Kenton Modular Solo User Manual

MODULAR SOLO

MODULAR SOLO

MODULAR SOLOMODULAR SOLO

MIDI-CV converter for Eurorack modular synths

Operating manual

Warning -
DO NOT ADJUST THE TRIMMERS ON THE PC BOARD.
These are for factory setup ONLY.
All adjustments to scale and tuning are made using the
editing system on the front panel. Parameters 12-15.

_________________________________________________________________________

FCC STATEMENT FOR MODULAR SOLO

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:

-- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

-- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

-- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.

-- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

______________________________________________________________________

2

SOLO

INTRODUCTION

Analogue

synth

MIDI OUT

AUX,

Filter, Gate, CV

The MODULAR SOLO is designed for use in Eurorack (A100) modular systems. It is much
more than just a MIDI to CV converter as it incorporates a built in LFO as well as portamento
and many other functions. Please take some time to read through this manual prior to first
use to avoid any operational difficulties.

CONNECTIONS

Computer

MIDI IN

MIDI OUT

MIDI Master

keyboard

MIDI IN

Gate, CV

MODULAR

POWER RIBBON

Plug one end of the supplied ribbon cable into the free slot on the Modular Solo and other end into the
backplane of your modular case. Ensure you get the polarity correct. See page 17 for diagram.

CV (Hz/V)

Plug this into the input marked CV IN, VCO IN, KEY VOLT or KYBD IN etc. on your mono-synth. This
controls the pitch of your synth. (What pitch to play)

GATE (S-Trig)

Plug this into the input marked GATE, V-trig, Trig, S-Trig, etc. on your mono-synth. This turns the note
on and off on your synth. (When to play)

AUXes 1,2,3,4 [continuously variable aux output]

Plug this into the input marked VCF, fcM, PWM, VCA, Filter, Volume, or any other external control
voltage input on your mon-synth. This enables you to control effects such as filter cut-off using MIDI
controllers. (Velocity, mod wheel, etc.) Note: not all mono-synths have such additional control inputs.

CLOCK 1 [digital aux output]

Use this as a clock connection or to control stop/start inputs. Signal is either zero or 5v/10v.

CLOCK 2 [digital aux out]

Use this as a clock connection or to control stop/start or trig inputs. Signal is either zero or 5v/10v.

SYNC 24 – (available from the MIDI out by selecting using socket select parameter 91

Connect to an input
this system.

PRESETS [in memory locations 1 to 32]
As supplied, or after a full reset, presets 1 to 26 are all loaded with the default setup for use with an
SH-101. This setup is suitable for a lot of other standard CV / Gate synths too. The following presets
for other synths are loaded into the following locations. See page 3 for how to load setups.

Prog Synth Changes from default (SH-101) setup

#32 Roland SH-09 (also Moog Prodigy mk1 with KE skts) Gate 15V
#31 Minimoog S-trig, coarse tune –5 semitones
#30 Other Moog S-trig, coarse tune zero
#29 Korg MS-20 S-trig, Hz/V
#28 Yamaha CS-10 S-trig with 5V pullup, Hz/V
#27 ARP2600 (also Odyssey mk1+KE skts) Gate 15V, Aux1 set to TRIG

marked SYNC 24 or DIN SYNC to synchronise the clock of a device which uses

3

ter mode

Value

mode

EDITING THE MODULAR SOLO

Switching On

When the MODULAR SOLO is switched on, the words KENTON MODULAR SOLO scroll across the
display, and the unit reverts to the settings from when it was last used.

The Display

The display has 3 digits each with a dot above. The 1st dot when lit indicates that PARAMETER mode
is currently selected. The middle dot when lit indicates that VALUE mode is currently selected. The 3rd
dot will light whenever the MODULAR SOLO’s GATE is on (key pressed or sustained).

Parame

Gate On

Minus

Stepping Through Parameters

Ensure that the PARAMETER dot is lit. If you need to, you can change between PARAMETER and
VALUE modes by briefly pressing the SELECT button, you can then use the INC and DEC buttons to

scroll through the available parameters. The available parameters are printed on the case of the
MODULAR SOLO for convenience. For additional confirmation, a “P” will appear in the left digit
whenever parameter mode is selected and the parameter name will scroll across the display.

Changing Values

Ensure that the VALUE dot is lit. You can change between PARAMETER and VALUE modes by briefly
pressing the SELECT button. You can then use the INC and DEC buttons to scroll through the
available values. The left digit is used for displaying the hundreds portion of the value if applicable. It
will also have a horizontal dash if a minus value is to be displayed. Minus values up to –127, or positive
values up to 255 are used. The display will automatically revert to parameter mode after approximately
10 seconds if neither inc or dec are pressed. The value you have edited will then be saved to ‘edit’
memory which will be remembered next time you use the MODULAR SOLO.
To speed up editing, the INC and DEC keys will repeat if held. To go faster still, when holding the INC
key then also press and hold the DEC key. Similarly, when holding the DEC key, also press and hold
the INC key.

Storing Setups

Any value you change is automatically stored when reverting to parameter mode (either manually or
after the 10 second timeout). You can also store the current setup to a memory location in the range 1
to 32. These can be recalled at a later date.

To store: select parameter 99, press the SELECT button to show the value, and use the INC and
DEC buttons to select the location you want to store to. Now press & hold the SELECT button (for

approx. 6 seconds) until the display reads ‘sto’ (store).

Loading Setups

To load: select parameter 98, press the SELECT button to show the value, and use the INC and DEC
buttons to select the location you want to load from. Now press & hold the SELECT button (for approx.
6 seconds) until the display reads ‘lod’ (load). You can also load setups using program changes if this
feature is enabled (default is off). See parameter #93 (prog receive enable).

4

PARAMETERS

Below is a list of parameters available to edit. The letters in square brackets show
[where applicable] what will be shown on the LED display.

See page 20 for a full list of all parameters to use as a handy reference.

Menu
number Parameter (default)

CV & Gate Outputs -

P 01 MIDI receive channel (default :1)

Range 1 to 16

- Sets the MIDI receive channel.

P 02 Retrig Time (default: 5 = 1mS)

Range off [off] and 1 to 25 (0.2mS to 5mS)

- If set to off (normal trigger mode), the gate just stays on when a new note is played. (no re-trigger)
If set to a number, a valid new note will briefly turn off the gate to retrigger the envelope generators of
your mono-synth. (multiple trigger). The numbers relate to the off time in 0.2mS steps approximately.

P 03 Note priority (default: new)

The following can be selected:
New note priority [nn]
Low note priority [lo]
High note priority [hi]

- Sets the note priority for the converter.
If set to "nn" then the newest valid note played takes precedence.
If set to "lo" then the lowest valid note played takes precedence.
If set to "hi" then the highest valid note played takes precedence.
NB The MODULAR SOLO has a 5 note buffer memory so that trill effects can be achieved.

P 04 Pitchbend range (default: 2)

Range 0 to 12 semitones.

- The pitch bend range can be changed in semitone steps from zero to 12 semitones

P 05 Portamento controller number (default: 65)

- Sets which MIDI controller will turn on/off the portamento function.

The following can be selected:

On [on] always on
Off [of] always off
Auto portamento [AU] normally off but legato playing turns portamento on
MIDI controllers #0 to 119 data values of 64 and above =on, 63 and below =off

The standard MIDI controller for portamento on/off is #65 which is the default, but with this command ,
the MODULAR SOLO allows you to use another controller, direct control or Auto Portamento if you
wish.

5

P 06 Portamento time / rate (default :98)

Range 1 to 127

- Sets the portamento (glide or slide) time. This can also be adjusted in real time over MIDI using
controller #5 (portamento time). This number is just a value, it is not calibrated in mS or any other unit.
To turn portamento off, set portamento controller (parameter 05) to off, don’t use this parameter.

P 07 Portamento type (default : fixed rate)

The following can be selected:
Fixed rate [Fr]
Fixed time [Ft]

- Fixed rate causes the portamento to slide at the rate set in 06, so that the slide time is proportional to
the interval between the start and finish notes.

- Fixed time will attempt to keep the time taken for the slide to be constant, regardless of the interval
between the start and finish notes. (In extreme cases this is not always possible)

P 08 LFO to CV controller number (default: 1)

Sets which controller will affect modulation amount of the CV output. The following can be selected:
Off [oFF]
Pitch bend [Pbd]
Velocity [VEL]
Aftertouch [AFt]
MIDI controllers 0 to 119

P 09 LFO to CV minimum value (default: 0)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level for LFO to CV modulation when the MIDI controller source is at its minimum.
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

Why would I want to do this? – You may want a pre-set amount of modulation applied at all times

P 10 LFO to CV maximum value (default: 50)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level for LFO to CV modulation when the MIDI controller source is at its maximum.
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

Why would I want to do this? – The modulation amount at mod-wheel maximum may be too great or
too little

P 11 LFO to CV reset value (default: 0)

Range 0 to +127

- Sets the level the LFO to CV modulation will reset to when the MODULAR SOLO is powered on or
when it receives a controller reset MIDI command or a new setup is loaded from memory. This is
equivalent to a MIDI message of this value being received, so it will be influenced by min and max
settings above.

Why would I want to do this? – You may want a pre-set amount of modulation that can however be
turned off later using the mod wheel

P 12 Coarse Tune / Transpose (default: 0)

Range -24 to +24

- Changing this will change the tuning of the mono-synth in semi-tone steps. If your synth does not
play C when you play a MIDI C (note#36), use this to make it as near as possible.

Why would I want to do this? – Your synth might not play a C when zero volts CV is applied to it, either
because it is out of adjustment, or maybe it was designed that way (e.g. Minimoog – zero volts = F)

6

P 13 Fine tune (default: 0)

Range -127 to +127 (approximately a semitone each way – use P12 above if you need more)

- Fine tunes the mono-synth. This moves all notes up and down by the same amount.

P 14 Scale (default: 0)

Range -127 to +127

- This is used to tune in the octave scaling of your analogue synth. It will only need adjusting if your
synth sounds out of tune as you play further up the keyboard (see ‘Tuning in Your Analogue Synth’). ­Check whether CV type select has been set correctly (see ‘P 15’ below).
Note C (MIDI note#36) will not move (assuming transpose is not in operation) so get that in tune first
then tune the C two octaves above that by using this parameter.

P 15 CV – Hz/V – 1.2V/oct select (default: CV)

- This should be set to V/oct [CV] for connecting to most synths, such as Roland, SCI, Octave,
Oberheim or Moog synths. Set it to Hz/V [Hz] if you are using either Yamaha or Korg mono-synths
(except the Monopoly which is volt per octave). A very small number of synths use 1.2 volts per octave
[12] (one tenth of a volt per semitone) – in which case select this option.

P 16 Gate type select (default: G 05)

- you can select the following types for the GATE output:

Gate V-Trig +5v [g 05]
Gate V-Trig +10v [g 10]
Gate V-Trig max [g 12] (just over 11v)

Gate is the most common signal used for telling a synth when to play its note. The 10v level Gate is
suitable for most synths, such as Roland, SCI, ARP, Oberheim. The 5V level gate may be needed for
synths that require a lower gate voltage such as the SH-101.

S-trig +5v pull-up [S 05]
S-trig +10v pull-up [S 10]
S-trig max pull-up [S 12] (just over 11v)

S-trig +5v pullup would be used for most Moogs & Korgs, and the Yamaha CS range instead of Gate.

AUX1 output

P 20 AUX 1 controller number (default: 16)

- Sets which MIDI controller will control the auxiliary output. The following can be selected:
Off [oFF]
Pitch bend [Pbd]
Velocity [VEL]
Aftertouch [AFt]
MIDI controllers 0-119

P 21 AUX 1 minimum value (default: 0)

Range -27 to +100

- Sets the level for the Auxiliary output when the MIDI controller source is at its minimum.
A value of 10 is approximately 1 volt – so 100 is approx. 10 volts and –27 is approx. −2.7 volts
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

7

P 22 AUX 1 maximum value (default: 100)

Range -27 to +100

- Sets the level for the Auxiliary output when the MIDI controller source is at its maximum.
A value of 10 is approximately 1 volt – so 100 is approx. 10 volts and –27 is approx. −2.7 volts.
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

P 23 AUX 1 reset value (default: 0)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level the Auxiliary output will reset to when the MODULAR SOLO is powered on or when it
receives a controller reset MIDI command or a new setup is loaded from memory. This is equivalent to
a MIDI message of this value being received, so it will be influenced by min and max settings above.

P 24 Key scale to AUX 1(default: 0)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the amount of key scaling which is applied to the Aux output (for opening the filter up as you play
notes further up the keyboard. Most synths do this internally even when connected to a CV converter –

however not all do, a particular exception being the Sequential Pro-One. This feature enables key­scale to filter, even when not otherwise available on the synth.

P 25 LFO to AUX 1 controller (default: 17)

- Sets which Controller will control the LFO depth applied to the AUX1 output.
The following can be selected:
Off [oFF]
Pitch bend [Pbd]
Velocity [VEL]
Aftertouch [AFt]
MIDI controllers 0 to 119

P 26 LFO to AUX 1 minimum value (default: 0)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level for LFO to AUX modulation when the MIDI controller source is at its minimum.
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

P 27 LFO to AUX 1 maximum value (default: 64)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level for LFO to AUX modulation when the MIDI controller source is at its maximum.
Note that minimum can be set above maximum so that the controller works backwards.

P 28 LFO to AUX 1 reset value (default: 0)

Range 0 to 127

- Sets the level the LFO to AUX1 modulation will reset to when the MODULAR SOLO is powered on or
when it receives a controller reset MIDI command or a new setup is loaded from memory. This is
equivalent to a MIDI message of this value being received, so it will be influenced by min and max
settings above.

8