MOTU VOLTA
Virtual Instrument Plug-in, MAC only

VOLTA

Volta is a virtual instrument plug-in that turns your audio interface into a voltage control interface.  Please note that this Plug-In is for Macintosh based systems only, and requires an audio interface with DC-coupled outputs in order to work properly (see System Requirements at the end of this listing)

Any hardware device with a control voltage (CV) input can be placed under precise digital control from your favorite audio workstation software. You can play and automate modulars, analog synths - even effects processors.

Imagine being able to play and automate your CV-equipped analog gear from Digital Performer, Logic Pro, or Live with the same level of control, precision and convenience as a virtual instrument.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do with Volta:

• Perform MIDI sequencing with external modular synths with sample-accurate precision (if your host sequencer supports sample-accurate MIDI).
• Automatically calibrate and tune oscillators with the click of a button.
• Use ramp automation in your host audio software to control filters, envelope generators, effects processors and other voltage-controlled external gear.
• Apply LFOs, step sequencers and pattern sequencers to CV inputs and tempo-sync them to your host software timeline.

Whether you’re a seasoned modular synthesizer devotee or simply a computer-based studio owner dreaming of adding that rich, coveted sound only true analog synths can deliver, Volta finally enables you to easily incorporate CV-equipped analog gear into your computer-based studio with all the control, precision and convenience of a virtual instrument.

Feature Details:

Signal path

To use Volta, simply instantiate it as an instrument plug-in in your host software.

You then trigger volta with MIDI notes and a variety of other control sources, and Volta outputs corresponding control voltage (CV) signals to the audio outputs of a DC-coupled audio interface. The resulting CV signals are routed to the CV inputs of your external hardware. Audio output is routed back to Volta.

The signal path for Volta is a simple loop: a control voltage signal goes out to the external hardware. Pitch information comes back in, through Volta, as a normal digital audio stream that feeds into your host audio software mixing environment.

From there, you can mix, process and master Volta's audio output just like any other virtual instrument.

Control Sources

Volta provides seven types of control sources that perform a variety of different functions.

A single instance of Volta has 24 slots of output in which any combination of control sources can be applied. You can open as many instances of Volta active as your hardware allows.

For example, a MOTU PCI-424 system with four 24I/O audio interfaces provides 96 DC-coupled analog TRS outputs which can serve as CV outputs. You can even mount the rack brackets on the rear panel of each 24I/O interface to mount it facing forward and use it just like a patch bay.

Voice

A Volta Voice turns MIDI notes into voltages to control the pitch of your oscillators. A voice has a set of optional functions that appear as additional outputs. Usually, a voice needs an additional signal to gate the output of the oscillator. Volta produces up to four envelopes for controlling VCAs, filters or other modules. If you'd prefer to use hardware envelopes, these can be turned into gates or triggers.

You can also add initial and release velocity and LFO for each Voice.

Polyphony with Volta is easy. Simply drag on as many voices as you need.

MIDI

The MIDI source receives MIDI controller data and directly transforms it into a control voltage signal. This allows you to use MIDI controllers like aftertouch or your mod wheel. The optional smoothing parameter can be used to smooth out the stair stepping associated with 8-bit MIDI controllers.

Ramp

The ramp source routes the high resolution automation data from your DAW to control voltages. As soon as you drop the ramp source into a Volta output slot, it publishes as an audio automation data source for the Volta instrument track. Insert or record automation ramp data using all of the powerful automation tools in your host DAW to then control your outboard gear.

Finally, intricate time-line based automation can be used to sculpt your compositions over time.

LFO

Volta's LFOs provide the standard sine, triangle and square wave shapes, but each with adjustable symmetry. You can set the LFO period in real-world units, or sync the LFO to your project tempo.

A single LFO cycle can stretch over 16 bars for delicately evolving compositions. In addition, you have three random voltage generators, including sample and hold, sample and ramp and random walk for all sorts of interesting smoothed and stepped CV functions.

Trigger Sequencer

Volta's Trigger Sequencer can be used to fire off envelopes, step external sequencers, reset LFOs — anywhere you'd need a trigger signal. You have up to 32 steps, two modes (forward and pendulum), adjustable trigger duration and swing.

Step Sequencer

The Step Sequencer provides an easy way to generate stepped voltage sequences in sync with your project. Like the Trigger Sequencer, you have the same swing, mode and length options, but the Step Sequencer can be calibrated like the pitch CV outputs and quantize the result to the nearest semitone.

Clock

The clock output allows you to clock external sequencers, hardware or drum machines to a user-selectable PPQ. Since you can have multiple clock modules running simultaneously, you can synchronize multiple external devices from a single instance of Volta.

Calibration

Volta's unique oscillator calibration feature listens to the output of your oscillators and calibrates pitch tracking to ensure precise tuning. Volta displays at a glance how many octaves of pitch tracking you're able to obtain with your oscillator/interface combination.  In addition to providing perfect tracking, when you hit a C3 on your keyboard, you get a C3 out of your oscillator.  You can use Hz/V or V/oct tuning standards. This setting is per oscillator output, so you can seamlessly integrate Hz/V and V/oct gear as a single instrument.  Once your calibration is complete, Volta can be set to auto calibrate. Oscillator drift is a thing of the past.

Virtual instrument operation

Volta operates just like a standard virtual instrument plug-in within your host software.  You can return the audio output of your external hardware instrument directly back into Volta, which then outputs the audio signal as standard virtual instrument output into your host software's mixing environment, as illustrated in the signal path diagram.  This delivers all the benefits of virtual instruments inside your DAW, allowing you to freeze tracks, apply host based audio effects and transform MIDI data with functions like arpeggiators.

When used with DAWs such as Digital Performer that support pre-buffered sample-accurate MIDI playback, Volta can achieve sample accurate timing of external hardware — an industry first.

Feature Synopsis:

• Standard virtual instrument plug-in that turns an audio interface with DC-coupled outputs into a voltage control interface.
• Lets you control external modular synths or other CV-equipped gear from your computer.
• Works with Digital Performer, Logic Pro, Live and other Audio Unit instrument hosts that support side chain outputs.
• Works with any MOTU audio interface equipped with TRS outputs, including the 24io with 24 TRS outputs, expandable to 96.
• Familiar, easy-to-use instrument plug-in operation within your favorite host software.
• Provides 24 control outputs per plug-in instance. Use as many instances as needed.
• Converts MIDI track data to control voltages to play modulars, analog synthesizers and other CV-equipped sound sources.
• Sample-accurate MIDI playback with supporting host software (such as DP).
• Provides seven different control source types, including MIDI notes, MIDI controller data and audio track automation, plus tempo-synced sources such as LFOs, clock pulses and trigger/pattern sequencers.
• Provides one-click pitch and octave calibration per oscillator using either Hz/V or V/oct tuning standards.
• View at a glance the total calibrated range for each oscillator/interface combination.
• Sync multiple drum machines, arpeggiators and other clock destinations with independent PPQ resolution for each device.

System Requirements:

• Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or later
• A digital audio workstation application that hosts MAS (MOTU Audio System) or Audio Unit (AU) instrument plug-ins and supports multiple instrument sidechain outputs, such as Digital Performer, Logic, or Live.
• An audio interface with DC-coupled outputs, such as any MOTU FireWire, USB2, or PCI audio interface with quarter-inch TRS outputs.
• The proper cable type for your interface.
• External audio hardware that responds to control voltage signals, such as modular analog synthesizers, vintage monosynths, etc.
• A free USB port for the iLok USB key. Note that if you have multiple products which use iLoks for authorization you can consolidate multiple authorizations onto a single iLok.

Our Part #  VOLTA