I think is what a lot of us wanted Elektron to make, basically. This concept, but with Elektron FX & -p-locks etc., plus more analogue inputs ( at least 4 x stereo / 8 x mono ) & a couple of analogue fx/sends returns would be a total no-brainer for me.
Sadly we have this Roland thing - probably great if you’ve got all the Aira units, but otherwise…
[quote="“Barfunkel”"]
“Every channel has an adjustable Tone/Filter knob with ten types of filters, EQs, and isolators”[/quote]
Ah, ok. That’s quite cool.
Would be better with dj mixer/mixing desk style lo/mid/hi pots above the faders though.
IMO, they have given way too much space (almost 1/3 of the whole layout) to the, probably rubbish, onboard FX controls, and not enough to the channels themselves.
exactly my thoughts
indeed. that mythical beast occasionally dubbed the neuron, among other names. the OT can do some of it, with a good bit of advance configuration and a small setup. but this new device may come closer.
… this is what i get (within 24 hours no less) for opening my mouth.
i won’t get excited till user reviews start coming in. but roland has my attention.
Now they’re out, anybody had a chance to use it already and give some first feedback? Maybe with A combination of AIRA and Elektron gear?
It is so much fun.
First i was torn between the Air XR18 and the MX-1.
Now i´m glad i got the Roland.
The mixer really becomes an instrument.
At first i couldn´t get the master effects to play.
After updating to OS 1.02 it did an factory reset and then it worked.
When in combi mode for the master effects you can only apply one effect per step.
Each master effect has about 6-9 different types with each type represented with a different color when assigned to a step.
E.g. flanger1 light blue on step 1, flanger2 violet on step 2, flanger1 light blue on step 3.
I have only used the analog inputs so far, but i guess once overbridge is released you route the Elektron analogs via an aggregate device back into the MX-1 on channel PC channel.
I don´t know yet if it is possible to use channels 1-5 as analog inputs while at the same time using the other channels as usb streams.
The MX-1 has a mode though to use all the channels as usb streams, but i guess you cannot use the analog inputs.
Sooner or later you wish the MX-1 could do something more or differently.
But it´s limitations are so much hands on that once i learned my way around the user interface everything gets fast to access.
Well to give you guys some feedback, I also already own one and it has been a lot of fun already. I use it with the full Aira Range and the AR plus Octa and if you are into glitchy stuff, its probably made for you as well. Sure there are things that I wish would be different, for example using more effects at the same time, instead of just the combo effects but like bathrobe already said, its the hands on approach that seals the deal. Also sound quality is pretty decent and the tone control also works better then what i expected. Sure it would have been nice to have separate eqs for each channel, but at least it keeps me from adding too much eq (which is one of the things i usually do on a normal mixer).
Cheers
I feel really lucky. My introduction to hardware was courtesy of Aira and I haven’t looked back. After picking up two units the MX-1 came out. Then the boutiques. I would’ve bought a Juno 106 anyway, I almost pulled the trigger on one a week before the boutiques were released.
I set about learning the MX-1 gradually and its impressive. Working in a DAW for a decade has given me a somewhat anal idea towards the precision of how things need to be. I want to load up my DAW and measure the eq curves but I’m having too much fun for now. Absolutely agree with the tone control statement above.
Given the fact that the ACB, plug-outs, and the updates with the TR-8 I am curious about the future. There was mention of a Roland sampler on the horizon that could mimic samplers of old. Maybe there’s room in the MX-1 to do a similar thing but with mixing desks. Cool.
I’d like to see more effects - in particular a better distortion effect. I bought the ProCo Rat 2 for that the other day but would’ve refrained if the MX-1 would’ve sufficed. Also a chorus effect would be great. I do expect to see more in the way of effects. Maybe they could also use there ACB to mimic the classic effects Roland/Boss are known for. Although the delay master fx is what it says. Three of them are in fact reverbs. One of which is a spring reverb.
USB 3 powers and sequences my JU and runs audio from it. I picked up a Y-cable and it works in another USB port. Great! That free’s up another analog channel. Like a gift and a curse what’s not so great is all of the USB ports are connected directly to the desk, so for example, I can’t use my Boss CE-300 with my JP (which sounded like porn). Maybe I’m being greedy hahaha
The beat fx are brilliant. I won’t be buying a filter fx board or look for a separate side-chaining effect. Don’t use the slicer but it has its purposes. The mastering effect can touch the mix nicely and has also given some unexpected sounds.
Everything goes into and through the OT. That makes me very happy!
Reviving this thread as I just got one of these - like many people I was a bit skeptical as to it’s usefulness, but since they opened up the USB ports to work with more devices, including the boutique range it pipped my interest as a casual jam instrument, and that is exactly how I have found it to be, a fun instrument that is also a mixer.
But, also I see that it has a lot more possibility than a sideways glance might suggest, the fx are actually very good, much better in fact than I was expecting, and a bit more flexible than their names imply, for example the delay can do reverbs (as mentioned above) and a very Boss RPS-10 sounding effect , the bitcrusher has some pitch stuff and tape stop etc etc.
Now consider that it has midi control for everything, and that you can quickly store and recall scenes which can store the whole current mix settings and it becomes very useful for live jams or studio use. switching scenes manually happens instantly so you can mess around with mute memories without needing all fingers and your nose.
The SPDIF input might not be too useful to everyone, but you can buy analog to spdif converters for like £30 to turn it into a stereo channel, although I have a few bits of gear with SPDIF so not too worried, although it would have been better to have a regular analog stereo input I think. The PC input is not going to be any use to me given my refusal to have a computer in my setup, so I might look into some way of converting it to a normal stereo input.
Overall though for the money I am very pleased with it, simple, very hands on and fun to use.
I got it second hand a few weeks ago and I think its a great peace of gear, asspecially for live jams and live gigs. Its also great with a DAW as a controller and a good (and steady) audio/midi interface. The only thing that is lacking is an xlr mic input with phantom power (but you can buy the vt-3 and use an usb input). Ithe sequencer on top makes it some kind of special you can do some nice things with it, the effects are great quality indeed. But I have to try to get a reverb out of it, didnt try that. I just thought it wasnt there. But yeah I’m happy with it…
…and Its a great christmas tree 
Yeah re the fx you hold down the relevant fx button and you can change type - also you can hold down the time button and change other parameters which depends on the selected fx, so it is a lot deeper than first seems.
Also there are 65 parameters for the mastering section, although the cryptic LED text does not make it obvious what they all are, and I could find no mention of it elsewhere, you get to them by holding the mastering button and turning the value knob, adjust with the tempo knob.
I was just messing around running a single monotribe into it, changing fx and generally arsing about, and I was instantly transported back to the same kind of experience I used to enjoy almost 30 years ago when I had a few bits of gear, some fx pedals and a few x0x machines, just hands on simple yet captivating fun.
So… I’ve got a question about de MX-1 Couldn’t find it. Can you use different fx on different tracks. Like a delay on track 1 and a flanger on track 2… You can’t right? Tried it last night but I had no success…
I believe it’s master effects bus only for the reverb, delay, etc and you can only adjust the amount of send per track. Tracks can have individual beat effects settings (filter, sidechaining, slicing) and there’s an aux effects send as well.
Correct, beat fx can be chosen per channel mfx is master only, as the name implies.
Can anyone confirm my suspicion that you csnt use the usb for elektrons? This is so nearly somrthing i would buy…
You definitely can’t. It only works with Roland Aira and Boutique gear.
Nooooooooo!
Thanks though
One way to open up the USB ports is if you have any aira modular like scooper, demora etc as these can utilise the usb ports and give 2 analog inputs and 2 analog outputs, with the customisation options with these modules and their recently lowered prices might be worth a look.
Oh shit, I hadn’t thought of that. I have a Torcido that I run my drums through a lot of the time. This makes the MX-1 a lot more plausible for me.
Also you can open up the digital stereo channel with a cheap stereo > spdif.