2021-12-06 Rewrite
Version XNUMX has been released and has been rewritten.
2019-07-03 Addendum
Updated for Ver1.1.
To be honest, I don't know if there is demand, but it will be made into a series without permission. VCV Rack
(I would rather do it myself)
I will post the official sound demo.
The first time is in the first placeVCV RackWhat?I will explain up to the point where it is installed and makes a sound.
I have put together an article about VCV Rack.
Cooperation with DAW and explanation of each module, etc. 3There are more than 0 articles and it is increasing.
Probably the most solid article in Japan. (Although it's a minor ...)
What is VCV Rack?
VCV RackIs a software version of the recently talked about Eurorack modular synthesizer.
It's free to use, so if you can use it as a foothold, you should buy the paid version of the software. (I myself intend to do that ... ha)
Developed in open source,Windows, Mac, LinuxWorks with.
There are paid modules, but you can use them for free.
I'm always indebted to Eurorackg200kgI quoted from Mr.'s site.
It is the name of the modular synthesizer standard advocated by Doepfer, and the panel size and power connector are standardized.Many manufacturers have developed / sold unique modules that comply with the "Eurorack standard", and it is also possible to mix modules from different manufacturers and store them in a rack to build a unique modular synthesizer system.
It should be noted that the name "Euro Rack" is used as a product name in products unrelated to this standard.
The size of the module is the height of 3U (128.5mm) in the rack mount system, and the width is expressed in multiples of HP (Horizontal Pitch = 1/5 inch = 5.08mm).Doepfer has been developing modular synthesizers with this form factor for a long time, and this is the de facto standard.
The size of one module is much smaller than that used in early Moog modular systems, and the input / output jacks use 3.5mm mini plugs / jacks.Also, the power supply uses ± 15V and + 12V for Eurorack, whereas large modular systems use ± 5V.
Analog modular synthesizers were once a thing of the past after the techno boom of the late 1970s, but the boom has reignited around 2010, and more and more manufacturers are entering the Eurorack standard synthesizer module.
How to install VCV Rack
I will explain the installation method.
VCV RackDownload the installer from the site.
I think you are basically using Windows or Mac, so click on the relevant OS.
If you can download it, install it.
If it is Win, the following screen will appear, but click "Detailed information".
Click Run.
After that, install without changing the settings until the end.
How to start VCV Rack and audio settings
How to start VCV Rack
For Windows I think there is a shortcut in "Recently added" at the top of the Start menu.
If not, go to "V" and you will find a shortcut for "VCV Rack" as shown below. Start from here.
VCV Rack audio settings
When you start it, the following screen will appear.
Click Close.
Click "New" from "File" in the menu.
Click around the red frame of the Audio module.
A list of audio drivers installed on your PC will be displayed, so select the one you normally use.
Try pressing the keyboard appropriately.
I think it makes a sound.
If it does not sound, review the Audio module settings.
The keyboard and scale assignments are as follows. (Because it is a US keyboard, there are some differences)
Change the sound with VCV Rack
PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay
How to change the VCV Rack oscillator
The red frame in the figure below is the oscillator.
Try changing the output of the "VCO-2", which is the second from the left.
Initially, it is output from "SAW", but the sound changes just by changing this to "SIN" or "TRI".
"SIN" is a sine wave and "TRI" is a triangular wave.
Please listen to the difference between each sound and check it with SCOPE.
The following images are sine wave, triangle wave, sawtooth wave, and square wave in order from the left.
I prepared a video.
When changing the display of SCOPE, you can enlarge or reduce it with "TIME".
In the video, the analog and digital switches of the "VCO-1" are changed, so you can see the difference between the sound and the display on the SCOPE.
Change the tone with Filter on VCV Rack
Adjust FREQ of Filter (cutoff)
You can use Filter to make the sound darker (muffled).
The overtones (treble) are removed with a Low Pass filter because it is called a subtractive method.
I prepared a video.
If you scrape with a filter, you can see that the right side of the spectrum analyzer (high frequency) is scraped and at the same time the waveform is rounded on SCOPE.
Adjust RES of Filter (resonance)
Resonance means resonance, but by raising the part of the cutoff at the cut frequency, a unique change occurs in the sound.
I prepared a video (GIF).
This puts noise in a filter and looks at it with a spectrum analyzer.
You can see that the edge part is lifted.
Add an LFO with a VCV Rack
Add an LFO module.
Right-click and enter "LFO" in the upper left search window.
Click the "LFO-1" that appears.
This time I will put the LFO in PWM.
PWM is an abbreviation for Pulse Width Modulation and is also used for motor and light control.
A unique sound is produced by changing (modulating) the pulse width without changing the cycle.
You can use an LFO to modulate the PWM.
I took a video. (I'm sorry I can't see where to add the LFO ...)
Video commentary
"VOC-1" is output as "SQR".
"PWMThe input of "" is a modulation to the pulse width, so it can only be used with "SQR".
(Nothing changes with other waveforms)
Also, to modulate with an LFO in "PWM", control the amount with "PWM CV".Initially it is 0, so no matter how much LFO you put in, it will not change.
"UNI" and "BI" in "FLO-1" are abbreviations for unipolar output and bipolar output.
Please refer to the following articles for unipolar output and bipolar output.
Summary of VCV Rack installation method and sound output
How is it?
It was quite interesting for me and I played a lot ...
You'll learn a lot about synthesizers because you'll connect and route the cables yourself.
I didn't know that an LFO would be an oscillator, and I didn't know that an ADSR was like an automation on a volume fader rather than a filter. (Maybe many people are the same.)
I think it's a good teaching material for those who want to study synths.
You can understand it by touching a soft synth,The learning speed is definitely faster, modular is faster.
After this article, I recommend the article about adding modules.
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