PreenFM3 Questions

[zmberber]

I just found out about the PreenFM3, the only place I can find information about it is here: http://ixox.fr/preenfm2/preenfm3/.  The FAQ section is helpful, but I have more questions, I wonder if anyone knows (or if Mr. Hosxe will respond).

• When approximately will we be able to get the PCB?  When will we be able to (more or less conveniently) build the PreenFM3?
• Will there be a tutorial/kit/mod for a Eurorack format anytime soon?
• What can we expect approximately for a total price for all parts?

I have been wanting to buy a PreenFM2 Eurorack format for a while now, but now I am wondering if I should wait for the PreenFM3.

I have one concern with the PreenFM3 though.  The screen.  it looks like a normal RGB screen.  I just wish the screen were like the PreenFM2, or something like a screen on an MPC1000 or the screen of an Elektron device.  I don't want dead pixels and also in general it seems like RGB screens just break very easily.  Lower resolution black-and-white LCD screens also just look way better than higher resolution RGB screens.  But that is just a minor concern haha

Yeah so basically I am wondering if I should wait for the PreenFM3 or just get my PreenFM2 Eurorack and be happy with the nice looking screen.  The new features are not super crazy, but still, a good reason to get the PreenFM3, maybe...

[Xavier]

Thanks for these first questions 

. I should receive a first small batch of PCBs this week.
  I'll sell them with a discount and will see from the feedbacks whether this version needs modification.
  This version is maybe the 10th i ordered, so i really hope everywthing will be OK.

. I have no plan doing any Eurorack version. Maybe VanDaalElectronics will work on the hardware.
  If so, i'll likely do the firmware part as for the preenfm2.
  Nothing is started yet.

. Price for the 2 PCBs of the preenfm3 you see here : http://ixox.fr/preenfm2/preenfm3/thebuil/  will be 85€.
  Total price will depend on the case and the part you add to it.
  I think it will be around 200€.

. The TFT i chose for the preenfm3 looks OK and has a SD slot which is also used.
  It's cheap and is not soldered so it can be replace easily.
  The UI use the 240x320 color display. So you can do things that are not possible with a text display.
  See attach screenshot.

Xavier

[solipsvs]

awesome!

will you be able to use core parts of the preenfm2 code?

just curious, will there be wavetable support?

[Xavier]

awesome!
will you be able to use core parts of the preenfm2 code?
just curious, will there be wavetable support?

No wavetable.
The FM engine is almost the same as the preenfm2.

What you get with the preenfm3 is :
. More voices with effect per voice.
. higher sample rate (48Khz vs 42)
. 6 instruments (instead of 4)
. A "mixer" section to have more control on each instrument
. 6 audio outputs instruments can be routed to
. A graphical user interface
. A builtin small sequencer

[kuzma_p]

wow! looking forward

>I'll sell them with a discount and will see from the feedbacks whether this version needs modification.

i'm in

[realms_of_chaos]

PreenFM3 looks amazing! I'm really not confident about building one myself so I'm hoping VanDaalElectronics will sell pre-built versions like they did with the PreenFM2.

One quick question though... will the PreenFM3 be poweful enough to open up the possibility of built-in effects like delay/reverb being implemented in the firmware?

[solipsvs]

i have some suggestions:

waveshaper
comb filter
inverter
audio over usb
user lfo waveforms
feedback algorithms
randomizer from sound engine display
cv inputs?

very excited to hear about this development!

[solipsvs]

oh, please make a wrist watch version 

[matrix12x]

I'm also hoping there is enough CPU and ram to do a reverb/and/or delay.

[Xavier]

waveshaper

How would work a wave shapper in a FM synth ?
Isn't FM already a kind of wave shapper ?

comb filter

Adding new effect is not my priority but that can be done if it does not consume too much CPU/RAM.
90%+ of the preenfm2 effects have been added by Toltekradiation.

inverter

Inverter of what ?

audio over usb

I tried a long time ago and that didn't work with the preenfm2. Lots of audio glitches I could not fix.
Don't know with the new CPU of the preenfm3.
But yes, that would be nice.

user lfo waveforms

Not planned in the short term. Would be cool.

feedback algorithms

It's possible, i made a try and didn't get anything interesting regarding the sound.
I still have to investigate that further.
I don't know how FM8 did that, it sounds great on that synth.
In addition, the feedback must be done with phase modulation and not frequency modulation but who cares 

randomizer from sound engine display

Oh i see.
That's interesting. Would need design for the new UI.

cv inputs?

All 8 additional inputs exposed in the control board are linked to MCU pins that can do ADC.
So yes it's possible.

I'm also hoping there is enough CPU and ram to do a reverb/and/or delay.

I don't think so.
But it needs investigation.
I think i know how to make a delay, but i have no idea for the reverb.

[solipsvs]

ok, wave folder then.  its simple and has a unique vibe, works well with sine waves

invert the waveform coming from the output of the voice to get all the punch possible from a combo or to facilitate sfx

ideally feedback should be made available to any and every operator.  even better would be a collection of operators with a freely assignable modulation matrix, so you make your algorithm from scratch.  then make every modulation/feedback path modulatable haha

[matrix12x]

I'm like 90% sure I can code a reverb. maybe 80% sure....

I'm also hoping there is enough CPU and ram to do a reverb/and/or delay.

I don't think so.
But it needs investigation.
I think i know how to make a delay, but i have no idea for the reverb.

[vurt]

Please include a clock In for it...

I doubt i would be super interested in a eurorack version when it already will have a sequencer + to be honest it's quite advanced already when it comes to internally changing how the sound can move in interesting ways. I've noticed this even with PreenFm2 (euroversion), you can do a lot with it in clever ways.. don't really need to externally use LFO's or whatever to the CV in's.
Of course, ideal inputs would be Pitch CV, Gate in, 2x mod inputs, clock in.. but if it ups the cost and complexity too much its not worth it, IMO, just a clock in would do.

When a new synth (with sequencer) or a complex delay these days doesn't have a Clock In i can't help but facepalm.. there are so many people these days who has some CV gear. When the first PreenFM came out it was different, not too many had eurorack or Behringer stuff etc..

[cube48]

Awesome to see further development!

FX per voice, great! Could it be possible to switch FX routings from 1FX/voice to stack of 6FX on master out? Or even some sort of bus routing with FX stacking so output pairs could make up stereo pair? Or are the outputs already stereo?

Sorry for avalanche of questions. Keep up the good work!

[jabberwalky]

This is great news! I'm not even going to ask for any features or anything annoying like that. I'd love to be an early adopter and make a video about it!