About the Zebra2.5 LFO "gated" rate control

[TomTwohy]

Naturally, I'm using Zebra's lexicon of modulation sources to attempt sonics that are beyond all comprehension... OF COURSE it's going well!

But the millions of routings make me think there might be some ways to access certain conditions that may not readily be apparent... TO WHIT...

One can gate the LFO to the DAWs clock. The gated LFO rate seems to not be able to switch from, say, 1/4 notes to 1/8th notes in any dynamically controlled way (knob, MSEG, Mod Wheel etc.) ... for use as a kind of "beat repeat" effect for the LFO.

I can smear through rates and that is QUITE satisfying, but not quite contrived... er... controlled enough for imitating the modern cliches I attempt. It would be great to just walk through the gated rates (1/4-1/8-1/16 and so-on) then just have them in a knob.

Waddia think? Did I miss something...is this even possible with the current mod options?

[CandeFan]

Modulate rate with modmap(quantizie)in matrix then animate modmap.

[TomTwohy]

Just tried that now...

Im pretty sure I arranged it correctly... the Mod Map (MMap2) is clearly involved as I can control its influence in the Matrix

"Map quantize" offers no discernible difference from Map smooth or indeed just moving the mod wheel set to LFO rate... the bars offer no control, it changes the rate and I see the red bars responding to my mod wheel, but not in "plateau" increments like I want.

If it is working... I'm getting dotted triplets, 7/8 and every color in between... smoothly with no jarring leaps.

[CandeFan]

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19121401/StepRateMod.h2p

[TomTwohy]

I've now tried using the "MidiLearn" tool that is the only thing one can map to the setting.

If I MidiLearn the gated rate, I get all the various versions (dotted, triplet, etc.) assigned to the knob... but I only need a section (the basic divisions)... it seems to be a binary setting... everything or nothing.

[CandeFan]

Did you try my Patch?

[TomTwohy]

I looked at it... you may consider adding some mod routings, there's not any here.

The Mod Matrix is unused, it looks like a set-up template with just 2 OSCs, a Noise and filter, only the "Amp" is turn up in the LFO... even the LFO rate is set to "free"... I'm looking for gated rate solutions here.

Perhaps you didn't save the instance running in your DAW correctly? I do that all the time.

[Howard]

I think CandeFan was just trying to be helpful by programming a quick "proof of concept" example for you.

Anyway - Zebra2 doesn't really let you do this easily (there might be a workaround, although I haven't found one yet). Such a function would have to make sure that the LFO stays in sync, it would have to "wait" until the next opportunity.

[CandeFan]

Thanx Howard! Maybe I misunderstood...
I thought you wanted lfo rate in steps via modwheel!
The matrix is used... My englisch is bad.

[TomTwohy]

Ahh, I see... fair enough.

Such a feature would indeed help Zebra be more "au currant" as the DJs use this trick a great deal. Zebra is capable of delivering good versions of the broad sonic textures required... but the more they can jack into that clock and instantly "WIN", the better.

Markets and styles change, so I can understand the lag between plan and bringing a product to market, plus this "feature creep" can delay releases and foul up the working things. I can also understand that Zebra is NOT a flibbity-jibbet "toy" and is built for serious sound making.

Now... I am certainly NOT a DJ.

But the DJs seem to demand what they find in Ableton's DAW (or even DJ CD players) and expect these features in related products. This "Beat repeat" feature recurs quite often in other DJ stuff and you might want to feed the "Producer" market more in the future.

I'll just have to get REAL good with the Mod Wheel

[CandeFan]

No mod? Tow ocs? Noise? You didn't load the patch

[pmb_12]

er maybe i'm misunderstanding, but can't you just automate the sync rate in ableton? or do you mean for live performance you'd like to be able to filter the available rates to 1/4, 1/8, etc, ignoring the dotted and metric values?

[Howard]

er maybe i'm misunderstanding, but can't you just automate the sync rate in ableton? or do you mean for live performance you'd like to be able to filter the available rates to 1/4, 1/8, etc, ignoring the dotted and metric values?

The latter I think - he wants to record a "live performance". Best way!

[TomTwohy]

Yes! HOWARD APPROVES... sorta.

Yes, I've been hitting the Dubstep pretty hard, trying to emulate the youngster's tracks... all the kids do it by merely sampling a synth doing any number of contortions, slapping it on a drum pad and thats it, one note. Yes I can do it through Ableton but it's just easier, more satisfying, more "synthy" for me to develop a patch in Zebra... then make variations of the patch.

I am attempting to "synthesize" playable beat-repeat of filters... because I like to do things the impossible way.

**head banging emoticon**

And CandeFan, I swear I DLed the patch, as a matter of fact I had to open a text file, cut and paste, then sort out the folder... so yes, it was indeed looked at, thank you for even trying... very nice of you

[pmb_12]

all the kids do it by merely sampling a synth doing any number of contortions, slapping it on a drum pad and thats it, one note. Yes I can do it through Ableton but it's just easier, more satisfying, more "synthy" for me to develop a patch in Zebra... then make variations of the patch.

I am attempting to "synthesize" playable beat-repeat of filters... because I like to do things the impossible way.

I'm not sure that this is necessarily accurate. Synth automation with drawable parameters in the daw is bog standard for studio compositions. Build up before breakdown style LFO rate increases included. As far as easier, i think what you're asking for would be handled in a similar way through the daw, but yes, a more limited synth with fewer rates by default would have an easier time doing this in a live fashion. As far as it being more satisfying and synthy, well I can't really speak to that. I do however appreciate the tightness of automation for dance music that's possible via the daw.