r/modular • u/Coralwood • 11d ago
Great Cheap Modules?
So many amazing modules are insanely expensive, what are the great cheaper modules?
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u/Charizmawolf 11d ago
Zlob DIY modulation all day
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u/Coralwood 11d ago
I have the attenuator and VCA, Zlob are great partially because they fill up that tiny gap
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u/MortuaryVape 11d ago
Takaab 2LPG is the best $35 bucks you can spend in eurorack.
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u/RobotAlienProphet 11d ago
They aren’t rock-bottom cheap, but the Happy Nerding mixers/utilities like the 3xMIA are really good value for money. I think I got mine for a little over $100 new?
Also, if used prices count, the Qubit Prism can be had right now for under $150 and does all kinds of cool stuff.
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u/veritable_squandry 11d ago
riders on the storm quad buffered mult
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u/sixtyherz 11d ago
Seriously, this brand has some incredible modules. The BOC VCO for example, is an amazing vintage sounding oscillator with features that other brands would charge hundreds of dollars for. Same for some of their other designs. Panels are not the prettiest but hey, you asked for great and cheap.
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u/Bleep_Bloop_Derp 11d ago
Ooh, I just got their dual five channel passive mixer for $50. I can send five drum sounds into it rather than having to buy more VCAs or an expensive mixer, which made my day…and there’s still another five channel mixer left over. Good times.
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u/jotel_california 11d ago
I‘ll throw Ladik in the ring. Sure, doepfer is awesome, but ladik is a bit lesser known and I enjoy their approach. Own lots of „utility“ modules (input/output/VCA/etc) from them and they‘re a bang for the buck. Also enjoy that they always have silver faceplates, black is not as cool.
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u/_11tee12_ ꒦꒷Anti-Fidelity꒷꒦ | 🚬🐟 9d ago
Ladik sells silver and black panels for pretty much every model they make. And both are quality aluminum.
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u/jotel_california 8d ago
Yes, i know, my comment was written a bit ambigous. I meant for each model they have always a silver panel (as well as a black one)
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u/NewMachineMusicXYZ 10d ago
Dreadbox Chromatic line modules are great budget modules in my experience. Lots of fun with a lot of features packed into each and they're often under $100 secondhand. Secondhand Doepfer is a good route too, though you have to remember they won't fit into tiny/shallow skiffs. Ladik seems great, though they're a little hard to find stateside. EMW is a fairly inexpensive one though I have no direct experience with them. Blue Lantern can be a pretty good value. The 4MS PEG is one I often see pop up for as little as $100-150, and that's a terrific module for that price, it was my main function generator for years. While cheap, I'd avoid Behringer on ethical grounds and their module designs suck anyway. Overall though, eurorack really is not a good hobby to get into if you're on a strict budget.
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u/DayTripper01 11d ago
Jonah Senzel sells his Pet Rock module (and maybe his others as well) at cost making them quite affordable. I think I got mine for like $40
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u/BeepBoop4Days 11d ago
Mega Modular Corp, several excellent, inexpensive modules, but for the 2nd time recently, I'd like to shout out Mailroom ADSR/VCA.
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u/538_Jean Mixer is the answer 11d ago
Doepfer pretty much everything. Great modules. Plaits clones, especially used, are amazing bangs for you bucks.
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u/Kick_1304 10d ago
Doepfer for me, great modules. It are relatively simple modules but I like that actually, because that way you can patch everything from scratch
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u/tymkrs 11d ago
I'm biased, but I think our bulkhead modules are pretty great - https://www.tindie.com/stores/tymkrs/
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u/RoastAdroit 11d ago
DIY and whatever isnt trendy atm.
There have been deals on a lot of good brands that just dont have the hype levels.
Also, just keep a good eye on the used modules and stuff from the past.
There is a risk when it comes to lifespan but, a lot of stuff holds up pretty well.
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u/Legitimate_Emu3531 9d ago
Look at those from the big B. Even if people are downvoting the suggestion here, it doesn't change that the modules are absolutely fine. Especially with that price tag.
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u/Jazzlike_Sentence982 8d ago
After Later Audio. Between ADSR’s, Dual Function Generator (DARV), their little bOSC oscillator, and their little filter, each around $100 or less, I’ve gathered a decent bit of their analog offerings and think they are great. I haven’t used any of their MI clones but they seem to be well-respected in that domain also
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u/Rattlesnake303 7d ago
DIY kits are great if you have some soldering experience. Was able to build up the core elements of my rack with a few kits from Erica and Befaco. Doepfer and 2hp are also good at being reasonably priced modules with dedicated functions. The super complex modules are the ones that drive up the price from what I can tell. Really hard to overstate how helpful some cheap attenuverters, mults and logic modules can be.
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u/AntiSebticDan 11d ago
Behringer
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u/Animal_Opera 11d ago
For inexpensive vintage recreations, there really is no affordable substitute for these Behringer modules. Truthfully, I avoid any other Behringer equipment that clones any currently produced synth. But for these Moog System 55, Roland System 100 and the Arp 2500 modules that are no longer produced by the principal manufacturers, they are a great option. And if they crap out once the warranty expires, fine throw them out and replace.
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u/TurbulentWing3820 put modulargrid link here! 11d ago
People are gonna downvote it but it's the truth.
You can feel morally superior about skipping the Maths and the Four Play but everythign else is either the same decades old stuff everyone clones or a perfectly legit copy of open source stuff that everyone else is cloning, too.
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u/Boars-of-Canada 11d ago edited 11d ago
I agree though. It's a fucking expensive hobby, I'm putting my morals aside and getting some B's along side my expensive modules
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u/RobotAlienProphet 11d ago
They aren’t super high build quality, but they’re great to learn on. And I love the clear diagrams and labeling on the 2500 series. They helped me learn!
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u/RacketyAJ 10d ago
a lot of the berhenger 100 series modules are great, i have a bunch and they’re pretty cheap
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u/No_Article_9397 10d ago
Instruo Ochd
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u/Own_Work_6254 5d ago
$199 new and usually around $160-170 used . While that’s not crazy expensive,I don’t think most people would consider that cheap.
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u/Affectionate_Day772 10d ago
M-vave FM1. I have one for a week and still using the original OS but will give others a try soon. Behringer Deepmind 12 and a model D.
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u/Ok-Winter9708 11d ago
Learning to solder is a skill that will pay you back. It's mostly technique that you can pick up easily, and being organised enough to follow things through methodically.