The M3X is a precision, hand built, drift free analogue synthesiser aimed at the discerning musician who targets quality of sound, functionality and ergonomics as well as combining the traditional warmth and control of the analogue synthesiser of the past. Emphasis with all MacBeth Studio Systems products, is on quality control, ergonomic issues and reliability. The instrument has been designed operate via MIDI and responds to the traditional 1V/Octave control voltage input and output, as well as the standard S Trig interface as used by many analogue systems.

Extended information

A true Analogue Rack Mounting or Stand Alone Unit of Awesome Power! The M3X marks six years of research and development by Ken McBeth, founder of MacBeth Studio Systems Ltd., and those six years have produced a synth that's got it right!

An analog synthesiser in a digital domain has to stand up to the competition by offering more power, more sound and more music! This instrument features global tuning stability not thought possible without taking the analogue 'guts' and sticking them all in one chip! The tuning of this instrument just doesn't drift! Rain or shine, the M3X is in total tune from the moment that you switch it on, and you know what that means! No more reliance on digital instruments or VA's for your searing lead-solos and hardcore bass-lines, what you have is an instrument that plays a unique part in your sonic armoury!

Your music will sound fresh, new and vibrant whether you're into Jazz, Metal or Drum and Bass! The ultra stable Oscillators generate the most wicked waveforms, and those waveforms emanate purely from Transistors and OpAmps! This synth has designed and built the Old Way! All the circuitry is made from 'discrete' parts! Wow! You're never going to sound the same again are you? but you will sound different! Check the Spec- three Audio Oscillators that can Cross Modulate each other, and that Self Oscillating Resonating mind blowing FAT 24 dB/Octave Filter Section! This synth carries with it White Noise, Pink Noise and Red Noise! Hey!You can even plug you into it! You can stick anything through the M3X, Voices, Guitars, Keyboards for expressive Voltage-Controlled Wah-Wahs, Cross-Modulated Choirs, Amplitude-Modulated Orchestras!

But the fun doesn't stop there! Oh No! The M3X can be hooked up to any MIDI Device you have- your computer, your keyboard, your breath controller- it's got built in MIDI see, designed and implemented by Kenton Electronics, world leader in MIDI Retrofits and Converters…the M3X features a nine waveform LFO which includes the amazing Sample and Hold.

You can synch this LFO to your external MIDI clock for some pretty amazing sounding arpeggios and other stuff! The M3X has got slowww Portamento and fast Portamento, Lo Note Priority, High Note Priority, ANY Note Priority! There is Multi Trigger or Not Multi Trigger! And there is more! All this is contained in a tough, rugged, bombproof steel and aluminium casing designed for the road as well as the studio- the M3X was designed to go in that rack, but it loves sitting on the desktop too! The front panel has been designed to be at a forty-five degree angle to the player.

The controls are totally groovy, and they want to be used! The Frequency controls are large and the turn ten times over- they are made from the best parts money can buy, and they make tuning the Oscillators a dream! There is more, but the rest is for you to find out.

Technical specifications

Oscillators

The Oscillators are 'classic' transistor/op-amp designs. They feature LED indication of audio or low frequency status. When one Oscillator is cross-modulating another in the audio range, they give a useful and subtle visual indication of the effect that one Oscillator is having on the other. The Oscillator Frequency controls are precision wire-wound ten-turn potentiometers providing unrivalled accuracy for tuning into 3rds, 5ths, 7ths, 9ths or any other pitch/modulation desired.

Oscillator 1
Sawtooth, Triangular, Rectangular, Ramp, Red Noise Waveforms
Audio, Filter FM, Cross Modulate Osc 2, Cross Modulate Osc2/ 3.
Synchronize Oscillator 1 ~ 2.
Overdrive.
Frequency Range 2Hz ~ 20KHz.
LED Status Indicator.

Oscillator 2
Sawtooth, Triangular, Rectangular, Sawpulse, Ramp Waveforms.
Audio, Filter FM, Cross Modulate Osc 1, Cross Modulate Osc1/ 3.
Overdrive.
Frequency Range 2Hz ~ 20KHz.
LED Status Indicator.

Oscillator 3
Sawtooth, Triangular, Rectangular, Sawsquare, Ramp Waveforms.
Audio, Filter FM, Cross Modulate Osc 2, Cross Modulate Osc1/ 2.
Overdrive.
Frequency Range 2Hz ~ 20KHz.
LED Status Indicator.
Oscillators are driven by the standard Voltage Control, 1V/Octave Logarithmic Law.
Tracking over Ten Octaves/ -5 ~ +5 Volts.
Transpose Value adjusts the pitch of the instrument in semitones up or down two
octaves. Fine Tune allows the M3X to be accurately tuned to other instruments.
Octave Select adjusts pitch in octaves up or down two octaves.
Scale allows the Oscillators and Filter to compensate for inaccurate scaling that other instruments may exhibit, or can be used to lose the ‘accuracy’ of it’s own stable tracking for special effects.

Oscillator Volume controls, if set to maximum, overdrive into the Filter produce mild distortion. Note: Octave select will override Transpose Value at the higher and lower end of the octave spread.

Low Frequency Oscillator
The LFO features nine separate Waveforms, these being:
Triangular, Sawtooth Up, Sawtooth Down, Rectangular 10/20/30/40/50%, Sample
and Hold.

All the Waveforms modulate CV and /or Auxiliary Routing any value between 0 to a
positive value except Triangular which modulates both positive and negative.
Wave shapes can changed in real time by using Midi Controller#19 (general purpose
controller #4)

Also featured on the M3X are:
LFO MIDI Synch, which allows the LFO Waveform to synchronise to the Midi clock with
a variable divide ratio.
The LFO will automatically adjust its length so that it will start at the beginning of a bar,
and last for whatever musical time it is set for.

LFO to CV Controller # Allows: Pitch Bend, Velocity and Aftertouch,
Midi Controllers 0 ~ 120.

LFO to AUX Controller # Allows: Pitch Bend, Velocity and Aftertouch,
Midi Controllers 0 ~ 120 to control the LFO depth applied to the Auxiliary.

Noise Generator
Analogue, transistor/op-amp configuation. Successive 3dB/Octave filtering
Noise Spectrum Type ~ White, Pink and Red
Switchable.

Filter
Voltage Controlled Low Pass 24dB/Octave Resonating, Transistor Ladder Type.
Variable Tracking ~ Responding Exponentially from 0.5V/Octave to 3.5V/Octave.
Frequency Range 16Hz ~ 20KHz.
Filter Resonance self oscillates at High ‘Q’ producing a pure Sinusoidal Waveform which can be played via MIDI or CV and can be Frequency Modulated via the LFO or all three Oscillators.

Switchable Filter tracking is from the range of zero, 100%, 200% and can also be controlled via the MIDI section.

Frequency Modulation via Oscillators and Filter CV socket.

Loudness Amplifier
Voltage Controlled Amplifier
Dynamic Range ~ 80dB.
Can be controlled by Auxiliary Routing Function.

Envelope Generator 1
Directed to the Filter Section.
Attack Time 1 msec. ~ 8 seconds.
Decay/Release time 1 msec. ~ 8 seconds.
Sustain Level 0 ~ 100% of peak.

Envelope Generator 1 features normal and inverted/reverse envelope control of the filter.

Oscillator 2 can be swept by this envelope, and when hard-synched to Oscillator 1 the sound is awesome!

Envelope Generator 2
Directed to the Amplifier Section.
Attack Time 1 msec. ~ 8 seconds.
Decay/Release time 1 msec. ~ 8 seconds.
Sustain Level 0 ~ 100% of peak.

Both Envelope Generators feature a final decay/Release switch.

Auxiliary Parameters
Auxiliary Controller # sets which Midi Controller will control the Auxiliary Controller.
Parameters include: Pitch Bend, Velocity and Aftertouch as well as
Midi controllers 0 ~ 120. Reset, Maximum and Minimum values are included parameters.

Auxiliary Controller Route
Route auxiliary controller parameters to the Filter, VC Amplifier and to Oscillator 2.

Hold Function
Holds both Transient Generators in permanent Sustain, thus allowing the M3X to perform as a complex analogue sound processor. This function also allows for keyboardless experimental music or for sound effect generation.

Pitch Bend Range
The Pitch Bend Range is from 0 ~ 12 semitones. This range is changed in semitone steps.

Transpose Range
The Transpose Range is -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 Octaves and there is also a semitone increment/decrement.

Portamento
Maximum Rate ~ 8sec/Octave.
Minimum Rate ~ 0.01 seconds/Octave.
Adjustable over real time using Midi controller #5.
The standard Midi controller on/ off is 65 which is the default, but with this command, the M3X allows you to use another controller or a program change or even direct control if so desired.

Multiple Trigger
If set to Multiple Trigger mode, a new valid note will briefly turn off to retrigger the Envelope Generators.
If turned off, ie, in Normal Trigger mode, the Envelope Generators will only retrigger when a new note is selected. This setting allows for the 'classic' lead synth sound where the filter envelope decays without re-triggering whilst new notes are continued to be played. It is particularily good when used with a subtle amount of portamento.
The Multiple Trigger default setting is ‘On’.

Note Priority
The following can be selected: Low Note Priority, High Note Priority and New Note Priority.

External Audio Input
¼" Phone~ 50 mV for full output.
Variable gain with Signal Input socket.

Interface
1/4" Phones ~Control Voltage In/Out ~ 1V/Octave.
1/4" Phones ~Filter Control Voltage input ~ 1V/Octave.
1/4" Phones ~Trigger In/Out ~ +5V S Trig type.
5 PIN DINs ~Midi In/ Midi Thru ~ Mono, Channel Selection 1 ~ 16.

Output
1/4" Phone ~ Low Output 0.25V PP, 100k ohm impedance.
1/4" Phone ~ High Output 0.75V PP, 10k ohm impedance.