ChazKeys

Just to remind RD88 owners with a Mac the latest version of the editor is here RD88 Editor. Someone contacted me recently to say they are running it on Sonoma - not sure if that was standalone or plugin.

Koala is a great sampler for iOS. Thumbjam is also versatile and supports user samples - fun to play as well. BSi16 is a bit clunky but is good if you need to use SoundFonts. If you want to play it live the part is dead simple but you won’t get that s little flurry at the end of the note. But use a long reverb and it should be ok for live.

I took a long break from iOS stuff but after D6 was released for iPhone I fired up a few GSi apps again. I’ve only just noticed that Model D6 and some newer GSi apps don’t support background audio. VB3m and Genuine Sounds run in the background so wonder if an update will be released. Guido are you reading this?

You should contact Apple for a refund.

Not new but Model D6 is now iPhone compatible. https://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=58 BTW the iphone version did not show up in my purchases despite having bought the iPad version last year. Contacted GSi who advised to wait a few days for the App Store to update . It finally turned up today - that’s 6 days later. Still waiting for Magic Tines - that was teased nearly a year ago.

Here is a free basic editor. No sysex so there is no two way communication but lots of stuff like panning and atrophy control that reduces menu diving . There is a page dedicated to the Mod Matrix which is very powerful. https://aka-v-c-f.blogspot.com/2024/02/behringer-ub-xa-editor.html?m=1 Check out my other editors here https://aka-v-c-f.blogspot.com/2023/10/ctrlr-panels-collection.html?m=1

Yes well spotted! I’lll update those banks later this week.

I've updated all my editors recently including the RD-88 - better use of screen space. You can access all of them on my blog: https://aka-v-c-f.blogspot.com/2023/10/ctrlr-panels-collection.html

Page 8 of 8 - 25 posts and just one mentions the UB-Xa. What is wrong with you lot? It's just a synth! First units are now being delivered and despite the cheap price overall impressions are good. All my Behringer synths (some are 4-5 years old) have been rock solid and no issues. Firmware updates have been really smooth too thanks to the SynthTribe app. However, I'm under no illusions that this may change with this release. At least it's got a fan - very quiet by all accounts and there settings to control it. Some positive comments about the keybed too - sure can't be worse than my Sub37 Aftertouch is adjustable too: 4. Aftertouch Out – switches between Channel Pressure and Polyphonic Aftertouch (default) on MIDI OUTs. 5. AT Curve – sets intensity of Aftertouch Curve. Options are Soft, Medium (default) and Hard. 6. Aftertouch Flt – sets the amount of aftertouch affecting the filter from 0 (no affect) to 127 (full affect). Default is 63 Delivery date for UK seems to be 20th Jan. Right I'll get my coat......

I agree Its not the IC - they are as you say the same. It’s about design around those chips. I would need to see the circuit diagrams but Im not sure there are SMT equivalents of the transistors etc found in the original SEM. But as I said if anyone can coax that vibe with SMT it’s Tom. I guess this is why Behringer have employed atrophy to make the tone more vintage The vintage update worked well on the P6. I’m not disputing the OB-X8 has the sound I am interested in seeing how close the UB-Xa gets to the original OB-Xa that it’s modelled on.

I think analogholic makes an interesting observation about reissues when he says: 'It sounds different, more "precise" or "sterile". But that was expected, as I hear this in most reissues, take SEM, KARP 2600 or whatever. Don´t know if it is the SMT design..." The difference between SMT and discrete components might have a subtle effect on the sound. Like Mylar capacitors in Hammonds? Not as huge as valves and transistors - but how close to the original circuit designs are they. Not to mention the miniaturisation of those circuits. The tiny OB-6 voice cards were a bit cheeky as they had a SEM panel printed on them but they didn't even use and original SEM circuit - it was only "inspired by". The SVF was good but a different character to the SEM. But if there is one person who should be able to employ SMT to get the SEM filter right it's Tom O. That is the big draw for me with OB-X8 - just got to win the lottery first! The Ub-Xa like OB-Xa uses Curtis chips so should be quite close - especially of you play around with the atrophy settings but the OBX is a different beast altogether. Will the UB-X get close - probably not. That's even if its ever released. Here's a link to a useful SOS article from 1998 (check out the second hand prices at the end!) https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/oberheim-obx-obxa-ob8

Completely different circuits. OBX used CA3086 for the oscillators (same as the SEM) and discrete components for the filter etc. I wouldn’t expect it have the same sound as a synth using Curtis chips.

I have no illusions about the UB-Xa and I have not heard any sounds on the previous demos that have made me go wow! But given the basic building blocks of 3340 oscillators and 3320 filters which i have been using for 40 years I reckon I can coax my kind of sounds out of this box. Not really bothered about how close it is to the original. I owned a P5 Rev 3 for 30 years but when the P6 came out it was so much better, warmer, fatter and of course it had modern features. Then they released the Vintage knob and it just got better. Wierdly the old prof was 3340 but its what components/software support that chip that can make a difference. The Neutron 3340 oscillators are rich and capable of some excellent raw sounds - especially Sync. This seems to be the case with monos but the poly synths never seem to capture that raw single oscillator sound - the P6 does but IIRC thats based on the old SSM chips. OTOH I didnt get the same buzz from the Pro1 oscillators. I have heard some good YT demos of the Pro800. Whether a synth does it for you is such a personal thing. I have to play/program a keyboard sometimes for weeks (years?) before it clicks. So I expect I'll get most mileage out of UBx by layering up to 4 osc and maybe using 12 and 24dB/Oct filters for each layer. If I cant create interesting pads and leads etc well its time to hang up my boots! OTOH maybe its a lemon?

Its even less at Andertons - £899. I don’t know why - maybe it’s a Super Partner thing. They have given me a delivery date of 20th Jan. A 16 voice bitimbral analogue poly with 5 octaves and poly AT at that price is too good to pass. If it sounds as good as the Pro 800 i’ll be fairly happy and should be a useful controller too.

Just ordered one from Andertons. Probably won't get it until February/March but the introductory price is lower than I expected. https://www.andertons.co.uk/behringer-ub-xa