Modulesignaalit

Modulesignaalit, often translated as module signals, are a key concept in the context of modular synthesis, particularly with voltage-controlled synthesizers. These signals are essentially electrical voltages that represent musical information such as pitch, amplitude, or control data. Unlike audio signals which are directly audible, module signals are used to control the behavior and parameters of different synthesizer modules.

The most common type of module signal is the control voltage (CV). CV is a continuously variable voltage that can influence various aspects of sound generation and manipulation. For instance, a CV signal can dictate the fundamental frequency of an oscillator (determining the pitch), the cutoff frequency of a filter, or the intensity of an effect. The range of these voltages can vary, but a common standard is 1 volt per octave for pitch control, meaning an increase of 1 volt corresponds to doubling the frequency.

In addition to CV, another important type of module signal is gate and trigger signals. These are typically simple on/off signals, often represented by a high voltage when active and a low voltage when inactive. Gate signals are used to indicate the duration of a note, for example, turning an envelope generator on and keeping it on as long as the gate is high. Trigger signals are shorter pulses used to initiate an event, such as starting a sequencer or triggering a drum sound. Understanding how these different types of module signals interact is fundamental to creating complex and expressive sounds in modular synthesis.