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The CV / Gate Section
The seven CV/Gate connectors have a longer history in the music world than MIDI does! This
is how the modules of early synthesizers were connected, using cables to carry the control
voltages, gate triggers, and clock signals. And the resurgence of modular synths and Eurorack
modules in the 21st century has brought these connection protocols back to the forefront of
the music creation process for many musicians.
Hydrasynth Deluxe is well-stocked in this area too, with two CV inputs and three CV outputs,
plus a Gate Out connector and another that transmits clock signals. Each CV/Gate connector
can be configured to match the voltages and signal types of the most popular formats.
Basic Concepts
If you’re new to the world of CVs and Gates, here are a few descriptions and ideas on how to put
this stuff to work.
First, “CV” stands for “Control Voltage”. It’s
a quick way to say “Use a change in this
voltage value to control that device.” A “gate”
is something that opens and shuts, allowing
the passage of electricity and preventing it,
respectively. In practical terms, when a note
is triggered by a key, Hydrasynth Deluxe
generates a CV (Pitch) and two Gate voltages
(high and low, for “Note on” and “Note off”).
This is done by converting digital data into
analog voltages, which are then regulated by
the System Setup preferences and supplied
to the CV/Gate/Clock connectors. Likewise,
incoming CVs are translated into digital data
and supplied to the Hydrasynth Deluxe, which
taps into them via the Mod Matrix.
It’s a two-way street, with the Mod Matrix as
the “traffic cop”: you can route the CVs from
Mod 1 and Mod 2 to any mod destination, and
route any mod source to Mod 1 and Mod 2,
all at the direction of the Mod Matrix. In other
words, the keys, wheels, ribbon, expression
pedal, even incoming MIDI data can be routed
to the inputs of a modular synthesizer through
the CV/Gate section.
And in the other direction, just imagine: The
incoming voltage could be generated by some
crazy Eurorack module and used as a complex
source to modulate a Hydrasynth Deluxe
parameter. There has never been a better time
to own a synth!
A Few More...
CV/Gate Polyphony
CV connectors are naturally monophonic,
so they work best for monophonic applica-
tions. This is true in Single and Multi modes.
Depending on the desired results, you may
want to try the Mono or Unison options found
on page 1 of the [VOICE] menu. Or you could
read the next section…
The Ribbon and CVs
There’s an option on
that selects whether the keyboard or
the ribbon will be the CV/Gate source. This is
an ideal pairing, since the ribbon is naturally
monophonic also. For even better results, set
the ribbon to
and
activate its Quantize parameter so its output
will conform to the selected Scale. Then play
the ribbon with one hand, the keyboard with
the other, and it’s literally like having two
instruments in one!
Clocks and Sync
The arpeggiator can drive or be driven by
external sequencers. (See
for more info). Set BPM Sync to
On elsewhere too (LFOs, Envelopes, and Delay).
The Clock connector in the CV/Gate section
can send one of several sync rates to non-MIDI
devices, as can the MIDI and USB ports. But
incoming clocks must arrive via USB or MIDI.
These options are set on pages
.
