, envelope, VCO, or all of the above. Great if you want a single module that covers many modulation roles.
Filters (VCFs)
Filters carve away or emphasize parts of the spectrum, turning a plain oscillator into kicks, basses, leads, and pads. Different designs (ladder, state-variable, multi-peak, stereo) have very different characters, so this is where a lot of your system's personality comes from.
Make Noise QPAS
Stereo PlaygroundQuad peak animation system. Stereo multimode filter with unique timbral control. Complex but rewarding.
Doepfer A-120 (Moog Ladder)
Classic SoundAuthentic Moog-style 24dB low-pass. Fat, warm, and familiar. Simple and affordable.
Intellijel Morgasmatron
Dual StereoDual multimode filter with stereo routing, FM, and complex patch options. Flagship filter for serious sound design.
Utilities & Mixers
Utilities are the glue of a Eurorack system: mixers, attenuverters, offsets, and selectors that shape and combine signals. They rarely make sound on their own, but they decide how flexible your patches can be and how precisely you can dial in behavior.
Happy Nerding 3×MIA
Mixer EssentialThree channels with mute and individual outs, plus a summed mix. Perfect for audio or CV. Compact and indispensable.
Intellijel Triplatt
AttenuverterThree-channel attenuverter/offset/polarizer with independent outputs and mix output. Shape and offset CV for precise control. Elegant and essential.
Joranalogue Select 2
PrecisionDual precision voltage controller: attenuverters, offsets, mixing. High-quality for surgical CV manipulation.
Sequencers & MIDI
Sequencers and MIDI interfaces decide what notes happen when. They turn your rack into a playable instrument, whether you're driving it from a DAW, a keyboard, or an on-rack sequencer. This is where you choose between tightly scripted patterns, hands-on performance controls, or generative, evolving structures.
Intellijel Metropolix
Pitch SequencerPowerful step sequencer with per-step pitch, gate, mod, and pulse. Expressive and immediate for melodic sequences.
Make Noise Rene 2
Cartesian SeqThree-dimensional step sequencer. X/Y grid with Z-axis for evolving, generative patterns. Unique workflow.
Pamela's PRO Workout
Clock & ModulationEight outputs with clocks, LFOs, quantizers, Euclidean rhythms. Master clock and modulation source in one compact module.
Intellijel uMIDI
MIDI InterfaceUSB/DIN MIDI to CV converter. Four channels of pitch, gate, velocity, mod, and clock. Essential for keyboard control.
Effects & Processing
Effects modules add space, motion, and texture to otherwise dry signals: delays, reverbs, granular processors, and spectral tools. You can absolutely start with outboard pedals, but in-rack effects make it easier to modulate every parameter and keep everything under voltage control.
Qu-Bit Electronix Nautilus
Granular MagicGranular synthesizer and real-time processor. Freeze, reverse, pitch-shift, and create evolving textures. Immediate and inspiring.
Make Noise Erbe-Verb
Lush ReverbTom Erbe's reverb algorithm in Eurorack. Dense, musical, with CV control over decay, size, and dampening.
Intellijel Rainmaker
Spectral Delay16-tap stereo delay with comb filtering, pitch-shifting, and spectral processing. Deep and inspiring.
Power & Cases
Your case and power supply define how big your system can get and how reliable it will be. Good power keeps noise and random crashes away; a well-sized case gives you room to grow without overbuying. It's usually smarter to invest once in a solid case than to constantly upgrade as your rack expands.
Intellijel 7U Performance Case (104 HP)
Complete System84 HP main + 104 HP 1U utilities. Built-in power, great layout, rugged. Perfect for a complete starter rig.
TipTop Audio Mantis Case
Budget King104 HP, affordable, clean power, and widely loved. Great first case with room to grow.
4ms Pod64X
PortableCompact 64 HP powered skiff. Great for a small travel system or focused utility/effects rack.
Cables, Power & Safety
Patch Cables
A basic voice system typically needs 8–12 good patch cables to feel usable. Slightly thicker, flexible cables tend to last longer and tangle less in a crowded case. Budget roughly $30–50 USD for a starter set of quality cables in mixed lengths (15–60 cm).
Power Budgeting
Every module lists its current draw in milliamps (mA) for +12 V, −12 V (and sometimes +5 V). A good rule of thumb is to keep your system under 70–80 % of the case's rated power so there is headroom. Typical ranges: VCOs ~40–80 mA, filters ~30–60 mA, quad VCAs ~60–80 mA, digital brains and effects can be higher.
Before buying, lay out your system on ModularGrid.net or a similar planner, and check both HP (space) and power against your case (e.g., a TipTop Mantis typically offers ~1000 mA on the +12 V rail). Staying well within spec avoids noise and random resets.
Safe Patching Practices
Modern Eurorack modules usually include reverse polarity protection, but it is still important to double‑check ribbon orientation ("red stripe to −12 V") when installing modules. Always power down the case before rearranging modules, and avoid forcing headers. Once powered correctly, Eurorack is generally fool‑proof to patch: you can safely experiment with most signal routings without worrying about damage.
Suggested Starter Systems
Basic Voice (Budget ~$1,500)
Minimal Start
Case: TipTop Mantis (104 HP)
VCO: Make Noise STO (Simple Touch Oscillator)
VCF: Doepfer A-120 (Moog Ladder)
VCA: Intellijel Quad VCA
Envelope: Doepfer A-140-2
Utilities: Happy Nerding 3×MIA
Sequencer: Pamela's PRO Workout
MIDI: Intellijel uMIDI (1U)
One complete voice with sequencing, MIDI, modulation, and room for expansion. Pamela's PRO Workout can act as both clock and LFO source; adding a dedicated LFO like øchd or a quad LFO is an easy next upgrade. Approximate total based on typical new-module pricing in USD as of 2025; actual prices and VAT vary by dealer and region.
Expanded System (Budget ~$3,200)
Full Featured
Case: Intellijel 7U Performance Case
VCOs: Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas + Make Noise STO
VCF: Make Noise QPAS
VCA: Happy Nerding 4×VCA
Modulation: Make Noise Maths + Joranalogue Contour 1
Sequencer: Intellijel Metropolix
Effects: Qu-Bit Nautilus
Utilities: 3×MIA, Triplatt
Two voices, complex modulation, stereo filtering, and effects. QPAS adds stereo imaging and timbral complexity beyond a single classic filter, while Loquelic brings a rich digital voice alongside STO's classic analog tone. Approximate total based on typical new-module pricing in USD as of 2025; actual prices and VAT vary by dealer and region.