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Morph function in ModMatrix

Endrick	Posted on Sat 11 Sep 2021, 04:11 PM Hi, I'm aiming to create very modulatable patches for live performance and still struggle with the the ModMatrix. I wrote this in another post, but it interferes with my workflow so much, that I want to bring it up again. In the first place I get confused with the offset, because it does change the original values and you have to inconveniently reconstruct the initial sound. Secondly it is hard to preview the results of the modulation when you modulate multiple parameter at the same time. Ideal would be to define the original sound as a starting point, then tweak parameters until you get a result, which you define as the destination when modulation is set to maximum. This is simular to the morph function of the Nord Lead. If this idea is not easily realisable, a solution that avoids the manual setting of the offset would be very helpful, too.
KODAMO	Posted on Sun 12 Sep 2021, 06:40 PM Hi, In the first place I get confused with the offset, because it does change the original values and you have to inconveniently reconstruct the initial sound What you're looking for is a modulation matrix that sums into the base sound parameters rather than overriding them. The EssenceFM matrix is of the second type, it's not possible to change it to avoid breaking all the awesome sounds people made since the beginning. Secondly it is hard to preview the results of the modulation when you modulate multiple parameter at the same time. Ideal would be to define the original sound as a starting point, then tweak parameters until you get a result, which you define as the destination when modulation is set to maximum. We agree that could be practical, but also incredibly hard if not impossible to do on a complex sound engine like the EssenceFM. What are you doing the most with the mod matrix ? Usually we found it quite easy to work with. Maybe thinking about the modulations while designing the sound (instead of doing them afterwards) would make the workflow easier.
Endrick	Posted on Thu 16 Sep 2021, 12:44 AM I totally understand your points. In the first place I aim for changing the sustain and decay and in timbre, comparable to the controls of an analog synth, but with the sound possibilities of FM. Therefore I most of the time need to modulate all the Envelopes of the corresponding Operators. It definitely helps to use a midi controller to test the modulation while tweaking the offset and amount, but I still ask myself if it's possible to make it a bit easier.
Endrick	Posted on Mon 27 Sep 2021, 10:31 AM After some more time with the modulation matrix I got much more used to it. But it brought up another question. Could number of modulation inputs be increased beyond 8?
Endrick	Posted on Mon 27 Sep 2021, 11:25 AM And one more idea. I started using the modulation matrix to tweak the values of several operators at once with my midi controller. When I have found a interesting setting I now have to write down the exact values from the modulation matrix and transfer them manually to the actual parameter when I want to save the sound as is. Is a write modulation matrix values to patch parameters and clear modulation matrix function imaginable?
KODAMO	Posted on Tue 28 Sep 2021, 12:25 AM After some more time with the modulation matrix I got much more used to it. But it brought up another question. Could number of modulation inputs be increased beyond 8? Not possible sorry. If you want more modulations, you need to split your sound into different voices (2 for 16 slots, 3 for 24 etc.) Is a write modulation matrix values to patch parameters and clear modulation matrix function imaginable? You seem to use the mod matrix as a voice editor. Mapping between matrix values and parameter values do not exist so that would be really hard for us to develop such a feature. We'll take a look at it for the next firmware though, maybe our developers will find an efficient way to do that 😉
Endrick	Posted on Tue 28 Sep 2021, 03:51 PM Thank you very much for your support and considering my suggestions. I will definitely try the approach to split up the patch in several voices. And you were right. I tried to use it more as a even more hands on voice editor, where you can edit parameters of multiple operators without switching screens, sth that was never possible with the classic FM synths. My last idea is to expand the midi implementation to make that possible in edit mode.
KODAMO	Posted on Tue 28 Sep 2021, 08:01 PM Can you easily setup NRPNs with your MIDI controller ? We may add support for them at some point, there would be an NRPN for each parameter. Unfortunately classic CC can't be used for that, there aren't enough of them for all parameters.
Endrick	Posted on Wed 29 Sep 2021, 05:53 PM Yes. I use a bcr2000. That would be a dream come true. And editing the several slots with NPRN via their individual midi channels in performance mode would be heaven.
Endrick	Posted on Thu 21 Oct 2021, 12:20 PM While playing with the modulations I noticed that the possibility to send the initial value of the modulated parameter via CC on performance load would be really helpful. That would sync all values with my controller and prevent values from any jumping. But I'm not sure what the initial value really is. Is it the offset or the value set in the patch editor?
KODAMO	Posted on Fri 22 Oct 2021, 05:20 PM Neither of them. When the EssenceFM loads a performance, it only initializes CCs that are mapped to the knobs (see Performance > Knobs page), if the checkbox "Initialize CCs at performance load" is checked. Event if you don't use this feature for controlling CCs with knobs, you can use it to setup your CCs on performance load. Remember to also check "Send to MIDI out" so the CCs are also sent to your controller.