This module has now been discontinued.
The Oakley-Modulus polyDAC is a top specification four channel midi to analogue convertor. This project is a joint development between Paul Maddox at Modulus Electronics and ourselves here at Oakley Sound.
This is Paul's prototype in standard MOTM/Oakley format but with a natural aluminium finish.
The polyDAC is designed to drive any 1V/octave synthesiser system. However, it has been designed to fit beautifully into a MOTM or Oakley modular system.
This powerful module gives you 3 modes of operation,
Polymode This mode gives you Midi to CV conversion for 4 voices, each with its own note CV, Velocity CV and Gate. Also generated are CVs that correspond to pitchwheel, modwheel, aftertouch, sustain and four user definable Midi CCs. A choice within Polymode allows 'note steal' or 'note ignore' for new notes once all 4 voices are in use. With note steal mode on you can also turn retrigger on or off, which will retrigger the gate for the new note.
Mono 1 This mode gives you a monophonic Midi to CV converter. The four voices all play the same note/gate allowing for some monster stacking of oscillators. It also has a choice of retrigger mode and features a 16 note deep note stack. Again it has CV outputs for pitchwheel, modwheel, aftertouch, sustain, as well as four user definable Midi CCs. Again you have the option for retrigger or not.
Mono 2 This mode gives you four channels of monophonic Midi to CV conversion. The 4 channels all being consecutive (eg, 4, 5, 6 and 7). In this mode the pitchwheel, modwheel, aftertouch, sustain and four user definable Midi CCs are controlled by that midi channel assigned to voice 1 only. Retrigger sets retrigger on or off for all four channels. Each channel has its own 16 note deep note stack.
Other Features
The MIDI light flashes with each Midi message it receives and understands, eg, note on/off will cause it to flash, but Midi clock and Sysex will be ignored.
When the assign switch is held for a moment (approx 1 second) you will be able to assign the user CVs (CV A,B,C & D) to 4 midi controllers (MIDI CC). By default they are CV-A = 74(Filter cutoff), CV-B = 7(Volume), CV-C = 5(Portamento time), CV-D = 2(breath controller)
The pitchwheel CV affects all 4 note CVs Via the bend range knob. However, If you plug a jack into the Pitch wheel CV socket the pitch CV is no longer applied.
The Modwheel and Pitch bend sockets are slightly different to ordinary CV outputs. Plugging in a standard mono jack will give you the CV out. However, if you plug in a stereo jack in, the TIP gives you the output CV, the RING then allows you to feed back into all 4 note CVs, allowing a single LFO/VCA to control modulation on all 4 voices.
Power Requirements
The module requires a split supply of +/-15V at approx +100mA and -20mA.
The Printed Circuit Board
The PCB has been designed to fit within a 3U wide MOTM/Oakley style modular face plate. It has two PCB mounted pots to facilitate TUNE and BEND DEPTH . The pots are spaced at 1.625".
The pots we use on this module, and others, are from Omeg or Piher. They use specially made pot mounting brackets to ensure a firm connection to the front panel and PCB. They are strong enough to hold the PCB in place without any further support.
The printed circuit board size is approximately 105mm x 180mm. It is double sided, has through plated holes, solder mask both sides and has full component legending.
Project Downloads
User Guide and Schematic
Front Panel database
A Schaeffer front panel can be made for a 3U polyDAC module . The database can be found here polydac.fpd. To read this file you will need a copy of 'Frontplatten designer' from Schaeffer. The program also features on-line ordering, so its now even easier to buy your panels from Scheaffer. The company are based in Berlin in Germany and will send out panels to anywhere in the world. Delivery to the UK normally takes around ten days. For North American users you can also order your Schaeffer panels from Front Panel Express.
MOTM style Front Panels
See Dave Bradley's great service using real MOTM blanks to create perfect MOTM compatible panels for some of the Oakley Modules : www.hotrodmotm.com
Parts lists for US builders
Builders based in North America can now find full parts lists, complete with order codes, for many of the Oakley modules. Larry Hendry has kindly provided the web space for customers to upload parts lists. Go to www.wiseguysynth.com for full details.
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