Mutable Instruments CVPal

Nantonos · Post by **Nantonos** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:22 pm

gwaidan wrote: Olivier goes into a lot of detail about it and why it doesn't work too well with Windows here:

http://www.mutable-instruments.net/foru ... y-treat/p1

Basically it's using an ATTiny to run everything, including USB. This means the USB has to run at low-speed,

OK well, poor choice of platform. Bit-banged USB when there are AVR devices like ATMEGA 32U4 with full USB hardware support at very low cost? I understand the point about DIY friendliness and through-hole vs. SMD, but through-hole freindly devices exist, like the Teensy which has hardware USB (and a fully class-compliant USB MIDI stack that works out of the box on Windows, Mac and Linux).

Boofin Moonrocks · Post by **Boofin Moonrocks** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:35 pm

Could you use a midi to usb cable plugged directly into this to function as a cheap midi to cv converter? Or do those midi to usb adapters need to be run into a computer first?

whitewulfe · Post by **whitewulfe** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:42 pm

Could be interesting, and seems like a nice feature set.... But doesn't work with Windows, so it's not even in my sights.

radar24 · Post by **radar24** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 2:56 am

wow

so will this be only in euro format?
something like MIDIpal size would be cool!!

oscillateur · Post by **oscillateur** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:25 am

It will be a kit with either a 4HP eurorack panel or a small plexiglass case.
It's in the second post in this thread

.

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:19 pm

This product aims at solving a very, very specific problem: give modularists and analog enthusiasts something ridiculously easy to build, for a very good price point, which can be extremely useful - within some fully-disclosed boundaries and limitations.

- This thing is a USB device - this means that it needs to be connected to a host (computer, tablet, smartphone). It cannot be connected to another device like a USB controller. It would be like connecting a mic to headphones or unpowered speakers. Benefits: it doesn't need power.

- The choice of platform is lame and I'm foolish. But I doubt that using a TQFP44 chip for a beginner DIY kit, or using a $16 third party development board for something whose target cost is under 40Ã¢â€šÂ¬ are wiser. Additional benefit besides cost/DIY-friendliness: the price doesn't include any development cost because it mostly reuses code from existing MI projects and a platform I know really, really well.

- This thing is class compliant, but takes advantage of some leniency in OS X and Linux' implementations of USB. There's hope it might work with third party drivers modified to pair with it.

Some limitations you might want to be aware of:
- 4V output range for CV.
- 5V output for gates.
- Needs software calibration (which turns out to be an advantage since it makes it more accurate than offset/scale trimmers)

radar24 · Post by **radar24** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:18 am

oscillateur wrote:It will be a kit with either a 4HP eurorack panel or a small plexiglass case.
It's in the second post in this thread .

wow great!

MrBiggs · Post by **MrBiggs** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:42 am

When I first saw this I thought of lots of uses. But then when I read about it and thought more, I understand it won't do what I imagined. (Meaning, I wanted to plug in my Op-1 or iPhone and run my modular, but realized quickly that's not what this is for, nor capable of doing.)

So other than a starter DIY project, what exactly is a perfect use of this? Say, like, running a MIDI sequence in Ableton, selecting the CVPal as a destination, and more or less sending CV and a gate to the modular?

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:52 am

Say, like, running a MIDI sequence in Ableton, selecting the CVPal as a destination, and more or less sending CV and a gate to the modular?

Yes, or from an iPad (but not from an OP-1 because it is a USB device - not a USB host - and not from an iPhone for no particular reason besides the fact that Apple said so)

MrBiggs · Post by **MrBiggs** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:55 am

Thanks sir.
I didn't mention the iPad since I don't have one nor want one, but for the sake of information I'm glad you did.

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:01 am

I am not expert in iThings, but it seems that the CVpal could be used with a jailbroken iPhone

Soundifferent · Post by **Soundifferent** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:50 am

Just imagine connecting it to an iPad running Lemur...

StereoNode · Post by **StereoNode** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:45 pm

Need this!

Thinksyncopated · Post by **Thinksyncopated** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:57 pm

when will this be available?

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:58 pm

Boards delivered tomorrow. Will build one and test tomorrow or monday. Will sell a small run (10-20) on monday to see if something needs to be fixed. Will scale up later - in mid-november, after I get feedback from all builders.

fate · Post by **fate** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:30 am

is it possible for these to send stuff like pitch bending and velocity over the usb?

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:32 am

Pitch-bending is directly applied to the note CV. In the standard "monophonic mode", OUT 1 = note CV, OUT 2 = velocity CV.

fate · Post by **fate** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:32 am

thanks i just asked the same question on the MI forum as well, when will more be available?

elektrokick · Post by **elektrokick** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:37 am

Love this concept. Got a couple of questions.

Will it draw power over USB when hooked up to an iPad and Camera Connection Kit?

How do you switch between the different "modes" (monophonic, duophonic, trigger etc)?

fate · Post by **fate** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 11:18 am

I'm wondering the same

ben_hex · Post by **ben_hex** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 4:48 pm

radiokoala wrote:Wow, looks like what everybody was waiting for for years!

CVpal is an upcoming DIY kit from Mutable Instruments. It is a simple 2-channel USB->CV/Gate interface.

Conversion modes:

* Single channel with velocity and "bonus stage" square digital oscillator.
* Dual monophonic.
* Duophonic.
* CC to CV conversion.
* 4-Triggers.

Other features:

* Only 26 parts to solder, good project for beginners!
* USB-powered.
* Available in mini plexi case or 4HP eurorack panel.
* OS X > 10.6.4, iOS or Linux.

No mention of the mini plexitone case. But that would be useful for saving HP

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:08 pm

Will it draw power over USB when hooked up to an iPad and Camera Connection Kit?

Yes - actually it is fully USB-powered. It draws about 15mA.

How do you switch between the different "modes" (monophonic, duophonic, trigger etc)?

By selecting on which MIDI channel the notes or CC are sent. Manual here

The plexi panels + spacers will be a 10Ã¢â€šÂ¬ extra.

ben_hex · Post by **ben_hex** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:27 am

The plexi panels + spacers will be a 10Ã¢â€šÂ¬ extra.[/quote]

Is this a totally separate little plexi container thing so it can be outside the case? Any pics?

pichenettes · Post by **pichenettes** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:33 am

ben_hex wrote:The plexi panels + spacers will be a 10Ã¢â€šÂ¬ extra.

Is this a totally separate little plexi container thing so it can be outside the case? Any pics?[/quote]

It's a "grabbling depreviator" - it depreviates you from grabbling it. You can use it to keep the CVPal out of the case. With a bit of luck you'll get a bonus little organic cotton bag for it and your camera connection kit

ben_hex · Post by **ben_hex** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:01 pm

pichenettes wrote:

Looks great, I know most will want everything in the case but I like the idea of just sitting this on top or to the side for when I might not more connectivity.

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Mutable Instruments CVPal