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Re: Xpanding my horizon

Terje Winther
 

Hi all,
I am well into the service of the Matrix-12. Surprisingly, there are a
lot of things that works, even though it all seems a bit worn.
I am slowly learning to program this giant, so that I don?t do any
errors out of mistakes.
There are a few hardware parts that need to be changed (a key is
broken, the levels are scratchy, number "3" on the numeric keypad is not responsive etc.), but today I came across a peculiar problem: it
seems that this unit is in 5-voice mode. Voice 6 seems to be dead, and
the unit is just jumping over that voice when cycling voices, so there
are never any "dead" voices. Is this some clever trick of the logic,
or has the synth itself detected that one voice is dead?
It does sound fat, though :-)

Terje Winther
terje.winther@...
Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

 

Hi Mel,
I have always?used water/w a soft cloth.
?
Results look like this:

Karl Schmeer
?
?
?

--- On Fri, 2/19/10, Mel wrote:

From: Mel Subject: [xpantastic] Xpander Front Panel Cleaning
To: xpantastic@...
Date: Friday, February 19, 2010, 1:57 AM

?
Hi,
I'd like to clean up my Xpander's front panel, which has become cloudy with age. It's not scratched, cracked or peeling; just dull. I don't want to take a chance with any petroleum-based products such as ArmorAll. Any ideas how to restore the luster?

Thanks!!

/mel
Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

 

I would like to know this too as my Xpander has the same problem.

WT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Cappellini" <cappy2112@...>
To: <xpantastic@...>
Cc: <tares@...>
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning


A specific name would be helpful.
There are many chemical sprays for cleaning computers, some of which would
probably dissolve the Xpander's Front panel

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 7:20 AM, envia94 <tares@...> wrote:



For cleaning, there is also special computer cleaning spray, which
evaporates completely. It is used for cleaning computer keyboards, screens
ets., so you'll find it in any computer store.
Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

 

A specific name would be helpful.
There are many chemical sprays for cleaning computers, some of which would probably dissolve the Xpander's Front panel


On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 7:20 AM, envia94 <tares@...> wrote:
?

For cleaning, there is also special computer cleaning spray, which evaporates completely. It is used for cleaning computer keyboards, screens ets., so you'll find it in any computer store.
Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

envia94
 

For cleaning, there is also special computer cleaning spray, which evaporates completely. It is used for cleaning computer keyboards, screens ets., so you'll find it in any computer store.
Re: Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

envia94
 

I have sometimes used a very little amount of silicone spray to make the Xpander shine again. But, be aware not to spray on the unit, but on a smooth cloth with which you then wipe the unit. This is because silicone is the worst enemy of electric connections. An other drawback is that the Xpander gets very slippery, which does not matter however unless you need to move it sometimes. Silicone is very good for the plastic (and, rubber!) parts making them last many times longer than without.

--- In xpantastic@..., "Mel" <rawsax@...> wrote:

Hi,
I'd like to clean up my Xpander's front panel, which has become cloudy with age. It's not scratched, cracked or peeling; just dull. I don't want to take a chance with any petroleum-based products such as ArmorAll. Any ideas how to restore the luster?

Thanks!!

/mel
Xpander Front Panel Cleaning

Mel
 

Hi,
I'd like to clean up my Xpander's front panel, which has become cloudy with age. It's not scratched, cracked or peeling; just dull. I don't want to take a chance with any petroleum-based products such as ArmorAll. Any ideas how to restore the luster?

Thanks!!

/mel
Re: Matrix-12 key wanted

 

I bought mine a couple of years ago.
This is cut out from the mail conversation with Doug:
----------------------------------------------
Yes we do. We have complete keyboard sets, with all the keys mounted to the metal frame to drop in and plug in or we have the individual keys as well. Depending upon how many you need, it may by cheaper in the long run to buy the complete keyboard set.
?
Complete set of keys for Matrix 12 on metal frame???? $75.00
Individual white or black plastic keys?for Matrix 12???? $? 7.50 each

Shipping and handling charges are extra and will be calculated once address is supplied. For USA we ship by Fed Ex Ground or Express, or Priority US Mail, depending upon your delivery time requirements, internationally we have found both Fed Ex and UPS to be extremely expensive, so send most international shipments via Express Mail, Int'l Global Express, Int'l Air Mail, or Int'l surface mail.

Payments can be made via PayPal to:
?
Sincerely,
?
Doug

--------------------------------------------------
rgds
Bjorn Roland


On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 10:20 PM, envia94 <tares@...> wrote:
?


Ciao! If you search inside this forum, you'll find that there is a guy, who is selling mechanical parts. He did run out of these. But, maybe he has get some more.
Re: Xpanding my horizon

 

Terje Winther wrote:
Hi all,
I just subscribed to this groups, and thought I might introduce myself.
I have loved synthesizers for as long as I can remember (all the way back into the 1970s...). I make music with synths, repair them, and even build some. The Xpander and Matrix-12 are facinating instruments, and I have just gotten a Matrix-12 in for service, so finally I can take the time to learn more about these instruments. It has all the usual errors; one key broken, one rotary encoder mailfunctoning, auto- tune turns out the usual errors, but apart form that is seems to be mostly in order.
More about me, my music, gear and all that at:
Hi Terje,

Welcome to the group. Listmates, I play Terje's music on my radio shows. I recommend that you take a listen to his music.

Cheers,

Bill
Matrix-12 key wanted

mursupeppe
 

Hi, if anybody's willing to part with one of their Matrix-12 keyboard keys (or identical), I'm missing an A key. I know, I know, google and search... :-)
Re: Xpanding my horizon

Terje Winther
 

Hi all,
Thanks a lot for the warm welcome.

Welcome to the group.? Watch out, you might get hooked, and have to acquire one?for yourself.

Yes, I am afraid that is going to happen.
We?ll see. I start working on it the coming Monday, as soon as I have read through all the excellent tips on this group.


Terje Winther
Re: Xpanding my horizon

 

Hi Terje,
Welcome to the group.? Watch out, you might get hooked, and have to acquire one?for yourself.
?
You will find posts here on all the fails you mention.
Encoder? - Clean or replace Schmidt trigger chip connected to the failed encoder
Tune Fail - Coupling Caps Usually Cx49? x = channel #
?
I have fixed quite a few of these. I am happy to offer?any help.
Have Fun!
?
Kindest Regards
?
Karl Schmeer
?


--- On Thu, 2/11/10, Terje Winther wrote:

From: Terje Winther <terje.winther@...>
Subject: [xpantastic] Xpanding my horizon
To: xpantastic@...
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 7:19 AM

?
Hi all,
I just subscribed to this groups, and thought I might introduce myself.
I have loved synthesizers for as long as I can remember (all the way
back into the 1970s...). I make music with synths, repair them, and
even build some. The Xpander and Matrix-12 are facinating instruments,
and I have just gotten a Matrix-12 in for service, so finally I can
take the time to learn more about these instruments. It has all the
usual errors; one key broken, one rotary encoder mailfunctoning, auto-
tune turns out the usual errors, but apart form that is seems to be
mostly in order.
More about me, my music, gear and all that at:

Terje Winther
Re: Someone to verify my Xpander is working properly

envia94
 

Hi Jeremy,

Check if The_Definitive_Xpander_Filter_ Guide in
can enlighten the problem.

Generally speaking, it would be somewhat welcome, if somebody would make the effort and record some or more of Xpander default patches. Currently they are undisclosed - which, I must admit, may even be amplifying the halo of Oberheim occultism around Xpander.

Cheerio
Someone to verify my Xpander is working properly

 

If I record a simple tune with a default patch, could someone play the same tune on their Xpander and tell me if mine *sounds* right? I'm worried that since the fuse blew in 2004, the sound isn't as deep and rich as it should be.

Thanks,

Jeremy
Re: Xpanding my horizon

envia94
 

Hello Terje, let me just welcome you!

There are a lot of interesting listening in your web page (). Thanks!

I hope you'll also find some interesting things about Xpander/M12 in our Files and Photos sections especially:





Tiitu
Xpanding my horizon

Terje Winther
 

Hi all,
I just subscribed to this groups, and thought I might introduce myself.
I have loved synthesizers for as long as I can remember (all the way back into the 1970s...). I make music with synths, repair them, and even build some. The Xpander and Matrix-12 are facinating instruments, and I have just gotten a Matrix-12 in for service, so finally I can take the time to learn more about these instruments. It has all the usual errors; one key broken, one rotary encoder mailfunctoning, auto- tune turns out the usual errors, but apart form that is seems to be mostly in order.
More about me, my music, gear and all that at:


Terje Winther
terje.winther@...
Re: CEM 3374

John Pallister
 

On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 10:05 PM, Tony Cappellini <cappy2112@...> wrote:
Look on Ebay for a vendor named ChipsForBrains- he was selling CEM's last year
?
He has 3372s, but I haven't seen him selling 3374s. Or we'd all be buying them...

Cheers,

John :^P
Re: CEM 3374

John Pallister
 

On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 9:22 PM, schmuckfenster
<schmuckfenster@...> wrote:
To be honest, I also ask myself what actually does 'fail' in such a chip? Is it a
physical 'burning' through or just a contact that is lost? No way of trying to repair
the chip itself?
As I understand it, it's a weakness of the fabrication process used to
make the chips. Basically the analogue components etched onto the
silicon deteriorate over time (due to e.g.
) and drift from their
original values. Eventually they drift so far that the auto-tune
mechanism can't vary other component values far enough to compensate.

A bit like CDs & DVDs - they were supposed to last "indefinitely", but
after a decade or three they're not quite what they once were.

I have seen people using small microcontrollers to emulate failed
custom digital chips in old gear; I would expect that, eventually,
people will use small DSPs to emulate failed CEM chips in vintage
synths. In fact, there's probably a business opportunity there for
someone already.

Cheers,

John :^P
Re: Xpander vs. M12

 

Yes, this is one annoying omission on the xpander, but easily resolved like you said with the multi-patch. The simple brilliance of this feature was only something I just realized. I tend to let my VCOs drift out of tune for a more organic sound, but I realized this would never be like the OB-Xa for example.
In deciding to sell the OBxa, I decided to see how similar the xpander/obxa could really be. I set up a multi-patch and changed the osc tunings ever so slightly for each of the 6 voices, and the result was a very pleasing and animated sound. The ability to change the basic parameters of all 6 voices at once (or individually) from the single page is pure genius... I'm sure most of you know this, but it was very satisfying figuring out the feature. Shame you can't also change the modulation parameters as a group, but I guess there's only so much that CPU could do.

Right, but there&#65533;s difference between M12 and Xpander,- layering all
the voices (or only 6 maybe) in unison,- the detune page, which the Xpander
doesn&#65533;t have.
It&#65533;s only a detail, but also a small advantage, being able to select the
same single patch in every multi-patch slot, setting the voice assignment to
unison and easily detune all the voices against each other.

THIS is not possible w/ a Xpander,- instead, you have to copy the same
single patch to six single-patch memory locations, edit each of these for
different tunings and store, before you&#65533;re able to set up a
multi-patch-unison-detune sound the way you can do in a M12.
Will say,- you lose 5 more single-patch memory locations in the Xpander to
do this, but not in the Matrix-12.
Re: Xpander vs. M12

 


--- On Thu, 1/14/10, PeWe wrote:


From: PeWe
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] Xpander vs. M12
To: xpantastic@...
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 4:06 AM


?




>Hello Karl !


Hey PeWe !


>>>

?
>Right, but there?s difference between M12 and Xpander,-? layering all the >voices (or only 6 maybe) in unison,- the detune page, which the Xpander >doesn?t have.
>It?s only a detail, but also a small advantage, being able to select the >same single patch in every multi-patch slot, setting the voice assignment >to unison and easily detune all the voices against each other.

Yes, your right,?You can really explore tuning relationships between sounds here.
Big +?

>B.t.w.,- I never layer the voices that way w/ my Xpander,- so I don?t care.

You know, I use multi alot and sometimes notice a differences between patches played in single and multi mode. Especially LFO and Env rates.
You, or?anyone ever noticed this?

>Voice cancelations are always happening by layering exactly same sounds >and >detuneing ?em,- so I prefer layering of slightly different sounds,-
Good Idea, Different waveform?could not cancel each other out completely.

>best different synths,- even these do similar sounding patches then, - >lets say creating a super saw,- together.
Yes


>In addition, Obies keyboard synths are relatively large beasts.
>I never toured w/ a Matrix-12, but I got probs w/ the stiffness of the enclosure of my >former OB-8 in the past,- maybe a prob which also happens w/ a Matrix-12.
>With the OB-8, this stressed the circuit boards mounted on the bottom of >the case.

You have hit on an important point here!!
NEVER PUSH REAL HARD ON?A MATRIX 12 FRONT PANEL. My appologies for shouting but:
The High voltage of the VFD board gets pushed into the upper voice board and will fry the upper voice board.
?
It would not be a bad Idea to put an electrical insulator of some sort, on the back of the VFD board.
??
Karl Schmeer
??
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