Emmet O'Neill
Introduction
Welcome to the world of Regen Modular, a set of fun and original modules that we've created for VCV Rack.
Since you're reading this, odds are pretty high that you know all about modular synthesis and VCV Rack. But if not, here's the quick rundown: modular synthesis is a form of sound generation and signal processing that is broken up into individual modules which are manually wired together with audio patch cables to achieve an infinite variety of complex sounds. VCV Rack is a free, open source, cross-platform, community-driven, and powerful software modular synthesis platform that allows you to build up your own collection of software modules that you can patch together to design soundscapes, create instruments, or make music.
While this manual isn't going to cover the fundamentals of modular synthesis or VCV Rack, if this sounds like something that you might be interested in, check out the first part of our "Absolute Beginner's Guide to Modular Synthesis with VCV Rack." Modular can be a fun way to explore sound design, synthesis and electronic music--and thanks to VCV Rack, it's more accessible than ever.
With that out of the way, the real purpose of this manual is to tell you just about everything you need to know about Regen Modular, from the basic premise of each set of modules, to the specific details of how you can interact with them. Without further ado, let's get to the modules...
Modules
As of now, Regen Modular is a set of 10 modules total, organized into 5 logical groups.
Cyclex
The Cyclex VCO and Cyclex LFO modules use a unique form of waveform generation based on simplex noise loops for an equally unique and flexible sound.
Both modules contain a coarse frequency parameter that's tuned to an appropriate range. While Cyclex VCO has a parameter for fine frequency adjustments, Cyclex LFO has a three-way polarity switch. For timbre control, both Cyclex VCO and LFO contain detail and ratio parameters. The detail parameter adds significant brightness and complexity, while the ratio parameter morphs the wave shape in a more subtle way.
Many of these parameters can also be modulated by an input signal using the associated ports and built-in attenuators towards the bottom of the module.
Finally, there are a set of buttons near the top of both modules that control the seed number. Each seed number not only results in a different waveform, it also subtly alters the effect of the other internal parameters, giving each it's own distinct sound.
Cyclex VCO and LFO both support polyphony.
Frames
The Frames module is a tracker-like sequencer that can be used to define up to 256 patterns of 16 frames. Each frame can contain note and/or parameter values, and every time the module is clocked it steps to the next active frame.
At the heart of the Frames module is the grid-like pattern editor, which both displays and allows for editing of the currently active pattern. Each pattern is made up of 16 frames, which are represented by the 16 individual rows of the pattern editor, labelled from "00" to "FF" in the left-most column of the pattern editor. The second column represents the note value of each frame. Columns 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent the values for the A, B, C and D parameters, respectively. Finally, the right-most column represents the legato value which, when active, prevents the corresponding frame from emitting a gate signal.
In the lower-left corner of the module is the pattern selector. The small display in the center of the pattern selector shows the currently active pattern and while the increment and decrement buttons and inputs near the display can be used to switch to the next and previous patterns, the pattern input port can also change the active pattern based on note-mapped CV signal.
There's a direction input, which can be used to easy control the playback direction.
Finally, there's a reset input that resets the active frame to the beginning of the active pattern, and a wrap output that emits a signal when the active frame wraps around from the last frame to the first frame.
The right-click context menu also contains some useful controls for editing entire patterns and randomizing notes and parameters, among other things!
Pattern Editor Mouse Controls:
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Click | Set cell. |
| Double-Click | Unset cell. |
| Click & Vertical Drag | Adjust cell value. |
| Click Legato Cell | Toggle Legato. |
| Double-Click Index Cell | Jump to frame. |
| Event (Note Cells) | Result |
|---|---|
| Shift + Click & Vertical Drag | Adjust octave only. (Note cells only.) |
| Ctrl + Click & Vertical Drag | Adjust note only. (Note cells only.) |
| Alt + Click | Toggle note OFF. (Note cells only.) |
Pattern Editor Keyboard Controls:
NOTE: The instance of Frames that you want to edit must be given focus by hovering your mouse over the module.
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Tab | Enter keyboard editing mode. When in edit mode, the border of the pattern editor will change colors. |
| Arrow Keys | Navigate selection across cells. Selected cell has inverted colors. |
| Page Down/Up | Decrement/Increment active pattern. |
| Delete, Backspace, - | Unset cell. |
| Event (Note Cells) | Result |
|---|---|
| Bottom two rows of QWERTY keyboard. (Z,S,X,D,C,V,G,G,H,N,J,M,<,L,>,:,?) |
Enter respective note value. (Note cells only.) |
| Number row. (0-9) | Change octave. (Note cells only.) |
| Space, \ | Note OFF. (Note cells only.) |
| Event (Parameter Cells) | Result |
|---|---|
| 0-9, A-F | Enter hex digit. (Parameter cells only.) |
| Event (Legato Cells) | Result |
|---|---|
| Enter | Toggle legato. (Legato cells only.) |
Nessie
The Nessie modules--Nessie Triangle, Nessie Pulse, Nessie Saw and Nessie Noise--are a set of VCOs which emulate the behavior of classic video game hardware chips like the "2a03" and "vrc6" in order to generate retro-inspired waveforms.
Each of these oscillators have a frequency parameter and input. Individually, Nessie Triangle has an octave down switch, Nessie Pulse has a duty cycle (also known as pulse width) parameter, Nessie Saw has a slope control with wrap-around waveshaping, and Nessie Noise generates pseudo-random periodic noise with two patterns, an LFO mode, and a shift input for manual iteration.
Many of these parameters can also be modulated by an input signal using the associated ports and built-in attenuators towards the bottom of the module.
Nessie Noise also has two output ports. While the "LoFi" output emits an authentic noise wave pattern, the "HiFi" output reinterprets the value of the internal LFSR to create a unique, and slightly more subtle, periodic noise wave.
Nessie Triangle, Nessie Pulse, and Nessie Saw support polyphony.
Quan
The Quan module quantizes the input signal to the nearest active chromatic pitch.
In the middle of the module are a set of note buttons following the layout of a piano keyboard. Clicking on any of those buttons toggles whether that note is active or not, with lit buttons representing active notes.
At the top of the module is the distribution switch. When set to uneven distribution, Quan will simply snap the input value to the nearest active pitch. When set to even distribution, Quan will give each active pitch an equal division of each input volt. Among other things, this allows for significantly different rhythmic effects, for example when quantizing a sweeping LFO signal.
Quan also has a handy gate output, which emits a short pulse each time the pitch jumps from one active note to another.
Quan supports polyphony.
Utilities
Regen Modular also comes with some straight-forward and practical utility modules.
Const is a constant DC voltage generator that can generate up to 4 simultaneous voltages
in either a -55V or 010V range.
XFade is a linear crossfader for blending between two input signals or voltages. XFade can also take in a CV signal and supports polyphony.