MX9 9x9 Pin Matrix Module

[titanium]

Hello!

I am interested in this module as it could be a brilliant buffered mult solution, but can find very little information on the buffered version which includes the MX9A board. I have a couple of questions, some a bit "out there"

- Basically wondering if it is technically possible use more than the supplied amount of banana plugs into the MX9, or would this cause loss of voltage?
- Would it be physically possible to fit 81 plugs and have 9 outputs outputting the 9 inputs in unity gain and have all the output voltages equal the input voltages added up?
- What would be the approx. tolerance on the ouput voltages?

Cheers!

[futuresoundsystems]

Hi there!

Apologies for the late reply - we don't swing by here that much anymore...

You can use all 81 points of the matrix simultaneously, there's nothing to stop you. The MTX9A card will clip as the output signal reaches towards the power rails, however. We stock extra bags of pins for use with the matrix - you can certainly use more than the 10 that are supplied as standard.

How do you mean by output tolerance?

Cheers!
Fin

[NS4W]

So all signals are mixed before they get passed on to an output?

[stk]

If I may jump into this thread with a question of my own -
How is the performance of the buffered board with line-level (not modular) signals?

[futuresoundsystems]

So all signals are mixed before they get passed on to an output?

It depends on where you've inserted the patch pins. If I patched Ins 1, 5 and 7 to Out E, you'd hear Ins 1, 5 and 7 mixed on Out E. You might experience crosstalk between this signals on the passive version too, but none whatsoever on the active version.

[futuresoundsystems]

If I may jump into this thread with a question of my own -
How is the performance of the buffered board with line-level (not modular) signals?

Absolutely fine, I use the MTX9s with external line sources all the time
One thing you can do with the active matrix, is use a stackable to join several inputs together, then add those stacked inputs to the same output. This results in a positive gain. For example, if you had the input three times across the matrix, you'd end up with a gain of 3 at the matrix.

[RussiaZero23]

Any Videos Showing the MTX9 Buffered in action?

Would like to see how it handles sending the multiple signal to the same out or the other way around.

[eremitalf]

Any Videos Showing the MTX9 Buffered in action?

Would like to see how it handles sending the multiple signal to the same out or the other way around.

I second that. I can't find any video about the mtx9 and that would be cool!

[Paranormal Patroler]

Just tried mine yesterday for the first time and it works great with CV. I need to order a few more pins as 10/60 didn't have the metal part

[djthopa]

Hi! Could this be used for precision voltage summing with the buffered version? So i could send a 1volt on one channel and 2volts on another channel, sum both of them into a out and i would get 3v? Im thinking of using it as a sort of precission adder like the dopefer precision adder.
Cheers

[JM Midnight]

Yes, there isn't much info on this. It sounds like just the device I need to use as a central switchboard to send messages in and out and around my system only from what little documentation I've found. My rig has grown quite a bit and 9 ins, 9 outs should be enough to manage my submixes and CV needs. Compared to other matrices advertised, this has mixing and multing capabilities, audio and CV control, and the active version is buffered, so I wouldn't suffer from signal droop. One other thing that makes this tempting is I already own many FSS modules and I'm very happy with them (Full Gristelizer, FIL-3 and Makrow), so I'm sure the quality with the MX9 will be great. Just wish I could find an online PDF manual.

DivKid said his video on the desktop version is very similar to this unit (although the MX9 doesn't have the preamp gain knob), but his video was a bit hard to follow with all the stuff in the way. Aside from this, I've considered the Lion, but it's multing is passive, I don't care to yank those nooses in and out of the patchbay and it has three fewer channels.

Hmm...

[richduckworth]

The quality is great. We have used our buffered version live and in the studio for a couple of years — festivals, venues, generators, rain, hi winds, dropped cases — and it never blinked. A reliable pin matrix board.

[Jturbide]

I am also interested by the active one, I'm just not 100% sure I understand how the levels and signals are handled.

Basically you should not experience signal loss, so sending for example a loud sound into input 1 and a quieter sound into input 2 and connecting both to output A, you would end up with both signal and their relative loudness in output A. Just like if you send them into a mixer with level controls both at 10 for example?

If you send a 1v/oct sequence in an input, connecting it to any output with pins should give you the same sequence on each of these outputs (without alteration to the original 1v/oct signal)?

Sending different lfos in the inputs and sending them (via the pins) to a single output should give you the a complex lfo consisting of an equal mix of each?

I know, simple ideas bit I just want to make sure I understand the handling of signals

[EATyourGUITAR]

I think the point about having buffers is that if you send one source to 9 outputs you don't need to worry about the impedance of 9 100K resistors in parallel. So instead of a 1K source driving a 10K load you have a 1K source driving a 100K load.

Also if you are doing passive mixing with multiple inputs you are depending on all the source impedances being 1K. A midi to CV converter will have a 330 Ohm output resistor instead so the source impedance mismatch gives you unexpected strange volume (or magnitude for CV) problems. An input buffer fixes that so all impedances are matched inside the pin matrix. Check the manual for the active pin matrix output impedance. This will indicate the performance for 1v/Oct. 330R is better than ,1K.

[auxpin]

Sorry to bump this with my own question but I'm trying to track down a MTX9A active buffer board to add to my MTX9, preferably in the UK. It's out of stock at FSS but had no response on email or Twitter regarding a possible restock.

[KolmasPaeae]

It looks like those active buffer boatds (etc.) are (again?) available from the FSS site. But would like to be sure before ordering in order to avoid any refund hassle.. And the contact link doesn’t seem to lead anywhere (on my phone, at least..). So, are they available?

[thelowerrhythm]

It looks like those active buffer boatds (etc.) are (again?) available from the FSS site. But would like to be sure before ordering in order to avoid any refund hassle.. And the contact link doesn’t seem to lead anywhere (on my phone, at least..). So, are they available?

No idea, but the contact info shows up for me — fss@futuresoundsystems.co.uk

[KolmasPaeae]

It looks like those active buffer boatds (etc.) are (again?) available from the FSS site. But would like to be sure before ordering in order to avoid any refund hassle.. And the contact link doesn’t seem to lead anywhere (on my phone, at least..). So, are they available?

No idea, but the contact info shows up for me — fss@futuresoundsystems.co.uk

Nice, thanks very much! Can’t wait to upgrade it, it will be SO useful in my case (pun intended).