DIY - FOR EXPERIENCED BUILDERS - PCBs ONLY

The unit is designed for a modular synthesizer and a PC with a DAW such as Ableton Live, and/or a MIDI keyboard with a DIN cable and/or a MIDI-USB music keyboard.

Use this module to connect a range of popular USB MIDI keyboards:

• Roland A-49
• Arturia MiniLab MKII
• Arturia MiniBrute
• MidiPlus AKM 320
• M-Audio Keystation 49
• M-Audio Keystation 61
• WORLDE Panda MINI 25-Key Ultra-Portable USB MIDI Keyboard

and directly play your analog modular synthesizer. Polyphonic and monophonic operation.

Build it yourself - FOR EXPERIENCED SOLDERERS ONLY - This is a set of 2 high quality PCBs and an optional front panel ONLY for users who want to purchase their own components and build their own module. Some product photos above show COMPLETED build. You can add a pre-programmed PIC microprocessor to the order if you do not have the facilities to do this yourself.

• 8 outputs supported which can drive 8 synth voices

• Command mode enables various functions to be performed using the keys

• POLYPHONIC PLAYING MODE - play 8 notes polyphonic using up to 8 synth voices

• MONOPHONIC PLAYING MODE - the device will play monophonically with the same note playing on all 8 outputs

• Various split-keyboard modes allowing you to group the outputs for better control of key shifting

Connections

1. You can connect a DIN keyboard using the TRS jack. You will need a MIDI/TRS Type A cable or a MIDI/TRS Type B cable depending on how you have configured the jumpers in the MIDI-CV8.
2. You can connect a USB keyboard. The device will operate as a USB host and power the keyboard on its USB bus while receiving MIDI data from the keyboard.
3. You can connect the Midi-CV-8 as a USB device using a computer or other host connected to the Midi-CV-8's USB-B type socket. This connection will be used for connecting your DAW, such as Ableton Live, to the MIDI-CV-8.

Playing modes

Mode 0: Omni On/POLYPHONIC. Standard mode. It receives channel messages sent on any channel and plays notes polyphonically. The device will play 8 polyphonic voices. The device responds on ALL midi channels.

Mode 1: Omni On/MONOPHONIC. It receives channel messages sent on any channel and plays notes monophonically. The device will play monophonically with the same note playing on all 8 outputs. The device responds on ALL midi channels.

Mode 2: SPLIT-LOW-POLY MODE. The device will play 7 polyphonic voices on outputs 2-8 for keys on and below the split and monophonically on output 1 for keys above the split. The device responds on ALL midi channels.

Mode 3: SPLIT-HIGH-POLY MODE. The device will play 7 polyphonic voices on outputs 2-8 for keys on and above the split and monophonically on output 1 for keys below the split. The device responds on ALL midi channels.

Mode 4: SPLIT-POLY-POLY MODE. The device will play 4 polyphonic voices on outputs 1-4 for keys on and below the split and 4 polyphonic voices on outputs 5-8 for keys above the split. The device responds on ALL midi channels.

Mode 5: Omni Off/POLYPHONIC. It receives channel messages sent on ONE specified channel and plays notes polyphonically. Now the device will play 8 polyphonic voices but the device responds only to the selected midi channel.

Mode 6: Omni Off/MONOPHONIC. It receives channel messages sent on a set of specified channels and plays notes monophonically. Now the device will play monophonically, with each input midi channel mapped to one output channel. The initial midi channel sets the midi channel that will output from the device on channel 1. The remaining 7 outputs will be assigned consecutively starting with initial midi channel +1 etc.

Mode 7: Omni Off/Mapped. This mode will receive messages on three specified channels and each channel will be mapped to a small set of polyphonic voices for each channel. This mode effectively breaks the MIDI-CV-8 into three smaller MIDI-CV converters, each responding to a different midi channel. The Midi Channel (channel x) that the FIRST device should respond to defines the mapping. The device will output as follows:

• Play 3 polyphonic voices from channel x on outputs 1-3.
• Play 3 polyphonic voices from channel x + 1 on outputs 4-6.
• Play 2 polyphonic voices from channel x+ 2 on outputs 7-8.

As an example, you can patch three outputs playing an electronic piano patch responding to MIDI channel 1, three voices to a brass patch responding to channel 2 and the two remaining voices could be patched to percussion responding to channel 3. Your modular now acts like three small synthesizers, each with a different patch responding to messages on their own MIDI channel.

Construction

The module (when using our front panel) is Eurorack size and only 8HP wide leaving room in your rack for other modules. With the PCBs only, you can wire any pots and jacks to your own front panel or standalone case.

If you are a composer, create your own MIDI sequences, backing tracks or songs using your favorite MIDI-USB keyboard.

The module uses a PIC 24 bit microprocessor to convert the midi messages from the keyboard or PC into digital codes which are then converted into gate and control voltages for 8 voices with precision DACs. These are buffered with precision op amps providing precise tracking over three octaves and to within 0.01V over 5 octaves.

The following MIDI-USB Keyboards are supported, others may work also.

• Roland A-49
• Arturia MiniLab MKII
• Arturia MiniBrute
• MidiPlus AKM 320
• M-Audio Keystation 49
• M-Audio Keystation 61
• WORLDE Panda MINI 25-Key Ultra-Portable USB MIDI Keyboard

Comprehensive documentation, parts lists and firmware are provided in the documentation link for building, testing and using the module.

Arturia addendum to user guide (Courtesy of Erik Moe, module builder and user):

Hold down the SHIFT key and turn ENCODER 1 counter clockwise a couple of rotations in order to set the master volume to 0. Once the master volume is set to zero, press the OCT (-) button 5 times and then Midi-CV-8 will be in command mode.

Roland addendum to user guide (Courtesy of Randy Piscione, module builder and user):

"I followed the directions on pg 38 in the A-49 manual to assign MIDI volume (msg 7) to the C1 knob.

• Press FUNCTION
• Rotate C1
• Press CTRL CHANGE
• Press 7 (Numeric Entry Section)
• Press Enter (Numeric Entry Section)

To get to command mode, transpose the keyboard down 3 octaves, which will set the lowest C to C0. Rotate C1 full CW and then full CCW, and then you’re in command mode."