Nico, I really appreciate your thorough explanations. I have a MOTU Ultralite mk3 hybrid. It seems that it has DC coupling (or is DC coupled). I am also inquiring over in the Silent Way subforum at muff wigglers and Os had this to say:[nis] wrote:Most audio interfaces will filter direct current (DC) and only pass alternating current (AC). Most CV signals are / consist of DC, e.g. a square wave from a LFO. That's why you need a DC-coupled audio interface. Unfortunately there are only a very few interfaces which have DC coupling. It's basically only MOTU's interfaces and 2 or 3 others.tranzfuse wrote: Then someone over at the muffwiggler forum pointed me to an actual module that Expert Sleepers have created called the ES-1. This module seems to allow for a safer, physical interface between the Ultralite and the modular synth (although I don't think necessary, since this type of module wasn't used in the video I described above). It seems that this module solves a problem of needing a DC coupled interface. I have no idea what that means.
Luckily the guys from Expert Sleepers have found a way to transform DC signals into AC (there's a plugin which "encodes" them), so that all normal soundcards pass them through. You do however need a special cable with some diodes and a capacitor to transform them back into DC. You could solder them yourself if this is not a problem for you. The ES-1 module does basically the same as the cable (8 of them): it converts the AC signals back into DC, so you can simply connect your soundcard with normal 1/4" cables.
Best,
Nico
"If you have an Ultralite you don't *need* an ES-1, though it might still be useful.
Without an ES-1, you need what are generally called 'floating ring' cables - search on Muff's for plenty of references."
I feel like I'm going in circles a bit. If I don't need the ES-1 module, but I do need these 'floating ring' cables (can these be bought?), do I have any need for a MIDI/CV module? I definitely want to be able to interface between Ableton and the modular synth. I want to be able to capture audio in Live from the modular, but also trigger the modular with midi clips, and then also (I think) leverage the Silent Way plugins (LFO, etc).
Thanks again.