The missing function is that there are no static bias controls on SMX3 – it is a grid of gain only controls. But depending on where you’re going next in the patch, the bias controls may just end up redundant. For example, if your SMX3 mix is going straight into ESG3 – that already has bias controls. No additional offset processor is needed.
There are also cases in which you want a pure multiplier matrix (like colorspace conversions, for me, are much easier to understand with a raw 3X3 control matrix and no additional controls on the module. It’s nice to encapsulate that in one spot.)
So there is, at a minimum, two separate types of modules that will at least be getting one representative in the gen3 lineup that apply:
- One is very simple in concept and potentially affordable to offer, the color matte generator. This will generate RGB offsets (and may have some tricks up it’s sleeve in how to do so, or might be very simple – 3 knobs, 3 output jacks.) You can take those outputs and mix them with SMX3 or with other modules to do brightness based offsets. The idea is to separate “creation of the RGB value” (offset controls) from “RGB mixers” (gain controls) so that it’s easier to tune the system.
- The other type would be an RGB blending operator module – similar to FKG3 you’ll have two sets of RGB inputs and a number of ways to combine them – we’ll get Marble Index’s blending modes imported to a module like this at some point (so at least one “advanced RGB mixes” module.)
But these are just current ideas. There is a holistic video synthesis environment I really like in these first 6 modules (TBC2, ESG3, DSG3, FKG3, SMX3, DWO3). So I want to make sure we take some time to fully patch these and get feedback before committing to what the next set would be.