FLAME µQMCV Quad MIDI-to-CV Interface Instruction Manual
- June 6, 2024
- FLAME
Table of Contents
FLAME µQMCV Quad MIDI-to-CV Interface
Short description
The “µQMCV” module is a compact up to 4 voice MIDI-to-CV interface with additional CV out-puts for modulation and pitch bend, as well as two MIDI clock outputs for RUN and 16th clock. The range of notes is 8 octaves. The MIDI interface is multi-mode capable, which means that the individual voices can be used separately on different MIDI channels in defined modes in groups. For example, voices 1-3 can be used in three voices on one midi channel and the remaining fourth voice can be used monophonically on another midi channel. The module uses the “Voicestealing” algorithm for polyphonic voice assignment. The module is programmable via LEARN function with a MIDI keyboard or via SYSEX data (via computer). Some SYSEX files with default settings already exist. The module has two MIDI sockets (mini jacks in TRS-B standard) INPUT and THRU. The data received at MIDI-IN is forwarded via MIDI-THRU. Additional MIDI modules can then be connected there.
Hardware / connections
Connection to the euro rack modular system
The module is delivered with a connected ribbon cable for the Doepfer bus. The
red lead marks -12 volt. Connecting the module please note the right polarity!
If the module is poled accidentally wrong safety diodes avoid the immediate
destruction of the module but further damages cannot be excepted. So please
pay attention: Check the con-nection various times before switching on! The
current consumption of the module is on average +70mA. CAUTION!
Do not accidentally connect the MIDI THRU output to high CV voltages! This can
possibly damage the hardware!
Module overview
- LEARN button
- Gate Note/Velocity CV outputs voice 1
- Gate Note/Velocity CV outputs voice 2
- Gate Note/Velocity CV outputs voice 3
- Gate Note/Velocity CV outputs voice 4
- MIDI Clock RUN output
- 1/16th MIDI Clock output
- MIDI Input (MIDI TRS-B Standard)
- MIDI THRU Output (MIDI TRS-B Standard)
- CV outputs Modulation and Pitchbend
MIDI connections
The module has two MIDI sockets (TRS-B standard mini jacks) INPUT and THRU. Connect the MIDI input to the MIDI output of your keyboard/controller or computer. The data received at MIDI-IN is forwarded via MIDI-THRU. A corresponding commercially available adapter (MIDI-DIN to Mini TRS-B) or a 3.5mm (1/8 inch) stereo jack cable is used for the MIDI connection.
- 3,5mm (1/8 inch) mini-jack stereo cable
- Adaptor schemata MIDI DIN jack to 3,5mm (1/8 inch) mini-jack MIDI TRS-B standard
- KEYBOARD/CONTROLLER
- Forwarding the MIDI data via THRU to other MIDI modules
Handling
Quad MIDI-to-CV Interface
The module is preset as a four-way MIDI-to-CV interface on midi channel 1. The
two controllers MODULATION and PITCHBEND also work on this midi channel. Send
notes from a connected MIDI keyboard over an 8-octave range of note numbers
12-108. The module can output the GATE and CV voltages for up to 4 notes at
the same time. The “Voicestealing” algorithm is used. If more than 4 notes are
pressed at the same time, the last played note replaces the first played note.
Classic standard connection in the modular system:
Connect the GATE output of a voice to the GATE input of an ADSR generator, the
NOTE output to the 1V / octave input of a VCO and the VELOCITY output to the
CV input of a VCA. You need this four times for all voices.
The CV output MODULATION can be used for filter modulation and the pitch bend
output for pitch changes of the VCOs.
How to change the MIDI channel:
Press the LEARN button once (until it flashes). Then send 4 notes in
succession on the same desired midi channel (the GATE LEDs light up in
succession when they are received). After receiving the fourth note, the LEARN
function ends automatically (LEARN key stops flashing). The new midi channel
is saved permanently. This now also applies to the two CV outputs MODULATION
and pitch bend.
MULTIMODE
The four voices of the module (each with GATE / NOTE / VELOCITY outputs) can also be used separately in other defined groups. To do this, the voices must be assigned to other midi channels. There are 5 modes that can be set with the LEARN function (or via SYSEX):
- quad polyphon (all same midi channel) -> see also chapter 3.1
- Voices 1-3 polyphonic and voice 4 monophonic (2 different midi channels)
- Voices 1 + 2 geophones and voices 3 + 4 geophones (2 different midi channels)
- Voices 1 + 2 geophones, voices 3 and 4 monophonic (3 different midi channels)
- Voices 1-4 monophonic (all different midi channels)
Note: The voices of the module can only be used in these 5 combinations.
So it is not possible eg. use voice 1 monophonic and voice 2-4 in three
voices!
How to change the MODE with LEARN:
Press the LEARN button once (until it flashes). Then send 4 notes in
succession on the desired midi channels in the correct order, as mentioned
above in point A-E (the GATE LEDs light up in succession when they are
received). The corresponding mode is automatically recognized by the module.
After receiving the fourth note, the LEARN function ends automatically (LEARN
key stops flashing). The new midi channels (and thus the Mode) are saved
permanently.
Caution: If the midi channels of the sent notes were sent in the wrong
order, the LEARN mode is aborted with the LED flashing twice. The old settings
are retained!
Note: To simplify the operation of the LEARN function, the midi channel
of the first voice is automatically assigned to the two CV outputs MODULATION
and pitch bend. However, it is possible to set the midi channel of these two
CV outputs individually via SYSEX.
Example 1:
With LEARN, send a note twice on midi channel 1, then a third note on midi
channel 2, and the fourth note on midi channel 16. The module recognizes Mode
D with the following settings:
- Voices 1 + 2 phones on midi channel 1
- Voice 3 monophonic on midi channel 2
- Voice 4 monophonic on midi channel 16
- CV outputs modulation and pitch bend on midi channel 1
Example 2:
With LEARN, send a note on midi channel 3 three times and then the fourth note
on midi channel 10. The module uses this to recognize mode B with the
following settings:
- Voices 1-3 three-part polyphonic on midi channel 3
- Voice 4 monophonic on midi channel 10
- CV outputs modulation and pitch bend on midi channel 3
MODULATION / PITCHBEND CV outputs
The module has two additional CV outputs: The CV output MODULATION reacts to MODWHEEL (Control Change No. 1) and supplies a voltage of 0 .. + 5V The CV output PITCHBEND reacts to the pitch bend wheel and supplies a voltage of 0 ..
- 2v. After switching on, the voltage is set to + 1v (the middle position of
the pitch bend wheel). If the pitch bend wheel is turned down, the voltage
drops to zero volts, if it is turned up, the voltage rises to a maximum of +
2v. The module only evaluates the MSB data byte (since most pitch benders do
not use the high resolution).
Midi channel setting:
Normally, the two CV outputs are automatically assigned to the midi channel of the first voice. However, you can also change the midi channel for both individually using the SYSEX file. see chapter SYSEX
CONTROL CHANGE number setting:
The CV output MODULATION is set to control change number 1. This number can also be changed using SYSEX. see chapter SYSEX
RUN and 1/16th outputs
The module has two additional clock/gate outputs: The GATE output RUN is
switched on when a MIDI START or CONTINUE command is received and switched off
when a MIDI STOP is received.
The clock output 1/16th delivers 16th clock impulses which are generated from
the received MIDI clock. The impulses have a duty cycle of 50% (32nd note
length). The clock is only output after receiving MIDI START or CONTINUE. Both
outputs deliver approximately + 5v in the ON state.
Settings via SYSEX files
As an alternative to the LEARN function, the module can also be programmed via
SYSEX. Some SYSEX files are available for this. These can be loaded with a
MIDI SYSEX dump pro-gram (e.g. MIDI-OX or Elektron C6) from a computer via
MIDI. After receiving the SYSEX file, the data is saved permanently.
NOTE:
When the SYSEX data is received, the LEARN LED lights up permanently and goes
out when reception is successful. If the SYSEX reception was faulty, the LED
flashes several times in quick succession, it is then not saved and the old
data are retained. The reception can also be canceled with the LEARN key.
DETAILS:
There are three types of files:
- Type 1: change all data
- Type 2: set midi channel and control change number from the MODULATION output
- Type 3: set midi channel from the PITCHBEND output
You can download some ready-made SYSEX files from the FLAME website. You can also create your own SYSEX files (for example with the freeware program MIDI- OX). An overview and documentation of the implemented SYSEX data formats can be found in the next chapter.
SYSEX Data format
The assignment of the MIDI data for the voices (and thus the multimode 1-5) and for the two controller outputs (modulation and pitch bend) can be done with the help of SYSEX data. The module understands different types of SYSEX files:
-
- Typ 1: SYX file for all data
11110000| F0| Exclusive Status
---|---|---
01111101| 7D| Header Flame module
00001011| 0C| Flame module “µQMCV”
00000001| 01| version 1
00000110| 06| data type 1 (dump all data)
0000xxxx| nch1| 4 data bytes MIDI channels for voices 1-4
|| || (range: 00=channel 1 .. 0F=channel 16)
0000xxxx| nch4|
0xxxxxxx| ccnr| 1 data byte control change number of Modulation output
| | (range: 00=CCnr 0 .. 7F=CCnr 127)
0000xxxx| ccch| 1 data byte MIDI channel of Modulation output
0000xxxx| pbch| 1 data byte MIDI channel of Pitchbend output
| | (range: 00=channel 1 .. 0F=channel 16)
11110111| F7| End of Exclusive
- Typ 1: SYX file for all data
(total 13 bytes)
-
- Typ 2: SYX file for setting the control change number and the midi channel from CV output modulation
11110000| F0| Exclusive Status
---|---|---
01111101| 7D| Header
00001011| 0C| Flame module “µQMCV”
00000001| 01| version 1
00000111| 07| data type 2 (dump data Modulation output)
0xxxxxxx| ccnr| 1 data byte control change number of Modulation output
| | (range: 00=CCnr 0 .. 7F=CCnr 127)
0000xxxx| ccch| 1 data byte MIDI channel of Modulation output
| | (range: 00=channel 1 .. 0F=channel 16)
11110111| F7| End of Exclusive
- Typ 2: SYX file for setting the control change number and the midi channel from CV output modulation
(total 8 bytes)
-
- Typ 3: SYX file for setting the midi channel from the CV output pitch bend
11110000| F0| Exclusive Status
---|---|---
01111101| 7D| Header
00001011| 0C| Flame module “µQMCV”
00000001| 01| version 1
00000111| 08| data type 3 (dump midi channel pitchbend output)
0000xxxx| pbch| 1 data byte MIDI channel of Pitchbend output
| | (range: 00=channel 1 .. 0F=channel 16)
11110111| F7| End of Exclusive
- Typ 3: SYX file for setting the midi channel from the CV output pitch bend
(total 7 bytes)
Appendix
Technical details
Connections:
Ribbon cable adapter for Doepfer bus +/-12Volt
- Inputs: Outputs: 1x MIDI (TRS-B standard) 1/8th inch stereo jack 1x MIDI (TRS-B standard) 1/8th inch stereo jack 4x CV 0..+8V, 1/8th inch mono jacks 5x CV 0..+5V, 1/8th inch mono jacks 1x CV 0..+2V, 1/8th inch mono jack 6x GATE/Clock 0/5V, 1/8th inch mono jacks
Control elements:
1 push button with LED (LEARN key) Current consumption: ca. + 70mA / – 20 mA Size: Euro rack format 3U / 6HP 30×128,5×40 mm
Warranty
Beginning from the date of purchase a 2-year warranty is guaranteed for this device in case of any manufacturing errors or other functional deficiencies during runtime.The warranty does not apply in case of:
- damage caused by misuse
- mechanical damage arising from careless treatment (dropping, vigorous shaking, mishandling, etc)
- damage caused by liquids penetrating the device
- heat damage caused by overexposure to sunlight or heating
- electric damage caused by improper connecting (wrong power supply/ jacks/ MIDI connections/ voltage problems).
If you have any complaints please contact your dealer or send an e-mail to: service@flame-instruments.de
Terms of production
conformity: CE, RoHS, UL
Disposal
The device is produced with RoHS-conformity (subject to the regulations of the European Union) and is free of hazardous substances (like mercury, plumb, cadmium, and hexavalent chrome). But electronical scrap is hazardous waste. Please don’t add this to consumer waste. For environment-friendly disposal of waste please contact your distributor or specialist dealer.
Support
Updated and additional information, updates, downloads, and more see: www .flame-instruments.de
Acknowledgment
For help and assistance big thanks to: Alex4 and Schneiders Büro Berlin, Shawn Cleary (Analogue haven, Los Angeles), Thomas Wagner, Robert Junge, Anne- Kathrin Metzler, Lena Bünger and Alex Wolter.