In addition to the modules in this repository, you will need a few extra components to make a working synth. If you are new to Eurorack, you will need a case, power supply, and cables. Additionally, there aren’t enough modules in this project to make a fully working synth (yet) so you will probably want to supplement with a few commercial modules.
Modules on their own are just a faceplate with some circuit boards on the back. To make them usable, you will probably want a case to mount them in.
Cases are one of the most common parts to DIY. A case can really be anything as long as it has mounting rails the right distance apart. You should be able to find a bunch of examples of cool, home-built cases online. If you want to build a case yourself, you can find everything you need (rails, threaded inserts, brackets, screws, etc.) from Modular Synth Lab.
If you want to buy a case, here are some ideas:
Modules need power. Some cases come with power supplies builtin while others require you to buy dedicated power modules. I personally use Synthrotek’s Case Power (Green) for my larger case and this much cheaper Frequency Central DIY kit for my test bench. Both work excellently for me, but do a little research to find a power supply that meets your needs. Here is a much more in-depth guide from Perfect Circuit.
I don’t give power consumption ratings for my modules. Maybe I will figure that out at some point. None of them should draw unusually much, though. I recommend getting a power supply that is suited to the approximate size of case you want to build plus a little head room.
You will need to plug your modules into your power supply using ribbon cables like this. They will all be 16 pins (2x8) on the side that plugs into the power supply, but they may be 16 or 10 pins (like this) on the module side depending on if the module requires 5v power or not. You can buy them in bulk for not too much money but you can also very easily make your own. You can buy spools of ribbon cable (probably 20 wires wide), cut it into lengths, strip it down to 10 or 16 wide, and then crimp some “IDC” connectors on the end. You can crimp them with a hammer or pair of pliers but a $15 “IDC crimp tool” makes the process much easier.
Note: Make sure you orient your cables correctly! For Eurorack cables, the red wire (carrying -12v) always faces DOWN, and the bump on the connector always faces RIGHT when you plug it in (no matter which side you are plugging in).
Here is a very detailed video outlining the whole process of making or salvaging ribbon cables.
You will need a large collection of 3.5mm mono audio cables to patch your modules together. You can get a bundle from pretty much any synth seller and they are all of similar quality. The Stackcables from TipTop Audio are especially nice, but a bit pricey.
If you have some spare “Aux” cables lying around, you might be able to use those as well. Standard audio cables are stereo rather than mono, so they might not fit correctly in a Eurorack socket. But, if you find some that work for you that is probably the cheapest option.