Eurorack is still a big topic in the Synth community and is so exciting for many musicians, as you can always exchange modules and add new ones. Based on the large selection of available modules, everyone can assemble their desired system. A disadvantage for many musicians is the cost factor since you have to invest quite a lot to have a good system to start (case, basic modules, cables,…). But patching of Eurorack Synthesizers doesn’t have to be expensive.
Andrew Belt, a software developer has presented on this years KnobCon the Virtual CV (VCV) Rack, a new software Synthesizer that emulates this type of Synthesizers. The basic software is available for free for PC, Mac and Linux users and comes already with a nice amount of modules to use. In the Fundamental pack, you receive already 8 high-quality and powerful virtual analog sound generators, processors and utility modules. It includes a VCO with several functions (FM, Sync, PWM), a VCF with a lowpass / high-pass mode, an ADSR, a dual VCA, a delay, a VC Mixer, a Scope and a 8 step sequencer.
VCV Rack is the engine powering VCV modules. Add modules, connect cables, edit parameters, and save/load patches. Create generative patches with your mouse, perform with your MIDI keyboard controller, or connect it to your favorite DAW using the Rack Bridge VST/AU plugin (coming soon). In Rack, control voltages and audio signals are equivalent, so you can modulate parameters with sonic-range VCOs to create customizable FM synths or chaotic wave-shaping oscillators. If you already own a modular synthesizer, you can enhance your setup with an audio interface supporting CV signals or a CV-MIDI-CV interface module with Rack’s CV Interface (coming soon).
Beside this more standard modules, users can also download free more complex modules. Based on the Mutable Instruments Eurorack modules, Audible Instruments gives you a collection of complex sound generators, modulation sources, sound modifiers, and signal utilities. All modules which are based on real digital modules are ports of their original source code, so generated signals are faithful to the hardware. All these modules are excellent because they offer a very wide range of sounds. I’m a big fan of the Braids oscillator, Clouds Texture Synthesizer and Rings Resonator modules because these modules are fantastic to dive deep in creating complex sounds. Great to hear that the developer use the open-source code for creating this modules for this software rack.
There are some more additional modules which are available for free. The E-Series features a port of the excellent but discontinued Synthesis Technology’s E340 Cloud Generator, a VCO capable of fat, chaotic, and swarming sound with up to eight combined saw and sine oscillators detunable with a spread parameter and filtered noise.
Also the developer emulated carefully some modules of the Barcelona based Eurorack developer Befaco. These modules includes the EvenVCO, A*B*C, Spring Reverb, Mixer and Slew Limiter modules, with DSP measured from hardware. Additional modules: Rampage, Sampling Modulator, VC ADSR, Dual Attenuator, and Hexa VCA are also coming soon.
A really interesting new release that gives everybody the chance to check out Eurorack Synthesizers for free. It’s for sure not the same flair as the hardware devices but it’s a perfect method to discover this world of knobs. Musicians can decide for themselves if you want to deal with Eurorack or not. For me personally it’s like a Eurorack guide. If one understands in this software the patching of this modules, one is ready for the hardware world. If one’s pleasure goes away, it can be good that one loses the pleasure of the real modules also.
VCVRACK by Andrew Belt is now available for free for PC, Mac & Linux. All modules released today a free of charge downloadable from the official website. In a later moment, the developer will add new modules which are available only via an additional purchase. A plugin version is coming soon.
More informations here: VCVRACK
there is a new version, v0.3.1
it now works on ML and yosemite, should also work on 10.11.6
lots of fun!
Thanks 😉