XPANDER SOFTWARE UPDATE OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS 4/5/85 The Oberheim Xpander, being a software based instrument, is continually capable of being updated with additional features and improvements by simply changing a few I.C.s (integrated Circuits) inside the machine. Since there are actually two separate microprocessors inside the Xpander, two separate sets of software are inside as well. The Main Processor software determines all of the operating functions of the machine, like what the displays will say, what functions are programmable, all MIDI functions, etc. The Voice Processor software actually generates all of the controlling wayeforms for the voices, such as the envelope generators, the LFOS, etc. If, also tunes all of the voices. To determine which software version is in an Xpander, press MASTER PAGE, then PAGE 2, and then the button below t 4N display that reads VERSION. The main processor and voice processor version numbers will appear in the display, along with the cassette version. T@ main processor will show either version 1.0 or 1.2. If the display shows version 1.0, this Xpander has the initial software release version, and @it may be desirable to update it to 1.2 at your local authorized Oberheim service center. If the main processor version reads 1.2, the Xpander already contains the most recent main processor version. The voice processor version will be displayed as 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, or 1.4. Again, if the version displayed is below 1.4, the software should be updated. The original owners manual for the Oberheim Xpander covers all of the functions of the Xpander for main processor version 1.0, and Voice processor versions 1.0 through 1.3. This document details all of the changes of operation and new features that exist in main processor version 1.2 and voice processor version 1.4. NEW FEATURES 1. The + and - buttons in the programmer section are used to select the next patch number up or down. They now can also be used to scan forwards or backwards through the patches by holding them down. This makes it easier to scan through the patch names in order to find a desired patch. 2. The MIDI SEND page is used for sending the current patch to another Xpander or a computer via MIDI. The new software now allows for ALL of the SINGLE and MULTI patches to be sent via MIDI.- as well as being able to send them one at a time. When in the MIDI SEND page, if the destination patch number is set below 00 (by. turning the knob below it counter clockwise) the display will read ALL. If the button below the display reading START is pressed, all of the patches will be sent out MIDI, and the display will read SENDING. This function will take about 17 seconds to complete. 3. The TUNE page functions have been changed slightly in the new version and look slightly different than the TUNE page from the previous version. The upper display shows which parameters can be tuned. A fifth tuning has been added (VCA) to allow matching of the final VCA levels of each voice. The lower display now has two extra functions. The buttons below the -OCT and +OCT displays can be used to shift the pitch down or up in octave increments. 4. The MIDI ENABLES page has also been changed slightly. The displayed functions are the same as described in the Xpander owner's manual. The exception Is that the lower right display used to say "DEFAULTS ON" or "NO DEFAULTS". This feature was used to choose whether or not the Xpander should remember the MIDI settings when power Is turned off. This function has now been eliminated - so that the Xpander will always remember the current MIDI settings. 5. Quantized Log is now possible on both of the oscillators and the filter by selecting KEYBOARD and LAG (both underlined) on PAGE 2 of VCO 1, VCO2, or VCF/VCA. This feature is useful for glissando type effects. 6. The SPEED and AMP modulation amounts on PAGE 2 of VIB can now be set -63 to +63. This allows for the speed and amplitude of the vibrato to be modulated negatively, if desired. 7. The cassette interface is now capable of loading in MATRIX-12 cassettes. All of the Single Patches from a MATRIX-12 cassette will be loaded in The Multi patch and Global data will be ignored, since they have different formats. CHANGES FOR XPANDER MAIN PROCESSOR REVISION 1.1 AND VOICE REVISION 1.4 The updates described in this document can be added to any Oberheim Xpander by replacing the four 2764 EPROMs an the main processor board with revision 1.1 software. and the two 2764 EPROM's and the voice board with revision 1.4 software. It is possible to use an Xpander with new processor software and old voice software (and vice versa), but many of the features described would not be possible, since they are accomplished by an interaction between the new main processor software and the new voice software. Therefore it is recommended that the software of the voice and the main processor be updated simultaneously. NOTE: Voice board revisions D and up Must use revision 1.4 voice software, and voice boards using Curtis rev. C filters must use revision 1.4 voice software and 1.1 main processor software. The following list includes all of the new software features and improvements that have been implemented in the software update. 1. The + and - keys in the programmer section now repeat when they are held. allowing for quick scanning through patches. When chain made is on, this can be used to scan through the patch chain list. 2. The new software now allows for ALL single and multi patch data to be transmitted via MIDI to another Xpander, a Matrix-12. or a Computer. If the encoder that selects the destination patch on the MIDI SEND page is set to below 0. the display will change to send ALL, and all of the patches can be sent out MIDI by pressing the START button. The sending for all patches will take about 17 seconds. During which the display will read SENDING. As before, the SYSTEMX switch on the MIDI enables page must be turned on in order to send any patches via MIDI. 3. The TUNE page has been modified to allow for quick octave changes in the transposition by pressing the +OCT or the -OCT buttons. These functions add or subtract 12 from the transpose value shown on the display. 4. The new voice software improves the tuning accuracy of the pulse widths and the filters. 5. The MIDI ECHO feature has been improved to include echoing of the System Exclusive and System Common commands that are received via MIDI IN. This means that system common commands Such as Song Start, MIDI Clock etc.) that are received will be sent Out the MIDI OUT if the MIDI ECHO switch is on., allowing for drum machine or Sequencer timing formation to be passed through to additional synthesizers machines. Xpander System Exclusive page change commands will also be echoed. 6. Many of the default settings in the Xpander have been modified so as to reflect the most common uses of specific functions. The VIB page 1 default now sets the SPEED to 56 and the AMP to 0). VIB page 2 sets the AMP modulation source to LEV 2 and the AMP modulation amount to 63. The MIDI ENABLES page now defaults to CONTROLLERS and PATCH changes ON (underlined)., all others OFF. The MIDI CONTROLLERS page now defaults PEDAL 2 to controller number 64, so that sustain pedals transmitted via MIDI (like those in the OB-8 or DX-7) can be used without having to select the proper controller number beforehand. 7. The NO DEFAULTS switch an the MIDI ENABLES page has been eliminated. This switch was used to select whether or not the Xpander Would retain the MIDI settings when the power was turned off.- Now.. the Xpander will retain all MIDI settings at all times. 8. Quantized Lag is now possible on both the oscillators and the filter. This is used for glissando effects where the slide is quantized to half steps. If both KEYBOARD and LAG are selected (underlined) at the same time on page 2 of either VCO or the VCF, the LAG will be quantized to half steps. 9. The modulation amounts set on page 2 of the VIB page can now be set positive or negative (-63 to +63). Previously these could only be set positive. 10. On the TUNE page, it is now possible to tune the final VCAs of each voice. This is done by pressing the VCA button. This adjusts the control voltage offsets. of each voice so that the envelope's release time will be smooth and even from voice to voice. 11. The MIDI RESET function now resets the zone inputs to OMNI. This is useful when using the Xpander with another MIDI synthesizer and they do not appear to be working together. The previous version left the zone inputs alone. 12 . The cassette routine in the old version did not load in the global Settings (such as single patch zone settings, MIDI, etc.). This problem has been fixed in the new version. This fix also adds two possible problems when loading an older cassette in. First, the global settings cannot be loaded from an older cassette (since the data was not valid anyway), Which Causes the display to read ERROR IN GLOBAL DATA when an older version cassette is loaded in. if this message is received. the global data will have been ignored from the tape and will remain set the way they were before loading the cassette. All of the Single and Multi patch data will have been loaded incorrectly. Second, it will not be possible to load in only one Multi patch at a time from an older cassette. If the entire cassette is loaded in, and a new cassette is made, individual Multi patches can again be loaded in. 13. If an individual single or multi patch is loaded -from cassette, the new version will exit the cassette mode as soon as the patch is loaded,. making individual patch loading much faster. The old software would always wait until the end of the cassette before stopping. 14. With the now software, MATRIX-1@' cassettes can be loaded into the Xpander. All of the single patches will be loaded in intact the global and multi patch data will be ignored. since it is a different format. The display should read DATA COMF'LETE after loading in a MATRIX-12 cassette. 15. The new software version has an improved display test routine. the old version, the display test would cycle through the 16 segments on each of the 40 digit displays. In the new software the first two encoders can be used to select which segment of which digit is to be lit. When the display page is first entered, all digits are lit so that burnt out segment drivers can be easily be identified. 16. The new software scans the programmer switches more often, allowing for faster program changes. 17. The initial pitch of the oscillators on power up before notes are played has now been set to 440 Hz in voice version 1.4. This function exists only for testing purposes. 18. The cassette routine now displays the type of error that was first received. rather than the last error received. Since the cassette always loads data in the same order (Single, then Multi., then Chain then Global), the data loaded before the error occurred can be assumed valid. This means that if the display reads ERROR IN MULTI PATCH DATA, all of the Single patches were loaded correctly. In the previous software version. it could only be assumed that the Chain and Global data was valid. The following list describes all of the software changes that have been made to correct operational irregularities., otherwise known as bugs. 1. Previously, MIDI "all notes off" commands were received on the basic MIDI channel only, causing ALL voices on ALL channels to be turned off when the command was received instead of only turning off the voices assigned to the channel the command was received on. Since very few products use the all notes off command, this is an infrequent problem. The Roland MSQ-700 does use this command which could cause voices to seem chopped off at times. The current revision properly recognizes the notes off command and will only turn off the voices assigned to the MIDI channel in which the all notes off command was received. 2. Previously, when using a synthesizer with channel pressure, (the new DX7 software for example) , the pressure would be ignored if the Zone Input was set to OMNI. To use the pressure with the old software the Zone Input had to be set to channel 1. This problem has been corrected in version 1.1. 3. When comparing a patch (patch number flashing) it was possible to edit modulation pages even though you are not supposed to be able to. Any changes made while comparing a patch would be deleted when you stopped comparing the patch. This problem has been corrected in. the 1.1 version. 4 . Multi-patch transpositions below were previously stored incorrectly as positive transpositions. This problem has been fixed in the new software. 5. Pressing the + key in the X SELECT section while the STEP or PATCH number in the CHAIN page was underlined used to cause the number displayed to change to a random number. Fixed in version 1.1. 6. Patch changes on the Xpander were always transmitted out the MIDI output. The setting of the MIDI PATCH ENABLE switch used to only affect incoming patch changes. With revision 1.1, the MIDI PATCH ENABLE switch enables and disables incoming AND outgoing patch changes via MIDI. 7. If a voice fails any of the tunings, it is automatically disabled. If the disabled voice is manually re-enabled (on the VOICE ON/OFF page) It can then be played again BUT, if the voice is now tuned on something other than what it failed an (e.g. tune VCO after failing PW) the voice will be disabled again until the failed tuning is re-selected and the voice passes. Since failed tunings are very rare, this bug is seldom seen, but has been corrected in the software, new software version. 8. The VCO 1 page 1 LED used to light when in VIB PAGE 2. Fixed with software version 1.1. 9. LEDs were to respond when TUNE PAGE was entered. Fixed inversion 1.1. 10. When the memory in the voice board is tested on the SERVICE page, the display used to read CA MEM OK. The new software reads VMEM OK. 11. If SINGLE PATCH is selected -from MULTI PATCH, and MULTI PATCH was selected while in a single MASTER PAGE the LEDs would be incorrectly displayed. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 12. In the previous software, if CHAIN mode was on and a, single patch was being edited (underlined) while in MULTI PATCH mode the +/- keys would advance to the next step of the chain, causing the edit to be lost. The new software makes the +./- keys inoperative while editing a single patch in multi patch mode and chain is on. 13. Previously, if a patch number was entered into the chain page using VALUE X buttons while in Multi Patch mode, the result would be zero. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 14. On occasion in the old software if ZONE 3 was used random notes might appear when the patch was recalled. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 15. The PAGE 2 led would not light on MASTER PAGE 2 and VIB PAGE 2. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 16. In the previous software version if a MIDI channel was used in MONO mode, and Multiple NOTE OFF commands were given (a feature used in guitar synths).. and MULTI trigger was turned on, on an envelope, the envelope wouldn't re-trigger. This has been fixed in version 1.4 voice software. 17. In the previous software, if PAGE 2 was pressed in the TUNE page, and then something was tuned and failed, the display would jump directly to PAGE 2 instead of displaying the FAILED message. Fixed in version 1.1. 18. In the previous software, if a knob was turned while in the tune page, the STORE button would not work until a new page was entered. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 19. If MULTI PATCH was selected while in a single patch modulation page, and SINGLE PATCH was re-selected, the MULTI PAGE dot in the CURRENT PAGE display would stay lit, and the LEDs would still be displaying the multi patch page. This has been fixed in version 1.1. 20. In the precious software, if a side patch was edited and stored in single patch mode, and that same patch was used in the currently selected MULTI Patch, the patches with that number would not have an edit dot next to them, even though they will not sound the same as the stored patch. In the new software, the patches in the MULTI Patch (as well as the Multi Patch itself) will have an edit dot if the stored patch is changed. 21. In the previous software version, the All Notes Off command cleared all of the controller settings in the Xpander. This meant that if a sustain pedal was used with a Roland Keyboard (which sends an all notes off anytime no keys are held), the Sustain pedal would not, since it was cleared when the when the keys were released. In version 1.1 the controllers are not cleared unless a new controller number or a new Multi patch is selected. 22. In the previous software version, if an All Notes Off command was sent immediately following a note on command (less than 10 msec), the note might stick on).The new revision solves this problem. 23. In voice software l.2 and below, if a square wave LFO was routed to the frequency of a VCO with zero amount, a slight bit of the LFO modulation could be heard. Revision 1.4 solves this problem. 24. In the previous software the LEDs would sometimes "glitch" when a tuning was finished in the tune page. This is fixed in version 1.1. 25. In the previous software version, if store was pressed and held while in single mode. and multi patch was pressed, Multi patch would be selected, even though the store was still in operation. The new software does not allow switching between single and multi patch while store is held down. 26. The amount Of time the programmer keypad waits for the second digit to be entered has been sped up in the new software 27. While in the TUNE page, comparing patches would sometimes not recall the stored patch, even though the patch number would be flashing. This problem has been solved in the new version. 28. In the old software, the display would sometimes "ghost" while in the cassette mode. This has been fixed in the new software version. 29. The PAGE 2 led will begin flashing sooner at the completion of the cassette routines in the new software version. 30. Midi system common commands F2H (select song) and F3H (song pointer) were misinterpreted in the previous software version and could cause operational errors, even though they have no function in the Xpander. This has been fixed in the new version. 31. In the old software, if there was both speed and amplitude modulation on the VIB, and an external trigger occurred, the display would read VOICE PROCESSOR. MALFUNCTION and the voices would not operate until the Xpander was turned off and then on again. This problem has been solved in the new software. 32. The new voice software (1.4) can recognize the deference between a B revision voice board and a D revision voice board (the sample and holds are in a different order). This means that version 1.4 can be used in all revision voice boards, but .versions below 1.3 cannot be used with revision D voice boards. 33. In the previous software versions, if the version page was entered while in multi patch and then single patch VCO1 page 2 is selected, and multi patch is re-selected, the underlines that were on VCO1 page 2 will remain displayed when the version page reappears. In the new software, the version page (and the service page) do not change to different pages when switching from multi to single. This keeps these two pages consistent with the other master pages. 34. In the previous software, selecting any Page 2 while in Multi patch mode 9eg VIB page 2 or VERSION Page 2), then selecting Single Patch mode, then pressing Store + Clear, and finally re- selecting Multi Patch mode would leave the Xpander in Multi Patch mode, but in the VCO1 page. The new software solves this problem. 35. In the previous software, if a value was underlined and part of the number was entered using the VALUE-X buttons and a new page is selected without completing the number the VALUE X led will continue flashing. The new software fixes this problem. 36. In the previous software versions, if a multi patch was used in which voice one's patch had VCO l's waveforms turned off, VCO1 on, voices 2 through 6 would not sound, even though the displays show that the waveforms are on for voices 4 through 6. The same is true for VCO2. The new voice software takes care of this problem. 37. In the previous software version. the RANDOM waveforms of the LFOs and VIB would have a small glitch in them half way through each cycle, sounding as if they were outputting the same value twice. This has been fixed in the new voice software. 38. In the revision B voice boards and below, there was a small glitch on the loading of the final VCA sample and hold of each voice which would be interpreted as distortion at very low Volumes. In the revision D voice boards with the l.3 software, this glitch appeared on the VCO 1 pulse width. Revision 1.4 voice software solves these problems for both revision voice boards. 1. In the previous software version a MIDI note off had to be at least 3 milliseconds after a MIDI note on or else the note may not sound. In the new software a note off command can immediately follow a note on command and the voice will play.