Befaco CV Thing User manual

C V T h i n g
U S E R M A N U A L

C V T h i n g U N C T I O N I N D E X
U S E R M A N U A L
.1
Page 2 POWER & I N TRODU CTI ON
Page 3 I RST STEPS
Page 4 CV CON I G UR ATI ON
Page 5 DI G ITAL U N CTI ON S
Page 6 CV CON I GU RATI ON PT. 2
Page 7 G LOBAL CON I G
Page 8 SYSEX & I RM WARE
Page 9 EXTRAS
Curren t i rm ware v1

C V T h i n g P O W E R & I N T R O
P O W E R I N G T H E
M O D U L E
U S E R M A N U A L
T H A N K S O R P U R C H A S I N G A M O D U L E R O M B E A C O !
B E O R E Y O U P LU G T H I S M O D U L E I N . . .
1. Disconnect your cabinet from the mains.
2. Triple check the power cord polarity. The coloured line on the cable
(pin number one) is the -12V rail.
3. If you plug the module backwards or in EXP connector you might burn
it out and unfortunately this is not covered by the warranty.
4. If you have any questions about this product please send them to:
[e-mail]
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Cv thing is a fully mapeable CV to MIDI converter in just 6HP. Its based on our VCMC module, but
aiming for small and compact performance rigs.
It has eight inputs that can be mapped to any MIDI message quite easily thanks to its simple and
intuitive user interface.
Ccs, Program change ,v/oct to Note or Clock are some of the messages that can be configured to
easily control MIDI gear from your modular rig.
M O D U L E
R E E R E N C E PA N E L O V E R V I E W
1. TRS MIDI Output
TRS MIDI Output Connector
2. USB Output
USB Type B Midi output connector.
3. OLED Sc een
OLED Screen for visualization and editing all functions.
4. Encode
Rotary encoder control.
5. CV
CV inputs.
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C V T H I N G I R S T S T E P S
S TA R T I N G W I T H
C V T H I N G
U S E R M A N U A L
C O N N E C T I N G T H E U N I T T O E X T E R N A L G E A R
.3
There are two main MIDI connections in CV Thing: USB and TRS. Both connections send every MIDI
message generated by the module, choosing each one depending on the device you will be
controlling. Let's take a deeper look:
USB
The USB port is the most convenient way to connect CV Thing to a
computer. Just plug a USB Type B cable from CV Thing to a free USB
port of your computer and the module should be automatically
recognized as a MIDI Device. You will be able to select it on the MIDI
connections of your DAW or any other software that supports MIDI.
If you have USB Host devices, you can use this port with it in the same
way we did with the computer.
TRS MI D I
Most of the external gear out there uses DIN5 connections for MIDI
control. This is why we included a TRS to DIN5 adaptor. If you want to
control your external gear with CV Thing, just plug a standard MIDI DIN
cable from CV Thing´s TRS Out port, using the adaptor, to your device´s
MIDI Input.
B A S I C
S T R U C T U R E I N P U T S & P E R O R M A N C E S C R E E N
The Performance Screen is the main level of CV Thing menu. This
screen shows quickly the status of each input via level bars.
You can browse thru the eight inputs with the encoder to see
further details of each input.
Then clicking the encoder you can enter configuration menu of
each input.

C V T H I N G C O N I G U R A T I O NU S E R M A N U A L
.4
S E T T I N G
C V T H I N G C V C O N I G U R A T I O N
Each CV Thing input its own configuration menu where you can
configure its behaviour.
rom the Performance Screen, select the input and press the
encoder to enter into CV EDIT Screen.
On the left of the screen there is information about the selected
MIDI channel and the current unction of this Input.
At the right you have the following options:
U N C TI O N
Selects the MIDI message that will be mapped to this input. By pressing on it you will have access
to the MIDI Mapping screen.
1. V/Oct to Note
This option is only available at ODD inputs.
In this mode this inoput and next EVEN input will be linked so we can convert a CV into th ODD input + a
Gate into EVEN signals to MIDI notes.
or example, if we are at input 1 and select this option, input 2 will be linked to it and automatically
configured as Gate input.
When Gate goes high at EVEN input (2 in this example), a NOTE ON message will be sent with value
proportional to the CV presnet at ODD input (in this case 1). When Gate goes down a Note O message will
be sent. Keep in mind that, in order to keep V/Oct range, only 120 MIDI notes will be sent for the whole range.
1 Octave=1 2 semitones, so 1 0 Octaves 120 notes.
FOR EVERY NOTE REPRE ENTATION IN CV Thing WE ARE A UMING THAT MIDI NOTE 0 I C-2
2. Notes
On this mode the module will generate MIDI notes at the selected MIDI Channel following the V/Oct ratio
regardless of the presence of Gate or not. The Gate lenght is set right after selecting the mode:
No auto OFF, 500ms, 1000ms, 1500ms, 3000ms, Edit Autooff
3. CC
This will send CC messages. When selected you will be prompted to choose which CC number will be sent.
4. Velocity
CV will be mapped to velocity message representing the notes selected in the MIDI
channel.
5. Pitch Bend
CV will be mapped to pitch bend message.
6. P og am Change
A program change message will be sent proportional to CV value.
TIP: Program change will change the program in the current bank selected in your Machine. Map CC#0 or
CC#32 in another input to do a bank select and double the fun!!
7. Digital Functions
Check Page 5
7. NRPN
In this mode the CV will be converted to NRPN messages. Upon selection of this mode you will be prompted to
select a NRPN number. Keep in mind there are two NRPN modes available: 7 bit and 1 4 bit.

C V T H I N G C O N I G U R A T I O NU S E R M A N U A L
.5
1. Note Gate
A Note will be fired each time a Gate signal is received at Gate Input. Press the encoder to select the Note
number and press again to confirm the operation. Note ON message will be sent when the Gate goes up and
Note O when Gate goes down.
2. Note Latch
This mode is essentially the same as Note Gate but Note O message is not sent till Gate signal goes up
again.
3. CC Gate
A CC message will be sent each time a Gate signal is receive at Gate Input. Press the encoder to select the CC
Number, press again to select the CC value, and one last time to confirm the operation. A CC message with
the selected value will be sent when a Gate goes up and a second message with a CC value of 0 when a Gate
goes down.
4. CC Latch
Similar functionality as CC Gate but the CC value 0 won't be sent till a second Gate goes up.
5. Clock
Clock messages will be sent. Keep in mind it will consider a Clock IN when the level is higher than Volts. By
pressing the encoder you will access the Clock Set Screen. There you will be able to Divide and Multiply the
incoming clock signal as well as check the BPM.
6. ST/SP
This will enter into the menu to set messages Start, Stop and Continue. A few combinations are available to
match your sequencer. Options are:
- T/ P Gate: START message will be sent when Gate goes up and STOP when Gate goes down.
- T/ P Latch: START message will be sent when Gate goes up and STOP when Gate goes up again.
- TART: START message will be sent when Gate goes up.
- TOP: STOP message will be sent when Gate goes up.
- CONTINUE: CONTINUE message will be sent when Gate goes up.
7. Panic
This will send an All NOTE O message in all channels like a regular Panic function in any MIDI device.
S E T T I N G
C V T H I N G D I G I TA L U N C T I O N S
The CV Inputs can act also as Gate Inputs. This functions are located into the Digital unctions
submenu.

S E T T I N G
C V T H I N G C V C O N I G U R A T I O N
MI D I CH AN N EL
Selects MIDI Channel for this CV Input.
CV DELAY
Set a delay on the CV reading. Specially useful on V/Oct mode. As some sequencers have some
delay between setting the gate high and sending the CV, with this feature you will avoid sending
old messages.
R AN GES
On this screen we will be able to set the functional ranges of the CV Input and the MIDI Output.
Here you will be able to calibrate the CV Input as well. Let's take a look:
1. In Range
+10: The CV Input will expect a voltage range of 0-1 0V, translating each voltage in concrete MIDI value.
A voltage of 10V will be translated as the maximum MIDI message value (see OUT Range below)
+5: The CV Input will expect a voltage range of 0-5V, translating each voltage in concrete MIDI value.
A voltage of 5V will be translated as the maximum MIDI message value (see OUT Range below)
-5/+5: The CV Input will process negative voltages as well. In this mode a voltage of 5V will be
translated as a MIDI value of 64 and -5V to -64, Negative values will be clipped to 0, so linking the fader
as SUM (see CV/ DR Link) is adviced for effectivity.
2. Out Range
MIDI RANGE: Select from what MIDI value to which one your CV will
be scaled. This feature will select the minimum and maximum MIDI
values and will scale the input to that range.
MIDI TRIM: With these you can set MIDI limits, so no messages will
be sent beyond the minimum and maximum set here. This feature
clips the range, do not scale.
3. Calib ation
This will perform a two points callibration. You will be
prompted to send 2v and 8v, stating to which MIDI Note
they relate to. A voltmeter is shown to monitor incoming
voltage.
If you have selected 5v input range, voltages will be 1 v and
4 v.
This calibration is useful when your CV source has some
offset, so you can avoid note shifting on conversion. Also, if
source CV does not have perfect V/Oct linearity, this will
correct the scaling.
Set the values of each range by turning and pressing the encoder. If you don't want to keep the
changes and go back to the previous screen, press Cancel, otherwise press End.
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE: Before selecting calibration, be sure you have V/Oct to Note mode selected on
the CV Input you want to calibrate, otherwise you will get an error message prompting to activate it.
Once done, plug the CV signal from your sequencer or CV source, set it to send 1V (go to the manual of your
CV source if you don't know the equivalent Note/Volts) and check the voltmeter at the bottom of the screen. If
all is well it should show you C0/1V, then turn the encoder till you have the first line (1V 24 C0) selected and
press the encoder. Repeat the process for 4V and press End to finish the calibration. If you don't want to keep
the changes, press Cancel.
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C V T H I N G C O N I G U R A T I O NU S E R M A N U A L

By default, CVThing comes with an initial setting that allows you to quickly test some of the
features of the module. In this configuration CV Inputs are assigned to CC's from 1 4 to 21 .
S E T T I N G T H E
M O D U L E G L O B A L S E T T I N G S
PAN I C
Sends a Note O message in all the channels. Press it if you experience that some messages gets
stuck or held.
In Performance Screen, hold the encoder for 5 seconds to access the Global Settings. On this screen you will
be able to save and load presets between other things. Let's take a look deeply.
GLOBAL CV C AL
Calibrates all CV Inputs at the same time. Quite useful when
you have a multichannel CV Source (like a sequencer)
DI M SCREEN
Sets the brightness of the screen to a lower value.
SAVE CON I G U RATI O N
Saves the current configuration of the module in one of the two banks available. At the same
time the module saves the setting on its internal memory, a SYSEX message is sent via MIDI
Outputs (see SYSEX paragraph below)
LOAD CON I G U RATI O N
You can choose either one of the settings saved in one of the settings
saved in one of the two user banks or a factory preset (Go to Apendix 1
for further details)
AC TORY RESET
Restarts the module to initial factory settings (see Out of the Box Configuration)
S E T T I N G T H E
M O D U L E O U T O T H E B O X C O N I G U R A T I O N
C V T H I N G C O N I G U R A T I O NU S E R M A N U A L
.7

M A N A G I N G
P R E S E T S S Y S E X U N C T I O N I N G
V C M C C O N I G U R I N G V C M CU S E R M A N U A L
.10
In CV Thing you can save and load configuration presets externally via SYSEX (System Exclusive
Messages). This process can be done with a lot of applications (like DAWs or specific MIDI apps)
and if you have vintage digital gear for sure those terms won't be new for you.
If this is not the case, don't worry, we're gonna explain a very easy and fast way using MIDI OX.
LOAD I N G PRESETS
Launch MIDI OX and in the top bar press "Options >> MIDI Devices..." Select CV Thing on MIDI
Outputs and press OK.
Now go to "View >> SysEx..." On tihe new window (SysEx View & Scratchpad) press " ile >> Send
SysEx ile..." Select your SysEx file and press Open. As soon as the status bar finishes, you will
have a prompted screen on your module. Press Load SysEx, select the bank, press Discard and you
are done.
SAVI N G PRESETS
MIDI OX is a free program for Windows (and Linux through Wine-HQ) that is able to play
*mid/*syx files and upload them into CV Thing. irst connect your module to your PC via USB
connector (Type B to Type A USB cable). Launch MIDI OX and in the top bar press "Options >> MIDI
Devices..." Select CV Thing on MIDI Inputs and press OK.
Now go to "View >> SysEx..." On the new window (SysEx View & Scratchpad) press "SysEx >>
Receive Manual Dump..." The program will start to wait for SysEx messages. Once done, go to the
Global Settings Screen on your CV Thing (hold the encoder for 2 seconds on Performance Screen)
and selects Save Conf. selects the bank and now check MIDI OX again. If all is fine you will have a
message on MIDI OX with the size of the file received, press Done. Now go to "Display Window >>
Save As..." Put a name to your file, save it in your preferred folder and that's all.
.8
I R M WA R E U P D A T I N G P R O C E D U R E
CV Thing code is based in our VCMC module, so code will be found at the same repository as
VCMC.
1 : Get latest firmware file from CV Thing folder in our github:
https://github.com/Befaco
2: Install Teensy uploader app found here
https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html
3: Connect your module to your computer using a USB cable.
4: Run Teensy uploader and load hex file. If prompted by the app, press teensy button to begin
transfer...
Make sure module is plugged in.

.9
M I S C E L L A N E A S P E C S & C R E D I T S
* ize : 6HP
* Depth : 32mm
* +1 2v: 50 mA
* -1 2v: 8mA
This module is the result of loads of hours of work, love and care. It
would have been imposible to finish without the help of beta testers,
loving friends, people from Hangar's open thursdays providing very
strong opinions and the whole Befaco team kicking asses BIG TIME.
irmware coding, common sense and über-cold beers:
Sergio Retamero ([e-mail])
V C M C E X T R A S
U S E R M A N U A L