[sdiy] presets & patching > combining 2 replies

[harrybissell]

Morbius wrote:

>
> Hey Richard (and all)...
>
> I've just joined this forum this week. Funny thing...
> We've been having the same threads on the
> synthesizerscomgroup for the last 2-3 weeks.

Funny ???  John Mahoney stirred up this sh!t after being on your list
iirc :^P
(and welcome btw... :^)

> A preset
> module(s)... primarily for live gigs, and more
> recently, some discussion of various patching methods.
> It would seem that you and I have very similar
> viewpoints on both topics.
>
> The subject was brought up by a guy who was thinking
> of buying an ARP-2600... and the thread kinda morphed
> over to the ARP-2500, and the matrix patching. I used
> to have a 2500... and yeah, dirt contamination could
> be a problem... as it was for all sorts of audio gear
> back then. But the concept of the matrix, to me, is
> very interesting, and a step up from patchcords...
> although you can use patchcords.

You might use thumbwheel switches.  I am using them for selections in a
matrix
mixer... and I think that Jorgen Bergfors does something similar with
modulation
routings in his "Bergfortron"

I use decimal switches (one common and 10 outputs) but you might use a
binary
encoded hexadecimal switch with analog switches as well

Problem is to be able to SEE the matrix routings...

One solution I thought of would be LED bargraph displays that show
(graphically) the
state of the matrix.  These could run top and bottom just like the
ARP2500.

Now how do you access them ?  I think you would want to have some way of
reading the
positions of each matrix line into a digital memory.  Maybe you might
have a pushbutton
on the module (or above the module) that allows you to step through the
X-axis

(lets just say for example... there are eight possible I/O top and
bottom.  Pressing an
address pushbutton would sequence through 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-1-2....   Or
two buttons that
let you go back and forth 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2 etc.)

There are two data buttons that let you increment the Y position after
having set an address.
(I'm thinking that only ONE address can be live at one time).

The Bargraph LEDS would always be lit. Several X positions can be mapped
to the same Y position
just like the ARP2500.

Another idea would be to use an 8 x 8 matrix of touch switches... like
the system used on the Axcel
resynthesizer.  If anyone has seen a close up view of that... the
interface is a double sided (PTH)
printed circuit board, with touch contacts made of the foil itself.  If
you are worried about corrosion
they could be gold plated  (sh!t this is not cheap anyway).  I would
make these latched... again only
one Y value is allowed for each X value (hey its a FUNCTION dig ???).

These 8 x 8 matrices could be bussed so that all data could be
sequentially read into and out of a master
memory. Once the transfer was made... the current status would be all
lit up...and touching another
Y value would make that point change (like radio buttons)

I'm sure I could do this easily in plain old hardware... but the more
skilled among us could program
a little PIC micro to do each 8 x 8 bank... these could be chained into
a system of any size. Probably
the communication from each module to the master could be serial...and
the PICs could handle waiting
until all the data had been tranferred, before latching all the new
routings all at once.

>
> Anyway... between the "preset module", and the
> patching thread, I thought you (and others) might be
> interested in comparing notes from the synth-dot-com
> group. All are welcome... and no flaming is permitted
> : ) .... here's where:

woah WHAT ??? no FLAMING ?
now thats not real sporting is it ???   :^P

H^) harry

>
>
> http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/synthesizerscomgroup/
>
> ~Morbius~
> (synthesizerscomgroup moderator)
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
> --- TIm Daugard <daugard at sprintmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Jumping into the fray late . . .
> >
> > > > What do the performers want?  What do the
> > performers need?  What are
> > > the
> > > > limitations of the existing synth systems that
> > we need to contend
> > > with?
> > >
> > > As you can see, there's little consensus on that.
> >
> > I use a 4 by 4 matrix. 4 basic sounds with four
> > processing paths. This gives me
> > 16 sounds through by modular. I play bass so I can
> > get another 4(+) sounds from
> > the bass. This gives me more than enough sounds for
> > an hour or more of music.
> > During breaks you can always change patches.
>
> [#2]
>
> Hey Tim... and all...
>
> So far, for a preset system for my modular dotcom, I
> use a simple 5x5 matrix switcher (simple 1/4" jacks &
> toggle switches) as a router. I also have/use two
> Q-143 "Presets" modules combined with several Q-128
> "Switches". It makes a pretty effective 'on-the-fly'
> patching/routing system that I like a whole lot. The
> Q-143 "Presets" module not only has two A/OFF/B preset
> variable (+/-) voltage sources, but also two A/B
> switches that are all tied together in that module.
> This combo of the Q-143 & Q-128 can be quite
> effective.
>
> In live performance using a modular, I like to be able
> to (as a very basic function) be able to switch
> between waveforms. Here is one preset I use often:
>
> The first switch setting (A) gives me 2 sawtooths
> (slightly detuned), a sawtooth tuned to a fifth, and a
> sine one octave below. LP filter settings (with EG)
> set for very percussive response. This patch gives a
> real 'ballsey Moog' sound.
>
> Changing the "presets" module switch to the center
> (off) position shuts off all of the above, and give me
> 2 sine waves, one of which is tuned 2 octaves below
> the other; no filter; and a variable delayed vibrato.
>
> Changing the "presets" to the (B) setting shuts off
> the above, and gives me 2 square waves, slightly
> detuned, with two different portamento rates, and a LP
> filter setting that is 100% open, with about 30-40%
> regeneration.
>
> Ok... three, very basic sounds... but osc.s, filters,
> and various other parameters are being switched. And
> that is all done with one Q143 and two Q128's.
>
> Add to that, the routing of the matrix switcher, I end
> up with a very handy preset modular for use in live
> gigs. At the flip of a switch, I can easily do things
> like:
> apply S/H to osc.s
> apply S/H to filters
> apply Q-119 sequencer(s) to osc.s and/or filters)
> apply external MIDI sequencer(s) to osc.s and/or
> filters)
> apply LFO modulation to osc.s/filters
> apply EG (+/-) voltage to osc.s/filters.
>
> Now... that's a good deal of stuff you can do without
> changing one single patchcord during a performance.
>
> On the downside:
> It takes a while to set up, and you have to know what
> you're doing... and memorize it; ummm... there is no
> memory, other than what you have in however many
> braincells you have left.
>
> So... I'm always looking for ways to improve on that
> set-up.
>
> ~Morbius~
>
>
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