Find out how you can control your ARP Odyssey with MIDI using Kenton MIDI Retrofit or Socket Upgrade Kits
The ARP Odyssey doesn’t have MIDI at all, but later versions had CV/Gate/Trig sockets. Kenton offer a variety of options to get your Odyssey connected to MIDI.
There are 4 versions of the ARP Odyssey:
- Mk1 – Black with a grey face – no CV/Gate/Trig input sockets
- Early Mk2 – Black with gold lettering with no CV/Gate/Trig sockets
- Later MK2 – Black with gold lettering with CV/Gate/Trig sockets
- Mk3 – Black with orange lettering – these all have CV/Gate/Trig sockets
You have 4 options depending which version Odyssey you have:
- All versions: Fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit
- Mk1 and early Mk2: Fit a CV/Gate/Trigger/Filter Socket Kit so that you can use it with a MIDI to CV converter
- Later Mk2 and Mk3: Use a MIDI to CV Converter to control the existing CV/Gate/Trig sockets
- Later Mk2 and Mk3: Fit a Filter Socket Kit so you can also modify the filter cutoff frequency with a MIDI to CV converter
Fitting a MIDI retrofit or socket upgrade 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 your ARP Odyssey
You can fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit which will allow you to control your Odyssey directly using MIDI from your DAW, MIDI Sequencer or other MIDI controller. Fitted inside your ARP Odyssey, our MIDI Retrofit Kit adds MIDI IN and THRU sockets.
With the retrofit kit you’ll have MIDI control of Notes, Pitchbend, Modulation, Filter cutoff, Portamento / Glide, Sustain. Note that the Retrofit Kit is MIDI IN and THRU only, there is no MIDI Out.
ARP Odyssey Mk1 MIDI Retrofit Kit (Grey Face)
ARP Odyssey Mk2 MIDI Retrofit Kit (Black/Gold face)
ARP Odyssey Mk3 MIDI Retrofit Kit (Black/Orange Face)
2. Fit a CV/Gate/Trig/Filter Socket Kit to your ARP Odyssey
(For Mk1 and early Mk2 Odysseys without CV & Gate sockets)
These models do not have CV/Gate/Trig sockets. If you want to control these Odysseys using a MIDI to CV converter, then you will need a Socket Upgrade Kit, and a MIDI to CV converter.
Which products do I need for the ARP Odyssey Mk1 and early Mk2?
You will need a 4 Socket Upgrade Kit for ARP Odyssey to add CV, Gate, Trigger and Filter sockets. Trigger is required to trigger the ADSR envelope generator on the Odyssey.
You will also need a MIDI to CV converter. 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.
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
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter
The socket kit has the following adds 4 sockets to the Odyssey. Connect the Pro Solo Mk3 as follows:
| Pro Solo Mk3 | Socket Kit | Using |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | CV | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | Gate | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 1 | Trig | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 2 | Filter | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
The USB Solo has less flexible Aux outputs. Aux 2 and 3 are not suitable for controlling the Odyssey, so you will have to use Aux 1 for either Trig or Filter.
Setting up 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 control 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 | [g15] Gate (V-trig) at +15V |
| Aux 1 | P20 – Aux 1 Controller Number | [trg] Note Trigger |
| P21 – Aux 1 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P22 – Aux 1 Maximum Value | 100 (default) | |
| Aux 2 | P30 – Aux 2 Controller Number | whichever CC you wish to use1 |
| P31 – Aux 2 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 2 Maximum Value | 100 (default) |
Notes
1. The Pro Solo Mk3 will also allow you to use its own ADSR Envelope Generator to modify the filter cutoff.
The USB Solo has less flexible AUX outputs. Aux 2 and 3 are not suitable for controlling the Odyssey, so you will have to Aux 1 for either triggering the ADSR or filter cutoff, using the settings listed for the Pro Solo above.
3. Use a MIDI to CV Converter to control the existing CV/Gate/Trig sockets
(For later Mk2 and Mk3 Odysseys with CV, Gate & Trig sockets already fitted)
These models already have CV, Gate & Trig 3.5mm jack sockets. You can control these Odysseys using MIDI with a MIDI to CV converter.
Note If you want to control filter cutoff frequency, see option 4 below.
Which products do I need for the ARP Odyssey later Mk2 and Mk3?
You can use either the Pro Solo Mk3 or the USB Solo these models. You will need 3 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack leads.
Note The Pro Solo Mk3 has more flexible Aux outputs – should you wish to add a filter socket to you Odyssey in the future, the Pro Solo Mk3 will be able to fully control the additional socket. See Option 4 below for more details.
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter
The Odyssey has CV IN, Gate IN and Trig IN 3.5mm jack sockets. Connect them to your MIDI to CV converter as follows:
| MIDI to CV Converter | ARP Odyssey | Using |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | CV IN | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | Gate IN | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 1 | Trig IN1 | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
Notes
1. On some ARP Odysseys the envelope can be triggered by the GATE IN socket, so would not require this connection.
Setting up the MIDI to CV converter
Use the following settings on the converter for this model:
| Output | Parameter | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | P15 – CV/Hz | [CV] 1 Volt per Octave (default) |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | P16 – Gate Type | [g15] Gate (V-trig) at +15V |
| Aux 1 | P20 – Aux 1 Controller Number | [trg] Note Trigger |
| P21 – Aux 1 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P22 – Aux 1 Maximum Value | 100 (default) |
4. Fit a Filter Socket Kit so you can control the filter cutoff frequency
(For later Mk2 and Mk3 Odysseys with existing CV/Gate/Trig sockets)
Which products do I need to control the filter cutoff on the ARP Odyssey later Mk2 and Mk3?
As well as controlling the existing CV/Gate/Trig with a MIDI to CV converter, you can also modify the filter cutoff frequency using a Filter Socket Upgrade Kit for ARP Odyssey.
You will also need a MIDI to CV converter. 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 outputs to provide the 4 signals required to play notes, trigger the ADSR and control the filter cutoff. You will need 4 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack leads.
The USB Solo has less flexible Aux outputs: you will be able to either trigger the ADSR, or control the filter cutoff, but not both. You will need 3 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono jack leads.
Connecting the MIDI to CV converter
The Odyssey has CV IN, Gate IN and Trig IN 3.5mm sockets, and the socket kit adds a Filter socket. Connect them to your Pro Solo Mk3 as follows:
| Pro Solo Mk3 | ARP Odyssey | Using |
|---|---|---|
| CV (Hz/V) | CV IN | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| GATE (S-TRIG) | Gate IN | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 1 | Trig IN1 | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
| Aux 2 | Filter | 3.5 to 3.5mm mono jack lead |
Notes
1. On some ARP Odysseys the envelope can be triggered by the GATE IN socket, so would not require this connection.
The USB Solo has less flexible AUX outputs. Aux 2 and 3 are not suitable for controlling the Odyssey, so you will have to Aux1 for either Trig or Filter.
Setting up 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 control 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 | [g15] Gate (V-trig) at +15V |
| Aux 1 | P20 – Aux 1 Controller Number | [trg] Note Trigger |
| P21 – Aux 1 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P22 – Aux 1 Maximum Value | 100 (default) | |
| Aux 2 | P30 – Aux 2 Controller Number | whichever CC you wish to use1 |
| P31 – Aux 2 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 2 Maximum Value | 100 (default) |
Notes
1. The Pro Solo Mk3 will also allow you to use its own ADSR Envelope Generator to modify the filter cutoff.
The USB Solo has less flexible Aux outputs. Aux 2 and 3 are not suitable for controlling the Odyssey, so you will have to Aux1 for either Trig or Filter.
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:
