Looking for answer to a likely simple question; will Mutable Instruments Shades allow me to add a -5V offset to a 0 to 10V CV signal so I can use it on patch points that have a -5V to 5V range?
Specifically, I have just assembled my first eurorack and my voices are mainly Moog Mother32, Subharmonicon, and DFAM. I picked up a Beatstep Pro to replace most of the lost sequencing functionality from my A4 MKII debacle (Don’t ask. The Universe kind’ve did me a solid but I’m really missing the CV integration). Unfortunately, the BSP cannot do negative voltages so my pitch CV is all but useless with my Moogs. This would also go for the mod CV (velocity) as most things on the Moogs is -5V to 5V.
So, I “think” Shades will do the trick but I’d like to confirm. I have Branches in that case that I can swap out because it’s the same HP. I have no more space so this would work well. I have Maths but it’s in my second case and I’ve made a decision to work with one setup at a time. I tried using channels 2 and 3 to provide offset but it doesn’t seem to work (though it is my first time patching with Maths).
Bonus points: is it just vendor decision to use -5V to 5V ranges instead of 0V to 10V? Is there reasoning behind this?
Check out the erica pico mscale. I think with most offset modules you would need a precision adder to get good results with pitch cv. Pretty sure disting can do it on its own too
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Shades will work and is precise enough for pitch CV (many offset/attenuators are not as was mentioned above).
To use channels 2/3 of maths as an attenuator/offset you need to use the sum out rather than the channel outputs and have cables patched to the attenuverter outputs of channels 1/4 (or not be using them) otherwise those outputs will also be present at the sum output.
There are only a few manufacturers that use +/- 5v for pitch, Moog being one of them. I’m not sure why they went that way - maybe it was the old Moog modular designs they were basing the VCOs off of? On the flip side, I have several VCOs that are spec’d for 0-10v but will still track negative voltage for a few octaves.
When I had a DFAM and wanted to control pitch from another sequencer I would just lower the frequency of the VCOs and use 0-5v signals, which still gives you 5 octaves of pitch sequencing (which for me is plenty).
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I found a somewhat acceptable medium by using a sub oscillator on the SubH instead of the main oscillator output. Gets me low enough.
I had used the “set to fully CCW” method for other parameters and it works as needed in most cases. I have Branches in the case and having a Shades to swap in from time to time as the patch demands is probably the best choice.
Disting would be nice as well but a bit more than I’m looking for cost-wise. Even though it does a myriad things I’ve told myself to stay away from the Swiss Army modules like Disting or Ornament and Crime.
Thanks for the input from both of you! BSP should still be very usable in my setup though ultimately something like an Erica Black Sequencer would be just the thing. Far more expensive and would require another case (or one of my Moog skiffs + power).