VCV Rack Reviews and Details

Is VCV Rack good?

Social recommendations and mentions

• From silicon to Darude – Sandstorm: breaking famous synthesizer DSPs [video]

  Zynthian: https://zynthian.org/ Monome: https://monome.org/ Two simply AMAZING synth platforms of the 21st century which push things even further than the mainstream hardware vendors are willing to allow. DIY your thing? The FundamentalFrequency LMN-3 might be up your alley: https://github.com/fundamentalfrequency Runs JUCE plugins, is kind of a cyberpunks’ Teenage Engineering OP1, without the fuss and nonsense... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago

• Introduction to Computer Music an Electronic Textbook

  Https://vcvrack.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/c/omricohen-music. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago

• Learning Synths

  If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

• Dynamicland 2024

  I wonder whether someone already has build away to create modular synthesizer using block with knobs on the table. A line on the top of the knob would signal its position. (In the video I saw some shots that looked like sequencers.) You would also need some mechanism to connect the modules together. I played around with VCV Rack [1], but adjusting knobs with a mouse feels very different than using your hands to... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

• Enlightenmentware

  I have a couple of these to add as well: VCVRack - simply one of the most mind-expanding things a synthesizer-nerd can play with. (https://vcvrack.com/) ZynthianOS - another example of a simple software solution to a problem nobody realized existed, opening the door to an absolutely astonishing array of Audio processing tools (https://zynthian.org/). - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

• Ask HN: Comment here about whatever you're passionate about at the moment

  > It’s haven’t bought any Modular’s yet but I’m really looking forward to getting into other on the new year. http://cardinal.kx.studio https://vcvrack.com/ The former is libre and gratis, runs as a standalone or plugin and in the browser!! and is based on the latter. Ther former has a libre and gratis standalone version, the plugin version is non-gratis. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

• Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

  A music synthesizer. It's a pathway to learning electronics, music, and the nature of sound. There are cheap kits, cheap synths, lots of kinds of synths, and there are much more complicated and expensive systems you can grow into. You can get software synths also, VCV Rack is a free though complex one: https://vcvrack.com/ However I'd recommend an inexpensive hardware one with real knobs you can turn, like one... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago

• I love synthesizers, but I suck at synthesis and sound design?

  What really opened my eyes was the Nord Micromodular; it taught me what I just described. It showed me how limited other synths were - but that limitation was a trade-off because it's much faster to make something on a fixed-structure synth than on a modular, in most cases. Nowadays, you can use https://vcvrack.com/ instead of a small limited box that needs Windows 98 to run the editor on. Source: about 3 years ago

• Long time Cubase user who is leaving a more traditional electronic workflow to modular hardware... Bitwig seems to be the DAW more for this style possibly? Any opinions first hand?

  Also I would suggest the paid version of VCV rack which works as a VST too ( the free version is just stand alone ) Expecially when experimenting with modular ( believe me, it can save you a fortune whilst you learn what different modules do ) I would also recommend Omri Cohens Youtube channel for learning this too. Source: about 3 years ago

• Recreate boutique pedals in DAW?

  Would be way easier with VCV rack than a DAW as there's already almost 3k modules including a lot of granular and other complex ones that blow away a lot of pedals: https://vcvrack.com/. Source: about 3 years ago

• I am new to modules and want to get started building a rig. What should I purchase first? And what do I need for sound to come out?

  You can suggest a modular build by using https://www.modulargrid.net/ and ask if it's any good on r/modular. You can practice with https://vcvrack.com/ if you haven't done so yet so you can figure out what you need, because... Source: about 3 years ago

• Any suggestions for free alternatives to Ableton's Analog?

  TAL-NoiseMaker and Dexed for synths and LABS Classic Synths for sampled instruments. Might be worth combing through pianobook if you want some more unusual sampled sounds, like Alex's collection of Soviet-era synths. Oh, and check out VCVRack if you're down to get modular. Source: about 3 years ago

• Is there a synthesizer (software or otherwise) where I can specify the notes in Hz and it will hold them? I would like to create tuned chord drones for violin practice

  Maybe look at VCV Rack. Most, if not all, of the oscillators can be tuned to specific frequencies. So you should have a lot of flexibility. Source: about 3 years ago

• Is there any source, website or book out there with beginner flow charts/circuit diagrams about modular synth setups?

  Syntorial takes an approach where each module and piece of functionality is explained part by part. If all you have is an oscillator and an LFO, you'll quickly find out what it can do (and what it can't). Putting those exercises in modular format just means building that particular patch on a modular system. If you're not familiar with VCV Rack yet, get it. Source: about 3 years ago

• What Are Your Favorite Resources for Learning? Any Opinions on These?

  Then, get yourself https://vcvrack.com/ and start patching. Source: about 3 years ago

• How do you control when a note is heard and when it isn't, so the oscillator producing it isn't constantly droning?

  Download VCV rack and play around with it. It’ll help you figure out what you need/want. Source: about 3 years ago

• Anyone has any info on how these modular jams work?

  Pure DAW - VCV rack. If you got some MIDI controllers, you can have a modular for free. Source: about 3 years ago

• Fragile Era Screenshots from Trent

  Oh yeah, modular synthesis isn't too bad. You can download VCVRack for free and find some tutorial online to understand how things work. Source: over 3 years ago

• Where to learn to use synthesizers?

  VCV rack...its free and the presets as well as youtube will give you excellent primer on the theory and practice of synthesis with the option of creating as complex of a system as your computer can handle as your understanding deepens. From there you can make more informed choices about other software or hardware synths that will help you re-create the sounds you are hearing elsewhere. https://vcvrack.com. Source: over 3 years ago

• beginner advice!

  Deiley is into modular. Get vcvrack.com and look for beginner tutorials. Source: over 3 years ago

• Linus Tech Tips - My Channel Was Deleted Last Night

  There's a lot of complexity there. Weirdly enough I'm wondering if the best way to present it is something besides the desktop paradigm (or whatever the mobile side calls it), something like wiring Rack to different components in an obvious way, or some other representation of the function (3D? Like the 90's? Go skeuomorphic again) besides an abstract 2D UI and tickboxes. Source: over 3 years ago