MOTU Volta Website is Up

MOTU Volta - demos and more are up.

"What is Volta?

Volta is a virtual instrument plug-in that turns your audio interface into a voltage control interface.

Any hardware device with a control voltage (CV) input can be placed under precise digital control from your favorite audio workstation software. You can play and automate modulars, analog synths - even effects processors.

Imagine being able to play and automate your CV-equipped analog gear from Digital Performer, Logic Pro, or Live with the same level of control, precision and convenience as a virtual instrument.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do with Volta:
* Perform MIDI sequencing with external modular synths with sample-accurate precision (if your host sequencer supports sample-accurate MIDI).
* Automatically calibrate and tune oscillators with the click of a button.
* Use ramp automation in your host audio software to control filters, envelope generators, effects processors and other voltage-controlled external gear.
* Apply LFOs, step sequencers and pattern sequencers to CV inputs and tempo-sync them to your host software timeline.

Whether you’re a seasoned modular synthesizer devotee or simply a computer-based studio owner dreaming of adding that rich, coveted sound only true analog synths can deliver, Volta finally enables you to easily incorporate CV-equipped analog gear into your computer-based studio with all the control, precision and convenience of a virtual instrument."

The Poor Man's MOTU Volta

via seismologist
"i've been messing around with using ableton live as a hub for sending control voltages (CV) out to my analog gear. it's fun and very flexible. best of all, it's free, cross platform, and can be done now while everybody's waiting for volta to released."

ableton live & motu CV control of frostwave resonator

YouTube via tremorcore

"more geeky CV crap using ableton live and a handful of LFO type wav files to modulate external analog gear.

(if you're not interested in the "how" and just want to see the frostwave spaz out, jump to 3:30 or so.) this stuff *only* works with MOTU audio interfaces (see: volta). this is an easy and free way to send beat-synced LFOs to your outboard modular gear; moogerfoogers, sherman filterbank, little phatty... anything with a CV input.

the LFO wav files used in the vid can be downloaded here:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php...

i recommend setting the warp method to "Re-Pitch" to keep LFOs smooth at extreme BPMs. or don't... and get cool glitches."

frostwave resonator as bass synth. (ableton live + motu)


"more of the CV stuff.

here, the frostwave resonator becomes a bass synth. ableton live's simpler and drum racks are used to send CV signals to the frostwave and make it "playable" via midi. check out my other frostwave vid if you want a better understanding of what's going on.

you can download the ableton project used in this vid here

you'll probably have to install sonalksis' "free-g" plug-in if you want the key pitch tracking to work correctly, but maybe not... it's here: http://www.sonalksis.com/index.php?se..."

ableton live CV - motu - gakken sx-150


"wiring up the gakken for control within ableton... via a drum rack sending CV info. woop. the poor man's volta."

MOTU Volta Ships

Word on the street is that MOTU's Volta has officially shipped. I'm seeing the pre-order on Nova Musik listed at $199.

"Volta is a virtual instrument plug-in that turns your audio interface into a voltage control interface. Any hardware device with a control voltage (CV) input can be placed under precise digital control from your favorite audio workstation software. You can play and automate modulars, analog synths - even effects processors. Whether you’re a seasoned modular synthesizer devotee or simply a computer-based studio owner dreaming of adding that rich, coveted sound only true analog synths can deliver, Volta finally enables you to easily incorporate CV-equipped analog gear into your computer-based studio with all the control, precision and convenience of a virtual instrument." click here for previous posts including video

Volta has a blog

http://motu-volta.blogspot.com/

"New Features & Changes 01.23.08
We've added Hz/V scaling support, so you can control the pitch of older Yamaha and Korg keyboards that use this standard. This option is per module, not global for the entire instance of Volta, so you can seamlessly control a combination of Hz/v and V/oct gear as a single instrument.

A simple OpenSound Control (OSC) input module has been added to the to do list so you can funnel OSC data from any source into your modular.

We're busy testing interface compatibility, including the RME Fireface. The specs for this interface listed DC-coupled outputs, but in our testing, this interface does not work with Volta. Volta's calibration user interface is getting refined to display total available pitch tracking range. The hotter the interface output, the larger the pitch tracking range. In addition to providing useful feedback, this will also allow us to publish the pitch tracking range of approved Volta interfaces before Volta ships."

MOTU Volta Review in Keyboard Magazine

Click here for the full review by Mitchell Sigman.

"Volta is so unique that it has no direct competition. Though some of its functionality can be duplicated with Native Instruments Reaktor or Cycling ’74 Max/MSP, Volta makes it far easier, and it’d be tough to replicate Volta’s oscillator calibration. Of course, to do this with other software, you’d need hardware MIDI-to-CV converters, and Volta blows that approach into the tumbleweeds. For modular synth owners, it’s like getting a great big box of new modules that sync up with your DAW in ways hardware never could, for a fraction of the cost. If you use analog synth gear and a Mac-based DAW, you need Volta. We hereby award it a Key Buy for technological innovation."

Twitter: twitter.com/mitchellsigman
Web: http://www.celebusite.com
MATRIXSYNTH: http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/search?q=mitchell+sigman

MOTU Volta with 8 patch cables

via this auction

"MOTU Volta, virtual instrument plug-in that turns an audio interface with DC-coupled outputs into a voltage control interface.

MOTU audio interfaces are balanced and what you want is an unbalanced CV signal.
To be safe, it is recommended that you use TRS->TS cables.

The patch cables are 1.5 meter long.

The iLok USB-Dongle is still unregistered.
After the auction I will transfer the license to your iLok account.

✔ Control external modular synths or other CV-equipped gear from your computer
✔ 24 control outputs per plug-in instance
✔ Converts MIDI track data to control voltages
✔ Sample-accurate MIDI playback with supporting host software
✔ Provides one-click pitch and octave calibration per oscillator
✔ Arpeggiators and other clock destinations with independent PPQ resolution for each device
✔ for MAC OSX (10.4 or higher)
✔ AU/MAS Plugin Format
✔ incl. iLok"

Numerology and Volta

Numerology and Volta from Five12 on Vimeo.

"A step-by-step tutorial on setting up and using MOTU's Volta AU plugin with Numerology and an analog modular synthesizer. For more details, visit http://five12.com/t-volta.html"

NAMM: MOTU VOLTA

Another scoop via bleepology where you will find the full post. I couldn't find anything but an email form for more information on the MOTU site.

"MOTU was showing off something that absolutely blew my mind this morning: Volta.

It’s a plug-in intended for use with any of their DC-capable audio interfaces (Like, say, a Traveller or 828), it allows multi-channel PitchCV/Gate/ControlCV out to your modular system. Its interface is like a grid for your IO, each output is a box in the grid. Into the grid, you place (drag and drop-style) the voltage source for that output. You may choose from items as mundane as the channel’s midi input (for things like note data), or as crazy as step/trigger sequencers, LFOs, clock sources, etc.

This all sounds pretty neat, right? But wait, it gets better…"

Find out how on bleepology.

Merry Synthmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! As far as "Synthmas" gifts go, under my tree is a MOTU UltraLite mk3 and MOTU's Volta, purchased from Novamusik, as well as a signed Bob Moog Foundation calendar. Coming in the mail are two Monoroket Mission6's. Thank you to Novamusik for the extra T-Shirt and Coffee Cup (to the right of the Volta box)! :) I wasn't expecting either.

Hmm... Something else synth related is coming from my wife that I had no idea about until composing this post... I wonder what it is... Apparently it is under the tree. I'll post back when I find out.

Update: It's a Zoundz!!!!


video upload by
YouTube via matrixsynth

moogerfoogers controlled by Reason 4.0

YouTube via PeffTV
"moogerfooger MF-107 FreqBox and MF-101 LP Filter controlled by Reason to create a monophonic moogerfooger synthesizer. The Thor Polysonic synthesizer converts MIDI and Reason CV signals into DC signals like MOTU Volta, and using a MOTU 896HD interface, the control signals are routed to the moogerfoogers. The Thor programming matrix allows the signals to be scaled so that the oscillator responds to a musical scale. Also used is a MF-104Z Analog Delay."

Beatalogue Demo Movie

Uploaded on Feb 24, 2010 theianboddy's channel

"Beatalogue drum loop sample library by Ian Boddy
www.ianboddywaveforms.com"

Details via Bakis:
"Beatalogue

WFBA004

Release date Wednesday 3rd March

Format: Download

RRP £24.99 inc VAT

Beatalogue is the fourth title in Ian Boddy's Waveforms series of sample libraries. As a follow up to Drumalogue this one takes as it's starting material a selection of electronic drum patterns and loops which are then fed through Boddy's massive modular synth system. These are then filtered, mangled and generally messed up using a huge number of modules all in the analogue domain. All the loops have between 3 and 5 variations and sonically range from sweet filtering all the way through to completely crunched and twisted mayhem. The quality of the distortion and overdrive achieved using these techniques gives the loops a gorgeous organic feel which is further heightened by the sound of the modular itself with it's fuzzy warmness and tripping envelopes.

The sounds are also provided in Rex2 and Apple Loops format enabling them to be used at various tempos and dissected by the end user for their own purposes.

Technical Data

300 mono samples at 44.1Khz, 24 bit in WAV format .

All samples also provided in Rex2 & Apple Loops format.

Drum loops sourced from Logic Ultrabeat, NI Reaktor & Kontakt, Sonic Charge Micro Tonic.

Drum Loops filtered, mangled & messed up via the following analogue synthesisers:
Roland System 100-M
Analogue Systems
Doepfer A-100 modular system
Analogue Solutions
Livewire AFG, Vulcan & Dalek Modulators
Metasonix TM-2 Tube BP filter & R-53 Tube Waveshaper/Ring Mod
Flight of Harmony Plague Bearer
The Harvestman Malgorithm
WMD Geiger Counter
Make Noise QMMG
Minimoog
VCS3


Master tempo & auxillary voltage control provided by MOTU Volta via MOTU 828 interface.

Recorded via TLAudio Ebony A2 tube stereo processor into Apple Mac using RME Fireface 400 audio interface.
Samples edited in Bias Peak Pro 5.
Rex2 files edited in RecycleV2
Apple loops edited in Apple Loops UtilityV3

Recorded & produced by Ian Boddy January 2010 - February 2010.
www.ianboddywaveforms.com"

MOTU Volta

YouTube via gearjunkies
"n this brief movie example, MIDI notes are triggering oscillators, ramp automation data is controlling filter cutoff, and MIDI controller data in the MIDi track is controlling filter resonance.
http://www.motu.com/products/software..."

Percy Hammersledge - modular synth improv

YouTube via doctorvague
"This was a fun one- I hope you enjoy it. The modular is a live stereo mix unedited. I jammed to a Bossa Nova drum loop and then mixed and mashed some loops after the fact to make it a bit more interesting. Used SynthesizersDOTcom, Modcan, Suit and Tie Guy, Moon Modular, MOTM, MOTU Volta and a DIY switcher in the upper right. I'm sending various rhythmic trigger pulse streams, including off-beats from Volta and switching them at the matrix switcher. The bottom row controls the delay time for example. I managed to hit the right combination of switches a couple of times and got lucky with some cool syncopations like at 2:29. This is the last section of a much longer jam."

MOTU Volta on the B-Roll

"Volta is a pretty great invention in the world of modular synths. While it makes the visceral experience of patching something from raw into a slower more logistical experience, it makes the composing of music with the modular a much easier task. Plus there’s nothing better than being able to bring that modular perfectly in sync with Ableton Live and testing out different drum loops over the sound."

You can find the full post on the B-Roll. Some nice pics and audio there as well.

TransArpitude-live analog synth arp-jam

YouTube via doctorvague | November 04, 2010

"An arpeggiated real time improv, no edits, with drums added later. Korg Monopoly, Juno 60, Moon Modular Trigger sequencer as master, slaved to Volta, Synthesizers.com, MOTM, Modcan, MegaOhm, Suit and Tie Guy, Encore Electronics, MOTU Volta and a ho-made switcher."

Volta Automation with the Mackie Control Universal Pro

YouTube via motuTV
http://motu-volta.blogspot.com

NAMM: NAMM Oddities 2009

The NAMM Oddities page is up. You can find the "Techno" section here. You should recognize quite a bit. Oddly the John Bowen Solaris made the cut. The Assblaster I can understand as well as the Motus Mavis star synth. MOTU's Volta made the list as well.

Thanks to nonymous in the comments of this post for pointing the site out. I completely forgot about it this year.

MOTU Volta Disc

via https://twitter.com/stretta

TipTop Audio Z2040

TipTop Audio Z2040 from GM on Vimeo.

Don't miss 4:56 on for polyphony - 5:20 on with a breath controller is stunning.
http://tiptopaudio.com MOTU Volta
"A brief introduction. This is my attempt to capture what it is like to feel and use the Z2040 filter. For most of us, it isn't possible to visit a nearby store and hear these things, so you have to sort of buy euro modules on faith. Hopefully you'll find this video helpful."

Eigenharp Control Voltage setup with Workbench, EigenD 2 and Silent Way

YouTube Published on Jul 24, 2012 by Geert Bevin

"http://eigenzone.org : this tutorial creates an Eigenharp Pico configuration from scratch in Workbench so that you can play your analog synthesizer over Control Voltage. This requires EigenD 2 and a DC-coupled audio interface or a similar solution like the Expert Sleepers ES-3.

I'm using the Expert Sleepers Silent Way plugin to generate calibrated pitch voltages, but all the principles should apply to MOTU Volta also.

The Pro version of EigenD 2 is required to use Workbench, but it's possible to achieve CV control by modify an existing factory setup using Belcanto and the non Pro version of EigenD."