If you’re looking to get into modular without the absurd price I would recommend checking out the tangible waves AE modular. I myself was planning on getting a nifty case and some modules and then discovered that I could build a fully fledged modular system with the AE modular for approximately 1/5 of the cost.
Im really happy for you man, I've been around for months and watching your contente increase in quality is awesome. hope you are doing fine. Cheers from Argentina.
So now we get the inevitable "I've done synths and now I've fallen into the modular sinkhole" video series from Bo. Which is right on time cos I'm on the edge of that sinkhole and ready to fall in. 😄😄😄 Lead the way Bo-man!
Owning a Volca Modular for half a year, then getting a Behringer Neutron (bought used because I'd rather support musicians than Behringer, but I couldn't resist acquiring the synth itself) has made me realize that I will inevitably get into eurorack, eventually, one way or another. Now that I have the eurorack-compatible Neutron, and Bo's recommendation here, I can expand the Neutron rather than have to buy several modules at once to make the case usable. Hooray for budget-friendly semi-modular synths!
I bought a Doepfer A100 system after having a Make Noise 0-coast semi-modular. Happy with both. I did add a Korg SQ-1 sequencer and Make Noise 0-CTRL touch sequencer and they work great. Found out that while I enjoy west coast synthesis and like the 0-coast that I much prefer the simpler easier to read layout of Doepfer modules. Fancy graphics are cool but a pain to work with in live production mode.
@@mikeexits indeed just buy a cheap powered eurorack case and you are set to go and have room to expand. I do recommend utility modules and modulation sources that are skipped over by beginners and RUclips celebrities.
I've owned the Nifty Case for about 2 months... love it! it's almost full though, but i have seen a vid from Cre8audio showing extender cheeks for the case, so you can connect a second unit. The fact that it takes midi/usb etc, swung it for me, i had no modular experience at all, but being able to easily connect my Keystep/Volcas/Mininova/poly800 etc made it the ideal choice.
Keystep does also have CV outputs! So you can use that + another MIDI controller with your case if you wish. In case you didn't know, you can also route Velocity, Aftertouch, or the Mod strip to the Mod CV out, and you can change the sync cable ports to Eurorack format, all in Arturia's MIDI control center. :)
UPDATE 2022: I have now designed my own small / minimalist case and its quite cute: ruclips.net/video/-GWQ3phCv3o/видео.html Stuff used in this video (affiliate links) NiftyCase - great beginner case EU: thmn.to/thoprod/499147?offid=1&affid=623 US: bit.ly/NiftyCasePC US: imp.i114863.net/nOrmR Blck Noir Drum Module EU: thmn.to/thoprod/454851?offid=1&affid=623 US: bit.ly/blackNoirPc Dreadbox Modules (good beginner modules!) EU: www.thomann.de/se/search_dir.html?sw=dreadbox+chromatic&smcs=f591cb_3519&offid=1&affid=623 US: bit.ly/dreadboxModules
The nifty bundle really nailed it with the entry kit. Its more than usable for any skill level but packs in a million features that a beginner likely wouldn't have. the quarter inch out is awesome. I had a thousand dollar budget when buying in to modular, and I was able to get a zadar, ensemble and wasp filter and the nifty bundle was able to tie in all the necessary functionalities as well as getting an Lfo on chips and cellz was fun while I had it, but quickly got replaced with my beatstep pro.
Mine came in the mail today.I bought the Nifty Bundle. I put a Maths and a Behringer VCA in to go with it. My cost was around $600. I hope I can have a bit of fun with it. Been waiting for it to cool down in my band room enough to even go in there!
This is a really great priced rack for getting started and has those i/o that I haven't seen other racks with. Seems really nice. I'd consider getting one
Nice to have something like that in the budget department. I designed and printed my case with a 3D printer and power it with a Zeus. If anyone is interested I can publish it on Thingiverse.
Hej Bo, thanks for introducing me to this. I have a lot of modular cases, but I wanted something small, to put together a fun little standalone system, out of spare modules that I have lying around. I am really happy with this; very solid and works well. I like the addition of Chips and Cellz; they're very creative little modules!
I actually JUST got this, which is my first forray into Modular! My buddy Graig at Recovery Effects hooked me up with a few extra mods, and I'm having a blast.
This was the case I picked up (bundle actually) as my first Eurorack. I was mostly interested in adding utility modules to add some features across my semi-modulars and so far have added a DPW Switch and Shades and Branches from Mutable Instruments. Great value - the Cellz sequencer is interesting. (I had looked at the Twisted Electrons version.) I hadn't played with Chipz yet at all, so it is good to see what it sounds like...
Hey Bo, I have this case + bundle. I think you are being too kind, especially at 15:30 when you start finding way to overcome the clipping problems. I had the same issue and found that by plugging in another patch cable into the second audio input (and nothing else) it would fix the signal clipping. I think it's a badly made case, but I also received a version of chipz with mine that has a face-place that is too large. I. cannot fit 84hp into this case if I use the Chipz module as it came. They included a weird silver version of the face place cut at the right size. Yeesh. This case is a mess. The way I overcame these obstacles was to get get rid of the case. I review gear too, so I know its deflating to put all that energy into making a video only for the product to be not-so-great. It's frustrating and embarrassing, but they shouldn't need you to find weird work-arounds. This case is not great. It's okay to say that. It's not a volume problem. Your eurorack modules are not too hot. That's silly. That audio out is a badly designed circuit. In fact, before I ditched the case, one of the best improvements I made to it was to use ALM headphones module as an audio out. That's right: to get good audio: don't use the case! It's not even a "good value", considering it's now gathering dust after too many curse words. It's just sitting there. I wasted $260+ just to learn that this is not how a proper setup works. Hmmm, I guess there is some value there. Expensive lesson tho.
Thanks for letting me know about your experience. I of course had to take a peak at your channel and subscribe. I get the feeling that some of the early units were a mess, but I have no way to know 100%. I just do not have the same experience of issues with this case. And having had people send me feedback about this case for months whenever I talked about it, a large % seemed very happy with it. Like I say in the video: Modules fit nicely, the clipping didn’t cause me any problems and the case seems to be better than I expected at the price. Granted, there are plenty of other options out there. Had it been a mess, I most likely just wouldn’t have made the video to begin with. I am always careful not to recommend things I don’t think is good value. So being genuinely happy with it for my use case, thats what I put in the video. To my understanding they have made improvements to the case, and perhaps that explains the different experiences. Keep making those videos!
@@BoBeats Thanks Bo! I'm glad that they sorted out the things that frustrated me. I wonder if the unconnected patch cable into audio input two (basically just use both inputs) would sort out the clipping that you discovered. I'm interested to know.
@@BoBeats "Had it been a mess, I most likely just wouldn’t have made the video to begin with." This is disappointing to hear. I would like to hear more negative points being raised in reviews in general. I find too many reviewers talk about the pros and gloss over the negative points too much. Maybe you don't have to do a long video if you don't like it but I think it's good to express disappointment in a product. It will help to improve quality and gives you more credibility. I'm finding I'm watching certain reviewers less and less because of lack of objectivity shown.
I have built my case myself. The case itself cost about 2 Euro to cut in a DIY store, then additional 18 Euro for two cans of spray color. Power strip unit about 70 Euro - so it's 90 Euro in total which currently holds 7 modules. However I have come up with a design for a case that's much larger, can hold 60 modules, and will probably cost less than 200 Euro in its construction. I find Eurorack cases to be super-expensive, they are not very complicated to build yourself.
I think you are absolutely right! I wish I would feel confident in building stuff myself, but I am not. I’d rather put my energy into other things, which I think goes for many in the demographic that case manufacturers target. Great to hear that it is possible tho and I definitely think more people should try!
Yes, I agree, the prices are rather high for very little material. I suspect the sales numbers are very low though. Often the PSU counts for a lot of the cost. The Mantis and the Doepfer LC9 cases are probably the best price/hp out there. The small cases are really bad value and very limiting - I would only recommend if you need something small for live use.
If you're on the fence, I strongly recommend getting a semi-modular synth first, which is compatible with eurorack. That way you can get a feel for patching and odd/wacky routings you can do with modular, and if you like it enough, you can just buy a little case + 1 module to expand the semi-modular synth, rather than having to buy several modules to make it usable. I recommend getting a used Behringer Neutron (only eurorack-compatible semi-modular synth I've tried and can vouch for) if you want to start off inexpensive but with a decent set of features. Plus, it's got 56 patch points, which is a lot even for semi-modular. Just make sure you buy extra eurorack cables and some stackables, because it only comes with 6 1' patch cables.
If you’re not afraid of diy it’s pretty easy to drill some holes and solder just a couple of connections to do the improvements you mentioned yourself.
I bought a Doepfer A100 Basic System. The other cheaper ones looked and sounded like junk to me. So far been very happy the Doepfer modules sound amazing and case/power build quality excellent. I plan to fill the 84HP empty row soon.
How is it going with the Nifty case? Do you still like it after using it for a while? I’ve narrowed my choices down to Intellijel 4U Palette, NiftyBundle, Arturia Rackbrute and one by TipTop (can’t remember the name, but it costs $335). I am leaning toward Intellijel because of the I/O and the 1U. I’m going to be pairing whatever Eurorack setup I get with a Moog Grandmother. Any advice?
Honestly, I tried this - and didn't like it. I guess the "inexpensive" is a certain plus, but the whole thing felt "cheap." And the LFO module is a bit awkward to use. Sequencer as well. I sent it back. Might work well for others, but didn't for me.
It's a great case for anyone just starting out or for someone who wants to add another row quickly and easily. I'm thinking of getting another one and hinging them together for a small portable solution if i can make some kind of lid for it.
Once you finally decided what modules you were going to put in the rack, it would have been way more interesting to see you build your patch from scratch. As it was, I had no idea what the patch was doing. I'm euro-rack curious, but I still don't really understand the process.
I bought the case alone (no bundle) back in April at the onset of the lockdown when a lot of places were offering discounts. So at a 10% discount, my first case and introduction to Eurorack cost $180. It did come with the two blank panels with just an empty space on the left where Chips and the other module would go with the bundle. I thought about mounting my DS180 scope to one of those panels. The output on back is mono but I use that summed output to go into the scope.
Thanks for the info, good to know they include the covers with the case alone. But why mount a rifle scope to a eurorack case? I'm confused. Unless you refer to an oscilloscope, in which case, I wonder why only shoes and rifle scopes show up when I Presearch for it, nothing about oscilloscopes.
Yeah, I've found it weird that it has two audio inputs and yet is mono through the back. I've been doing stereo straight from Monsoon instead with a couple 1/4 adapters.
Howdy Bobeats. May I ask if would provide the names of the modules used in this video. I love this and want to use it as a starting point to modify possibly.
Sweetwater was also offering a bundle with the two Dreadbox units shown and some patchcables and what not. Picked that up, but the Dreadboxs were on back order :( In all, the case is very handy. The units are fun...up to a point, but need a little more. But, again, its only two units. Very good deal.
I thought about buying this,. your video makes the 8bit sound well 8bit,. I like the case very much though. Not sure if I like the sequencer but I certainly don't like the 8bit oscillator. Nice case.
The blank plates and patch cables alone are worth $40. The midi-cv is also worth $120 by itself and is 0hp. Nifty case basically pays for itself. So that’s like $160 of value, before you count the modules or the case itself lol. In essence, you pay $90 or less for 84hp and a few modules if you get the bundle. It’s a must add for anyone with a bigger system that wants to break away from that and have mobility
You’re definitely right tho, the modules and system itself isn’t great for beginners in general. Better to have an idea of how you want to use the full 84hp
Yes, I'm very confused how everyone keeps claiming, eurotack can be affordable. If you pay full price, I see no way to build a setup for under 450, and that's Minilogue xd price range
I bought the bundle a couple of months ago as a first venture into eurorack. Some things really annoy me about it, mainly the almost total lack of documentation, i think this is probably the norm for eurorack, but this product purports to be aimed at beginners, nothing on the support page of their site. So i made the mistake of plugging headphones in directly, SO LOUD. I wouldn't recommend getting the bundle, i haven't managed to produce a sound i like with them, obviously my inexperience / lack of talent, but i think that it would've been better to save that bit of cash and put it toward something of better quality, a kit maybe.
Hey! im looking to get mainly an ambient sound. does anyone know what modules i should start with? Marbles, rings, magneto? im completely new wondering what would work best for a case like this. Thanks!
I got one this week, definitely loving it, although one of the plugs on the cellz is super hard to plug into. Haven't reached out to for a replacement yet
No. As noted on multiple ocassions in the video the case is about 200, and case + bundle 260. 60 extra for an oscillator + controller/sequencer is actually very good, but make sure you like what you are hearing and want the sequencer
Hey Bo, fellow psychologist here! :) I would love to start modular, but I dont like the usuall "beeps-and-blobs", as i dont find it very musical. Do you think the space in this case is enough to make a duophonic modular synth?
This has been on my radar for a little while now-- on paper, it's a great deal with a couple of useful modules. The built-in IO is even better. ...what I haven't seen previously was a hands-on review that isn't specifically an ad for this. This might just be my plunge into modular synthesis.
You said you would recommend something different from the Cellz module for a beginner. What module would that be? I know nothing about modular and was looking to get this bundle to start.
I really want to get into this sort of thing, but I cannot figure out how to take things like this and integrate them in a very musical way which would work in the context of pop music. When I watch modular synth vids, they all seem just very experimental and outside the context of palatable music.
I am gonna give eurorack a try now that we have some affordable, non DIY options. I’m guessing some looping/sampling modules will be necessary to make it musical. But either way, I think it will be fun to explore and learn something new.
I’d love to get into modular eurorack stuff but after watching 10,15 minutes of even a straightforward video like this one, I get a headache from all the terminology! All stick to my Bastl Kastle 1.5 thanks very much!
Very nice review. I wanted to make a review of this case myself as there are not many detailing all the features. I’ve been following your channel for a while now and this is my first post to your video. I have my nifty case (no bundle) since about 2 months now. Perfect beginner case. Great value for what you get - midi interface, audio out ( which can already about 100-200€ alone). Although, I was contemplating getting a bigger one (Tiptop Mantis - which is great value if you consider cost per hp) but I didn’t, simply because I’d have buy a midi to cv module and i had to keep myself within budget. What happened? After 2 months I’m stuck with a full nifty case and can’t fit any more modules :). But maybe limiting the modules is also a creative process. I wish the nifty case could expand- like the arturia or tiptop but now the only way to get a bigger case and sell the nifty or somehow DIY join 2 nifty cases. Also wish for a deck cover for nifty so it’s easy and secure for travel. Bummer is really the summed mono out. I usually patch the effects (in my case MI clouds) separately to my mixer. Yeah, those huge blinds plates are nice but a waste because you really can’t use them once you get 2-3 modules in. I personally would prefer 4-6 smaller plates as opposed to 2 big ones. I had to buy separate 2,4 and 8 hp blind plates until I got my rack full. Perhaps they should just leave out the plates and make the case a “bit” more cheap :). I use an IKEA “ISBERGET” to give the case a bit of a tilt ;). All in all, I’m happy with the case. I’m a beginner in the modular world and this case is really perfect for beginners (midi interface is a huge plus) Cheers
not really, because usually when starting with eurorack you do mono patches. and if you have say a stereo fx at the end of the patch you can take audio from it into the audio interface, just be careful with gain as eurorack signals are hotter
Question: can you connect 2 seperate cases? Lets say i dont have the money to fully get what i want already and i get a nifty case and buy some relatively cheap modules. If i run out of space do i have to buy a bigger case or could i buy another small one and patch cables from case A to case B? Love the content, keep it up!
You can always mix and match cases as long as each case has its own power. Or buya large one to start out. So 2x Nifty works, tho you will have one issue: the midi I/O requires you to connect two midi cables or two usb cables to get midi into both cases. There are other options for larger setups, like Mutan Brains midi-cv module which has more midi cv and gates
@@BoBeats thank you for your awnser bo! Me and my best friend decided to get a AE modular i feel like its the best way to get a full experience without having to think too much or loosing money :) greetings from Austria
You don't need a an audio interface technically. You can just connect your speaker directly to the nifty case. But you might want to record your modular, or use your FX in the DAW then you need a way to transfer the analog audio that is output by the nifty case into digital territory. An audio interface will do exactly this.
@@coldsummer0 I am not too much of a mac guy, but I think it is not possible (atleast not in a good way) without an audio interface. Think of the cable you need to connect to your MacBook as if it was the aux cable people have in their cars. You can theoretically use the mic input on a MacBook to input the audio and then some software (DAW) to monitor it, but the mic in is for quiet signals and a modular is loud af. The nifty case is especially loud. As a matter of personal advice please don’t cheap out on an 100€ audio Interface if you’re going to buy a 1000€+ modular, even if it‘s technically possible.
Yeah. The entire kit with modules is still not something i recommend but just the case is a good deal. There’s more options now than when i reviewed it tho. But i like that it has basic I/O
I’m being very very restrained here. Telling myself I have a perfectly good Neutron that I don’t know my way properly around yet. I think it’s working... I may have to google that t-shirt though.
Whenever I use my Neutron, it constantly puts out a whisper... "buy some modules, expand meeeee..." This video might have just gotten me to choose this case bundle for my first case and modules. I was originally gonna go with Behringer Go (when they start selling used). I still might, really I'm on the fence. I mean, $300 for 6u x 140hp?! SINCE WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?! Ok yeah, as much as the Cre8Audio case rocks, for only $40 more I can get +56hp, plus ANOTHER ROW of 144hp. Even though it doesn't come with any modules, that is a STEAL.
Looking into this setup becuase I bought a few modules, but I need something which will run. 6:16 - All I can think of at this point is Sonic The Hedgehog Green Hill Zone act 1
It is missing core modules like a VCA that are key ingredients in the most basic modular setup. Glad I skipped this, paid a few bucks more and got a proper Doepfer A100 Basic system that comes standard with basic VCO, filter, LFO, envelope generator, mults and a mixer plus MIDI to CV interface. Paid more but you get what you pay for Bo. The Crea8audio would be great for kids but it is made as a toy.
hit the like button if you want a video on how to build a complete eurorack system under 500 bucks!
ooooo yes please!
Why do you do this to me? I wanted to save money...
I guess the circuit is gonna go bye bye...
Bo, evening! Are these two modules are included in common 200$ bundle?
I just wrote a message to the company 😊
pls YES
Алексей Дроганов NiftyBUNDLE is $269 and just the case is &200.
So $70 for two modules. That’s quite cheap (for modular)
Was on the fence about the Niftycase for the last week, this pushed me over the edge to get it and start my dive into modular :)
If you’re looking to get into modular without the absurd price I would recommend checking out the tangible waves AE modular. I myself was planning on getting a nifty case and some modules and then discovered that I could build a fully fledged modular system with the AE modular for approximately 1/5 of the cost.
olGrandPaby That looks pretty interesting and a nice alternative. Don’t think it’s my cup of tea, but I appreciate you pointing it out
Same here
@@olGrandpaby AE modular has a Eurorack adapter frame for sale, so you can have both worlds.
Im really happy for you man, I've been around for months and watching your contente increase in quality is awesome. hope you are doing fine. Cheers from Argentina.
So now we get the inevitable "I've done synths and now I've fallen into the modular sinkhole" video series from Bo. Which is right on time cos I'm on the edge of that sinkhole and ready to fall in. 😄😄😄 Lead the way Bo-man!
Owning a Volca Modular for half a year, then getting a Behringer Neutron (bought used because I'd rather support musicians than Behringer, but I couldn't resist acquiring the synth itself) has made me realize that I will inevitably get into eurorack, eventually, one way or another. Now that I have the eurorack-compatible Neutron, and Bo's recommendation here, I can expand the Neutron rather than have to buy several modules at once to make the case usable. Hooray for budget-friendly semi-modular synths!
I bought a Doepfer A100 system after having a Make Noise 0-coast semi-modular. Happy with both. I did add a Korg SQ-1 sequencer and Make Noise 0-CTRL touch sequencer and they work great. Found out that while I enjoy west coast synthesis and like the 0-coast that I much prefer the simpler easier to read layout of Doepfer modules. Fancy graphics are cool but a pain to work with in live production mode.
@@mikeexits indeed just buy a cheap powered eurorack case and you are set to go and have room to expand. I do recommend utility modules and modulation sources that are skipped over by beginners and RUclips celebrities.
I've owned the Nifty Case for about 2 months... love it!
it's almost full though, but i have seen a vid from Cre8audio showing extender cheeks for the case, so you can connect a second unit.
The fact that it takes midi/usb etc, swung it for me, i had no modular experience at all, but being able to easily connect my Keystep/Volcas/Mininova/poly800 etc made it the ideal choice.
Keystep does also have CV outputs! So you can use that + another MIDI controller with your case if you wish. In case you didn't know, you can also route Velocity, Aftertouch, or the Mod strip to the Mod CV out, and you can change the sync cable ports to Eurorack format, all in Arturia's MIDI control center. :)
Trying to get an idea of what this would cost and to fill. Approximately, of course. About what have you spent all told?
UPDATE 2022: I have now designed my own small / minimalist case and its quite cute: ruclips.net/video/-GWQ3phCv3o/видео.html
Stuff used in this video (affiliate links)
NiftyCase - great beginner case
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/499147?offid=1&affid=623
US: bit.ly/NiftyCasePC
US: imp.i114863.net/nOrmR
Blck Noir Drum Module
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/454851?offid=1&affid=623
US: bit.ly/blackNoirPc
Dreadbox Modules (good beginner modules!)
EU: www.thomann.de/se/search_dir.html?sw=dreadbox+chromatic&smcs=f591cb_3519&offid=1&affid=623
US: bit.ly/dreadboxModules
The nifty bundle really nailed it with the entry kit. Its more than usable for any skill level but packs in a million features that a beginner likely wouldn't have. the quarter inch out is awesome. I had a thousand dollar budget when buying in to modular, and I was able to get a zadar, ensemble and wasp filter and the nifty bundle was able to tie in all the necessary functionalities as well as getting an Lfo on chips and cellz was fun while I had it, but quickly got replaced with my beatstep pro.
I drunk-bought one of these the other night... Waiting for it to turn up! Great video, Bo.
that is how I ended up with my new Doepfer A100 Basic Modular system 1. No regrets it is a beast!
I will try this one to cross the edge! Jaja
Love the camera and the new production value!
Thanks! Feels like I am finally where I want in terms of quality
I added one of these to my Eurorack setup recently. A great little rack with some nice built-in features.
Mine came in the mail today.I bought the Nifty Bundle. I put a Maths and a Behringer VCA in to go with it. My cost was around $600. I hope I can have a bit of fun with it. Been waiting for it to cool down in my band room enough to even go in there!
The Bundle is actually $269. The case by itself is $200
I have this case. Very happy w it. Unfortunately now it's full and I need a bigger case.
I've not started with Eurorack yet, because friends warn me it's really eurocrack - highly addictive. :D Still... this is tempting...
@@zuur303 I told myself I'd fill this case and that's it. It definitely eurocrack.
@@zuur303 You could always get a semi-modular synth like a Behringer Neutron or Moog Mother-32 to test the waters. :)
This is a really great priced rack for getting started and has those i/o that I haven't seen other racks with. Seems really nice. I'd consider getting one
Nice to have something like that in the budget department. I designed and printed my case with a 3D printer and power it with a Zeus. If anyone is interested I can publish it on Thingiverse.
Awesome little device! It's definitely something I'll have a look into further down the line when I'm somewhat more familiar with my musical gear.
Wow. I've been eyeing it for a bit. This seals it for me, damn.
Hej Bo, thanks for introducing me to this. I have a lot of modular cases, but I wanted something small, to put together a fun little standalone system, out of spare modules that I have lying around. I am really happy with this; very solid and works well. I like the addition of Chips and Cellz; they're very creative little modules!
Heeeey Bo! Here it is, here it is🤓! I really looked forward to a review of this particular case. thank you
I actually JUST got this, which is my first forray into Modular! My buddy Graig at Recovery Effects hooked me up with a few extra mods, and I'm having a blast.
Welcome to the wonderful (and possibly expensive) rabbit hole of modular
Enjoy your vacation this summer bo!
Nifty case owner here. I love mine
This was the case I picked up (bundle actually) as my first Eurorack. I was mostly interested in adding utility modules to add some features across my semi-modulars and so far have added a DPW Switch and Shades and Branches from Mutable Instruments. Great value - the Cellz sequencer is interesting. (I had looked at the Twisted Electrons version.) I hadn't played with Chipz yet at all, so it is good to see what it sounds like...
Thank you for this beautiful review.
Good info about the niftycase, but what I'm mostly happy with here is that you've upgraded your face with proper frames. Congrats!
Tack för informationen!
Hey Bo, I have this case + bundle.
I think you are being too kind, especially at 15:30 when you start finding way to overcome the clipping problems. I had the same issue and found that by plugging in another patch cable into the second audio input (and nothing else) it would fix the signal clipping.
I think it's a badly made case, but I also received a version of chipz with mine that has a face-place that is too large. I. cannot fit 84hp into this case if I use the Chipz module as it came. They included a weird silver version of the face place cut at the right size. Yeesh.
This case is a mess. The way I overcame these obstacles was to get get rid of the case.
I review gear too, so I know its deflating to put all that energy into making a video only for the product to be not-so-great. It's frustrating and embarrassing, but they shouldn't need you to find weird work-arounds.
This case is not great. It's okay to say that.
It's not a volume problem. Your eurorack modules are not too hot. That's silly. That audio out is a badly designed circuit. In fact, before I ditched the case, one of the best improvements I made to it was to use ALM headphones module as an audio out. That's right: to get good audio: don't use the case!
It's not even a "good value", considering it's now gathering dust after too many curse words. It's just sitting there. I wasted $260+ just to learn that this is not how a proper setup works. Hmmm, I guess there is some value there. Expensive lesson tho.
Thanks for letting me know about your experience. I of course had to take a peak at your channel and subscribe.
I get the feeling that some of the early units were a mess, but I have no way to know 100%. I just do not have the same experience of issues with this case. And having had people send me feedback about this case for months whenever I talked about it, a large % seemed very happy with it. Like I say in the video: Modules fit nicely, the clipping didn’t cause me any problems and the case seems to be better than I expected at the price. Granted, there are plenty of other options out there. Had it been a mess, I most likely just wouldn’t have made the video to begin with. I am always careful not to recommend things I don’t think is good value. So being genuinely happy with it for my use case, thats what I put in the video.
To my understanding they have made improvements to the case, and perhaps that explains the different experiences.
Keep making those videos!
@@BoBeats Thanks Bo! I'm glad that they sorted out the things that frustrated me. I wonder if the unconnected patch cable into audio input two (basically just use both inputs) would sort out the clipping that you discovered. I'm interested to know.
@@BoBeats "Had it been a mess, I most likely just wouldn’t have made the video to begin with." This is disappointing to hear. I would like to hear more negative points being raised in reviews in general. I find too many reviewers talk about the pros and gloss over the negative points too much. Maybe you don't have to do a long video if you don't like it but I think it's good to express disappointment in a product. It will help to improve quality and gives you more credibility. I'm finding I'm watching certain reviewers less and less because of lack of objectivity shown.
I have built my case myself. The case itself cost about 2 Euro to cut in a DIY store, then additional 18 Euro for two cans of spray color. Power strip unit about 70 Euro - so it's 90 Euro in total which currently holds 7 modules. However I have come up with a design for a case that's much larger, can hold 60 modules, and will probably cost less than 200 Euro in its construction. I find Eurorack cases to be super-expensive, they are not very complicated to build yourself.
I think you are absolutely right! I wish I would feel confident in building stuff myself, but I am not. I’d rather put my energy into other things, which I think goes for many in the demographic that case manufacturers target. Great to hear that it is possible tho and I definitely think more people should try!
@@BoBeats There are some good priced case kits like those from Ginko..: www.ginkosynthese.com/cases
Yes, I agree, the prices are rather high for very little material. I suspect the sales numbers are very low though. Often the PSU counts for a lot of the cost. The Mantis and the Doepfer LC9 cases are probably the best price/hp out there. The small cases are really bad value and very limiting - I would only recommend if you need something small for live use.
I’ve been thinking about this case for ages
Wow man that really does look like a nice first eurorack experience. Not had the chance to play with modular stuff yet though that is tempting!
If you're on the fence, I strongly recommend getting a semi-modular synth first, which is compatible with eurorack. That way you can get a feel for patching and odd/wacky routings you can do with modular, and if you like it enough, you can just buy a little case + 1 module to expand the semi-modular synth, rather than having to buy several modules to make it usable. I recommend getting a used Behringer Neutron (only eurorack-compatible semi-modular synth I've tried and can vouch for) if you want to start off inexpensive but with a decent set of features. Plus, it's got 56 patch points, which is a lot even for semi-modular. Just make sure you buy extra eurorack cables and some stackables, because it only comes with 6 1' patch cables.
This looks badass for 200
Got one ordered,,,cant wait.....
If you’re not afraid of diy it’s pretty easy to drill some holes and solder just a couple of connections to do the improvements you mentioned yourself.
Great vid as i was looking for a eurorack that works for me. Also, where did you get that amazing t-shirt? Thanks.
I bought a Doepfer A100 Basic System. The other cheaper ones looked and sounded like junk to me. So far been very happy the Doepfer modules sound amazing and case/power build quality excellent. I plan to fill the 84HP empty row soon.
Oh I just put together this minimalist eurorack drum machine with the Nifty: ruclips.net/video/vP9qXUJ_tz8/видео.html
How is it going with the Nifty case? Do you still like it after using it for a while? I’ve narrowed my choices down to Intellijel 4U Palette, NiftyBundle, Arturia Rackbrute and one by TipTop (can’t remember the name, but it costs $335). I am leaning toward Intellijel because of the I/O and the 1U. I’m going to be pairing whatever Eurorack setup I get with a Moog Grandmother. Any advice?
I love it. You put 3k of Eurorack modules into a $200 case!
yes! Deeper is a valid word!
Honestly, I tried this - and didn't like it. I guess the "inexpensive" is a certain plus, but the whole thing felt "cheap." And the LFO module is a bit awkward to use. Sequencer as well. I sent it back. Might work well for others, but didn't for me.
How much would it cost me to replicate the modular drum machine set up demonstrated in this video?
It's a great case for anyone just starting out or for someone who wants to add another row quickly and easily. I'm thinking of getting another one and hinging them together for a small portable solution if i can make some kind of lid for it.
I would just wait for the Behringer case
or spend few bucks more and get either the Intellijel Palette case or a Doepfer suitcase A100 case.
Thanks Bo!🤘🏽
Once you finally decided what modules you were going to put in the rack, it would have been way more interesting to see you build your patch from scratch. As it was, I had no idea what the patch was doing. I'm euro-rack curious, but I still don't really understand the process.
Might do a rundown of this rig in more detail. As is, the video is focused on the case itself.
@@BoBeats fair enough.
I bought the case alone (no bundle) back in April at the onset of the lockdown when a lot of places were offering discounts. So at a 10% discount, my first case and introduction to Eurorack cost $180. It did come with the two blank panels with just an empty space on the left where Chips and the other module would go with the bundle. I thought about mounting my DS180 scope to one of those panels. The output on back is mono but I use that summed output to go into the scope.
Thanks for the info, good to know they include the covers with the case alone. But why mount a rifle scope to a eurorack case? I'm confused. Unless you refer to an oscilloscope, in which case, I wonder why only shoes and rifle scopes show up when I Presearch for it, nothing about oscilloscopes.
It's weird that the output is mono :( Is it hackable enough? Like can one replace mono output with stereo out?
Yeah, I've found it weird that it has two audio inputs and yet is mono through the back. I've been doing stereo straight from Monsoon instead with a couple 1/4 adapters.
Howdy Bobeats. May I ask if would provide the names of the modules used in this video. I love this and want to use it as a starting point to modify possibly.
Glad the build quality is decent.
Been considering this bundle since it was first announced, but wasn't sure if it was too plasticky.
Sweetwater was also offering a bundle with the two Dreadbox units shown and some patchcables and what not. Picked that up, but the Dreadboxs were on back order :(
In all, the case is very handy. The units are fun...up to a point, but need a little more. But, again, its only two units. Very good deal.
i love it but i wish they would let you set the midi channel!!!
I thought about buying this,. your video makes the 8bit sound well 8bit,. I like the case very much though. Not sure if I like the sequencer but I certainly don't like the 8bit oscillator. Nice case.
The blank plates and patch cables alone are worth $40. The midi-cv is also worth $120 by itself and is 0hp. Nifty case basically pays for itself. So that’s like $160 of value, before you count the modules or the case itself lol. In essence, you pay $90 or less for 84hp and a few modules if you get the bundle. It’s a must add for anyone with a bigger system that wants to break away from that and have mobility
You’re definitely right tho, the modules and system itself isn’t great for beginners in general. Better to have an idea of how you want to use the full 84hp
Once this quarantine is over and I have money again I'm for sure getting this
Spoiler, I definitely did not wait until I had money again
Looks like I can sell what is now my old dumb MIDI to CV module and buy this instead and have a new CASE HELL YEAH
How do i make it run with my keystep?/ i have connected via midi,,but have only pitch,no start and stopping of notes,,,??Anyn help please...
Hi! I just got a NiftyCase and I'm unable to make it sound. Can you please explain how and what do you connect it to ? Thank you in advance
Cheap and modular mentioned in one video doesn’t sound right
Nice little case tough, like the connections on the back
Filling even 84 hp will cost you a nice amount 😅
From someone outside that community. 200 bucks for just an empty case doesn't sound cheap at all.
@@BoBeats true it is easy to spend 2k plus on only a few modules. I did manage to fill two rows of my 6U case for under 4k.
Yes, I'm very confused how everyone keeps claiming, eurotack can be affordable. If you pay full price, I see no way to build a setup for under 450, and that's Minilogue xd price range
Modular newb here. Is it possible to connect/patch the Moog Werkstatt or Malekko Manther to the NiftyCASE?????
I bought the bundle a couple of months ago as a first venture into eurorack. Some things really annoy me about it, mainly the almost total lack of documentation, i think this is probably the norm for eurorack, but this product purports to be aimed at beginners, nothing on the support page of their site. So i made the mistake of plugging headphones in directly, SO LOUD. I wouldn't recommend getting the bundle, i haven't managed to produce a sound i like with them, obviously my inexperience / lack of talent, but i think that it would've been better to save that bit of cash and put it toward something of better quality, a kit maybe.
unboxing is a silly as watching strangers eat ramen
Is it a stereo output? If I insert only left channel will it auto split audio to both channels? Thx
awesome!
That looks like terrific value -- a MIDI to CV converter alone can cost €100. Thanks for the review. Now I want one.
Hey! im looking to get mainly an ambient sound. does anyone know what modules i should start with? Marbles, rings, magneto? im completely new wondering what would work best for a case like this. Thanks!
I got one this week, definitely loving it, although one of the plugs on the cellz is super hard to plug into. Haven't reached out to for a replacement yet
Is cell2 and the oscillator with in the 200$ ? @BoBeats
No. As noted on multiple ocassions in the video the case is about 200, and case + bundle 260. 60 extra for an oscillator + controller/sequencer is actually very good, but make sure you like what you are hearing and want the sequencer
Hey Bo, fellow psychologist here! :)
I would love to start modular, but I dont like the usuall "beeps-and-blobs", as i dont find it very musical. Do you think the space in this case is enough to make a duophonic modular synth?
Du måste vara svensk. Älskar det. Bra video.
Javisst är jag det. Tack!!
This has been on my radar for a little while now-- on paper, it's a great deal with a couple of useful modules. The built-in IO is even better.
...what I haven't seen previously was a hands-on review that isn't specifically an ad for this. This might just be my plunge into modular synthesis.
You said you would recommend something different from the Cellz module for a beginner. What module would that be? I know nothing about modular and was looking to get this bundle to start.
Dreadbox chromatic series is great
aswell as the hd300 pros you should check out the new 280 pro's. Legit my favourite studio headphones ever
they have really great passive noise attenuation
Mine did not last a year. The power supply is good, but it won't turn on. I changed all the knobs too because They were hard to turn.
nice bo, får väl sätta igång o knarka eurorack nu :)
I really want to get into this sort of thing, but I cannot figure out how to take things like this and integrate them in a very musical way which would work in the context of pop music. When I watch modular synth vids, they all seem just very experimental and outside the context of palatable music.
I am gonna give eurorack a try now that we have some affordable, non DIY options. I’m guessing some looping/sampling modules will be necessary to make it musical. But either way, I think it will be fun to explore and learn something new.
practice makes perfect, but always have fun ;)
I’d love to get into modular eurorack stuff but after watching 10,15 minutes of even a straightforward video like this one, I get a headache from all the terminology! All stick to my Bastl Kastle 1.5 thanks very much!
would this be a good starting point to pair with matriarch? zero knowledge on modular, but wanna get into it a little and learn
i am not sure if the two modules that come with the bundle is useful for this, but getting the case and maybe some other modules could be worth it
Very nice review. I wanted to make a review of this case myself as there are not many detailing all the features.
I’ve been following your channel for a while now and this is my first post to your video. I have my nifty case (no bundle) since about 2 months now. Perfect beginner case. Great value for what you get - midi interface, audio out ( which can already about 100-200€ alone). Although, I was contemplating getting a bigger one (Tiptop Mantis - which is great value if you consider cost per hp) but I didn’t, simply because I’d have buy a midi to cv module and i had to keep myself within budget. What happened? After 2 months I’m stuck with a full nifty case and can’t fit any more modules :). But maybe limiting the modules is also a creative process. I wish the nifty case could expand- like the arturia or tiptop but now the only way to get a bigger case and sell the nifty or somehow DIY join 2 nifty cases. Also wish for a deck cover for nifty so it’s easy and secure for travel. Bummer is really the summed mono out. I usually patch the effects (in my case MI clouds) separately to my mixer. Yeah, those huge blinds plates are nice but a waste because you really can’t use them once you get 2-3 modules in. I personally would prefer 4-6 smaller plates as opposed to 2 big ones. I had to buy separate 2,4 and 8 hp blind plates until I got my rack full. Perhaps they should just leave out the plates and make the case a “bit” more cheap :). I use an IKEA “ISBERGET” to give the case a bit of a tilt ;). All in all, I’m happy with the case. I’m a beginner in the modular world and this case is really perfect for beginners (midi interface is a huge plus)
Cheers
there’s something coming to let you combine two nifty’s I believe
Should I be concerned that it’s only mono output ?
not really, because usually when starting with eurorack you do mono patches. and if you have say a stereo fx at the end of the patch you can take audio from it into the audio interface, just be careful with gain as eurorack signals are hotter
Try the Ollo Audio headphones. Love them!
modular is niche?^^
I thought that bq was a BoBeats logo!!
Question: can you connect 2 seperate cases? Lets say i dont have the money to fully get what i want already and i get a nifty case and buy some relatively cheap modules. If i run out of space do i have to buy a bigger case or could i buy another small one and patch cables from case A to case B? Love the content, keep it up!
You can always mix and match cases as long as each case has its own power. Or buya large one to start out. So 2x Nifty works, tho you will have one issue: the midi I/O requires you to connect two midi cables or two usb cables to get midi into both cases. There are other options for larger setups, like Mutan Brains midi-cv module which has more midi cv and gates
@@BoBeats thank you for your awnser bo! Me and my best friend decided to get a AE modular i feel like its the best way to get a full experience without having to think too much or loosing money :) greetings from Austria
Sounds great for 8bit music
So you need an audio interface in order to hear the sound? It’s not a stand-alone device? Or computer is enough?
You don't need a an audio interface technically. You can just connect your speaker directly to the nifty case. But you might want to record your modular, or use your FX in the DAW then you need a way to transfer the analog audio that is output by the nifty case into digital territory.
An audio interface will do exactly this.
@@modularblack but is it connectable to let’s say MacBook instead of speakers (just to hear the sound)?
@@coldsummer0 I am not too much of a mac guy, but I think it is not possible (atleast not in a good way) without an audio interface. Think of the cable you need to connect to your MacBook as if it was the aux cable people have in their cars.
You can theoretically use the mic input on a MacBook to input the audio and then some software (DAW) to monitor it, but the mic in is for quiet signals and a modular is loud af. The nifty case is especially loud.
As a matter of personal advice please don’t cheap out on an 100€ audio Interface if you’re going to buy a 1000€+ modular, even if it‘s technically possible.
Hey Bo, is this still a valuable option as first eurorack case?
Yeah. The entire kit with modules is still not something i recommend but just the case is a good deal. There’s more options now than when i reviewed it tho. But i like that it has basic I/O
@@BoBeatswhat are some of those options? Ideally something with midi/CV connections as well
Is this your summer haircut Bo? ;)
beach 20...........21....
Why if it's mono out sounds like stereo?
I’m being very very restrained here. Telling myself I have a perfectly good Neutron that I don’t know my way properly around yet. I think it’s working... I may have to google that t-shirt though.
Whenever I use my Neutron, it constantly puts out a whisper... "buy some modules, expand meeeee..." This video might have just gotten me to choose this case bundle for my first case and modules. I was originally gonna go with Behringer Go (when they start selling used). I still might, really I'm on the fence. I mean, $300 for 6u x 140hp?! SINCE WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?! Ok yeah, as much as the Cre8Audio case rocks, for only $40 more I can get +56hp, plus ANOTHER ROW of 144hp. Even though it doesn't come with any modules, that is a STEAL.
cool stuff like it!!
Wait, these modules are included with case? No way...
Who needs this?
Cre8te makes some fabulous low-cost modules, too. Their CHIPS LFO is great, and you can get it used for ..$40?
Looking into this setup becuase I bought a few modules, but I need something which will run.
6:16 - All I can think of at this point is Sonic The Hedgehog Green Hill Zone act 1
I'm scared to buy a case because it feels like once you buy one module...
Very cool option, but I think Intellijel Designs Palette 62 4U is still better.
It's pretty good
The price is good.
when I click 200 bucks for beginners, I have no idea what's eurorack? haha but im newbie here! haha
Where from you've get these additional modules? You bought them separately?
Yeah
@@BoBeats 🤘😁😁
It is missing core modules like a VCA that are key ingredients in the most basic modular setup. Glad I skipped this, paid a few bucks more and got a proper Doepfer A100 Basic system that comes standard with basic VCO, filter, LFO, envelope generator, mults and a mixer plus MIDI to CV interface. Paid more but you get what you pay for Bo. The Crea8audio would be great for kids but it is made as a toy.
just build a case with meanwell powerkit 2 busboards and rails from tiptop
Groovy