SIGNAL PATH monthly issue 2/2025

SIGNAL PATH monthly issue 2/2025

Let your brain, your soul, and your fingers really understand frequency modulation and how to apply it to your musical creativity!

Even if Issue 2/2025 is called “FM Special”, and even if 38 pages are devoted to FM, there´s a lot more to discover in this issue of SIGNAL PATH. But let´s talk about the FM chapters at first.

Yamaha´s DX synthesizers were not at all the first which introduced FM to the world of music making. Using FM techniques in musical experiments and production started right after World War II – without using the term FM, and without understanding a lot about the physical goings on though. “A Bit of FM History” gives a short overview of the development of FM.

Then the large practical guide starts in “The FM Universe: FM With Voltage Modular´s Zeroscillator”. Every function, every practical aspect, and every use case of this iconic module is shown and explained in-depth.

But there are capable FM modules in VCV Rack as well. The article “FM WITH VCV Rack: The Modules Pigeon Plink and Kitchen Sink” introduces them and shows some applications.

You are interested in a deeper understanding of the physical aspects of FM? You want to know and to understand what FM really is on the level of physics and of bits and bytes? The article “Quite a Bit of FM Theory” will make things clear for you.

But I promised more than a large FM section. In “Basic Hybrid Setups Part 2” the article shows examples to completely operate external hardware synths out of Voltage Modular and VCV Rack using MIDI CC messages. Having dealt with the basics in parts 1 and 2 the foundations are laid now for taking hybrid setups a step further and build larger and more complex setups that seamlessly combine modular, semi-modular and even non-modular musical instruments to unique and easyly workable productions systems. That´s what we are going to do from issue 3_2025 on.

Then there is the second part of “Beginner´s Guide” to modular synthesis, based on VCV Rack (freeware) as well as on Voltage Modular. The main topic in this article is sequencing.

This issue 2_2025 has got 53 pages (PDF) and contains quite “a few” patches and presets to be downloaded, as well as links to additional videos.

SIGNAL PATH – Tracking Sound from Source to Soul is a new monthly e-magazine about making music and working with sound. There are constant topics concerning the modular software synthesizer systems VCV Rack and Voltage Modular, VSTs and VSTis and Presets and Patches. And there are series of articles full of tips and examples concerning hybrid studio setups, recording & producing and more. Each issue includes presets and patches that can be downloaded and instantly used. The issues are published on each last Friday of a month (sometimes even a bit earlier).

A single issue comes 2,-$, a 12-issue subscription is 12,-$. Just click the link above to grab either only issue 1/2025 or a whole 12-issue package. With every subscription comes an in-depth video course about making dark ambient music for free.