MIDIMOD4

MIDIMOD4 is a MIDI CC “modulation station” utility for your MIDI-controllable Voltage Modular instruments and effects. If a module has parameters that can be changed via MIDI CC messages, then you can modulate up to four parameters with dedicated LFOs and ASR envelopes via a single virtual MIDI cable connection.

MIDIMOD4 is half price for MIDIMONO owners!

We originally designed MIDIMOD4 as an additional modulation source for our MIDIMONO synthesizer module so we’ll use that as an example for this guide, but because MIDIMOD4 can generate MIDI messages over the entire CC range (1-127) it can be used to modulate pretty much anything that has a MIDI implementation.

First a note about envelopes and connections. In order for the envelopes to work, MIDIMOD4 needs to know about note on / off messages via its MIDI IN input. Typically, you’d connect the MIDI from your host to the MIDI IN of MIDIMOD4, then the MIDI OUT from MIDIMOD4 to the MIDI IN of MIDIMONO. The MIDI OUT also acts like a MIDI THRU so now, MIDIMONO will receive messages from your host as it normally would, plus additional modulation messages targeting specific instrument parameters. Envelopes will also respond accordingly to incoming notes. If your target module is not a playable instrument, then simply connect the MIDIMOD4 MIDI OUT to the MIDI IN of your module. Note however, MIDIMOD4’s envelopes will not work in this scenario.

All four modulation sections have identical controls and they are toggled on and off using the large numbered buttons. Note there is a brief ramp up / down of around 1 second so that modulations don’t end abruptly during live performances for example.

The first step is to select a MIDI CC number that you wish to target by scrolling through with the CC # knob. As you scroll through, tool tips will display common mappings, 1 for modulation, 2 for breath control, 7 for volume etc. As a convenience for MIDIMONO users, all of its parameters are also listed in the ranges 14-46 and 102-118 as per the MIDIMONO v1.2 MIDI implementation.

PLEASE NOTE - it is recommended that you disable the section with the toggle button while scrolling through the CC numbers as you may end up modulating something you didn’t intend to!

Next select the range you would like to modulate over. This is probably something you will need to experiment with to achieve the desired effect. Note that when the section is toggled off, or the envelope is complete, the modulation will end at the left hand “from” value. You can invert this simply by starting your modulation cycle from the higher value.

In the LFO section, select a rate between 0.001-10Hz. Note that the range has been chosen for typical LFO applications, i.e. extremely slow to quite fast. Four different LFO waveforms are available, sine, triangle, square and random / sample and hold. The DRIFT control emulates an analog tendency for oscillator timing to drift slightly. It’s a subtle effect but can add a slightly unpredictable and organic quality to your modulated sonic adventures!

If you only wish to use envelope modulation, set the LFO shape to OFF.

The optional envelope in the ENV section applies additional modulation to either the LFO, or the CC range (if the LFO is off), so the depth can rise and fall over time. The envelope is a conventional ASR configuration with variable attack and release times (1ms - 60 seconds) and sustain level 0-100%. If you don’t wish to use the envelope in a particular section, set the TRIG option to OFF.

When the envelope is enabled it operates in two modes. In standard ON mode, the envelope will re-trigger for every note that is received as a MIDI note on message. Note that this will only work when something is connected to the MIDI in connection. In LEG mode (legato) the envelope will only re-trigger when no notes were previously playing, i.e., if you’re holding down one note and play another, the envelope will not re-trigger.

We hope you enjoy modulating your MIDI things!