Beltuna MATRIX

[Ric46]

Whereas I am not an expert and it is not completely clear to me how an accordion works inside. I saw this accordion and was asking, is it new or has it been around for a long time and is it new only to me? How does it work? Advantages and disadvantages of the system? Thank you to those who would like to answer and sorry if I asked a thousand questions

https://www.beltuna.com/matrix_models?language=en

 

[debra]

Whereas I am not an expert and it is not completely clear to me how an accordion works inside. I saw this accordion and was asking, is it new or has it been around for a long time and is it new only to me?...

The Matrix is fairly recent. The traditional bass mechanics have been replaced by an electromechanic mechanism (using "solenoids") and registers also work (at least partly) electronically. It's nice, but will it last 50 years? Nobody knows for sure.

 

[dak]

The Matrix is fairly recent. The traditional bass mechanics have been replaced by an electromechanic mechanism (using "solenoids") and registers also work (at least partly) electronically. It's nice, but will it last 50 years? Nobody knows for sure.

That's not quite the issue. I have a Morino special construct with selectable bass octave and up to 10-reed Stradella basses. It is one of a kind, and the mechanics (things) are somewhat quirky. But good mechanics (people) can keep it going. I'd say it is more fixable than a Fazit electromechanical calculating machine.

The electromechanic parts in the Matrix are fixable. But that doesn't hold for the electronics and firmware. You can fix the electronics partly (though schematics would be a significant help). You cannot fix the firmware. "Quirky" is not an option. You cannot coax it into working condition. Neither you, nor an expert. You cannot amend it, like adding chin registers or changing the way they work. To have people depend on those boxes, they'd need to go very "Open Source" with them to make sure that their maintenance does not depend on their continued existence and goodwill.

I don't see much of a financial danger in going Open Source here: you still need to provide the physical accordion for this to make much sense, even though it might lead people to provide "convenience equivalents" that are purely electronic and behave the same way. But tying the behavior to do the same again will make it more likely that people will consider buying the physical instrument, too, so it should still be a net win.

For them. Possibly not for the company that they outsourced the firmware development to: they might want to keep tabs on it in order to be able to sell versions of it to other companies interested in building similar hardware.

 

[JerryPH]

Yeah, its a new innovation, maybe a couple-3 years. The technology that was first designed on the Matrix is starting to trickle down to other models too. I read that the battery powered solenoid bass system is now available on the Spirit line of accordions. Indeed Beltuna now have 2 levels of the Matrix called the Matrix Classic (left hand only) and the Matrix Free (has all the bells and whistles).

https://www.beltuna.com/matrix_models?language=en

I'd love to try this model and see what it feels and sounds like. I think at least a couple of our members here visited the Beltuna factory, their opinion was that the Matrix sounded a bit "thin". Not sure if they played the ultralight "Fly" versions or not.

 

[mtj]

Whereas I am not an expert and it is not completely clear to me how an accordion works inside. I saw this accordion and was asking, is it new or has it been around for a long time and is it new only to me? How does it work? Advantages and disadvantages of the system? Thank you to those who would like to answer and sorry if I asked a thousand questions

https://www.beltuna.com/matrix_models?language=en

While the bass is MIDI enabled in my opinion the primary reason you'd get this is as a converter. Since the button to valve opening mapping is electronic/software/firmware any mapping is possible. I think out of the box it has Stradella, Quint, C and B. But I believe they have software so you can program a custom mapping. Also I think you could use MIDI input to play the bass (think player piano). Since the mechanical bass systems are complex and fragile the Matrix might survive a bit more rough handling.

I played one and I didn't notice any difference between a normal bass, but I'm a pretty average player.

One has to wonder if they will eventually come up with an entirely electro-mechanical accordions. It would kind of be the reverse of a digital accordion, where an accordion form factor drives a synthesizer, to a synthesizer form factor drives an acoustic sound. A new take on mechanical musical instruments.

 

[Tom]

I think I mentioned this before, but there is an interesting hour long interview with Francesco Mengascini of Beltuna you can find on Spotify. Look for “Inside Beltuna Accordions.” He talks about this stuff.

 

[Walker]

Hey y'all,

Just in case, in some moment of weakness, I start talkin' about getting a Maxtrix, can someone please abruptly say - WALKER, NO!
Just remind me never to get a Matrix, because I would be a total liability!
I'd never remember to charge-up those batteries, and you just KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, at a wedding dance or wake, I'd get a flat Matrix! Oh yes, I can picture it now, probably half way through a tune, I'd be sat there - a red faced numpty with his fisherprice fisarmonica!
Eventually I'd loose those AAAs or whatever they are... and I'd be running about, aghast, searching in vane for those batteries, with advice ringing in my ears, 'try looking under the couch!'

Erm, no thanks! I don't want this to end up like my remote control - a 'personalised' Matrix with a new battery cover made of sellotape. That would be the end of it. I'd put the thing up on Gumtree with a sign on the case; 'batteries not included'.

Seriously, remind me never to get a Matrix!​

 

[tcabot]

@Walker
For a couple hundred extra £ you can get a version with a wind-up charger handle, just like emergency radios.
You can even wind it up while playing - if hurdy-gurdy players manage, so can you.

 

[Tom]

@Walker
For a couple hundred extra £ you can get a version with a wind-up charger handle, just like emergency radios.
You can even wind it up while playing - if hurdy-gurdy players manage, so can you.

For even more £ you could get the one that charges the battery with the in and out movement of the bellows?

 

[dak]

For even more £ you could get the one that charges the battery with the in and out movement of the bellows?

You'd be surprised at the difference in efficiency. Kind of like the difference between a hand-cranked radio and a hand-cranked air siren. Looking at the efficiency numbers, pretty much all loudspeakers are more aptly classified as somewhat noisy electric radiators.

 

[Pipemajor]

can someone please abruptly say - WALKER, NO

As no one else has said it, WALKER NO!!!!!

 

[JerryPH]

I was on the "yes Walker!" side of the pond!!