MSF Experiments: A experimental Step Sequencer which can switch on/off Reverb or Delay per step (device included)

[] Peter:H []

In another thread someone asked about building a Sequencer with MSF without using the ARP.
I have spent some time to fiddle around with this, and here's a first little instrument.

It's experimental - Don't expect it to be perfect.

Current functionality:

• 8 steps which you can switch on and off
• A delay that triggers on some step. Not yet controllable
• A reverb that triggers on some step. Not yet conrollable
• A step indicator, to show you at wich step the sequence is

Is this interesting for (a) a tutorial or (b) building a real device?

MSF Sequencer Experimental 001.png

What I found out on the way:

• I think 8 Modulators for MSF compared to 16 Modulators for MXXX are just to few. Or did I not get it? Including a Modular in MSF does not give me more Mods, only if I include a MXXX. This thingy already consumes 6 Modulators...
• I need to do a workaround because I think the "synchronisation" of Multiparameters and Modualtors, especially when building moduation chains is not perfect. With my first naive approach I got several "false extra" note triggers. Only with a workaround I got a somewhat stable triggering of the notes.
• I did not find a valid configuration to set the sequencer from restart on every note" to "restart on first note", so if you start with a note and then press a second, the sequencer will start over again.

[David]

Fascinating, thanks, Peter! And for the invitation to continue the topic:)

It seems to me there's broadly two paths to take here, both of which are workarounds for the fact that, so far, Vojteck adamantly refuses to put any MIDI powers inside MSF. Hopefully that will someday change but no one's holding their breath, right?

So the two paths, as I see 'em, are:
1. Try to build something that, without using the Arp, looks a little like a conventional MIDI step sequencer from a control/GUI perspective, and sounds a quite a bit like one when used, as if to trick…[who exactly?]…into thinking that you DO have pitch, level and timing sequencing in MSF. And also to test one's grasp of the modular powers in MSF, and one's ingenuity of course, to see just how far one can push them beyond their more obvious functionality to go in this direction.
2. Explore the signal-processing tools already in MSF to see how much they might either simulate MIDI sequencing OR extend the concept of what sequencing synth tones could mean without MIDI. Or both…

I'm intrigued by both paths, but admit to finding the 2nd one a little more interesting. That's because to me it promises more likely freshness sound-wise, since it embraces the absence inside MSF of long-familiar MIDI tools for this purpose (which of course are still around OUTside MSF, from other sources, in vast profusion and perfectly able to be pointed at MSF…) and looks elsewhere for pitch, level and timing movement that can somehow be made sequence-able.

In that spirit, I offer a device that does exactly this, IMO. It's definitely weirder and less predictable than any conventional MIDI sequencing tools I know of, and it does lots of sound things that are nothing like what MIDI Sequencers typically do, along with other things that are definitely similar…and I find it quite continuously surprising, which is exactly what I like about it.

CabWobbRittmTest 1.zip

It's designed to greatly facilitate the quick application and exploration of presets from the Wobbler and the Rhythmizer FX, in series, alone if you like, but more especially in combination, to any sound, but in this instance, just to the output of the anything-but-basic Melda Osc module. And that's pretty much ALL it's optimized to do, so…while it's a Device and it's got lotsa presets, it's got a very spare Easy Screen. So, I use it with lots of EDIT Mode panels popped out for easy access to more controls and preset options while experimenting, and because this greatly helps in understanding what they offer, and exactly what they're doing, like this:



(The Limiter is open to provide easy output-level control, in the absence of a Gain Knob on the Easy Screen.)

Speaking of presets, there's a bunch in here named with that trademark Melda practice of using randomly weird adjective/noun combos, so while I'm certain that this device is mostly my own concoction, some parts of it MUST have come from somewhere else. Where that was I've no memory of whatsoever, nor have I been able to search anything out to clear that mystery up. Though I do remember making this right after the MCabinet device was born, if that jogs anyone else's memory… So if anyone recognizes anything about it, please let me know! Thanks!

[David]

Two more downloadable MSF-sequencer examples, one from each path just mentioned above, posted in this thread, btw.