Eurorack synths

Eurorack is a small form factor of analogue modular synth, although more and more digital modules are becoming available.

Physical spec

All module in the system are 3U high. The width of a module is measured in a number of HP wide such as 3HP ( 15.24mm ).
Connections between modules inputs and outputs are made with mono 3.5mm jack cables.

Electrical spec

Power

Power is from a dual rail 12v DC power supply on a 10 or 16 pin box header. An optional 5v DC supply may also be available but is not standard, although most power supplies include it, so check to see if you need an adaptor to provide it.

Signals

Control voltages can be uni-polar or bipolar. Uni-polar signals normally go +/- 2.5v and uni-polar ones normally go 0v - 8v.

Basic module types

Oscillators

Oscillators are sound sources for your synth. Normally pitch is controlled by a V/Octave input.

Voltage controlled amplifier

Otherwise known as a VCA these modules control the amplitude of an input signal being reproduced at the output. An input voltage is used to set the level of the output signal.

Envelope

These modules produce a varying voltage over a period of time. Voltage rises and falls in four common stages, attack, decay, sustain and release. These
modules are usually triggered by a gate voltage or trigger at an input.

V|      /\ 
O|     /  \______
L|    /          \
T|--------------------
 |     A  D  S   R
 | <---- TIME ----->

The attack time is the length of time that the voltage takes to rise to the maximum level. The decay time is the time it takes
for the voltage to lower to the sustain level after the attack period has finished. The sustain level is held for as long as a gate
signal is still present at the input. The release time is the amount of time it takes for the voltage to lower to the minimum after
the gate signal ends at the input.

Voltage controlled filter

These modules are used to remove/ shape frequencies from an audio source. They commonly have 2 controls, cutoff an resonance,
that are voltage controllable.

Topics:

{eurorack}
{synths}
{music }