A tutorial on how to use the MOOG Theremini to control a synthesizer using MIDI

The MOOG Theremini is a very capable and fun instrument played just on its own but it also has the propensity to make an excellent input device for an external synthesizer. Unfortunately, its MIDI implementation does not allow for MIDI Note data which is quite an impediment! However, there is a CV output on the rear of the instrument that does send Note data but sadly, not a GATE signal so again this is limited for controlling an external synthesizer. In this tutorial, I show you how to convert this Note data into a useful MIDI output that can be used by any MIDI equipped synthesizer. Although in my case, I am using two Expert Sleepers Disting 4 Eurorack modules, most Eurorack Quantizers act like the Disting 4 in producing a Gate output on note change which is the feature that I am using here. Although this tutorial moves on to produce a MIDI output, the CV and Gate from the Quantizer could just as easily be connected directly to a modular or semi-modular synthesizer thus obviating the need for the CV to MIDI convertor. Furthermore, a single Disting 4 can be used with the same algorithm as I show here to produce a MIDI output directly, providing that you have the passive midi connector module as well. I have only used two Disting 4s to demonstrate the use of two modules in a Eurorack system. The sample piece of ambient music was captured in a single take even though the two sound sources (MOOG Theremini and Behringer 2600) appear to be played separately at times during the piece - this was made possible by careful adjustment of the attack level in the Behringer 2600's ADSR envelope generator. To add to the ambient sounds, the recorded track included a send to the Valhalla Shimmer plugin.