Hello Karl !
>>>
Karl Schmeer schrieb:
Hi,
I have a M12 and believe it or not, there are times I wish
I had an Xpander. It would be nice sometimes to have the CV ins and the
output per voice. (Currently my M12 does not have the individual
outputs.)
Yep,- in multi patch mode and playing different patches via different
midi channels, the separate outputs for each voice are a great
approvement.
Next,- I have my Minimoog modded w/ keyboards CV and gate outs,- so I
can trigger one voice of the Xpander by CV/Gate, doubling the Moog,
using the other 5 voices w/ midi,- just an example ...
You would think that 12 voices layered up in mono mode
would be a thicker solo sound, but it doesn't work that way. With 12
analog voices droning, phase differences start
canceling out some of the voices. So at the end of the day
6 voices layered up is just as
thick as 12 IMO.
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.
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´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.
B.t.w.,- I never layer the voices that way w/ my Xpander,- so I don´t
care.
Voice cancelations are always happening by layering exactly same sounds
and detuneing ´em,- so I prefer layering of slightly different sounds,-
best different synths,- even these do similar sounding patches then, -
lets say creating a super saw,- together.
According to the keyboard,- I never liked the keyboards/keybeds of the
Oberheim synths much,- not in the OBX nor the OBXa or OB-8 and I
absolutly don´t like the levers for pitch bending,- I prefer wheels,-
best non sprung wheels,- like the Minimoog has.
So,- the Xpander was best choice for me,- also because of size and
weight.
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.
Oh Yeah, but your Xpander also does this.
b.t.w.
I have played the A6 Andromada and DSI stuff. IMO The
keyboards on these synths are just as clunky as the M12.
Karl Schmeer
