From Tristan Sent Wed, Nov 7th 2018, 23:46
Unfortunately that is one of those "How long is a piece of string?" questions. You could spend days crafting 12 individual component patches to fit together as a complex jigsaw or you could build a layered multi in minutes by flipping through the single patches and then tweaking a few to fit together. Conceptually it is the same as working on any synth which allows you to build multi or performance patches from a number of single patches. I have found the Xpander great for building sounds on the go in a production environment. /Tristan On Thu, Nov 8th, 2018 at 9:39 AM, Alex Timchak <xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> wrote: > Not that I’ll be able to afford a matrix 12 anytime soon - but how time > consuming is it to make one of those complex patches? I’ve read the > learning curve is steep... > > On Wed, Nov 7, 2018 at 4:18 PM Tristan <xx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx> wrote: > > > What really sets the Xpander/Matrix-12 apart is that you are effectively > > getting 6/12 mono synths which > > you can combine together in all sorts of different polyphonic grouping and > > layers to build complex sounds. > > It is so much more than what can be be done in a single patch. > > > > /Tristan > > > > On Thu, Nov 8th, 2018 at 5:16 AM, M V <xx_xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx> wrote: > > > > > Thanks for posting the Xpansions link. I have seen a few of those tips > > posted > > > elsewhere--is there somewhere where one could find all the issues? > > > > > > Reading through the programming section, it confirms what I have long > > > suspected, which is that a lot of the draw of the excessive modulation > > is for > > > player/performer tricks. And I see a lot of parallels with how the Moog > > One > > > is being presented. That's not to say that the One isn't vastly superior > > in > > > terms of modulation speed and routing abilities, but the general "look > at > > > this cool way to fade between two stereo clavinet patches" idea seems to > > be > > > the same. > > > > > > Reading through the Xpansions patch list reviews sort of follows > > > that--there's a lot of emphasis on "real" sounds, and little on > > wild/creative > > > synthesis. I guess it was the norm of the time (early '90s), but I am > > always > > > perplexed by the draw toward "realistic" sounds on what should be > > synthesis > > > monsters. The Xpander/M-12 presets have to be some of the worst ever, > > but I > > > can't say I've ever come across any patch sets that are vastly > > superior/more > > > interesting. > > > ________________________________ > > > From: codemechanic <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> > > > Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 7:35 PM > > > To: Brian Willoughby > > > Cc: AH send > > > Subject: Re: [AH] Anyone have Oberheim Matrix-12 ROM files? > > > > > > Hi Brian, > > > > > > I own an Xpander which I believe has v1.2 Main board ROMs and v1.4 > > > Voice board ROMs, but unfortunately I can't confirm that as I'm out of > > > the country at the moment. > > > > > > In searching around it seems like there's more information out there > > > on the Xpander than there is on the Matrix 12. I couldn't track down > > > Matrix 12 main board ROMs anywhere. The only way I can come close to > > > confirming the latest revision numbers for the Matrix 12 ROMs was via > > > a page on sequencer.de: > > > https://www.sequencer.de/blog/oberheim-xpander-oberheim-matrix-12/2547 > > > > > > "Softwareversionen/most recent software version: > > > Processor: 1.2 (Matrix12: 1.1) > > > Voice version: 1.4 (Matrix12: 1.6)" > > > > > > From the information found there it sounds like the latest revs are > > > 1.2/1.4 for the Xpander, and 1.1/1.6 for the Matrix 12. Further > > > information on the Xpander revisions comes via the software update > > > operational instructions released 4/5/85 > > > (http://www.synthzone.com/midi/oberheim/obxp/xpandros.zip): > > > > > > "If the main processor version reads 1.2, the Xpander already contains > > > the most recent main processor version. The voice processor version > > > will be displayed as 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, or 1.4. Again, if the version > > > displayed is below 1.4, the software should be updated." > > > > > > I was also able to find documentation regarding the Midi > > > specification, software updates etc. for the Xpander that I can send > > > your way if you're interested. There sure is some interesting > > > information found in the Xpansions newsletter archives: > > > http://www.synthzone.com/midi/oberheim/obxp/xpansion.zip > > > > > > -Ben > > > On Wed, Nov 7, 2018 at 4:13 AM Brian Willoughby <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Here are some more details: > > > > > > > > The Matrix-12 Processor Board has five 8KB ROMs > > > > The Xpander Processor Board has four 8KB ROMs > > > > Voice Boards have two 8KB ROMs, and appear to be universal for Xpander > > & > > > Matrix-12 (not confirmed). > > > > > > > > I have an incomplete set of Matrix-12 Processor Board v1.2 ROMs, (0, > > 1, 4), > > > and I need the two missing ROMs (2, 3). > > > > I am still looking for a complete set of M12 PB v1.1 ROMs, but I might > > just > > > buy a ROM reader and pull the chips from my Matrix-12. > > > > > > > > My Matrix-12 has v1.6 on the Voice Boards. > > > > > > > > > > > > Meanwhile, I recall a resource that listed the latest ROM versions for > > both > > > Xpander and Matrix-12, for both Main and Voice firmware. Can anyone > > point me > > > to that? I have a friend who is interested in upgrading his Xpander to > > the > > > latest, if we can find out what the latest is. I’ll probably update my > > > Matrix-12, too, since Main PB v1.1 seems to be old. > > > > > > > > I have a complete set of Xpander Processor Board v1.2 ROMs > > > > I have a complete set of Voice Board v1.4 ROMs > > > > I have a complete set of Voice Board v1.6 ROMs > > > > > > > > Brian Willoughby > > > > > > > > > > > > On Nov 4, 2018, at 5:56 PM, Brian Willoughby <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx> > > > wrote: > > > > > I have several copies of the Xpander ROM files, and at least one of > > them > > > is valid. > > > > > > > > > > I’m looking for Matrix-12 ROM files. At the very least, I would > like > > the > > > Processor Board ROM data. It would be nice to have the Voice Board ROM > > data > > > as well. > > > > > > > > > > I’m working on a patch librarian for macOS, and need the ROM data > to > > scan > > > for undocumented MIDI System Exclusive details. > > > > > > > > Brian Willoughby > > > > Sound Consulting > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > benjamin allen > > > xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx > > > 415.624.9111 > > > http://www.codemechanic.com > > > > > > > > > > > >