Introduction

The General CV is a combination of a powerful General MIDI synthesizer, a multi-channel CV-to-MIDI converter, and a host processor capable of generating huge amounts of MIDI data, either in response to control voltages (CVs) or entirely algorithmically.

The module's software provides a layer of control over the synthesizer allowing you to create sounds far beyond the familiar (cheesy, even) sounds of General MIDI with which you might be familiar. From making the synth behave like a VCO, to creating complex chords and textures, and even to abusing drum sounds into pitched audio sources, the General CV will add a rich selection of fresh sounds to your modular synth.

(Though it will also play any MIDI files of 80's pop tunes that you might happen to download from the web.)

The General CV is a 12HP Eurorack module.

Demos

For a selection of video demos please see here.

Overview

The General CV has a number of modes of operation, including:

• Behaving like a modular VCO, but using a massively multitimbral and polyphonic synthsizer engine as its tone source.
• Automatically creating chords and arpeggios from a pitch CV.
• Playing MIDI files from an SD card, including special support for playing loops synchronised to a clock pulse.
• Being a drum machine with up to nine independent drum trigger inputs.

Every mode also benefits from internal four band EQ, and stereo reverb and chorus effects.

The General CV will also operate as a general purpose CV-to-MIDI module, in conjunction with the MIDI Breakout.

For more detail, please refer to the user manual.

Reviews

The General CV was reviewed very positively by Sound On Sound Magazine (January 2018 issue) - read the full review here. “The General CV is perhaps the best use of General MIDI, ever.”

@expertsleepers General CV modular - ver very far from ‘General’, very excited to dig into this further - midi/cv chord generator with arps, drums and more & it teams nicely with random cv from @fraptools Sapel ✊ - . . #eurorack #modularsynth #expertsleepers #fraptools #synth #synthesizer #electronic #electronicmusic #chords #arpeggio

A post shared by Tom Hall (@tomhallsonics) on Oct 5, 2017 at 6:13pm PDT

Specifications

The General CV's specifications are as follows:

• Panel width: 12HP
• Module depth: 50mm
• Inputs (3.5mm jack sockets)
  • 2 digital inputs
  • 3 unipolar CV inputs (0-5V)
  • 4 bipolar CV inputs (±5V)
• Outputs (3.5mm jack sockets)
  • 2 - stereo left & right
• 5 rotary encoders, each with push button
• 0.91" OLED display
• MicroSD card slot
• 'Select Bus' compatible (receive only)
• Expansion header for MIDI I/O (compatible with the disting mk4 MIDI breakout)
• Current draw: 91mA on the +12V rail, 27mA on the -12V rail

Pricing & Availablity

The General CV is available now.

MSRP: UK £299 (inclusive of VAT), US $349 (exclusive of sales tax), EU €290.28 (exclusive of VAT)