If you have a modular system... it's because typical isn't an option... most important, just
go with what you hear!
;)

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com , "techmaster242" <techmaster@...> wrote:
>
> --- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com , "techmaster242" <techmaster@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm trying to make sense of how everything generally wires together in
> > a modular. Obviously, anything is possible, and the experimentation
> > is where the fun comes in, but I would like to understand the
> > "typical" way that a synth is wired, so that I can know what I'm doing
> > when I deviate from it. I'm just not 100% sure of how the signal
> > flows from one device to another to form a complete synth. I've
> > pieced together bits and pieces, and just wanted to put it all down in
> > front of you guys, and see if I'm on the right track. So, here goes.
> >
> > basic synth:
> > midi gets converted to cv by a-190
> > cv goes into VCO, which puts out audio signal
> > audio signal from VCO goes into VCA, which puts out audio signal
> > audio signal from VCA goes into your mixer, recorder, or DAW
> >
> > a bit fancier:
> > gate signal from a-190 goes into VC splitter
> > one VC goes into ADSR then VCA to control volume envelope
> > another VC goes into VCO sync so wave starts cleanly on every midi note
> >
> > for a moog type of sound:
> > cv from a-190 goes into a cv splitter
> > cv's go into same setup as above, but into 2 or 3 chains of
> > VCO->ADSR/VCA, slightly detuned from one another, mixing wave shapes,
> > etc to fatten up sound...
> > all VCA's audio outputs go into an audio mixer, which mixes down to
> > one signal going into your DAW.
> >
> > LFO's can then basically be plugged into any VC input in any above
> > setup to provide modulation, or introduce some variance to your sound.
> >
> >
> >
> > Am I thinking about this in the right way Obviously, you can run
> > VCO's or LFO's into each other's sync inputs and get some chopped up
> > waves with weird harmonics and stuff, but I'm just trying to
> > understand the absolute basics of how this works before I really start
> > tearing up the sound and see what this beast is truly capable of. :)
> >
>
> Oh, I forgot one more thing: Filters. I think... I'm totally new to
> modular synthesis, but I'm familiar with analog style synthesis,
> mainly on virtual analog synthesizers. On a typical virtual analog
> synth, you have your oscillators that can generate a sound, LFO
> modulation of various parameters, etc... But there are two
> adjustments that are the favorites of many people, that being cutoff
> and resonance. I can't even describe what they do to a sound wave,
> but they definitely fatten it up, a lot. I'm guessing that in the
> modular world, a filter is what you want to achieve this effect. But
> there are 3 types of filters: LPF, HPF, and BPF. Never in a
> self-contained keyboard have I seen a choice between the 3, you only
> adjust the cutoff and resonance. So which one does a typical synth
> have I've been involved in the car audio world for quite some time,
> and so am fairly familiar with what low pass, high pass, and band pass
> mean, as it's apparently the exact same thing that a crossover does.
> There's a cutoff slope, and I'm guessing what the cutoff adjustment
> does is adjust what frequencies it starts cutting at, but I honestly
> have no idea what resonance does to a sound, nor do I know which of
> the 3 filter types is the "typical" one... These are fairly amateur
> questions, obviously, but I really want to understand this stuff, and
> know scientifically just what exactly am I doing to the sound waves
> when I adjust a certain knob, or wire a certain patch. Plus, I want
> to make sure I'm buying the right modules to get the sound I want, and
> not make an expensive mistake. :) Thanks!
>