LZX Visionary modules conform to the EuroRack electrical and mechanical standards for synthesizer modules presented originally by the Doepfer A-100 System. At this time, LZX Industries offers the modules only, however there are many manufacturers who offer compatible cases, racks and power supplies. The EuroRack world can be overwhelming at first glance, so the goal of this page is to present a simple guide for selecting case and power supply solutions for your system, as well as a couple of recommendations. If you have further questions or are confused with any information on this page, please feel free to e-mail us directly, or ask the EuroRack community forum at Muffwiggler.com.

Johnny Woods’ LZX Visionary system in custom 12U EuroRack case

Calculating Case Sizes

EuroRack modules are in multiples of 3U high, so when you consider a 9U case, that means 3 rows of modules. Module widths are measured in 0.2 inch increments, known as HP (Horizontal Pitch.) Many rack-width EuroRack rails are 84HP wide (16.8 inches), but some cases have longer rails to fit more modules. Due to the small width increments, EuroRack is a very efficient format for synthesizer modules, since a module can be very narrow (2HP) or very wide (48HP), and anywhere in between. For a basic LZX Visionary system, we recommend starting with a 6U case such as the Gorillabox gorillacage001 or Monorocket Mission6. This is enough for the 8 module basic system (116HP), with a bit of growing room. If you’re wanting to build a larger system, or plan to expand in the future, a 9U or 12U case is recommended.

Calculating Power Consumption

Calculating power supply needs for a EuroRack case can be confusing, especially given that the LZX Visionary modules draw more power than the average modules intended for audio synthesis. This means that your case may need upgraded power compared to the stock options of some cases. When in doubt, always ask the manufacturer of the case in question or e-mail us directly to ensure the case you’re considering is suitable for the video synthesis system you have in mind.

As a general rule of thumb we recommend a power rating in a case of 10mA per HP unit, on the 12V and -12V power rails.

Before we get into the details, here it is nice and simple: Look at the gray column (12V int 5V) in the below table. Add up the power consumption for each individual module in your system. Add +20% to the total. This is how many milliamps of power your EuroRack case must supply.

EuroRack power supplies are dual 12 Volt supplies with 12V and -12V rails, and some of them also have a 5V rail. LZX Visionary modules draw a certain amount of power from each rail separately, as shown in the above table. Each module which requires a 5V power rail includes its own 5V voltage regulator, to take power from the 12V rail, and each module is configured to do this by default. For information on changing this, review our Technical Details page. If the internal regulator is used, the 12V mA draw is added to the 5V mA draw (as shown in the gray table.)

Most EuroRack power supplies are rated in Amps or mA (1 Amp = 1000 mA) per rail. For example, the TipTop Audio Zeus powered distribution board supplies 1200mA per -12V and +12V rails, and 220mA on the 5V rail. Calculating how much power your system requires is simply a matter of adding up the draw on each rail. Unless you are reconfiguring something, this means you just need to worry about the numbers in the gray column (12V + int 5V draw) only. Additionally, you want to have some headroom in your supply, so add another 20% to this total. For example, the suggested 8 module Basic System draws a total of 885mA on the 12V rail with internal 5V regulators used. Adding 20% to this gives us 1062mA, the recommended rating of the 12V rail of your power supply. The above mentioned TipTop audio Zeus powered distribution board, at 1200mA would be perfect for supplying power to these 8 modules with some growing room in the future.

Recommended Case Manufacturers

Gorillabox – heavy duty cases by Vector Electronics which use TipTop Zeus power supplies, they offer an upgraded power option for users with large LZX Visionary systems
Monorocket – beautiful Tolex covered cases by Steve R, now offered in high power consumption variants (M6B and M9B models) for LZX Visionary users and other users with higher power consumption needs
Goike – beautiful custom handmade wooden cases which can be supplied with TipTop Zeus power supplies