How much have you spent on EuroRack gear!

[FarmerPhilip]

1. About $2,500 (far less than retail thanks to DIY and eBay)
2. Absolutely
3. Kicked children out of house!!!!!!
4. I don't!!!

Being old DOES have certain advantages: the wife has her hobbies and I have mine!

[rlevine]

It has been almost exactly three months since I started with modular.

1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
$1,829.38

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Yep. I've played guitar/bass/drums in various bands since I was 16. For the last 6 years or so I haven't done much. I'm finding a lot of new energy and inspiration for music since I started messing with modular and synths.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
Pretty simple. I only spend money on it when I can afford to. I know that sounds overly simplistic. But really, I just make sure everything else is paid for first (bills, savings, etc etc). Then I buy modules and stuff.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
Being this new at it helps, since I don't really know what I'm doing. But it also comes with the urge to buy something new because I think it will help me do a thing I'm trying to do. I just remind myself that I'm actually fairly clueless and force myself to sit down and play. More often than not I find that I learn something new with my existing stuff.

All that being said, I am pretty consistently and frequently buying new stuff.

[wiggies]

Started a year and half ago.

1. $4,956.60
2. Yep. Decided two years ago I wanted to make music. Started with a bunch of old 90s equipment I had sitting in a closet. Got it all working and was merrily moving along then my wife got me a Mother 32 for christmas and everything changed. Sold all my old stuff off to build a system.
3. I've put myself on an allowance. I keep a virtual account that I add a fixed amount to each month. So I can get myself a module a month or sometimes I will wait and get a bigger item. Also, I've bought most of my stuff second-hand so that helps as well.
4. I keep a couple of dream racks that I'm building toward active on MG and keep an active eye on various online market places. This helps me know what I can expect to pay for a desired module and to recognize when I've found a good deal. But I am patient, so I don't really feel so much the urge to have everything now. I know I have a plan to get everything eventually.

[spukhaft]

1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
$4000

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Hell yes. I spent years wallowing around in the world of software. Utterly lost interest in making music. Eurorack has give me new life.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
I've sold off some toys (motorcycle I never rode) to fund parts of it. Funding is not an issue for me.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
I force myself to actually learn the functionality of what I have, rather than chasing the next big thing....then I go buy the next big thing.

[Nagasaki45]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

(1) £2,432.30
(2) YES!
(3) I don't
(4) I build blank panels that I really like and don't want to replace them with useless modules :-)

[Adam-V]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
In AUD: on euro, approx 40, on modular gear overall a touch over 75 (euro, frac and 100m).

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Yep. Wanted a modular synth as soon as I found out about them in my mid teens.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
I budget a certain amount each month for spending on musical equipment be that modular or otherwise and I stick to it. That and I'm running out of room for new gear!

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
I don't have a constant urge for new modules. I occasionally buy stuff on a whim but generally I decide to buy something based what I find I need in order to achieve what I'm trying to achieve.

[soundofyou.eu]

1 - 1000euro
2 - yes, very much but its just begun
3 - 250e/month
4 - simple - nr 3 is the limiter, if i want something big i need to wait 2-3 months

[Cobramatic]

My strategy was simple:

1. Win the Lottery
2. Buy modular synths until the money ran out....

[southberry]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

Since my beginning in Feb 2015, around 4K$, if I had my DIY portable 80HP 12U case, cables, dark link and grounded power adaptators ... you can add 800$ ...

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Yes, my music is made of improvisation, jam, happy accident and modular is a perfect tool for that. For the first time I'm able to do this kind of electronic music without a computer and it's a real joy for me. I can create the instrument I want.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

It really depends of my income. For example the last module I bought was in Oct 2017 ( a 4ms DLD half-paid by selling a Clouds module ). and it's only now that I'm starting to look for my next buy (an assembled micro Ornament & Crime) I play a lot with my system and I wait to be use of what I need before to purchase another module. My 12U / 80 HP is still halft-empty. The more my system is growing the less I need to invest. Before to buy something I read / watch all demoes / read all forums / play with my system to be sure this is what will help me to achieve what I want. The fact to limit myself to a system that I can take with me on a plane to play a show is helping.

[Mark II]

1) No
2) About 42
3) Oil-treated maple
4) Qu-Bit Octone

I just love these quizzes!

[Cinema Perdu]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
about 4k (including case and CPU)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
yes, it's a very hands-on way to do sound-designing and parts of compositions. (these sounds and parts of compositions i assemble on a computer)
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
i've got 4 rows, i tried to stay within those 4 rows so i sell modules i don't use to often. But that said, this way of thinking helped for a while but i have to say that i now have some modules laying around which aren't in my case but i don't want to sell either
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
for me it is important that i know all the sounds and modulation possibilities of the modules that i have. if i can't do a curtain sound or modulation which i think is useful for my music i start looking.
Music is always the starting point and not gear-lust per se.
But i follow more then one forum to know what's going on .

[reekster]

About 7 k but I’ve had clients whom I have exchanged services with for hear, bought used and DIY gear as well. Miff wiggles lists it at around 14k. That doesn’t include the Voyager, Prophet 08, .

I’ve sold about 6% of what I bought

I now keep a spreadsheet of whatbInsell and what I buy. WhatbI sell can be anything in the studio I’m not utilizing. I just bought a RackBrute, 4MS Quad pinnacle LFO (DIY) and a Graphic VCO. I’m still $153 in the green!

[cptnal]

I now keep a spreadsheet...

This is a good point. It's like how people consistently underestimate how much time they spend in front of the TV when surveyed about their viewing habits. Perhaps wigglers will consistently deny they spend that much on gear.

In other words, to get the actual amount responders to this thread have spent, take the declared value and double it.

[bemushroomed]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

Around $20K with cases, probably more. Sold tons of modules at loss, i don't mind it, every module is a little bit of extra knowledge after all, i can pay for that.

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Sure.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

I've decided i don't need or want a car and that saves me a lot of money. I live off a very small sick pension so there's no way i could handle both having a rather big eurorack system + car and all the costs that comes with that. I also have other interests that are expensive (having the best possible PC, latest monitor and TV etc). People in general seems to be absolutely horrible at economy (experience with friends etc).

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

Having many interests. Eurorack is not a constant interest for me, but when it is it's very, very expensive. I don't think i've touched it in over a month. When i was younger i thought these things meant you have lost interest in something and have to move on, but its just healthy breaks, the interest always comes back. If it goes away for a year i'd probably sell it though.

[starthief]

In other words, to get the actual amount responders to this thread have spent, take the declared value and double it.

ModularGrid can show prices. The accuracy is approximate of course, and it doesn't take into account used gear, DIY, discounts, shipping / customs, or (and this can be a big one) cases, patch cables, accessories etc. But it's a start at a better than random estimate

[D_Robot]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

Around £a lot of k

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

No regrets whatsoever.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

I give the same value in bling to my better half so she can't question the "budget"...(Revised answer to (1) £2 x a lot of k, oh dear!)

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

Up until this month I was doing great. I would look at modules I had GAS for and would try to recreate the function with what I already had in the rack. Great learning exercise while removing the GAS. Select 2, Ears and an Assimil8or later I'm back to square one and my significant other has another bit of bling on her hand....damn

edited to reduce the misogyny

[poorness]

• 1. $5684 according to ModularGrid (I’m not sure that’s 100% accurate as several modules were bought used and others traded for, but it’s probably a good ballpark figure).
  2. Yes, but it can be overwhelming at times.
  3. I bought a 9U case that I really like and told myself, no more cases. It’s completely full, so now if I want to add something, I have to sell something (or pull it out anyway). This helps keep things in perspective. Use it or lose it. Buy smart. Sell what isn’t working.
  4. See #3, it works! Also, go to synth meets. Play with others’ gear. You may realize a certain module isn’t as useful as you thought... or you may decide you absolutely can’t live without it. Either way, good to know.

[evileye0702]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

~$23K - includes modules, cases, power supplies, KOMA Komplex and eurorack cables. Does not include computer, software, other synths, audio interface and other cables.

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Absolutely. It really has unlocked a new creative side and its been a great way to relax.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

A high paying job and a well balanced budget. Keep priorities straight and save money where I can. I'm at the point now where I'm highly satisfied with the modular system I have built so any changes would be minimal and typically financed by selling new gear.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

Focus on learning what I already own and finding new creative uses for it. If I have to try something new be prepared to sell something else to finance it. Limit myself to a space which is ergonomically comfortable.

[intuitionnyc]

1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
I don't know and I don't wanna know. North of $15k is an easy bet

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Yes and no. It has not made me a better song writer. I thought I would harvest a lot more sounds from my modular than I have in terms of writing. However, modular has itself become a VERY fun hobby. I have met some great people in the process and the modular community is generally very inviting and warm. I also think my knowledge of synthesis has increased drastically due to modular.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
I just kept buying and buying. Was really sad as every scrap of disposable income went to modular at one point. NOW, I have made a rule that I can only use my current music setup to fund itself. For example, if I want a new module, I have to sell something from my current setup. This keeps me MUCH more grounded. I tend to investigate new gear MUCH more so rather than just acquiring.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
I think about how many modules I have acquired and sold over the years. I think of how much money I have lost selling them on a discount from new. I also watch a lot of tutorial videos and do in-store demos when I get GAS for certain modules. This usually makes me dismiss the urge as most modules are usually better in videos than me actually using them.


ADVICE???? I've been into modular for 15 or so years now. I would start small and work your way up. Maybe give yourself a certain size rack and stay within those confines. It is SO easy to get out of control with modular.

[rlevine]

A followup question.

I started this about 4 months ago (as I mentioned previously). As usual, just before purchasing my first modules, I did a bunch of research to figure out approximately how much it would cost to build some kind of basic system with which I could start making sounds. After a month or so, I realized my ideas were completely wrong, so I wanted to come up with a more accurate estimate of "how much does it cost to start in modular".

So the next question is:
Do I continue keeping track of my synth purchases? Or will I just give myself anxiety by looking at that number slowly (or not so slowly) drift higher and higher?

[gonkulator]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

With some help calculating from MG, Somewhere above 50k USD

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Absolutely. I am still regularly amused by it, despite that crap I put out.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

Thankfully, my appetite is less than my means.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

In the beginning (all of four years ago) I didn't, really. But I figured that over time I would eventually learn what modules and manufacturers I tended to interact with better than others. So now I can fairly easily eliminate from contention a number of new modules that pop up. Also, having not much space left (in racks and that allotted for racks) has made me more discriminating in what I want, in quality, functionality, and UI. I am becoming more and more snobbish (I guess) about knob spacing, feel, things like that. I have grown to really appreciate well thought out panel design.

[sirjpink]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

About one year in now...

1) About 2K
2) Yes! For the exact same reason spukhaft gave: getting out of the box after decades feels sooooo good; I'm enjoying making music again.
3) We give ourselves an allowance (about €200 a month), which is basically accountability-free money, that I use to buy modular stuff. So I have to stay within that limit.
4) There's the budget-cap stated in 3) that forces me to really play and explore the modules I have. When I'm not doing that, I'm DIYing stuff (currently rebuilding my eurocase) or developing and prototyping my own modules, which is very time consuming.

Eurorack for me is also a journey into zen and patience.

[jaymo500]

1) ~$2300 for my initial setup. I am just getting it together, so that is based on what I've purchased already and a few other modules I am still getting ready to pick up.

2) Although I'm just getting my gear together, I am a long time musician professionally and have looked forward to this for a long time. Hopefully that will continue.

3) Since I have all the necessities (and a LOT more) for my job as a performer I just have a monthly budget for extra music gear & my hobbies. It has worked fine for many years. I am patient enough to wait another month or 2 when necessary before getting that ONE NEW THING I always want if need be. Plenty of other toys around to play with already!

4) We shall see as I go along.

[kn4rt]

(1) 5495€ to be exact (made a spreadsheet to keep my "investments" in check)
(2) Yes, still happy. The modular is one of my major sound sources and it gets used in all projects.
(3) I allow myself to spent 1k€/year on music gear. If I want something new in between I will sell something I don't use. Easy as that. Been doing this for over 10 years now. Works great - for me.
(4) My system doesn't grow anymore. It only evolves - see #3

[electricanada]

Interesting survey, but kind of a self-selected sample here. The people who bombed out of modular for whatever reason are not around to respond.