After my first session doing modular synthesis at university, last year I taught myself modular and found an open-source program called VCV RACK 2. I felt like jamming this afternoon and wanted to use the real modular but the university is closed on Sunday.
I started very simple with just a few VCOs and VCAs and then started using some VCFs and sending it to a VCA mixer. Then I got a sequencer involved and started adding more oscillators.
Because VCV RACK 2 is open source and free, people create their own modules for you to download online for free, so I downloaded some reverb and chorus. Started messing around with that. Then it leads towards downloading a new sequencer that is more creative than a standard step sequencer. I also saw a Lin Drum module that looked interesting so I also downloaded that and created a drum pattern. I sequenced up all the sequencers through clock outputs and I was done.
I wanted to export these sounds and see how I can do this, I either purchase the premium version for a hundred and something pounds or download BlackHole a program that acts as an internal audio interface routing internal OS sounds into an input or output.
I assigned the output of the audio module to the BlackHole input and on LogicPro X assigned the input to BlackHole and output to my Scarlett Solo for monitoring. I then did an EQ and Multi Compressor to get out sections that I wanted, as when recording the entire mix from VCV RACK there were sections I wanted to change. I created a reverb bus and added some small 1980s slapback reverb to it. Exported and saved it.
I think this has made me consider how I can in future incorporate this within my work, especially this black hole mechanic. I can when I purchase my new interface next month have inputs and outputs going into my cassette player. I’m considering using that as a drum sequencer for it. Here is the outcome of my goalless exploration.
