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3. Understanding the Matrix

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Getting to grips with XILS 3.2 CM requires an understanding of the Matrix, and although there are some basic and tutorial presets included in the Factory bank, it’s worthwhile starting completely from scratch to show how it works. 2

To clear the decks, load the preset Init 2Osc from the Factory Init folder. Then click on the pegs to remove them. That’s six pegs on the Main Matrix and three pegs on the Extended Matrix. Now when you try to play the preset there should be no sound. 3

The Matrix works as follows. Outputs are the horizontal rows and inputs are the vertical columns. Wave your cursor on the plugboard to get a white guide line. Try connecting the Osc 1 sine wave to Out 1, using the 2-part oscillator knob to set core pitch. This results in a constant tone to the output. 4

To control the pitch of this tone we need to connect a keyboard to it and we do this on the Advanced Matrix. Make the connection Keyb 1 to Osc Freq 1. Now the constant tone will change to follow the notes played on the keyboard. 5

To shape the sound we need a filter and envelope. Remove the initial Osc 1 to Out 1 connection, connecting Osc 1 to the Filter column. Now connect the output of the filter to the Env input column and the Env Signal to Out 1 and 2 columns. Set the envelope to Shaper mode. Adjust the filter and envelope to taste. 6

Finally, we can augment this very simple pathway by making the output level respond to velocity. Looking at the Advanced Matrix, connect the Velocity output row to the Out Lvl 1 & 2 columns.