FH-2 ‘factotum’

Description

The FH-2 is an 8HP Eurorack module combining the following functions:

• MIDI to CV conversion including polyphonic and MPE operation.
  • The FH-2 is simultaneously a USB MIDI host, a USB MIDI device, and also supports traditional 5-pin DIN MIDI.
  • Support for drum triggers including triggers with velocity or accents.
  • Support for automatic VCO calibration (similar to that in Silent Way).
• Clock generation and synchronisation.
  • MIDI clock (in and out), analogue clock (in and out), or internal clock (BPM or tap tempo).
• LFO generation, including tempo-synced LFOs.
• Arpeggiators.
• Euclidean pattern generators.

The FH-2 has 8 high precision CV outputs, expandable to 64 with the FHX-1 Output Expander. Up to 64 extra gate/trigger/clock outputs can also be added with the FHX-8GT Gate Expander.

The module can be completely configured via its own UI, but a convenient web-based configuration tool is also available here, which communicates with the module directly via MIDI SysEx.

Typical usages

With a MIDI keyboard

Up to 16 note polyphonic conversion, with optional pitch/gate/velocity etc. CVs per note. Also features arpeggiation, keyboard splits and more.

 

With an MPE controller

Up to 16 simultaneous touches converted with full position/pressure/glide etc. per touch.

 

With a MIDI controller

Up to 64 outputs. Direct control of CVs from faders, flexible and syncable LFOs, triggers from pads etc.

 

With a ‘groovebox’

Multiple clock outs at different divisions, run/stop triggers etc. Groovebox, FH-2, or another module can be the clock master.

 

With a computer/tablet/phone

All of the above, plus SysEx for configuration of the FH-2.

 

As a clock generator

The FH-2 can operate as the clocking centre of your modular, also generating (syncable) LFOs, with no USB connection.

 

Reviews

 

Video review by Color My Sound:	(Polish version here)
The FH-2 was reviewed by c’t magazine (musik kreativ special 2018). “Nahezu konkurrenzlos … Die Möglichkeiten sind immens” (“Almost unrivaled at present … The possibilities are immense” via Google Translate)

Demos

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

The FH-2’s specifications are as follows:

• Panel width: 8HP
• Module depth: 48mm
• Current draw: 118mA on the +12V rail, 48mA on the -12V rail

plus the power requirement of any attached USB device. See the manual for information on calculating the current draw on the +12V rail from the USB device.

• Outputs: 8
  • Digital-to-analogue conversion: 14 bit
  • Voltage range: software selectable between ±5V, 0-10V
• Inputs: 2 CV inputs
• USB host:
  • Type A connector
  • Class Compliant USB MIDI host.
  • Class Compliant USB HID host (for mice, gamepads etc.).
  • Supports USB hubs.
• USB device:
  • Type C connector
  • Class Compliant USB MIDI device (plug’n’play with macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS).
• Expansion:
  • Header for connecting FHX-8CV or FHX-8GT expanders.
  • Header for 5-pin DIN MIDI via a compatible breakout.
  • An FH-1 may also be used as an expander, over USB.
• Controls: 1 rotary encoder (with push button), 1 push button
• 0.91″ OLED display

For more detail, please see the user manual.