From Brian Willoughby Sent Tue, Apr 23rd 2019, 04:57
From Brian Willoughby Sent Tue, Apr 23rd 2019, 04:57
Thanks for describing this, Mike. Sounds like the slave needs to implement MIDI Omni Off / Mono mode, = a.k.a. multi-timbral mode. A quick look at the S612 Owner=E2=80=99s = Manual shows that it does support multi-timbral mode, which explains how = it is able to be the slave of an AX. Unfortunately, I see nothing in the AX60 Owner=E2=80=99s Manual about = support for multi-timbral mode. The closest it gets is split mode, where = two MIDI channels are supported. I may be missing something here, but it looks like a dual AX60 is not = going to be possible even with hand-soldering a mod. With support for = MIDI multi-timbral mode, the pairing of oscillators from one AX60 to the = other might be random, and their pitch would not relate. I suppose that = it might track for a while, but complex chording would probably = eventually allow to the two sets of 6 voices to become uncorrelated. Brian Willoughby On Apr 22, 2019, at 1:18 PM, Mike Perkowitz <xxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote: > Essentially what you're trying to do is add a second oscillator to the = ax60 using the akai inputs, right? The reason this works with the = samplers (at least, this is how it worked with the vx90/s950 combo I = used to have) is that when you put the master (the vx90 in my case) into = the "input" mode, it translates incoming midi into midi out on 6 = channels. You then set up the s950 to receive on those 6 channels, and = that ensures that the voices in the two devices are in sync -- i.e. that = the output that the s950 is using matches up to the voice that the vx90 = has allocated for that midi note. >=20 > what that means though is that all you really need for the external = oscillator is something that can accept midi notes on 6 channels and = reliably send the note from that channel to a specific output jack. so = you should be able to make this work with any multi-output multi-timbral = synth/sampler and a cable that plugs into 6 1/4" jacks and converts it = to akai 13-pin on the appropriate pins (which I assume is an analog = cable you could just make). now, if you really want it to be a 3394, = you'd have to find one that meets those requirements (is there one?) or = hack it up yourself, which I suppose is what you're trying. but I'm = skeptical that the 3394 oscillator sound is that vital, since after all = you'll still pass the sound through the master synth's VCF. do you have = anything multi-timbral you can experiment with? >=20 > disclaimer: I don't know for sure that the ax60/s612 interface works = in the same way. I assume it does, and that all the synths and samplers = are mutually compatible, aside from voice count. anyway, when I finally = got it working, I wrote out directions here: = http://blog.perkowitz.net/2013/08/26/connecting-the-akai-s950-and-vx-90/ >=20 > for me, it was fun getting the vx90/s950 combo working and it was cool = to play with. but once you think about it, it's still a pretty standard = voice architecture. I have plenty of other synths that let me run = samples through filters, or combine complex samples with simpler = waveforms (though, granted, not all analog and not 3394). from that = perspective, it was a lot of hardware and a certain amount of complexity = to end up with a fairly basic synth.=20 >=20 > mike >=20 > On Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 9:41 AM James Meagher = <x.xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> wrote: >> I=E2=80=99m looking for an EE/tech who will consult with me via email = in my attempt to connect a =E2=80=9Cslave=E2=80=9D Akai AX60 to a = =E2=80=9Cmaster=E2=80=9D AX60 in the same manner that you can run an = Akai Sampler (S612 or S700) into an AX60 to combine the sampler=E2=80=99s = voice with the AX60=E2=80=99s single osc pre-CEM3394 filtering. Of = course I=E2=80=99m happy to pay this person for their time.=20 >>=20 >> Of course previous knowledge of the AX60 and/or S612 would be a = bonus, but I don=E2=80=99t think it=E2=80=99s at all necessary for = someone who has the electronics understanding that I lack. I am able to = follow schematics (in a rudimentary, signal-path kinda way), find = components on a circuit board, and my soldering skills are decent. The = two AX60=E2=80=99s are recently refurbished (all key contacts and slider = pots disassembled and cleaned, all switches replaced and power supplies = outputting proper voltages), and are ready for coupling.=20 >>=20 >> I=E2=80=99ve gone over the AX60 schematics, the S612 schematics, and = the CEM3394 datasheet, and can see numerous places from which I access = the voices from the =E2=80=9Cslave=E2=80=9D AX60, and numerous points to = which I can introduce those voices into my =E2=80=9Cmaster=E2=80=9D = AX60, but I don=E2=80=99t have the EE understanding to make an informed = decision as to which option will make the most sense (or simply work). = I=E2=80=99ll save further details of my thoughts for my lucky = collaborator.=20 >>=20 >> Please let me know if you, or anyone you know, could be the right = person for the job. Feel free to share with any other group/list you = think might make sense - I=E2=80=99m no longer a member of sdiy or muffs = for precisely the same reason I need help with this project. ;) >>=20 >> Cheers, >> James >>=20