Lag/Tracking Generator tips?

#629

Hi all,
I've been wrangling with my Xpander for some months now, and still
only feel vaguely comfortable when trying to implement the lag and
tracking generators (i.e. I actually know what they are doing!)

Starting with the Lag G, my biggest source of confusion is that lag
can be added on page 2 (to the oscs or filter for example), it can be
added as a mod source, and then it has its own input on the Lag G
page...

I can't figure out how the input affects the lag when it is then used
as a mod source elsewhere.  E.g. if you make LFO1 the INPUT, what
should I expect the result to be on the lag when assigned elsewhere?

And does the lag INPUT affect the oscs/filter page 2 lag parameter?

As for the tracking generator, I guess the same question applies-how
does what is placed as INPUT affect the TG when it is used as a mod
elsewhere?

The function of these has been the hardest aspect of this synth to
grasp and it is when you start using TG 1 as an INPUT to TG 1 (for
example), that I really have no idea what's going on!

Can anyone give me some basic pointers?

Re: 2-pin US plug to 3 pin kettle plug - synth power cable needed

#628

Hi,

It occurred to me to buy a 3-pin stepdown convertor, rather than a 2-pin one!

Problem solved.

Best,

Jeremy.

2-pin US plug to 3 pin kettle plug - synth power cable needed

#627

HI folks,

My Xpander has a 3-pin socket at the back, and my 230->110v stepdown convertor has a 2-pin US power socket output. My Xpander functions better at 110v. I need another power cable of this type for another synth I have (also 110v).

Does anyone know a place to purchase this? I can't find any 3-2 cables on eBay. I will gladly buy from a more expensive synth supplies company, as long as the cable works.

Merry Xmas all,

Jeremy.

Re: Matrix-12 PSU (and replacement display update)

#626

--- In xpantastic@..., "Karl" <shire03@...> wrote:

Hello Steve,

I have a M12 service manual. And yes, the schematic is slightly
different from the xpander. I have taken a high res photo of it and
will send it over to you. The service manual does not have a parts
placement sheet. So as soon as I get my M12 open. I will send oneof
the PSU. 

Best Regards
KarlMany thanks, Karl (and Tony too) - that's exactly what I needed. I
know where the extra diode needs to go now!

If anyone else was wondering, it turns out that the M-12 PSU is
pretty much a beefed-up version of the Xpander design with separate
+12V and -12V regulators for each voice board. The -5V rail also gets
its own winding on the transformer rather than being derived from the
unregulated -12V.

Best regards,

Steve

Steve Lenham
Benden Sound Technology
www.bendentech.co.uk/sound

Re: Matrix-12 PSU (and replacement display update)

#625

Hello Steve,

I have a M12 service manual. And yes, the schematic is slightly
different from the xpander. I have taken a high res photo of it and
will send it over to you. The service manual does not have a parts
placement sheet. So as soon as I get my M12 open. I will send one of
the PSU.

Best Regards
Karl



--- In xpantastic@..., "stevelenham" <yahoo@...> wrote:

Hi,

I'm just about to ship the OB-VFD display upgrade beta units out tothe
testers, but I need to identify the right place for the bias
modification diode on the Matrix-12 power supply board (Xpander isno
problem, but the M-12 supply is slightly different).

To that end, does anyone please have a copy of the M-12 PSUschematic
that they could let me have? If not, a good hi-res photo of the PSU
board may have to suffice...

Many thanks - best regards,

Steve



Steve Lenham
Benden Sound Technology
www.bendentech.co.uk/sound

Re: Matrix-12 PSU (and replacement display update)

#624

Matrix-12 PSU (and replacement display update)

#623

Hi,

I'm just about to ship the OB-VFD display upgrade beta units out to the
testers, but I need to identify the right place for the bias
modification diode on the Matrix-12 power supply board (Xpander is no
problem, but the M-12 supply is slightly different).

To that end, does anyone please have a copy of the M-12 PSU schematic
that they could let me have? If not, a good hi-res photo of the PSU
board may have to suffice...

Many thanks - best regards,

Steve

Steve Lenham
Benden Sound Technology
www.bendentech.co.uk/sound

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#622

Karl wrote:
I have an old Keyboard magazine interview from that time. Jan used a Fairlight and a Memory Moog for much of the shows soundtracks. I do not remember an Xpander being mentioned. I tend to think this was a newer addition.

Karl

  Ah, okay, thanks. It would be good if Keyboard was made available online. There's a lot of information like this not available on the Web.

Jeremy.

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#621

I have an old Keyboard magazine interview from that time. Jan used a
Fairlight and a Memory Moog for much of the shows soundtracks. I do
not remember an Xpander being mentioned. I tend to think this was a
newer addition.

Karl



--- In xpantastic@..., Jeremy Smith <jeremy@...> wrote:

matrix wrote:
Funny.  I was looking at the wrong spot.  I does look like anXpander.

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM, matrix <matrixsynth@...
<mailto:matrixsynth@...>> wrote:

    Two Waldorfs?
I've been watching Miami Vice recently, for which he scored many
episodes, and I was just curious how much he uses the Xpander onit. My
guess is, if it's that prominent in his studio, he probably used ita lot.

Thanks for the 2nd opinion!

Jeremy.

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#620

matrix wrote:
Funny.  I was looking at the wrong spot.  I does look like an Xpander.

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM, matrix <matrixsynth@... <mailto:matrixsynth@...>> wrote:

    Two Waldorfs?
I've been watching Miami Vice recently, for which he scored many episodes, and I was just curious how much he uses the Xpander on it. My guess is, if it's that prominent in his studio, he probably used it a lot.

Thanks for the 2nd opinion!

Jeremy.

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#619

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

John Pallister

#618

Yeah, looks like an Xpander to me.

John :^P

jeremyalansmith wrote:

Show quoted text

Hi all,

In this photo:

<>

I think it's an Xpander to the right of the green-screen monitor,
centre-left. Red button, above white text, no keyboard, and (just
visible), wooden sides.

Does anyone else recognise it?

Jeremy.

-- 
John Pallister
john@...

Re: Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#617

Is this an Xpander in Jan Hammer's studio?

#616

Hi all,

In this photo:

I think it's an Xpander to the right of the green-screen monitor,
centre-left. Red button, above white text, no keyboard, and (just
visible), wooden sides.

Does anyone else recognise it?

Jeremy.

Replacement display board - update, 17th November

#615

Hi,

Many thanks for all the encouraging messages and offers of assistance 
regarding the OB-VFD display upgrade - I appreciate them.

I've just sent out invitations to some of those who volunteered and
hope to ship beta units in around two week's time. If you weren't
picked, please consider yourself on standby and in no way rejected - I
may need you yet!

I will post updates as progress is made. Please still get in touch if
you would be interested in a production upgrade once they are available.

Finally, keep your fingers crossed that the exchange rates settle down -
 Itron told me today that the cost of the three VFDs has just gone up
by nearly ?20 :-(

Best regards,

Steve

Steve Lenham
Benden Sound Technology
www.bendentech.co.uk/sound

Re: Replacement display board - request for beta-testers

#614

Hi Steve,

?

That's wonderful, congratulations!? I was considering doing the same thing with those very same dot matrix displays, using an FPGA to decode the row/col's and create the serial stream.

?

I'm an EE with microcontroller/FPGA experience and I have a matrix 12 .? I'd be very happy to help you beta test your hardware and assist in any?measurements/troubleshooting if needed.? My display board looks just like the one in the pictures on your website.

?

Randall

?

Show quoted text

--- On Thu, 11/13/08, stevelenham wrote:

From: stevelenham
Subject: [xpantastic] Replacement display board - request for beta-testers
To: xpantastic@...
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 5:28 AM

Hi,

I'm new here, so perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is Steve
Lenham and I run a small design consultancy in south-eastern England,
an increasing part of which involves working on classic synths and
related equipment.

I recently restored an Xpander and, amongst other things, its owner
asked me if anything could be done about the failing vacuum-
fluorescent displays. As a result, I designed and produced a
replacement display board fitted with three Itron DN4015 displays and
wonder whether it might be of interest to others here.

Full details can be found on my website:

www.bendentech. co.uk/sound/ obvfd.html

Unfortunately it would appear that Japanese-made synths use a single-
piece display/panel PCB, so aren't compatible with this upgrade. Can
anyone tell me what proportion of units were made in Japan?

Initially I am looking for a small number of technically- competent
beta testers for the upgrade to confirm its reliability. They will
get a nice discount in return for their feedback. UK-based testers
would be preferred for logistical reasons, and I would particularly
welcome Matrix-12 owners since I would like to establish any relevant
differences.

However, do please also let me know if you would be interested in a
production board - I'd like to know whether this is worth pursuing!

Best regards,

Steve Lenham
Benden Sound Technology
bst@bendentech. co.uk

Re: Replacement display board - request for beta-testers

envia94

#613

This is absolutely great, Steve!!!

Please, check the following poll:

Best regards,
Tiitu.

Re: Digest Number 182

#612

开云体育

Expensive ???

I remember, here in the group we tried to find enough people to order 2000 pieces of displays if being manufactured new and ended up w/ USD 150.- per display,- no board, no new software, isn?t it ?

If this solution below is reliable, built from new parts w/ long term availability and a new developed software, all mounted on a? replacement board already,- it?s worth the money IMO.
Have in mind you could keep you old board incl. displays in stock (if working up today) or sell ?em to the owners of Xpanders who want just only 1 working display as a replacement, not being interested in a complete replacement board.

It?s a great project and I?m interested.

PeWe

Eduardo Saponara schrieb:

Show quoted text

Replacment board for
the Xpander / M12 displays

Expensive, replaces all 3 displays, but seems like finally some solution is available for thsoe with display problems.
?
Looks like they are looking for Beta Testers.

.

Re: Replacement display board - request for beta-testers

John Pallister

#611

Hi Steve,

That's fantastic!

stevelenham wrote:
Unfortunately it would appear that Japanese-made synths use a single-
piece display/panel PCB, so aren't compatible with this upgrade. Can
anyone tell me what proportion of units were made in Japan?You're right, my (Japanese) Xpander has a "pot board" with the
display, the rear panel sockets and the front panel controls. (I've
added a photo to the "Photos" section of the group.) So instead of
an entire replacement board, one would need to desolder the old
displays and mount the new displays with cables back to your master
board, with the signals from the CPU broken out of the ribbon cable
to the pot board... Or design a replacement for the entire board.
Not very nice, either way.

I don't know if there's even enough clearance on the PCB around the
old VFDs to squeeze the new displays in there...

Oh well, touch wood my displays will last for a wee while yet. Then
I can start to worry.

Cheers, and I hope the production run goes ahead and that it is a
success for you.

I haven't been able to find out how many Xpanders were produced in
the US and Japan, but I'd be interested to know myself.

Cheers,

John :^P
-- 
John Pallister
john@...

Re: Digest Number 182

#610

开云体育

Replacment board for
the Xpander / M12 displays

Expensive, replaces all 3 displays, but seems like finally some solution is available for thsoe with display problems.
?
Looks like they are looking for Beta Testers.

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