Retrokits RK-006 doing a whole bunch of sync

Retrokits

"The Multi-function outputs on the RK-006 allow you to sync all kinds of different devices. They are available via presets but here are also a few custom settings examples"

Retrokits RK-006

Superbooth 20HE: Retrokits RK006 - A Tiny Little MIDI Hub!

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"The Retrokits RK006 is a tiny little multi functional MIDI interface. It has USB, 2x MIDI inputs and 10x MIDI Outputs. However as all the MIDI Outputs are on 3.5mm jacks these can also perform as analog trigger/gate/clock or they can do DIN Sync/Sync 24.

The RK-006 is about 7x5x1cm in size (3x2x0.4″) which is very small indeed. You can order it with either just a USB dongle option or with all the MIDI cables to make full use of the MIDI i/o straight away. You can use it as a MIDI Merge and THRU box, per port MIDI filtering and multiclock processing, a USB host: HUB support, SMF playback and a USB device with Individually addressable OUT & IN ports. The small size however does mean that all your 5 pin MIDI DIN cables will need 3.5mm adapters…"

See previous posts here for more.

#SUPERBOOTH20 Special Reserve Livestream 3

Published on Apr 24, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which Single Malt Synthesis and our friend DivKid welcome boutique manufactures from the world of synthesis to show their wares live on stream. It's like Superbooth, but no one has to wear hard pants. Join in the stream and ask your questions, we will try to answer as many as possible.

16:00 Meng Qi
16:30 Sound Force
17:00 DPW
17:30 Chair Audio
18:00 Befaco
18:30 Joranalogue
19:00 Retrokits
19:30 SonicLab
20:00 Threetommodular
20:30 ADDAC System
21:00 Single Malt Synthesis Hangout with special guests"

Retrokits Boss DR-110 MIDI Modification (RK-110)

Published on Jan 30, 2020 Retrokits

"A quick visual guide for building in the Retrokits RK110 into the BOSS DR110 drumcomputer.

Below an excerpt from the RK110 manual:

RK-110 SETUP MODE
Once the RK-110 is built in, it will auto-slave the internal sequencer to a MIDI clock and has mapped the DR-110 in a 'General MIDI Drum mode'-fashion. This means a standard note mapping, receiving on MIDI Channel 10:

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Retrokits RK-007 MIDI Commander

Published on Oct 31, 2019 Retrokits

"Showing the workings of the RK-007 MIDI Commander DIY Project. Not your average number; This one is a little device to hack into your MIDI Setup. We made it with minimal amount of ( - cheap & easy to find - ) parts and soldering and devised a smart use of the keypad for easy and versatile use. It could be a handy tool to keep in your MIDI setup - and perhaps even be a good starting point for other firmware you find even more useful: This one you can build in Q-Style!

Project files and code are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=10vM..."

SYNTHFEST 2019 - Retrokits RK006 Micro MIDI Router

Published on Oct 8, 2019 sonicstate

"More excellent Retrokits problem solving with the RK006 compact MIDI hub. its a MIDI interface with 10 MIDI ports using mini-jacks using breakout cables, so you can tailor to suit the stand your gear uses.

Working in client or host mode

With 2x MIDI inputs (merged)

and multiple outputs and plenty of filtering and clock output options.

All configured via the browser and Web MIDI.

Clever stuff - should be available soon (end of the year) priced at €129"

Retrokits RK002 + Korg Nanokontrol2 = Roland PG300

Published on May 16, 2019 Retrokits

"This firmware is part of our RK002/DUY Firmware range. You can exchange firmware in the RK002 cable to do complex MIDI processing tasks, like converting simple CC messages into 'checksum encoded MIDI System Exclusive Messages' - which the Roland Alpha Juno and MKS50 need to edit patch data.

PS: Excuses - the Nanokontrol2 video looks a bit rusty, but it's shot in low-light conditions to bring out the NK2's lighted indicators :-)

The PG300 DUY is a full patch editor for the Roland Alpha Juno and MKS 50, it is available at https://retrokits.com/rk002/exchange/ PDF overlay template file for the Nanokontrol2 is also available.

To exchange firmware on your RK002 you need a computer MIDI interface which supports MIDI Power and MIDI System Exclusive, While you're at it searching for one, check out our RK005 (Which is also a standalone USB host and Class Compliant MIDI interface doing all of the above AND is able to host the NanoKontrol2 without a computer present: https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk005/ )"

RK-002 gets the Digitakt Polyphony and Euclid generator

Published on Sep 22, 2018 Retrokits

"A little walkthrough on our new RK002/DUY which adds polyphony and an Euclid generator to the Elektron Digitakt.

This firmware is better suitable for people using the Digitakt in standalone mode instead of the 'legacy' /MOD firmware. (And that's not only because of the added Euclid generator).

The initial RK-002/MOD with polyMUX polyphony used in loopback on Digitakt is a kind of a 'hack'. This can still be regarded as such but we reduced the chance of MIDI loops in this dedicated version.

Also it is easier to change the number of channels used in polyMUX mode just by sending a MIDI Program Change number on the proper MIDI channel.

The firmware can be changed via our Exchange Portal:

Beware though that not all MIDI interfaces are suitable to upgrade the RK-002 firmware. You need an interface with MIDI Power and full MIDI System Exclusive support. Our RK-005 (also shown in this video USB Hosting both Keystep and Digitakt) is suitable for this."

Volca Chillout / Techno Jams by Slenterende Beer

Published on Sep 2, 2018 Slenterende Beer

"Live jam with 4 Volcas and a bunch of effects.

Korg Volca Sample
Korg Volca Bass + Zoom MS-50G
Korg Volca FM + Zoom MS-70CDR
Korg Volca Keys + Strymon BigSky
Arturia Beatstep Pro
Arturia Keystep
Retrokits RK-004 + RK-002
Behringer XENYX UFX1204

Video recorded with iPhone 7. Audio recorded with UFX1204 in "standalone" mode, recording directly to USB HDD."

RetroKits MIDI Solutions At Superbooth 2018

Published on May 13, 2018 Synthtopia

"At Superbooth 2018, RetroKits gave us a quick overview of their line of cable, hub & host MIDI solutions."

Superbooth 2018: Super Fast Show Tour

Published on May 8, 2018 sonicstate

"As is traditional, we like to give you a flavour of the size and layout of the show, this time Gaz takes you round the event - and it's not the 10 hour lost in Superbooth that Nick gave us!

Once again, thanks to our team: Nick, Gaz, Edd & Andy, and of course all the exhibitors and the excellent team of Herr Schneider, Adam, Tim, Patrick, Lasse and all the rest of the people who made it possible.

See you next year for sure."


And a quick play outdoors: :)

Superbooth 2018: Retrokits Bits Play Outdoors with OP-1 & Volca

Published on May 8, 2018 sonicstate

"Gaz is on a mission to reduce his audio computer use - these handy problem-solvers from Retrokits enable a totally portable setup using a mini controller keyboard, OP-1 and Volca."

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See the SUPERBOOTH18 label below for more coverage of this year's event.

RK-002 with Roland M182 Style Sequencer DUY firmware

Published on May 8, 2018 Retrokits

"With the new /DUY firmwares on the RK-002 you can program custom MIDI implementations to do all kinds of cool stuff, not just remap controllers for example...

In this demo we show a Roland System-100 type sequencer emulation (M182 module) which is controlled by a simple MIDI controller. The /DUY is tailored for the Korg NanoKontrol2.

This controller is a USB-MIDI only device and is hosted by our RK-005 (Our standalone USB Host/USB MIDI client interface which will be released soon)."

Superbooth 2018 Retrokits Super Nifty MIDI Utillities

Published on May 3, 2018 sonicstate

Update:

Superbooth 2018: U-He CVilization Eurorack Module | SYNTH ANATOMY

Published on May 3, 2018 SYNTH ANATOMY

"At Superbooth 2018, U-He presented their first Eurorack module CVilization."

New Order on the Volca Sample

Published on Mar 11, 2018 Retrokits

"This video uses Seq24 and RK-002 to play New Orders' Blue Monday on a Korg Volca Sample.

This ultimately weird looking RaspberryPi 3 is running Seq24 to send out MIDI via our serial port driver to the connected RK-004.

More info on the RPi serial MIDI driver can be found here:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk-004-rpi/

The RK-002 does real-time MIDI processing so you can use note velocity, chromatically play multiple channels on the Volca Sample and still keep a few sample channels available for drum triggering.

The RK-002 Play modes on the Volca Sample firmware (v58+) can be found here:
https://www.retrokits.com/rk-002/"

The RK-002 PolyMUX effect

Published on Jan 31, 2018 Retrokits

"PolyMUX is a MIDI chain (polychain) effect in the RK-002/MOD firmware.

You can use it inside multi-MIDI channel machines like the Digitakt ( [see this post] ), Electribe,... but also with... well anything MIDI.... who knows what will come out right?

The PolyMUX setting can be changed on your RK-002/MOD on this settings page:

https://www.retrokits.com/rk002/setti...

The base MIDI response channel on the RK-002 is where the PolyMUX effect will be applied, the extra PolyMUX channels indicate the extra channels to which the notes will be spread and MIDI data will be copied.

So Channel 1 + 3 PolyMUX = Receiving on channel 1 and sending out on 1,2,3,4.

The web settings page only allows up to 7 extra channels but actually you can fill up all MIDI channels. You're free to use hardcore sysex to address this anyhow or comment below if you have any objections to this restriction and want to see it increased on the webpage :-)

Note on applying settings to the RK-002 cable: Be sure to have a MIDI-Power interface which also has MIDI System Exclusive support."

RK-002 DUY Generates Euclidean Rhythms

Published on Jan 22, 2018 Retrokits

"Making /DUY apps for the RK-002 does not confine to just remapping some notes or MIDI controllers: In this example the RK-002 generates rhythm patterns all by itself. Hookup your favourite drum machine to it and press 'GO'!

The apps for the /DUY firmware are downloadable via our RK-002/DUY Exchange Portal."

Volca Ambient & Techno Jam (2018-01-19 Part I)

Published on Jan 20, 2018 Slenterende Beer

"Live jam using 4 Korg Volcas and some effects.

Korg Volca Sample + Retrokits RK-002
Korg Volca Bass + Zoom MS-50G
Korg Volca Keys + GFI System Specular Reverb V2
Korg Volca FM + Zoom MS-70CDR
Arturia Beatstep Pro
Arturia Keystep
Retrokits RK-004
Behringer XENYX QX1002USB

Recorded with iPhone 7 and Behringer UCA202.
Samples by Loopmasters."

JX-03 + RK-002 with /DUY Sketch to Transpose Sequences

Published on Jan 17, 2018 Retrokits

"Apart from the existing RK-002 firmwares for the Volca sample, FM, Kaossilator, Digitakt,... The 'DUY' is a new RK002 firmware which is able to run Arduino sketches.

We have shown some small examples on various channels, Euclidean generators, CC-to-Sysex converters,... and this is a more simple example of a MIDI hack: converting note-numbers to pitch-bend data. Turns out pretty nice on the JX-03!"

Digitakt + RK 002 settings tutorial

Published on Jan 11, 2018 Dave mech

"In this video I show you how to setup the Digitakt and RK-002 cable to be able to play the Digitakt as a polysynth. You can check out a thorough demonstration of this over here:" [posted here]

Volca jam for Jamuary 2018, day 6

Published on Jan 6, 2018 Slenterende Beer

"'Jamuary' is a yearly event where people upload short music jams every day throughout the month of January. This submission is for January 6th.

This jam I tried something new: play 3 Volcas at the same time! I control the Bass, FM and Keys with the Keystep. The Bass is tuned an octave higher than the Keys.

Also, in this jam I used the Specular Reverb's 'infinite' mode for the low background drone. This was played on the Volca Keys.

Korg Volca Bass
Korg Volca FM + Zoom MS-70CDR
Korg Volca Keys + GFI System Specular Reverb V2
Arturia Keystep
Retrokits RK-004
Behringer XENYX QX1002USB

Recorded with iPhone 7."