Doepfer MCV24 User Manual

DOEPFER

MCV24

MIDI-CV/GA TE/SYNC INTERF ACE

Pr eliminary English owners manual

written by EMIS (C) 1999 Revision 1.0 July 1999

Frontpanel

Controls and connections

1

5 6 7 8 9

1 32 character backlit LCD screen.
2 12 outputs using an 8-bit DAC optimised for 0~10V output
3 Start/Stop LED indicator controlled by MIDI input. (linked to pin 1 of Sync socket)
4 Clock LED indicator controlled by MIDI clock. (linked to pin 3 of Sync socket)

Dual function controls - Rotary and Push
5 {Rotary} - Output select - selects one of the 24 outputs for programming

{Push} - Enters the value selected with rotary selection

6 {Rotary} - Menu select - selects which page of parameters to edit

{Push} - Enters the selected parameter for use selected with rotary selection

7 {Rotary} - V alue select - selects a value for the current parameter

{Push} - Enters the value selected by the rotary control for useage

2

3 4

10 11

8 4 outputs using a 12-bit DAC optimised for -2~8V at one volt per octave scaling
9 8 outputs using an 8-bit DAC optimised for 0~10v at one volt per octave scaling
10 Start/Stop output. (linked to pin 1 of Sync socket)
11 Clock output (linked to pin 3 of Sync socket)

Back panel

16

12 MIDI out is also the thru of the MIDI input
13 MIDI input
14 Sync output with programmable divide ratio of MIDI clock
15 LCD Contrast - adjusts the viewing angle for the LCD
16 Power switch

12 13 14 15

MCV24 Overview

The MCV24 is a flexible MIDI to analogue interface, and any of it’s 24 outputs can be configured for
any purpose such as control voltages for VCO pitch, control voltages for any modulation destination (such as
VCF or VCA), triggers or gates. Outputs 1 to 4 are higher precision 12-bit DAC’s, whilst the rest are 8-bit
DAC’s, outputs 1 to 12 are optimised for one volt per octave scaling, but can also be set to Hertz/volt scaling
(like most Korg and Y amaha instruments). All outputs have a programmable slew control to reduce digital
quantisation inherent in a 7-bit MIDI system, in fact this slew control on the analogue side can produce a
smoother control voltage from an 8-bit converter than some 16-bit converters manage without the slew
control.

Each CV output has programmable offset and range along with a secondary CV that is mixed with the
first one, and can be any MIDI event or controller.

24 software driven voltage controlled LFO’ s each with selectable waveforms, waveshapes (including

random), MIDI syncable, output offset and rate control - one for each of the available outputs

24 software driven voltage controlled ADSR envelopes - one for each of the available outputs

24 software driven voltage controlled slew limiters for portamento or filtering quantisation.

Modulation matrix allows up to 6 patches per output, modulation of any source to any destination

Independent keying modes for each output including high note, low note, last note and poly modes

All outputs can be set for volt per octave or hertz per volt scaling

Calibration of all tuning and scaling done from the front panel - no trimmer presets to adjust

Programmable clock division from MIDI clock, plus clock inversion option

16 non-volatile memories (remembers when switched off), to suit varying system requirements.

Programmable memories can be named

Start/Stop output on front panel converts MIDI transport

5-pin DIN sync socket output on rear panel, can be programmed to any standard such as 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
particular function, that is exactly what it does, so once programmed, changing presets is probably the only
operation required on the MCV24. However, a full understanding of what the MCV24 will do and how to set
it up is a vital element that must be learned first. As the requirement of a MIDI to CV interface is likely to be
different for everyone, it is difficult to generate “factory” presets, as the instruments to which it is going to be
used with is an unknown factor . Assuming it is most likely to be a Doepfer A-100 system is fine, except it
would still be unknown what kind of control is needed. So, unlike most pieces of equipment, we have to start
learning the MCV24 by programming, rather than calling up a few factory presets to experiment with.

If you absolutely must try to make the MCV24 work straight away , try connecting the CV1 output to
a VCO input, and CV13 output to the Gate input, and transmit your MIDI input on channel 1, but when you
need to know why - read on.

Controls

Perhaps the first control to mention is the LCD contrast control on the rear panel, this should only need
to be set once, and if needed to be altered a small screwdriver is needed, as the control is recessed behind the
back panel. In most cases, it will be unnecessary to adjust this control anyway .

The front panel has 3 controls OUTPUT , MENU and V ALUE, although these are actually dual controls
as they have a press action as well to select the item selected by them. The MENU controls which parameter
to edit, the VALUE knob is used to change the value (pressing the knob actually enters the data), and the
OUTPUT knob selects which of the 24 outputs to be edited.

In most examples shown here, Output 01 is used and shown, but the operations relate to all 24 outputs.

MENUS

There are 7 pages of operation within the menu, labelled A to G.

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

Turning the MENU control moves between the pages. T urn the MENU knob anticlockwise until the
screen below is shown. (If you are into a deeper menu, you will need to press the MENU knob to return to
this page.

MENU-A

A----->:Output01

Doepfer MCV24

The first page is actually just an information page, and reminds you that you have a Doepfer MCV24,
however, if you press the MENU knob, the installed operating system version and release date is displayed.

V1.0 15.06.99

(c) Doepfer GmbH

MENU-B

<B---->:Output01

CV Parameter

There are two CV’s per output which are mixed together , CV1 and CV2 have different options available
with some cross over, though CV1 is the only one that can be assigned notes, and CV2 is the only one that
can be assigned pitch bender for example.

CV P ARAMETER

The CV Parameter menu holds many pages, as this section is where most of the settings live. 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, turn the knob anticlockwise until the screen as shown below is on the screen).

MIDI TO

EditCV1:Output01

Midito:xxxxxxxxx

The MIDI T o function selects which MIDI event will be assigned to control the selected output (Output
01 in the case of the example shown here). Depending on which event is selected, determines how many edit
pages are available, as all unrelated options are suppressed to keep things clearer .

The MIDI sources available for CV1 are: Off, Notes, Controllers, Poly Aftertouch and Mono Aftertouch.

MIDI TO - NO EVENT

EditCV1:Output01

Midito:NoEvent>>

No Event is basically the OFF option, this only turns off CV1, CV2 is still active. There are then no
pages to select that relate to CV1.

MIDI TO - NOTE EVENT

EditCV1:Output01

Midito:NoteEvent

Note Event selects MIDI notes to be used for CV1 output. 5 additional pages of options become
available relating to notes.

MIDI CHANNEL

EditCV1:Output01

Midichannel:001

The MIDI CHANNEL pages allows the MIDI channel to be assigned to control a particular output
CV. Any channel between 1 and 16 can be selected here. In the example shown, output CV number 1 is
being controlled by MIDI channel 1.

MODE

EditCV1:Output01

Mode:xxxxxxxx

Mode is the keying priority for the selected output, the options are:-

High Note When played legato or polyphonically , the highest (top) note will be used

High & Follow Same as High Note mode, except the highest note will retrigger when played legato

or polyphonically if a higher note is released with another note held down.
Low Note If played legato or polyphonically, the lowest (bottom) note will be used
Low & Follow Same as Low Note mode, except the lowest note will retrigger when played legato

or polyphonically if a lower note is released with another note held down.
Last Note However played, whatever the last note played, will be used

---------- Reserved for future expansion
Poly 1 Allows multiple CV outputs to be set to the same MIDI channel and played

polyphonically.
Poly 1 & Priority As Poly 1 except priority given to note
Poly 2 Same as Poly 1, except with a different key reassignment system.
Poly 2 & Priority same as Poly 2, except priority given to note.

BASE NOTE

EditCV1:Output01

BaseNote :c1

The Base Note is the lowest note that can be played from the keyboard. This is actually setting the note

that is assigned to a CV output of 0V . Ideally , this is the lowest C on the controlling keyboard, any other note
will transpose the CV output. Note the use of German musical terminology, where B is shown as H, the upper
case letters are negative values (C1 for example is C-1), and with no number, indicates the normal bottom
note of a 5 octave keyboard (C = C0 which is MIDI note 36 - the note that a General MIDI Drum kit Bass
Drum is on). Because it is the base note that is being changed, it may appear that the value knob increments
the pitch the wrong way - as you turn the control clockwise and the base note goes up - the pitch falls. This is
correct and just about logical if you give it some thought - which we will not go into here.

NOTE FROM

EditCV1:Output01

From:C3

This setting can be a bit difficult to grasp, yet simple when understood. This setting of FROM and the

next setting of TO, allows a keyboard zone to be specified, essential a low note (From) and a high note (T o)
that the output CV will work within. Most of the time, this will be set across the entire keyboard, with a
FROM setting of C3 (value = 000) and a TO setting of g6 (value = 127). So to define a five octave keyboard
range FROM is set to C and TO is set to c4, although there is rarely any need to restrict the range, so leaving
the default setting of FROM C3 and TO g6 is advisable.

NOTE TO

EditCV1:Output01

to :g6

The upper note setting for the above Note FROM setting. If you set the TO lower than the FROM,

then this has the same effect as an off position, and no data will be passed.

The next setting is SLEW , but before this, we will take a look at the different settings for dif ferent

settings of MIDI TO.

MIDI TO - CONTROLLERS

EditCV1:Output01

Midito:Controll.

Midi T o Controller defines the MIDI control to a MIDI controller or a range of controllers, which is set

with the following menu items.

MIDI CHANNEL

EditCV1:Output01

Midichannel:001

The MIDI CHANNEL pages allows the MIDI channel to be assigned to control a particular output

CV. Any channel between 1 and 16 can be selected here. In the example shown, output CV number 1 is
being controlled by MIDI channel 1.