Find out how you can control your ARP 2600 with MIDI using Kenton MIDI Retrofit Kits or MIDI to CV converters
The ARP 2600 doesn’t have MIDI, but does have CV/Gate/Trig/VCF sockets. Kenton offer a variety of options to get your 2600 connected to MIDI.
- Fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit
- Use the ARP 2600’s existing CV/Gate/Trig sockets with a MIDI to CV converter
Fitting a MIDI Retrofit Kit is a skilled job which should be undertaken only by a competent synth service engineer or fitted by us at our premises in Tadworth, near London (UK customers only).
1. Fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit to the ARP 2600
You can fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit which will allow you to control the ARP 2600 directly using MIDI from your DAW, MIDI Sequencer or other MIDI controller. Fitted inside your 2600, our MIDI Retrofit Kit adds MIDI IN and THRU sockets to your synth.
With the Retrofit Kit you’ll have MIDI control of Notes, Pitchbend, Modulation, Filter cutoff, Portamento / Glide, Sustain. Note that the retrofit is MIDI IN and THRU only, there is no MIDI Out.
2. Using the ARP 2600’s Sockets with a MIDI to CV converter
As a semi-modular synth the ARP 2600 is already fitted with many control sockets including CV, Gate, Trig & Filter which is all you need for control of the notes. Trig is required to trigger the 2600’s ADSR envelope generator.
Which products do I need for the ARP 2600?
Our MIDI to CV converters have CV and GATE outputs, and a number of Aux outputs that can be configured for your specific requirements.
The Pro Solo Mk3 has sufficiently flexible Aux outputs to provide the 4 signals required to play notes, trigger the ADSR and modify the filter cutoff. You will need 4 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack leads to connect it to the 2600.
The USB Solo (not currently available) has less flexible Aux outputs: you will be able to either trigger the ADSR, or modify the filter cutoff, but not both. You will need 3 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack leads to connect it to the 2600.
ARP 2600’s CV/Gate input sockets
The following ARP 2600 3.5mm jack sockets can be used with our MIDI to CV converters:
| 2600’s Socket | Description |
|---|---|
| KBD CV (OUTPUT) Located on the far left of the synth below PRE-AMP | Provided you don’t have the ARP keyboard connected, this socket can be used as it is a standard Volt per Octave CV input to all three VCOs. |
| MULTIPLE (4 sockets) Located on the far left of the synth below PRE-AMP | If you have the keyboard connected, then the KBD CV (OUTPUT) socket can’t be used. Instead the MULTIPLE sockets can be used to provide CV input to the VCOs. Connect one of the MULTIPLE inputs to the MIDI to CV converter, and patch each of the other 3 sockets to the KBD CV inputs of each VCO. |
| GATE Located on the long row of sockets across the middle of the 2600 – the ninth socket from the right | 10V Gate. |
| TRIG Located on the long row of sockets across the middle of the 2600 – the eighth socket from the right | 10V Trigger pulse for the ADSR envelope generator. |
| KBD CV (in Control section of filter) Located on the long row of sockets across the middle of the 2600 – the thirteenth socket from the right | 0-10V to modify the filter cutoff frequency. |
Notes
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter to the ARP 2600 will disable its keyboard.
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter
The Pro Solo Mk3 has sufficiently flexible outputs to provide the 4 signals required to play notes, trigger the ADSR and modify the filter cutoff. Connect it to the ARP 2600 follows:
| Pro Solo Mk3 | ARP 2600 | Using |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | KBD CV (OUTPUT) or MULTIPLE see table above | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | GATE | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 1 | KBD CV (in Control section of filter) | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 2 | TRIG | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
Notes
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter to the ARP 2600 will disable its keyboard.
MIDI to CV converter settings
The Pro Solo Mk3 has sufficiently flexible outputs to provide the 4 signals required to play notes, trigger the ADSR and modify the filter cutoff. Set it up as follows:
| Output | Parameter | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | P15 – CV/Hz | [CV] 1 Volt per Octave (default) |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | P16 – Gate Type | [g10] Gate (V-trig) at +10V1 |
| Aux 1 | P30 – Aux 2 Controller Number | whichever CC you wish to use2 |
| P31 – Aux 2 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 2 Maximum Value | 100 (default) | |
| Aux 2 | P20 – Aux 1 Controller Number | [trg] Note Trigger |
| P21 – Aux 1 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P22 – Aux 1 Maximum Value | 100 (default) |
Notes
1. [g05] Gate at +5V should work for the USB Solo.
2. The Pro Solo Mk3 will also allow you to use its own ADSR Envelope Generator to modify the filter cutoff. You can also route the Pro Solo’s LFO to AUX 1.
The USB Solo has less flexible Aux outputs. Aux 2 and 3 are not suitable for controlling the 2600, so you will have to Aux 1 for either triggering the ADSR or filter cutoff, using the settings listed for the Pro Solo above.
Learn more about MIDI to CV
If you don’t know anything about MIDI to CV converters and would like to know more, read the following page on our website:
