Hi together!
Currently Waldorf sells a Expansion Board for the CME Midikeyboards. You can find it on german seller Thomann:
http://www.thomann.de/de/waldorf_nano_synth_fuer_cme_uf_keyboard.htm
It has round a about 1000 Sounds of Waldorf Q (microQ) and it has also limited possibilities to edit the sound in some parameters.
Did anybody (especially you, Thorsten :)) think about to adapt this expander on a midi device? Any ideas?
Bye, Achim…
I thought about this, but really it would be easier and cheaper to just buy the small CME keys.
Hi,
did anybody investigate this subject ?
As I can see on this
there are two small connectors - probably power and TTL midi signals. Unfortunatelly I dont have CME keyboard and I’m not able to check if i’m right.
IMHO there is no reason to make Waldorf Nano standalone (especially now, when there is much better Blofeld),
but there is also much more interesting module: Use Audio Plugiator - 7 synths based on creamware/sonicore plugins.
ASX pluging is cheapper then desktopop module and is really small - it could be possible to fit in 1U rack, or to build minimoog/propeth clone with mios based control surface :whistle:
EDIT:ASX manual - there is 2 pin midi in connection and 4 pin power connector onboard.
I agree with you Maniac,
The ASX is much more interesting.
I have already a Plugiator which actually host an ASX board.
I had in mind a project to make a synth based on a Core32 board to control such an ASX board.
I have more time to think about such project but miss some hardware to build up my very first Core32 board (ordered from SmashTV).
The thing I still have to figure out is a way to layout the controller to make it efficient for the most intersting plug-ins available on the ASX: LightWave and Minimax are provided with the board, Pro12 and Prodyssey being available through an extra plug-in bundle (99 € roughly).
The trick is to organise the controller to merge the required control elements for these 4 plug-ins.
The common structure is 2 or 3 osc mixed down to 1 or 2 filters…
The most complex is the Lightwave which sounds like a good digital synth (a kind of simplifyed prophet VS).
The most analog like sounding are the 3 others Minimax (inspired from the Minimoog), the Pro12 (inspired from the Prophet 5) and the most intereting Prodyssey (inspired from the ARP Odyssey).
The ASX module is way more interesting.
I was looking at the CME + ASX combo awhile back. But didnt like the feel of the CME keyboard. To many people were having problems with it aswell. So i left it. The plugiator module itself seems to be lacking controls. Bundling the ASX with a MB64 would totally solve that.
The hard part is to make a proper interface that would suit most plugins. I don’t think a core32 is a strict requirement and would probably make it harder as the MB64 hasnt been ported from MIOS8. Besides that the ASX module has it’s own USB port for MIDI connection.
For me the ASX USB port is more or less usefull for preset management.
The idea would be to assign midi CC in a generic way and remap the CC message to the ASX fixed CC map…
For example, the OSC 1(A) Frequency should always be the same CC message which is not the case in the ASX/Plugiator.
I did not meant that the Core32 was required, it is just the first and only Midibox board I have so far …
And I also had in mind something combining a kind of MidiSeq altogether with some ASX control knobs and switches to provide something more user-friendly than the limited plugiator user interface: I had in mind to attempt to merge the more user-friendly old Creamware/SonicCore ASB module into something new, not only dedicated to MINIMAX but providing a solution for LightWave, Pro12 and Prodyssey (and maybe something for the Plugiator also).
Some usefull and visually easy to read information can be found there:
http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=26107
This is focused on the main and most interesting plug available for the Plugiator:
Prodyssey
Pro12
Minimax
LightWave
…
The others are:
The Vocodizer (a really interesting Vocoder with an integrated synth part - inherited from the LightWave)
The B3000 (an Hammond emulation which as less in common with the other synth oriented plugs)
The FMagia (more 4 Op FM synth)
The Drum’N’Bass (More simple Groovebox sound source)
Just a heads-up. By the look of things the Plugiator ASX board might be EOL. Thomann is no longer carrying the ASX version. And i had a search on the web and couldn’t find much stores who carry it either.
So i made the jump and ordered one from ebay for 149euro. I am not even close to starting this project, but would hate to miss out on it later because i couldn’t get the board anymore. First i need to give my MB-6582 it much needed attention and my MBFM project is also in a state of flux.
As far as the design goes, i had a look at the Arturia Origin. This is more or less what you describe in the sense of the interface. It combines a control interface and a sequencer.
Yep, I noticed the Arturia Origin, but for the moment it is far to expensive for me.
Moreover, I already own 2 Plugiator unit I bought on ebay with the full range of plugin so for me the ASX board are already here.
The ASX board (under CME brand) is also offered as a so called X-synth board provided by Icon (but I must admit I never saw some X-Synth board for sale, only their host masterkeybaord the “Inspire” series.
The availablity of the ASX board by Thomann is kind of changing month by month. Sometime you only have the plugiator available, sometime the ASX an extra plug-in bundle are also for sale.
By the way the price you paid for the ASX is fair as it was the price thomann had it for sale it the last 3 months
Also available there for example:
[http://digitalaudioservice.fr/plugiator-asx-board.html?\_\_\_store=french&\_\_\_from\_store=english](http://digitalaudioservice.fr/plugiator-asx-board.html? store=french& from_store=english)
Yep, I noticed the Arturia Origin, but for the moment it is far to expensive for me.
Moreover, I already own 2 Plugiator unit I bought on ebay with the full range of plugin so for me the ASX board are already here.
The ASX board (under CME brand) is also offered as a so called X-synth board provided by Icon (but I must admit I never saw some X-Synth board for sale, only their host masterkeybaord the “Inspire” series.
The availablity of the ASX board by Thomann is kind of changing month by month. Sometime you only have the plugiator available, sometime the ASX an extra plug-in bundle are also for sale.
By the way the price you paid for the ASX is fair as it was the price thomann had it for sale it the last 3 months
Also available there for example:
[http://digitalaudioservice.fr/plugiator-asx-board.html?\_\_\_store=french&\_\_\_from\_store=english](http://digitalaudioservice.fr/plugiator-asx-board.html? store=french& from_store=english)
I have received the board. Have you ever found out what the power requirements of the ASX board is? It has a 4 pin power connector. So i would assume it requires 2 different voltages.
Is the board inside the Plugiator desktop module exactly the same?
From what I Know and what I can see on pictures of the ASX compared to the look I had inside one of my Plugiator the only difference I can see is the metal plate (which is probably also the difference between the CME branded ASX and the ICON branded X-Synth: http://www.icon-global.com/music/music/product.php?cpl2shu1_id=1&cpl3shu1_id=1&cpl3shu2_id=104 ).
I requested some more info from use-audio guys but I had no feedback so far except for a “we will give you answer asap message”.
If you are not to hurry, I will try to find time to make a few measurement to check what the pinout is and what the necesary wire are.
From what I see so far the plugiator is split in 3 boards:
1 power supply switch & connector + MIDI I/O connector: this one is really basic
1 ASX / X-Synth DSP board including USB and audio I/O: the most complex one
1 controller board which handles the plugiator user interface (AVR based microcontroller handling the 11 encoders, 10 swicthes, 8 leds and the 3 digit led display of the front panel): a kind of MIDIBOX board actually …
The link between the different boards is as follow:
=> 1 is 4 wired
=> 2 are 2 wired
Regarding for power requirement: the full Plugiator Module require a 9 VDC - 500 mA power supply.
Regarding the board the PCB has “CME ASX rev 1.3 © inDSP Audio Technologies” written on it, so yes I guess the plugiator main board and the ASX board are the same.
Regarding the 3 small connectors:
a closer look seem to make me guess that the dual wire ones are for MIDI IN and MIDI OUT connexions.
the 4 wire one should be for the main power supply
The ASX board is back and available in stock at Thomann :
http://www.thomann.de/fr/use_audio_plugiator_asx_board.htm
Do not find any EOL information about this one.
From what I Know and what I can see on pictures of the ASX compared to the look I had inside one of my Plugiator the only difference I can see is the metal plate (which is probably also the difference between the CME branded ASX and the ICON branded X-Synth: http://www.icon-global.com/music/music/product.php?cpl2shu1_id=1&cpl3shu1_id=1&cpl3shu2_id=104 ).
I requested some more info from use-audio guys but I had no feedback so far except for a “we will give you answer asap message”.
If you are not to hurry, I will try to find time to make a few measurement to check what the pinout is and what the necesary wire are.
From what I see so far the plugiator is split in 3 boards:
1 power supply switch & connector + MIDI I/O connector: this one is really basic
1 ASX / X-Synth DSP board including USB and audio I/O: the most complex one
1 controller board which handles the plugiator user interface (AVR based microcontroller handling the 11 encoders, 10 swicthes, 8 leds and the 3 digit led display of the front panel): a kind of MIDIBOX board actually …
The link between the different boards is as follow:
- power supply and midi connectors are linked with the main “ASX” board withe 3 connectors :
=> 1 is 4 wired
=> 2 are 2 wired
- the front panel board is directly linked to the main “ASX” board with a unique strip connector
I assume the front panel connector is 8 pin one on the top left of the board. I would be gratefull if you could take some measurements. I have also e-mailed Use Audio but i don’t think it will get me anywhere.
Regarding for power requirement: the full Plugiator Module require a 9 VDC - 500 mA power supply.
Regarding the board the PCB has “CME ASX rev 1.3 © inDSP Audio Technologies” written on it, so yes I guess the plugiator main board and the ASX board are the same.
Regarding the 3 small connectors:
a closer look seem to make me guess that the dual wire ones are for MIDI IN and MIDI OUT connexions.
the 4 wire one should be for the main power supply
My ASX board has the same thing written on it. So that confirms it.
The two white two wire plugs are indeed MIDI IN and MIDI Thru.
Either of the white four plugs is for power.
The ASX board is back and available in stock at Thomann :
http://www.thomann.de/fr/use_audio_plugiator_asx_board.htm
Do not find any EOL information about this one.
That was just my impression. I couldn’t find the board anymore in Dutch Music Stores. And since Thomann wasnt carrying it either i came to that conclusion.
Actually the front panel board connector is the 6 pin black one.
What is good is that if the ASX is available once again at thomann so some other people could join us to setup something using it … :).
But merging the whole set of plugins available intoa unique front panel is not that simple.
The Drums’N’Bass is espacially kind of out of range except if you focus on each of its instruments (especially the bass synth).
The B4000 is also special about it.
Maybe we should focus on synths like Minimax/LightWave/Prodyssey/Pro12 as they all have a similar structure including OSC/FILTER/AMP …
The vocodizer also include a similar simplyfied structure in its synthesis part
So any idea about that ?
The B4000 maybe a special but Use Audio did keep the most common midi control changes the same.
Would be nice if we could somehow find a compromise for the additional plug ins as well. Unfortunately no Midi implementation can be found online.
And you can find usefull though partial information (limited to CC messages) here:
http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=26107
I have the full information PolyAT message inclusive but it is only on a draft paper so far …
My idea was to implement 4 differents things in this device:
a kind of MidiBox “dedicated” to these synths
a subset of the MIDIBox Seq v4
a midi translator tool allowing to remap midi message from one source to one destination (the idea behind this would be to allow ASB module to take control other ASX/plugiator board as they do not have exactly the same CC mapping !!!)
a MIDI preset interpolation feature to allow an alternate way of using the controller to adjust between two preset to build a third one
