Pressing the button on the frontpanel calls up the LEARN MODE. The learn mode is indicated by the flashing LED. In this mode the MCV1 is looking forward to an incoming MIDI note on or program change event.
In case of an incoming note event in the learn mode the note number and the channel of the event are taken over as the new REFERENCE NOTE and MIDI CHANNEL of the MCV1. The reference note is the MIDI note number that belongs to 0V CV output. In practice you simply enter the learn mode and press the key on your MIDI keyboard that should belong to 0V CV. MIDI note events below the reference note or more than 5 octaves above the reference note are ignored as the CV voltage range of the MCV1 is 0...+5V. The factory default settings of reference note and MIDI channel are 36 (C) and 1.
In case of an incoming program change event in the learn mode the following program change numbers are relevant.
PRG CHANGE # FUNCTION REMARK
1 Normal gate/trigger (non inverting) 1
2 Inverting gate/trigger 1
3 V/Octave CV characteristics 2
4 Hz/V CV characteristics 2
5 Retrigger off 3
6 Retrigger on 3
GATE/TRIGGER POLARITY / Remark (1)
If voltage gate is selected with the jumper you may switch between normal gate (i.e. +5V/+U if key is pressed and 0V if key is released) and inverted gate (i.e. 0V if key is pressed and +5V/+U if key is released). In case of S-Trigger (jumper removed) the circumstances are reverse. If the behaviour of your synthesizer is opposite as desired (i.e. the sound appears if the key is released on your MIDI keyboard) you have to change this parameter with program change #1 or #2 in the learn mode. The factory default setting is normal gate.
CV CHARACTERISTICS / Remark (2)
With program change #3 and #4 in learn mode you may select between V/Octave and Hz/V characteristics for the CV output.
V/Octave is used by most of the synthesizer manufacturers (Moog, ARP, Oberheim, Roland, Sequential Curcuits, EMS, Doepfer). When V/Octave is chosen incoming MIDI pitch bend events affect the CV voltage. The maximum pitch bend voltage travel is +/-1 V corresponding to +/-1 octave. You have to pay a little attention when using the pitch bend function. If you play a note on your keyboard which corresponds to a CV voltage below +1 V or above +4 V not the entire pitch travel is available as the possible output voltage ranges only from 0 to +5V. If you want to use the pitch bend function you should play in the mid range to have enough voltage travel for the pitch bend function.
As far as we know Hz/V is used only by some Korg or Yamaha synthesizers. If Hz/V is selected incoming MIDI pitch bend events do not affect the CV output. Because of the non linear behaviour of the Hz/V curve the resolution is very poor in the lower voltage range compared to the V/Octave mode. So the Hz/V mode should be selected only if there is no other solution. The Korg Synthesizers MS10 and MS20 e.g. are equipped with an external control input labeled "TOTAL" that can be adjusted to 1V/Octave with the control knob labeled "MG/T.EXT.". Using this input we obtained much better results than with the Hz/V control inputs.
The factory default setting is V/Octave.
