ansible module screenshot

Ansible

Ansible has multiple modes that change the personality and functions of the module. To select a mode, first connect the module to a hardware or virtual grid, or a hardware arc controller. Different modes are available depending on whether the module is connected to a grid or arc.

Read the introduction to the hardware module.

Only one mode runs at a time, but you can disconnect a device and the previously active mode will continue running and responding to the panel controls and CV inputs.

The modes, each of which has its own detailed manual, are Kria, Meadowphysics, Earthsea, Cycles, and Levels. VCV Rack Ansible does not currently support the MIDI or Teletype Expander modes present on the hardware version.

Earthsea and Meadowphysics are similar to their standalone versions, with some key differences. Ansible Meadowphysics has the ability to produce continuous voltages instead of just gates; Ansible's version of Earthsea drops the shape memory CV feature but adds four-voice polyphony.

The bottom left key is the MODE key. A short press in any app will bring up the Preset view (grid version, arc version). A long press will rotate through the modes available with your currently connected device. The LED next to it indicates which mode is currently active:

Mode LED color	Grid	Arc
Yellow-orange	Kria	Levels
White	Meadowphysics	Cycles
Yellow-white	Earthsea	n/a

Outputs

Each Ansible mode produces four trigger/gate outputs from TR 1-4 on the left side of the module, and four CV outputs on CV 1-4 on the right side. TR outputs are 0 V low, 8 V high, and CV outputs range from 0-10 V.

KEY 1 & KEY 2

The two keys above the IN jacks have different functions depending on the mode and on whether you short-tap the buttons or long-hold them. To hold a button in VCV Rack using the mouse, Ctrl-click (Cmd-click on Mac) to lock them down so you can use the mouse for other things.

mode	KEY 1	KEY 2
Kria	Time View (long)	Config View (long)
Meadowphysics	Time View (long)	Config View (long)
Earthsea	Previous Pattern (short)	Next Pattern (short)
Cycles	Friction	Reset Pattern (short) Config View (long)
Levels	Next Pattern (short) Pattern View (long) Change Parameter (short tap while in Config View)	Reset Pattern (short) Config View (long)

Inputs

Ansible IN 1 and IN 2 jacks accept trigger/gate inputs. Their function depends on the active mode:

Mode	IN 1	IN 2
Kria	Clock	Reset
Meadowphysics	Clock	Reset
Earthsea	Clock	Start/reset pattern
Cycles	Add friction	IN 1 unconnected: Reset IN 1 connected: Add force
Levels	Clock	Reset

Quickstart

All of these quickstart examples use Ansible alongside modules from VCV's Free collection.

Kria

ansible kria quickstart screenshot uses: Ansible, ADSR, VCA, VCO, AUDIO

ansible-kria-quickstart.vcv

Connect Ansible to a grid. (See Making Connections.)
The LED next to the MODE key should be yellow-orange. If it isn't, hold + release the MODE key to cycle through modes until Kria is active.
Patch TR 1 to the GATE input of ADSR.
Patch CV 1 to the V/OCT input of VCO.
Patch CV 2 to the PWM input of VCO and add modulation using the attenuator.
Patch ADSR's ENV and VCO's SQR to a VCA, then to AUDIO's L input.
Press some pads in Kria's top row to create a rhythm on TR 1.
Switch to the NOTE page on the grid by pressing the 7th key on the bottom row, and set notes for CV 1.
Switch to Track 2 on the grid by pressing the 2nd key on the bottom row, and set notes for CV 2's modulation of the VCO's pulse width.
Switch to the OCTAVE page on the grid by pressing the 8th key on the bottom row, and set different octaves for CV 2's steps.

Meadowphysics

ansible meadowphysics quickstart screenshot uses: Ansible, ADSR, VCA, VCO, AUDIO

ansible-meadowphysics-quickstart.vcv

Connect Ansible to a grid. (See Making Connections.)
Hold + release the MODE key to move from Kria to Meadowphysics. The LED next to the MODE key should be white.
Ctrl-Shift-click (Cmd-Shift-click on Mac) KEY 2 on Ansible's faceplate to open the config interface.
Set the voice mode to 2 CV/TR voices.
Patch TR 1 to the GATE input of ADSR.
Patch CV 1 to the V/OCT input of VCO.
Patch CV 2 to the PWM input of VCO and add modulation using the attenuator.
Patch ADSR's ENV and VCO's SQR to a VCA, then to AUDIO's L input.
Hold down any pad outside of column 1 in any row and press another pad in the same row to create a count range -- if you're using a virtual grid, Ctrl-click (Cmd-click on Mac) will hold a pressed pad until you release Ctrl / Cmd.

Earthsea

ansible earthsea quickstart screenshot uses: Ansible, ADSR (2x), VCO (2x), VCA MIX, AUDIO

ansible-earthsea-quickstart.vcv

Connect Ansible to a grid. (See Making Connections.)
Hold + release the MODE key to move from Kria to Meadowphysics and then Earthsea. The LED next to the MODE key should be yellow-white.
Hold the bottom-left pad on the grid to enter the voice allocation interface and set the first two outputs to active on both pattern and live.
Instantiate two ADSR and two VCO modules.
Set one of the VCO's FREQ to 1/2 the FREQ of the other.
Patch TR 1 and TR 2 to the GATE input of each ADSR.
Patch CV 1 and CV 2 to the V/OCT input of each VCO.
Patch one output of each VCO to the first two inputs of VCA MIX.
Patch each ADSR's ENV output to the corresponding CV inputs of VCA MIX.
Patch the VCA MIX's MIX output to AUDIO's L input.
Arm a pattern recorder by pressing the key in the third row of the leftmost column.
Record some chord shapes on the grid. Hit the pattern record arm key again to stop recording and play the pattern back.

Grid reference

When using Kria, the bottom row of the grid controls the track/mode/view, and is consistent across modes (with a couple of exceptions.) The rest of the grid contents depend on the mode you're in. See the hardware documentation for more details.

ansible kria grid legend screenshot

ansible-kria-grid-legend.vcv (requires Stoermelder Glue)

For Meadowphysics, see the grid legends for standalone Meadowphysics.