VCV MIDI-CV: Trouble simulating 4-voice paraphony

Plugins & Modules
1

Hello!

I’m attempting to simulate 4-voice paraphony in VCV rack using the VCV MIDI-CV module in 4-voice mode (running the polyphonic signal through VCV Split and connecting each voice to a different oscillator to get the paraphonic effect) but it can only play all 4 voices at once rather than play up to 4 voices.

If I try to play a melody using only a single voice while the VCV MIDI-CV interface is in 4 voice mode, it will make no sound until I have played four notes and then play all of the four notes at the same time as I press the fourth note. For example, let’s say I was trying to play a melody with the notes C, E, G, and A on my computer keyboard (in that order.) With 4-voice polyphony enabled in the MIDI-CV module, C E and G will be silent as I press the notes, but once I press A the device will play C E G and A all at the same time. I have tried using the different polyphony modes available in the module, but to no avail.

Is this the same result I would get using a similar physical/analog modular synth setup, or is it specific to VCV MIDI-CV only? I’m using VCV rack to prototype a synth setup I’m looking into, so it would be great to know how true-to-life VCV is in this case before I spend a bunch of cash on an expensive MIDI interface :sweat_smile:

New to these forums, so if there’s anything I’m doing wrong or should do differently please let me know!

Thanks!

2

It sounds like you have one VCA placed after mixing the voices, using one of the polyphonic gate channels as its CV. You should have 4 VCAs, with a gate corresponding to the poly channel into each VCA.

Or, merge the monophonic voices into a poly signal again, apply a VCA to the poly signal using the poly gate signal, preferably enveloped.