VCV Rack Gets Rowdy: Omri Cohen Unleashes September’s Free Module Onslaught

Omri Cohen dives headfirst into the pile of new VCV Rack modules, dropping the news that over 70 fresh tools have landed and every single one is free. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you—this is a proper developer feeding frenzy. The update is stacked with utilities, Turing machine sequencers, crossfaders, randomisers and an LFO for every occasion. Cohen wastes no time showing how these bits and bobs can chain together to create everything from binary madness to locked sequences, clock divisions and even audio-rate pulse width mod tricks.

What’s brilliant is how these modules aren’t just filler—they’re the kind of everyday tools that turn a dull patch into a toaster-fight. In his classic style, Omri keeps things moving, patching gates to values, flipping signals between crossfaders and squeezing new shapes out of LFOs. It’s a geek’s playground, and you can almost hear the CPU fans crying for mercy by the second minute. If you thought free meant boring, you’re in for a shock.

Cohen zeroes in on two of the most intriguing arrivals: Infinite Noise and ShapeTaker. Infinite Noise isn’t just about chaos—it’s a whole arsenal of sequencing and modulation toys. Think Turing machines, LFOs, Bernoulli gates and more, all designed to mutate your patches into unpredictable monsters. Fancy a bit-to-value converter or a CV recorder? Sorted. He demonstrates how you can lock sequences, modulate filters, and use probability to keep your grooves from ever getting stale.

Then it’s over to ShapeTaker, which brings a lush dual oscillator, stereo filters, and a VCA with proper attitude. The patching gets spicy with drive options—hard clipping, tube saturation, wave folding, even a bit crusher that’ll make your ears twitch. And if you love prime number clock divisions or recording automation on the fly, this section is pure gold. For anyone into generative sequencing and filthy sound design, these modules are instant rack weapons.

The video shifts into ambient territory, with Omri highlighting new modules inspired by the Solar Drone Synth and a heap of tools for physical modelling. The ‘ambient modules’ pack lets you summon swarms of detuned oscillators, modulate stereo fields and filter cutoffs, and sequence up droning pads that could soundtrack the end of the world. There’s even a five-step sequencer just like the original Solar box, plus a noise oscillator for extra grime.

Next up is the Signal Function Set—think chimes, crystal reverbs, and string instruments that border on real-world uncanny. You get everything from wind chimes with drift control to guitar-like voices and audio slicing modules that warp and pitch-shift your signal. Omri doesn’t just patch—he jams, showing how quick tweaks can turn mellow drones into metallic chaos. The physical modelling here is next-level, and you’ll want to hear these in action, not just read the spec sheet.

It’s not just about the modules—it’s about who’s making them. Omri spotlights a crop of new developers dropping serious heat: TriggerFish returns after a six-year silence with a live-coding sequencer and a proper 303 voice. Venom’s envelope and VCO modules bring polyphony and stage-morphing envelopes that can loop and mutate like a modular fever dream. Then there’s Volt, Wintoid, and a whole mutant zoo of newcomers tossing in everything from microtonal quantizers to experimental oscillators.

What’s wild is the diversity: one dev channels the Make Noise Strega, another drops a Vocal Llama delay, and yet another brings crunchy drum sequencers with Russian drag controls. There’s even timeline and piano roll tools, polyphonic drum synths, and more. You get the sense that VCV Rack’s open ecosystem is less a walled garden and more a rave bunker—fresh ideas, wild patches, and nobody’s asking for your credit card.