So the 1st part of the puzzle! - MIDI to CV convertor (A-190-3), which will allow the whole system to talk to a computer. This standard module from #doepfer has USB input as well, which is great news as it allows easy integration into your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) which in my case is Logic X.
This chap allows for the following:
Gate Out - 0 / + 5V
CV1: controlled by Midi note messages, 1V / Octave, 0 ... + 5V
CV2: controlled by Midi pitch bend, ~ -2.5 ... + 2.5V or + 5V ~ 0 ... (can be selected by internal jumper on)
CV3: controlled by MIDI velocity, 0 ... + 5V
CV4: controlled by MIDI Control Change messages, free assignale controller in LearnMode
Glide Control (portamento function for CV1)
See full spec here: http://www.doepfer.de/a1903.htm
I’ll write another article about the basics of CV and Gate in due course but we want to get this thing up and running (both blog and synth)!