VM 960 volts-to-note ready reckoner

[utdgrant]

When attempting to program actual musical notes on the VM 960 sequencer, I found it handy to have this conversion table lying about.
Because the oscillators are 1V/oct, each semitone shift upwards requires an additional voltage of 1/12 V, or 0.08333333 V.

Therefore, if you count 0.000V as being the root note of your scale, these are the voltages you require going upwards in semitone steps:

Semi Volts Note (C as root)

00 = 0.000 C
01 = 0.083 C#
02 = 0.167 D
03 = 0.250 Eb
04 = 0.333 E
05 = 0.417 F
06 = 0.500 F#
07 = 0.583 G
08 = 0.667 Ab
09 = 0.750 A
10 = 0.833 Bb
11 = 0.917 B

12 = 1.000 C
13 = 1.083 C#
14 = 1.167 D
15 = 1.250 Eb
16 = 1.333 E
17 = 1.417 F
18 = 1.500 F#
19 = 1.583 G
20 = 1.667 Ab
21 = 1.750 A
22 = 1.833 Bb
23 = 1.917 B

24 = 2.000 C


Note that this only applies to the X1 row multiplier; when you use X2 or X4 multipliers, the knob setting still displays the same voltage reading, but outputs a voltage of twice, or four times that value respectively. I might follow up this post with volts-to-note settings for the wider scaling factors.

Also note that the quantizer performs the mathematical function of truncation, rather than rounding. As a result, any voltage between 0.000 V and 0.083 V will always be quantized down to 0.000 V. Similarly, any voltage between 1.917 V and 2.000 V will be quantized down to 1.917 V. For this reason, you can never quite reach a full two-octave range of notes when using the quantizer on the X1 setting - even with the knob fully clockwise, it will still output a note 23 semitones above the root (e.g. a high B if you use C as your root). If a full two octave span is critical, you can reach a note two octaves above the root by using the unquantized output (and adjusting the knobs VERY carefully)!

[utdgrant]

These semitone-to-volts conversions are required if you use the X2 row multiplier setting: (0.0416667 V per semitone)

1st octave

00 = 0.000 = C
01 = 0.042 = C#
02 = 0.083 = D
03 = 0.125 = Eb
04 = 0.167 = E
05 = 0.208 = F
06 = 0.250 = F#
07 = 0.292 = G
08 = 0.333 = Ab
09 = 0.375 = A
10 = 0.417 = Bb
11 = 0.458 = B


2nd octave

12 = 0.500 = C
13 = 0.542 = C#
14 = 0.583 = D
15 = 0.625 = Eb
16 = 0.667 = E
17 = 0.708 = F
18 = 0.750 = F#
19 = 0.792 = G
20 = 0.833 = Ab
21 = 0.875 = A
22 = 0.917 = Bb
23 = 0.958 = B


3rd octave

24 = 1.000 = C
25 = 1.042 = C#
26 = 1.083 = D
27 = 1.125 = Eb
28 = 1.167 = E
29 = 1.208 = F
30 = 1.250 = F#
31 = 1.292 = G
32 = 1.333 = Ab
33 = 1.375 = A
34 = 1.417 = Bb
35 = 1.458 = B


4th octave

36 = 1.500 = C
37 = 1.542 = C#
38 = 1.583 = D
39 = 1.625 = Eb
40 = 1.667 = E
41 = 1.708 = F
42 = 1.750 = F#
43 = 1.792 = G
44 = 1.833 = Ab
45 = 1.875 = A
46 = 1.917 = Bb
47 = 1.958 = B

48 = 2.000 = C

[MRBarton]

First, let me say that the quantized knob not hitting the top note has been fixed and will be released soon.

Your charts might be helpful for some, but here is a way easier way to tune sequencer stages that I use when my ear is lazy. It is simplicity itself. Just set up a separate VCO with keyboard control, real or virtual. Then play the note you want on that VCO and turn the sequencer knob controlling the VCO of interest to match. Very fast (especially with the quantized output), and better still, no thinking or dead reckoning required.

--mb

[schoekah]

thanks mb, great to have tips from the pros!

I think I'll put in a plug for Monkey Business Audio, and their great free Volt Meter, since we're on the topic. Lots of use out of that, thanks!

And for Cherry Audio, whose modules hold voltages way finer than the voltages displayed when you hover, like to lots of decimal places even though they display only to hundredths!

and a reminder that when you control + drag a knob you get much finer control of the values, but for real accuracy you'll want to double click and type in the value that you want.

my favorite way to tune a sequencer is to randomize it (ctrl + r) and dump the CV output into the cherry audio quantizer set to the scale that I like - I invented that a few weeks ago! That's called when you "Schoekah the sequencer." You can do that when you invent something. . .. I also found a comet last week - comet Schoekah - not sure what the scientists call it though . . .

[utdgrant]

First, let me say that the quantized knob not hitting the top note has been fixed and will be released soon.

--mb

That's great news! Thank you!

[utdgrant]

Just set up a separate VCO with keyboard control, real or virtual. Then play the note you want on that VCO and turn the sequencer knob controlling the VCO of interest to match. Very fast (especially with the quantized output), and better still, no thinking or dead reckoning required.

--mb

That would also be a useful process to tune things microtonally. For example, if you were tuning notes with just intonation (rather than 12TET), you could adjust the knob by ear until the beat frequency between the root note and the required interval reduced to zero.

[utdgrant]

Just set up a separate VCO with keyboard control, real or virtual. Then play the note you want on that VCO and turn the sequencer knob controlling the VCO of interest to match. Very fast (especially with the quantized output), and better still, no thinking or dead reckoning required.

--mb

That would also be a useful process to tune things microtonally. For example, if you were tuning notes with just intonation (rather than 12TET), you could adjust the knob by ear until the beat frequency between the root note and the required interval reduced to zero.

And then, perversely, if you use 921 oscillators, they are TOO realistic! Due to the inherent frequency drift built-in to the model, you have to constantly retune the sequencer knobs every few seconds to zero-out the beat frequency again!

[Wookiee]

Most useful Sir, thank you.

I did do this into an excel spreadsheet and then the disk went bang.