1st Edition

Developing Virtual Synthesizers with VCV Rack

By Leonardo Gabrielli Copyright 2020
    286 Pages 173 B/W Illustrations
    by Focal Press

    286 Pages 173 B/W Illustrations
    by Focal Press

    Developing Virtual Synthesizers with VCV Rack takes the reader step by step through the process of developing synthesizer modules, beginning with the elementary and leading up to more engaging examples. Using the intuitive VCV Rack and its open-source C++ API, this book will guide even the most inexperienced reader to master efficient DSP coding to create oscillators, filters, and complex modules.

    Examining practical topics related to releasing plugins and managing complex graphical user interaction, with an intuitive study of signal processing theory specifically tailored for sound synthesis and virtual analog, this book covers everything from theory to practice. With exercises and example patches in each chapter, the reader will build a library of synthesizer modules that they can modify and expand.

    Supplemented by a companion website, this book is recommended reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of audio engineering, music technology, computer science, electronics, and related courses; audio coding and do-it-yourself enthusiasts; and professionals looking for a quick guide to VCV Rack. VCV Rack is a free and open-source software available online.

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    1 Modular Synthesis: Theory

    2 Elements of Signal Processing for Synthesis

    3 VCV Rack basics

    4 Developing with VCV Rack

    5 The graphical user interface: a quick introduction

    6 Let’s start programming: the easy ones

    7 Getting Serious: DSP "classroom" modules

    8 Crunching numbers: advanced DSP modules

    9 The graphical user interface: creating custom widgets

    10 Additional topics

    11 After reading this book

    Bibliography

    Index

    Biography

    Leonardo Gabrielli, PhD, is a research fellow at the Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, where he lectures on music production and conducts research on physical modeling and deep neural audio processing. He collaborates with the music industry as a DSP developer and he is scientific director of Acusmatiq MATME.

    "Developing Virtual Synthesizers with VCV Rack is a great read; an informative read; an inspiring read; an empowering read; an essential read! This fantastic textbook and comprehensive set of applied audio coding tutorials by Gabrielli will become the basis of many college courses and foundational courses of study for every electronic musician interested in knowing how things work under the hood. With that knowledge and understanding they can code their own software synthesizers and DSP modules in VCV Virtual Eurorack format." Dr. Richard Boulanger, Professor of Electronic Production and Design, Berklee College of Music 

    "If, like me, you enjoy creating your own music tools, this book will help you bring your ideas to life inside the wonderful world of VCV Rack. Whether you are a beginner or an expert in DSP, you will learn something interesting or new." Dr. Leonardo Laguna Ruiz, Vult DSP