Sequent: Sequenced Modular Beat Mangling Effect - 1.1.2 now released

[colin@loomer]

Sequent is a modular multi-effects unit, the perfect tool for mangling audio on stage or in the studio. The effects - including a flexible beat looper and a pair of filters capable of self oscillation - can be connected in practically limitless combinations by simply dragging virtual cables between them.



Each effect parameter can be sequenced with a step sequencer (or which there are twenty-two), controlled live via a midi controller, or even left to chance by using the random mode. Sequences are combined into patterns which can be switched instantly between using either the on-screen interface or the notes on a midi keyboard.



Sequent will shortly be available to purchase at the Loomer website for £49 GBP, for Mac OS X (Audio Unit, VST, RTAS and Standalone), Windows (VST, RTAS, and Standalone), and Linux (VST and Standalone). An free evaluation version will be available for download at launch.

I've posted a brief demo over at soundcloud. This is a short snippet in which an Amen break is abused whilst I play Sequent live: switching patterns; triggering effects; and even rewiring the effects without a break in the audio.

Thanks!

[Madrayken]

Looks exciting. what effects are included?

[sinkmusic]

It looks very good, and seems exciting : i'm looking forward to this !

[colin@loomer]

@Madrayken Version 1.0 will have seven effect blocks: a Looper (glitcher/beat repeater), 2 x Filters, Delay, Distortion, Pan, and a Gate.

Each effect is in itself quite flexible due to each parameter having its own sequencer. It really shines, however, when combining the effects.

For example, the Looper can reverse and pitchshift incoming audio. You could connect that to the Delay to create an echo effect that plays the audio input backwards, and at a different pitch. Or you could use the Gate to extract only the snares from a beat, and run them through the Pan to widen the drums.

You can also use the sequencers as a probability based effect, rather than a linear one. For example, by engaging the Random Direction mode on the Looper, you could say that one in ten beats gets repeated, two in ten are reversed, one in ten is pitch shifted 7 semitones, and one in ten is 'drilled' by repeating a 128th note 16 times with decreasing pitch. Very very flexible!

If anyone is interested, a very early R&D version of the Looper (which I must emphasize is in absolutely no way representative of the feature rich Sequent one ) written in Pure Data is available here.

Thanks for your interest guys!

[colin@loomer]

I am pleased to announce that Sequent 1.0.0 is now available. Go here for a more in-depth look at Sequent's features or to hear some audio demos, or download the demo here.

Sequent is available for the following platforms: Mac OS X (Audio Unit, VST, RTAS and Standalone), Windows (VST, RTAS, and Standalone), and Linux (VST and Standalone.)

Any questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to post them here.

Thanks!

[taoyoyo]

Congratulations on the release Colin... Sequent is a winner.

Alan

(Just for clarity's sake: I helped Beta test Sequent)

[dsp music]

I just tried the demo ... Was looking for something as versatile as this ... Though two or three things blocked me from getting the cash out of my pocket instantly.
I have one request though (two actually) but would hate to sound cheeky (don't even know if it's the right place for this)

- Do you think about adding a tie option (on the gate effect) so two triggered steps following each other would play as one longer step. Together with the pan and filter sequences, it could produce wild gating, and not only a boring cut n play (no offense intended)
- Still in the gate effect (but I'd love to see this implemented on the filters) as well is an ADSR enveloppe. I saw the skew option on the gate but it doesn't give you as much contol as a proper ADSR enveloppe.


For the filters if there's an ADSR, that'd be great to have the option to apply it bipolarly (+ & -).


Thanks anyway, I'm having fun with the demo now.
Once again these are just advises as I was a bit surprised that such a powerful effect missed these simple features.

Keep up the good work.

[derix]

Thanks, sounding good here!

[colin@loomer]

I have one request though (two actually) but would hate to sound cheeky (don't even know if it's the right place for this)

This is absolutely the right place to ask, and it's never cheeky to suggest features.

tie option (on the gate effect) so two triggered steps following each other would play as one longer step.

It already does this: two Gate Triggers placed next to each other on will automatically tie.

Still in the gate effect (but I'd love to see this implemented on the filters) as well is an ADSR enveloppe. I saw the skew option on the gate but it doesn't give you as much contol as a proper ADSR enveloppe.

For the filters if there's an ADSR, that'd be great to have the option to apply it bipolarly (+ & -).

Regarding ADSR on the Gate, this was how it worked at one early stage. However, I felt that the extra controls didn't really add a lot, and that the simpler On/Off/Slew/Depth system was more in line with what people would want from the Gate. Additionally, I wasn't keen on ADSR terminology here; people associated Decay with how long it takes for a sound to get quieter, but with the Gate it would be the Attack that would dictate this, etc. Inverted volume envelopes are not immediately obvious!

However, I am thinking of adding a Hold, or Length parameter to the Gate. This parameter would control how long the gate would stay open for: at 100%, for the entire division; at 50%, half the division, etc. This would give a lot more flexibility to the gate, without any fundamental changes to the way it works. This is likely to be in Sequent 1.1.

As for ADSR in the Filters, I'm not opposed to this (and if I did do it, it would be bipolar), but I wonder if being able to set the filter cutoff in two places is actually counter-intuitive. As it stands, it's nice to be able to see the Filter sequence at a glance. With an ADSR in place, you'd have to account for the Cutoff Sequence, Envelope Depth, and Envelope Settings. I'll at least prototype this for 1.1 and see if the idea has any merit.

Thanks for the suggestions, and I apologize that I can't guarantee that these'll make it into the next version. Hope you're continuing to get a lot out of Sequent.

[hugom]

I am constantly amazed at the software that Loomer is putting out, and full fledged linux support is a dream come true.

Sequent is right up my ally, will definitely be purchasing this in the near future. I just downloaded the demo and had a minor concern, however. It doesn't recognize any output drivers at all, so I can't test how it sounds (which is kind of the point, right? ).

Any ideas on what the problem is? I'm running a netbook with Ubuntu Karmic on it.

Thanks!

[dsp music]

Hi CPB
Thanks a lot for the answers.

I must have missed the automatic tie feature I was pretty excited when I first tried it so probably easily missed it (it's not the first time I ask for a feature that's already implemented ).

I understand for the env, a hold option would be enough though a decay (or inverted attack if you prefer) would allow for progressive attenuation of the amplitude but I assume a hold would be instant open/close, depending on the skew amount...

As for the filters, I can understand it can easily become overcomplicated to have much things to track, but I confess I'm a control addict, and like to have as much parameters available as possible ....
Though I fully understand the keep it simple philosophy (though Sequent is not what I'd call a simple sequencer).

Thanks again for the answers, and no need to apologize. I can see you already put a lot of work into this plug-in.
Couldn't give it more time as I've been sick all day. But will for sure.

All the best.

[colin@loomer]

Any ideas on what the problem is? I'm running a netbook with Ubuntu Karmic on it.

I've not personally tried (or indeed heard of) Ubuntu Karmic, but I'll see if I can get you going. A few questions (and I'm assuming you are running the standalone version):

*Do you get no outputs at all listed in the configuration dialog, or are they listed but Sequent can't aquire them?

*Do you intend to use ALSA or JACK drivers?

*Have you got any other audio applications using ALSA or JACK successfully on your system (such as Renoise?)

*If you run Sequent from the terminal, do you get any additional information traced to the command-line?

Thanks!

[hugom]

I solved it (I had been messing around with my drivers and rebooted it and Sequent listed an output. Doh!).

However, It's barely putting out sound. It sounds like it requires more from my computer, but I think I recall that Sequent didn't require that much CPU or RAM? Is it more than Aspect requires? 'Cause all I'm getting is *fzzz.........pshdsd......* etc.

[colin@loomer]

I solved it

Great!

However, It's barely putting out sound...

Not so great! No, Sequent isn't a particularily CPU heavy effect. The most intensive - by quite a way - is the distortion because it uses 4x oversampling. Everything else should be pretty easy on the CPU. I can't imagine it would struggle on a netbook - it runs fine on my old 1Ghz AMD, for example.

Have you tried just running audio through Sequent with no processing (File / New Program)? Does that sound ok? Also, how are you routing audio into Sequent, via your soundcards inputs, or through a virtual router like JACK?

[hugom]

i'm routing it just via my soundcard, no JACK. I'll try running some pure audio through it later, thanks for all your help