LINTRONICS ADVANCED MEMORYMOOG MODIFICATION (LAMM)

Designed more than twenty years ago and built by Moog Music before 1984, the Memorymoog has earned a reputation for the highest quality analog sound of any polyphonic synthesizer. However, the Memorymoog has been plagued with hardware instabilities and operating system shortcomings that have compromised its reliability and frustrated the players who have used it. Furthermore, current standards of operating system flexibility include a level of MIDI implementation that goes far beyond the feature set that has heretofore been available on the Memorymoog.
The Lintronics Advanced Memorymoog (LAMM) retains the high quality sound and synthesis capabilities of the original Memorymoog, but raises the reliability of its hardware and the functionality of its operating system to 1997 standards. In particular, the entire operating system has been redesigned to implement a wide range of MIDI functions, and to give a more clearly-arranged and accessible user interface for the Memorymoog. Not only does the Advanced Memorymoog possess many features not found in any other synthesizer, but it has a user interface that is so clear and intuitive that many players find that they seldom have to refer to the user's manual.
The LAMM has been developed over the past six years by a design team headed by Rudi Linhard. Rudi is the driving force behind Lintronics, a German firm, that specializes in synthesizer design and modification.
At the present time, some eight dozen Advanced Memorymoogs are in the field (mostly in Europe), and the user response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of these users have been using the Memorymoog in live performance situations, which was previously difficult.
Writing for the German Keyboards Magazine, Matthias Becker says "Working with Advanced Memorymoog proves to be much easier than with a stock Memorymoog. Operation is simpler and faster because of the greater amount of information presented in the display, and sound management becomes child's play with the Bankloader/Manager software and MIDI. These things aside, the stability of the oscillators is what will likely impress Memorymoog connoisseurs the most. In the two months that I worked with the Advanced Memorymoog, I had, believe it or not, absolutely no tuning problems!"
Installation of LAMM in standard Memorymoogs and Memorymoog Plus's is performed in 91452 Wilhermsdorf, Germany by Lintronics, Inc.. The installation, including exhaustive burn-in and testing, normally takes about two weeks.

THE ADVANCED MEMORYMOOG MIDI IMPLEMENTATION

The Advanced Memorymoog has a rich MIDI implementation that goes far beyond the capabilities of most other synthesizers. Virtually all front panel controls and switches transmit MIDI control change messages in real time. Similarly, sound parameters represented by front panel controls and switches may all be addressed by incoming MIDI control change messages. Thus for instance, all sound changes that the player produces by manipulating front panel controls and switches may be stored, edited, and played back with a MIDI sequencer.
In addition, the Advanced Memorymoog receives the following MIDI messages: Program Change, Note-on velocity, Channel Pressure, Pitch Bend, Modulation Wheel, Breath Controller, Foot Pedal, Portamento Amount, and Master Volume.
Six data filters are provided: Wheels on/off, Potentiometers on/off, Program Change on/off, System Exclusive on/off, Switches on/off, and remaining Controllers on/off. The Wheels filter operates on incoming data streams, while all other filters operate on both incoming and outgoing data streams.
Other MIDI features include availability of both POLY and OMNI mode, support of Local On/Off messages, and selectable send and receive channels.
The Memorymoog's arpeggiator or LFO may be synchronized by the system's MIDI clock, while the instrument's Autotune feature may be activated by a MIDI Tune Request message. And finally, individual sounds or complete banks of 100 sounds may be dumped or loaded via System Exclusive.

THE USER INTERFACE

All of the Advanced Memorymoog's functions, including its potent MIDI implementation, are managed by a smoothly-working, easy-to-use operating system. The instrument's programming functions and servicing routines are accessed through seven Menus of no more than ten items each. These menus are:

POLY MODE: Offers choices for how the keyboard and panel controls will respond when used in the polyphonic mode.

MONO MODE: Selects number of currently active voices and note priority when used in the monophonic mode.

ARPEGGIATOR: Specifies arpeggio-related selections.

CONTROLLER: Manages the MIDI and cassette data transfers. MIDI: Selects MIDI filter functions and specific MIDI messages.

SPECIALS: Assigns MIDI Mod, Velocity, and Pressure to specific synthesis parameters; selects arpeggio clock; selects velocity processing mode; assigns function to footswitch signal.

SERVICE: Offers a selection of routines for use by service technicians. Those who are familiar with the original Memorymoog operating system will appreciate the Advanced Memorymoog's greatly-improved operation. Among the major improvements are:
 

• The Octave switch setting can now be stored on a per-sound basis.
• A change in the keyboard mode causes the display to show the current mode instead of just the word EDIT. In addition, the selection of the operating mode and number of voices has been simplified by the omission of the need to hit the ENTER key for these choices.
• The Pot Lock function is new, and allows the user to prevent the front panel controls from being continuously scanned. This prevents the accidental changing of sounds (e.g. during a live gig), and enables faster arpeggiation and MIDI processing.
• A Split function has been added to the arpeggiation section, which allows the lower two octaves of the keyboard to be played normally, while the upper three octaves are used for arpeggiation. All arpeggiation modes can now be locked with the Key Hold function.
• The original Memorymoog's operating system would crash when the program sequencer was called up with an empty sequence. The Advanced Memorymoog now simply displays CLEARED in this case.

HARDWARE UPGRADES

The following circuit improvements and additions are made to every Advanced Memorymoog:
 

• Five new jacks are installed on the rear expansion slot's cover plate: MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports, a 1/4" stereo output jack, a 1/4" mono output jack and a FILTER input jack. Stereo output circuitry is added. If the mono output jack is used simultaneously with the stereo output jack, then the Memorymoog's six voices are spread across the stereo field (the placement of the individual voices is fixed internally). The volume of the stereo output can be adjusted only with the programmable volume pot, and the value can be stored with each individual sound.
• An analog noise circuit is added to the stereo output board to avoid the digital loop effect of the original noise generator.
• The power supply is checked for cold solder points and defective components.
• The six voice cards are removed, checked, repaired if necessary, and modified for the Lintronics Autotune algorithm. Forty-six oscillator adjustments are replaced with high-stability precision multi-turn potentiometers. Oscillator capacitors and resistors are replaced with high stability parts.These modifications ensure the long-term stability of the oscillators.
• All system boards are removed, checked for cold solder joints, tested, and repaired if necessary. Modifications for pitch bending, modulation wheel, foot pedal, and octave signals are made. After these modifications, the cutoff frequency in Keyboard Tracking mode is not only controllable by the keyboard, but also by the transpose switch, tune control, and pitch wheel.
• The Octave Board is modified so that the setting of the octave switch can be stored on a per-sound basis.
• The Digital Board is rebuilt so that the reset switch functions reliably. Microprocessor and program ROMs are replaced with upgraded components. MIDI interface circuitry is added.
• The front panel components are removed, checked, and replaced if necessary. The front panel is cleaned, and missing or damaged knobs are replaced with original Moog parts as availability permits.
• After the upgraded circuit boards are reinstalled, the instrument is 100% tested, then allowed to burn in for 7 days, then tested again.

FILTER INPUT: External audio signals can be fed through the Memorymoog's VCF and VCA circuitry (including envelopes and LFO) with the FILTER Input board, the input jack for which is located on the Memorymoog's expansion slot next to the stereo output jacks.

CV-OUT JACK MODIFICATION: The normal Memorymoog transmits only Keyboard and Glide voltages through the CV-OUT jack. With the CV-OUT modification, the Advanced Memorymoog adds Pitch-Bend, Octave, Tune, and Modulation voltages. This is particularly useful when driving a Minimoog from the CV-OUT. The Minimoog's third oscillator must no longer be reserved for modulation and can be used as a sound source.

SUPPORT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The Advanced Memorymoog operating system is documented with a complete, carefully-prepared user's manual. The manual includes full MIDI implementation and system exclusive information. A copy of the user's manual accompanies each LAMM installation. Atari ST (called L.A.M.B.),WIN95 and MAC Bankloader/Manager programs are included with each LAMM installation. It supports the uploading, downloading, and management of the Memorymoog's sounds, as well as wave sequencing, experiments, etc. User support is available by FAX , mail, E-mail (prefer- red) or by phone.

LAMM INSTALLATION IN A MEMORYMOOG PLUS

The LAMM upgrade is designed for installation in a stock Memorymoog. It may also be installed in a Memorymoog Plus. However, LAMM installation in a Memorymoog Plus entails first removing the sequencer and MIDI circuitry and restoring the instrument to standard Memorymoog configuration.

LAMM INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

All work associated with installing the LAMM in an unmodified Memorymoog, and completing related upgrade work, is performed at the Wilhermsdorf, Germany office of Lintronics, Inc..

If you wish to send in your Memorymoog for a LAMM installation, contact Lintronics by mail, phone, FAX or E-mail and ask for the actual waiting time for the upgrade. If your instrument arrives in non-operating condition, or requires the replacement of major components, the LAMM installation may take more time or cost more than our standard price. We are happy to discuss this contingency with you, either before you ship your instrument to us, or after it has arrived at Lintronics.

Founded in 1984 by Rudi Linhard,Lintronics, Inc. currently specializes in building innovative electronic musical interfaces, and in restoring and rebuilding instruments made by other companies (e.g. Moog). Besides performing LAMM installations, Lintronics currently offers a line of MIDI- Interfaces), and is repairing synthesizers.

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Phone: +49-9102-999515     Fax: +49-9102-999516
E-mail: info@lintronics.de

Address: LINTRONICS, Franziska-Barbara-Str. 10
91452 Wilhermsdorf, GERMANY

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