The beauty of Eurorack is its modularity. The problem is, that means your first investment has to be a case. Arturia’s RackBrute might be your solution.
It’s portable. It’s not hugely expensive – this is at last a mass market offering. And it seems full of eminently practical features – including, if you want, the ability to attach this to Arturia’s new MiniBrute 2 and 2S.
For those of you just joining us, Arturia have been teasing out three related products over the course of as may days. So on Monday, the news was the MiniBrute 2, a reboot of their signature monosynth with modularity added via a dense patch bay wedged in the upper-right hand corner of the hardware. Day two: maybe you want that same MiniBrute 2 without the keyboard, but with pads and a more extensive sequencer.
In case you didn’t catch some leaked photos or spot some funny looking pixels on either side of the keyboard, now part three turns out to be a set of Eurorack cases. And yes, that mysterious mention of “Arturia Link” is in fact the ability to attach the RackBrute to the MiniBrute 2/2S, so you have a handy complement of modules right above your synth (and can connect cables easily between the rack and the instrument).
This being modular, you get a choice of two sizes. For those of you new to this, both are the width of the MiniBrute 2 – so roughly the width of a 2t-key keyboard – and one is one row, while one is two rows.
To get more specific (hey, I was never the best with, like, quantities and scale):
3U / 88HP / 20 modules – $/EUR 249
6U / 176HP / 32 modules – $/EUR 279
Shipping in March.
Yeah, anyone who’s priced these out probably doesn’t have to read far beyond those costs. Sure, if you’re splurging on some beautiful handcrafted wood, maybe you want to spend more. But if you just need a way to solve where do I put my modules, this is a godsend – and just as Arturia solved the step sequencer problem for loads of musicians with BeatStep, so too it may have just solved the case problem for people curious to dip their toes in modular.
More features:
+12V / -12V / +5V power onboard
(Power supply with 1600mA +12V output, 1600mA -12V output and 900mA +5V output. 5HP width)
Comes with a carry handle – a bit like rollaway luggage
Spacers to protect your gear from collision
Arturia Link gives you lockable attachments of all this range of gear
Anti slip strips
Screw holes for attaching gear – and note they did include rails on there
Arturia Link is this elegantly designed widget that attaches the new MiniBrute and RackBrute hardware in various combinations – and doubles as a stand, and a carry handle.
The onboard power unit has dedicated dual circuitry set up for covering a range of gear.
Speaking of luggage, there’s a soft RackBrute Travel Bag (for scratch / splash / dust protection they say – note this isn’t a hard flight case, though, so I’d be a little nervous about it in an overhead locker on an airplane)
This, a toothbrush, and a deodorant might be all you need.
More info:
https://www.arturia.com/rackbrute-3u/overview
Plus, here’s a video hands-on by SYNTH ANATOMY:
They look pretty tasty, and the ability to connect a modular case to the minibrute might be a good stepping stone into modular from some people.
It’s worth noting that the price on the Arturia price is higher than quoted (3u – €259, 6u – €359).
That’s a pretty great price! TipTop Mantis has been considered the cheap alternative and it’s $50 more;
though it’s 20HP wider, it’s also ugly beige plastic, compared to this case’s good looks.
I was really hoping they’d offer a 9U size though, to link to a Minibrute 2. Right now I’ve got 9U in a rack stand behind a Microbrute, and it’d be nice to upgrade it all together.
Still though, less expensive cases to lower the barrier to entry into Eurorack is a good trend, and I expect it will encourage others to follow suit.
….though I see the prices on Arturia’s website are $299 and $399 for the 3U and 6U sizes.
Also the bit about this being a “patent-free” spec that third parties are welcome to adopt is interesting… maybe I’ll see that 9U case after all, or a tiered stand system or the like.
Just to be clear; the use of ‘modules’ in the product spec near end of article wasn’t a good choice of word. Not to be confused with actual modules and references the actual number of outlets on the power ‘bus’ board. FYI, Depending on newcomers choice in module size (HP), they might fit less than 1 per power outlet…
i think these are very cool. i wonder if the sides are real wood.
one thing i don’t understand though is why use up 5HP for the power and not just build the power into the side, top or back.
Good price, solid ecosystem, and it looks like pretty spectacular build quality, to be honest.
I’d love to do a gig with a laptop + minibrute2+6U, and that carry bag.
All neat and nice, but why didn’t they introduce a minibrute that could be mounted inside eurorack. I don’t need the keys or sequencer.
…and here i just bought an intellijel 7u case…
oh well—it’s still nice to have a hard cover. Peter, you mention this being an alternative to “splurging on handcrafted wood” are these not real wood, or are you referring to these not being hand-crafted?
look forward to see the first arturia module. hopefully this brings prices of some modular makers down a bit. not much but a little.
Ugh… I’ve avoided modular for so long… This is a gateway drug!
Surely this must portend some Arturia Eurorack modules announced at NAMM.
A drum module with a few voices from the Drumbute seems a good fit. Perfect little widget to entice existing BeatStep Pro customers. The Steiner Parker filter + ‘brute’ circuit seems another.