Hi everyone, I’m relatively new to VCV and I’m exploring it, so forgive the question which may seem trivial. I would like to “drive” Arturia’s Analog lab V through VCV; in practice I create a small rack and I would like to extract gates and notes to send to a midi module (in this case AL V Arturia) you can help me, also through links where there are examples such as make these two entities communicate? Thanks in advance for your support. Roberto
Three options
- Buy the host module so lab could appear in rack free or pro
- Buy rack pro so you can generate midi from rack in your daw.
- Use a virtual midi cable (like iac on Mac) and run the arturia as a standalone and have a midi out in rack
The third is free but is the most os dependent and uncoupled
Good luck!
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Spot on. Option 1 is probably the easiest, and best value for money (Host module costs much less than Pro, and as a bonus you can run free VST plugins in Host-FX). Also you don’t need to use MIDI, just gate and pitch CV within a standalone Rack patch.
If you want to use regular MIDI sequencing, I think it’s probably best to support the project and pony up for VCV Pro (although there is 4th option which is free - see below).
Option 3 is a bad idea on Windows OS!
Option 4 - if you already use a DAW, and just want to try sending some modular sequences to a VSTi, have a look at Cardinal - this is a fork of VCV that runs as a free VST. I prefer the way it works in a DAW, but there are fewer modules and no library or commercial options, just a preset selection of developers which are open source.
Having written all that, it does sound confusing! I use standalone/Host, Pro and Cardinal depending on what I want to do… 
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Yes. Host module. It’s a $30 must-have in any case.
Just like this, here with Kontakt:
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This is what I did and I’ve had a lot of fun with it.
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Cardinal has a subset of the open source modules. I don’t know the stats, but I would expect it’s a small subset?
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Just over a thousand modules from 73 devs, which sounds a decent amount but I do find it quite restrictive. Missing Vult, Nysthi and Chronoblob is a problem for me (and Squinky Labs obviously) 
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I think to be in there you need to use the exact matching GPL license (3+) and also maybe do something special to get included there? My old Squinky Labs had GPL 3, not 3+. My current Squinktronix modules are 3+, but I haven’t rang on their doorbell to get in there.
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I rang no doorbell, but I am there.
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Maybe if you are well known and in demand they add you automatically? I guess I should see if I’m in there (although Squnktronix is hardly “well know” at this point).
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I have not idea how I ended up there. I found out when everyone else did.
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But, I also use Host and have been very happy with the Arturia Analog Lab V collection.
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Hello everyone, thanks for the interesting discussion that clarified my ideas in terms of VCV interface - something else. Thank you all because you have addressed different solutions. I chose (having VCV Pro) to “exchange” midi data through Ableton among many others which seemed practical for now even if - BRIDGE - I’m interested in the method, I think I will purchase it in the future. Thanks everyone and good music! Roberto