VCV Rack Tutorial #1 - Getting started with modular synthesizers - VCO, LFO, VCA, Scope

This tutorial explains how to get started with VCV Rack which is a free virtual modular synth available at vcvrack.com/. This guide talks about LFO, VCA, VCO, and the scope.
This is the first of a growing set of tutorials for the ever expanding modules supported by VCV Rack.
You can find full playlist at • VCV Rack Tutorial #1 -...

[@kernlbob]

You asked what the VCO's HARD/SOFT switch does. It selects hard or soft sync. AFAIK, it doesn't do anything when there is no sync input. Hard sync resets the waveform when the sync signal triggers. Soft sync appears to reverse the signal's polarity on every trigger. (Different manufacturers have always had different mechanisms for soft sync.)

[@KarateSnoopy]

Ah, thanks for the explanation!

[@KarateSnoopy]

Oh, and I found this tutorial by another KZbinr who covers this in depth. He has lots of great VCV rack vids so check him out too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWern2V3msZ0Z7M

[@kbowman0016]

Just dipping my toe into Modular synths and this is the best tutorial I have found so far. I look forward to watching the others! Thanks for doing this!

[@ioo70]

This is the best tutorial for beginners.

[@dhmacdonald8605]

I agree...thank you for taking the time to explain what each module does, individually and together.

[@nolteodersoahnlich843]

YeaH but you cant realy hear the sound ... :-(

[@mightymike1978]

I watched several beginner tutorials and most of the tutors had nearly no clue what they are doin' . Beside the hard/soft sync switch issue this was the most compressed, didactical worthful and most informative tutorial. One negative point is true: the output signal is way too much too quiet. If you ve got the possibility to adjust this and reupload it, that would be great. Thank u really much for creating this tutorial!

[@wimve4719]

Love the tutorial! But, maybe get the sounds up a little bit more and a little longer lasting? It's hard to (for me sometimes) grasp/hear the differences (I'm old ... has some consequences). But ... as I said ... great introduction! I must say - apart from the video - thanks to these guys (and gals) who made this possible. It runs like a charm, it does not fry your computer and it's a great learning tool all the way ... Fairly easy to get your DAW connected, or even outboard gear ... WOW!

[@KarateSnoopy]

Thanks -- agreed about the sound. In my future videos I'll record to separate audio tracks and balance the audio better.

[@alsosean]

Thanks! Nice pace and easy to follow. Great to learn VCV but also the basic workings behind synths. 👍

[@whiteshadow247]

Thank you so much. At fist glance it is so confusing to look at and to know where to place the wires (and still kinda is), but this tutorial helps a ton! Cant wait to watch the rest!

[@KarateSnoopy]

Thanks, glad it helped!

[@parka668]

Nice and helpful tutorial, thanks for taking the time to make this

[@808macias]

i don't know why, but it seems so god damn interesting. thanks for the video!

[@necromonger9842]

Nice voice. Thank you, sir!

[@eddraper]

VERY useful... This is a great!

[@stasheAUS]

nice tutorial buddy :D keep them coming

[@hamadkhan962]

You have a great voice

[@muketaz]

Very useful! Thanks

[@yvesbajulaz]

Thx :-)

[@CaBajiM]

great stuff, well explained

[@MrGratefulheart]

Thanks, this is really helpful.

[@reddeadmadness9032]

cheers for the video, you sound like a frog brother from lost boys ;)

[@no_nameyouknow]

cool, cool cool cool

[@Jesseliu2020]

Nice Tutorial

[@Autoluminescense]

I am such a beginner in these stuff but your tutorial is helping a lot, there is only one problem I have. I see your scope waves continuously going whilst mine just stays at where they want and there is no sound coming from the app. I have tried everything but I don't know why its like that maybe I have to "initialize" the modules for me to make a sound? please help!

[@rezneps]

Dude I was wondering how to do multiple cables on the same input/output! CTRL!

[@darrenfromla]

good but cant hear the synth

[@stevanmilenkovic7309]

Is there anyway someone can walk me through sending audio from VCV rack to FL Studio 12?

[@mahesakarunia7839]

hello im new to using the vcv rack. i want to ask why my core audio can only use input 1 and 2? how to use all of the input?

[@stevanmilenkovic7309]

I'm also new, but I believe it's just your hardware, I think you need a better soundcard to be able to use all of the inputs and outputs.

[@mahesakarunia7839]

@@stevanmilenkovic7309 i have a scarlett 2i2, then i plug it to my laptop. and i choose scarlett 2i2 for the audio core. but i still only able to use 2 input

[@UlfarFreyrSigurgeirsson]

Why can't i select an audio device, it just says no device

[@KarateSnoopy]

Hmm, not sure. You might want to ask on the "VCV Rack Official User Group" on Facebook. There's lots of folks there and someone should know

[@MrRundas]

Same here...

[@jeffgreenlee1226]

Interesting.. I'm curious - I notice that on the LFO, the same switch is labeled "0" and "180".. Which I think I get.. Something like phase... It defines where the waveform begins and ends. Is that the same thing as "hard" and "soft" on the VCO ?

[@KarateSnoopy]

Yeah, it controls the phase. Hard and soft refer to hard and soft sync. This KZbinr has a good video explaining this concept: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWern2V3msZ0Z7M

[@karmafarm]

The 0/180 switch inverts the LFO, so it's going in the opposite direction. Instead of going up-down-up-down, it'll go down-up-down-up. Not often useful, but sometimes. What's more useful is the Uni/Bi switch. In Uni mode, the LFO only goes positive from center. In Bi mode, it goes positive and negative. An example: you want to make a trilling sound (wobbling back and forth between two notes on the piano). You set the FM CV on the VCO to be a Major 2nd, and you're going to play a C on the keyboard. With UNI, when you play the C, the trill will be from C up to D and back again - the wobble always starts at C and goes up. With BI, when you play the C, the trill will be from B to C# and back again - the wobble will go around C, but never actually play C. As you make more use of LFOs, you'll discover that having the choice makes a difference to the effect you can create. This feature alone makes the VCV Fundamental LFO one of my favorite.

[@chperrone]

this guy sounds like steve albini

[@KarateSnoopy]

I guess that's a good thing, lol

[@ubute]

@@KarateSnoopy No problem with ur voice whatsoever (has more character than the critics), & just ignore the -veity

[@shelter_zero]

please no bla bla bla

[@Noiretranquility]

Why are you trying to talk like batman?

[@KarateSnoopy]

I am Batman

[@Noiretranquility]

Yeah, well I know that’s not true since I’m the real Batman

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

That can't be true either because I'm the *real* Batman and so's my wife !!

[@brainiac1595]

Listen man, helpful tutorial but get rid of the vocal fry. It's driving me insane.

[@KarateSnoopy]

Sorry about the audio quality of the voice. I upgraded my gear since so my newer videos are better

[@BIG_PASTA]

He’s literally talking about the characteristic of your voice haha not the fidelity of the recording. Vocal fry is like the valley girl way of letting your vocal chords sort of pop/click due to not speaking with enough energy. Your voice seems to naturally have a lot of that characteristic :)

[@whitepowderxfpv8763]

Im not calling anybody out or judging if it is infact the case...but when you are high on opiates it will give your voice that "vocal fry" effect. It's the #1 biggest give away...takes one to know one :)

[@dp121273]

What kind of effect do you use on your voice? It sounds like you have water in your throat or you're drowning or so ... Just a totally annoying voice!

[@KarateSnoopy]

Ha! No effects. The mic I used on this vid wasn't that good. I've seen upgraded it to a pro level mic so in theory my latest vids sound better. For example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJDFhWyDoZuUjLc

[@bgacinematicmusic8023]

Nice tut, but dude... can't stand that voice...

[@KarateSnoopy]

Sorry, my mic setup was bad quality back when I made this vid

[@HipixOFFICIAL]

It's literally not bad.