Okay, it’s already great product for pedalboards, however I see it could find its place as a tabletop matrix mixer. Thing it misses are additional controls:
I see it as a device that has built-in stereo jacks that perfectly fit ML10x ins, so you just make a sandwich with them.
A Trello card has been created for this request: Product request: ML10x addon
Comparing this idea to the amazing switchblade products (given Ken has now passed away and they are not being made anymore) it would be great if -
you could send any input to any output as well as to multiple outputs in series or parallel with no restriction.
Level control of any signal path via midi cc and perhaps also via expression.
3 Summing of signals at each output or input of a device (and also any final output).
Turning any output or input on and off via midi cc as well as bypassing specific effects in an effects chain via midi cc.
Naming individual loops and being able to use icons in an editor to create more visual preset chains.
Flexible effects chain programming allowing series and parallel effect placement in any order and sending to any output (or multiple outputs).
At least 8 inputs and outputs but ideally
16 or more. Balanced ins and outs would be great and would extend to professional use.
Automatic level compensation where you are connecting instrument and line level devices to each other as well as ground isolation options for each input and output to avoid noise.
It’s a big list but this is exactly what Ken invented and was selling around the world until he passed.
Perhaps his family might be willing to sell his IP as it doesn’t seem they are carrying on his business.
Did you describe a whole new product? I’m not against new advanced loop switchers, but it seems that this won’t work as an addon, considering all the new outputs you proposed etc. Or maybe I’m missing something?
The main idea of the “addon” here (at least originally) is to place an additional processing unit in a compact form factor that perfectly fits ML10X. It doesn’t have to provide any new ports, only the basic stuff to tweak the signals. MIDI control over all that would be great though.
Overall, the more advanced the better, but it should be priced right. The features aren’t free. I just guessed that a simple transparent overdrive and LPF are the bare cheapest minimum considering the schemes should be multiplied by 10-12. Also, I guess it would be nice for some of the ports to have an HPF instead of LPF for obvious reasons. One or two of the loops could have a way to be used as 2-4 mono loops, the others could be purely stereo for the sake of simplicity. Maybe one additional stereo loop for additional processing could be handy too (a simple send/return placed in-between of the existing loops).
But it would be an instabuy.
I am just describing what a proper pro effects switcher should be capable of.
I wouldn’t expect all these features in a basic add on but there is a market out there for an advanced midi controlled switcher with features like I described as well as what you have suggested.
I sold my ML10X because I discovered the switchblade products but sadly the switchblade products are now no longer made or supported. Thankfully my units still work. For now anyway.
I do know there are people constantly looking for 2nd hand SB units because there is nothing else out there like them.
I think if Morningstar think beyond what they have released so far in the ML10X and can make it reasonably priced there’s a huge market out there.
Perhaps it starts as some optional add ons like you are suggesting but it shouldn’t stop there as there are so many features that could improve the current ML10x. They already have a great starting point to expand from.
I feel like the ML10x has most of the features you’re describing. The ML10X is technically a 12 in x 12 out matrix mixer. In advanced mode, any of the inputs and outputs can split or sum to any of the other ones, and yes, the editor is geared towards guitar effects chains, but I’ve used it as a 12x12 matrix before (well, technically, a 6x6 stereo matrix).
The main thing missing in both your post and the opening post is level controls. And I agree, it’d be amazing to have level controls. At the most basic, having input and/or output would be useful. At the most advanced, having level control for every matrix connection would be so cool. But the price balloons pretty fast, so I think the team is constantly trying to balance more features and cost to consumer.
That’s why even with two ML10x’s and an ML5R, I still consider also getting non-MIDI stuff like the Matrise or the Erica Synths Matrix Mixer. I’m right there with y’all!