MIDI->CV and controller

[Jim Johnson]

I haven't built the Paia, but there is some basis in truth for what Paul
says. The unit only has 8 bits of resolution, which is not very good; I
would question how well it can track at that level. And the UI is pretty
poor; DIP switches for setting mode and MIDI channel. Forget about
assigning outputs to arbitrary controllers.

That said, I plan to buy one for use in controlling a percussion synth I
bought last week. The drum trigger mode seems to be the best implementation
of this feature that I've seen, if you discount the fact that the drum note
numbers are non-standard, and fixed <sigh>. 

I don't think anyone makes a perfect MIDI/CV yet, certainly not in kit
form. Encore Electronic's Expressionist is probably the best out there: 8
full CV/Gate channels (the Paia is 8 mono channels - each can be CV or
gate), fully programmable, LFOs (if you care), built-in scaling, selectable
linear or exponential output, etc. But the jacks are on the back, crying
out loud!

Jim Johnson 
Metaphoric Software
-------------------
Makers of Techno Toys
Software for Electronic Music
http://www.technotoys.com
info at technotoys.com


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 3/8/99, at 12:00 PM, jorgen.bergfors at idg.se wrote: 

>>As long as you understand the PAiA is a *toy*. It uses a cheap DAC-08
8-bit
>converter.
>>The Kentons use *16-bit* converters. For proper pitch accuracy, you need
at
>least *14 bits*
>>(the Xpander and M12 both use true 14-bit DACs).
>
>Well, I asked for opinions on the Paia. Do anyone out there, that doesn't
sell a competing product, think that the Paia is a toy? Is Paul right? He
might be, but in that case nobody else seems to have realized it. Any
comments?
>I have the impression that 8 bits would be enough, if you use a separate
channel for the pitchbend information, and use analog portamento/glide. I
don't require the Hz/V option.
>
>>Again, a PAiA is nothing more than a cheap *toy*. MIDI synch'd LFOs? NO.
>It does output midi clock, so I can build an *analog* LFO that syncs to
midi clock. 
>
>>Program storage? NO.
>I don't require that I think. What would it be needed for?
>
>>Map MIDI messages to over 30 different controllers? NO.
>Well, the Kenton has exactly one CV output for controllers so what would
that be good for?
>
>Any more thoughts on the Paia Midi2cv8?
>
>/Jorgen