(the product formerly known as) Epoch

[woggle]

You're not far off: I'm fast running out of bugs to fix.

this is a worry - perhaps we can start a bug request forum

[Doug1978]

Hello

I can see this is a very anticipated product.

But the past few pages' discussion has gone way over my head - it all sounds like black magic @-@!!

In a nutshell, what will this product do please?
(I appreciate that it probably has many, many brilliant functions, but what is its main purpose).

Many thanks.

Confused, Sendai.

[colin@loomer]

The short description would be: it's a modular MIDI processor. You connect various modules together - step sequencers, mathematical operators, button and switches, etc - to build modular environments that generate and/or process MIDI data. Surrounding this are functions that make it easy for you to use as a standalone environment (it can host plug-ins, has an arranger view, and mixer), or which you can happily ignore and use directly in your existing DAW as a plug-in.

It's essentially a different way of composing. Instead of thinking in purely linear terms - bars and patterns - and defining music with rigged notes and rhythms, one can compose using algorithms.

If this sounds complicated, I've made every effort to ensure that the learning curve is as gentle a slope as possible. The most basic of patches - still very useable - consists of just a Step Sequencer Module wired to an Output Module. From here, it's easy to experiment and play around: what if each note only plays sometimes? What if the sequencer reversed direction and transposed up a semitone every other bar? What if we change the key and scale every so often? What if I harmonise the sequencer's output, and perhaps connect this harmony to another instrument. And then delay the harmony by an 1/8th note. And then maybe this harmony can gate the orignal melody. And what if...

[Doug1978]

Thanks Colin for the clearer explanation.

Probably best if I watch a couple of videos after its release as well though.

It certainly sounds intriguing.

Good luck with the final bits and pieces before release

[colin@loomer]

As I polished the Arpeggiator module - one of the handful of really complex modules - I realised it'll be better served by lower-level components: it's now spawned a few others modules, the Hold and Toggle modules, both of which are useful in it's own right.

The Hold module latches the MIDI input, keeping the notes sustained as if held, even after they have been released. Whilst any of these notes are held, any further notes will be added to the latch. Playing a new chord or note will overwrite the latch, stopping the previous notes and replacing them with the new ones.

The Toggle module does something similar, but here, playing a note a second time will remove it from the latch, allowing the gradual build-up and -down of an arrangement.

(There is also an existing module which fits into this category: the Sustainer. The Sustainer holds any MIDI notes whilst the Gate input is held high. Releasing the gate will cause all held notes to be released.)

What's nice about the Arpeggiator becoming a little more light-weight is that in enables one to insert processing modules between these stages. For example, many arpeggiators allow a second or third range of octaves. Here, we simply use one or more Add Pitch modules to transpose input notes by whatever ranges - not necessarily octaves - and into however many notes are needed.

Of course, the problem with playing with a Arpeggiator this flexible is that it's too easy to get distracted composing when I should be coding!

[ThomasHelzle]

Hehehe - awesome - don't forget, we wanna play too!

Cheers,

Tom

[nilhartman]

I'm a die-hard Numerologist... though I can't wait to jam with your sequencer Colin.

I bet both apps will complement each other nicely: having the choice between the 2 takes on modular MIDI sequencing depending on the mood and tune will be super refreshing.

Yup, that wasn't the most useful comment ever... ^^

[firepile]

Of course, the problem with playing with a Arpeggiator this flexible is that it's too easy to get distracted composing when I should be coding!

Nice. How long before it will be released?

[Hez]

As I polished the Arpeggiator module - one of the handful of really complex modules - I realised it'll be better served by lower-level components: it's now spawned a few others modules, the Hold and Toggle modules, both of which are useful in it's own right.

The Hold module latches the MIDI input, keeping the notes sustained as if held, even after they have been released. Whilst any of these notes are held, any further notes will be added to the latch. Playing a new chord or note will overwrite the latch, stopping the previous notes and replacing them with the new ones.

The Toggle module does something similar, but here, playing a note a second time will remove it from the latch, allowing the gradual build-up and -down of an arrangement.

(There is also an existing module which fits into this category: the Sustainer. The Sustainer holds any MIDI notes whilst the Gate input is held high. Releasing the gate will cause all held notes to be released.)

What's nice about the Arpeggiator becoming a little more light-weight is that in enables one to insert processing modules between these stages. For example, many arpeggiators allow a second or third range of octaves. Here, we simply use one or more Add Pitch modules to transpose input notes by whatever ranges - not necessarily octaves - and into however many notes are needed.

Of course, the problem with playing with a Arpeggiator this flexible is that it's too easy to get distracted composing when I should be coding!

[pinki]

Of course, the problem with playing with a Arpeggiator this flexible is that it's too easy to get distracted composing when I should be coding!

Nice. How long before it will be released?

Early 2015...which ends in 9 days time....but see first post

[woggle]

Of course, the problem with playing with a Arpeggiator this flexible is that it's too easy to get distracted composing when I should be coding!

Nice. How long before it will be released?

Early 2015...which ends in 9 days time....but see first post

Ha - that had me looking back and seeing it has been 3 years! I don't mind at all although obviously sooner is better than later - but it is a wakeup on how time slips by

This is the only bit of software I've wanted to buy across that entire time - I've picked up a couple of things on special but Epoch is the only piece of software that (hopefully) genuinely fills a musical purpose I've had in mind for decades

[colin@loomer]

I ended up simplifying the Arpeggiator module somewhat. As powerful as the previous iteration was, I felt that it was just a bit too complicated, a bit too cumbersome, to use.

A little refining later, and I think I've retained most - if not all - of the flexibility, and greatly improved the usability. A common goal with all the larger modules is that the basic operation should be 'plug n play': it should be possible to drop an instance into the routing area and have it immediately work without requiring further configuration. Which the Arpeggiator now does.

It offers the standard arpeggiator options: a set of possible directions such as up, down, up then down, etc; beat division, and swing.

Additionally, we have a programmable per-step area, which allow further processing for each individual output step. Here we can transpose, set the step to repeat or be skipped, alter the gate length, etc. Most interestingly, we also have per-step "move read head" command. This command governs which note from the source input notes will be played next, using options such as first, next, previous, random, next2 (ie, skip one note), previous 2, etc.

To give an example, assuming we input into the arpeggiator a chord of C D E F G A B. Setting the per-step to 2 steps, and giving the first step 'next2', and the second step 'previous'. This will then jump forward two, and then back one, producing a stilted arpeggiated output of: D C E D F E G F A G B A C B.

Another example, here with 8 programmable steps, and each one set to play the "first" (ie, lowest pitched) note. We then set the per-step transpose to 0, 4, 7, 9, 10, 9, 7, 4. This will then produce a monophonic walking blues bass line based on the root note of the input chord.

Powerful stuff indeed!

[ThomasHelzle]

Nice.

Cheers,

Tom

[pinki]

This is the only bit of software I've wanted to buy across that entire time - I've picked up a couple of things on special but Epoch is the only piece of software that (hopefully) genuinely fills a musical purpose I've had in mind for decades

Yikes no pressure then!

[koalaboy]

I need this to release before I die.... and I'm only 43... but you know.... it's been a while