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2. Crafting a virtual analogue patch from scratch

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In this tutorial, we'll take you through the basics of Voltage Modular Nucleus by showing you how to build a simple patch. Fire up the program and start with a blank slate. You can always start fresh by clicking the New button in the upper left. 2

Look at all that empty space. You'll need something to generate a sound, so head to the Library on the left and scroll down until you see the Oscillator module. Click its Add button to add it to your rack. Once loaded in, you can click and drag its top header to move it around the rack. 3

Note the little star button in the upperright of the Oscillator's entry in the Library. Clicking this adds it to your Favourites list. At the moment, you can't hear the oscillator. Click, hold and drag on one of its waveform outputs (we choose Triangle) to stretch a virtual cable up to the Main Outs module's 1L (M) jack. 4

You can now hear the waveform. Click and hold on either end of one of the jacks and drag the cable away to disconnect and remove it. An analogue oscillator module is always emitting a signal, and that signal is shaped by other modules. Go back to the Library, locate the Amplifier module and add it to your rack. 5

Move the Amplifier rack to any position you like. Stretch a cable from the Oscillator's Sawtooth output to the Amplifier's Input jack. Next, run a cable from the Amplifier's Output jack up to the Main Outs' 1L(M) port. You can now use the Amplifier's Gain knob to adjust the volume of the Oscillator's signal. 6

This isn't terribly exciting. Turn the Gain back down to minimum. What's needed is control over that Gain knob, which is where modulation comes into play. Go back to the Library and find the Envelope Generator. Add it to the rack. An envelope generator outputs a control voltage signal that is used to shape a signal over time. 7

Connect a patch cable from the Envelope Generator's Env Out jack to the Amplifier's CV In jack. Just below the CV In jack is a knob labelled CV Amount – make sure it's fully raised. An envelope generator needs something to kick it into action. You can click the Envelope Generator's Gate button to do so. 8

At the moment, the envelope is just acting as an on/off switch – it's not being used to shape the volume in any way. Try pushing the Envelope Generator's R slider up halfway. Now, when you press the Gate button, hold it for a second before releasing it – the sawtooth tone fades out more gradually. 9

To trigger the envelope from your MIDI keyboard, go to the CV Outs panel in the upper-left, then run a cable from its Gate jack down to the Envelope Generator's Gate In. Currently, pitch is constant, no matter what key you play, so plug the CV Outs panel's Pitch jack down to the Oscillator's Keyb CV jack. Now play some notes with your first modular patch!