Quick answer
The littleBits CV Bit lets you send and receive control voltage (CV) signals, bridging your synth Bits with modular synthesizers, analog keyboards, or other CV-compatible gear.
Why use control voltage with littleBits?
Standard littleBits synth modules communicate via CV internally, but the CV Bit opens that signal to external devices. This means you can control the pitch of oscillators, the cutoff frequency of filters, or even trigger events from a modular synth or analog keyboard.
The trade-off: CV is an analog signal, so you need to understand basics like voltage range and patch cables. The CV Bit works best when you already have some modular gear or plan to expand your setup.
How to use the littleBits CV Bit
- Connect the CV Bit to your power source: Attach the CV Bit to a power Bit (like the p3 power) to provide the necessary voltage. The CV Bit does not generate its own power. Make sure the power Bit is turned on and the CV Bit lights up before proceeding.
- Identify the CV input/output jacks: The CV Bit has two 3.5mm jacks: one labeled 'CV In' and one labeled 'CV Out'. Use a standard 3.5mm mono patch cable to connect to your external device. Do not use stereo cables; they can cause signal loss or noise.
- Patch the CV Out to an external synth input: Connect the CV Out jack to the CV input of a modular synth, analog keyboard, or other CV-compatible device. You can now control the external device's pitch, filter, or other parameters using your littleBits oscillator or envelope modules. Start with a simple patch: use the oscillator Bit to send a control voltage and verify the external device responds before adding more modules.
- Patch an external CV source to the CV In: Connect an external CV source (like a modular synth's LFO or envelope output) to the CV In jack. This lets external signals control littleBits modules, such as modulating the filter cutoff on a filter Bit. Check the voltage range of your external source. Most littleBits modules expect 0-5V; higher voltages may clip or damage the CV Bit.
- Experiment with creative patches: Use the CV Bit as a bridge to create hybrid patches: sequence littleBits from an analog keyboard, or use a modular synth's random voltage to add unpredictable modulation to your littleBits patch. Document your patches so you can recreate or tweak them later. CV patching is highly flexible but can be hard to remember.
Product facts
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littleBits w18 CV (control voltage): The CV Bit lets you integrate synth Bits with other analog synthesizers like modular synths or analog keyboards. It turns your littleBits system into a flexible control interface for external gear, not just a self-contained synth.
littleBits w18 CV (control voltage)
