#all of mutable instrument modules are on there for free its great please check it out if ur interested in synthesis

[vomahow]

VCV Rack is great, while its completely free its one of the extremely few pieces of music software i have actually paid for and supported. Its simply wonderful and when i was doing ambient music it was pretty much the only synth i used

You want to learn how to make/use modular synthesizers?

Boy, do I have the tool for you!

Through my hyperfixation on those a few weeks back I found out that 1) those fuckers are fucking expensive and 2) if you don't know what which do and don't have the right tools on the side you won't be able to do anything and lose a lot of money

The solution to those problems is...

VCV Rack 2

VCV Rack 2 is a free eurorack system that allows you to mount whatever modular synthesizer rack you want. It not only has a free (and very complete) version (a pro version exists too though) but it has a wide library!

You start with the VCV Rack library, which actually is good enough to start, but you can (and should) also add anything from the library that you want. I just checked as I am writing and there are "2,494 modules found" in the free category. Yes, yes, you read that right.

To be able to add modules to your VCV Rack, however, you'll need to make an account, but that is just to link the module/brand you added/subscribed to the program you installed. You also have to add/subscribe first, then go to VCV to update the modules. Updating them will lead to the program closing, so if you're following along a video, look at which modules/brands are used so you don't have to leave and come back during the follow-along.

Installing VCV Rack is really easy, you just need to go on the website and select the version you want!

And the library is here!

In order to understand VCV Rack a bit better and do your first racks, I made a small playlist made out of the four 30-50 minute long videos from Red Means Recording, and one video from Omri Cohen. I really like what Red Means Recording does, but it's not just VCV. Omri Cohen has a lot more VCV stuff though.

Here is the link.

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I also suggest this video by Andrew Huang to understand what is modular synthesis.

Finally, to understand what does which thing in modular synthesis, you can check out this cool lesson with which you can interact! (by Ableton) (also check your sound volume haha, don't destroy your ears)

You also have a nice little playground to test what you've learned!

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I am only starting all that and understand only a fragment of modular synthesis, so if you have more videos and guides, hit me up so I can add them (and even make a masterpost?)

Also (and especially) if you have guides and explanations and follow-along videos made by trans people, TELL ME!