Why you CAN have enough VCAs - have a look at these more creative alternatives!

“You can never have enough VCAs”, is a popular one-liner in modular land. But like so many cliché’s, it’s rubbish. Especially if you’re starting out with modular, understanding VCAs and their many possibilities is extremely useful, as they are undoubtedly powerful tools! However, you can have enough, and in this video I show you why.
I go over four functions that can be used as a VCA, but also offer other creative possibilities. So instead of just buying more, I recommend you have a look at these! For each of them I explain how they can be used as a VCA, and I show some specific patch-ideas for that function. The functions are: Ring modulators & Polarizers, Crossfaders, Panners, and Low pass gates.
If you’re new to modular: Keep in mind these functions have some side effects compared to a regular VCA. I recommend getting a few VCAs for starters, and expanding with these functions early on. Enjoy!
Timetable:
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Ring modulator and Crossfader
02:53 - Ring mod patches
04:22 - Polarizer patches
05:39 - Crossfader
07:55 - Crossfader patches
09:27 - Panner
10:51 - Panner patches
12:14 - Low Pass Gate
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#fyoucanneverhaveenoughvcas #eurorack #modulartips

[@LordoftheBadgers]

This is brilliant. And actually you explain vca brilliantly too - for a newbie like me with adhd I need reminding!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, glad to hear you got some value out of it! Cheers :)

[@duncanthompson957]

Yet another mind expanding, musically inspiring video from Mister Monotrail! Or should I say modular system expansion without using any expanders or buying any more modules!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it! Cheers!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Almost 7000 subscribers! Thank's for all the support everyone! Onward to that mythical 10k :) As always, patch & block diagram illustrations are available to Patrons: www.patreon.com/monotrail

[@BoardgameBaker]

As always your videos are both educational and inspirational. Keep it up! 👍🏻

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! And I will! :)

[@thewildclaw]

Nice! Makes sense, gonna have to mess around with a few of those 😆

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Enjoy!

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

Another excellent, informative upload. Thanks for this!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@modularnepl900]

great tips!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you like them!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I did not use VCAs that much until recently with larger more complex patches. Same for envelopes. I do however use a lot of modulation, mixers and filters. Matrix mixer really opens up lots of cool patch ideas for me as well as tons of modulation. Ring mods and low pass gates are super fun as I like west coast Buchla/Serge type synthesis more anyways.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Interesting! Im also a big fan of making complexity with lot's of modulation. MAtrix matrix mixers are also gret, hope to do a video on that sometime soon! But VCAs really made the modular stand out to me. For example, using an envelope to control the amount of LFO over time, lot's of modulation power that's not possible with most synths.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@MonotrailTechTalk agree I like using an envelope like Radar to modulate filter cv options and that works well for unique sound shaping ideas. I will have to try using an envelope with controlling LFOs have not tried that yet, how would such patch work and look like?

[@JuanDale]

Awesome. Thanks again for the inspiration (and subsequent GAS) I'm interested in your opinion of the Thorn LFO...

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And sorry ;) And yeah, I'm emberassed anout that. I got it a while back, but had some troubles with my back. Now I'm working through a short list of modules to cover, but a video on the Thorn LFO is comming!

[@Annatar3469]

Neeeed a demo on that A-126-2 Edit: also since crossfaders can be used as closing vca's when input B is unpatched, it can also be used as a simple compressor when combined with an envelope follower.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

The video on the a126-2 is comming soon, I promise! And you're right, that's a very nice tip actually!

[@chasethevioletsun9996]

I have 24 VCAs. Its honestly probably too many. I'm glad I have them, but have never once used all of them.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, that's an impressive amount! Maybe this video title is actually true for you! :)

[@rdean150]

WMD/SSF Blender is a good crossfader for combining up to 4 different VCO waveforms.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ha, just had a look at it! Interesting indeed, four channel input mixer/fader. And also works with control voltages, that gives some options :)

[@moloch808]

Nice videos! A-134-2 crossfader is such an underrated and versatile tool. Super cheap as well. I got mine for £30! As well as a VCA you can use A-134-2 as a ring mod/polariser. Signal A into one side of the crossfader. An inverted version of signal A into the other side, and your "modulator" goes into the CV in I agree, I think vanilla VCAs are essential but things like polarisers, crossfaders and lpgs are interesting variations. They double as VCAs but do some useful things that would otherwise need a lot of VCAs/patching.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Yeah! I might make a video with just some crossfader tips some time. And that is a really nice one btw! Didn't think about that! :)

[@moloch808]

@@MonotrailTechTalk that would be fantastic. I really enjoy the videos you make on small simple modules and utilities!

[@mycosys]

Something you dont point out is that a polariser (properly a 4 quadrant amplifier) is 4 VCAs, a panner and crossfader are both 2 VCAs. They work as VCAs because they are VCAs. Kinda seems like the truism kinda still holds true?

[@mycosys]

Also its debatable whether Rocinante's Gate is a true LPG i guess, but it has controllable freq gating and can be used as a straight VCA i believe

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, yeah it was a bit of a joke title, was waiting for that to be pointed out. Instead of VCAs, I recommend more VCAs 😉

[@tohellandbacknoface4091]

whats v.c.a stand for?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Voltage Controlled Amplifier. A module that allows you to control the strength of a signal with other voltages in your system. For example, the volume of a sound with an envelope, or the the amount of modulation from an LFO, with a another LFO. Keep an eye out on the channel, if you have more questions like this. I'm working on a full true beginner intro series!

[@tohellandbacknoface4091]

@@MonotrailTechTalk thanks so much for this. ive got a couple entry level synths but modular is really intresting and more of something i can tinker with and get really weird with. my synths just dont have the envolpes and lfos i would like

[@tohellandbacknoface4091]

subscribed

[@studio48nl]

But but but... LPG's are Buchla's west coast approach of VCA's. That's a bit cheating in this video. For other 'unclean' VCA's you can also use the 100% closing of a filter (LPG-ish) or wavefolder.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Yeah, I cheat a lot in this video :) Panners, crossfaders, polarizers etc are all just VCAs really. Most made by combining two in one circuit. Cheers!

[@studio48nl]

@@MonotrailTechTalk haha, yes, ofcourse you cheat. The others have a different main function other than behing a VCA. But the LPG's main function is being the west coast VCA, so it's cheating by not cheating 🤪

[@whiterottenrabbit]

The tempo of your videos is too fast, so you seem to me as glancing over things without any deep diving or rather letting thins sink in. Many people might enjoy this, but I am in my 60s now so I can't process your examples that fast. Am I the only one who has an issue with that?

[@xavierxeon]

You are allowed to pause the video!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for letting me know! It's impossible to find a speed that's suitable for everyone unfortunately! This video is a bit more a "quick-tip for intermedate users'" I guess. But I am working on an entire more beginner friendly series! Al the best.