MOTU : Volta MOTU

Virtual Instrument Control Voltage Plug-in for Controlling Modular Analog Synthesizers - Mac - AU

MOTU's Volta is a must-have virtual instrument for modular synthesizer enthusiasts. With Volta, you can now fluidly integrate your CV-controlled analog gear into your studio setup. This innovative AU plug-in receives MIDI notes and MIDI controller data and then converts that information to control voltages, which it sends out to your gear via your audio interface's outputs. You can automate effects and parameters, record perfectly timed parts - even instantly tune and calibrate your analog oscillators. You can use any TRS-jack-equipped MOTU audio interface with Volta.

MOTU Volta Control Voltage Virtual Instrument Plug-in at a Glance:

• Use MIDI to control your CV-operated analog gear
• Instantly tune and calibrate your oscillators
• Operates as a virtual instrument
• Supports track freezing
• Allows for complete automation
• Simple user interface

Use MIDI to control your CV-operated analog gear

Volta allows users to play CV-controlled oscillators with MIDI notes by simply "playing" Volta as they would any other virtual instrument via either MIDI track data or live input from their MIDI controller. Volta converts the MIDI note data to control voltage signals, which then trigger the external hardware. Because host software can pre-buffer MIDI data during playback, the timing between the external hardware audio output and the host software timeline can be sample-accurate (with hosts that support sample-level precision).

Instantly tune and calibrate your oscillators

Analog oscillators are notorious for being difficult to get in tune and keep in tune. In addition, not all oscillators adhere to the tuning standard of 1-volt per octave. But if the oscillator has a CV output, Volta can take care of these issues with one click of its Calibration button. By sending voltages and measuring the pitch response, Volta automatically creates a complete profile that addresses any non-linearities in both the audio interface voltage output and the oscillator. Volta can even tune self-oscillating filters using this closed-loop system. You can just click the calibration button at any time to instantly bring all your external gear back in tune.

Operates as a virtual instrument

As an instrument plug-in, Volta produces mono or stereo audio output to the host software, just like any other virtual instrument plug-in. Volta's output consists of the audio signal returned from the external hardware synth. This means that external hardware, which is already sample-accurate with (and tempo-synced to) the host software timeline, can then be mixed and processed with all of the powerful features of the host software's mixing and effects environment. For example, the host software could be used to arpeggiate the MIDI notes going to Volta (and the external oscillator), and then Volta's resulting audio output could be processed with the host's tempo-synced delay, phaser and reverb effects.

Supports track freezing

Because Volta operates as a standard virtual instrument plug-in, all external hardware oscillator output playing through Volta can be bounced to disk using the host software's track freezing features. This means you can conveniently "print" external synth audio output at any time for archiving, mastering or future reference.

Allows for complete automation

Volta allows you to automate continuously variable, CV-controlled parameters on your analog hardware (such as filter cutoff frequency, filter resonance or envelope depth) using MIDI CC data (sequenced in a MIDI track or played live from their MIDI controller). If you wish to achieve much higher resolution to avoid possible "zipper noise" and other pitfalls of MIDI resolution, you can instead control Volta using the audio track automation features in your host software. Audio track ramp automation can generate smooth, precise voltage changes at the resolution of digital audio. In addition to these external automation sources, the Volta plug-in itself provides LFOs, a pattern sequencer, a trigger sequencer and even MIDI beat clocks. These automation sources can be freely applied to any Volta CV outputs, and they can be synced to the host tempo and timeline.

Simple user interface

The Volta plug-in window displays 24 sockets at the top of the window that represent audio outputs on your audio interface. Control sources (MIDI notes, MIDI CCs, ramp automation, LFOs, etc.) are displayed as icons across the bottom of the window. You then drag any desired control source icon onto any output socket you wish to control with it. You can access settings for each control source simply by clicking it. Each instance of Volta supports up to 24 output slots, and you can invoke as many instances of Volta as that your hardware allows. For example, a MOTU PCI-424 system with four 24io interfaces provides 96 channels of output.

MOTU Volta Control Voltage Virtual Instrument Plug-in Features:

• Operates on Macs as an AU plug-in
• Works with all MOTU audio interfaces with TRS outputs
• Makes it easy to use CV-controlled analog gear in the computer-based studio
• Total recall of all Volta-controlled parameters are saved with the host session
• Volta tunes and calibrates the pitch of external hardware oscillators at any time with the click of a button
• The timing between the external hardware and the host timeline can be sample-accurate (with a supporting host)
• All parameters such as LFOs, etc. can be tempo-synced to the host software
• Through Volta, external hardware oscillator output can be captured as digital audio using the host software's standard track freezing features
• Play or sequence MIDI CC data to control your external hardware
• Use host ramp automation for smooth changes without "zipper noise"
• The Volta plug-in itself provides tempo-synced LFOs, pattern sequencers, trigger sequencers and even MIDI clock as control sources