New Kenton USB Solo mk2

Kenton announces USB Solo mk2 – a bridge between modern DAWs and vintage analog synthesizers.

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

The Kenton USB Solo mk2 is a multi-functional MIDI-to-CV converter and USB MIDI interface designed to bring legendary analog monosynths into the modern production era, offering 16-bit precision, ultra-fast response times, and unparalleled flexibility for studio and live performance environments.

Modern musicians are increasingly integrating vintage hardware with DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), so the need for stable, high-resolution control has never been greater than it is today. The USB Solo mk2 from Kenton addresses this by acting as both a MIDI-to-CV converter and a dedicated USB MIDI interface, with MIDI over USB and 5-pin DIN. Indeed, it converts MIDI data from USB or 5-pin DIN into CV/Gate signals in ‘Standard Mode’, and also allows for simultaneous data transmission between a computer and other MIDI hardware, while still converting MIDI to CV, in ‘Interface Mode’.

Being built to support almost any monophonic analogue synthesizer ever made, USB Solo mk2 features adjustable scaling from 0.92V/Oct to 1.62V/Oct — above and beyond standard 1V/Oct and Hz/Volt systems, ensuring perfect tuning for rare instruments such as those from Buchla or EML. USB Solo mk2’s primary CV output is driven by a high-specification DAC, providing rock-solid pitch tracking and eliminating the ‘stepping’ often found in lower-quality converters.

USB Solo mk2 serves as a powerful modulation source. It features:
∙ Three AUX (auxiliary) outputs that are now continuously variable on 3.5mm jacks — can be mapped to MIDI CCs, pitchbend, velocity, or aftertouch to control filter cutoff, VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) volume, clock signals, and more.
∙ Built-in LFO and ADSR: an internal, MIDI-syncable LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) and ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release) generator can be routed to CV or auxiliary outputs, adding new layers of movement to synths that may lack those features natively.
∙ Sync24 support: the MIDI THRU port can be reconfigured to output Sync24 (DIN Sync), allowing users to perfectly synchronize vintage Roland drum machines and sequencers with their DAW clock.