New DIY USB MIDI To Control Voltage Converter, CVpal

cvpal

Mutable Instruments has announced the availability of CVpal – a new 2-channel USB->CV/Gate interface DIY kit:

Here’s what they have to say about CVpal:

We dreamt of a really simple DIY kit – so simple that it would allow beginners to enter the world of DIY with a big smile – and yet, interesting enough to be useful in any kind of Eurorack setup. That’s how the CVpal was born!

The kit contains only 25 parts to solder; but is an incredibly useful tool, allowing you to connect your computer or iPad/iPhone (with camera connection kit) to your modular system or (neo-)vintage analog equipment.

The CVpal features a large palette of control modes: monophonic with velocity and extra square oscillator, monophonic with clock outputs, duophonic, dual monophonic, or even quad trigger conversion! Its 12-bit DAC with an 8-point software calibration curve makes it more accurate than more expensive products.

A simple stand-alone case is also available for the CVpal, making it useful outside of the modular, with a stompbox or a desktop analog synth, for example.

Here’s a video demo of CVpal in action:

http://vimeo.com/68886857

CVpal is available as a kit, priced starting at 49.00 Euro.

19 thoughts on “New DIY USB MIDI To Control Voltage Converter, CVpal

      1. Why would I want to do that?

        1. I would be using one less USB port
        2. I’d have an analog synth with midi controllable CV outputs.

        1. What could you do that you wouldnt be able to with this thing? These would be midi controllable CV outputs… Use Numerology, Live, Max, Reason or whatever and you’d have all the LFOs, sequencers and whatever you would need taking the MIDI messages and spitting out CV. Seems like a plus to me that it’d all be MIDI sync’d for fifty euros…I mean come on, its fifty euros. So why would you want to do that?

  1. I am very interested in this, but can someone comment on the following:
    “The CVpal is class-compliant but uses an usual USB setting (1ms poll-rate in low-speed mode) not well supported on Windows. Optimal latency is obtained with OS X >= 10.6.3 ; iOS ; or Linux >= 2.6.
    On other systems, the CVpal will work but messages will be delayed by up to 8ms.”
    I found it on their website. I use Windows 7 64bit, will there be any problems?

  2. I don’t know all the tech details but what I know is that the CVpal uses a very peculiar technique to get low latency out of a rather simple circuit (1ms poll-rate in low-speed mode). Both Mac, Linux and iOS work really well with this 1ms poll-rate in low-speed mode, only Windows doesn’t. So you’ll get a bit more latency and more jitter. to some people it might not really matter, but some people are really sensible to that.

  3. I love that they have made the source code, parts list and schematic available to download for free. I’m very tempted to build one using those resources, it’d make a brilliant project. I’m half tempted to buy it off them though just to thank them for such an awesome kit

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