coolshirtdotjpg wrote:Having owned three from two different manufacturers I can assure you, you are wrong.
I love how secure you are in your opinion, let's see what points you raise to back up what you say:
1. none of the CV to MIDI under $400 actually converts you sequences without weird glitches or added notes.
First off, you don't know that this does everything perfectly; not yet. (apologies
Befaco, I trust you nailed it, but I reserve my judgement until after I've tested this). I haven't had major problems with any of the modules I've been using. If you've had problems with the a-192-2 check that your gates arrive after your sequencer's pitch is on the right value.
Also, good luck with that attitude. CV-to-MIDI means you need to embrace the glitchiness; somewhat. It's not a perfect translation. I'm testing the modules in audio-rate just to see how far they can be pushed. If the synth at the end gives in before the module does, then the module passes the test.
2. none of them offer more than 2 channels (under $400)
ADDAC222 is 360 euros, four channels. Doepfer a-192-1 is 16 inputs and it was cheaper than the Befaco or the ADDAC.
3. None of them have easily assignable midi parameters (a screen versus inaccessible dip switch programming (I'm not an arcade machine repairman!)
ADDAC221 uses a simple computer app and sports on-board attenuation & offset, which is really cool. You can also switch between 9 presets (Befaco seems to have two if I recall correctly).
I really prefer the Befaco programming method, which I personally checked during SB19, but the ADDAC has been around for a few years so I don't think you're right to complain about the previous modules being difficult to program. They are not. The Doepfer a-192-1, which is the one with the dip switches, is just as easy: you can set via the dip switch once and then use the computer to program. When I talked with Befaco about their design the first thing I pointed out was that an on-board programming method would distance this from other modules. My first experience with this module is that the menu is easy to navigate, but if you want performable changes the 222's MIDI channel switches are still a better option. So there are still ups and downs with each design, there's no perfect solution. For instance, most designs have a MIDI input that can merge incoming signals, the Befaco does not. You'd need a MIDI merger to pull that off. So, someone might prefer that to having an external module as the controller.
4. none of them have hands on controllers built in.
What are you even talking about? The ADDAC ones have all the controls you could possibly want! Really nice options on both the 221 and the 222, including switches, attenuators, offsets, octave switches, etc.
5. none of them have Note, Gate, CC all at once.
Doepfer a-192-1 does all of the above. Doesn't do V/oct pitch but it can do NoteOn/Off. Before you say it doesn't and that Doepfer says so on his website, be advised:
it does and I've used it as such a lot of times so, no, Dieter is actually wrong on his site about this. Also the SDS_VCO does Notes and CC as well, so there's that option at 3hp. The a-192-2 can do two CC messages as well as V/Oct. It also has a nice transposition input.
6. none of them have DIY options.
Not true. mxmxmx's CV2MIDI (or C2M on Modular Grid) is only available as DIY. It's also open source, so guess what, you can program your own 5-channel version in 10hp.
Like I said, holy grail. If you have used any of the CV to midi options in euro, you will know what I mean. Read any of the threads on it.
I currently own the following: a-192-1, 2 x a-192-2, ADDAC221, ADDAC222, 2 x mxmxmx CV2MIDI, SDS_VCO (has a MIDI firmware in case you didn't know), Iungo, Ladik M218, Ladik M217, the Ladik Clock-to-MIDI clock, some non Eurorack options, as well as some modules that aren't available yet. I've also tested vpme.de's trig31 and the ES Disting for a while, but I haven't tried the uTune, at least not yet. I want to get it at some point. So yeah, welcome to club. I've been doing CV-to-MIDI for a bit, it's not a new thing.
I'm also very excited about the Befaco design for a while, but holy grail? Really? I see your point (even though you got 0/6 points - you shouldn't be so secure in your opinion next time. Saying that someone is wrong to their face doesn't make you look clever. There's actually some very knowledgeable people around these parts.) but that doesn't warrant "
waiting for it for years" when there are few comparable options out there with some strengths over this design.
Still, I'm excited about it as well. I'm buying it as soon as it comes out, so let's be friends
