Why play this instead of VCV Rack?

[Daikatan]

See titile.



https://youtu.be/Uk1yg9ib_oI

[kameltoes]

While I agree VCV Rack is awesome, most people wouldn't have the slightest clue on how it works, let alone how to use it.

[Daikatan]

Yeah, i just accidently noticed Signal State and couldn't help but joke.

Perhaps should have gone with eurorack $10k example instead.

[Greg]

Thanks! I didn't this existed until now. Looks really cool and it's free and open-source too. I tried the Signal State demo and while it's not really an audio first project, it seems like a really neat puzzle game.

[Ragdollintothewall]

Man that looks cool. I don't know why screwing around with data signals releases so much dopamine for me. Maybe I should have been a music producer or something.

[gRRRz]

it's the perfect game to take a break between two music sessions with vcv rack or an actual physical modular setup. (a bit like a programmer taking a break with a zachtronics game between two coding sessions)

[Salmonslap]

Never heard of VCV Rack, but they must be spending money on all these accounts promoting it in Steam.

[oneriff]

Rally love to get vcv rack running graet on my steam deck. Just installed it, now just need to get the controls right. Love to play whit my modular synth, also love to pay to get it vcv rack richt on the steam deck for on the go.

[ThatThing]

If you got money to burn, get reason 12. 🥰

[Daikatan]

Publicado originalmente por ThatThing:

If you got money to burn, get reason 12. 🥰

Isn't Bitwig or NI Reaktor more fitting comparison, lol

[ThatThing]

Publicado originalmente por Daikatan:

Publicado originalmente por ThatThing:

If you got money to burn, get reason 12. 🥰

Isn't Bitwig or NI Reaktor more fitting comparison, lol

Well, You can flip reason rack and play a round with cords and wires, But i dont know, I´m no pro at these things. :)

[Silenterror]

Because Rack is insanely daunting for anyone trying to get into synth patching. This game teaches through fun exercises that make entry a bit more easy and satisfying. So if you already are an expert then go use Rack. For the rest of the populace that has an interest but no clue WTF all the organized chaos in Rack is, it fits the bill perfectly. I've not seen anything like this anywhere else.

[kameltoes]

Publicado originalmente por Silenterror:

Because Rack is insanely daunting for anyone trying to get into synth patching. This game teaches through fun exercises that make entry a bit more easy and satisfying. So if you already are an expert then go use Rack. For the rest of the populace that has an interest but no clue WTF all the organized chaos in Rack is, it fits the bill perfectly. I've not seen anything like this anywhere else.

Do you have experience with modular or subtractive Synthesis? If so, does any knowledge of sound design apply in this game or is more based on CV Control voltage?

[Silenterror]

Publicado originalmente por Agent Hank Schrader:

Publicado originalmente por Silenterror:

Because Rack is insanely daunting for anyone trying to get into synth patching. This game teaches through fun exercises that make entry a bit more easy and satisfying. So if you already are an expert then go use Rack. For the rest of the populace that has an interest but no clue WTF all the organized chaos in Rack is, it fits the bill perfectly. I've not seen anything like this anywhere else.

Do you have experience with modular or subtractive Synthesis? If so, does any knowledge of sound design apply in this game or is more based on CV Control voltage?

The only subtractive synth experience is a plug-in on flstudio called morphine.

[ej]

Publicado originalmente por Greg:

Thanks! I didn't this existed until now. Looks really cool and it's free and open-source too. I tried the Signal State demo and while it's not really an audio first project, it seems like a really neat puzzle game.

It is addictive, but I was almost bored out of my mind clicking through dialogue and tutorial puzzles until finally the problems became even mildly challenging. And at that point the bg music and UI glitches (trying to move a cable but adding breakpoints, as an example) almost drove me insane. Had to make a pause and then continue without music.

[ej]

Publicado originalmente por Agent Hank Schrader:

Do you have experience with modular or subtractive Synthesis? If so, does any knowledge of sound design apply in this game or is more based on CV Control voltage?

I do, this game does have modules directly inspired by modular synths, they have artificial limitations to turn it into a puzzle. Many tasks are about digital logic but is does not have NAND gates or comparators/opamps. The pretence of being "analog" breaks down when you connect inverted output to input, with the simulation stopping and complaining about "infinite loop".
Due to modules being intentionally limited you are supposed to do a lot of low level plumbing. For example, when you need to connect 1 signal to 2 or more inputs, always need "splitter module". Due to no subtraction you need to use -100% attenuator and sum modules.. And the "attenuator" only has -1.0..+1.0 range, VCA too. Or, despite signal range being -100..+100, "bias module" won't let you subtract 140.

Unlike the real textbooks written by real engineers, this game does not explain what "intensity" is in one of its problems or if S&H are edge or level controlled, making some problem statements vague and requiring experiments to find out.
I haven't encountered "sound design" problems yet, but the knowledge of synth electronics and some basic discrete math do help a lot.