Muff's Modules & More

chvad · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject: Doepfer Monster Base Opinions

So Ive got 2 filled P9 doepfer cases. I want more room and Im trying to decide if I want to get more P9's and stack them or toss a monster base under the two P9's. I'd love to put everything in a real elaborate Goike case or something similar at some point but my housing situation is always in flux and I need to be able to pack and move this stuff easily, thus the appeal of the P9's that I currently have.

I have a feeling I might not like how high the system is going to sit with 2 stacked P9's. Those of you with taller systems, how has that type of workflow been for you?

The appeal of the Monster Base is the skiff and angle transition into the P9's. My concern with that is cost (not cheap!) and apparently all the bus boards are behind the top row and I'd need to get longer power cables for everything. Who has one of these and can comment on whether or not this is a massive PITA?

Thanks y'all!

Carci · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject:

Hey,

I've had a monster base for a while.
The boards are indeed under the top row but I never had to buy a longer cable, it's not that far from the modules really.

The price doesn't seem high to me.

Mine was too heavy, that's why I got rid of it. I wanted something more transportable, like I want to be able to walk and take the metro with it.

But it's a great case.

AntManBee · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject:

I bought Carci's Monster Base & they appear second hand every now & then. I'd had a single P9 and had wanted to stay within 9U but wanted to add some performance modules including the Make Noise Brains & Pressure Points plus a joystick and there wasn't the room in the P9 (plus it didn't lay on its back).

I've only had the Monster Base for a few weeks but it's good to use and it's great to have all my modules in a single case. None of the cables, including the rather short Doepfer ones, has trouble reaching the bus boards.

If I have criticisms they would be the width (it means lots of long patch cables lying across the front) and the size/weight as Carci says.

suboptimal · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject:

I love my monster base. Sturdy as hell and works great holding a pair of LC9s.

infradead · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:09 pm Post subject:

i just got one

i've had no issues with short cables. one module just barely fits but it fit.

my old 6u case was about the same wieght. as far as how transportable it is i'm about to find out when i take it to my friends to jam with him this weekend.

the one thing i have noticed it that you need to pay attention to make sure you don't crowd jacks where the top and bottom meet. my rene buts up againest my plague bearer and its a bit crowded, usuable but crowded

chvad · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject:

good feedback guys. thanks!

good to know that the cable issue isnt too big of an issue.

matttech · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject:

matttech · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

if not, here's an idea:

with a bit of imagination it can work though: for example, here i have some combinations where i have stuff i DO want to fiddle with on the front row, but only stuff above them with limited jacks along the bottom of the module:

cyclebox over Maths (notice how the AFG is above naff all, due to it's multitude of low jacks), and the manhattan mixer isn't above anything with knobs

piston above wogglebug/ E350 above a149-1/2

takes a bit of thought, especially when fitting all of this into a bigger picture!

chvad · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject:

i see what you guys are saying about the steeper angle. Looks great though. thanks for the pics! I like the monitor up there!

I think the monster base is in my future.

Now someone please sell me their monster base so i dont have to buy it new. that is all. lol

infradead · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:49 pm Post subject:

plus you can call it the monster baser

sounds really cool that way.

chvad · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

lol true!

sonicwarrior · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Doepfer Monster Base Opinions

matttech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:58 am Post subject:

i've had a few ribbon cables that were too short, but i just swapped them over with other ones.

it does get a little irritating pulling stuff out from both rows just to change one in the front row though

chvad · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:12 am Post subject:

"I have a PMS9 monster case which is like 2 P9s and I like it sitting on top of my monster base. The height is so that I can reach every module when I sit before it without any hassles. "

good to know! smile

"it does get a little irritating pulling stuff out from both rows just to change one in the front row though"

That IS a small concern only because i seemed to have developed a horribly compulsive habit of modular tetris and always looking for the "optimal" layout.

infradead · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:53 am Post subject:

matttech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:13 am Post subject:

chvad · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:33 am Post subject:

"1 - themed rows - groups of the same kind of module on the same row (oscs, filters, vcas etc..)"

Ha! Exact same here.

"2 - patching ease. common patches and potential for running cables out to the sides of the case without obscuring stuff"

Yep!

"the main thing i can't abide is, say, three filters on one row, and another just stuffed in somewhere else (unless i can justify it to myself in some kind of way....."

HAHAHAHHA! Oh man... same exact thing as well. Its really horrible. I'm OK with mults scattered around. and maybe some VCA's but filters, envelopes, LFO's, etc etc... I totally have to justify stuff. Plague Bearer used to sit in the filter row. Then I got a Korgasmotron and I had no room for both. Then Im like.. OK... the PB is distortion. Now it will sit next to Atoner. I have to have some kind of sense or the layout just irritates me.

it's all madness. now i'm pretty full and have some money to imminently spend, but little room (and very little i want to get rid of)

maybe i should just stick it in savings........

matttech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:49 am Post subject:

chvad · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

HA! Nice! YOUR DUAL ADSR IS IN THE WRONG PLACE DAMMIT! That is clearly an LFO row!

matttech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:50 pm Post subject:

chvad · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

ok. i can swing with that. i need to look at my flow and see if that is useful for needs. Modular Context Disease.

matttech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject:

chvad · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

Yeah.. ive been eyeing the orgy and PEG... and a number of other.. thus my looking into the monster base. Im hoping I can level out a bit with the monster base and two p9's. I dont want everything but i do like self contained stuff and would like some more sequencing and control surface stuff. There may well never be an end but if i can settle into a monster base and those 2 cases for a bit i'd be really happy.