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Kenton USB SOLO Operating Manual

Usb single channel midi-cv converter
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U U U U S S S S B B B B S S S S O O O O L L L L O O O O
USB Single channel MIDI-CV converter
Operating manual

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Summary of Contents for Kenton USB SOLO

  • Page 1 U U U U S S S S B B B B S S S S O O O O L L L L O O O O USB Single channel MIDI-CV converter Operating manual...
  • Page 2 _________________________________________________________________________ FCC STATEMENT FOR USB SOLO NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
  • Page 3 INTRODUCTION The USB SOLO is much more than just a USB MIDI to CV converter as it incorporates a built in LFO as well as portamento and many other functions. Please take some time to read through this manual prior to first use to avoid any operational difficulties.

  • Page 4: Changing Values

    EDITING THE USB SOLO Switching On When the USB SOLO is switched on, the words KENTON USB SOLO scroll across the display, and the unit reverts to the settings from when it was last used. The Display The display has 3 digits each with a dot above. The 1st dot when lit indicates that PARAMETER mode is currently selected.
  • Page 5 64 and above =on, 63 and below =off The standard MIDI controller for portamento on/off is #65 which is the default, but with this command , the USB SOLO allows you to use another controller, direct control or Auto Portamento if you wish. P 06...
  • Page 6 0 to +127 - Sets the level the LFO to CV modulation will reset to when the USB SOLO is powered on or when it receives a controller reset MIDI command or a new setup is loaded from memory. This is equivalent to a MIDI message of this value being received, so it will be influenced by min and max settings above.
  • Page 7 These would be used on some of the Yamaha CS range of synths instead of Gate. NB – The USB SOLO has an internal DC-DC converter and so can generate gate voltages up to +15 volts even though the power supplied over the USB cable is only 5 volts!
  • Page 8 0 to 127 - Sets the level the Auxiliary output will reset to when the USB SOLO is powered on or when it receives a controller reset MIDI command or a new setup is loaded from memory. This is equivalent to a MIDI message of this value being received, so it will be influenced by min and max settings above.
  • Page 9 P 31 LFO waveshape (default :TR) - Sets the LFO waveshape. All waveshapes modulate CV and/or Aux any value between 0 to a positive value, except triangle, which modulates positive and negative. The following may be selected: (the downward arrow (↓) indicates the default trigger point when in MIDI sync mode). Note that the sync point can be changed using parameter #33 –...
  • Page 10 P 40 Continue = start - (default: off) The following can be selected: [oFF] [ on] - when set to on, all continue messages are treated as if they were MIDI start messages. - when set to off, continue messages will only be treated as start if immediately preceded by a song position pointer = zero message.
  • Page 11 RESETTING THE USB SOLO TO FACTORY DEFAULTS If you wish to reset your USB SOLO, you can do so by turning the unit on whilst holding down all three push buttons. This will return the USB SOLO’s settings to their default values. ‘Fd’ (factory defaults) will momentarily be displayed when this has been done.
  • Page 12 2, Connect the converter to your analogue synth and MIDI system. Check the USB SOLO is switched to the correct scaling system, Hz/V for Korg and Yamaha, or V/oct for anything else (see Editing Parameters section). Set transpose to zero. Now press bottom C (MIDI note #36) on your digital synth.

  • Page 13: Midi Analyser Mode

    MIDI ANALYSER MODE The USB SOLO has a built-in MIDI analyser function. This feature allows you to see what types of MIDI messages are being transmitted by your master keyboard/sequencer making the USB SOLO a useful diagnostic tool. To enter analyser mode, you must power on the USB SOLO whilst holding the SELECT button. The display will then show ‘rC’...
  • Page 14 When using MIDI clock in conjunction with the USB SOLO, please note the following. First, ensure that the USB SOLO is actually receiving MIDI clock. This is not as silly as it sounds - there are a number of reasons why it may not be receiving MIDI clock messages in the first place. If you are having problems, go into the MIDI analyser mode described on page 13 and see if the USB SOLO is actually receiving the MIDI clock messages.
  • Page 15 A BRIEF GUIDE TO MIDI TO CV CONVERSION FOR THE BEGINNER MIDI-CV converters can have up to four different types of outputs used to control analogue synths, usually labelled CV, GATE, S-TRIG and AUX. Below is a description of what they do: Pitch - CV outputs (V/oct, Hz/V) The CV (control voltage) is a voltage that tells the synth what note to play.
  • Page 16 Some synths, such as the Minimoog, also have VCA inputs (volume). Synths such as the Korg MS20 and ARP 2600 have even more inputs to control effects such as Pulse Width. The USB SOLO has an output called AUX. By plugging the AUX output into the external control input of the synth, e.g. Filter input, the cut-off frequency can be controlled over MIDI.
  • Page 17 STANDARD MIDI CONTROLLER NUMBERS Controller Number Control Function Decimal Bank select MSB Modulation wheel/lever Breath controller Undefined Foot controller Portamento time Data entry MSB Main volume Balance Undefined Expression controller 12-15 0C-0FH Undefined 16-19 10-13H General purpose controllers (1-4) 20-31 14-1FH Undefined 32-63...
  • Page 18 0hhhhhhh - where hhhhhhh = low 7 bits of parameter address [ 10 ] 0uuuuuuu - where uuuuuuu = high 7 bits of data (either 0 or 1 for usb solo) [ 11 ] 0hhhhhhh - where hhhhhhh = low 7 bits of data [ 12 ] 0F7h - end of exclusive The USB SOLO responds by changing the specified data and updating the display if necessary.
  • Page 19 Address Function Range Notes ( see end Receive chan 0 - 15 { 1 } trig / retrig 0 - 25 note priority 0 - 2 pitchbend range 0 - 24 portamento cont # 253 - 0 - 119 { 3 } portamento time / rate 0 - 127 portamento type...

  • Page 20: Specifications

    Type B socket – USB A to B cable supplied 1.8 metre WARRANTY The USB SOLO comes with a 12 month (from purchase date) back to base warranty, (i.e. customer must arrange and pay for carriage to and from Kenton Electronics).