VCV Rack - Anyone interested ? (lemm.ee)

submitted 3 weeks ago by yonderer@lemm.ee to c/musicproduction@sh.itjust.works

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Hey everyone, anyone here into VCV Rack or Cardinal ? Or any other similar software like Pure Data for example ?

I’ve really got into it recently, and was wondering if people on Lemmy were interested. Should I post stuff here or start a specific community ?

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[-] rofilm@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I´m really deep in VCV Rack . I´ve even written a whole e-book trilogy about making generative music with VCV Rack. I think it´s the most versatile modular synth software out there (perhaps together with Cherry Audio´s Voltage Modular - which is not freeware though). Some modules are a bit poorly documented, but all in all it´s a marvelous way into modular synthesis. I recommend anyone who starts working with VCV Rack to limit oneself to only a few basic modules, doing a long time experimenting with these few modules, and only then step by step expanding the system. There is a big danger to drown oneself in the plethora of available modules without really learning what each of them is able to do. Cheers and peace! Rolf Ah, by the way, there´s free e-book about the matter, which may help quite a lot: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nkzlk2vmfop66w8krmyjt/h?rlkey=tg0zkmccil0twpx87z7qn7826&dl=0

[-] spiderhamster@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, I use Cardinal sometimes. I spent a few months getting really into and then nearly buying physical hardware and ruining myself financially. I'll have funding soon so I'm excited to get back into it and develop a minimal set in Cardinal then build it out in real life.

[-] yonderer@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Why do you use Cardinal and not vcv rack ? So you can use it in a DAW for free ?

I get the temptation to build it with physical hardware too, but as you said, I don’t want to ruin myself financially hah. There are also so many synths and semi-modular synths out there that are so much more affordable than physical modular. For now I’m happy in vcv with some external controllers, that really makes it worthwhile imo.

Edit : I forgot to ask, what kind of music do you make with Cardinal ?

[-] spiderhamster@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Using it in a DAW for free was my initial reason but I liked using it more standalone on my Steam Deck so I could have something to mess with when not at home. A lot of what I've done with Cardinal is making the weirdest noises I can and trying to make generative tracks. I'm not sure I've ever recorded something I made but I do learn a lot about synths when I experiment with this stuff. When I go back to other softsynths I feel like I'm tweaking settings with a bit more knowledge and with more intention instead of just twisting randomly.

What are you using for external controllers? I should probably get into that as a next step.

[-] yonderer@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago

I've seen pictures of VCV/Cardinal on the steam deck, how is it ? Does it work well ?

I've also definitely learned a lot more about synthesis since using VCV.

I'm using the akai midimix, the cheapest mixer-type controller basically -> 9 sliders, 24 knobs, 18 or 20 buttons. I have a default patch set up that assigns the faders to an 8 track mixer + Master volume, and then I assign the knobs and buttons to whatever I feel like going along, it's nearly instant with a module called MIDI-CAT. The midimix is not the best controller obviously, but at 50€ second hand it's great.

It definitely makes using vcv a lot better, you can really play the patches you make, it's so much better. I really recommend trying it out.

[-] spiderhamster@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Oops.. I'm really bad at checking notifications.

The Steam Deck definitely isn't the ideal way to use VCV because of the screen size but the touch screen does make it easier to pan around. It runs well enough but I haven't really pushed it too hard with tons of modules running.

That midimix looks perfect for what I want to do. Definitely getting that before I build a physical rack. It would be nice to use this for mixing in Reaper as well. I'll get one and try it out with my Steam Deck.

[-] yonderer@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago

That’s ok haha

Yeah I can imagine it’s fun to move with the touch screen. A touch screen and a mouse could be a fun combo.

Yeah I can really recommend the midimix ! A bit more expensive, but apparently nicer feeling (bigger sliders/pots) is the novation launch control xl. It really changes how you see and use vcv. Since I’ve got the controller I can use vcv to actually « play » and jam with other musicians.

[-] gvalia@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yes, I've been into VCV rack and Cardinal for a while. My primary use case is idea/sample generation and it's spectacular for that.

Maybe once I learn the sequencers I'll make whole tracks in it.

By the way, you should not be afraid of modular hardware. Get a versatile effects module (for me, Mutable Instruments Beads) and use it as an effects processor.

[-] yonderer@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah sample generation is great, or to create a synth patch to be played with a midi keyboard. There are quite a few sequencers and sequencer "accessories" (ie. expanders, clock dividers, quantisers, etc..), it's definitely worth exploring them ! As I recommended in the thread, a midi controller with a few knobs and sliders is also a great way to "play" vcv/cardinal.

You use the beads as an fx processor software as well ?

[-] gvalia@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Beads has a special mode with its own wavetable banks, so you can use it as a granural synth basically. Although, if you know how to play with feedback well, you don't really need to feed it too meaningful of a material to get gnarly sounds out of it. In addition, you can feed standard line level signals into Beads, which means that it's compatible with virtually any audio device.

this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2025

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