Studio Electronics Midimini V30 Monophonic Analog Synthesizer
Many can recall dialing up Studio Electronics Midimini patches that fit a song so perfectly that they inspired even greater creativity. Was there another sensible, MIDI-driven rackmount choice for immaculate synth bass and lead lines? Now, Midimini V30 steps up to the plate and nothing has been lost in the translation of this analog essential. A raft of brand-new hardware features, extensive software sweetening and modular connections open the window even wider to an already stunning analog view.
- Through-hole build
- Classic 4-pole 24dB/octave low pass ladder filter with voltage-controlled cutoff
- 14 1/8" outs-to-outs compatible patch points including CV and gate
- Color section with oscillator sync, ring modulator and noise
- Oscillator 2 sync: modulate (sweep) both OSC1 and OSC2 via ENV1>OSC2
- Amp Drive: saturation and overdrive derived from Boomstar Modular AMP module
- Output feedback loop and gain control interacts expressively with Amp Drive
- MIDI-syncable, audio frequency modulation-capable multi-waveform LFO, routable to VCO and VCF
- LFO CV output with level control for deep modulation or oscillation creation
- LFO Gate: LFO gate trigger of ENV1 and ENV2, derived from SE-02
- OSC 1 triangle wave routable to amplifier for high resonance low frequency compensation
- Envelope 2 master mode: ENV2 (VCA) assumes control of filter envelope
- Independent release controls for filter and amplifier
- Flexible linear and exponential glide
- Front panel-mounted external audio input with level control
- Drone function for eternal sustain and easy tuning
- Selectable low/last/high note priority, ENV1 invert, VCF/VCA dynamics and VCF (ENV1) multi-trigger
- MIDI learn function for MIDI, aftertouch and mod wheel
CON section
- GLIDE: portamento (pitch slide between notes) attenuator
- LIN/EPX: linear/exponential glide switch
- P. BEND: MIDI pitch bend attenuator
- VCF DYN: voltage-controlled filter dynamics attenuator
- MODMIX/LFO: LFO/OSC 3/noise modulation mix attenuator
- NOISE/OSC3: noise and OSC3 MODMIX interaction switch
- CV OUT: 1/8" pitch control voltage output patch point
LFO section
- VCO: voltage-controlled Oscillator 1-3 modulation attenuator
- VCF: voltage-controlled filter cutoff frequency attenuator
- WAVEFORM: LFO waveform shape switch
- RATE: modulation speed attenuator
- SYNC: LFO MIDI sync switch
- LFO OUT: 1/8" LFO control voltage output patch point with attenuator
OSCILLATORS section
- RANGE (1): oscillator 1 octave switch
- MASTER TUNE: master tuning attenuator
- WAVEFORM (1): oscillator 1 waveform selection switch
- RANGE (2): oscillator 2 octave switch
- OSC2 FINE: oscillator 2 fine tune attenuator
- WAVEFORM (2): oscillator 2 waveform selection switch
- RANGE (3): oscillator 3 octave switch
- OSC3 FINE: oscillator 3 fine tune attenuator
- WAVEFORM (3): oscillator 3 waveform selection switch
- TRANSPOSE LO/MED/HI: master octave selection switch
- OSC3 CONT KEY/PNL: oscillator 3 keyboard/panel control switch
- OSC MOD: MODMIX modulation amplifier switch, MIDI mod wheel-controlled
- OSC2 SYNC: oscillator 2 to oscillator 1 hard sync switch
- MAIN CV IN: 1/8" master pitch control voltage input patch point
- OSC1 CV: 1/8" oscillator 1 pitch control voltage input patch point (additive)
- OSC2 CV: 1/8" oscillator 2 pitch control voltage input patch point (additive)
- OSC3 CV: 1/8" oscillator 3 pitch control voltage input patch point (additive)
COLOR section
- ENV1 > OSC2: envelope 1 to oscillator 2 sync attenuator (labeled SWEEP on original Midimini)
- OSC3 > OSC2: cross-modulation of oscillator 2 by oscillator 3 attenuator
- RING MOD: ring modulation attenuator
- NOISE: noise generator attenuator
- WHT/PNK: white/pink noise selection switch
- NOISE: 1/8" noise output patch point
- OSC1: 1/8" oscillator 1 pitch control voltage output patch point
MIXER section
- OSC1: oscillator 1 volume attenuator
- ON: oscillator 1 mixer input on/off switch
- OSC2: oscillator 2 volume attenuator
- ON: oscillator 2 mixer input on/off switch
- OSC3: oscillator 3 volume attenuator
- ON: oscillator 3 mixer input on/off switch
- AMP DRIVE: amplifier saturation & overdrive circuit
- ON: Amp Drive on/off switch
- ^1 NO VCF: triangle to VCA switch, bypasses VCF
- FBK GAIN: feedback level control (shares EXT IN pot)
- EXT IN: external audio input with attenuator
FILTER/MODIFIERS section
- MOD: on/off switch for routing modulation from the MODMIX amplifier to filter cutoff
- CUTOFF: filter cutoff frequency attenuator
- EMPHASIS: resonance or Q attenuator
- CONTOUR: envelope 1 modulation to filter cutoff attenuator
- 1/3: 1/3 total amount of filter key tracking switch
- 2/3: 2/3 total amount of filter key tracking switch
- ATTACK: VCF envelope attack stage control
- DECAY: VCF envelope decay stage control
- SUSTAIN: VCF envelope sustain stage control
- LEARN: under-the-hood hub for MIDI channel, aftertouch and mod wheel
- GATE: gate signal indicator LED
- ATTACK: VCA envelope attack stage control
- DECAY: VCA envelope decay stage control
- SUSTAIN: VCA envelope sustain stage control
- PRIORITY LO/LAST/HI: note trigger priority switch
- ENV1 INV: VCF envelope invert switch
- MULT TRIG: VCF envelope multi-trigger switch
- LFO GATE: VCF/VCA LFO gate switch
- ENV2 MSTR: VCA envelope override of VCF envelope switch
- VCF CV: 1/8" VCF cutoff frequency control voltage input patch point
- ENV2 OUT: 1/8" envelope 2 control voltage output patch point with attenuator
- GATE IN: 1/8" gate input patch point
- GATE OUT: 1/8" 8.2V gate output patch point
OUT section
- VOLUME: main audio output level attenuation
- FEEDBACK: synth output to external input feedback loop level control
- REL1: VCF key/external gate release switch
- DRONE: indefinite VCA sustain switch
- REL2: VCA key/external gate release switch
- VCA DYN: amplifier envelope dynamics switch
- POWER: lighted main power on/off switch
- VCA CV: 1/8" VCA level control voltage input patch point
Back panel
- AC INPUT: 500 mA 100 Volts to 240 Volts AC, 50/60 Hz input
- VOLTAGE: 115/220 voltage switch
- MIDI THRU: 5-pin DIN MIDI thru output
- MIDI IN: 5-pin DIN MIDI input
- AUDIO: 1/4" TS mono main audio output
Root level geekery
- Metal shafted pots throughout: where Studio Electronics needed mil-spec audio tapers, because PC Mount tapers underperform in critical areas, they hand-wired in PEC Cantina pots (a commercial mil-spec variant) for the attacks and decays – resonance, too. The balance of the pots (PC Mount linear taper) are made by Alpha, a very good quality offering with heavy grease. Strangely, the higher-quality hand-wired pots use a lighter grease, making them feel 'scrapey' by comparison, but they are almost 10× as expensive, pushing up the V30 build cost a bit.
- Sturdy and reliable Mountain Switch toggle switches
SKU | SEL-MIDIMINIV30 |
Vendor | Studio Electronics |
Aftertouch | Yes |
Analog Digital | Analog |
Included From Manufacturer | Power cord |
Midi | In and Thru |
Mono Poly | Monophonic |
MPN | MIDIMINIV30 |
Arpeggiator | No |
Control Connections | (14) 1/8" CV/gate/audio patch points on front panel |
Audio Inputs | 1/8" mono external audio input on front panel |
Audio Outputs | 1/4" mono main output |
Oscillators per Voice | 3 |
Product Weight | 9 lb |
Voices of Polyphony | Monophonic |
Width | 19" |
Depth | 6.125" |
Height | 7.5" 4U rack height |
Studio Electronics / Analogia Inc. ('Analogia Inc.') warrants only to the original purchaser of this product from a Analogia Inc.-authorized reseller or distributor that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for one year after date of purchase. More information is available on the Studio Electronics website.
YOUR MUSIC TECHNOLOGY STORE SINCE 1984