Voltera

Voltera is a 4HP CV expander for Metron. It adds four bi-polar control voltage outputs, four knobs for entering and editing voltage data, and four bi-color track LEDs. Voltera is a “last event” sequencer: an output always holds the voltage of the last event sent to it, and a step only updates the output when the sequencer plays that step. Multiple Voltera and Metron units can be chained together.

The EXP headers on the back of Metron and Voltera make it extremely simple to connect expanders to Metron. Connect one 8-pin ribbon cable, supplied with Voltera, to either of the two EXP headers on Metron. Be sure to orient the red stripe toward the white dot printed next to the “EXP” label. Connect additional Voltera units either to each other or to the second EXP header on Metron. Finally, place the EXP TERM covers on open headers. Indicators must be facing the same direction (down) on the covers and PCB. It is generally best practice to string or chain Metron and Voltera units one by one, and place EXP TERM covers at either end of the string.

If a visual explanation would be more helpful, check out the Voltera playlist on our YouTube channel.

Because there are no individual track select buttons on Voltera, the knobs are used to select each track using the “turn” gesture. Perform the “turn” gesture by turning a knob to the full clockwise position, then a small turn back in the counter-clockwise position.

The following Metron track functions are available to Voltera tracks by using the “turn” gesture:

• DUPLICATE

• CLEAR

• SPECIAL FUNCTIONS: PL.DUP, CONTRACT, EXPAND

Other Metron track functions like NUDGE and PTN LENGTH can be performed on a Voltera track by moving a Voltera [TRACK KNOB] or pressing the [SELECT] button, followed by the Metron [MATRIX] buttons normally associated with the mode.

Voltera is a “last event” sequencer. This means that the outputs will always hold the voltage of the “last event” sent to them. Setting a step will not send an event to the output until the sequencer plays that step.

Set a voltage on a step by holding a Metron [MATRIX] button and then turning the [VOLTERA KNOB] associated with the output you would like to set the voltage on. The voltage or quantized v/oct value will be displayed on Metron's [CURRENT STEP DISPLAY] as well as Voltera's [TRACK LED].

• Red/Green Track LED: positive voltages are green, negative voltages are red.

• Non-quantized voltage: the display shows volts. See the LED for positive or negative indication.

• Quantized voltage: the leftmost digit displays the note, the center indicates whether the note is flat, and the rightmost digit is the octave.

Pressing the [SELECT] button before or while setting a voltage on a step will “audition” the voltage of that step. The output voltage will be directly set by the knob as long as the [MATRIX] button is held.

Holding the [SELECT] button on Voltera before turning the [VOLTERA KNOB] will set the output to “Live Takeover.” When this is enabled the [VOLTERA KNOB] directly sets the voltage of the corresponding output, regardless of the state of the sequencer. When the user releases the [VOLTERA SELECT] button the output will return to normal sequencer-driven operation.

Voltera offers a number of knob input ranges for more detailed entry of control voltage data. Voltera's outputs always offer a -5V to +5V voltage range. The sequence will play as it was written regardless of the current input range. Enter this mode by moving any Voltera knob while viewing Global Settings. The currently selected Voltera track will show on the COUNTER display.

The Voltera user scale allows you to set a custom scale with a custom octave range per output. The user scale is saved and recalled on power up as well as when a session is saved or loaded. Active notes and octave ranges will blink with a breathing pattern.

Guess what!? There's more! Visit the Metron product page and download the updated Metron manual to find out about even more new features Voltera offers.