maestro Clocked Modulation Controller User Guide
- June 6, 2024
- MAESTRO
Table of Contents
firmware version 1.0
Maestro requires a +12V / -12v power supply with a 2×5 pin ribbon cable (included). The red line of the ribbon cable must be aligned with the -12V marking next to the module’s power header and on your case’s power distribution board. Maestro draws 65mA from the +12 rail and 18mA from the -12 rail. Please ensure you have enough power available before installing.
Quick Reference Guide
full manual available on
acidraintechnology.com
About Maestro
Maestro is a 6 channel clocked modulation controller inspired by the automation lanes found in digital audio workstation software, brought into eurorack, and made playable and performable. Maestro will push and pull the parameters of your other modules with rapid or slowly evolving voltages, always in perfect sync with each other and the rest of your system.
Hardware
Maestro is comprised of 6 identical channels, each with an output (4), gate or trigger input (5), output state LED (6), and channel button (19). Maestro’s tempo is displayed in 4 pulses per quarter note on the clock LED (3) and the module can be externally clocked and reset on inputs (2). Maestro’s clock and reset signals are present on outputs (1).
Each channel is assigned a clock division or multiplication from the timing buttons (15) that can be modified by the triplet (16) or slow (17) buttons. See diagram of timings on next page.
Each channel is assigned a waveform from the waveform buttons (8) that can be modified by the smooth (12) and bipolar (13) buttons. Bipolar changes a channel’s output between 0 to +5V and -5V to +5V. See diagrams of waveforms on the next page.
Mute (18) will mute or unmute selected channels.
Chain (14) enters the chain menu where multiple waveforms can be sequenced in a row. See description on next page.
Clock (11) enters the clock settings menu. See description on next page.
Save (9) and load (10) enter the save and load menus where channel settings can be saved and recalled from the micro SD card (7). See description on next page.
Clock Menu
When Maestro is internally clocked, the (clock) button enters a menu to change clock settings. (high) is a manual reset for the internal clock. (low) resets the internal clock tempo to 120bpm. ( ) is a manual tap tempo for the internal clock. ( ) increases and ( ) decreases the internal clock tempo by 5bpm. Holding (slow) while adjusting the tempo moves in 1bpm increments. (random) sets the internal clock to a random tempo between 60 and 180bpm. (mute) stops and starts the internal clock. Pressing (clock) while inside the clock menu will exit the menu.
Save/Load Menu
The (save) and (load) buttons enter the save and load menus, respectively. Here, the entire state of the module is stored in one of 14 save slots represented by the middle two rows of buttons. Save data is stored on the included micro SD card, and loaded into internal memory when Maestro is powered on. This allows saves to be recalled almost instantly and used as a live performance tool without clock sync issues. If specific channel buttons are selected before or while inside the save menu, data from a save slot will only be saved or loaded for those channels. Pressing (save) or (load) while inside the save or load menu will exit the menu.
Chain Menu
The (chain) button enters the chain menu, where multiple waveforms can be chained together and assigned to a channel to playback in sequence, either at the channel’s timing setting or specific timing for one of the waveforms. After entering the menu, waveforms are selected in sequence – if a specific timing is desired for one of the waveforms, it is selected before the waveform. Once a chain of waveforms has been entered, if one or more channel buttons are selected pressing (chain) will apply the chain to those channels. If no channels are selected, pressing (chain) will prompt you to select channels. Select a channel to apply the chain to, and press (chain) to apply the chain and exit the menu.
timing settings t = triplet s = slow
waveform examples
65mA +12 / 18mA -12
20 HP / 25mm Deep
Reverse Power Protection
Made in USA
We guarantee our products to be free from manufacturing defects (materials or workmanship) for one year from the date of the original retail purchase (receipt or invoice required). For more information please visit www.acidraintechnology.com.