Greetings!
As per the discussion in the big "meta" malekko manual thread, this is a breakout for Wiard XMix manual and patch ideas. Discussions not specific to the XMix might best be held in the meta manual thread (but don't overthink it). I'll update this post with a pointer to an assembled doc once it's in progress, status updates, etc.
Any and all input welcome and greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
-phil
Wiard XMix Manual/Patch Ideas
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shady smiles
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shady smiles
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As a jumpstart, here's a list of candidate applications culled from Grant's posts.
>>>
Applications
Mixing. There are two styles of mixing, the classic two knobs controlling volume and the newfangled "DJ" style crossfader type. The XMIX supports both. Center of knob on Z makes two gain of 0.5 mixers from X and Y and you can put two 10 volts P-P in and get 10 V P-P out. No clipping at supply rails.
Noiseless Switching. Now a switch is just a really fast crossfade. So we can use it as a SPDT switch too and with no "clicking". The control voltage rejection on the XMIX is plenty good enough to get rid of control voltage bleedthrough, but if you switch between two signals with different DC levels, mathematics says it MUST click. Use your head.
VCAing. If you fade from nothing to something it is a simple linear VCA.
"Filterless" filtering / Waveshaping. If you fade from a sine to a sawtooth or square wave it does "filterless filtering" like on the Buchla 258 mix control (or, on the Anti-Oscillator, from the triangle to the Mayhem a la the Buchla 259 waveshaper).
Waveform animation. If you run SQR2 from the Oscillator to ZMOD, set Z at the center detent, run any two of the other waveforms to X and Y, you get PWM like waveform animation with lot's of wave-cycling as you vary the PHASE control on the oscillator. Or put an LFO into PHASE MOD for repeated cyclic stuff.
Syncing LFO reset to keyboard gate signal. The sync input on a sawtooth core oscillator is a little cap that goes to the 5 volt peak reference. A negative going spike on this forces an early reset to zero and restarts the VCO(LFO). What we need is a device that gives both positive and negative versions of a GATE signal. Such as plugging the GATE signal into the Expand input on an XMIX. Take the plus XMIX output to the envelope generator and the negative XMIX output to the "Synch" input on the LFO.
Logic ORing of gate signals. Take one gate to the "Expand" input and one gate to the "X" input. Set "Z" to max set X control to max. XMIX plus output is logic OR of gate signals.
Logic "ANDing" of Gate signals. Take Gate one to "X" input of XMIX set X to max. Take Gate two (keyboard) to ZMOD input of XMIX, set ZMOD to max. Set "Z" as needed for effect. XMIX plus output will be high only if both Gate one and Gate two are high.
Pulse Roll generation. Sometimes what you want is a repeated set of pulses when a keyboard key is held down. Sometimes called an "Auto" mode this allows strums and rolls (for Marimba maybe). With an Envelator set to "Cycle" mode, the high time of the SQR output is set by the A control and the off time is set by the D control. Using the “Logic ANDing†patch above with a repeating set of pulses sets as Gate one (X) allows the keyboard to gate on and off a repeated set of pulses like a marimba roll.
Pulse Burst generation. If Patch 3 is used with the SQR outputs of two Envelators, the "ON" time of the Envelator into ZMOD will give bursts of pulses from the Envelator connected to the X input at the XMIX plus output.
ADSR Envelope summing. As Ralph Burnham's pointed out in Elecronotes Magazine, an ADSR is only the mixture of an AD unit with an AR unit. Take two Envelators, set the first to AD and set the second to AR. Run keyboard Trigger into AD section Gate in, run keyboard Gate signal into AR section Gate in. Run AD Envelator plus output to X input of XMIX and X control to max, run AR Envelator section into Y input of XMIX, set Y polarity to plus and Y control to max. The ADSR envelope is available at the XMIX plus output with the XMIX "Z" control acting like the old "Sustain" control. The "Z Control" input can be used as voltage controlled sustain level input.
Balanced (ring) modulation.
As an example, tum the oscillator to 384 Hz (the key of the song) and listen to "Claire de Lune" on piano through the balanced modulator. It is not recognizable because you have inverted the melody line!
"COALESCENCE" patch. Take a random voltage like a Noisering output and run it to a multiple. Run the multiple to the inputs of two Malekko Attenu8 modules. Run one to the Y input of the XMIX, run the other through a Quantizer and then into the X input of the XMIX. Set X and Y controls to max. Now you can crossfade between a wide range unquantized random voltage and a smaller range quantized random voltage. Done slowly this has the subjective effect of bringing the opera glasses into focus. Very subtle, but VERY musical.
>>>
Applications
Mixing. There are two styles of mixing, the classic two knobs controlling volume and the newfangled "DJ" style crossfader type. The XMIX supports both. Center of knob on Z makes two gain of 0.5 mixers from X and Y and you can put two 10 volts P-P in and get 10 V P-P out. No clipping at supply rails.
Noiseless Switching. Now a switch is just a really fast crossfade. So we can use it as a SPDT switch too and with no "clicking". The control voltage rejection on the XMIX is plenty good enough to get rid of control voltage bleedthrough, but if you switch between two signals with different DC levels, mathematics says it MUST click. Use your head.
VCAing. If you fade from nothing to something it is a simple linear VCA.
"Filterless" filtering / Waveshaping. If you fade from a sine to a sawtooth or square wave it does "filterless filtering" like on the Buchla 258 mix control (or, on the Anti-Oscillator, from the triangle to the Mayhem a la the Buchla 259 waveshaper).
Waveform animation. If you run SQR2 from the Oscillator to ZMOD, set Z at the center detent, run any two of the other waveforms to X and Y, you get PWM like waveform animation with lot's of wave-cycling as you vary the PHASE control on the oscillator. Or put an LFO into PHASE MOD for repeated cyclic stuff.
Syncing LFO reset to keyboard gate signal. The sync input on a sawtooth core oscillator is a little cap that goes to the 5 volt peak reference. A negative going spike on this forces an early reset to zero and restarts the VCO(LFO). What we need is a device that gives both positive and negative versions of a GATE signal. Such as plugging the GATE signal into the Expand input on an XMIX. Take the plus XMIX output to the envelope generator and the negative XMIX output to the "Synch" input on the LFO.
Logic ORing of gate signals. Take one gate to the "Expand" input and one gate to the "X" input. Set "Z" to max set X control to max. XMIX plus output is logic OR of gate signals.
Logic "ANDing" of Gate signals. Take Gate one to "X" input of XMIX set X to max. Take Gate two (keyboard) to ZMOD input of XMIX, set ZMOD to max. Set "Z" as needed for effect. XMIX plus output will be high only if both Gate one and Gate two are high.
Pulse Roll generation. Sometimes what you want is a repeated set of pulses when a keyboard key is held down. Sometimes called an "Auto" mode this allows strums and rolls (for Marimba maybe). With an Envelator set to "Cycle" mode, the high time of the SQR output is set by the A control and the off time is set by the D control. Using the “Logic ANDing†patch above with a repeating set of pulses sets as Gate one (X) allows the keyboard to gate on and off a repeated set of pulses like a marimba roll.
Pulse Burst generation. If Patch 3 is used with the SQR outputs of two Envelators, the "ON" time of the Envelator into ZMOD will give bursts of pulses from the Envelator connected to the X input at the XMIX plus output.
ADSR Envelope summing. As Ralph Burnham's pointed out in Elecronotes Magazine, an ADSR is only the mixture of an AD unit with an AR unit. Take two Envelators, set the first to AD and set the second to AR. Run keyboard Trigger into AD section Gate in, run keyboard Gate signal into AR section Gate in. Run AD Envelator plus output to X input of XMIX and X control to max, run AR Envelator section into Y input of XMIX, set Y polarity to plus and Y control to max. The ADSR envelope is available at the XMIX plus output with the XMIX "Z" control acting like the old "Sustain" control. The "Z Control" input can be used as voltage controlled sustain level input.
Balanced (ring) modulation.
- 1. Make sure the X & Y knobs are at full.
2. Connect your carrier sine wave (or whatever) to the X input.
3. The Y input is normalled to the X input so the carrier is going to X + Y.
4. Switch the Y input polarity to negative (minus).
5. Monitor the plus output.
6. Adjust the Z control to get the best carrier null.
7. Now run anything into the Z control input (modulator), Z Control is the volume for the modulation input.
As an example, tum the oscillator to 384 Hz (the key of the song) and listen to "Claire de Lune" on piano through the balanced modulator. It is not recognizable because you have inverted the melody line!
"COALESCENCE" patch. Take a random voltage like a Noisering output and run it to a multiple. Run the multiple to the inputs of two Malekko Attenu8 modules. Run one to the Y input of the XMIX, run the other through a Quantizer and then into the X input of the XMIX. Set X and Y controls to max. Now you can crossfade between a wide range unquantized random voltage and a smaller range quantized random voltage. Done slowly this has the subjective effect of bringing the opera glasses into focus. Very subtle, but VERY musical.
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dragulasbruder
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thanks for putting these together! great ideas here!
Folleree, Folleroo, follerin you
if they catch you in the darga
Arga Warga
MY MUSIC: https://www.soundcloud.com/wish-fulfillment
if they catch you in the darga
Arga Warga
MY MUSIC: https://www.soundcloud.com/wish-fulfillment
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shady smiles
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hpsounds
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It's not a constant offset : when nothing is plugged, I've measured 0 V at the +OUT. It's just that the constant same voltage that I plug into X IN, Y IN or EXPAND IN is a little bit different when measured at the +OUT jack. I've seen the trimmers on the PCB, but I might be useful to know how to use them for calibrating the Xmix.
Hédi K.
Hédi K.
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Stollmeister
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iamgoldman
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The XMIX is a versatile mixing/crossfading utility module with Wiard flair. There are level controls for the two inputs (X and Y). The Y input can be inverted via a switch. Z controls the balance of X Vs. Y. Z has a CV input, along with an attenuator for CV amount. Positive and negative outputs are provided, as well as an Expand input which provides a unity input to chain the output of other modules (such as another XMIX).
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hpsounds
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Here is the Xmix calibration procedure that Josh sent me some days ago !hpsounds wrote:It's not a constant offset : when nothing is plugged, I've measured 0 V at the +OUT. It's just that the constant same voltage that I plug into X IN, Y IN or EXPAND IN is a little bit different when measured at the +OUT jack. I've seen the trimmers on the PCB, but I might be useful to know how to use them for calibrating the Xmix.
Hédi K.
Equipment Needed:
40,000 count DVM with 3.5mm adapter (need to read below 1 millivolt idealy)
Precision voltage source with better than 1 millivolt resolution with 3.5 mm adapter.
OFF = Fully counter clockwise, ON = Fully clockwise
X input = J1
Y input = J5
Expand input = J2
Initial setup:
Set voltage on wiper of R17 to 0.000 volts +/-830 microvolts (1 cent)
Faceplate Setup:
ZMOD control fully counter clockwise.
Y input polarity set to Plus
Connect voltmeter to Plus output (J4).
All voltmeter readings should be set to +/- 830 microvolts of ideal (1 cent detune)
Set voltage reference to 0.000 volts for steps 1 and 2
1. Connect voltage reference to X input. Set X control all ON, set Y control all OFF, Set Z control all OFF, adjust R11 for voltmeter reading of 0.000 volts (X offset)
2. Connect voltage reference to Y input. Set X control all OFF, set Y control all ON, Set Z control all ON, adjust R22 for reading of 0.000 volts. (Y offset)
3. Connect voltage reference to X input. Set X control all ON, set Y control all OFF, Set Z control all ON, Set voltage reference to 2.000 volts, adjust R2 for voltmeter reading of 2.000 volts (X and Y unity gain)
Repeat steps 1 through 3 until offset and gain for both channels are adjusted.
4. Connect voltage reference to Expand input. Set X control all OFF, set Y control all OFF, Set Z control all OFF, adjust R3 for voltmeter reading of 2.000 volts (Expand Unity Gain)
5. Disconnect voltage reference, connect low distortion sine wave source (oscillator through coupling cap to eliminate any DC offset) set to Middle C to X input, Set X control to ON, Set Y control to ON, set Y polarity switch to negative, Set Z control to center detent, set voltmeter to AC volts, adjust R17 for lowest reading on AC voltmeter (Balanced modulator carrier null).
Set ZMOD control to control to ON, connect another oscillator to ZMOD input (modulation input), verify output sounds like balanced (ring) modulation without either carrier or modulator bleed thru.
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Stollmeister
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Cheers!iamgoldman wrote:The XMIX is a versatile mixing/crossfading utility module with Wiard flair. There are level controls for the two inputs (X and Y). The Y input can be inverted via a switch. Z controls the balance of X Vs. Y. Z has a CV input, along with an attenuator for CV amount. Positive and negative outputs are provided, as well as an Expand input which provides a unity input to chain the output of other modules (such as another XMIX).
So, another un-attenuated input. That is very usefull!
