Knowledge base
Modular Synthesis
How Can Synthesizer and Modular Musicians Use Chord Voicing, Voice Leading and Probability to Create Better Generative Harmony?
Voicing Chords for Synthesizers and Generative MusicChord voicing is often discussed in the context of piano, jazz or orchestral composition. However, it is… read more
How Can Electronic Musicians Use Voice Leading to Create Smooth, Coherent and Generative Music?
Voice Leading in Electronic and Generative Music: Creating Movement Between LayersVoice leading is traditionally associated with the movement of individual melodic lines in tonal harmony. But… read more
How Can Electronic Musicians Use Musical Phrases, Cadences and Generative Rules to Structure Compositions?
Phrase Structure and Cadences in Electronic Music: From Harmonic Form to Generative CompositionUnderstanding musical phrases and cadences is not only useful for classical composition.… read more
How does the ARP 2600's Prancing Raindrops patch combine ring modulation, Sample & Hold, oscillator cross-modulation and internally triggered envelopes to generate a continuously changing sequence without playing the keyboard?
A patch that plays itselfThe ARP 2600 Patch Book contains a… read more
How can you patch Kitchen Sink and Pigeon Plink in VCV Rack for evolving FM sounds, feedback loops, ratio modulation and generative sequences?
Introduction: FM as a patching systemKitchen Sink and Pigeon Plink are especially interesting when you stop treating frequency modulation as a… read more
How does Pigeon Plink's continuous carrier-to-modulator ratio control work, and how can it be used for experimental FM synthesis in VCV Rack?
IntroductionPigeon Plink is an FM-oriented oscillator for VCV Rack based on Kitchen Sink. The two modules share much of the same general approach to… read more
What does the Kitchen Sink oscillator in VCV Rack do, and how can you combine linear FM, through-zero FM, exponential FM, feedback and wave folding?
Introduction: One oscillator, many ways to shape soundAn oscillator is often presented as a relatively simple sound source: choose a waveform… read more
What is the difference between linear FM, through-zero FM and exponential FM, and how do they affect the sound spectrum of a synthesizer?
FM Synthesis Explained: Linear FM, Through-Zero FM and Exponential FMFrequency modulation is one of the most versatile ways to create complex sounds… read more
How can you patch the Voltage Modular Zeroscillator for basic FM, through-zero effects, morphing and complex two-oscillator sounds?
Patch Lab: Four Voltage Modular Zeroscillator ExperimentsThe Voltage Modular Zeroscillator is an excellent playground for experimenting with frequency… read more
How does the Voltage Modular Zeroscillator work, and how can you use its linear FM, through-zero FM, exponential FM and wave-morphing functions?
The FM Universe: The Voltage Modular Zeroscillator ExplainedThe Zeroscillator is an unusually versatile oscillator for exploring frequency… read more