Doepfer MCV4 Midi CV/Gate Interface - Manual (Page 3)

MCV4 User's Guide - Page 2
get such a cable from your local dealer as well. Of course you may use special adapters
(1/4" stereo to 2x1/4" mono) too.
The CV1 output of the MCV4 is connected to the control voltage input of the synthesizer
which controls the pitch (labeled e.g. as CV, tune, pitch, VCO, Osc. or similiar). Pay attention
that the MCV4 can be used only for synthesizers using the 1V/Oct. characteristic for CV and
not for those using Hz/V. Most of the vintage synthesizers use 1V/Oct (e.g. Moog, Roland,
Sequential Circuits, Doepfer) but some manufacturers used Hz/V (e.g. Yamaha, Korg) or
completely other control characteristics (e.g. EMS Synthi A: 0.32V/Oct or 0.26V/Oct). But for
some synthesizers with V/Oct. there is a solution to control it via V/Oct. (e.g. the Korg
MS10/MS20, see below).
The GATE output of the MCV4 is connected to Gate or trigger input of the synthesizer
(labeled e.g. Gate, Trigger, Trig., S-Trig. or similiar). Please check which type of Gate/Trigger
is used with your synthesizer: Voltage Trigger or S-Trigger/Switched Trigger.
Please refer to the manual of your synthesizer which types of CV control characteristics and
Gate/Trigger are used and how the connectors are wired.
E.g. the Mini Moog uses a very unique connector for the S-Trigger input. You will have
problems to find this type of connector today. You could solve the problem by replacing the
unique connector by a 1/4" jack socket.
E.g. if you want to control a MOOG Rogue or MOOG Source with the MCV4 pay attention to
the unusual assignement of the Moog jack sockets! You have to use stereo jack plugs on the
Moog side in this special case (Rogue/Source CV socket: ring = CV Input / Rogue/Source
GATE socket: ring = voltage trigger input or tip = s-trigger input). You may find details in the
user's guide of your synthesizer.
E.g. many Roland synthesizers use 3.5mm miniature jack sockets. Here you need special
cables or adapters with 1/4" jack plugs on one side (MCV4 side) and 3.5mm jack plugs on
the other (synthesizer side).
The Korg Synthesizers MS10 and MS20 e.g. are equipped with an external control input
labeled "TOTAL" that can be adjusted to 1V/Octave with the control knob labeled
"MG/T.EXT.". Using this input the MS10/MS20 can be controlled with 1V/Oct. control
voltages.
The factory adjustment of the CV1 output is 1.00V/Octave. The voltage range of the CV1
output is 0...+5V, i.e. 5 octaves.To change or re-adjust the scale you have to open the MCV4
case and adjust the scale with the trimming potentiometer located behind the power supply
connector to the desired value. Incoming MIDI pitch bend events affect the CV1 voltage. The
maximum pitch bend voltage travel is +/-1 V corresponding to +/-1 octave. You have to pay a
little attention when using the pitch bend function. If you play a note on your keyboard which
corresponds to a CV voltage below +1 V or above +4 V not the entire pitch travel is available
as the possible output voltage ranges only from 0 to +5V. If you want to use the pitch bend
function you should play in the mid range to have enough voltage travel for the pitch bend
function.
The CV2 output is controlled via (monophonic) After Touch messages on the MIDI channel
of the MCV4. The voltage range is about 0...+5V.
The CV3 output is controlled via Volume messages (= Ctrl. #7) on the MIDI channel of the
MCV4. The voltage range is about 0...+5V. It is possible to tie up the CV3 additionally with
velocity (see chapter Operation for details).
The CV4 output is controlled via any MIDI controller on the MIDI channel of the MCV4. The
voltage range is about 0...+5V. It is possible to tie up the CV4 additionally with velocity (see
chapter Operation for details).