Muff's Modules & More

Waz · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject: MOTU Volta n00b question

I am almost at my final decision for my first set of modules for my eurorack system. I've been reading a lot about the MOTU volta plug in and I have to say it looks awesome. Should I even bother buying LFO's or MIDI to CV if I get a MOTU? My original plan called for the livewire vulcan modulator and the dual cyclotron and MAYBE a midi to cv in the future.

I hear everyone raving about volta. What are your thoughts? What else can this plug in do?

parasitk · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

People are raving about it conceptually at this point. No one but Stretta has actually used it! razz

I'd wait and see, but honestly I'd always want some hardware LFOs and stuff around. MIDI/CV I'd skip, but that's just me.

Waz · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject:

parasitk · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject:

I think it's more a question of if the ProTools interface is DC coupled. I believe the idea is that the plug could work with more than just MOTU interfaces. Honestly though Pro Tools is such a closed system that you might be better off going the MIDI/CV route coupled with actual LFO/EG modules. Time will tell!

I wouldn't plan around something that doesn't exist yet, though!

Waz · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject:

b3nsf · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

Doepfer offers their MCV4 midi to CV for about 180$ Hard to beat that. And its standalone which volta is not....

parasitk · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:

From what I can tell it's going to be a straight up AU (and maybe MAS) plugin (on the Mac side, no idea about Windows). I'd ask Stretta directly!

http://motu-volta.blogspot.com/

Waz · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject:

ignatius · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

volta or no volta LFO's and modulators are always handy and necessary. i don't think i'd use volta 100% of the time if i had it.

also, i'd want a real LFO to do it's think instead of something that's always synced to some clock etc. i'd want the 'random' non-synced modulations going on to get those unplanned unexpected things to happen. besides, you can use LFO's for all kinds of things especially if they are fast enough to go into audio range.

I'd plan your modular as if a computer doesn't exist then when volta comes together and is available you can take advantage of it if you like. just my 2 cents

xpander · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject:

i would hold off & wait for volta to hit as it sounds potentially much, much better than any existing cv/midi box. it als depends on how you plan to use it and what you're using it with of course.

ndkent · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject:

Well holding off getting LFOs is a bit extreme, surely if you are going to bother using a modular then you'd want actual LFOs you can tweak with real knobs and hopefully patch into to modulate (there are a few bargain LFOs out there that just have a knob and free-run, that kind of LFO is more in peril)

I'd hold off before you get an expensive MIDI to CV. I'd definitely hold off if you have a genuine CV keyboard. But if you are using midi keys as a controller keyboard because you have nothing else you might want a basic MIDI to CV converter so you don't have to rely on booting and configuring everything if you just want to play or maybe take a smaller gig live. I don't know but it might be overkill for a small basic system

I see as a plus that Volta seems to be able to make wayward VCOs play in tune. I suspect many people get frustrated with their new VCOs because they are new modulars and don't have a strategy to scale their CV and or don't know when to calibrate and either give up or blame the module.

I also see it as answer to someone wanting many channels of tight editable CV control more than a replacement for a simple basic MIDI to CV unit .