What Is The Difference Between A VCO & VCA - MODULAR MONDAYS #03

[@ScoobiusDoobius]

Having Sandy talk about the DIY process would be a great addition to this series. A thorough DIY tutorial will show people Eurorack isn't quite as expensive as some may think it is.

[@PCoyte]

What a thrill to have my name mentioned & pronounced correctly! These videos are reminding me how excited I was & I've been inspired to play with my Atlantis

[@AGVersace100]

When I saw this video I immediately thought: " I wonder if Christian knows about VCV RACK, maybe it would be useful to the community to share". and BOOM you are already miles ahead! Wonderful Series, Thank you very much!!!

[@robertsillitoe]

Fantastic video - it is really helping to break down the language barrier that is one of the most daunting prospects of Eurorack

[@adambutler2465]

Loving this series - put together so well and you come across really genuine. Thanks for breaking stuff down and not being scared to sound like an idiot!

[@AdamPMcCready]

This is fascinating, thank you Christian. Please keep the VCV rack tutorial running too, that’s where I am starting at before getting into the hardware world. Cheers, A.

[@PatFlanigan]

Wow! Another (literally) priceless toy to play with! This is really going to help me understand and follow along. I'm totally new to modular synths.

[@AndrewBarracloughComposer]

This series is great, it's all completely new to me. Thank you Christian.

[@zitegiste]

The track playing in the background in the beginning and end of the video is so hypnotising...

[@a.w.bullington7339]

This series is great fun and considering I just started on Eurorack 3 or 4 weeks ago...extremely timely. For me anyway. Thanks Christian and Sandy.

[@haakman123]

I think I know a lot about synthesis, but I still love this series! Keep it up! And it would be amazing seeing the process of building them and the parts and stuff, I have electrical knowledge (I like to restore 60s combo organs) but diving into this would be amazing!

[@GeyloFollen]

best video on youtube, love this channel

[@justryanreally]

Everyone needs to check out the Synth secrets column published to Sound on Sound back in the day. It's a gritty guide through the functionalities of each aspect of synthesis. Might just come in useful! I'm a complete newbie to the topic, originally only steered towards it by yourself, so it's lovely to be learning in parallel!

[@mtg101010]

You are going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE STO into Optomix gated w/ Maths. The LPG under a short Maths gate is the best thing ever.

[@RichardLacyMusic]

Module layout protocol: A great thing about modular, is that that you don't have to follow any serious protocol as far as layout goes. Left-to-right signal flow is standard on knobby fixed-architecture synths and you can lay your modules out that way if you like. But here's an interesting thing... Even though an un-patched system is a blank canvas, our minds are not blank after we've become familiar with the layout: rather like playing "familiar shapes" on the piano, we eventually fall into "familiar patches" where for instance, we may often use the nearest filter to a certain sound source because we know it works nicely and it's close by - and we will repeat this behaviour all over the modular. This is no bad thing of course if it sounds good, but since this is modular, we can pull our systems apart and shuffle everything about. Suddenly, it's like you have a new modular and you start to patch differently and make new sounds. So stick 'em in wherever you like, you can move them later! Finally, your system will never be finished. Not ever... Great post as usual.

[@jeremyhollobon1723]

1. Tell Sandy: Bring It On. 2. Following along, with VCV Rack, is indescribably better than just enviously watching you. Yay. 3. Oscar is awesome. And I don't even like dogs.

[@LBAW]

The order of the modules in my rack was something I wasn't sure of, too. I decided to generally have a typical signal flow going left to right. So VCO (Sound Sources)--> VCF (or Effects)-->VCA (Volume control/mixer)--> Output. What complicates that is that I have a semimodular, and a sequencer that doesn't fit in the rack, so my utility module (clock divider) is situated in the center of the rack for equidistant access to everything.

[@the_newvoice]

Superb video :)

[@samfuller97]

I’m learning so much and I don’t even have any euro rack, although this is making it very very tempting

[@danjwatts]

I haven’t jumped down the euro crack rabbit hole (yet) as I expect I’d be selling my kids in under a week to fund it. I am following this with much interest though! One thing that surprised me after watching and reading the comments is the general lack of knowledge when it comes to synthesis. It is after all universal to all synths and not just modular ones. I’m guessing it’s because most folks these days use plugins and rely on presets. I’m not judging, up against a deadline I’m also guilty of this! I learnt all about synthesis from my first proper synth, the humble but excellent Roland SH-101. It’s laid out in an easy to understand format (the signal flow is left to right as it is on most synths) and once I got my head around not only the terminology but how each section affected the sound, I could pretty much conjure up any sound I wanted. Monophonically speaking. That skill is then transferred to other synths and plugins. I’d heartedly recommend sitting down with a ‘fixed’ signal flow synth (it needn’t be analogue as there are plenty of digital ones with knobs on) and analysing the signal flow. If you can program that then a modular is just an unordered version of that. It’s like if I wanted to swap the VCF on my 101 to a Moog one. Impossible without cutting up my beloved 101 but I could in a modular rig (assuming I have the modules) just by repatching! As for order of modules, as I said earlier, I’ve not yet jumped aboard the SS Bankdrainer but I’d suggest following the signal flow of traditional synths. Might help the transfer of skills from one to the other. So spend a little time with your Jupiter 4 and see if you can recreate a sound on the modular using a similar signal flow. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to my next fix.

[@SoundsandImages]

Taking shape rather beautifully Christian, (the synth, not you mate) I think this will sound truly amazing when completed! Maybe you should call it oscar after bothe the furry one and the imp oscar synth. Bleeping bliss !

[@skylightmusicshowree]

Hi Christian, You and most of the guys reading this may already be aware of my points below, but I'd like to share them for those who may not. Great series, btw :-) Before MIDI, there was no agreed standard between synth manufacturers on control voltage for pitch. When 'chaining' synths together, you weren't guaranteed to get the same pitch of note, so I may play C3 on my master keyboard and get C4, or even C#3 from the slaves!! Lovely! Although a knowledge of each synths CV was useful, you would often re-tune on the hoof. Understanding what each link of the signal chain does is a great way to replicate sounds, as (unlike MIDI), you may be unable to store a created sound to memory. Finally, if you have an oscilloscope lying around, hook it up and you will see what you are hearing and it may make more sense. Thanks...Terry

[@localtechnique]

+1 on the oscilloscope. It's surprisingly helpful. I use a M4L one called jo in Live but there are many software options available.

[@RichardLacyMusic]

Absolutely. Also, there being no "agreed standard" on CV formats is something worth being aware of, for anyone (that's you Christian) who has an MS20 close by. You CAN integrate it into Eurorack, but since Korg (like Yamaha) used the hertz/volt protocol, rather than volts/octave protocol used in Eurorack (and Moog, Roland, Arp and Oberheim synths), it won't work properly. I've bodged my MS synths into the system, but it's a bit wayward! There are handy format converter modules available though. Must buy one...

[@GuardateDJ]

thx mate! your videos are very helpful!

[@drewlerdal4971]

I would be curious to know some theory behind stack cables. When to use them, when not to use them, etc.

[@BenA718]

Drew Lerdal they are just an alternative to a passive mult. They can make patching easier.

[@dillpickle2131]

@@BenA718 common sense

[@kelvinyuen6374]

Christian! just want to show some support on this MM Series!! Has followed your channel quite a while and can't tell how joyful I am watching your tutorials and studio porns haha Would really love to hear the suggestions by Sandy and can't wait to learn more about the modular! From HONGKONG

[@JureJerebic]

The right knob on the Optomix is actually the attenuator - the left one lets you morph between the channel acting as a low pass gate (all the way to the left) or what is technically known as a VCFA (voltage controlled filter amplifier), and a normal VCA (all the way to the right). The right knob then acts as an attenuator, as you saw when you patched the MIDI module :)

[@JureJerebic]

I'm curious how much you'll use it with a keyboard - I never do

[@JureJerebic]

Also, I suggest looking at frequency modulating the STO with the Atlantis (or vice versa) via the FM input, that'll give you drones for days

[@BenA718]

Jure Jerebic same here! When I first got into modular, I was strictly using it as an ‘analog synth’. Now I view it as its own thing, an analog music computer/ecosystem that does its own thing.

[@JureJerebic]

Quite often, I use it to come up with original melodies (using Marbles, Wogglebug, O&C and a quantiser), or just make a generative ambient patch and let it play on its own while I do other things around the house.

[@music-lk4ox]

almost 10k!!!

[@martinleja4823]

Have a look at the review by Loopop of the Maths module posted this weekend. His review method is more unique than others, and realy helps to simplify its functions.

[@Woolookologie]

Martin Leja definitely, was about to post this. Great video, covering everything you need to know about maths and actually easy to understand!

[@CybreSmee]

Steamy! Haha. I can't afford Eurocrack, but I do have U-He's Bazille which is a bit modular, I might attempt to learn beyond the presets.

[@Fedor_Tkachev_Music]

totally worth it, Bazille was my main to-go synth before switching to softube modular

[@mylarmelodies]

FWIW, made a vid about demystifying MATHS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5qVfn6kfMx9jJY ...but short answer is in terms of using it as an envelope, you either put a gate into either Trigger input (and then it'll complete a cycle every time it gets a gate, this is a good way to use it when you're triggering it with a sequencer I find), but what's more fun with a keyboard, is feed the gate into either channel input (the ones top left and top right with an arrow), and then you'll get an ASR, where you can shape the attack and release and it'll stay open as long as you hold a key.

[@JMLRecording]

"Eurocrack" hahahah never heard that. So THATS what I've been smoking...

[@moosey62]

Well done! You'll be fitting a jet engine on your Corolla in no time.

[@JMLRecording]

Id love to watch this guy talking into that bush from 15 yards away lol

[@debaserNYC]

Hey, Does Sandy have a channel?

[@the_newvoice]

1V/Oct = 12 notes on 1V. 88/12 ~ 7.3V range. Or if 61 keys~ 5V. Interesting, what range do it can push a pitch? Max 12V?

[@halcyondaystunes]

I'm another who hasn't ventured into the rabbit hole that is modular but finding these vlogs really interesting....Quick question but unrelated...Is your dog named after a certain vintage synth? :)

[@patcupo]

More VCV Rack from Sandy, please! It's how I taught myself these concepts. And since it's free we all can refer to the same modules. Don't be scared of Maths, it's easier than you think. Loopop did a good overview last week: watch?v=XJtpzysqJv8 And agreed, the "unpacking" of MIDI messages was a revelation to me too.

[@PatFlanigan]

By the way I'd subscribe to Sandy's channel... if he had one!

[@6884]

13:12 PET THAT PUPPEEEEEEEEER!!! OSCAAAAAR!!!!!!

[@RLeaguer_Saint]

I’m enjoying your journey, but still a little skeptical and catch myself with one eyebrow raised, thinking, ‘so, why is he doing this?’, but happy to be taken along for the ride. But it made me think: you remember the episode in which you lamented the lack of female viewers of this channel, and involved in vi generally? Well I think you’ve just halved the numbers again here mate! Not that that’s a reason to stop! Keep going sir, I still don’t know where this ship is going, but I’m glad I have a ticket aboard!

[@maxcarter970]

RLeaguer2 I'm yet to see a video of someone mucking around with modular stuff and think "hmm that was a cool piece of music". Junkiexl has a monstrous wall of stuff and just seems to make farty sounds. I don't get it.

[@robertsillitoe]

I have started to recreate Christian's rack - it doesn't make noise, but it does allow you to click on links to see more about each module. Haven't worked out how to link to Rubadub yet! - but will work it out soon! Anyway - hope this is useful: www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/687360

[@AynenMakino]

Good episode! The terminology is also a big hurdle for me. It's very counter-intuitive imho. But then, terminology in music theory is far worse :P

[@BenA718]

AynenMakino You don’t need to understand any of it to get stuck in, just like playing any other instrument. Getting sound out of a modular is a lot easier than some other instruments, in fact; though it’s not nearly as easy as pressing a key on a stand alone synth.

[@6884]

7:15 PET THAT PUPPEEEEEER

[@robertsillitoe]

The difference between VCO and VCA? I want to say... spelling? #BadoomTish #ThankYouLadiesAndGentlemenImHereAllWeekPleaseTipTheWaitresses

[@1980VINZ]

4:27 I FUCKIN JUMPSCARED.....!!!!!!!

[@dillpickle2131]

this is clearly for people who know absolutely nothing and/or do not own a modular rig.

[@mmturner89]

I hear people on KZbin making crazy stuff with Make Noise gear, but I take one look at it all and go nahhhh.... I really hate their complicated designs. Defo seems a tougher learning curve for a noob, so I'm going to steer clear for now.

[@vinnieRice]

I too am joining the merry band of old white blokes (pale, male & stale is the #tag du jour I believe) venturing into the realm of modular. I don't know that I would have started with modules from Make Noise. Their 'West Coast' hipness is highly irritating and somewhat obtuse for the noob adventurer. There's no denying however that Maths is probably the highest selling module out there and for good reason. I'd point you towards the Greyscale alternative front panels that can inject a little rationality into the proceedings. grayscale.info/panels/

[@RichardLacyMusic]

To be a proper old white bloke with a modular, you need to go 5u modular!

[@vinnieRice]

Unfortunately I've spent too much money on Spitfire libraries to go the full 5u fetish...

[@thosesmallyesterdays]

Sandy is a lovely nerd and I enjoyed his presentation and flow, but his S's, oh my, my ears are damaged :)

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Philippos St we have a whole load of kit winging its way to Sandy cameras mics!

[@GSControl]

Heroin and music