Joy of Synths #17 Racking Synths
3 Tier Semi-Modular Synth Rack reviewed for modular semi-modular rack in this non-musician’s guide to creating sounds for podcasts, videos, and sampling for music using analog synthesizers.
Racking Behringer Synths
A review of Behringer 3-Tier Eurorack Stand for 70, 80 and 104 HP Chassis
Joy of Synths is deliberately plural because more synths means more combinations means more sonic possibilities.
Turns out I own 5 Behringer semi-modular synths (affiliate links): 3 Model Ds, a Solina String Ensemble , and a Kobol Expander. On paper this adds up to an excessive $1400 of synths. In my rare situation it adds up to actually $500 pre tax out of pocket on these instruments.
SHOPPING MANIA BACKSTORY
I bought a Model D for $199 Amazon price drop but they shipped it in its original product box. That got dented so I put in for a replacement. Well, Amazon let me keep the first synth. It made sense- Amazon viewed it as a loss they could not resell.
That works out to 2 Model Ds for $199. The Kobol Expander was $199 new. A used Model D was picked up for $99 due to an online listing mix up with the TD-3. This Model D has a rattle inside from something sliding loose when you tilt it side to side but it sounds ok.
For reasons beyond me, Amazon marked the Solina String Ensemble as damaged and refunded my money and let me keep the instrument. Given this unexpected largess of $0 for a $299 synth, I turned around and bought the (affil link) Behringer 3-Tier Eurorack Stand for 70, 80 and 104 HP Chassis for $79.
MODULAR RACK OF SEMI-MODULAR SYNTHS
I have resisted buying a proper Modular Eurorack Rack because I think it’s money better spent elsewhere on semi-modular synths. However, I really like the Solina paired w a Model D. So why not 2 model Ds and the Solina?
The answer is this 3 tier stand for Behringer synths. This aluminum stand allows me to screw together three synths with all the benefits of keeping them together- namely being able to move the racked unit without having to unpatch or disconnect them from one another. I do have to manage their three power supplies, though.
MIXER MATCH
A massive benefit of a modular rack of semi-modular synths is you can now pick and choose which outputs and inputs to use from these synths. The Model D is a key instrument because this has a mixer with an input for an external input. This is what allows the signal from the Solina to run through the Model D’s filter, for example. Without the Model D’s mixer this set up is a lot less fun.
To that end, I’d suggest trying to patch your synths together and then seeing if racking them together has benefits. In my case, I wanted to run signals through the Solina’s Phaser Input and then run that signal through Model D’s filter.
WIDTH
Thankfully Solina String Ensemble and Model D instruments are the same width at 70 HP. The Kobol Expander is wider at 80 HP so that wouldn’t work immediately out of the box.
NO DIY
I initially thought to reverse engineer this product for laser cutting (engraver/printer) or 3d printing. Alas, this is powder coated and the right material thickness and hole placements for each Behringer synth’s screws. This is a bit too much for my DIY abilities.
Three B synths adds up in weight and cost. Should a 3d printed stand break while I lifted the unit, that risks $900 in Model D and Solina replacement cost vs $79 for the security of this metal unit.
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
It’s easy to assemble- unscrew the top two metal screws on both sides of each synth. While those screws hold the wooden cheeks to the instrument, they are machine screws and don’t thread the wood.
There are holes on the rack plates for the remaining bottom screws to protrude so don’t unscrew the bottom screws.
It helps to place the synths vertical on their side then mount one side of the rack to a synth in the middle position of the rack. Follow up by mounting the lowest synth position, then the top. Again, the bottom screws help align everything until you screw in the top screws. Also pay attention to the bottom brace, which you can add after both plates are attached.
Flipping it over wasn’t as bad as expected. Get help if your hands can’t reach around the three synths. Flip it by holding the synths NOT the side plate!).
Rack Order
While it would make sense to rack mount the Solina at the top, I’m placing it lowest because I’ll set up MIDI to cascade from the top because Model D synths have MIDI IN and THRU on the front. The Solina has MIDI in on the front. as well as Gate Out CV, but the MIDI THRU is in back.
With a Swing MIDI Keyboard you can easily send MIDI to Solina and the Swing’s GATE and VO volts per Octave to the Model D’s OSC 1 V/OCT input. You can use stack-cables to duplicate (multiply) the signal to the other Model D.
Powering Up
Yep, 3 wall bricks to deal with. Dedicate a power supply and plug into a free wall socket without other items connected if you hear a hum during recording.
Space and Storage
This rack will fit in an Ikea Billy Bookcase with doors closed. Just set the appropriate height between shelves.
Cabling
As mentioned, the Model D has the MIDI IN and MIDI THRU ports on the front. The Solina String Ensemble has the MIDI IN on front and MIDI THRU on the back. The angle of the synths allows for easy connection and disconnection of MIDI cables and 1/4” Instrument cables for recording.
IT ALL MAKES SENSE
It finally makes sense why most Behringer Synths have an Audio Out on the front panel and a 1/4” Instrument Cable Out on the back. The same signal is exiting both ports, so you can use patch cables for sending signals around and the 1/4” port for recording.
It also makes sense that Behringer would have the long view to allow you to build a modular rack of their semi-modular synths. This explains why all their synths are pretty much exactly the same shape and dimensions. I just thought it was a way to reduce costs across product lines, which it is. It’s boring yet practical when you add them together in this 3 tier rack. Now I get it- Behringer is about Modular Semi-Modular.
In Closing
So, yeah, this three tier rack is designed to work with Behringer Synths and succeeds at that. It is worth the $79, as much as I hate spending money on support systems rather than instruments. Getting over this bias, I now I have one 3-up synth sound system.
If you don’t already own Behringer Synths then this is a hard pass.
Racking three new Model Ds would retail $900 + stand price. However, Behringer sells $199 synths like the K2 and Kobol Expander which are the same 80 HP width. Alas, the Kobol does not have a mixer for external signals, and racking up 3 K2s would be $600 + stand price. And don’t forget a controller like the Swing MIDI Keyboard and Sequencer for $69 at Sweetwater. (Amazon sells this for $129, which makes no sense.)
ALTERNATIVES
Behringer makes a Modular Eurorack Rack for mounting into a proper audio rack. Behringer EURORACK RACK 19" Desktop/Rack-Mount Kit with Power Supply for 84 HP Eurorack. That runs $99, which is one of the cheapest options out there. You could take three of those and mount them in the $79 3-tier rack. That can be quite expensive, though, because even at $379 pre-tax, each 84HP Rack needs to filled with Eurorack modules.
…DAYS LATER
Frankly, I regretted having 3 Model D synths until this rack as they took up so much room when laid out on a table. The rack allows me to work with 2 Model Ds and the Solina String Ensemble at one go. It also looks good next to the Voltage Research Lab, which has a proper Analog Delay module with CV control, unlike Solina’s Modulation Bucket Brigade Delay.
I’ve recorded interesting musical sounds with this setup in a way I haven’t before. That’s largely because the Solina is a musical instrument.
END NOTE
Happy Tax Day for those getting a refund. Sympathies for those who owe monies. Every year I promise next year I’ll file early. Alas, I’m filing today. Ugh.
I’m on the fence about Affiliate links. Affiliate links do pay influencers and publishers, however, I’ve yet to see a dime from it. I put links to Amazon because they have an easy free 30 day return policy for all Behringer synths I’ve bought and returned. Just make sure you order it as a gift or else they’ll ship using the product box which is easily destroyed in transit. Also make sure the seller is Amazon or you’re hurting a small business with returns. Also keep the boxes! The return needs to be packaged by you so this saves the hassle for finding a box the right size.
If you are committed to buying then please buy directly from small businesses rather than their Amazon stores. Amazon takes a significant cut of sales.
Next issue of Joy of Synths releases on May 1, 2024.
All Joy of Synths issues have been sponsored by CoWolves and the Discogs record shop. The decision has been made for CoWolves to exit reselling and move to recording and publishing projects. We’ll be sharing that journey as it goes along.
All Content Copyright 2024 Anthony Torres, All Rights Reserved.