VCV Rack - VCA , Linear Inputs & Exponential Inputs
What Will I Learn?
- You will learn how to use a Voltage Controlled Amplifier.
- You will learn about an exponential input.
- You will learn about a linear input.
Requirements
To complete this tutorial learners will need to have the following:
- The software application VCV Rack installed
- Access to the Internet
- An account created on www.vcvrack.com
- Fundamental and Autodafe plugins installed
Difficulty
This tutorial is at an Beginner level.
Description
Learn how to use a Voltage Controlled Amplifier
Fundamental module pack comes with a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier). VCAs are very useful and they will find their way into many of your sound setups.
The VCA is used to control you sound level. It can, obviously amplify the sound and decrease the sound.
VCA has two amplifiers in one module. Both of these are separate. In your setup can have as many VCAs as you need.
- You will learn about Linear Inputs
VCA is 'voltage controlled' so it can be manipulated by a separate module. There are two inputs for this control on both the upper and lower VCAs. We are given one Linear input and one Exponential input.
When you connect a control voltage from a separate module to the Linear input of the VCA the changes in voltage from the external module will be applied to the amplitude of the signal based on a linear equations. In other words, as the volume increases it will do so in a linear fashion.
- You will learn about Exponential inputs
When Control Voltage is connected to the Exponential input the voltage is processed based on an exponential equation. This means that an increase in volume will be very slow to increase at the beginning of the cycle and increase exponentially near the upper volume levels.
Image Source
VCV Rack is an open source application, which means that it is free for everyone to use. Please consider going to the developers' website and show your support for the project - http://www.vcvrack.com
I hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you have any specific questions for me feel free to leave it in the comments of this post and I will do my best to get back to you with an answer.
Cheers,
@buckydurddle
Video Tutorial
Curriculum
Learn VCV Rack Modular Synthesis Series
VCV Rack - Modular Synthesis, Plugin Manager, Customize UI
VCV Rack - VC Mixer, Patching, & VCO-1 to VC Mixer
VCV Rack - 1st Setup, Multi-Outputs and Audio Interface
VCV Rack - Scope, MIDI, Organizational Tools
VCV Rack - Delay Module - Time, Mix, Feedback
VCV Rack - VCO-1 & VCO-2 and Their Functions
VCV Rack - 8vert and Waveform Inversion
VCV Rack - Autodafe Modules - Keyboard, BPM Clock, LFO
VCV Rack - Autodafe Modules - Reverb & Phaser
VCV Rack - ADSR - Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
Learn Hydrogen Drum Machine Series
Hydrogen - Rhythmic Resolution
Hydrogen - Effective Beat Making
Hydrogen - Song Editor, ADSR, Importing DrumKits from Respositories
Hydrogen - Humanize (Velocity, Timing & Swing)
Hydrogen - New Instruments, Loading Samples & Multiple Sample Sounds
Hydrogen - Beat Counter, BPM & Other Tempo Tools
Learn Helm Series
Helm 1st Oscillator Video Tutorial
Helm 2nd Oscillator Video Tutorial
Learn Audacity Series
If you would like to learn how to use the open source sound recording and editing software Audacity then have a look at these tutorials:
1 How to Create a New Audacity Project
2 How to Open or Import Audio Files in Audacity
5 How to Save an Audacity Project
7 How to Set Input Volume Levels
8 How to Export MP3 and WAV Files
9 How to Select and Delete Sound
ACTIVITY 1 - My First Recording
10 How to use Undo and History in Audacity
12 How to Use the Time Shift Tool
13 How to Use the Change Pitch Effect
ACTIVITY 2 - Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
14 How to Use the Fade In & Fade Out Effects
15 How to Download Sound Samples from the Internet
16 How to Use the Amplify Effect
ACTIVITY 3 - Multitrack Recording in Audacity - Beatbox
21 How to Use the Change Tempo Effect
22 How to Use the Equalization Effect
ACTIVITY 4 - How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
25 How to Remove Vocals from a Recording
SETUP - How to Install the LAME Encoder
Logo - http://tytel.org/helm
Logo - https://www.audacityteam.org/
Logo - http://www.hydrogen-music.org/hcms/
Logo - https://www.vcvrack.com
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Thanks for this wonderful post but I have a question on a different set of sound equipment. My question is what causes one phase of an amplifier to develop fault without the second phase been faulty? And also are their any general mixing guide given to the equaliser? Thanks in anticipation @buckydurddle
Good questions @olatun. Not sure about one VCA developing a fault. If you run both VCOs leading into the VCAs off the same clock the clock should keep them in sync. Do you have more details for me?
I don't have a good guide for using and EQ. I am sure there are ones out there. I think a lot of EQ learning is through use. Find the sounds you like. Setting an EQ is also very different for every instrument. I recommend playing with it as much as possible and you will develop your own techniques.
Thanks for the reply @buckydurddle, your explanation is useful for me. I will get in touch with you
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