ABOUT looks a bit like a Minimoog, but it's concept goes beyond it, also the sound is different. Why comparing it? to me it comes more close to the EMS Synthi A, because the VCOs can mod each other! fine FM plus a good sounding filter.

DETAILS envelope has ONE D/R knob and a Release on/off switch that is set with the Decay knob. freely routable VCOs, even to the VCF! LFO is software generated and has pulse waves (different pulsewidth). - this quite look like minimoog? but it isn't a minimoog.. it has it's own sound.. you have direct access to the routing including mod destinations like FM of other OSCs to make nice FM-type sounds or filter FM is not a problem ;) cool freq. knobs (endless!) that allow some sort of EMS type VCO freq. tuning. "laboratory"-kind of quasi-"endless" dials! also soft LFOs are there, so you do NOT need to sacrifice your OSCs for mod purpose. (one lfo) ENVs: is standard but not as fast as the mini's.. anyway anough to make nice percussive sounds, but maybe this could be moded someday?.. very nice user interface, and THIS is maybe why the ppl compare it to a minimoog: it's layout and knobs are at the right position and extended at the right features.the LFOs are all controlled by the digital interface. that could have been knobbed,too (well,one LFO with push buttons, amount knob and destination knob are missing.. but: you do have something like this using the display.. but it takes a bit more time.. anyway this is a really cool machine. the highlight here is def'ly the FM and the OSC knobs!! in combination with the routing. filters: sound a bit between EMS and moog .. but it is still another type of filter.. did I say it's LPF? OSCs: 3 of them that can be turned by endlesss rotaries like the ems vcs3 (there are no "steps" to help you to find the octaves but has the advantage to adjust them nicely..) any OSC can mod the filter (!!) and you can FM/mod OSCs each of the others or 2 OSCs: eg: vco 3 can mod OSC 2 and osc 1 and 2. osc 2 can mod osc1 or osc 1 and 3!! osc1 can mod osc 2 or osc 2 and 3 waveforms: rectangular (different duty cyles on each OSC). tri / saw up and down, osc1 has red noise the OSCs are quite strong.. not as strong as the moogs but "phat" enough to say "wow" ;) why moog? well it's been said.. maybe because of the look of the m3x.. the mixer is very nice: one look and you know about it all. noise is there too.. (ext input: no problem) btw: you can do a lot with filter fm and the oscs, they are stable enough to do "DX7" sounds with inharmonic spectra etc.. this one is a very recommendable machine, there is 1 LFO that can be routed anywhere with 9 waveforms .. but this is the more critical thing: it's more like programming an old poly 800 or matrix6, you need to set them all using the menu unter the knobs.. the conclusion for me was: nice sound that is brought ("fat" = "phatt") enough to kick out an ems vc3 (yes ,the osc FM stuff reminded me of the ems!). the filter is not a moog maybe somewhat "british".. the truth is: it is another kind of filter sound that is a good alternative to the mentioned synths (ems and moog) it's more the concept that made me "compare" those..

SOUND Effects (based on FM) plus Leads and Basses

VERSION 2 colour schemes (black, green) and M3X mk2 (some little upgrade like some jacks accessable from the front)

Macbeth M3X
btw: you can do a lot with filter fm and the oscs, they are stable enough to do "DX7" sounds with inharmonic spectra etc..

this one is a very recommendable machine, there is 1 LFO that can be routed anywhere with 9 waveforms .. but this is the more critical thing: it's more like programming an old poly 800 or matrix6, you need to set them all using the menu unter the knobs..

the conclusion for me was: nice sound that is brought ("fat" = "phatt") enough to kick out an ems vc3 (yes ,the osc FM stuff reminded me of the ems!).

the filter is not a moog maybe somewhat "british".. the truth is: it is another kind of filter sound that is a good alternative to the mentioned synths (ems and moog) it's more the concept that made me "compare" those..

Macbeth M3X
the M3X filters are far from moog..

at higher resonances it "thins out" a bit, sounds something between, uuhm, ems and moog?.. thats really only "somewhat close".. it also has it's own sound.. the envs are minimoogish small ADS(r)'s: means you need to set the release with the decay knob,too or switch it of (no release) this is for the AMP env. the filter env has always release.

the overall sound is very nice.. the only odd point may be the slow envelopes: 5ms minimum (minimoog: around 1ms) .

Macbeth M3X
OSCs: 3 of them that can be turned by endlesss rotaries like the ems vcs3 (there are no "steps" to help you to find the octaves but has the advantage to adjust them nicely..) any OSC can mod the filter (!!) and you can FM/mod OSCs each of the others or 2 OSCs: eg: vco 3 can mod OSC 2 and osc 1 and 2. osc 2 can mod osc1 or osc 1 and 3!! osc1 can mod osc 2 or osc 2 and 3

waveforms: rectangular (different duty cyles on each OSC). tri / saw up and down, osc1 has red noise the OSCs are quite strong.. not as strong as the moogs but "phat" enough to say "wow" ;)

why moog? well it's been said.. maybe because of the look of the m3x..

the mixer is very nice: one look and you know about it all. noise is there too.. (ext input: no problem)

Macbeth M3X
MACBETH
m3x and m3x mk2

this quite look like minimoog? but it isn't a minimoog.. it has it's own sound..

you have direct access to the routing including mod destinations like FM of other OSCs to make nice FM-type sounds or filter FM is not a problem ;)

cool freq. knobs (endless!) that allow some sort of EMS type VCO freq. tuning. "laboratory"-kind of quasi-"endless" dials!

also soft LFOs are there, so you do NOT need to sacrifice your OSCs for mod purpose. (one lfo)

ENVs: is standard but not as fast as the mini's.. anyway anough to make nice percussive sounds, but maybe this could be moded someday?..

very nice user interface, and THIS is maybe why the ppl compare it to a minimoog: it's layout and knobs are at the right position and extended at the right features.the LFOs are all controlled by the digital interface. that could have been knobbed,too (well,one LFO with push buttons, amount knob and destination knob are missing.. but: you do have something like this using the display.. but it takes a bit more time..

anyway this is a really cool machine. the highlight here is def'ly the FM and the OSC knobs!! in combination with the routing.

filters: sound a bit between EMS and moog .. but it is still another type of filter..
did I say it's LPF?

www.macbethstudiosystems.com

in germany: schneidersbuero.de

the newer M3X mark 2 has more jacks on the front, so consider it is more "modular"..:

filters: now self osc'ing and

seems they have CV in,out,CV CVF in, audio in and trigger in on the front panel now.

like roland you have hi and low level outputs

OSCs impreoved ,too.. and now AC OP amps used instead of DC (thats what their site says..).

AUDIO FILE (download)
Aliens Project - Toy of the Month Audio