Why your LFO needs a CV input - Patch-tips with the MFB dual voltage controlled LFO

Today we are going over some interesting ways to spice up patches using voltage controlled LFOs. LFOs with CV inputs are great for dynamic modulation, interesting shifting patterns, and to add texture and detail in your patches. First we’ll have a quick look at the MFB Dual LFO, and then we dive right in to some patch ideas!
Timetable:
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - MFB dual LFO overview
02:24 - Dynamic modulation
05:39 - Dynamic clock
08:12 - Dynamic voice
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#eurorack #modular #patchtips

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

From now on patch & block diagram illustrations are available to Patrons ;) www.patreon.com/monotrail

[@Strateggo]

Really like the format of the videos you’re making, interspersed with diagrams. Well explained and more importantly the viewers can REPRODUCE it at home. Keep them coming please!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

So glad to hear it! The illustrations were a main point for me to get into this, felt like I had something to offer over pointing at a very clustered and confusing modular. Getting nice comments on these make me happy! Cheers!

[@radpix]

Yes a relief to the more chaotic orientated approaches like I often do 🌟

[@Limbic1000]

Same here! Its awesome 🙏

[@sisyphus_maximus]

These are absolutely the most useful modular tutorials out there. So dense with great info and so clearly presented.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

So glad to recieve comments like these! I had plans for these video for a while, corona was the perfect time for me to just start making them. But these great positive comments make the efford worth it :) Cheers!

[@crysstoll1191]

Indeed, one of my favorite things to do in hardware was to add voltage control to LFOs.

[@bdc-muzik]

By far the best vids for understanding how it all works… excellent job man.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad it helped out! Cheers :)

[@andrearicci9189]

MFB dual LFO is the most underrated module ever.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Haha, indeed, most underrated, ever! ;) Cheers!

[@GeorgeLocke]

It's very hard to find!

[@frankm.2533]

@@GeorgeLocke Glad i found one for cheap !

[@GeorgeLocke]

@@frankm.2533 you lucky dog!

[@massimopetrozzi1451]

another great video! thanks for sharing

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you, you're welcome!

[@vertigev]

So many great patch ideas in this video...

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you like them!

[@ANDROAV]

Beautiful, thank you!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it! :)

[@nickmoran1]

Clear & inspiring as always.👍

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks!

[@rossmotus669]

Thank you very much for all of your useful tutorials.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

You are welcome!

[@dennisrochat7747]

Such a great video. Thanks a lot!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@TheVoltar100]

Very interesting thank you 👍🏻

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it, cheers!

[@temporoboto]

Good work, thanks for sharing.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@ModLifeCrisis]

Some creative ideas there. Thanks.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

You're welcome!

[@risro.O]

thanks again for a great video! great point on modulating lfo with sequencer, hadn't thought of that before. you can also keep adding a third lfo to control the second for more randomnesses and so on =)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear it! And indeed, more LFOs means more complexity to mess around with :)

[@GeorgeLocke]

Three LFOs fming each other in a circle, and AMing each other in an opposite circle.

[@j0bey1]

This is awesome, thanks

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear you liked it, thanks!

[@DJFranzOsaka]

Great tips! I have a MI Peaks clone called Baker, made by After Later Audio that has CV inputs and attenuators for each of the 4 knobs. Now I have more ideas on how to utilize it.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Ahh I love peaks. I use it a lot in LFO mode to create smooth random voltages. Wish mine had cv input! Enjoy :)

[@radpix]

Yeah that what a chaos Typ like Me needs - finally some more structural advices Thanks a lot Grüße aus und nach Berlin

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad to hear it! And back to you :)

[@manuelsteinmair]

Great video and ideas! I think the pingable LFO from 4ms could yield some nice effects.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! And indeed, thats a great module with some nice possibilities!

[@rmanpojo8485]

Great tutorial Thanks.. I don't have a lfo with cv in, but I can use my Neutron for this... The dual MFB lfo is on my wishlist.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks for watching! And indeed, that would work perfectly!

[@MaxRichardsonMusic]

As ever, amazing video mate! I use the AE Modular system so don't have CV control on an LFO, but I just use a self-triggering envelope with CV to attack and decay when I want to!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! Im still so intregued by the AE modular system, hope to get my hands on some at some point. Enjoy it!

[@MaxRichardsonMusic]

@@MonotrailTechTalk It's a great system, it's got some really crazy modules now! I've got a few jams with it on my profile if it's of interest 🎧

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Nice system you've got there, ill have listen soon!

[@MaxRichardsonMusic]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Cheers! Too kind.

[@seansnyder7744]

I like messing with my S&H module into the cv in of my LFO, MST Synthrotek makes an AWESOME LFO module with CV in that you can either build or buy outright. Sine Triangle and Square outs on the module

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Yes, S&H into LFO speed really gives intersting results :)

[@smashsystem]

Bester Modular Channel.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Danke. Alles Gute!

[@n0tett]

Ornament and Crime is a criminally underrated module. 4 CV input Wavetable LFO, along with over 60 other modules across both firmware's for about $150.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

It's very nice indeed!

[@walrtbstudios5430]

If you liked that LFO you will love the Thorn VCLFO- sixteen waveforms, works well into audio range, and every single parameter can be modified by cv. Well worth exploring…

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Yes! Have it for some time, but my back delayed a lot of planned videos. Hope to get to the Thorn VCLFO soon!

[@SonOfSanguinius91]

If your LFO doesn´t have CV input you can do same thing by patching first LFO into VCA and second to CV input of that channel on VCA.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Dear Sochor91, that's a great tip! Wish I thought of it before :) Of course the effect is slightly different, you're modulating the amount of effect of an LFO, and not its shape/pattern, but for sure a nice way to keep things more interesting! All the best.

[@temporoboto]

Great tip.

[@LazarusGordon]

are you sure this is possible? because i had the same idea. i tryed few times and it was not working: i thought LFO doesnt work like VCO when they go through VCA.... If i made some mistakes then it should be possible also to trigger (with envelope) the LFO letting it passing through a vca, right?

[@LR-wd1od]

👍👍👍

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks!

[@studio48nl]

One of my first and probably one of my last modules in possession ever...

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Good choice! They don't make these anymore, otherwise I'd still recommend people to get one :)

[@omga_3459]

Hello, thanks for the quality content! It seems that MFB stopped eurorack modules sadly. Does anyone think of a similar alternative ?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! And indeed, unfortunately. Many good voltage controllable LFOs out there, if you're interested in a compact affordable alternative have a look at the Eowave Zone B.F.! lt's also a dual lfo with a lot of waveforms and either VC or sync function :)

[@omga_3459]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Many thanks, really enjoy your channel and the fact you dont tease the super extra expensive modules and rather teach us how to explore with basic functions and stuff. Best

[@jonaseggen2230]

Wow. This Is so useful and inspiring. Are you a teacher?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you so much! And no, but have been working as a freelance graphic designer for years now. Mostly working together with my brother on animations for companies that have a complex story they want to explain to wide audience. Thinking like that helped a bit ;)

[@jonaseggen2230]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Oh that makes sense. So did you start with graphics/drawing/visual arts before music or has this always been a parallel journey for you?

[@Kedros27]

is it digital or analog?🤔

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Don't know tbh. Does it matter?

[@spiralmoment]

it's modular. Everything needs cv.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Everything gets better with cv :)