Diva - classic synths that deserve emulating?

[fmr]

I own Oberheim Xpander and Matrix-1000 as also a Minimoog and some more FM, Wavetable,- so I'm covered anyway,- and there's some great sounding software too.

PeWe

So you are in Germany, and you own an Xpander (in good shape, I presume). Urs, got it? The Xpander and the Matrix-12 are basically the same, in terms of the synthesis engine. If you don't get the Matrix-12 you are expecting, you have PeWe - right PeWe?

[PeWe]

So you are in Germany, and you own an Xpander (in good shape, I presume).

It works and plays all day, nothing wrong technically up to now.
But it will be like new soon because I buyed all the switches, caps and Schmitt-Triggers to give it a overhaul if there's the time to do it.
Xpander and Minimoog D is what I really love !
And there's the Oberheim XK which gives the Xpander the keyboard of the Matrix-12 as well as the original levers and the arpeggiator of the OB-8.
It's switches will be replaced soon too.

Urs, got it? The Xpander and the Matrix-12 are basically the same, in terms of the synthesis engine.

Not basically,- it IS the same engine.
Matrix-12 difference is the modulation page (better overview of modulations in use) and detune page (detunes both voiceboards),- that's it.
Xpander has one voice board only,- so no detune page.
But what makes a Xpander unique are the CV/Gate features and being a CV/MIDI converter too.

If you don't get the Matrix-12 you are expecting, you have PeWe - right PeWe?

I doubt I'd let it go.
AFAIK, Urs isn't in the neighborhood.

PeWe

[fmr]

I doubt I'd let it go.
AFAIK, Urs isn't in the neighborhood.

PeWe

He is in Berlin, AFAIK. Where are you? Anyway, I understand you are not that much interested in an emulation, since you have the real thing, and you are even modding it. But you would speak in favour of it right?

[Urs]

No worries. That Matrix 12 has arrived and passed the initial function test. The panel is a bit eroded and pale. I wonder what made them use that strange rubber type of finish. I thought of making a new one if it's possible to detach the LED displays from the foil, and integrated them with a fresh one. I thought of maybe a sleek metal casing with black labels.

I'll try to spend a couple of hours with it tomorrow maybe. This time I'll have access to every parameter, and it won't play six voices at once all the time

[Urs]

Rhodes Chroma for sale for a great price.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rhodes-Chroma ... 702wt_1139

21 hours left. In Cardiff UK

That's a sad little fella. Hope someone can use it to save another.

[Urs]

Btw. I always look for Roland gear, but we have so many now, I'd love to diversify a bit more. I'd go for an MKS70, but my actual dream would be SH-3, 5 and 7.

And a Korg PS3x00 - a trusted source says these sound even better than the 700/800 series.

[fmr]

No worries. That Matrix 12 has arrived and passed the initial function test. The panel is a bit eroded and pale. I wonder what made them use that strange rubber type of finish. I thought of making a new one if it's possible to detach the LED displays from the foil, and integrated them with a fresh one. I thought of maybe a sleek metal casing with black labels.

I'll try to spend a couple of hours with it tomorrow maybe. This time I'll have access to every parameter, and it won't play six voices at once all the time

I think I saw on the net someone advertising exactly that type of panel (white or cream, with the printings in dark colours). So, I guess it's definitely possible.
I'll try to find it again, and if I do I will post the link.

I'm glad you found one in working condition

[Urs]

Yep, it should be possible.

There's a company in Berlin that does all sorts of plastic material. If the displays don't detach easily then I might bring it to them. They might even know a way to fix the original surface (it really looks, umm, grubby)

I'd really love to start pimping these synths. Some are in great condition but have scratches and stuff. It should't be too difficult to create alternative casings that look as great as these gems sound.

I'm also a first owner of a graffiti edition Wavestation - so it would kind of fit to have alternative panels.

(or maybe I just drunk a glass of wine too many...)

[Fritze]

People always talk about the Jupiter 8 and the Juno 60 but my favorite Roland synth is actually the JX-8p
I have no idea what's so special about it but the pads of this synth simply can't be replicated by anything else.
And listen to some of the Mallet/E-Piano patches on Synthmania (someone posted the link already). I never heard such brilliant metallic things from another analog synth.

Yeah, the JX8P is special. It's so plastic it's a lot of fun. The first synth I really worked with. The e-pianos played with the four (4) available velocity levels was quite some fun.
I totally agree on the pads. never heard such pads again after. Turn on that nice noisy chorus and there you go ...

[Fritze]

I'd really love to start pimping these synths. Some are in great condition but have scratches and stuff. It should't be too difficult to create alternative casings that look as great as these gems sound.

I'm also a first owner of a graffiti edition Wavestation - so it would kind of fit to have alternative panels.

(or maybe I just drunk a glass of wine too many...)

Sounds like fun.

[JackD]

I think quite highly of the Sonix Projects Oberheim emulation, but it still would be well worth your time to come up with a great OB filter. I think the Oberheim filter was the best of a lot of great filters. And yes, the SCI Pro One is very worthy of emulation.
I don't think 2 LFOs are enough. Any chance of getting one of the ADSRs to loop?

[PeWe]

I understand you are not that much interested in an emulation, since you have the real thing, and you are even modding it.

I don't mod it,- it gets serviced and before it will be destroyed by PSU failure or such.
I've found all necessary parts original and new.

The Xpander worked for me for decades and I made my livin' w/ music,- so it's not a big investment to keep it alive as long the displays are fine and I have some CEM chips in spare.

Even I have the real thing, I'm interested in a software emulation !
I also use OPX Pro II.
Preset management and total recall in software is an advantage anyway and for many tracks the emulations work well, but not for everything.

There's also a difference between Minimoog D and Minimax for Scope p.ex., but I use Minimax too.
It works for many MOOG sounds, but not all.
I also played w/ Diva beta a bit, but the octave switches in OSC 1 don't work perfect here on my machine and the audio out>audio in loop back (feedback in DIVA) sounds totally wrong compared to my Minimoog D.

I have to mention this sounds totally wrong in every Minimoog emulation out there and in real world, it's also different in every Minimoog D (I know very well because I had 3).
It's also a matter of using the hi-gain out to feed the audio in or the low gain output.
My Mini has 2 hi gain outs, which makes a big difference.

All in all, DIVA sounds great so far, but because I'm a keyboardplayer since the 70th, I'll never get the experience from a plugin I have if I PLAY the real thing because a GUI isn't real haptics and playing a virtual synth or MIDI module over MIDI isn't the same than playing a Minimoog from it's internal keyboard and using it's l.h. controllers and CV pedals connected.
The key spring contacts of a Pratt Read keyboard have a lot of impact on the sound too,- depending on attack and decay times of the VCF and VCA contour generators.
The plugins only nail the sounds w/ a bit slower attack and a bit longer decay times.

It's comparable to a Hammond,- if the key-click is wrong, it affects the overall sound which is very critical because it's something in the attack portion of a sound and the ear is very sensitive on this.

Emulation of Oberheim Xpander/Matrix-12,- I wonder how this could be realized in software.
In fact, Xpander is 6 monophonic synths, each synth offering all the features.
In software, that would be every voice offering all the features independently.
So, creating a emulation of only one voice of the Xpander would give everything you need,- put 6 instances into 6 tracks in your DAW and decide using 'em on the same MIDI channel or w/ separate MIDI channels and you're done.
Panning/detuning "voices" and routing controllers would be a matter of the DAW then.
Re-creating the multi-patch mode like in hardware would be a step backwards in VST times IMO.

PeWe

[fceramic]

I would LOVE to see an emulation of either Roland JX-3p or JX-8p. They might not be as rare and expensive as some of the older synths, but they have a very strong character. Lots of smooth funk and soul. And the JX-8p and 10p has the most wonderful pads. To me the JX series is the true Roland sound.

[EvilDragon]

1300€ was a good price for an MKS-80 rev 4. They are raising in price lately, too.

Shame I couldn't grab it

[PeWe]

Yep, it should be possible.

There's a company in Berlin that does all sorts of plastic material. If the displays don't detach easily then I might bring it to them. They might even know a way to fix the original surface (it really looks, umm, grubby)

Urs, if you've talked to this company, it would be great you shoot me a PM.
My Xpander front panel is well readable and looks good, but during a flight from north africa back to germany, it shrinked by a few millimeters because of temperatur drop.
That was in the mid 90th and blocked the switches.
Was an easy fix though, but I was looking for that surface since years to have a replacement one day.

Displays:
If you open the Matrix-12, remove the 2 display boards, each one carrying 3 displays, that's all.
It will be much harder to remove the transparent plastic surface from the metal case.
Eventually it's impossible without damage.

(or maybe I just drunk a glass of wine too many...)

Don't have this stuff in the house,- don't have ...

If you have or get tech probs w/ your Obie,- PM.

PeWe