My new synth, the Moog Little Phatty has 3 Control Voltage (or CV) inputs, for Filter cutoff, Oscillator Pitch and Volume. Analog signals on these inputs will modulate the corresponding parameter. This is the same technology behind those beautiful modular synths, where you have some mad scientist sticking wires all over the place.

I do not have any modular components yet, but I do have Reaktor. This virtual modular synth will let me build complex structures to send arbitrary CV signals to any of the LP’s inputs (thanks to my multi output soundcard). I’m still experimenting to see if line level audio voltages have the same range as typical CV signals.

Anyway, for this mp3 below, I am sending 2 outputs from Reaktor to the LP. One is a midi controlled oscillator being sent to the LP’s Audio-In, which gives me a 3 oscillator synth. The second is acting as an FM modulator for the LP’s filter. It has an envelope and a frequency ratio adjustable through Reaktor.

The first sound you hear is the LP by itself. at :15 or so, the 3rd oscillator appears. The filter FM comes in about :37.

After that I mess with Reaktor parameters for a while and then move over to the LP adjusting it’s settings directly.

The sky is the limit!