Totally new to CV

[tomg]

On 08-Jan-99, Irish wrote:
>First, sorry for the cross-post, but I think it applies to both. 

>While I am not a digital guru, I have a pretty good grip on how
>DSP/sampler/MIDI stuff works. CV on the other hand is confusing me -
>remarkable, because it's very simple. I get it; one volt per octave, OK. 
>I am going to have at least one CV synth (a MadMouse, and I'm looking at that
>quintisential Fatman) and I have been thinking about how I was going to
>control
>it. I had this notion that a Midi/CV converter would allow me to use a Midi
>keyboard/sequencer, but I really don't know how these work, and the pages
I've
>looked at so far seem to assume you do. Will it work the way I think it will?

You press a key on your midi keyboard and the converter puts out
a gate and CV.
 
>Do I want it to?

Yes you do.
 
>So I'm looking at Tom Gs pages more, and find this description on making a CV
>controller by *chopping up a working keyboard!* Ahh! Now, it's not the doin'
>that bugs me - I got the tools and the skill, it's the need. Do I need to do
>this (have a CV controller)? 

No, any 1V/Oct source will work. Like PAiAs Midi2cv and a midi keyboard.

Should I? 

I really like having a CV controller. It's nice and simple being able 
to hook it up and go without having to crank up all the midi stuff. 

He used a Miracle piano - I have one of
>these, and will sacrifice it to the Analog Synth Cause if it's worth it (even
>if I have discovered a drum section in it on channel 8 :) ) Also, while not
>really much good for anything but a controller, it IS velocity sensitive;
will
>I
>lose that if I convert it? 

Yes. Coverting it changes everything. Much easier just to buy a
Midi2CV8 then use the Miracle as a midi controller. Although the 
Miracle does not have pitch bend or mod.

If you want a CV controller don't use your Miracle. Even though I
think it's pretty crappy, it does work as a midi controller. When
I built mine I did not have a good 1 switch per key curcuit. I do
now. A cheep Casio would be a lot easier to sacrifice. Find one
at the thrift store, cut it up and then use the 1 switch per key
converter at....

http://www.mindspring.com/~vco/misc/kbd_2d.html
 
If you use the Miracal anyway the sound module can be put in 
another case for use as a midi module. 

>Thanks for cluing me in, 
>Irish

Sure let me know if you have more questions.

-tg

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  Mad Mouse - PC Boards - Analog For Everybody
http://www.mindspring.com/~vco/madm/mm_order.html
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