Syncing Reverb Pedal CV/MIDI with AF/Digitone/Digitakt

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
#1

Hi there,

I am about to buy a reverb pedal for using in sync with my AF MK II / Digitone / Digitakt.

The Empress Effects Reverb’s sound seems most convincing to me. However, unlike Strymon Big/Night Sky or Hologram Microcosm, it doesn’t come with a dedicated MIDI In or Out port. But I gather it has a control port, which should work for CV or Midi signals. As I have no experience with CV or this kind of output, will it be complicated to sync it with the aforementioned synths?

I am thinking about connecting it to my AF via one of the CV Outputs to send clock signals. Do I need specific cables for that or will regular audio cables that I use for audio in/out with the Elektron Boxes work? I think they are called TRS in English.

It seems that I will need another MIDI adapter for the Control Port if I want to sync it with the Digitone or Digitakt, which do not come with CV Outputs. I use them in a chain with the AF for making use of its song mode, but having the opportunity to use the pedal with only the Digitakt or Digitone would be nice. Are there cheap adapters around or do I need the Empress product / a midi box with CV out?

Also: Is there a risk of latency or noise, when adding all of these cables and adapters? I am also thinking of using the pedal with a mic and running all signals through an audio interface or Overbridge. So it could get more busy than I am used to, so help is appreciated.

I am trying to find out, how much additional costs and cables/adapters are necessary, to see if I should go for another pedal, which already has standard midi ports built in.

Thanks in advance!

#2

From the manual:

To use MIDI with your Empress Reverb, you’ll have to:

  1. Connect the Empress Midibox (not included with the Reverb) using a 1⁄4” patch cable to the control port. A TRS cable is required to send MIDI out messages if you’re using the reverb to control other pedals.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/1098562437/original/Reverb%206.02.pdf?response-content-type=application%2Fpdf&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAS6FNSMY2XLZULJPI%2F20210830%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210830T085555Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=24bd760f59169dd236f0942d4a26556516a9e769da143a3052beb4a089ed7fa2

So a normal 1/4 TS or a TRS should do it, but I think you’ll need their midi box or a special cable for this. (For midi)

Being honest though, do you NEED to sync it? I get it for delay on drums to be in time, but never really felt the need on Reverbs?

#3

There was this post that may help regarding midi box or not:

Edit: I think empress are Midi TRS Type - A

#4

Thanks! So did I get it right:

  1. Syncing it to the AF CV output via TRS cable should work fine.
  2. Syncing it to the DN/DT Midi Output with an additional, cheap MIDI to TRS adapter should work just fine, no need for the official Empress Midibox

I don’t know if I will necessarily need it yet, but I thought it would be helpful to sync it for effects that get more wild.