Muff's Modules & More

Khyber Pass

Total noob here assembling my first system.

So I want to control my eurorack system with an external MIDI-keyboard. To start with I'll probably just have a single, maybe two oscillators. But at some point I'll want polyphony, can any MIDI-module provide that? Or does it need to be built a certain way to facilitate it.

There's quite big price-differences out there, from Doepfer to Metasonix etc. Are the differences in performance and/or features that big?

As you've probably gathered I'm learning as I'm going here. Any advice much appreciated.

Drumdrumdrumdrum · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:14 am Post subject:

Welcome to the show.

For Poly ther is the Vermona, Kenton and the Expert Sleepers. Doepfer is working on one. I not sure of any others? I went for the ES-3

All the best

exper · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:16 am Post subject:

So far, the only module that will give you polyphony would be the vermona. (Help me out anyone else if I forgot one!)

All MIDI modules have unique functions, the Matasonix tunes to your oscillator, the Doepfer A-190 has a software LFO, extensive clock functions, the Kilpatrick has internal midi routings to other modules in their line...

It all depends on what you want and can pay, really. Tiptop is coming out with a range of modules that will be poly with proprietary connectors, so that they'll function like single modules but provide up to 8 notes. That's probably a long way off however!

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:24 am Post subject:

The Kenton K1600 can be used as a two voice module (or 4,6,8 etc, you can link multiple units)
The Vermona Quad Midi can be used for four voice (and there's a Doepfer quad voice coming out sooner than later).

There are Midi modules like the MIDIpal that can be used to control multiple single voice controllers (Doepfer's A-190, metasonix R-60 etc). It will assign each note played to a different midi channel, and then you just set-up each midi-cv module for those channels.

You can also go the "Expert Sleepers" route (check the subforum) for maximum CV/Gate control, but that will require you to have a computer between your MIDI instrument and the modular.

Khyber Pass · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:28 am Post subject:

Guess It's not as straight forward as I first thought. The Vermona looks nice, but expensive too. Guess I'll go for a monophonic solution to start with.

Khyber Pass · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

I'll have to check that MIDIpal, seems like a good way to go about it.

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

The MIDIpal is only available in Kit form ATM, hopefully it's released as a built module ASAP, because the amount of MIDI tools built into it are crazy, and a lot of people are missing out because they don't have the DIY skills/AVR programmer.

http://mutable-instruments.net/midipal

Feel free to eMail and hassle the guys at MI about releasing a prebuilt Module thumbs up

Khyber Pass · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:38 am Post subject:

Khyber Pass · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:03 am Post subject:

Looks like it's between the Kenton and the cheap Doepfer one. Unless someone can convince me I need the self-tuning capabilities of the Metasonix one. If there's anything else you think I should know about feel free to let me know (though I realise some things I just need to figure out by trying, looking forward to that bit hyper

).

evil wizards · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:59 pm Post subject:

The Kilpatrick can give you duophonic polyphony as well (or 2, 4, 6 etc with more units). His modules are very nicely made and intuitive to use despite some fairly complex functions. I'm anxious to see more offered to Euro from him.

suboptimal · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:38 pm Post subject:

I recently picked up the Kilpatrick and think it's a very nice piece of gear - nice clean design with a straightforward approach to settings. My only complaint about it so far is that it doesn't have an option to start and stop the clock with external midi transport, so I can't (for example) start and stop my sequencers with my Machinedrum as I'd hoped to do. I had an email exchange with Andrew about this and am hoping there's an update down the line that adds this as an option.

Andrew's response to my questions was great - top notch dude. It's easy to recommend his products.

PhineasFreak · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject:

kenton pro2000 mkII does up to 5 voice poly with both note and gate signals,
or 8 for just 1v/oct pitch, or a number of combos of note/gate plus gen. purp. cv for filters etc, but if you dont already have a sound interface with midi out and midi sequencers etc, then expert sleepers is probably a cheaper bet...

Khyber Pass · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the input guys. I've definetely found the right forum.

well, expert sleepers would probably be the rational choice, but I have arbitrarily chosen to not involve my laptop in this.

The heart of my setup will probably be my AKAI MPC2500. But how I will end up using the eurorack, i simply don't know yet. Having it accept both start and stop signals from the MPC would probably be good, but I could most likely work around it.

Both suggested Kenton's look good, and so does the Kilpatrick. Hmmm... Another possible solution would be having several cheap MIDI-modules and have them control different things. I have 4 MIDI outs on my MPC, so no trouble there. That way I could get started with spending less money on this and more on the things that make cool sounds. I think maybe this is where I'm going.

Banalism · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:42 pm Post subject:

I've had a very happy time with both the ES-3 and the Doepfer A-190. Had a very unhappy time with the Metasonix and had to sell it sadly....

Neo · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:05 am Post subject:

AFAIK the Kenton midi/cv units are the only ones that do auto portamento (i.e. glide when you overlap 2 notes)

radiodread87 · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:24 am Post subject:

I quite enjoy the Kilaptrick K1600. Because it is chainable but also because it can be linked to the Pattern generator and Sequencer of theirs so together makes a pretty cool combo. Seems to be a whole bunch of Midi to CV stuff available now.

I must admit though that I really enjoy the Expert sleepers stuff (the more I use it the more I like it) but its not Midi and you would need a computer for it so if thats not your workflow then its probably not your game.

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:29 am Post subject:

ohhhh I can't wait nanners

radiodread87 · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:31 am Post subject:

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:33 am Post subject:

nah no hurry mate, I should be finishing of this pcb design, new modules = Mass destraction for me hihi

metallum · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 2:22 am Post subject:

I was a fan of a-190-1 but since I got problems with clock sync, I hate it.
Its good but no sync. Only off sync..:(
I became a fan of ES3 its very versatile for a DAW, and also went for Vermona for hardware config.