OBERHEIM MATRIX 1000 template for NOVATION x-STATION

(excuse my bad english!)

The NOVATION X-STATION is good to work as controller for the MATRIX 1000 because of it's ability to send sysex messages. However there are few things impossible to do:

- To completely control modulation matrix we need to use sysex strings with 3 control values, one for the source, one for the destination and one for the level. This is not possible but you can create some fixed modulation you like e use the control value only for the level.

- No negative values. In the matrix OS some controls works as 1 to 63 positive, 64 to 126 negative. The DCO2 Detune control had a even more stranger response.

But in the end it's ok. I think that if you like to create your own patch from 0 you'll sit in front of a editor on a computer screen. I think that the knobs&buttons live controls are useful for live performances and to modify already existing patches. 

So, there are all the fixed modulations in the relative pages. (only positive amounts because of sysex specs) I've only add Waveshape modulations and a Tremolo (VCA1 by LFO2) beacuse it's cool to have it!)

You can find a masque to print and put on the novation as reminder in this folder.

Here we go:

 The ocs-mixer pages are:
1 - DCO 1
2 - DCO 2 (detune in on both pages but it's for dco 2..only down detune, sorry)
3 - ENV 1
4 - ENV 2
5 - ENV 3

 The Filter pages contains:
1 - VCF
2 - Track Generator

IMPORTANT: I've found a solution about the lag of the filter frequency! If you ever tried to change the filter in realtime with a knob with it's sysex string (or with a software editor), you'll find that there is a delay (the synth is "freezed" for some seconds while you move the knob!), so you can't make fast changes and this is very annoing.

But the filter doesn't have this delay if it receives a normal midi cc control (for example if you set in the matrix mod wheel to modulate filter)! so what to do?

I've found that in the global settings of the matrix 1000 (you need a software editor to see and modify this) you can set midi cc for 3 controls:
- Lever 1 (fixed: it's for pitch bend) 
- Lever 2 (for modulation wheel)

but there is even a
- Lever 3 (!!!)

In the manual we read:
"LEVER 2's normal status is to increase the modulation amount when it is pulled toward you. It has no effect whan pushed away from you. We provided a means to make use of this unused portion os LEVER2. We call it LEVER 3 which does not exist as a separate psysical lever nut is controlled by LEVER 2. LEVER 3 increases it's modulation amount when LEVER 2 is pushed away from you. LEVER3 can be set to transmit and receive on any MIDI COntrol Number from 0 to 121"

This is from the Matrix 6 manual. I don't know, maybe this is referred to THAT modulation wheel, but with the Novation Mod Wheel it seems to work normally.
My idea is that we can use this Lever 3, who remain almost always unused and not important to modulate the filter cutoff...it's a midi CC so we wont have the delay caused by the normal sysex message.
So i've made 2 buttons:
1 - It's a sysex string to put cutoff value to 0. (we need to do so). On my template it's the button i've called "Freq to Zero"
2 - A sysex string who put in the last row of the mod matrix:
	Source: Lev 3
	Destination: VFC frequency
	Level: set to maximum
On my template it's the button i've called "Lev 3 enable"


By default Lever 3 is controlled by CC2 (but you can change this in the global editor)

ok

Now in my template, i've made a control called "Lever 3" that send cc 2 (the defalut one)

Every time you want to use the filter without lag you do this:
- Push the Cutoff Zero button i've made.
- Push Lever 3 Enable Button i've made (this is a sysex strings that put in the last row of the the matrix: "Lev3 to VCO frequency at the max level")
- Now use the Lever 3 Knob instead of the filter knob to play with the filter and...It doesn't lag anymore :D


 The LFO pages are
1 - Ramp
2 - VCA
3 - VCA mods

 The slider are for
- LFO 1 and LFO 2

Other modulations in other knobs at the right.

If you have questions write me at
mudhoney@tiscalinet.it

Hi

Saverio Paiella

