PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi,

Did anyone used succesfully Motu's Volta plugin with Scope/Xite or A16Ultra to control CV inputs of hardware instruments ?

Thanks

I know Jimmy V was using Expert Sleepers' SilentWay. Maybe he'll chime in after NAMM. I don't know if he used it with his SE-1, but he definitely got a lot of benefit from using it with SCOPE ModIV.
http://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/silentway.html

SilentWay seems to have the same basic functions as Volta, but much less cost. On the website, they also have compatible devices, plus a how-to for AC coupled devices (they provide a VST to use along with a special cable or break-out box to get around the loss of DC).

There is also some free max/msp devices, if you work within MAX or Ableton+MAX4Live.
http://stretta.blogspot.com/2011/06/vcv ... rlive.html

Please report back on how it goes, I am headed in this direction in a few months from now.

Hello, Mehdi!

We had excellent results using Expert Sleepers Silent Way Suite to control Modular on Scope, using audio instead of MIDI. Volta and Expert Sleepers' Suite do practically the same, but if you're asking if the XITE or A16 can be used to drive the CV inputs on analogue hardware, that's a different story...

There's a thread here that might give you some insight into what needs to happen to an A16U before it can actually do that:

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=30445

Thank Jk and Tau !

Yes it is to use a computer with scope/xite to control the CV gate/amp/cutoff of a analog synth such as Minibrute or Minitaur or others (that I don't have but i might get one of those in a few months).

Volta requires a "DC coupled" soundcard, and apparently only Motu interface and a couple of other specific brands/models can achieve that (I'm not sure what is a "DC coupled" interface, probably something that does not filter out DC offset by default, and I was hoping A16 or Xite could work also, because when you have DC offset in a FM oscillator for example and if one does not use DC offset modules, then I can hear it (I personnally could tell the difference when listening to mp3 on Z, as the sound is more "hollow" than with a dc offset module - at least I could do this when i was on scope all day making plugins).

My own attempts using audio modulation from my own plugins (I use audio modulation for a while now, it is also the basis of modular mixer modulations or LBH step sequencers) were not successful with hardware or hardware controlled software such as Guitar Rig, as the range of digital signals is too wide (basically i can get min and max of a parameter, but nothing in between - I tested with guitar rig software only, which uses a kind of audio that seems similar to CV signal in some respects such as signal amplitude or "format", but which is compatible with any digital interface).... and I haven't managed to get results even with very low amplitudes modulations ... but Guitar Rig is not the same as a CV enabled synth so there was hope.

I would be annoyed to have to get a motu interface just to achieve automation of CV input of analog synths (unless i find one very cheap second hand....).

I don't know expert sleepers, may be i should check what they do...

It is almost certain that I will get an Arturia MiniBrute, and I imagined that I would convert all my modulators and step sequencers for use with CV inputs of Minibrute (or minitaur), but the more i read forum, the less chances I see that happen without a motu interface for the CV outputs from a computer :-/
The only alternative would be the DSI Tetra I guess, as it can be software controlled, but it is not the same sound....


So I guess many Scopers and Xiters are tempted by one of those desktop analog synth we see at NAMM this year ?
At least we know what we'll be talking about in a few months

If someone finds out or knows more, please chime in this thread and educate us.
Gonna check ecpert sleepers now.

I also have an unused A16 that is unuseable for audio anymore, and may be the A16U will also be unused when i upgrade to Xite, may be it is worth checking the blog and customise it (I already changed the fan of A16 -1 for a silent one with blue leds, so i might get inside it again for tuning it to CV )

edit: read the blog, and understood that this is the kind of things I am completely unable to do (too unpatient, too scared to blow everything away
edit B: expert sleepers's silent way also require DC coupled interfaces... motu, some alesis , and some other....

or a small SC extension for Xite ??
not sure how it would work/where you'd plug it.....

spacef wrote:
edit: read the blog, and understood that this is the kind of things I am completely unable to do (too unpatient, too scared to blow everything away

Yes, that's what I meant to tell you... however, there may be adat D/A units than can get the signals from scope and convert to CV... There are other Z members that have more experience in this.
There's a couple of dedicated units in the expert sleepers site, I think they're cheaper than a MOTU... Since they can receive ADAT, they can be easily integrated into XITE / Scope cards as an add-on.

The way we're using it with modular it reminds me a lot of your audio modulated devices... But the real advantage is in the timing, which is supertight using gate and trigger signals, than MIDI.

So that was the solution !
The hardware section of expert sleepers' stuff.....
glad now to stop thinking about this issue

ps: it is good to have very high precision when you need it. But I generally find Scope modulators more organic and "lively" most of the time, it works better if you are into something that you want to make sound more less "quantized", in my personal opinion/tastes.

And you definately will like the powerful little Minotaur.
I am into low end as you know, so not much impresses me with new gear, trying to fool new younger users, but Minotaur
makes a lover of FAT BASTARDS like me happy.
The only reason I won't buy it is because I had the envelope sanp trick, new Sine Oscillator added, and Distortion on my SE-1X, so it's tough trying to match that, but Minotaur is a beast of a little box...
Reminds me of the Bass Pedals Emerson used on that fantasic solo keyboard medley called Three Fates. Immense.....
FWIW The SE-1X has a CV input, but I get great results using Modular to send the MIDI out to the XITE-1 MIDI Destination into the SE-1X. No steps at all when using a Mod Wheel or expression to sweep the Filter or even use a fader on the D of the ADSR's....

yeah the CV would be only for synths that do not have midi on parameters. i suppose the audio/cv converters are not useful when the synth is midified.