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Kent · 09-02-2009, 10:12 PM

Hello Snyderphonics,

Your controller has a lot of appeal to me. More so than the Buchla 222e. However, I rarely use a computer in work except to record. I'd love one of these controllers to have an actual MIDI output port like the C-Thru Axis-64, as opposed to their entry level unit.

I don't know there has been a feasibility study into this. It is the only thing that makes me hold back from ordering a Manta at this time.

It may appear to be a trivial thing to some. In my case, I'm 99% hardware oriented. I've got a Genoqs Octopus & a bunch of modular gear with MIDI to CV converters.

I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding a direct DIN connector MIDI out unit and/or an existing way of converting the data stream to MIDI without a computer involved.

Thanks,

Kent

**jeff_snyder** · 09-03-2009, 09:03 AM

Hi Kent,
I've had this question from quite a few users. I'm looking into the possibility. It would need to have it's own power supply and either a larger case or a non-standard cable, since the manta is far too slim for a DIN jack. I'm imagining possibly adding this feature on a larger version of the manta, which would require its own power anyway, and would need a larger case. There would be the issue of how to assign the MIDI note numbers, since I don't want to make it "fixed", and I'd rather not have an LCD screen and edit buttons muddying up the look of the panel. I was imagining maybe a computer application that sends MIDI sysex to the device to set the MIDI values, so you would need to use a computer to program it, but after that you could use it without a computer. I assume a hardware-only usage of the Manta would not need user-control of the LEDs, since there wouldn't be any outside intelligence controlling them, although MIDI in could do that.

Thoughts? A wishlist might help me figure out whether it would be feasible and what people might want along these lines.
-Jeff

(09-02-2009 10:12 PM)Kent Wrote: Hello Snyderphonics,

Your controller has a lot of appeal to me. More so than the Buchla 222e. However, I rarely use a computer in work except to record. I'd love one of these controllers to have an actual MIDI output port like the C-Thru Axis-64, as opposed to their entry level unit.

I don't know there has been a feasibility study into this. It is the only thing that makes me hold back from ordering a Manta at this time.

It may appear to be a trivial thing to some. In my case, I'm 99% hardware oriented. I've got a Genoqs Octopus & a bunch of modular gear with MIDI to CV converters.

I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding a direct DIN connector MIDI out unit and/or an existing way of converting the data stream to MIDI without a computer involved.

Thanks,

Kent

***admin*** · 01-14-2010, 07:13 AM

I'm thinking more seriously about this now, and I've begun work on a prototype that will be a kind of "breakout box" for the manta. I think I'll call it the "manta-mate". It'll have a USB input to take data from the manta, but then it will output MIDI and CV. Any thoughts on what features are important to people? I've got to figure out where I want the price point to be and allot my features accordingly. Polyphonic CV or mono? no CV option for people who just want the MIDI? I'm thinking there are 16 selectable factory preset mappings and 16 user presets, which can be programmed either over USB or via MIDI sysex (using a program I provide).
-Jeff

(09-03-2009 09:03 AM)jeff_snyder Wrote: Hi Kent,
I've had this question from quite a few users. I'm looking into the possibility. It would need to have it's own power supply and either a larger case or a non-standard cable, since the manta is far too slim for a DIN jack. I'm imagining possibly adding this feature on a larger version of the manta, which would require its own power anyway, and would need a larger case. There would be the issue of how to assign the MIDI note numbers, since I don't want to make it "fixed", and I'd rather not have an LCD screen and edit buttons muddying up the look of the panel. I was imagining maybe a computer application that sends MIDI sysex to the device to set the MIDI values, so you would need to use a computer to program it, but after that you could use it without a computer. I assume a hardware-only usage of the Manta would not need user-control of the LEDs, since there wouldn't be any outside intelligence controlling them, although MIDI in could do that.

Thoughts? A wishlist might help me figure out whether it would be feasible and what people might want along these lines.
-Jeff

(09-02-2009 10:12 PM)Kent Wrote: Hello Snyderphonics,

Your controller has a lot of appeal to me. More so than the Buchla 222e. However, I rarely use a computer in work except to record. I'd love one of these controllers to have an actual MIDI output port like the C-Thru Axis-64, as opposed to their entry level unit.

I don't know there has been a feasibility study into this. It is the only thing that makes me hold back from ordering a Manta at this time.

It may appear to be a trivial thing to some. In my case, I'm 99% hardware oriented. I've got a Genoqs Octopus & a bunch of modular gear with MIDI to CV converters.

I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding a direct DIN connector MIDI out unit and/or an existing way of converting the data stream to MIDI without a computer involved.

Thanks,

Kent