I understand what you wrote and said that info about what combiner is ment to do in the first four sentences about combiner in the video.
I agree that if you want to know how exactly combiner performs “combining monophonics into polyphonics” you should read the manual. But you need to read the manual of any device to dive deep into it.
The thing is, what the combiner was actually doing was not obvious from the video … there was one key that was generating different sounds at different times, which led me to believe it was doing something quite complex. It took a lot to discover that it was simply a round-robin.
In the end, it doesn’t look useful to me, but I had to expend a lot of effort to find that out. And the padding with marketing-speak didn’t help.
It breaks down at least two barriers that have stood in the way of all MIDI musicians for decades. It establishes a dialogue between different instruments, breaking the barrier of parallel universes of MIDI channels.
Really cool, isn’t it? Simple thing doing something quite complex))) For me metcon is essential (but really simple) part of mutlitimbral elektron setup. But you can have your own opinion. It’s ok.
For taking things off topic - You clearly haven’t read or respected the follow up warning above, so to save the topic, you’ll need to sit this one out, we don’t have the time or patience to play cat and mouse …
So… What does it do?
Can someone please explain it simply?
The video shows it routing midi from Keystep to A4.
Can’t the A4 handle Keystep on its’ own?
Same with Rytm?
Round robin with multiple MIDI channels for polychaining monosynths (think playing a chord on three different monos at once), creating splits and stacking layers even if your keyboard doesn’t support that, modulating parameters based on note number (like adding filter tracking to a synth that doesn’t have it).
The interface seems to be a usual Soma mix of intuitive and obtuse, and it seems to be made for the dawless crowd. Deeper (and less immediate) alternatives are Blokas Midihub and Retrokits RK002.
In the latest SonicTalk, Nick, Gaz and Robin, all take their stabs at understanding the Metaconformer. All come up short, but they’re all fascinated with the potential.
At 54:44.
ADDED :
The Metaconformer is now for sale and available.
Nick and Gaz did a beautiful feat on the RK002 8 years back 
which can do all of this - (and round robin midi is also built in the rk006 by the way) - https://youtu.be/fvzSG8Zkezw
I bought a Metaconformer after misreading what it could do in the manual, and today I learned it evolved into a synth while in a drawer on a Sell list. Amazing!
These sounds are very impressive and, with 16 parameters, the device works very well with the OP-Z. I’m still learning how to use it but I’m super excited by this update!
Another official demo:
I’m still loving mine–for my purposes it’s like a tiny chaotic Digitone that can last days powered by a USB bank.
I’ve found a couple dozen sounds I really enjoy, though I have run into a bug that’s kinda limiting me. I just sent an email about it but in case anyone else is running into the same thing:
I can’t seem to toggle the cyclic envelope using CC27. If I hit button 5 on the Articulation layer I can enable/disable it by sending CC1 but I can’t currently “save” that setting as a preset on my OP-Z. I’d imagine this might be a relatively easy fix (no cue tbh) but I thought it would be helpful to share.
EDIT: turns out it was a misprint in the manual. CC22 controls the cyclic envelope and works perfectly
simplexFM Firmware
First, I’m proud to say I was involved in alpha testing the new SimplexFM firmware! I’ll make some demo videos and tutorials either this weekend or next week.
Anyway, FW 1.1 adds a TON to the instrument. Probably the biggest deal is being able to set the envelope as a modulator. Lately I’ve been playing with setting the voices to modulate each other via FM, then using different shaped envelopes to control the amount of FM modulation on the two tracks. I set the LFO amount to a subtle value, add long attack and release values, and it effectively becomes a drone where the voices all distort each other in unpredictable ways.
I’ve made some light, pretty sounds with Simplex, but overall this thing is like a horror soundtrack in a box. And I love it.
simplexFM v1.01
Release Date: 31.07.2024
Manual Version: v1.01
Changes from previous version:
minor bug fixed
added asymmetric wavefolder
added asymmetric overdrive
amp envelope cycling toggling moved to LRN + BUTTON 5-8
comb filter keytrack parameter moved to COMB DELAY CC = 0
added amp envelope modulation. Now envelope can modulate one
parameter from timbre layer
FM synthesys scheme improved
I just posted a demo/overview of SimplexFM:
I’m continually in awe of how much there is to explore with this thing.
I’ve been playing around with Poly mode and figured I’d make a half-tutorial, half demo: https://youtu.be/smtEqR1kkDg
The interesting and unexpected part is that, when you adjust a parameter in poly mode, it affects only the tracks/notes currently held. Leads to a really engaging experience!
