Modular Synthesizers Using VCV Rack

FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Iain Sharp
lushprojects.com
About me…
• I am not a musician, but I like the noise synthesizers make
• Wanted to play with modular synths on the cheap, so designed
the LushOne system
• Now you can do it even cheaper thanks to software emulation
• “Absolute beginners” format. Try not to assume:
– electronics, music theory, physics of sound, “synth culture” etc. etc.
– BUT, this is a big ask, so stop me and ask if I go off track!
What we’re going to do
• Install the VCV Rack Software
• Introduce the basic concepts and get your first sounds
• Experiment with ways of modifying the sounds and introduce
the key concepts of a modular synth
• Create an instrument you can play
• Explore more complicated ideas (based on time/interest)
• Try a jam session (!!)
What is a modular synth?
• Making sounds using analogue electronics
– continuous signals, not digital
– it’s an analogue computer for sound
• Break the process down in to separate modules that can be
wired together in different combinations
– let the musician decide how to connect them
– Explore what is possible, wild ideas
• Like Lego
• Very flexible, very fun
This is just some ideas
• As with Lego, there is no right way to use the bricks
• Explore, explore, explore
• Ask, ask, ask
• Play, play, play
• Modulars have a great serendipity
• If you are comfortable working on your own and/or have some
background in the basics feel free to use the slides to jump
ahead
A brief history
First modular synths
Birth of sampling
(Fairlight CMI)

Switched on Bach (Wendy Carlos)

Doepfer invent
Eurorack standard for modular synths

Prog Rock
Digital Guitar Band
(Rick Wakeman: Yes, Revival
Winter Winter
Keith Emerson: ELP)
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
The bad
• Cost (yay emulation)
• Size
• (Lack of) Reliability
• Complexity
• Learning curve
– A lot of terminology, much tied up with the long history
– A lot of theory if you want to go deep
The ugly
Good or bad, depending on your point of view

• Will sound “electronic” as opposed to natural

• Never the same sound twice, especially on real hardware
• Polyphony is hard
• All consuming, for some people
Time for action
• Go to https://vcvrack.com/
Download and install

Register
(You’ll need this later)
Run!

An empty equipment rack!

Make a noise
• VCV comes pre-loaded with the most common and useful
module types
• You can also add further modules from an extensive library
– Both popular and exotic
– Many free, some paid
• Need just two modules, from the standard set, to make a noise:
– An Audio output to connect to the computer's sound output
– A oscillator (VCO1) to generate an audio signal
Wot VCO1?!
Voltage Controlled Oscillator (Number 1)

• We use electrical signals to represent sounds and control effects

in the modular synthesizer
• An oscillator generates a repeating signal that corresponds to a
sound
– Think about physical things oscillating
• An electrical signal that is used to control a module is called a
Control Voltage (CV)
Place the first modules
• Right click in empty space to get a menu of available modules
• Choose Fundamental->VCO1 to place a VCO1 in the rack
• Choose Core->Audio to place an audio output
• Drag the modules to get them side by side
Indicator Light

Information Display/
Control Switch Menu

Control Knobs
- Click and drag vertically
to turn
- Right click to reset

Signal Signal
Inputs Outputs
Patching
• Connect an output to an input by
dragging a patch-lead between
them
• Connect VCO1 “SIN” out to Audio
Input 1

Coloured light:
red = negative voltage,
green = positive voltage,
yellow = going positive and negative,
black = zero voltage
Patching Rules
• Patch lead must go between an output and an input
• Each input can only be connected to one output
• Each output can be connected to multiple inputs

IN 1 OUT 1
OUT IN

IN 2 OUT 2

OK NOT OK
Configure the audio
• Yukky bit – complexity of PC audio meets simulation of analogue
electronics
1) Click to choose an audio interface
(system software block to output audio). For
Windows, “WASAPI” seems the best option
2) Click to choose an output device

3) Set the audio encoding parameters. If the

sound stutters increase the block size until the
stutter stops (256 in this example)
If all goes well, you should hear a continuous tone from the left
speaker. Some trial-and-error may be required.
Change the frequency
• Use these controls to change the
frequency of the oscillator
• Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) –
the number of times the signal does a
complete oscillation in 1 second
• Useful frequencies for sounds are
about 20Hz – 20kHz
• Frequency corresponds to the pitch
of a note
 Add a new module
4) Adjust here to
1) Add a module from change the volume
Fundamental->VCA2

2) Connect the patch leads

as shown

3) One output can connect

to multiple inputs – either
drag from the input to the
output or Ctrl-drag from the
output.
We use this to send the
output to left and right
speakers.
Wot VCA2?!
Voltage Controlled Amplifier (Number 2)
• In this context, an amplifier can change the level of a
signal while keeping the same proportionate shape
(and sound)
• This module contains two identical VCAs which
operate independently
• If you like, try swapping to using the bottom VCA of
the pair
Chaining signals through modules
Oscillator Volume Control
Audio Out
VCO1 VCA2

Signal Source Signal Modifier Signal Destination

• A core concept in modular synthesizers to chain a signal through

modules
• Each module in the chain can add a different modification to the
signal
• You can add as many links in the chain as you wan to achieve the
sound you like
• You can also split and combine signals to create chains that follow
multiple paths
Try the other oscillator outputs
• Move the patch lead to
the other outputs
• How would you describe
the sound of the four
outputs?
• How does this switch
change the sounds?
• How does this control
knob change the sound,
and which output(s) does
it apply to?
Add a scope
• Add a Oscilloscope from
Fundamental->Scope
• Patch the VCA-2 Output to the X
IN on the scope
• The scope shows the waveform
of the electrical signal on the X IN
• Adjust the TIME knob for the
best view
• Looking at the different VCO-1
outputs on the scope, what do
you think the names mean?
Waveform shapes and sounds (roughly)

Waveform shape is
the tonal quality of
the corresponding
sound (roughly: the
Waveform amplitude more angular, the
is the loudness of the harsher the sound)
corresponding sound
(Control on the VCA)

Waveform frequency
is the pitch of the
corresponding sound
Recap – what we know about the oscillator
Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Analogue or Digital waveform

Frequency (Pitch) Control

Pulse Width for the
Square Wave

Sine Wave Triangle Wave Sawtooth Wave Square Wave

What if…
• …instead of changing behaviours by turning
knobs we could have an electrical signal that
did the same job?
• Then we could use these signals to automate
behaviours in the synthesizer!
• We call this type of signal a control voltage
(CV) which is another core concept in modular
synthesizers
• All the inputs on the VCO-1 and VCA-2 are for
control voltages
Use a CV to control the pitch of the oscillator
Sequencer from Fundamental -> SEQ-3

Output from Row 1 CV Input to VCO-1 Change these to play an 8 step sequence
Wot V/OCT?
1 Volt = 1 Octave change in pitch
• The V/OCT CV input to the oscillator will change the pitch by 1 octave
for each volt at that input
– Equivalent to halving or doubling the frequency
– To move one semitone use 1/12th of a volt
• +ve voltages go up, -ve voltages go down
• Change is relative to the frequency set with the manual knobs
• For the VCO-1 the starting position of the frequency knobs sets 0V to
middle C
– Right-click knobs to set them back to their initial values
A schematic view (AKA block diagram)
Oscillator Volume Control
Audio Out
OSC1 SIN IN VCA2 OUT
V/OCT

ROW1
Sequencer
SEQ3

• For some people it’s easier to visualize a more abstract view of the
system
• Show the modules, inputs, outputs and signal paths
• Could also show the waveforms expected on the key connections
 Chaining CVs
• We can even chain
CV signals through
modules
– e.g. through a VCA
Modified to change the
CV In CV Out intensity of a CV
CV Source Next hop
• You can see this
gets very powerful
(and complicated)
CV in to the VCA to change volume

Output from Row 2 EXPonential CV input to VCS-2

Replace the sequencer with a keyboard input
Core -> MIDI-1
Choose input system
(e.g. “Computer
Keyboard”)
Choose device
(e.g. “QWERTY
Keyboard”)
CV is V/OCT for
the pitch of the
last note
GATE is positive
when a note is
played
Pause for a moment
Where are we?
• Sounds start with an oscillator (VCO) that can produce different
waveforms with different sonic qualities
• We can chain the oscillator output signal through other modules (e.g.
VCA) to further modify its sound
• We can use Control Voltages (CVs) to automatically control
parameters in modules
• We’ve seen how to generate CVs from a sequencer module and from
a keyboard input
• Pitch (1V/Octave) and GATE (note playing or not) are important CVs
for conventional instrument behaviour
These are the core concepts for a modular synthesizer, so now we can
get in to creating richer and more exciting sounds.
Give Yourselves a Pat on the Back
 Other uses for a CV in our configuration
Add frequency modulation
(FM) to the output, which is Use a smooth analogue CV
a small change in frequency to vary the volume of a
controlled by a CV. Creates sound. Creates “natural”
vibratos, slurs and zaps. decay of notes and vibrato
effects.

Add Pulse Width Modulation

(PWM) to the oscillator
square wave controlled by
the CV. Creates “phasing”
type sounds.
How to generate CVs
• Already seen:
– Sequencer
– Input device (could also be mod wheel, pads, key velocity etc. etc.)
• Two other important modules
– Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO)
• Should really be called a VCLFO, but I guess synth geeks like TLAs
– An Envelope Generator, commonly Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release (ADSR)
module
Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO)
• VCV Rack provides an LFO on
Fundamentals->LFO 1 Switches output
between only
• Essential functions are the same as the positive (UNI) and
oscillator we already know, except it positive and
operates at lower frequencies negative (BI)
voltage ranges
• Use it for vibrato or other repeating
effects Resets oscillator to
• LFO SQR (square wave) outputs can the starting
also be used as “Clocks” to deliver position (0 Volts).
regular pulses to modules that need
pulse-inputs
ADSR

Simian Mobile Disco

VCV Rack ADSR OUT (Volts)
• Fundamental -> ADSR Decay (Slope)
• ADSR is an engineer’s
model of how the
loudness of a musical Sustain (Level)
note changes as it is
played
Release
• Value of the ADSR (Slope)
Attack (Slope)
parameters can be set by
control knobs and CVs
• Normally connect the
GATE input to a GATE
output from a sequencer TIME
or keyboard GATE input On
Can use RETRIG to reset
Combinations
3 CV Inputs (VCO FM, VCO PWM, VCA EXP)
4 CV sources (LFO, ADSR, Sequencer, User input)
= 12 Combinations
Input to VCO FM VCO PWM VCA EXP
Source
LFO Vibrato Weird Phasing Vibrato
(Frequency)
ADSR Slides and zaps Phasing Natural Notes
or Spooky fades
Sequencer ?? ?? ??
User Input Pitch bends Phasing Expressive
volume
More combinations
• But also:
– Manual adjustments of parameters
– Some CV sources, like the LFO, can be controlled by other CVs
– One CV output can be linked to several inputs
– Multiple CV sources can be used (e.g. several LFOs with different
parameters)

• So, many, many possibilities

• Try adding LFO(s) and ADSR(s) and experiment with the CVs
• If you get suck, there is an example file: LFO_ADSR.vcv
Utility modules
• Utility modules are useful “glue” to help join together more
advanced combinations
• Two common utilities for CVs:
– Attenuverter – controls the level and polarity of a CV
(Word is a combination of attenuate and invert)
– Mixer – add several inputs together to get one output (normally with a
gain-control on each input)

Fixes the problem of not being able to connect more than one signal to
an input
Attenuverter
• VCV Rack contains an 8 x attenuverter module on
Fundamental->8vert Zero position

Turn this way to increase Turn this way to increase

inverted output positive output
Mixer
• Fundamental -> Mixer

Mix output is sum of IN 1 to

Overall level control
IN 4, weighed by the levels

Mix level control for each input

4 inputs
CVs to control
the mix levels
Consistently inconsistent CV inputs

CV is added to the
CV is added to CV is added to the
manually set parameter,
the manually set manually set parameter,
with built-in
parameter with built-in sensitivity
attenuverter
control
Using utility modules
• Load the example utility.vcv
• Change the rising pitch at the
start of each note to a falling
pitch
– HINT: Use an attenuverter to
change a rising voltage to a falling
voltage
• Make the note pitch vibrate as
well as rise and fall
– HINT: Mixer
• Extra: add another VCO and mix
the two VCOs together. Try
different wave shapes and
detuning one oscillator
Harmonics
Filters
VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter
• Include a VCF in the audio signal chain to filter the sound present
• Normally based on selecting a particular range of frequencies from
the input
• Often add other colour like resonance and distortion effects
• People got a bit nuts about filters
– Have been described as “the heart” of a synthesiser
• Footnote: The approach of starting with a rich waveform and then
applying a filter is called subtractive synthesis
VCV Rack Filters
• VCV Rack has Fundamental -> VCO
• Bad news:
– It’s a terribly boring filter
• Good news:
– VCV Rack is richly supported with 3rd party plug-ins, including better
filters
Add the Vult plugin
• We’re going to use the Unstabile filter from the Vult plugin
• Login to VCV Rack, then click the Manage Plugins button

• This will open a web page listing plugins available

• Scroll down and click the button on Vult Modules (Free Version)

• Go back to VCV Rack and click Update Plugins to download the

new modules
• Restart VCV Rack
Unstabile
• Add the filter from Vult-Free -> Unstabile

Cutoff frequency for the Cutoff CV in and CV attenuverter

filter
Add resonance through the
filter Resonance CV in and attenuverter
Controls the signal level.
Under-driving and over- Drive CV in and attenuverter
driving can give interesting
distortions
Semblance out and control –
Low Pass Out variable between LP and HP
Band Pass Out High Pass Out
Signal In
Chaining the filter in the audio signal
Basic Chain
Oscillator Unstabile Volume Control
Audio Out
OSC1 (VCF) VCA2
V/OCT

CV EXP
GATE
MIDI-1
Uses for filter CVs
• Cutoff tracking
– Because the filter works on the sounds harmonics to have similar sounds
for different pitch notes the cutoff should vary depending on the pith of
the note
– Normally achieved by linking the cutoff CV to the CV controlling the
source oscillator pitch
• Peaking the resonance or the drive at the start of the note
creates interesting effects
– e.g. using an ADSR
More Advanced Chain
Oscillator Unstabile Volume Control
Audio Out
OSC1 (VCF) VCA2
V/OCT

Resonance
EXP

CV
GATE
MIDI-1 ADSR

ADSR
subtractive.vcv
Some (fun) challenges
• Make:
– A flute
– A trombone
– A piano (v. difficult!)
– A space zapper
– R2D2
– Bagpipes
– A church organ
More to explore
• Delay effects
• Sample and Hold
• Ring modulators, wave folders and the West Coast Synth concepts
• Randomness
• Generative sequences
(try Stellare Turing Machine module – needs manual install)
• Polyphony
(try Gratix plugin)
• Drums and percussion
• Macro Modules
(try Audible Instruments plugin)
The EMF Chord