Firmware 3.85 released, FINAL

[bovist]

Firmware 3.851 has been released on Dec. 6th. Last changes:

- adjustable vibrato scanner gearing (frequency), param 488 in HX3 remote (located just before "Vib1 LC age"). Vib frequency raised some percents in AVR firmware eeprom defaults.
- fixed unwanted "feature" in MIDI IN ScanCore #18. Sostenuto CC #66 robbed PERC ON in NI B4 CC set. Now Sustain on CC #64 may be switched to Sostenuto functionality by HX3 Remote param 48. New MIDI ScanCore is #19. It is compatible with older FW and FPGA versions, so may be updated alone. Does only affect HX3 MIDI expander.
- please use new HX3 Remote organ defaults file with addt'l param entries
- fixed "Vibrato Knob noct saved on Preset 0" bug in expander firmware

Firmware 3.85 PRELIMINARY has been released on November 23rd.

- Added "Sustain", "Sostenuto" and "All Notes Off" accepted MIDI commands, MIDI ScanCore #18 only!
- Improved overflow behaviour in busbar adders, somewhat louder bass pedal
- Less prone to overflow distortions on loud tapering settings
- Higher audio output level on rotary simulation
- Rotary simluation delay lines now with 16x oversampling rate, should result in less modulation artefacts
- Simplified Leslie default parameters in HX3 Remote, most params changed in value
- "Real Time" adjustment of reverb parameters
- Fixed Split bug in XB2 ScanCore

See https://github.com/keyboardpartner/HX3/ ... ter/LATEST for details.

Concerning several requests (and against my personal opinion), I added "Sustain" and "Sostenuto" MIDI CCs accepted. Due to space restrictions, this was a lot of work - only possible by some tricky programming. Until now, these command interpreters will not fit into other ScanCores than "MIDI IN only". Just replace MIDI SCanCore with HX3 Remote "Advanced" page if you don't need the other features listed. ScanCores #18 will also run on Firmware 3.8 and up.

As the firmware update includes a bunch of param changes, do not let HX3 Remote or HX3 Flash restore your old Organ or Leslie parameters. Firmware and FPGA must be updated both.

Leslie simulation in FPGA got a re-written modulation engine and new delay line oversamplers; this might result in a somewhat "different" sound (may be tweaked by Leslie Default params, though). Some guys noticed modulation artefacts on FAST position which should be barely noticable now.

DO NOT UPDATE WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY WITH YOUR HX3 AS IT IS OR YOU DON'T NEED THE FEATURES LISTED ABOVE. PRELIMINARY VERSION. Params are subject to change.

TO DO: Some people told me the Vibrato frequency is a little too low. How much in percentage? I checked my scanner rotor gearing calculation to be OK, but I may be wrong - my apologies, I'm just as old as the wax caps.

Please post bug reports or suggestions here. Do not use the "bugreport" email account anymore.

[Dr.Sinus1]

Moin zusammen,

ich habe das Update gerade aufgespielt.
Die Modulation "artefacts" in der rotary simulation sind verschwunden, dafür haben sich jetzt leider andere Störgeräusche eingestellt.
Ich höre eine, von der Stoppposition des Horns abhängige niedrige Frequenz die beim Einschalten des Rotors anfängt zu pulsieren. Wird umgeschaltet auf fast, dann kommt ein "Schleifgeräusch" hinzu - deutlich vernehmbar mit nur 16' in der höchsten Oktave.
Womöglich beruht das alles auf eine Übersteuerung...

Gruß, Emil - Dr.Sinus1

[clp560]

Just updated the midi scancore and the sustain works great. Thanks Carsten, it seems it was harder work than we imagined when first requesting this. On my XK-3 I can select which manual to sustain and I've used this musically in interesting ways (I hope!) in the past so it's great to see it implemented on the HX3.

As suggested I didn't update anything else for the moment - I use a Leslie 147 and don't use the HX3 simulation right now.

I think it's true that the chorus/vib frequency is too low. The best way I can describe it is that it doesn't 'pulse' quite fast enough. For me I get close to the original Hammond at a setting of 190 Vib3 FreqMod (age down to 30) but indeed that doesn't quite solve the frequency issue. In percentage I would suggest it's around 15% too slow, but I'm not sure how the sound changes in percentage terms as the frequency is increased, so it's only my perceived figure. I don't suppose it's a possible edit parameter addition?

Paul

[bovist]

New version available with FPGA 27112015 and revised rotary params. Uses proven interpolating modulation scheme from FPGA16102015, but 16x oversampling. Should be near to final release now. Has no new serial number.

Now working on the "vibrato a little to slow" issue. I think I will make a variable gearing for the scanner.

[m_g]

Hi Carsten,

kleine Anregung für die Leslie-Sim:

Bei Leslie STOP wäre Speaker in Front Position
gestoppt ne schöne Sache.....

Gruss
Markus

[bovist]

Last changes in firmware #3.851, FPGA 27112015, MIDI IN ScanCore #19

- adjustable vibrato scanner gearing (frequency), param 488 in HX3 remote (located just before "Vib1 LC age")
- fixed unwanted "feature" in MIDI IN ScanCore #18, where Sostenuto CC #66 robbed PERC ON in NI B4 CC set. Instead, Sustain on CC #64 may be switched to Sostenuto functionality by HX3 Remote param 489
- new MIDI ScanCore #19, compatible with older FW
- use new HX3 Remote organ defaults file!

[clp560]

New FW installed and the new Scanner Frequency control is great. I've started with a setting of 48 (58 was the default) and this is already a better sound, closer to the chorus sound I'm used to (lowering the number increases the scanner speed). I'll experiment further, I'm sure, but this is a great mod - thanks Carsten.

Ramon, I reloaded my saved presets and all are fine and have stuck through a restart ok. I don't have perc on the presets so I'll try that, but the vib settings stick ok. The only small issue I have is on starting up the vib sets itself to V1, not the C3 I have set in the Editor. No big deal but curious, since before FW 3.84 this worked ok.

Paul

[bovist]

Described behaviour affects only MIDI Expander:

There was a minor bug in MIDI Expander firmware which prevented initial loading of the vibknob setting for preset 0.

In the MIDI Expander firmware, preset 0 is a special "live" preset that remembers sound changes by MIDI if temporarily switched to a preset other than 0. So you get your previous "live" sound back when you switch from other preset to 0 without having to "save". The "live" setting is held in RAM, so it is lost when powering off. However, it will remember that sound permanently if preset 0 is saved explicitely.

Expander FW is online now, it has no new serial number. I also updated the EEP file with lower "Scanner Gearing" parameter.

Concerning the "Tabs not changed" issue:

On Expander, all tabs are saved to presets. On bare HX3 boards for organ installation, drawbars and tabs are always saved to 4 "common" presets found on Panel16. Tabs are not saved to upper/lower presets, just the drawbars. Parameter 485 in HX3 Remote determines if tabs are saved to each upper/lower preset or not.

[Meteor8]

Hallo Carsten,

nun konnte ich auch die XB2 Version etwas genauer testen.
Erstmal ein dickes Lob, nach kleinen klanglichen Einbrüchen bin ich mit der 3.851 nun sehr zufrieden.

Im Rotary Fast sind aber leider diese Störartefakte noch immer zu hören. Deutlich hörbar ist so eine Art hochfrequentes Anlaufgeräusch in voll gezogenem 8´Zugriegel in der obersten Oktave zu vernehmen.

Ansonsten ist mir noch ein Bug aufgefallen mit dem Ein/Umschalten von Vib/Chorus. Wenn ich bei ausgeschaltetem Vibrator eine Variante vorwähle und dann einschalten, springt die Einstellung auf die nächstfolgende Vib/Chorus (z.B. C2 vorbewählt, beim Einschalten springt die Einstellung auf V3) Das macht das Einstellen/Vorwählen etwas schwieriger.

Beste Grüße
Andreas

[Dr.Sinus1]

Hallo Carsten,

beim Testen aller Funktionen der frisch umgebauten B3000 stelle ich fest, dass die Cancel-Taste nicht wie bisher alle Zugriegelwerte auf 0 setzt, sondern das zuletzt gespielte Preset übernimmt.
In der Tabelle stehen alle Werte korrekt auf 0. Bitte prüfen...

Danke und Gruß, Dr. Sinus1 - Emil