The Cv / Gate Section; Basic Concepts; A Few More; Cv/Gate Polyphony - Ashun Sound Machines HYDRASYNTH Owner's Manual

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 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 of the CV/Gate connectors
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 or a pad, Hydrasynth
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, which taps
into them via the Mod Matrix.

A Few More...

CV/Gate Polyphony

The output of the CV connectors is naturally
monophonic, so they are best suited for
monophonic applications. Depending on
the desired results, it may be good 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
(p. 89) 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 Theremin Mode (p. 64)
CV – Pitch Gate: Page 7
and
77

The CV / Gate Section

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, pads, 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 parameter.
There has never been a better time to own a
synth!
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 Hydrasynth arpeggiator can drive or be
driven by external sequencers (and LFOs
and Envelopes will follow if their BPM Sync
parameters are set to On). 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
4 and 8 of The System Setup Pages (p. 84).