
PITCH FM IN
GATE
SYNTH
A-GAIN
ENV GATE
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
P SHIFT
C Q
+-
+
-
1) Connecting and powering
User Guide
Firmware 1.0 / 2.0
To use the ConVertor E1 you need a 12V powered Eurorack case with 6HP (3cm)
available space, one available power connection and 150mA of current availa-
ble. Connect the power header cable, screw the panel to the rack using all 4 of
the included standard M3 screws. Avoid exposing it to sun, fulids or unchecked
physical abuse/shocks.
Please Avoid patching any audio signal stronger than +4dBu or CV signals into
the audio input.The audio & CV outputs of this device are very loud poten-
tially around 10V scale. Always test a signal’s loudness before patching it with
speakers or headphones on.
Thank you for buying a ConVertor E1.
Sonicsmith’s comitment to bridge the gap between pro-audio and
modular synths resulted in this leap-of-technology module. A
preamp and DCO working together or seperately from each other
for the ultimate playground of musical interfacing and control.
The internal DCO can be controlled from audio, CV and MIDI (with
expansion MIDVertor E1). Download the latest product documen-
taions, specs and firmware downloads (1.x series) at the product
page:www.sonicsmith.com/products/convertor-e1.
Feel free to write us with any feedback, question or concern at:
Nov 2020
PITCH FM IN
GATE
SYNTH
ENV GATE
P SHIFT
+-
+
-
3) Knobs assignments: Default
Turn the P SHIFT knob to increase/decrease
semi-tones for the DCO’s SYNTH & the PITCH CV outputs by
-2.5-+2.7 octaves. Press on the P SHIFT knob to bypass the
shi back to unison. Press it again to undo/redo. Turn the P
SHIFT knob faster than 7 steps in 0.3 sec to jump a whole
octave. The resulting pitch shi is relative to the FM IN
1V/oct CV input so try arpeggiating the pitch from external
LFO’s (see #6 ) & sequencer 1/V per octave CV patched into it.
Turn the GATE knob to increase/decrease the gate’s threshold by +/-
1dB. Default GATE threshold is -35 dBFS and will effect the ENV CV output
by shutting the ENV CV to 0V and the SYNTH OUT audio off. PRE OUT is analog
copy of the same signal going to the ADC. Connect a minijack TS to a +18dBu-ca-
pable destination like modular synths. In all other function-modes, these knobs
will be known as “Top knob & Bottom knob”
Audio Controlled Synthesizer
PITCH FM IN
GAT E
SYNTH
A-GAIN
ENV GATE
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
P SHIFT
C Q
+-
+
-
Audio Controlled Synthesizer
2) Preamp section buttons
Connect a TS or TRS Mic/Inst./Line 1/4” plug into the audio input
If you play a pickup inst. press the HI Z
Press F LT To toggle between
analog input HPF frequencies:
Press A-GAIN To activate Auto-GAIN detection, play
loudly for 3 seconds. Aer 3 seconds, the gain will be set
and the meter will go back to showing input levels. Press
A-GAIN longer than 1 second to undo/redo. The gate will
not effect the PRE OUT levels. Turn the GATE knob while in
A-Gain mode to change the gain manually and initiating
another 3 second count. The A-Gain mode will auto-exit
within 3 seconds of inactivity. The ConVertor E1 will
remember preamp settings aer a restarting.
LOW Z: 10 kOhm
25 Hz 75 Hz
RED
GREEN RED
150 Hz
HI Z: 1000 kOhm
A-GAIN
PRE OUT
ENV
TRS
AUDIO IN
+4-10-20-30-40-50
HI Z
FLT
Mic/Inst/line input
Synth out
FM CV in
Pitch CV
ENV CV
GATE CV
Preamp out
“Sonicsmith bus” 4 pin header
to MIDVertor E1 (optional)
Balanced/unbalanced