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IVCS3 playable patches?.
Hi,
I love and hate IVCS3. I absolutely love the sound and looks, it’s probably my favorite sounding and most inspiring synth, only it’s on few occasions I can call it a synth... I’ve watched a few video tutorials but probably need a dozen more, cos I can’t get this beast in tune. Only using a starting patch do I get somewhere where I can play notes and chords. So
- Can you recommend some of the IAP’s for playable, in tune, presets?.
- Any quick info on how to get the frequency wheel (and related) in tune and octaves?.
IVCS3 is amazing, but I’m not too versed on synths and it just beats me.
Thanks!
Comments
The FAC packs contain many playable patches. The Pink Floyd and EMS-50 banks are free, perhaps start there. EMS-50 is a best off btw.
By frequency wheel you mean the oscillator controls? You need to set the input level to 0.32 to play them with the keyboard.
Here's a playlist of videos I did on iVCS3, with the specific purpose of making this thing a bit more accessible:
Hopefully these help give you some direction!
Hazel of Digital Jeepney also has a good overview:
I did watch the videos, very good indeed and thanks for making them, they did get me started. But I think I’m missing something.
@Philandering_Bastard you mean 0.32 for input level right?. That was mentioned in the videos. But there was another figure that I believe needs to be set on the Oscillator Frequency for the notes to be in “standard” tuning.
Also when I double click I get the weird assign window and the value (0.32) for the input doesn’t look at all like the 0-10 knob. Here’s a screenshot. Man it’s hard!!.
.
Regarding the presets, I can’t find the FAC ones, there are a few “JEC” ones. I already got all the freebies, very cool but not many “tuned” patches. Which one/s should I get for playable patches that could serve as a starting point?
Thanks!!
The big oscillator knobs need to be set to 369.33 Hz (or multiple/division thereof) to play in tune with normal A=440 Hz tuning. Also, as already mentioned, the input level from the keyboard needs to be set to 0.32v to play a diatonic scale.
I also wonder if iVCS3 handles 44.1 kHZ vs. 48 kHZ host rates as it should. Some apps don't adapt correctly to different audio rates. I haven't tried to see. I do know it only exports at 44.1 kHZ, so suspect that could be the case.
If you've adjusted the oscillator and the input voltage and it's still out of tune, that might be something to look at.
That was a brainfart on my part, I meant JEC of course (sorry James Edward @JEC ).
Bank JEC 2018 A has a bunch of bass and lead sounds, for instance. Here’s a video overview:
Another option is to just use the individual modules. It's a lot more tame/easy that way.
The original VCS3 keyboards were 3 octave & set so that the centre F# was 0 volts so therefore the Oscillators needed to be tuned to F#. Close enough is 92.5 or 185 or 370 or 740 etc depending on what octave band you want.👍 the 0.32 value for the input relates to the voltage required for keyboard equal temperament. This might seem a nuisance but it means lots of alternative tunings are possible.
If you select “Init” to load an initialised preset. Osc1 & Osc2 are precisely tuned to F# an octave apart. 👍
Right, so these are the 2 numbers!. I think the manual only mentions the 0.32 figure. Thanks @wim
And to input them... you use the little pop up (screenshot above) where you can also set the lfo. Right?. If it is (I can’t see another way) it’s further confusing because the value is then set on a knob from 0 to 10.
I’ll try out the JEC pack, @Philandering_Bastard . I do love bass on the IVCS3. I had an excellent bass sound going once, before I changed the frequency or some pin or some input or ... and lost it forever 😬
This might be the dumbest question ever... why F#?. What does that imply?. Is that why you and @wim mention 370? Cos that’s how you set it to a standard 440hz?. I’m assuming if I leave it at F# IVCS3 would be 3 semitones lower than the other instruments.
Embarrassed about the amount of questions... yet the last one. So if 370 (369.33) is A 440, what would be the next octave up, just multiply x 2?
You can also re-set the oscillators to the init values by double-tapping, then hitting the cloud/download icon at the center. I'm so glad I finally discovered that one. I was getting really tired of re-entering that obscure value.
It's in there, just way buried. I know because I had to look it up about a bazillion times until I finally found the shortcut I mentioned above. It's under the heading Back Panel > Ext. Input > Frequency, Dynamic Range, Tuning Spread and Level.
Even the mind bending difficulty of trying to master the original hardware is carefully emulated in this plugin.
The reason it is F# is because in a 3 octave keyboard Rom C to C, F# is the exact centre key. When the Oscillators are set to any F# frequency then when the centre F# is played the frequency modulation is zero (zero volts)
Osc 1&2 track their frequency modulation at 0.32 volts per octave hence the input setting.
Osc3 tracks at 0.26 volts per octave, so for example setting the second DK input to 0.26 and placing a white pin in matrix K9 then Osc 3 can be used as the third audio Osc by also setting it’s frequency to an F# frequency in the audible range.
The Filter tracks at 0.2 volts per octave so using N9 the second DK could instead to track the Filter. this can allow a uniform timbre from every key as the Cutoff would track.
Using the RED pins set to a ratio between 0.26 / 0.32 = 0.8125 allows a single DK line to track Osc1&2 with white pins and Osc3 with a red pin simultaneously. Leaving the second line free to track the filter also.
Similarly, the ratio 0.2 / 0.32 = 0.625 will allow a single DK line to track Osc1&2 and Filter simultaneously leaving line 2 free.
I use the red pin ratios quite a lot, particularly to track the filter which keeps the cutoff resonant point at the played key’s frequency and leaves line 2 free for a CV Envelope to be used as a modulation source👍
I can’t find iVCS3 as an AU anymore. Only it’s modular parts? It still loads OK as IAA. Anyone else?
The AU’s name is spelled differently. Just vcs3 with no i
Oh, too funny. Thank you. I have used it so many times before. Can’t believe I never realised lol.
By the time I get my head around this I’ll be able to build my own ivcs3 out of my DVD scraps!. 😬
That shortcut is a lifesaver!
Just chiming in to say thanks to @JEC for all of the amazing presets! One of the few things on iOS that I don’t even watch a demo of before purchasing. As evidenced by your response here, you are a true wizard.
Printed out for future reference. You truly are the Putney Whisperer.
Just need to say both myself and Alessandro wholeheartedly appreciate everyone’s support! Alessandro puts a huge amount of time and expertise into all his apps and iVCS3 is a true labour of love for us both, so many, many thanks everyone!☺️
PS, there are no dumb iVCS3 questions, I am happy to explain anything about the “beast”!
In a way iVCS3 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, it looks harmless enough but above all it is a Modular Synth with all the complexity that that entails, so bearing this in mind, as the audio and modulation paths are not hardwired, the user must choose their own so therefore greater thought is required to design a patch, but it is for this reason that the sonic possibilities are so much greater and also therefore the level of satisfaction earned from the endeavour.
If it helps, when I started in modular synthesis (many years ago lol), I first made connections which followed the same audio path as for example the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey, thus recreating their familiar structure and this made designing usable timbres much much easier, it was only then I ventured into patching other variations, experimenting with alternative modulations and signal paths. Sure, I invested a lot of time but the rewards were enormous, so I urge patience and a little reverse engineering of your favourite presets goes a long way! Please remember, if something is bemusing, just ask! 👍
Perhaps VCS3 should stand for “Very Complicated Synth 3”? ... lol
Love these. Plus the channel is called Digital Jeepney. What's not to like?
I bought iVCS3 this week. I’ve been trying to recreate Jarres famous laser and bubbles effects with limiting success.
It’s a very enjoyable synth to program. It’s going to take me quite a while to get my head around it.
Jec ems 50 presets are playable
@JEC i know it’s hard to favor a child, but which of your packs should I start with?. Playable basses and juicy pads for starters. In the hope I can use them as a starting point and deconstruct them.
BTW one thing that would really help... as I said before I can’t see the relation between the number you input (for ex 0.32 for input), which by reading the above I understand is voltage, and the value on the knob (0-10). Is there a way to see the voltage value used on a knob?. That’d be really helpful.
BTW num 2... Is it me or IVCS3 really sounds completely unique?. It might be that I’m not good at synths and can’t get other synths to do what I want, but to me IVCS3 sounds like circuits and hardware in a way no other synth I own does. I sometimes run digital stuff through guitar pedals to add that “something “ but that seems like already part of IVCS3. Magic.
@tahiche Hi, it is indeed difficult for me to choose for you certainly without knowing your particular likes and dislikes. Each bank has an associated video which shows examples of the presets either singly or within a short composition. To see these, bring up the presets and mod shop and tap on a bank name. This will open a window with a short description and a video. Of course the EMS 50 bank is free and contains 10 presets from each of the preceding banks which gives a hands on flavour of the other banks.
Hope you find something interesting or perhaps even inspiring 👍
Hey @JEC thanks for that amazingly helpful post about the oscillator frequencies, pins, etc. It took three or four reads, but my head no longer spins.
Would you mind if I incorporate it into an Audiobus Wiki article for iVCS3 tips and tricks?
Hi @wim where iVCS3 is concerned, I’m always happy to be quoted lol and if there’s a note about the available preset banks that would be most welcome lol ☺️
If there’s anything you need clarified or explained in greater or lesser detail, I’m more than happy to oblige. 👍
@spiteface & indeed everyone, many thanks! Your support is very much appreciated!🙏
Purchasing the presets really helps to keep iVCS3’s development going, especially considering that almost every Apple iOS update requires some reprogramming...👍
Also @tahiche, I noticed that your question hadn’t been answered so...yes, you double an oscillator’s frequency to raise by an octave and conversely halve the frequency to lower by an octave.
———————————————-
Another tip with regard to octave transpose... say when the Joystick Horizontal Range Parameter is set to 0.32 you can patch 15i and/or 15j to modulate Osc1 and/or 2’s frequency and moving the Stick Fully Left will Raise the patched Oscillator(s) by an octave and moving fully Right lower by an Octave. (As previously mentioned, for Osc3 the range needs to be 0.26 and Filter 0.2 or again use the Red Pins with appropriate ratio)
By using a formula where n is the number of semitones the range parameter value equals n x (0.32/12) this enables the user to transpose at semitone intervals also by turning on the global parameter “Joystick Handle Springy” allows the Joystick to behave like a Pitch Bender with the appropriate range.
Higher values are also possible, eg the range set to 0.64 is a 2 Octave Shift and 0.96 is, unsurprisingly, a 3 octave shift.
The Joystick can be patched in the above ways to correct a preset which is not in A=440 tuning by subtly modulating the Osc’s and/or Filter frequencies using the Range set a course re-tune and stick to fine tune.
Have fun! lol
Hi!
So I got the mega bank. Since you wouldn’t really favour one or the other the “Mega” prefix was the deciding factor.
Btw I mistakenly put a red pin from filter to filter freq and it was terribly nice. This thing is bad.