What size are Eurorack modules?

What size are Eurorack modules?

The Eurorack format calls for modules of 128.5mm (slightly over 5″) height. Horizontal width is measured in “horizontal pitch”, where 1 HP = 5.08mm (exactly 0.2″). 3.5mm mono phone jacks are used for interconnection.

What is an envelope Eurorack?

Eurorack envelope modules are a powerful audio signal shaping tool. Envelopes or ADSR’s (attack, decay, sustain, release) are a staple element in synthesizer sound design, allowing you to mold the start and end points of the audio signal.

Are all Eurorack modules the same height?

Eurorack synthesis is a specific type of modular synthesis based on modules that all share the exact same height (128.5mm/5.06″) and varying widths that conform to units called “HP,” which stands for Horizontal Pitch (1HP is 5.08mm/0.2″).

Why do you need a VCA Eurorack?

The most common use it provides is to shape the volume of a synthesizer voice using an envelope. You strike a key, the key triggers a gate which launches an envelope, and this opens the VCA so we hear the note.

What is a VCA Eurorack?

A VCA, Voltage Controlled Amplifier, sometimes referred to as an audio gate, is an essential module to any Eurorack and no system is complete without one. The concept is an input, an output and a control that sets how much of the input signal passes through to the output.

How wide is 104 hp?

One HP is 0.2 inches (5.08 mm) wide. A standard 19-inch rack is 95 HP wide of which 84 HP is typically usable. A standard 23-inch rack is 115 HP wide of which 104HP is typically usable.

What is a 3U module?

by Chris Meyer | Nov 16, 2016. Refers to modules that are 3 rack units (U) high – the Eurorack standard, which is by far the most common modular format today, even though it’s one of the youngest formats.

How long is 3U?

The Eurorack spacing standard between 2 rails is the distance of 3U, which is the equivalent of 5.25” or 133.35mm.

What screws do Eurorack use?

M3 screws are used to fix modules to your Eurorack cases that are using SynthRacks rails, GieTec or TipTop Z rails, working with M3 nuts and M3 threaded rails.

What is the Eurorack format?

The introduction of the Eurorack format went a long way to breaking down those walls. It was Dieter Doepfer, a German physics graduate, who led the way by creating a standardised set of ‘rules’ regarding the physical dimensions of individual modules based on the existing standards used for rack-mounted audio/visual equipment.

How is power distributed to Eurorack modules?

Power distribution to Eurorack modules occurs over ribbon cables with IDC connectors, with a standardized layout to apply the voltages from specific pins on the supply to the correct places on the module.

What power supply do I need for a Eurorack?

Specifically, a PSU for Eurorack systems will generate voltages at +12V, -12V, and +5V. Most modules tend to only require the dual 12V rails, but some modules may need some amount of +5V current to function.

What was it like to dabble in modular before Eurorack?

Before Eurorack, building a modular synth demanded an understanding of electronics and engineering on top of whatever musical ability you had, making it nigh-on impossible – not to mention eye-wateringly expensive – to get into. Put simply, one did not ‘dabble’ in modular before Eurorack.