Find out how you can control your Octave CAT with MIDI using Kenton Socket Upgrade Kits and MIDI to CV converters
There are 2 types of Octave CAT – early versions, which have no “To Slave” and “From Master” sockets, and later ones, which do have those sockets. In order to control the CAT with MIDI, you will need a MIDI to CV converter, and then select how you interface it with your CAT.
Octave CAT Early Versions
Early versions do not have a “From Master” socket to provide CV/Gate. If you want to control your Ocatave CAT using MIDI, then you will need a Socket Upgrade Kit, a MIDI to CV converter and leads:
Fitting a 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).
Sockets
The Octave CAT Socket Upgrade Kit adds CV, Gate and Filter sockets,
As there are no suitable control sockets on the early CATs, you’ll need to get them fitted. Kenton make a 3 socket upgrade for this model which provides CV, Gate, and Filter cutoff control sockets.
MIDI to CV converter
Use this link to see the range of Kenton converters suitable for this model:
Use the following settings on the converter for these Odysseys :
CV – The upgrade socket requires 1 Volt per Octave control. Set the CV select parameter to CV or Volts/Octave – his is the Kenton default setting.
Gate – The upgrade socket requires a 5V gate signal – this is the Kenton default setting.
Filter – This socket should be connected to one of the Aux outputs of a Kenton converter. The filter socket requires a 0-10V analogue signal – this is the Kenton default setting.
Leads
You will need 3x 3.5mm to 3.5mm mono leads to connect the Socket Upgrade Kit to the MIDI to CV converter.
Octave CAT Later Versions
Later versions have “To Slave” and “From Master” sockets. The “From Master” socket offers CV/Gate control on a single TRS 1/4″ jack. However the CAT uses non-standard voltages, so standard cables will not allow you to control the CAT using MIDI to CV converters.
Our CV/Gate Lead for Octave CAT includes circuitry to support the non-standard voltages used by the CAT, allowing it to be controlled by our MIDI to CV converters.
Leads required
You will need 1x CV/Gate Lead for Octave CAT to connect the CAT to the MIDI to CV converter.
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:
