Documentation-first project about modular synthesis, generative music, hybrid workflows, and audiovisual systems.
Modular Genesis is an open-source educational platform and patch library. It is designed to teach and document how to build complex, living musical systems using VCV Rack, Ableton Live, and various visual engines.
Instead of just providing downloadable patches, this project is built documentation-first: every patch is accompanied by theory, routing diagrams, and a dedicated lesson.
- 🎛️ Modular Synthesis (VCV Rack)
- 🎚️ Hybrid Workflows (VCV Rack + Ableton Live)
- 🎲 Generative Patch Design (Probability, logic, autonomous systems)
- 📡 Audiovisual Systems (Audio-reactive visuals, mapping, 3D Labs)
This repository is organized to act as both a course platform and a source code repository. Click on any link below to explore the codebase:
The core of the project is a statically generated site built with Astro.
- 📂
site/src/content/lessons/— English lesson markdown files. - 📂
site/src/content/ru-lessons/— Russian lesson markdown files. - 📂
site/src/content/notes/— Architectural & conceptual notes. - 📂
site/src/content/patches/— Metadata for the patch library.
The actual working files that the lessons teach you to build:
- 🎛️
patches/—.vcvfiles organized by learning track. - 🎚️
ableton/— Live sets, routing templates, and effect racks. - 👁️
visuals/— Blender models, Three.js experiments, and TouchDesigner networks.
Deep-dive architectural documentation for contributors and advanced users:
- 🏗️
PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md— Full repository layout and philosophy. - 📸
ARTIFACT_WORKFLOW.md— Guide on how to add new patches, audio demos, and screenshots. - 🗺️
docs/diagrams/— Source files for system routing diagrams.
The curriculum is divided into five logical layers. Each layer builds upon the previous one, shifting the system from individual modules to a complete performance organism.
| Track | Description | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foundations | The basic vocabulary of voltage. | CV vs Audio, Oscillators, Envelopes, LFOs, VCA, Subtractive Synthesis. |
| 2. Sequencing | Ordered motion and time. | Clocks, Triggers, Gates, Sequencers, Quantizers. |
| 3. Generative | Autonomous, living systems. | Probability, Sample & Hold, Mutation, Slow Modulation, Feedback. |
| 4. Hybrid | Connecting modular to the DAW. | VCV Rack + Ableton routing, Multichannel Recording, MIDI Control. |
| 5. Audiovisual | Real-time visual response. | Audio-reactive visuals, OSC/MIDI mapping, Scene design. |
Want to run the site locally or contribute?
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ALEVOLDON/Modular-Genesis.git
cd Modular-Genesis/site
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Start the development server
npm run devThe site will be available at http://localhost:4321.
npm run buildThis generates the static files into site/dist/.
The site is configured for continuous deployment on two platforms:
- Netlify: Deploys automatically via
netlify.toml. Available at modular-genesis.netlify.app. - GitHub Pages: Deploys automatically via GitHub Actions (
.github/workflows/deploy-pages.yml). Available at alevoldon.github.io/Modular-Genesis.
Modular Genesis is currently at v0.1. It is a strong foundation, but there is work to be done before a full 1.0 release:
- Replace placeholder
.vcvfiles with production-ready generative patches. - Add screenshots, audio demos, and visual captures for every patch.
- Complete lesson content for advanced tracks (Hybrid & Audiovisual).
- Develop the WebGL
3D Lab Concept(see notes).
This repository is released under the MIT License. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code, patches, and documentation. See the LICENSE file for details.