VCVRack virtual modular synthesizer

[kasselvania]

Also, this guy is a part of the community, but as a cool example of VCV continuing to be useful even with a rack, here is a cool Instagram post from @kin.sventa using VCV along with his rack to generate some amazing sounds!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NJdABB2vs/

[license]

And I’ve learned “huh, if I get a rack, I generally prefer the sounds I hear from people using Mangroves, Just Friends and Make Noise Modules”.

This is the kind of thing I’ve already been learning from it too, which I wouldn’t have realized otherwise. For example, I dismissed Plaits before as being too modal, but I absolutely love the chaotic sounds I can get out from self-patching with its FM input. Also while I think VCV is kind of weak in this area, I am really developing an itch to play with filters that can morph from processing to being “pinged”.

VCV has added the ability for loading in VST’s. This is a $30 module. I will probably get this and load a Goodhertz tape FX, Maschine (for my drum loops to be more human and flexible) and Aalto, for sounds I like more than traditional VCO’s. But then I still get all the things like easily adding texture, bending things, randomly shifting triggers and V/Oct, while also modulating all of the texture, tempo and effects as well!

I also plan to sample/loop these sounds and certain layers using the sampler (or one of my many FATES boards) chopping up those sample with Mangl, Orca or mlr! It starts to bend the mind, actually. Lol

This is an interesting point too - taking advantage of what the computer offers over a real rack. I haven’t done much of this with VCV, but I’ve been working with Max, SuperCollider, and now Norns Lua off and on for the last few years. You can instantly change a bunch of parameters, routing, or even what modules are in the system at the touch of a button or even as part of a sequence. This and of course loading/saving/sharing all this data is huge and opens up really new possibilities for me.

I guess VCV/Euro is kind of at an angle from this, and not being able to do all this wacky reconfiguration is in some ways a benefit, lends itself to different ways of thinking.

[kasselvania]

The hardest bit for me has been sequencing and melody generation. Bringing something like the Awake script, or a melodic soft register in ORCA will help me! That’s why I’ve realized a Teletype and/or a crow will really help. Maybe even an ansible eventually! The hole gets deep. One thing about the Mutable stuff that makes me happy is that building these from kits for a real Euro Rack is not a huge financial investment, so it’s no big deal getting ‘hooked’ on them in VCV

[yobink]

Here’s a playlist documenting my journey up to this point with VCV. And an album I released documenting a strange rabbit hole I went down with Mutable (Audible) modules. VCV definitely has become my go-to ITB tool.

[trickyflemming]

I’m in the opposite camp from a lot of people in the thread: VCV Rack has actually helped move me away from Euro. Pre-VCV, I had a 27U setup, which now seems ungainly, terrifying, and more than a bit wasteful. I’m down to 9U, and more than half the setup seems like a waste with VCV around. The only thing really missing in VCV is a solid granular processor/sampler, and even then VCV Host will give you access to every VST plugin in your arsenal.

As an example, I made this track/EP entirely in VCV using only my mouse and a handful of modules: https://thefebruarythaw.bandcamp.com/track/energy-cascade

I posted the patch details over here:

New EP: Energy Cascade

Thanks! @disquiet, here’s the LION 1.0 manual: LION Manual.pdf (3.6 MB) It should be released sometime in the next two weeks. Vintage Synth Pads just posted a preview of a really nice set of ambient presets: https://soundcloud.com/vintage-synth-pads/sets/vsp-magic-modular-for @AlessandroBonino, sure! It was made entirely with VCV and my mouse. I’m been having a bit of anti-GAS lately where I’m stripping down my studio and trying to use as little as possible. It sounds a lot more like European…

Additionally, it’s very easy to develop new modules. My HetrickCV modules were done during hobby time over the course of a week and have found tens of thousands of users (which is an awesome feeling!). The community is excellent and very education focused. I was really happy to see Omri Cohen present a HetrickCV video last week:

With free, open-source tools like VCV Rack and TidalCycles, I’m finding it really difficult to justify most gear purchases.

[license]

The hardest bit for me has been sequencing and melody generation. Bringing something like the Awake script, or a melodic soft register in ORCA will help me! That’s why I’ve realized a Teletype and/or a crow will really help. Maybe even an ansible eventually!

I am thinking the same here. This is great because it means work I do in Norns Lua will be useful not only for SuperCollider and other engines but also for Euro/CV, if and when I take the plunge.

[Smapti]

I’ve found Rack to be a very capable music production system; in fact it’s now my main music-making workflow. I run various generative stuff created in Rack through Maschine (as a VST in Rack), which has excellent looping capabilities. I then run those loops (via Maschine) alongside various other stuff in Rack. I also use other VSTs in Rack, especially all of the Unfiltered Audio stuff (which has a strong modular vibe). I’ve found this to be a very fruitful workflow.

[license]

I’m in the opposite camp from a lot of people in the thread: VCV Rack has actually helped move me away from Euro. Pre-VCV, I had a 27U setup, which now seems ungainly, terrifying, and more than a bit wasteful. I’m down to 9U, and more than half the setup seems like a waste with VCV around. The only thing really missing in VCV is a solid granular processor/sampler, and even then VCV Host will give you access to every VST plugin in your arsenal.

The main thing that still attracts me to Euro over VCV is the physical interface - do you find this applicable to you? In particular I am drawn to the Planar 2, Tetrapad, and Stages. To a lesser degree some of the exposed-panel stuff like the Meng Qi (Voltage Memory and that springy one) and MakeNoise (Rene, Pressure Points) modules.

[kasselvania]

So! Funny question, thanks to your Norns Lua experience, how’re you with OSC? I’ve been wanting to get something that made using cvOSCcv with the Norns much easier… this way, running multiple Norns through Rack becomes easier:

j4s0n-c/trowaSoft-VCV

As a non-programmer, it’s been an uphill battle to get this running, but I’ve wanted to work along side someone with programming chops to get this off the ground

[Smapti]

Do you think you’ll import more modules over from Euro Reakt? I love Euro Reakt; it’s the only thing I’ve missed after moving from Reaktor to Rack. (Well, that & a good low pass gate… weirdly, I can’t find a high-quality LPG in Rack.)

[kasselvania]

I’m soon going to jump in to the VST in Vcv game to use mainly Madcuine and Aalto. Definitely gonna have some questions for you in your inbox at someone if that’s cool!

[Smapti]

Sure, no problem! If you’re serious about using Rack to drive VSTs I recommend buying the VCV Scalar module and also perhaps the Chords module; these are both excellent tools in the workflow for creating generative patterns in your VST synths.

[kasselvania]

I’ve been thinking, VCV will basically forever be a part of my flow. It’s so strong, and it being on my computer gives me a ton of options for sampling natively to my iPad and using VST’s. There are a few reasons why I’d want a small Rack in the future, such as getting my hands on the Mannequins sound without having to do wild recreation in VCV. I also am having a son this month, and while this is LONG in the future, I want a few activities fire us that have no screens. Let’s be honest, I’ll be SMOKING him in most gaming related activities, something collaborative that also imparts lessons about signal flow and the lost art of ‘building a knowledge base’ are well transferred.

[license]

Funny question indeed! PMed

[kasselvania]

Amazing! Thanks! My continued issue has been sequencing and sound design. I’m getting there though and I feel like VST plug-ins will help. Thanks for the tip, hopefully today/tonight I’ll have some time to get down and dirty looking in to this!

[trickyflemming]

The main thing that still attracts me to Euro over VCV is the physical interface - do you find this applicable to you? In particular I am drawn to the Planar 2, Tetrapad, and Stages. To a lesser degree some of the exposed-panel stuff like the Meng Qi (Voltage Memory and that springy one) and MakeNoise (Rene, Pressure Points) modules.

Yes, I’ve been toying with the idea of cutting my 12U down to Morphagene, ER-301, ES-8, and a handful of control modules, namely Tetrapad (+ expander?) and Emblematic Catalyst. Thinking about this, though, has really illuminated the fact that we’re missing more innovative MIDI CC controllers. There are plenty of great MIDI/MPE instruments, but something that does scenes like Catalyst + Octatrack or something that does modal controls with recording/playback like Tetrapad would be killer.

One alternative that has worked is using VCV as a big ol’ sequencer and hitting Digitakt with the MIDI output. I made a preset for the CV-to-MIDI gates module. This works with Digitakt and Analog RYTM (Maybe Model:Samples as well?):

DigitaktCVGate.vcvm (438 Bytes)

That gives me the fun of the algorithmic rhythm generation with the focused physical interface of the Digitakt. I was able to use this to send MIDI to Digitakt while also using VCV Host to open the Overbridge interface for parameter mapping. I’ve only had time for one session with it, but I ended up selling my Assimil8or later that day. It basically created a Digitakt with a wild amount of CV inputs.

Do you think you’ll import more modules over from Euro Reakt? I love Euro Reakt; it’s the only thing I’ve missed after moving from Reaktor to Rack. (Well, that & a good low pass gate… weirdly, I can’t find a high-quality LPG in Rack.)

The Nysthi Poly LPG is quite good once you tune it (note that there’s quite a bit hidden on the right-click menu!) and save the presets. I do miss the hearty thwack of the Optomix, though. NI’s LPG for Reaktor is probably my favorite digital LPG that I’ve used, which is strange because it’s based on the same research paper as Vult’s Julste, which isn’t my style… I love the Vult modules though! One of my favorite VCV developers.

I’d love to find time to do more ports, but between Unfiltered and parenthood, I’ve been scrambling to get even the essential life stuff finished. One thing I would really enjoy would be direct ports of the Nonlinear Circuits stuff that I did in ER. I should reach out to Andrew at NLC and see if he’d be down. Even if someone else does the panel porting, the code would be really simple for me to setup.

I also am having a son this month, and while this is LONG in the future, I want a few activities fire us that have no screens. Let’s be honest, I’ll be SMOKING him in most gaming related activities, something collaborative that also imparts lessons about signal flow and the lost art of ‘building a knowledge base’ are well transferred.

Congratulations! A relevant story: I bought a PS4 right before my son was born, because I thought that he was going to be sleeping a bunch and that I would have a lot of time to play games. I was quite wrong on that, and I just booted it up for the third time last week (this is six months in). It’s a wonderful experience, but it’s also like a complete life reboot.

Yes, I’ve been struggling to find a decent hobby that A) Doesn’t involve my computer B) doesn’t involve or encourage collecting a ton of stuff and C) Doesn’t take up a lot of space, since I’m now sharing my apartment with a tiny dictator. Getting back into reading has been nice.

One thing about the Mutable stuff that makes me happy is that building these from kits for a real Euro Rack is not a huge financial investment, so it’s no big deal getting ‘hooked’ on them in VCV

Building on this, this is actually how I grew my Eurorack so rapidly. If you’re handy with a soldering iron, you can build and sell DIY modules. I had a mini-ecosystem running where I basically invested a couple hundred dollars into a basic set of tools and parts and turned that into a profitable hobby. I only spent money from this on Euro and left my Unfiltered income to take care of real stuff like rent and groceries. It was a good way to silo everything. Plus, I learned a lot!

I also use other VSTs in Rack, especially all of the Unfiltered Audio stuff (which has a strong modular vibe). I’ve found this to be a very fruitful workflow.

Much appreciated! My favorite VSTs for VCV have been Fabfilter Pro-R or the Valhalla Reverbs, BYOME and SpecOps (Biased, of course, but these contain a lot of the effects that are missing elsewhere in VCV), Aalto and Kaivo (try connecting these to Marbles or Orca’s Heart!), and then various master-bus type mixing tools.

[Smapti]

Cool, I’ll try tweaking the Nysthi LPG.

I also really like using Lion in Rack – running Scalar into Lion (especially with alternate tunings) produces excellent results. If you set the number of notes in Scalar to n (where n = number of notes in an octave in the alternate tuning) and set tracking to n / 12, then an octave in Scalar maps to an octave in Lion. It’s a really fun way to explore the tunings!

And fwiw, I’d be happy to pay for Euro Reakt stuff in Rack if you ever have time for it.

[hermbot]

Much more seriously over the past few months. Honestly, the Nysthi Simpliciter is what got me into it finally. I might end up doing a video on the Simpliciter only because documentation and info seems light, but it’s a very well-done module.

I can see myself recording a release entirely in VCV rack. I would do it entirely within VCV, not trying to incorporate anything else. The starter system that we talked about above easily has several albums worth of material in it.

[unicity]

With free, open-source tools like VCV Rack and TidalCycles, I’m finding it really difficult to justify most gear purchases.

It’s truly an embarrassment of riches. Case in point: I was complaining about the MIDI-MAP module up above, and @demuxaux promptly pointed out the MIDI-CAT module, that addressed everything I had mentioned. Turns out I already had that module installed on my computer the whole time. My problem was solved before I even realized I had a problem.

[trickyflemming]

Turns out I already had that module installed on my computer the whole time.

This is actually my primary issue with VCV: the current browser is awful! I miss having a favorites page. The worst part is that it takes way too long to load module images, even on a really fast computer. When you’re navigating through 800+ modules, this really slows down the flow.

Thankfully they’re adding a new library that allows you to subscribe to individual modules instead of the whole pack. That should help clean things up significantly.