MIDI to CV and back: Can your "regular" synth become semi-modular?

Is your synth jealous of eurorack-friendly semi-modular synths? Here's how to bridge audio, note, modulation and clock across regular and modular synths.

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► Non-semi-modular gear used:
Digitone by Elektron for its FM engine and effects
Medusa by PolyEnd and Dreadbox for its XYZ expressive grid

► Modules used for MIDI to CV and back:
Disting MK4 and General CV from Expert Sleepers (with their MIDI expander module)
Aither from Instruo
Hermod from Squarp
Poly from PolyEnd
Pamela's New Workout from ALM (with its MIDI expander module)
After this video was created, Befaco announced a CV to MIDI module called VCMC with extensive CV to MIDI capabilities
Befaco VCMC
Expert Sleepers CVM-8

► Audio attenuation and amplification:
Voicas Mixvert8r
SBG from ALM

► How to convert CV to CC without frying your synth, and 6 other semimodular ideas:
   • 7 Semi-Modular ideas, tips and tricks...  

► Interesting Eurorack modules shown:
Rene 2 from Make Noise
Ornament and Crime
Plaits and Rings from Mutable Instuments

► Modules recommended by viewers (THANKS!):

Catalyst audio recommends Doepfer A-192-2
The CV.OCD box, if you haven't seen it already - MIDI to 4 CV outs and 12 gate/trigger outs! Not a module, it's a self-contained unit.

Hayden Nicholls: The CV.OCD box, if you haven't seen it already - MIDI to 4 CV outs and 12 gate/trigger outs! Not a module, it's a self-contained unit.

Fedor T: KnobFarm Ferry is a better option for interfacing eurorack with everything else, mainly because of stereo send and return.

Euphemia Adamson: Kenton U.K. have been making midi to c.v converters for years...

Bob Familiar: great video. I have the Intellijel uMidi. Its 6 hp and provides Midi to CV along with a clock divider, sequencer sync via run and reset outputs., 0 -10 vpo, gate and trigger outputs and more. Very powerful in a small package. I also have the Squarp Pyramid which has CV/Gate in/out.

Gregory Vartian-Foss: Shuttle Control is also a fantastic module for this purpose. It's outputs can route cc's back to your other hardware gear and the outputs are also configurable in any combo of v/8, gate, trigger, or cc data you want...very handy with digitakt or digitone!

TIMELINE:
0:00 Why do it?
1:00 Setup walkthrough
3:00 CV & MIDI basics
4:15 Modulation: CC vs CV
4:55 Bridging audio
6:20 Handling notes
8:10 Gear setup
8:45 MIDI input options
9:20 MIDI notes to CV
11:10 MIDI CC to CV
12:00 CV to MIDI
14:00 Using pedal inputs
14:40 Syncing clock
16:45 More modules?
16:55 More tips?

NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
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