MiniMax - Mod Wheel

[dante]

Does anyone know how to make the minimax mod wheel work like more conventionally ?

I tried some of the lead presets they were all to pitchy or noisy - not like normal amplitude mod - hard to explain. Or didn't the minimoog have that ?

Theres a preset called 'Stevies Lead' in the Peter Krischker bank that comes close.

[Mr Arkadin]

Maybe check the Modulation Mix on the main page as you can mix some noise in there. Or maybe check the Mod Wheel parameters on page 2.

Not having used a real Minimoog I can't say what it's supposed to sound like, but it never seemed odd to me.

[Bud Weiser]

Original Minimoog D bahaviour is:

OSC #3 is a modulation source on demand and it´s switchable to "LO" which makes it a LFO.

Then you have the "NOISE Generator" as the 2nd modulation source offering white or pink noise.

"Mod-Mix" on frontpanel just only mixes the OSC3 and Noise sources, but there´s no "modulation amount control" on the frontpanel.
Instead there are 2 "modulation on/off" rocker switches in the OSC and in the VCF section.

The Mod-Wheel IS the modulation amount control !

Bud

[dante]

Aah ok OSC3 makes sense thanks. But how to make it more Amp mod rather than Pitch mod - seems this may not be possible ?

[Bud Weiser]

Aah ok OSC3 makes sense thanks. But how to make it more Amp mod rather than Pitch mod - seems this may not be possible ?

Original Minimoog D has not many options modulating the (dual-) VCA, except by VCA ENV (internal) or you´re using an external modulation source and feed the rear panel VCA CV-input jack.
In fact that´s where one of my MOOG 1120 CV pedals is connected.

Now, Minimax originally doesn´t exist in a "modular design" ... but DJMicron made one ...
http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=31095
I fear it lacks additional CV inputs too though.

So, closest to VCA amplitude modulation is using OSC #3 "lo" (=LFO) on the filter (filter modulation rocker switch set to ON).

I wonder why it has to be Minimax for the sound you want,- isn´t Zarg Prowave an option or ProOne ?

Anyway, my DAW isn´t up and I´m typing from my head.
Minimax has more options than a original Minimoog D and now I cannot remember if there are ways using the MIDI CCs or not.
Maybe I know more tomorrow.

best

Bud

[dante]

Yeah could do on another synth - but particularly interested in Minimax, might write it up in ScopeRise and include your tips.

I don't have ProOne or protone - missed those sales.

[garyb]

the Minimax is a Minimoog emu that is pretty accurate except for the fx section. naturally it works the same way that the hardware does. it's not supposed to do things that a real mini wouldn't, if you don't count polyphony and that fx section.

[dante]

Agreed, but since I never owned the original, I don't know it's limitations. I'm going to study it more in depth though being a landmark worthy of retro discovery.

[Bud Weiser]

the Minimax is a Minimoog emu that is pretty accurate except for the fx section. naturally it works the same way that the hardware does. it's not supposed to do things that a real mini wouldn't, if you don't count polyphony and that fx section.

Hmm, it does some things a real Minimoog can´t.

As you said, there are the FX and polyphony, but much more important, there´s scalable velocity sensitivity on filter and amp in Minimax, similar to the StudioElectronics "Midimini" (rackmount).
I wished we had soft- and hardsync too and an additional LFO just only for the wheel/vibrato and have OSC #3 free for more modulations.
IIRC, there was also a PW-modulation modification available.

And,- according to the MOD wheel questions,- in Minimax there ARE controls for "MW-Intensity" and "MW offset".
Surprisingly, there are also "CV controls" related to the original packpanel inputs of a hardware Minimoog D,- OSCs / VCF and VCA.
And when I clicked on these virtual pots, it opened the MIDI CC window, hurray !
So, in theory, it should be possible to create a MIDI signal to generate VCA amplitude modulation and feed it into Minimax.
Automation curves in a sequencer or "MIDI LFO" comes in mind.

Now what´s nuts in Minimax is,- it doesn´t store the output volume in a preset, something urgently waiting for an update as also the OSC #1 octave range GUI bug should be fixed.

Bud

[dante]

Thats great info Bud, good discoverys. Embarassing for me is to admit I forgot I already made article about minimax

http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_19/max_mast.htm

So I will add these new revelations, after playing some more with it. The article itself is a bit sparse, so additional content welcome.

thanks again.

[garyb]

http://www.cyborgstudio.com/synthmp3s/m ... manual.pdf

[dante]

http://www.cyborgstudio.com/synthmp3s/m ... manual.pdf

...good one anyku....

[Bud Weiser]

http://www.cyborgstudio.com/synthmp3s/m ... manual.pdf

...good one anyku....

Wow, that´s possibly the oldest manual I´ve seen, much older than my printed one and less pages.
The control accessories on page 17 refer to numbers I´ve never heard from.
I´ve found another PDF in the web and it´s similar, but some pages written in july and december 1971.
Both manuals refer to the "RA MOOG" (Trumansburg/ NY) and "Musonics" (Williamsville/ NY - move nov. 1971) Minimoog D.
These have the old OSC-boards (less trimmers,- and less related holes in backpanel) which had much more tuning drift and temperature stability problems.
This was fixed introducing the "heat chips" as a modification and later a new OSC board carrying these chips.
Serial #10175 is the 1st one w/ the new board IIRC.
When it became Moog Music,- it was 1972 already.

#958 foot pedal became MOOG 1120 CV pedal, new ft-switch, the ribbon controller and sample&hold as well as the Moog drum controller appeared, more or less all derived from the big modular systems.

inacces.jpg

Now, talking Minimax, it would be interesting to know which Minimoog D was modeled, a RA model, a Musonics or the later "standard" Minimoog D from Moog Music.
They all sound and behave a bit different even they look identical.
Who knows ?
Holger, Rolf Meurer ?

Bud

[dante]

What a find ! I had no idea ribbon controllers exist back then.... Not to mention the other stuff.

[Bud Weiser]

What a find ! I had no idea ribbon controllers exist back then.... Not to mention the other stuff.

Keith Emerson used the ribbon controller w/ his MOOG Modular already.
Billy Cobham used the Moog drum controller w/ his Minimoog already on "Billy Cobham - Spectrum" while Jan Hammer used the Moog S&H generator, switches and pedals w/ his Minimoogs on the same record.
All these little pieces between the tunes on that album are full of MOOG FX.
It´s one of my all-time favourite albums, last but not least because the tasteful guitars came from Tommy Bolin.
Lots of that technology also used on "Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire".

For the Moog Modular there was a module called the "Bode Frequency Shifter" which later became a standalone unit too on Jan Hammer´s request and replacing his Oberheim Ringmodulator being used excessively w/ the Fender Rhodes pianos.
I´d wish we had such device for SCOPE Modular incl. the option controlling frequency sweep by MIDI CC #04 foot controller.
That´s what he did, using the 1120 CV pedal together w/ the Bode.
Listen to "Jan Hammer -The 1st Seven Days",- all the bell tones were done w/ the Fender Rhodes and the Bode.
Also listen to the electric piano solo on the Billy Cobham title "Red Baron".



Bud