VCV Rack: The FREE Modular Synth You Should Try 🎶 | A Beginners Tutorial

Let's talk about VCV Rack - the free, open source, and awesome modular synthesizer and how you can get started with it!

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▼▼▼TIMESTAMPZ:▼▼▼
0:00 Howdy
0:39 VCV Time
1:09 What We're Covering In This Video
1:48 Audio Out Of VCV
2:55 Audio In To VCV
3:15 MIDI In/Out
4:03 Building Your First Patch
4:31 The Key Lesson Of Modular
5:05 Wiring The Patch Together
7:17 Control Voltage
9:06 Creating Polyphony In VCV
10:09 What Modules To Download?
12:24 Using VCV With The DAW
13:58 Three Patch Ideas
16:35 Creating An FM Synth
19:32 A Basic Generative Patch
21:12 Using VCV With Hardware
22:32 Thank You VCV Community!
22:58 Support Them Devs, Yo
23:34 Closing Thoughts

Stay classy!

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#freeplugins #modularsynth #synthesizer

[VenusTheory]

More modular tutorials in the future? 🤔

[unfa]

There's a new exciting development regarding VCV Rack. An open-source plugin called Cardinal was released on 14th of February being a self-contained VCV Rack environment adapted to work within a DAW, having several hundred open-source modules. That was what I was waiting for to start using this tech, since I prefer to keep my work contained in a DAW project and being as non-destructive as possible. And Cardinal allows just that.

[JArbiter]

in my opinion, one of the best beginner videos for VCV! really looking forward to finally getting stuck into VCV thanks!

[bloodswarms]

I got the bundle day one, loving the VST plugin, and being able to work in VCV Rack standalone and then open the patches later in my DAW. I think I worked on building atmospheric patches for two years or more prior to Rack2, and now being able to open them all in Cubase is just amazing.

[unfa]

I really appreciate your work, how clean and well structured your videos are. I don't need to say that you've got an amazing voice as well, but I will, as it makes tuning in that much more enjoyable.

Also: I am very glad you differentiate between freeware and open-source software and acknowledge open-source projects. I have a relatively small (~23k subs now) channel dedicated to open-source audio production - also on Linux, since that's a family of open-source operating systems, that's why this is very close to my heart.

Anyway - thank you for year great work!

[CatFish]

Geodesics, Bog audio, Befaco, Count Modula, Instruo. All great free modules.

[trollkarlenjp]

i loved the "quick homework assignment". more homework please!!

[philmarsh]

Dude, not only do you crack me up regularly (ie you make funnies that are...funny), you're a great teacher. Inspiring watch; thx as always.

[ChristopherWard]

Just discovered VCV Rack 2 and this was a great tutorial - many thanks.
I've spent way too much of today watching some of your other videos though!
Great work.

[nexxai]

I believe they've already been mentioned in previous comments, but to reiterate:

- The Count Modula modules are amazing sequencers and other utilities like a Bernoulli gate (Chances)
- The Impromptu Clocked/CLKD modules are easily the most user friendly clocks out there (which fits the primary demographic of this video well)
- Geodesics are a beautifully designed set of modules that are so nice to look at (as well as obviously use)
- MindMeld for great mixers / EQs
- Nysthi make a ton of great modules, but the one I use the most right now is the PolyRec64 for recording multi-track out of MindMeld

Great video man. I've watched your stuff for a while but subscribing after this one.

[aSimpleChat]

You've got to be kidding me! I have been looking for this exact type of instruction. I have learned a lot and I am truly inspired since deciding to delve into the modular world. There are, of course, many other people "teaching" about using VCV and how you set it up but none were are direct with the action and explanation. There's a lot more to learn but your explanations made sense. I have the free version of VCV but didn't have a few of the exact modules you had, but I grabbed what I could and just applied the principles based on the features. I've been considering this move for a few months now and have transitioned a lot from the days of the Boss drum machine, Roland XP-80 synths, etc....to OB-6 analog deliciousness to the Moog DFAM & Subharmonicon and even the Pulsar-23. It was all preparing me for what I was gravitating to: more control, more variety, and the ability to evolve. Thank you again for this. I enjoy my Electron Octatrack Mk2 and had also searched for modules that can replicate what it does. I didn't know there were modules that accomplished that and MORE! I have really been missing out! So excited. I just ordered the Erica Synths Fusion System 2 a few days ago because I know what I wanted to do, but I must admit that, although I planned to piece my own system, I will build and subtract from this system as I explore more. I absolutely knew weeks ago that I wanted to create generative ambient house/techno. Now I understand more of why people say it can be addictive.

You have a gift of instruction. I hope you really do create more tutorials soon. You earned your subscriber!

[Elias_Frost]

it looks like VCV is a killer tool to design a eurorack in hardware. it's really hard to find info about what exactly utility modules do and which ones should I get (since modular synth is a personal thing).
Thanks for the best introduction to a modular on YouTube \m/

[morganjones]

Geodesics is one of my favorite module collections!! Crazy stuff!

[RaviYadav-bjmw]

This video is enough to keep me busy this weekend....

[arcticfoxstudios]

I need like a month off of work just to check this out. So many cool things, so little time. Great video as always.

[ClementineFury]

It's like you were reading my mind, just last night I was thinking I should try to mess around in vcv rack and see if it seemed like something for me, thanks for the video!

[loupasternak]

Been fooling around on and off with VCV since it came out, but still found your tute worthwhile .

[trocchiettoski]

what i love from venus theory is that describes the sound experience with nuances based on really cool adjectives, this is terribly relaxing. Thanks

[willumpjuh]

OK. So a clear VCV presentation with somebody who appears to know what he's talking about.

Subscribed.

[merlinproductions]

Mate, this is the second video I have found you explaining exactly what I need to know and with such a individual manner that I highly respect. Keep up the good vibes man. Big Love from South Africa!