Control Voltage (CV): What it is and How it Works - Daniel Fisher

[@sweetwater]

Control voltage demystified! Did this video help you? Let us know in the comments! Don't forget to like and subscribe for more 👍

[@SpaceBase20]

This is absolutely terrible.

[@multistring24]

The Synth Clips series is a vital extension of the text information provided in all the synth manuals. This CV brief, in particular, clearly illustrates the integration of CV sources and their applications. Daniel Fischer is an excellent facilitator. Thanks Sweetwater.... more please!

[@jared5179]

I'm beginning to think this man has taught me everything I know about synthesizers

[@sweetwater]

Wow, Jared. Thank you! I hope you've found my free Synth Clips video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLlczpwSXEOybYYaBCTcjxxKz1QmxytbIf

[@Madmohawkfilms]

Excellent

[@IRIDEHARLEYS]

@@sweetwater I didn't know these clips were available. So much helpful information! Thanks Sweetwater and Daniel Fisher! Any clips on learning synthesis is welcome.

[@svenjansen2134]

Weird process.

[@jasonbarton9352]

Daniel Fisher- you make me smile, and teach me things- you are awesome!

[@JonValtandtheEvilRobots]

If you’re looking for technical info, this video is geared to users. It explains how it works practically but not the nuts and bolts of how it works fundamentally. He announces this at the beginning.

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Great video. There are not enough of these very basic videos. This was very helpful. If companies would make more very basic videos, they'd sell a lot more equipment.

[@sweetwater]

Thanks, Annie! 💙

[@Feldspar__]

Thank you for repeating yourself. It helps drive the point home to understanding.

[@cdmaguire1]

Wow! New to synths, and this is exactly what I was looking for, and so clearly explained. Great job!

[@6stringks]

I am always Fisherized by Daniels knowledge. Thanks.

[@lordshiva83]

Sweetwater is the BEST company!! Thanks for passing along this knowledge

[@TeleporterM11]

Nice video, I hope Sweetwater does more on this type of video on Cv and midi.

[@norbertorivera6279]

I appreciate that you've condensed control voltage information into an amount of information that is easily digestible! Thank you!!

[@arminfatol]

Awesome video, very clear explanations. I have learned a lot from this, thank you! 🙏

[@0711RC]

Great explanation. Thanks!

[@onerom_evad]

Yes this helped, thank you for your time!

[@iam607]

I wish Daniel Fisher was my uncle

[@davidgoode7416]

I'll be putting this on repeat

[@dr.zarkhov9753]

Very informative.Thanks for the beginner explanation Dan.

[@whotheloveisedgar]

very nicely explained! Thanks Daniel!

[@FairianEdw]

Hay thanks for this, it is very useful, great content and nicely presented all clean and simple

[@FursAndMasksMusic]

Cheers dude that was really nice, great examples. Helped me set in stone some things I was pretty sure I already knew but I now definitely know!

[@finonomastropiero4261]

Ufff loved that Emerson Lake & Palmer moment 10:03 Karn Evil 1st Impression - part 2 ❤️💪🏽🌚

[@333baxter333]

Thank you so much

[@joanadacruz4386]

Thank you. It helps a lot. And very well explained.🙌🙌

tx a lot ! one common question among my friends is related to the possibility of controlling a modular synth via MIDI. In my case, i hve a modular with MIDI to CV jack. So what decision should i make to have my midi controller acting as a keyboard ? tx!

[@billandsandycortright3143]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@thatoneguy8834]

Thanks. Great video.

[@BenA718]

Excellent video, wonder why it's not part of the synth tips series?

[@yeppy013]

Where can we get those bigger knobs on the DFAM?

[@ES60Hz]

Can you please explain how to create the sound in 25:08 in a few words?

[@sweetwater]

Notes are cycling from the DFAM's step sequencing CV. Then, with Glide on long, I hit a low key, forcing the DFAM's sequence to fall. -_DanieL

[@marcthenarc868]

Very nice tutorial. Thank you.

[@bobs906]

As always , Sweetwater does a great job with the 'How-to' videos. Thanks! I want to know about the pitch and velocity knobs on the DFAM. Is that a custom set up? Mine has the tiny knobs, I would prefer to have the large knobs like in the video.

[@raphaelcote3577]

Can you use a Standard Expression Pedal to control the Cutoff frequency via Control Voltage on a Synth like the Behringer Model D? Thank you!

[@djdaza3591]

really really awesome

[@tristanswim]

Several years ago I could not wrap my head around this. Now it seems to make sense. Though I don’t understand entirely how all of it would be useful, like the theremin when youre pretty much reassigning a knob and could control via knob? Seems like a lot to control in a different way under a different feel. The dfam as a makeshift sequencer is cool, but again is it superfluous if the synth already has one? The simultaneous duo control and inverted voltages interest me the most for allowing creativity. I’m wondering how I can make use of the CV on my Moog One to expand its capabilities. That CP-251 looks like it offers some neat inter-control control?

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Preacher Daniel.

[@dougsignorovitch1493]

Love to series. 👍👍👍

[@theoliviaarchives4794]

Is there a way to know if the control voltage you are providing is too much voltage? Like could I use the audio signal from my older Moog theremin to be the CV signal (not equipped with CV out)?

[@sweetwater]

Hi TOA. Most products with CV Ins and Outs have a Specs page that shows what they're sending and what they expect, voltage-wise. I think you'll find that the Audio Out of something is mostly useful if it's going into an Envelope Follower, and then use the CV out of that. But, typically, an external signal in the audible range of frequencies is not as useful as you might hope. -_Daniel_

[@JamesMyddelton]

Awesome, thanks

[@oldguy5381]

Good info

[@jayonbaby]

Thank you.

[@KanePat]

Nice explanations. Thanks. Some sounds came close to a bagpipe, that is a sound I cannot seem to find on any synth I have checked out, is that your experience as well?

[@ryanedwardmusic]

I think bagpipes usually have a drone... see if you can turn off keytracking for one of the oscillators on your synth, so it always plays the same note.

[@sweetwater]

If you want to be even more authentic, the "drone note" is typically Bb. Thanks for watching!

[@ceetronic]

Superb!

[@aeon136]

The 'KISS Principal: 'Keep It Simple Stupid'!😏 Short'n'Sweet -THANX Daniel!😎

[@-greenpiece-5295]

Dan is the guyyyyyyy

[@EthanRMus]

Hey SW team, question if you guys get a second. The expression pedal adds resistance to the incoming voltage from a guitar pedal and then sends back either the full or attenuated voltage to the pedal to control the given parameter. When plugging an analog CV source like this into a guitar pedal expression input, is it the case that instead here no resistance is being applied, only variable voltage added?

[@sweetwater]

Hi EthanRMus. You have it exactly right. Sometimes, depending on the manufacturer, you might have to push the 1/4" TS plug in only halfway to get it to work. -_Daniel_

[@EthanRMus]

@sweetwater Thanks for the reply Daniel! Its a bit hard to understand how this works. In the one case, the effects pedal has a parameter range represented by whatever the full output voltage is down to however much voltage it reaches upon r encountering the max resistance it is set up for (whether for use with an expression pedal supplying 10kOhms, 25k, 50k, or 100k, whatever its setup for). In the other case, its range works from the max output voltage, to this voltage added together with an incoming CV source. The user however doesnt have to flip a switch or do anything to tell the pedal which range to use to control the given parameter. How does the pedal know? And even more, is the pedal still outputting that voltage via the EXP jack to the analog CV source? Then wouldnt you have two voltages traveling in opposite directions simultaneously? All just very confusing lol

[@davida5296]

Is there really any benefit of shaping the sound through cv? It seems that l of this can be done in a VA analog synth, or an old analog synth. Whats the benefit of this over traditional analysis or va synth?

[@sweetwater]

Hi David. The obvious answer is: If your synths and modules use Control Voltages (CV) as their primary source of control, that's how it has to be done. But, even if your synth uses MIDI for primary control, with CV used as an option, you'll find that true CV (being pure analog) has a response time near the speed of light. This allows for modulation speeds far faster than many VA synths can handle. CV also allows far more freedom to experiment with connecting anything to anything (even if it doesn't make sense). Thanks for watching! -_Daniel_

[@jjrusy7438]

This was really good. I learned a lot. I do have a question regarding one of your hookups that seems possibly risky. If I understood what you explained, the EHX pedal puts out a master voltage for the expression pedal to attenuate or pass. The exp. pedal does not supply any energy. So now you connect this "hot" expression cable from the EHX into your ?hot LFO control voltage out? Is there a way you wire the TRS->mini that cuts out the EHX source or it can just take it or what? I would have big sad if I smoked my matriarch from a sht pedal lol. edit: no I dont have a matriarch. I wish, but I don't even want to smoke one in my dreams haha

[@mau5chords874]

And in no time, youll be attenuating attenuators that attenuate attenuverters… and you will spend alot of money.

[@regmonmusic]

Nice!

[@Madmohawkfilms]

This MAY be the dumbest question asked in a while BUT here goes anyway……. Can you split 1 CV Signal to multiple Synth’s capable of receiving CV? Why am I asking…….. Moog Werkstatt’s are dirt cheap, I already have one. Grabbing 2-3 more to simulate 3-4 voice paraphony by detuning 2-3 of them could be INTERESTING. I seem to recall someone using a splitter this way out of an Arturia Beatstep but that might have been out of the 1/8” jack for the MIDI , was a long while back. If i split the CV port would I need something to boost it’s power or is there a box of some sort that would split and detune the extras? I’m sure I can easily do this with my Akai Force but eating up 4 of my 8 CV outputs for “1” conglomeration of synths seems wasteful. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

[@sweetwater]

Hi MMF. It's actually a rather tricky question. You can, of course, use a MULT (Multiple) to split the CV into multiple CVs. Synthesists do that all the time. The tricky part is that your CV only represents one Note, so all of the additional Werkstatts would all play that same note. You'd need either a controller keyboard that sends polyphonic CV Outs (the Arturia KeyStep Pro for example), or a MIDI controller keyboard connected to a MIDI-to-CV converter that can handle polyphony. -_Daniel_

[@Madmohawkfilms]

@@sweetwater thanks Daniel I was thinking more along lines of detuning the additional ones. Just crazy ideas tho as I often just AutoSample my favorite patches into my Akai Force as a Keygroup and then have essentially endless voices

[@UniversalHomeboy]

Dear Daniel: What is the difference between CV and SYNC I/O? I intend to buy a Moog Werkstatt and a Novation Circuit Rhythm and noticed it has a Sync out on the back. I know this would work with a Volca but would this translate to CV? Thanks

[@quantum_ocean]

More math and diagrams please! 😅

[@varnishyourboard]

Just bought an Elektron A4 and I want to integrate my Behringer K2 (Korg MS20 remake). I'm afraid I'm gonna overload a circuit!

[@kevinbaker4693]

U R THA COOLEST SIR.

[@sweetwater]

T X! -_Daniel_

[@snardash_1197]

Any freaking synth video I watch has the Matriarch on it Like fucking hell This is like torture now Great informative video btw lol

[@sweetwater]

Hi Snardash_1. As a video demonstrator, it's a no-brainer to use the Moog Matriarch. It's super fat. It's semi-modular, so I can do things quickly live; but it also has CV jacks and MIDI that allow me to bring in outside controls and audio sources. It has both a sequencer and an arpeggiator. And it has not one, but two analog delays, each able to do stereo ping-pong. So, like I said, a no-brainer. -_Daniel_

[@snardash_1197]

@@sweetwater I meant it in a positive way haha I really want this synth. And yes, agreed. It’s a monster.

[@benjaminsantiagosstuff]

ya mans got the playstation 1 flat top

[@5mazak]

"I'm not going to use any diagrams" *starts drawing lfo waves with finger* Great video though 😊

[@bruce12161]

Leave it to Sweetwater to use $4,000+ worth of gear to demonstrate the most basic concepts. I mean, it's a clear explanation and a good video overall, but jeeze louise! Just sayin'

[@sweetwater]

Hi Bruce. They are the toys I had available in my office. Thanks for watching! -_Daniel_