Volta

Volta now on MOTU site

2009-04-20T14:22:00.002-04:00

These pages mark the official availability of Volta.

Moog 901 and 921 oscillators

2009-03-31T10:34:00.003-04:00

On Friday, we had an opportunity to test Volta with the Moog 901A/B and 921A/B oscillators. This was also a test of MOTU's multi-point calibration system, which accounts for non-linearities in CV response range. Most oscillators we've tested are completely linear, as they should be. Vintage instruments can be a bit more finicky.

We were pleased to find both the 901 and 921 tracked accurately across a 5-6 octave range. Normally, several 901Bs are connected to a single 901A controller. Same goes for the 921. The A module takes the CV input and does the expo to linear conversion and feeds this to the B modules, and the B modules have an offset, but all track the same CV signal from the A module. I imagine this may have been a cost-saving measure as the expo to linear conversion was expensive and complicated. However, you have three oscillators, and one CV input.

This is all fine and well and good, provided all your B modules are calibrated precisely to each other. An optimum system for Volta would use a separate AB pair for each oscillator. That way, Volta can address the individual calibration irregularities of each oscillator directly. I can't imagine there are a surplus of 921As and 901As floating around, however.

A more radical option would be to treat the 901B and 921B oscillators as linear VCOs and remove the A modules from the equation entirely. Perhaps a Moog technician could lend their voice to a discussion about the possibilities of a reversible/non-invasive mod for Moog oscillators. I will say these oscillators sounded AWESOME.

Volta and the Mackie Control Universal Pro

2009-03-25T15:12:00.003-04:00

Access to your DAW's automation system was one of Volta's primary goals. However, I was reminded recently that people may not have fully 'connected the dots' here. There are amazing possibilities. Have you ever wanted to record and edit automation for your modular? Well, you can do this with a control surface like the Mackie Control. The concept is really simple, so we constructed a wordless demo. We used eight ramps from Volta to control what you hear:

LFO speed (driving the clock of an analog sequencer)
filter cutoff
filter resonance
VCA envelope attack
filter envelope attack
oscillator PWM
Z5000 CV in
VCA amount controlling Z5000 reverb return into mix

We set up a camera to record the video pass where we're recording the automation from the Mackie Control, then, without moving the camera, recorded another video pass of the DAW playing the automation back, and dissolve so you can watch the faders move without my hands.

We found that this system was useful even without the automation recording aspect, for example, if you've ever wanted convenient, simultaneous, precision, real-time access to multiple parameters on your modular. Moving long faders is far easier than twisting tiny knobs shrouded in patch cables.

Volta and the Buchla 200e

2009-03-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

The Buchla 200e presents a significant system integration challenge, with its 0 to +10v and 1.2v/oct interfacing standard. What this means is you really need to invest in an entire system all at once. By using Volta to integrate Buchla modules, the cost of entry is significantly lowered, because it is possible to start with a single Buchla module.

Volta also offers some advantages over using the Buchla MIDI decoder module. For example, in this video, we demonstrate a Buchla 261e oscillator (@ 1.2v/oct), played in unison with a TipTop Audio Z3000 (@ 1v/oct) with portamento. We also demonstrate three-way Buchla oscillator modulation synced to a project, which allows for real-time beat-synced host-based effects, which in this example is Audio Damage's Big Sequencer 2 effect plug-in. MOTU BPM is providing drums.

The oscilloscope software used is MOTU Cuemix FX which is included in a free software update for registered users of the Ultralite mk3, 896mk3 and 828mk3.

This video may be viewed in HD here.

New Serge Osc

2009-03-03T12:28:00.002-05:00

Heh. Yesterday I post that the Serge NTO and Serge PCO work with Volta. Today, they release a design for a new M-Class Dual Osc that has both of these in one package. It is becoming more and more possible to get your feet wet with Serge.

Volta with various oscillators

2009-03-02T11:11:00.002-05:00

Much of the Volta testing thus far has been with the following oscillators we've had on hand:

Plan B model 15
Doepfer A-110
Cwejman VCO-2RM
TipTop Audio Z3000
Livewire AFG

On Friday, I went on a field trip to test Volta's oscillator calibration feature with a wider assortment of oscillators using a Macbook and a MOTU Ultralite mk3. I was pleased to find the following oscillators track quite nicely with Volta:

Arp 2600
Oberheim SEM
Synton Fenix
Modcan Dual Oscillator 46A
Modcan Oscillator 01A
Serge NTO
Serge PCO
Cyndustries Zeroscillator
Analog Systems RS95
Roland System 700
Synthesizers.com Q106
MOTM 300

What Audio Interfaces Pass DC?

2009-01-28T11:33:00.002-05:00

There is a thread at the Muff Wiggler forum where people are testing various interfaces to see it they pass DC.

Quadrature LFO

2009-01-23T20:25:00.001-05:00

Volta can be used to create a quadrature LFO. A quadrature LFO has four outputs with the phase shifted in 90 degree increments. This produces the sine, cosine, inverted sine and inverted cosine. A quadrature LFO is useful for frequency shifters, barberpole effects, quad panning, phasers and so on. In this demonstration, we'll use our quadrature LFO to modulate the waveform animation section of a Livewire Audio Frequency Generator oscillator, then we'll play with the LFO waveforms to create some syncopated timberal animation - all in sync with our project.

Volta Email Notification

2009-01-23T10:47:00.002-05:00

If you would like to be notified when Volta is available for purchase, be sure to sign up for an email notification. Your email address is safe and will not be shared.

New Features & Changes 01.23.08

2009-01-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

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.

Volta First Look

2009-01-20T16:11:00.000-05:00

Actually I see interface with computers and small processing systems such as ipods as more of a precedence. It's an area that's hardly been touched. There are some things however coming which will be making bold steps into this arena, some of which will be shown at this year's NAMM show. It's not our equipment, it's something I'm aware will be shown.

- Peter Grenader via VICMOD

From MOTU, a well-known name in the field of modular synthesizers... wait... wut?

It is official. We are terribly excited about Volta. I've alluded obliquely to Volta on Twitter a few times, but it was extremely difficult to contain my enthusiasm about it. If we come across something interesting while testing it, I may flick on the video camera.

I recorded the following video in one take.

Stay tuned.