Arturia modular v, User Manual

Page 1: ...ARTURIA Modular V USER MANUAL 1 USER MANUAL...

Page 2: ...n Rochard Greg Vezon Sound Design Glen Darcey Goeff Downes Clay Duncan Clay Duncan Celmar Engel Boele Gerkes Victor Morello Chris Pittman Klaus Peter Rausch Klaus Schulze Katsunori Ujiie Manual Jason...

Page 3: ...3 2 1 Save Preset 21 3 2 2 Save Preset As 22 3 2 3 Import preset 22 3 2 4 Export preset 22 3 2 5 Export bank 22 3 2 6 Resize window options 22 3 2 7 Audio settings 23 3 2 8 Preset browser overview 23...

Page 4: ...2 The effects 43 3 6 2 1 The fixed filter bank 44 3 6 2 2 The Dual delay 45 3 6 2 3 The chorus 46 3 6 3 The keyboard controllers 46 3 6 4 The play modes 47 3 6 5 The sound design controllers 48 3 6 5...

Page 5: ...5 1 3 The amplifier or VCA 97 5 2 Complementary modules 98 5 2 1 The envelope generator 98 5 2 2 The low frequency oscillator 99 6 A few elements of sound design 102 6 1 Modular sound synthesis 102 6...

Page 6: ...ARTURIA Modular V USER MANUAL 6 6 3 6 The sample and hold 131 7 END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT 133...

Page 7: ...this domain During his adolescence he discovered the Thereminvox plan invented during the 30 s by a Russian engineer Leon Theremin or more exactly Lev Sergeivitch Termen Seduced by this instrument wit...

Page 8: ...esented during the AES show Audio Engineering Society where Bob Moog worked from an unused stand This new product generated a huge amount of interest but he did not yet realize the commercial punch of...

Page 9: ...gnition came with the success of Switched On Bach by W Carlos This album where classical music is played on a modular system sold over one million copies as it was bought both by classical music fans...

Page 10: ...Jan Hammer was also one of the first users of modular systems Big groups like Tangerine Dream the Beatles or the Rolling Stones would also become modular system owners The 3C modular system 1969 Court...

Page 11: ...for a more compact instrument that could be transported more easily directed more to stage than studio With the help of an engineer from Berkley Jim Scott and the advice from numerous musicians he wa...

Page 12: ...time But why not have internal cables fixed from the start Here again another example will help Let s take an envelope and two oscillators The latter possess three modulation inputs a frequency modula...

Page 13: ...und as do all of Arturia s virtual synthesizers TAE combines three major advances in the domain of synthesis 1 3 1 Aliasing free oscillators Standard digital synthesizers produce aliasing in high freq...

Page 14: ...inal waveform most notably for sawtooth triangular and square waveforms TAE reproduces the result of this capacitor discharge in software Below is the analysis of a waveform from one of the five origi...

Page 15: ...filter circuit the warm nuances synonymous with analog sounds are recreated The following graph shows a single example of direct circuit modeling in action The peaks represent the generation of harmon...

Page 16: ...om line when you bring together a bunch of music lovers who also have a deep understanding of the characteristics of electronic circuits you wind up with Arturia And Arturia now offers you our most im...

Page 17: ...th the product In order to proceed go to this web page and follow the instructions http www arturia com register Note If you don t have an Arturia account yet you will need to create one The process i...

Page 18: ...V main menu You will then see the Audio MIDI settings window This works in the same way on both Windows and Mac OS X although the names of the devices available to you will depend on the hardware you...

Page 19: ...e right hand side of this menu The Sample Rate menu lets you set the sample rate at which audio is sent out of the instrument The options here will depend on the capability of your audio interface har...

Page 20: ...plug in instrument and its interface and settings work the same way as in standalone mode with a couple of differences You can automate numerous parameters using your DAW s automation system You can u...

Page 21: ...e keys to hear a glissando The Modular V virtual keyboard 3 2 Toolbar The toolbar that runs along the top edge of the instrument both in standalone and plug in mode provides access to many useful feat...

Page 22: ...After selecting this option the default path to these files will appear in the window but you can navigate to whichever folder you are using 3 2 4 Export preset You can export and share a single pres...

Page 23: ...to see at the smaller magnification values The Resize Window menu 3 2 7 Audio settings Here you manage the way the instrument transmits sound and receives MIDI See section 2 2 of the manual for full...

Page 24: ...can be assigned to MIDI controls will be shown in purple and the idea is that you map physical buttons knobs faders or pedals from hardware MIDI controllers to specific destinations inside the instrum...

Page 25: ...control into learning mode Move a physical knob or fader and the target goes red indicating that a link has been made between the hardware control and the software parameter There s a popup window th...

Page 26: ...h a knob is turning as opposed to sending a full range of values in a linear fashion 0 127 for example To be specific a relative knob will send values 61 63 when turned in a negative direction and val...

Page 27: ...are You can copy the current MIDI assignment setup or delete it import a configuration file or export the currently active one This is a quick way to set up different hardware MIDI keyboards or contro...

Page 28: ...e first one on the left indicates the current MIDI Channel setting Click on it and it will expand to show the full range of values you can select All 1 16 3 2 11 3 Panic button and CPU meter The Panic...

Page 29: ...n 3 3 1 Searching presets The Search screen has a number of sections By clicking on the Search field at the top left you can quickly enter any search term to filter the preset list by patch name The R...

Page 30: ...hose exact criteria Deselect any tag in any area to remove that criteria and widen the search without having to go back and start again Using Ctrl click Windows or Cmd click Mac will allow you to sele...

Page 31: ...n will gain Edit and Delete buttons at the bottom of the window Click Edit and then make the desired changes either by typing in one of the fields or by using a pull down menu to change the Bank or Ty...

Page 32: ...e in the Search field you would see the results of that search in this area instead Filter results may differ based on Search criteria Selecting the All Types option in the pull down menu will bypass...

Page 33: ...n through the preset list either the full list or the filtered list that resulted from the use of one or more search terms 3 3 5 Playlists In the lower left corner of the Preset Browser window is a fe...

Page 34: ...aylist For example to move a preset from slot 2 to slot 4 drag and drop the preset to the desired location This will move the preset into the new location 3 3 5 4 Remove a preset To delete a preset fr...

Page 35: ...ction Visible as soon as the synthesizer is opened it is made up of two parts cabinets It integrates the 33 modules necessary for the creation of sounds The modules in the upper part can be exchanged...

Page 36: ...rd section composed of a sequencer and effects The virtual keyboard and related controllers The extensions section 3 5 Modular synthesizer The modular synthesizer cabinet contains 28 modules which wil...

Page 37: ...in total regrouped in threes like the original modular system 1 Driver oscillator allow the management of the frequency and impulse width of the 3 slave oscillators These 3 slave oscillators can be t...

Page 38: ...the nature of the noise to make it more or less brilliant White and pink noise generator 3 5 1 3 The filters The Modular V possesses 3 filters Each of these filters can be chosen between 4 types Low p...

Page 39: ...auxiliary ADSR modulation envelopes They are 6 in total allowing the evolution of the sound in time The auxiliary envelope 3 5 1 5 The dual trigger delay A module with two trigger delays allows the ma...

Page 40: ...ow Frequency Oscillator are used to create a cyclic modulation on one or several sound setting The slave oscillators can also be used as LFOs when they are brought to low frequency positions when they...

Page 41: ...ent amplifiers are at your disposal Each has its own volume setting with the rotating level button and amplitude modulation input These amplifiers can be regrouped to create mixers To regroup two ampl...

Page 42: ...tep defines 3 levels of output modulations using 3 knobs The manager moves from one step to another on each pulse from the low frequency generator The 3 rows of sequence can also be chained to create...

Page 43: ...sections 3 6 2 The effects The second section also has three effects which will allow you to bring more color and space to your sound or sequence These are on the right of the sequencer the chorus ca...

Page 44: ...negative and bandwidth setting This module also possesses a low pass filter 80 Hz and a fixed high pass 12 kHz Chorus the chorus module allows a frequency modulation where the rapidity can be set wit...

Page 45: ...hat it possesses an independent input and output for both sides It is also possible to keep a part of the sound effect free by deactivating one of the two VCA switches This can be very interesting whe...

Page 46: ...alue of the stereo width depth and stereo rate oscillation speed knobs This will create an auto pan effect The effect will be even more present if you lower the level of the signal without effect Dry...

Page 47: ...s a frequency smoothing portamento between 2 notes The velocity adds a modulation to the parameters which are affected by the force with which the key is played on the MIDI keyboard Aftertouch adds a...

Page 48: ...lows the systematic re triggering of the envelopes even if you link the notes in your playing sequence If on the other hand you don t wish to re trigger the envelopes when 2 notes are linked leave the...

Page 49: ...ers are not represented here for simplicity the modification will automatically and identically be taken to the synthesizer The opposite is also true 3 6 5 2 The 2D Pads These 2 XY pads can be assigne...

Page 50: ...find controls for the cutoff of the 3 filters modules These will only be active if the filters are used in the current sound a diode above each knob indicates if it is active Simply try to change the...

Page 51: ...ween the 2 screens the inputs and outputs of the sequencer section are grouped on a small extension under the sound programming section The sound programming section contains Nine oscillators grouped...

Page 52: ...n be used simultaneously This method of organizing the oscillators typical of Modular synthesizers helps to rapidly obtain a very rich tone The tree oscillators tuned separately and waveforms mixed gi...

Page 53: ...ctions like a rotating dial where the position for inactivity no modulation is at the center The modulation can thus be positive button turned to the right or negative button turned to the left The fi...

Page 54: ...nd pitch bend 4 1 2 2 Slave oscillator 921B Oscillator 921B Frequency Sets the frequency of the oscillator By left click setting by semi tone by right click fine setting Range Setting of the oscillato...

Page 55: ...to octaves 1 2 3 4 and 5 That is to say the note C3 is played respectively on C1 C2 C3 C4 and C5 At the Low position the oscillators perform modulations using lower calculation power than the other po...

Page 56: ...ctave type 904B a band cut and band pass 24 dB octave type 904C and finally a multi mode 12 dB octave filter Clicking on the name of the module and selecting the filter from the menu proposed does the...

Page 57: ...t has a setting for the cut off frequency and a setting for the resonance Only connecting the output of any module to one of the 3 modulation inputs can dynamically modulate the cut off frequency Like...

Page 58: ...nnection jacks Keyboard Follow Keyboard follow choice tuning the filter no follow follow 1 2 3 or 4 Sequencer Choice Choice of the sequencer output tuning the filter no sequencer sequencer 1 2 3 or 4...

Page 59: ...ff frequency Resonance Sets the bandwidth of the filter Type Choice of filter type band reject or band pass Audio Output Filter output connection jack Audio Input Filter input connection jack FM Input...

Page 60: ...ton the bandwidth of 1 3 octave to 3 octaves with the Resonance knob The first modulation input allows the dynamic modification of the bandwidth the 2 others the central frequency A type selector prov...

Page 61: ...filter no sequencer sequencer 1 2 3 or 4 The multi mode 12 dB octave filter has different types of filtering that the original Modular synthesizers could not offer The selector holds six types if fil...

Page 62: ...signal Six in total the modulation envelopes make the sonority evolve in function with time An envelope possesses four sequentially following temporal periods attack decay sustain and release When th...

Page 63: ...The input trigger can be connected to the output trigger coming from the keyboard the trigger delay module the oscillators trigger output or from the sequencer The time of the different periods are co...

Page 64: ...iate decay time Slope Level Sets the intermediate decay level Input Trigg Input trigger signal connection jack Envelope out Envelope out connection jack Audio Input VCA input connection jack Panoramic...

Page 65: ...e high point after attack to slope before moving to the decay t D S A R Sn St t On Trigg Representation of the output VCA envelope The output amplifier internally connected to this envelope has volume...

Page 66: ...equency generator as a modulation source is typical It allows the gentle evolution of the tone of a sound or to simulate vibrato and tremolo Even though the oscillators can be used at very low frequen...

Page 67: ...sequencer in a cyclic manner This output is visible only visible at trigger input menu level 4 1 7 Controlled amplifiers Mixers Controlled amplifier VCA Audio Input Amplifier input connection jack Aud...

Page 68: ...up with the next 2 to mix the outputs of 2 filters which will respectively treat the output of the first amplifier and the output of the seventh There are 5 remaining amplifiers for modulation or othe...

Page 69: ...zed The output will move to an active state when their internal counter reaches the value specified by the rotating time button When the trigger input returns to an inactive state the output immediate...

Page 70: ...filter output connection jack Low Pass Frequency Sets the Low Pass filter cut off frequency High pass Output High pass filter output connection jack High pass Input High pass filter input connection...

Page 71: ...s correspond to two independent noise generators 4 1 10 Sample and hold Sample and hold Clock Rate Sets the internal clock frequency Trigg Input Menu selecting the choice of external input used to tri...

Page 72: ...sses two functions The first generates an envelope from the audio signal connected to Follower in The Time setting determines the detail for the envelope follower The lower the value the more the inpu...

Page 73: ...ion connection jack Mul Signal Input Multiplicative signal connection jack Signal Input Input jack for signal to be treated Signal output Output jack for treated signal The ring modulator multiplies t...

Page 74: ...odulation of the vowel pre selections This module regroups four bell filters connected in a series Each filter can be set and modulated independently of the others in frequency gain and resonance or b...

Page 75: ...monic relations are totally modified It is easy with this module to produce metallic sounds There are three available outputs two for each of the translations possible negative and positive the other...

Page 76: ...nant filters a chorus module a phaser a stereo delay module and a type 960 sequencer The 3 effect modules filter bank chorus and stereo delay are applied to the signal of the output amplifiers in func...

Page 77: ...d has 14 bands Each has a level amplification and alleviation and bandwidth setting excepting the first and last bands which are respectively the low pass and high pass filters The cut off frequencies...

Page 78: ...in function with the state of the interrupters VCA1 and VCA2 The chorus module allows a frequential blurring where the speed is set by the speed knob the amplitude by the depth and the width with the...

Page 79: ...inal signal Thus we can have a filter that combs with notches the frequency spectrum to the rhythm of an oscillator which follows the frequency set with the rate button The depth button sets the ampli...

Page 80: ...of the right track towards the left track Feedback to right Sets the feedback gain of the left track towards the right track Dry Sets the gain applied to the input signal Wet Sets the gain applied to...

Page 81: ...ed signal to the other track The repetition speed can be synchronized with the tempo of the host application and in this case the time knob selects the multiples and sub multiples of this tempo The le...

Page 82: ...cally set with the frequency knob and dynamically with the modulation input situated on the first section The synchronization interrupter synchronizes this generator on the tempo of the host applicati...

Page 83: ...mes to a step the corresponding trigger output is activated allowing the start up of certain envelopes It is possible to remain on a particular step by modifying the Hold display In this case we need...

Page 84: ...4 to output 2 On Line3 Forcing of the selection from output 4 to output 3 Forcing Trigger Input3 Forcing trigger input of the selection from output 4 to output 3 Mode Output4 Choice of progression mo...

Page 85: ...lines 123 but the change takes place at every sequencer clock impulse We just need to wait for 3 impulses at every step to alternatively have lines 1 2 and 3 of each of the steps The functioning is th...

Page 86: ...rator for the trigger of the keyboard follow High Selects the high note of the generator for the trigger of the keyboard follow which can also be inverted Bend Portamento Request for affectation of a...

Page 87: ...tors is raised It is also possible to replace the portamento continuous glide of the frequency with a glissando frequency glide by semi tone 4 4 2 General settings General settings Course Bend filter...

Page 88: ...phonic mode 2 interrupters allow the control of the triggering of the envelopes The first re trigger allows the reactivation of the trigger signal in the case where the notes are linked The second leg...

Page 89: ...cillator Voltage Controlled Oscillator can be considered as the starting module with the noise module that we often class among the oscillators for the creation of a sound on a modular system It is he...

Page 90: ...uare signal is a little filtered etc The PWM Pulse Width Modulation is a setting which allows the modification of the square ware form cycle or wave width This can be done manually with the PW knob or...

Page 91: ...It is very poor in harmonics impair equally and will be very useful for creating sub basses flute sounds etc Triangle waveform The sinusoid is the purest waveform of them all It is composed of a singl...

Page 92: ...cher in harmonics If you introduce a square or sawtooth signal the result can be quickly distorted but interesting for inharmonic sonorities like bell sounds or special effects for example Frequency M...

Page 93: ...cies as white noise having received a low pass filtering Also note that the audio output of the noise can be used as a modulation signal specially when it is heavily filtered to create random cyclic v...

Page 94: ...to 7 different types of filtering Let s have a look at their respective properties The low pass filter LPF deletes the high frequencies from a frequency limit the famous cut off frequency and only al...

Page 95: ...emphasize appear This will make the sound more pinched Band pass filter The band reject filter notch eliminates the frequencies inside a band of frequencies This filter is above all else interesting w...

Page 96: ...y mixing consoles or professional equalization modules The bell filter amplifies or dampens a frequency band in function with the gain knob Bell filter The low shell filter amplifies or dampens the fr...

Page 97: ...the filter becomes more selective the cut off frequency is amplified and the sound begins to whistle With a high level of resonance the filter will begin to oscillate on its own producing a sound clos...

Page 98: ...on as released Of course this connection is made through MIDI it replaces the gate type connection of analog synthesizers which triggers the sound when the key is pressed and stops when released In th...

Page 99: ...ary decline situated after the decay once a key is pressed The envelope generator can also be used to modulate other settings like the cut off frequency of a filter or an oscillator for example 5 2 2...

Page 100: ...Finally try to connect an LFO output to the modulation input of a lightly resonant low pass filter and you will obtain a wah wah effect VCA modulated by a LFO Now to finish the scheme of a full synthe...

Page 101: ...ARTURIA Modular V USER MANUAL 101 Synthesizer scheme...

Page 102: ...effects The fourth and last part will guide you through the use of three of the new modules in the Modular V 2 0 the Bode Shifter the envelope follower and the Formant Filter 6 1 Modular sound synthes...

Page 103: ...brassy sound for example Direct the cable to the input of the first filter VC Low Pass Filter by dragging it to the In jack This first cable will come confirming the connection Now direct the audio o...

Page 104: ...lators 1 low pass filter 1 output VCA 1 envelope 1 LFO It will more or less constitute the classic composition of a basic synthesizer You will be able to regularly reuse this patch don t erase it Patc...

Page 105: ...situated between the first and second VCA This will allow you to mix these 2 sources before directing them towards the audio input of filter1 Click on the link button to create a link between the 2 V...

Page 106: ...tors Setting of the volume of the 2 mixer VCA To give more life to your sound click on the frequency knob on the first oscillator with the right click of the mouse Fine tune position then lightly turn...

Page 107: ...n on this jack and lightly turn it towards the right to 2 o clock for example This will dose the modulation input to the cut off Finally lower the cut off frequency to hear the oscillation of the soun...

Page 108: ...tereo evolutions The complete patch For the conception of this sound you can complete the previous patch Start by clicking on the link button between the second and third mixer VCA to create the link...

Page 109: ...mode filter by clicking on the button on the top left of the module Choose the low pass mode Its filtering characteristics allow us to obtain a different color from the other filter a 24 dB band pass...

Page 110: ...tions on the filter1 cut off frequency Choose the Sin output of LFO1 and direct it to the first modulation input of filter1 Lightly turn the jack to the right to 2 o clock for example this will dose t...

Page 111: ...lease R lightly increasing them to 500 millisecond for example The setting of the VCA envelopes 6 1 4 Complex patch 2 This fourth example will let you go a little further in the approach of different...

Page 112: ...he Filter Coupler It will be very useful in creating a resonance particular to white noise For this set it to Band Pass mode Connect the audio output of this filter to the audio input of the fifth mix...

Page 113: ...s output to the second Mod input of filters1 2 without forgetting to increase the 2 modulation levels The white noise module connected to the band pass filter Set the third filter output towards the f...

Page 114: ...harmonic colors typical of analog synthesizers Set the Pulse Width knob value towards the middle so that the sound does not disappear when the pulse width is at 10 equivalent to the closed position o...

Page 115: ...ample patch 1 from this chapter as the starting point At the bottom of the first Driver oscillator click once on the sequence display situated next to the one for the key follows the display indicates...

Page 116: ...on the ON button situated in the Oscillator module The sequencer starts up but you only hear the same pitch for all the steps This is normal Start the sequencer Set each knob corresponding to the fir...

Page 117: ...ry different sequence lines available which although different will harmonize perfectly together We will also look at the possibilities for the creation of ternary sequences for example 6 12 or 18 ste...

Page 118: ...VST for example Choose step 1 on the seventh line We can now go much further by moving the sixth time towards the eighth column For this return to the initial order of the sequence 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 and...

Page 119: ...sing a MIDI keyboard by selecting Keyboard Trigger on the Trigg output above the ON button The sequence will be triggered when you press one of the notes In the same manner you can switch lines or col...

Page 120: ...e sequencer click several times in the small display at the bottom of the module to show its characters Filter1 on the S2 sequencer output Place the second driver on the S3 sequencer output Now connec...

Page 121: ...1 Creative use of key follows The Modular V provides you with settings for 4 independent key follows These key follows are mainly used to tune the oscillators in relation to the keyboard range but ca...

Page 122: ...ope of this key follow The more you increase the value the more important the slope and the faster the opening of the filter will be performed when the keyboard range is played Setting of the key foll...

Page 123: ...dular V envelopes are triggered by specific signals These signals can be generated by the keyboard note On note Off by each of the 4 key follows by the sequencer or by the trigger delay module Simply...

Page 124: ...itialized on every On note You will obtain trigger synchronization by playing the MIDI keyboard Triggered by a particular note the sequencer can appear only after an introduction for example Sequencer...

Page 125: ...em like it s turning in space or in the second case passing from one point to another To keep the stereo space very wide it is essential to keep the 2 channels independent Il It is thus necessary to u...

Page 126: ...r of unique sounds which we will see in the two following examples 6 3 4 1 More stereo width Obtain more stereo width by slightly dephasing the pitch of the sound Take as an example the preset Bode_Ba...

Page 127: ...quence For this example we will use the sequencer to create a simple melody with the Bode Shifter Sequence lines 1 and 2 will modulate the height of the Bode frequency Frequency shifter modulation Tak...

Page 128: ...e don t want to filter the sound coming from the Bode Shifter The Bode_Seq patch We are not obliged to use a sequencer as source of frequency modulation for the Bode Shifter More subtle modifications...

Page 129: ...preferably a drum loop on an audio track on the sequencer Open a VST Insert effect on this track by choosing Modular V2 FX On a MIDI track choose the Modular V2 FX as MIDI control output It will thus...

Page 130: ...DI You can modify the curve of the envelope with the Time Follower setting situated under the Threshold knob 6 3 5 2 Create your LFO form Here we will see how you can create your own complex LFO wavef...

Page 131: ...the first VCA going from the left Turn the Time Follower knob below the Threshold knob to modify the amplitude 6 3 6 The sample and hold The Modular sample and hold module was only introduced on the...

Page 132: ...The result is random changes to the filter cut off frequency Now set the modulation rate by turning the Clock rate knob on the Sample and Hold module o By setting the filter cut off frequency on the...

Page 133: ...purchases from the Arturia Online Store please contact Arturia on the internet website www arturia com support askforhelp purchase 1 5 Arturia reserves all rights not expressly granted in the EULA 2 R...

Page 134: ...long as only one installation is used at any given time The Licensee must register the Product to Arturia to get access to client support and to activate his Product An internet connection is required...

Page 135: ...be repackaged in whole or in part as audio samples sound libraries or sound effects 6 Data Protection Arturia attaches great importance to compliance with legislation on data protection The User data...

Page 136: ...ons on the length of an implied warranty or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusions may not apply to the Licensee in this case This war...