DOEPFER MCV24 User manual

DOEPFER
MCV24
MIDI-CV/GATE/SYNCINTERFACE
Preliminary English owners manual
writtenbyEMIS(C)1999 Revision1.0 July1999

Controls and connections
Frontpanel
123 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1 32characterbacklitLCDscreen.
2 12outputsusingan8-bitDACoptimised for 0~10V output
3 Start/StopLED indicator controlledbyMIDI input. (linkedtopin 1 ofSyncsocket)
4 ClockLED indicator controlled byMIDIclock. (linked to pin3of Sync socket)
Dualfunctioncontrols- Rotaryand Push
5 {Rotary} - Outputselect - selects one ofthe24 outputs for programming
{Push} - Enters thevalue selectedwithrotary selection
6 {Rotary} - Menuselect-selects which page of parameters to edit
{Push} - Entersthe selected parameter foruseselected with rotary selection
7 {Rotary} - Valueselect - selects a value for thecurrentparameter
{Push} - Entersthe value selected bytherotary control for useage
8 4outputs using a 12-bit DAC optimised for-2~8Vatone volt per octave scaling
9 8outputs using an 8-bitDACoptimised for 0~10v atonevolt per octave scaling
10 Start/Stop output. (linkedtopin1 of Sync socket)
11 Clockoutput(linkedto pin 3 of Sync socket)
Backpanel
12 MIDI outisalso the thruofthe MIDIinput
13 MIDIinput
14 Sync outputwith programmabledivide ratioofMIDIclock
15 LCD Contrast-adjusts the viewinganglefor theLCD
16 Power switch
12 13 14 15
16

MCV24 Overview
TheMCV24 isaflexible MIDIto analogueinterface,and anyofit’s24outputscan beconfiguredfor
anypurposesuchascontrolvoltages forVCOpitch, controlvoltagesforanymodulationdestination(suchas
VCForVCA), triggers or gates. Outputs 1 to 4 arehigherprecision12-bitDAC’s,whilsttherest are 8-bit
DAC’s,outputs1to 12areoptimisedforone voltper octavescaling, butcanalsobeset toHertz/volt scaling
(likemost Korgand Yamaha instruments). Alloutputshave a programmableslewcontrol to reducedigital
quantisationinherent in a 7-bit MIDI system, in fact this slew control onthe analogue side can produce a
smoother control voltage from an 8-bit converter than some 16-bit converters manage without the slew
control.
EachCVoutputhasprogrammableoffsetand rangealong witha secondaryCV thatis mixedwith the
firstone, and can beanyMIDI event or controller.
24softwaredrivenvoltagecontrolledLFO’seachwithselectable waveforms,waveshapes(including
random),MIDI syncable, outputoffsetand rate control-one for eachofthe available outputs
24software drivenvoltagecontrolled ADSRenvelopes- oneforeach of theavailable outputs
24softwaredrivenvoltagecontrolledslew limitersforportamento orfilteringquantisation.
Modulationmatrix allowsup to6patches peroutput, modulationofany sourceto anydestination
Independentkeyingmodesfor eachoutput includinghighnote,lownote, lastnote andpoly modes
Alloutputs can be setforvolt per octave orhertzper volt scaling
Calibrationofalltuning andscaling donefromthefrontpanel -no trimmerpresets toadjust
Programmableclockdivision fromMIDI clock,plusclockinversionoption
16non-volatilememories(rememberswhenswitched off),tosuit varyingsystemrequirements.
Programmablememoriescan benamed
Start/Stopoutput on frontpanelconverts MIDI transport
5-pinDIN sync socketoutput on rearpanel,can be programmedtoany standardsuchas Roland (24)
,Korg (48), Linn (96) etc..

MCV24 Basics
The MCV24 doesn’t really have any controls for operation, once it has been programmed to do a
particularfunction, thatisexactly whatitdoes, soonceprogrammed, changing presetsis probably theonly
operationrequiredon theMCV24.However,afullunderstandingofwhattheMCV24willdoandhowtoset
itup isa vitalelementthat mustbe learnedfirst.As therequirement ofaMIDI toCV interfaceislikely tobe
differentforeveryone,itisdifficultto generate“factory” presets,as theinstruments towhich itis goingtobe
usedwithisan unknown factor.Assuming it is most likely to be a Doepfer A-100systemisfine,exceptit
wouldstillbe unknownwhat kindofcontrolisneeded.So,unlike mostpieces ofequipment,wehavetostart
learningtheMCV24byprogramming,ratherthancalling upa fewfactory presetsto experimentwith.
Ifyou absolutely musttry to maketheMCV24 work straightaway, tryconnectingthe CV1outputto
aVCO input,andCV13 outputto theGateinput, andtransmityour MIDIinputon channel1, but whenyou
need to know why - read on.
Controls
Perhapsthefirst controlto mentionistheLCDcontrastcontrolon therear panel,thisshouldonlyneed
tobe setonce, andifneeded tobe alteredasmall screwdriveris needed,asthe controlis recessedbehindthe
backpanel. In mostcases, it willbeunnecessary to adjustthiscontrol anyway.
Thefrontpanelhas3controlsOUTPUT,MENUandVALUE,althoughtheseareactuallydualcontrols
astheyhavea pressaction aswelltoselectthe itemselected bythem. TheMENUcontrolswhichparameter
toedit, the VALUEknob is used to change the value (pressing the knob actually enters the data), and the
OUTPUTknobselects which of the 24 outputs to be edited.
Inmostexamplesshownhere,Output01 isused andshown, butthe operationsrelate toall 24outputs.

MENUS
Thereare 7 pagesofoperation within themenu,labelled A toG.
Turningthe MENUcontrolmoves betweenthepages. TurntheMENU knobanticlockwiseuntil the
screenbelowis shown. (If you are into a deeper menu,youwillneedto press the MENU knob to return to
thispage.
MENU-A
Thefirstpageis actuallyjust aninformationpage,andreminds youthat youhave aDoepferMCV24,
however,ifyou presstheMENU knob,theinstalled operatingsystem version andrelease dateisdisplayed.
A----->:Output01
Doepfer MCV24
V1.0 15.06.99
(c) Doepfer GmbH
A----->:Output01
Doepfer MCV24
<B---->:Output01
CV Parameter
<-C--->:Output01
LFO & ADSR Param
<--D-->:Output01
ModulationMatriX
<---E->:Output01
System Parameter
<----F>:Output01
Global Sync Par.
<-----G:Output01
Preset&Utilities

MENU-B
TherearetwoCV’speroutputwhicharemixedtogether,CV1andCV2havedifferentoptionsavailable
withsomecrossover,though CV1 istheonlyonethatcanbeassigned notes, and CV2 is the only one that
canbe assigned pitchbenderfor example.
CVPARAMETER
TheCVParametermenu holdsmany pages,asthissectionis wheremost ofthe settingslive.Pressing
the MENU knob enters the first page (actually, the page you go to is the last page before this menu was
exited,so in here,turnthe knob anticlockwiseuntilthe screen asshownbelow is on thescreen).
MIDI TO
TheMIDITofunctionselectswhichMIDIeventwillbeassignedtocontrolthe selectedoutput(Output
01inthe caseof theexampleshownhere).Dependingonwhich eventis selected,determineshowmanyedit
pagesare available, as allunrelatedoptions are suppressed tokeepthings clearer.
TheMIDIsourcesavailableforCV1are:Off,Notes,Controllers,PolyAftertouchandMonoAftertouch.
MIDI TO - NO EVENT
NoEventisbasically the OFF option, this only turns off CV1, CV2 is still active. There are then no
pagestoselectthat relate to CV1.
MIDITO - NOTEEVENT
Note Event selects MIDI notes to be used for CV1 output. 5 additional pages of options become
availablerelatingtonotes.
<B---->:Output01
CV Parameter
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:xxxxxxxxx
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:NoteEvent
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:NoEvent>>

MIDICHANNEL
TheMIDICHANNELpagesallowstheMIDIchanneltobeassignedtocontrolaparticularoutput
CV. Any channel between 1 and 16 can be selected here. In the example shown, output CV number 1 is
beingcontrolledbyMIDI channel1.
MODE
Modeis the keyingpriority for theselectedoutput, the optionsare:-
HighNote Whenplayedlegatoorpolyphonically,thehighest(top)notewill beused
High&Follow SameasHighNotemode, exceptthehighestnotewill retriggerwhenplayedlegato
orpolyphonicallyifahighernoteisreleased withanother noteheld down.
Low Note Ifplayed legatoorpolyphonically,the lowest(bottom)note willbeused
Low&Follow Sameas LowNote mode,exceptthelowestnote willretrigger whenplayed legato
orpolyphonically ifa lowernoteis releasedwith anothernoteheld down.
LastNote Howeverplayed, whatever thelastnote played, willbe used
---------- Reservedforfuture expansion
Poly1 Allows multiple CVoutputsto be settothe same MIDIchanneland played
polyphonically.
Poly1 &Priority AsPoly 1exceptpriority giventonote
Poly2 Same asPoly1, exceptwitha differentkeyreassignment system.
Poly2 & Priority sameasPoly 2, exceptprioritygiven to note.
BASENOTE
TheBaseNoteisthelowestnote thatcan beplayed fromthe keyboard.This isactually settingthenote
thatis assignedto aCVoutput of0V. Ideally, thisisthelowestC onthecontrollingkeyboard,any othernote
willtransposetheCVoutput.Note theuseof Germanmusicalterminology,whereBisshownas H,theupper
caseletters are negative values (C1 for example isC-1),andwith no number,indicatesthenormal bottom
noteofa5 octave keyboard (C = C0 which is MIDI note 36 - the note that a General MIDI Drum kit Bass
Drumis on). Becauseitis the basenotethat is beingchanged,it may appear thatthevalue knob increments
thepitch thewrong way-as youturn thecontrolclockwise andthe basenotegoes up- thepitchfalls. Thisis
correctand justaboutlogical ifyou giveitsome thought-which wewillnot gointo here.
EditCV1:Output01
Mode:xxxxxxxx
EditCV1:Output01
BaseNote :c1
EditCV1:Output01
Midichannel:001

NOTEFROM
Thissetting canbe abitdifficult tograsp, yetsimplewhen understood.This settingofFROM andthe
nextsetting ofTO,allowsa keyboardzoneto bespecified,essential alownote (From)anda high note(To)
that the output CV will work within. Most of the time, this will be set across the entire keyboard, with a
FROMsetting ofC3 (value=000) anda TOsettingof g6(value =127).So todefine afiveoctave keyboard
rangeFROM issetto Cand TOisset toc4,although thereisrarely anyneed to restrictthe range,soleaving
thedefault setting of FROM C3andTO g6 is advisable.
NOTETO
The upper note setting for the above Note FROM setting. If you set the TO lower than the FROM,
thenthis has the sameeffectas an off position,andno data will bepassed.
The next setting is SLEW, but before this, we will take a look at the different settings for different
settingsof MIDITO.
MIDITO - CONTROLLERS
MidiToControllerdefinestheMIDIcontroltoaMIDIcontrollerorarangeofcontrollers,whichisset
withthefollowingmenuitems.
MIDICHANNEL
TheMIDICHANNELpagesallowstheMIDIchanneltobeassignedtocontrolaparticularoutput
CV. Any channel between 1 and 16 can be selected here. In the example shown, output CV number 1 is
beingcontrolledbyMIDI channel1.
EditCV1:Output01
From:C3
EditCV1:Output01
to :g6
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:Controll.
EditCV1:Output01
Midichannel:001

FROM
TheFROMand TO (next item) parameters select which controller touse.Itispossible by using the
FROMand TO range to specifyjustone controller number (perhaps thisisthenormal mode anyway), ora
rangecan be specified - this could allow severalcontrollers to control the same destination, such asMod
wheel(controller 1)andbreath controller(Controller2).
WhereareservedfunctionisassignedtoaMIDIcontroller,thedisplaywillshowthatfunctionbyname
ratherthan number, suchascontroller 1is theModulationwheel andcontroller 7isChannel Volume.
TO
Thisisthe TOpart ofthecontrollerrangesetting.Ifyou setthe TOlowerthantheFROM,thenthis has
thesame effect as an off position, andnodatawill be passed.
Thenextsettingis SLEW,butbeforethis,we will take a look at more differentsettings for different
settingsof MIDI TO.
MIDI TO
MidiTo polyaftertouch definestheMIDI controlto polyphonicaftertouch.
MIDI CHANNEL, MODE, BASE NOTE, FROM, TO
ThesesettingsarethesameasthatforMIDIEVENT=Notes,pleaserefertothissectionatthebeginning
ofthissection.
MIDI TO
ThisselectsMIDItomonophonicaftertouch,whichistheaftertouchdatageneratedbymostkeyboards.
Therearenoadditionalparameterswithmonoaftertouch, sowe moveon towhere allthe othermenus pages
turnto next:-Slew
EditCV1:Output01
From:Modulation
EditCV1:Output01
To :Breath Ctrl
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:PolyAfter
EditCV1:Output01
Midito:MonoAfter

SLEW
This is where the Slew function is enabled or disabled. When on, the CV output voltage is slewed,
which means it’s rate of change is slightly lagged, this improves the limitation of the 7-bit MIDI system,
althoughfornoteinformation alonger settingwouldbeusedfor portamento.(The slewtime settingisunder
theCV2 parameters later on). With controllers, aftertouch and pitch bender, a greater smoothness can be
achievedusingslew.
Thenext parameters areonlyavailable if MIDI EVENTS=notes.
VELOCITY
TheVelocity mode determines what the velocity of theincoming MIDI note will be routed to. The
optionsare:-
ADSRAttack - Velocity controloverthe speed oftheAttack time intheADSR
ADSRDecay - Velocity controloverthe speed ofthe Decay timeinthe ADSR
ADSRSustain - VelocitycontrolovertheleveloftheSustainlevelin theADSR
ADSRrelease - Velocity controlover thetimeof theRelease timeinthe ADSR
ADSRM.Depth - Velocity controlover theoutputlevel ofthe ADSR
LFOM.Depth - Velocity control overthe output levelof the LFO
unused.... - forfutureexpansion
Slew-Rate - Velocity controlover theSlewratetime
Direct - Allowsthe velocity generated CV tobesent to any output CV
Allroutings canthenbe sentto upto4 separateoutputCV’s usingthefollowing menu
VELOCITYTO
TheVelocity To options allows up to 4definedoutputsfor the Velocity data tobesentto. In the
exampleshown above here, thevelocityCV is being senttooutput CV 5.
EditCV1:Output01
Slew :On >>
Veloci.:Output01
Mode:Direct
Veloci:Output01
>1--->:Output05