4MS Bend Matrix w/ CV Mod

Start video at 00:34, if you want to skip the technical intro.

This Bend Matrix is definitely something special. We just modded an SCM board and added an load of custom wiring and jacks to generate the CV. I designed it especially for interfacing, A, the amazing sequencing power of a Bend Matrix, B, modular synthesizers, and C, Midi gear. Effectively an all in one nuts-as-hell sequencer, for every format. All of your studio gear will be in sync and controllable on the fly with this Bend Matrix.

The first two shots show what is going on in the modular synthesizer while jamming on the Bend Matrix. The beginning of the video is just to show where the controls are going, and to show the events being triggered with a very slow MIDI clock to get an idea of what's happening in the more complex (faster) sequences.

As you press the sequencer buttons on the topmost row of the Bend Matrix, they generate either a 5V trigger pulse CV, or a 5V gate depending on whether you hold the button down. Also you can flip a switch to hold the button in latching mode (gate outputs) or return to CV triggers. So now every column has a CV control as well as the audio or control routing of the bend matrix inputs! You can scrub forward or backward in time, randomize, arpeggiate, etc. All controlling/beat syncing MIDI gear, modular synths, audio sequencing etc.

In this video, all I did was turn on the Bend Matrix in stock startup mode, plugged in MIDI, hooked the CV outputs to a Maths, Envelator, a PEG, and an SCM. I'm not even utilizing the power of the Matrix as an audio router, mixer, add that to the equation, and you can imagine the possibilities.

These envelopes generated by the Bend Matrix triggers are simply opening 4 VCAs on the VCAMatrix. It looks complicated but I just plugged in the oscillators to the VCAM, connected the envelopes to the VCA CV inputs, and plugged in the MIDI to the Machinedrum. With all the careful customization possibilities, you could set every midi note specifically, change the way the sequencers steps through, from vertical to horizontal scrolling, etc. Enabling you to create more and more complex sequences, the possibilities are truly endless. The great thing about the the demonstrion video, is this is an extremely simplified, for a more complex example that makes use of the Matrix inputs, you could re route the VCA inputs back into the Bend Matrix and switch sequence all of the audio outputs based on your Bend Matrix patterns.

The beginning of the video is just showing what's going on during the points where the camera is fixed on the Bend Matrix. Sorry for the built in camera audio.

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Tags:

• 4MS
• Bend Matrix
• modular
• synthesizer
• eurorack
• Machinedrum
• Midi to CV

[iammodman]

Very intresting..And nice work