Update: there is now a working editor template for editing Matrix-1000 sounds via the iPad with TB Midi Stuff. Other than stated below, it is now possible to control the modulation matrix as well – read more about it here. The buggy parameters unfortunately still won’t work.
I’m just rediscovering a 25-year old piece of analog hardware: my Oberheim Matrix-1000 synth. It’s worth rediscovering: The analog circuitry is still cutting through any mix; it’s a nasty classic. And it’s a simple 1 HU 19” rack unit; power supply included, no wall warts.
So yes, for a vintage piece of equipment, it’s handy. Unfortunately, the Matrix-1000 is a pure expander module without a single controller – no real-time tweaking the sounds to your desire. Which is a massive disadvantage to an otherwise extremely clever and versatile machine, as I’m not the first to discover. Before Access started to make very expensive top-quality VA synths, they did a hardware controller; you’ll occasionally find one on eBay for around € 700. Translating as: “It’s a monster if you can only get a controller for it.”
My favourite digital music device is the iPad. So I’ve started making my own iPad controller interface, based on the cheap TB Midi Stuff controller kit. It’s an early version, still some testing to be done. And there’s a couple of things you need to realize about the Matrix-1000 before using it with an external editor.
Verwandte Artikel:
- Taming Arturia’s Beatstep: Sysex codes for programming via iPad (Saturday, 22. November 2014; Schlagworte: Arturia Beatstep, iPad, Midi, programming, Sysex, TB Midi Stuff, tool)
- There is a true Oberheim Matrix editor for iPad now. And yes, it’s worth buying it. (Friday, 26. June 2015; Schlagworte: Editor, iPad, Matrix-1000, Matrix-6, Oberheim)
- Matrix Modulation control included: iPad editor for the Oberheim Matrix-6/1000 (Wednesday, 30. April 2014; Schlagworte: Controller, Editor, iPad, Matrix-1000, Matrix-6, modulation matrix, Oberheim, TB Midi Stuff)
Wie Geht’s ! Sorry, my Deutsch is too rusty to communicate effectively. Have you tried the various firmware fixes mentioned at these links ? Perhaps they would make the M1000 more responsive to your controller app?
http://gliglisynth.blogspot.fr/2014/08/new-synth-hacking-project-faster-cpu.html
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/824760-oberheim-matrix-1000-firmware-hacks-5.html#post10269385
I’ll be doing the “New CPU” mod pretty soon, but there’s a lot of soldering involved. The possibly most effective change in the firmware is that this guy has rectified a problem in the original firmware – any time the Matrix gets a “Change Parameter” Sysex sequence, it does a calculation that takes between 10-25ms. (Measured by a pretty smart guy who has built a Verilog simulation of a Matrix-6.) As every move of a fader generates, say, 20-30 steps, all these are worked through in sequence – generating those 1-2s silence while the M1000 is processing.
Now another extremely smart guy had an idea: how about having parameter changes just set a flag – and trigger the recalulation sequence only every 20ms? (The M1000 has a 50Hz clock, i.e. it won’t be faster than that anyway.) The French guy has coded this idea into the firmware, and it seems to work pretty good.
Don’t know whether the firmware works with the default 6809 CPU as well – AFAIK his firmware mod depends on having a faster CPU.
That’s super, thanks. I just fixed a bad 3396 chip on a ‘broken’ M1000 I found cheap for $80 (since it was broken, heh). I’m looking at doing the same upgrades as you. This M1000 modding situation is very cool, making an old digitally controlled analog synth better than ever!
Randy
One more thing: I’ve started an analysis of the Matrix-1000 firmware – you may have a look at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C47klIPRYSD-REBIWnNoHa9RA7pAsDxrskQl6Tuu3vY/edit?usp=docslist_api .
Womit programmiert man denn so ne Editor App?
Die hier ist entstanden mit TB Midi Stuff – das ist so eine Art Baukasten für Midi-Controller – und funktioniert im Prinzip so:
…und so weiter, und so fort. Ist eine ziemliche Frickelei.
Es gibt ein paar andere Controller-Apps, mit denen es wohl etwas einfacher ist – Midi Designer oder das sündteure und ziemlich mächtige (=komplexe) Lemur. Aber so weit ich weiß, kann nur TBMS diesen ganz besonderen Trick, den du brauchst, um die Modmatrix zu editieren – mehr dazu in diesem Artikel.
Hallo, ich habe mir vor ein paar Wochen auch einen Matrix 1000 gekauft. Habe dann die Firmware 1.16 nachgerüstet und betreibe ihn nun mit deiner Remote-Oberfläche.
Ich wollte mich an dieser Stelle bedanken, weil die Möglichkeiten die du damit geschaffen hast, diesen wundervollen Synth für mich erst richtig wertvoll werden ließen. Beste Grüße und vielen Dank!