New Mutable Instruments Plaits Firmware. Yamaha DX7 FM in a module!

[@frantsel5711]

wow, mutable instruments is by far one of the coolest companies ever! thanks Émilie!!!

[@SynthDad]

Couldn't agree more!

[@sinkronize]

By far or one of? :)

[@frantsel5711]

@@sinkronize errrrm both?! :X

[@yeahivandalizm2117]

Thanks Da', for being one of the first to actually speak about the new firmware (who's got time to read a video?) WOOOOOOOOOO 1.2!!

[@SynthDad]

No problemo!

[@jrodohio]

Really great overview on how to firmware upgrade/patch import. Thanks SynthDad!

[@SynthDad]

My pleasure!

[@luxmundiofficial]

sad to hear about Mutable but glad to hear about this firmware update! How cool! Thanks, SynthDad!

[@deanjones5229]

Thankyou for the run down Synthdad! I've been really enjoying the percussive patches on the plaits firmware so nice to know there's a whole bank to download in one go. FM is so great for drums and surprisingly organic. It's amazing Emilie gifted this and the editor is a really nice bonus.

[@SynthDad]

Totally agree - FM percussion has a really unique sound and when combined with 'classic' drum sounds can really add some movement

[@Gin-toki]

Thanks for this thorough review of the new firmware and for also showing how to update and load custom stuff unto it. :)

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Gin-toki]

@@SynthDad It most definetly is :) I wasn't even aware Émilie had released a new firmware for Plaits until I saw your video. Will be looking into updating my plaits modules soon and play around with the new firmware.

[@J_Carter]

Wow! Excited to download these percussion files! Thanks for this and all your great vids

[@EfeuWinterfest]

the day Emilie released this update I ordered a Plaits 😎 I love her work

[@SynthDad]

They are truly iconic modules that will last a long time

[@jamesreynolds2190]

Thanks for this, clear, concise and helpful.

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andycleall]

Great video - easy to follow. So, almost a year after you posted this, I finally updated one of my plaits (have two). If it hasnt updated correctly does it fail completely or run with some issues? Seems to have upgraded ok but volume levels are very variable between voices. Might that be normal or might I need to try again?

[@SynthDad]

As I recall the Morph parameter controls the envelope length. That can affect how loud some of the voices are. I think if it doesn't update correctly it stays on the previous firmware

[@Catemstudio]

Thank you for this video tutorial, really helpful!

[@SynthDad]

You're very welcome!

[@kipropmusic]

Thanks for the video!!!!! really usefull :)

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Reyescult]

Super informative demo. Thank you!

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@renaudjungmann]

thank you for this useful video ! now i'm sure that we preserve all the original soundings of the module. i've discovered that it is easy to install DX7 patches on it ! top

[@Limbic1000]

Best tutorials as always, thx sdad!!

[@SynthDad]

Glad you like them!

[@erikpiehl1764]

Thanks for an another inspiring video, looking forward to updating my plaits soon 😊

[@SynthDad]

Thanks for watching - well worth the update!

[@chrisashley2563]

Thanks. Great video. Will be updating my firmware tomorrow

[@SynthDad]

Have fun!

[@RileyGein]

I just dug my plaits out last night. Just in time!

[@SynthDad]

Definitely worth putting this on it

[@frantsel5711]

amazing video!

[@SynthDad]

Thanks!

[@stereoroid]

I got a Korg opsix because I like FM, but one of the "secrets" of modern FM synthesis is that you don't have to "do FM" on every patch. The DX7 didn't have filters or effects, but the opsix does, and in the modular setup you have all those options too, so FM is no longer limited to 80s nostalgia. (I'm in Dublin too, if you ever fancy playing with the opsix.)

[@SynthDad]

Very true about the DX7 vs. OpSix. How do you like the opsix? I've only played around with one at Superbooth. You should bring it and the modular along to our next Dublin Modular Meetup (search on Instagram for it)

[@omerartuk8936]

Great informative video.. Thank you very much..

[@SynthDad]

You are welcome!

[@Tyler-Nagle-Productions]

Thanks for your time and effort here, Sir! Firmware installed very easily, but I'm having trouble with installing the patches. Green lights go up and down like I did it correctly, right at the very end. However, right before it finalizes all the lights flash red. Just gotta keep messing with audio levels?

[@SynthDad]

It could well be audio levels, or something on your computer generates a sound like an email or DM that messes it up

[@Tyler-Nagle-Productions]

@SynthDad OK, thank you for your reply!

[@323BU5]

Thank you for your video. It helps to wrap my head around the update. I d like to start with the bank of the dx7. Already on the website you provided I find a amount of .syx files that it seems impossible to get a overview. Can you recomend a way to preview the presets?

[@SynthDad]

Not sure exactly but if they’re DX7 presets you should be able to hear samples of them online easy enough

[@pixelatedbeatz]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

[@SynthDad]

You're welcome!

[@pixelatedbeatz]

@@SynthDad By any chance, have you had problems with the Frequency knob and the new octaves feature? Is not working on my module. I installed the firmware twice but still not working.

[@adamiszlai8536]

I have some problem accessing the forum. Does any of you lot have the update file? I would really appreciate it if someone could help. Cheers

[@SynthDad]

pichenettes.github.io/mutable-instruments-documentation/modules/plaits/firmware/

[@franciscoraupp]

Thank you so much for this!

[@SynthDad]

You're so welcome!

[@Jimantronic]

Nice guide, thanks. Time to dig mine back out 👍

[@SynthDad]

Have fun!

[@patienthands]

Hey, thank you for the video! Just wanted to point out that I don't think the output on Plaits is a true stereo out, even in the new patch. From my listening, in your first patch the left channel was the true output and the right was something different.

[@SynthDad]

That's right - I think the 2 voices in the FM modes bounce between the Out and Aux outputs.

[@patienthands]

@@SynthDad Alright. Minimally I didn't hear it in the first example.

[@bobschrei2029]

Thanks, but how is the mono cable connected to your computer? Can you use your phone with a stereo mini to mono cable?

[@SynthDad]

In this case I connected the mono cable to the headphone output port. But you can also use a phone with a mono cable too

[@bobschrei2029]

@@SynthDad thank you!

[@braintree56]

Can you explain how to navigate the patches? There are 32 patches, but only 8 different LEDs... Where do all the patches go and how do you switch between them?

[@SynthDad]

There are 3 banks of FM patches so you get 3x32 FM patches in total. The Harmonics knob lets you select between each of the 32 patches in a bank

[@effiksmusic]

I did the update today. I had to try several times, but finally got it to work. But I used a stereo cable.

[@SynthDad]

I couldn't get it to work with a stereo cable but mono was much more reliable.

[@Snowdeaf]

I'm still struggling! Have used both stereo and mono cables. From mac and iPad. Redownloaded the zip file. No luck.

[@effiksmusic]

@@Snowdeaf I too had to try several times. Finally I got the right levels from my MacBook to get it work. Make sure you have all notifications of etc.

[@Snowdeaf]

Yeah. I even moved Plaits to another rack because I've noticed that Bitbox Micro has this annoying high pitched noise and I thought that might somehow leak into the whole system. But still no luck.

[@Snowdeaf]

Yay! Finally. With an old iphone6. It was really difficult to find the right volume settings. And I also managed to activate the color-blind mode which I didn't even know existed! No red or green, I thought I'd bricked the device. But now it works! Let's DX!

[@katesfather8619]

Ive tred through my PC, Laptop and Phone but keep getting full red led's. Gone through all the volumes changes on all devices and still no joy. And now when i turn on Plaits im getting full yellow leds and nothing works. Any help would be most welcome.

[@SynthDad]

Did you use a mono audio cable? I think there’s a firmware reset but you have to look at up online to see what the key combo is

[@katesfather8619]

Thanks for the reply, after a 3 hour try and fail it finally worked. I put the audio on loop and pressed reset . it just picked up and ran through the firmware sequence. Happy days.

[@chitlun]

Cheers for the vid man 👍 I have the After Later Audio Beehive clone. Will it still work on that I wonder?

[@SynthDad]

Yes it will from what I've read online. Don't have one myself so can't test

[@chitlun]

Just for info, yes it works… What an outstanding update!

[@scottadams7820]

WOOOOOOOOOOOO, 1.2!

[@J-Loe]

Thank you!

[@J-Loe]

This is really great! I hope this’ll work with clones like my ro’ved. I was just looking at dropping more loot to get dx7 sounds specifically a Yamaha tx81. Or volca fm Let’s hope that never comes to pass

[@SynthDad]

As far as I've seen online it should work with the clones because they all share the same firmware

[@J-Loe]

Thank you for your help. Your channel is my go to!

[@johnthecloud]

The sysex loading sounds like my 48k Spectrum loading Manic Miner

[@SynthDad]

I was going to say that in the video but then figured nobody would know what I was talking about! Speccy users unite!

[@johnthecloud]

@@SynthDad we're too old for KZbin!

[@TheNimasan]

thx so much synth dad. thats a fantatic new firmware. never thought that emilie release another firmware anymore!!! i think the orange mode is now my fav mode. synth dad i heard it is possible to set the frequency range jmping octives on this firmware. do you know how to do that??

[@SynthDad]

Glad you like it! If you hold the right button down then the frequency knob adjusts the root note, and the Frequency knob can be used to shift octaves too

[@TheNimasan]

@@SynthDad i do exactly that, but nothing happens if i adjust the frequency knob. i can adjust the octives with the harmonics knob, but the frequency knob does just the tunuing and not the fixed octives as the manuals says!!

[@TheNimasan]

@@SynthDad ok got it it you can set i the just when you are i the green mode.

[@johnthecloud]

Hoping this will hit my Poly Effects Beebo and Arturia Microfreak at some point.

[@traviedoodle]

Great guide, thanks so much!

[@SynthDad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HousePlant_Ambient]

Easy way. If you have a Mac- use audio headphones jack > cv/model>turn up volume to max.

[@SynthDad]

That's what I did in this video from my Mac

[@aikighost]

Random question unrelated to the video. Is there actually a modular shop in Dublin these days or do we still have to buy from UK or Germany?

[@SynthDad]

I haven’t found one so it’s ordering from the EU only for me

[@aikighost]

@@SynthDad Shame Ill be over visiting folks and wanted to go wiggle some knobs :)

[@kdsf12]

Do you know where we can download the files? The link doesn't work any more :(

[@SynthDad]

Thanks for flagging that. It's available from here: pichenettes.github.io/mutable-instruments-documentation/modules/plaits/firmware/

[@kdsf12]

@@SynthDad Thanks boss!

[@Stilhedmusic]

Will the firmware update work with plaits clones like the Codex Modulex?

[@SynthDad]

From what I've read online yes it will

[@Stilhedmusic]

@@SynthDad . thanks will try this out and hopefully bring new life into this module

[@csselement]

After I updated, all the LEDs through the 3 pages of models are orange with differing brightness. Did I do something wrong? Sounds seem to be ok.

[@SynthDad]

Hmmm, haven't seen that before. Could just be different LED types. If the sound is ok that's all the matters!

[@synthebo]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🤩🤩🤩👍👍

[@LeonTrimble]

Does no one want to do a video about the string mode? I think we all know how the dx sounds.

[@SynthDad]

Are you asking me to do a quick video on the other modes too?

[@alien_brain]

useless if you have any other fms

[@SynthDad]

But what if you don't?

[@ncapone87]

Stop talking

[@SynthDad]

But then how will I explain?

[@ncapone87]

@@SynthDad maybe just too much talking

[@lockyp204]

🤦‍♂️

[@traviedoodle]

@@ncapone87 Maybe just too much writing childish, futile comments on videos that weren't meant for you

[@ncapone87]

@@traviedoodle you don't know me or what's meant for me. I just want to hear what a module is capable of. There's barely any recording of it. Try harder