Video-recording online: Sound/thesis

Modular Sound Synthesis Workshop with VCV Rack

with Eman Safavi

The Soundthesis workshop, held on May 26, 2025 by Eman Safavi, introduced participants to the world of modular sound synthesis using VCV Rack, a free and powerful virtual modular synthesizer. Aimed at beginners and intermediate users, this hands-on workshop guided participants through the essential phases of modular patching, the architecture, the idea of generating/synthesizing sound, from basic setup and signal flow to creating complex sound textures and musical structures.

In addition to in-person participation, the event was professionally streamed, broadening accessibility and providing documentation for later viewing. Participants built foundational skills for modular synthesis for creating soundscapes or audio snippets, learned how to record them for further integrating VCV Rack with digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Ableton Live, Reaper, or Bitwig, etc. enabling them to expand their sound design and music production workflows beyond the workshop.

The participants gained basic knowledge of how VCV Rack works, entry level knowledge of sound synthesis (subtractive synthesis), ability to record their experiment for further use and a template of where to start crafting sound on their own.

Eman Safavi is a student of the master program "Design and Computation" at the Universität der Künste (UDK) and Technische Universität (TU) in Berlin. As an interdisciplinary artist, Eman connects music, technology, and design. With a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, he brings his perspective of chemical system designs into his creative work. He is a musician, guitar teacher, audio engineer, and sound designer, focusing on electronic music, generative music, and sound installations.

Eman explores the blend of art and technology, creating innovative soundscapes and interactive installations. He seeks to push the limits of traditional sense of music and sound design to make engaging experiences. Through his projects, Eman combines technical skills with artistic creativity, contributing to modern art and music.