Gforce Software Oberheim SEM

[Teksonik]

The advantage of using the seq in the SEM is really simple, maybe someone else has said it IDK. It's not about simply inputting notes the same as any DAW, it's a compositional and performance tool. Unlike your DAW it enables one to transpose and input collections of notes on the fly, simple really.

Bingo! The man hit the nail right on the head.

You can play the Step Sequencer in the SEM but you can't play a Piano Roll. That's the difference.

Here's an example:

Init a patch in the SEM. Start record in Step Sequencer 1 and hit a C on your midi controller then F, then G then a C one octave up. Turn off record.

Now you can play that sequence up and down the keyboard and it will sound good on any note and at any interval. As woodenis said the Step Sequencer is a performance tool.

Now one may not own a midi controller keyboard or own one and not play it so in those cases there will be limited or no value.

But the Step Sequencer does have value to some people. It's a great feature in the SEM (or any synth) and is there to use for people who want to take advantage of the value and can be ignored by those who don't. Win/Win.

[BONES]

It's so exhausting discussing anything with you. Because of your presumption that you're always right.

OK, so I should always assume that you're right and I'm wrong, even though you refuse to provide any evidence that might make me change my mind?

That maybe the reason you believe you're right on so many occasions. You're not. You just tire any attempt to correct you.

But you don't try, you just keep repeating the same pointless shit like a mantra. Just look at woodsdenis's response below; he provides actual information that moves the discussion forward.

Unlike your DAW it enables one to transpose and input collections of notes on the fly, simple really.

Finally! A response that makes sense, although I'm not too sure how it aids composition. Definitely a bonus for performance, though, and something I hadn't thought of (Uno Synth and SH-101 sequencers don't work like that, they have fixed pitch like the piano roll). In composition, it would be too limiting for me because you couldn't easily preview other instruments or patches for that part. It kind of locks you into using SEM, which would annoy me, so I'd want to drag the MIDI in there, which means it would be easier to have done it from the piano roll in the first place (which is where my thinking was).

[Fernando Carvalho]

Actually you can transpose clips in Ableton playing a keyboard, so you can do something similar with a daw, with Ableton at least.

[slackhead]

In composition, it would be too limiting for me because you couldn't easily preview other instruments or patches for that part. It kind of locks you into using SEM, which would annoy me, so I'd want to drag the MIDI in there, which means it would be easier to have done it from the piano roll in the first place (which is where my thinking was).

Have a look at TAL Bassline-101. Only yesterday I created a nice little groove based around a 16 step sequence which I then jammed around transposing on the fly until I had a 8 bar part that I was really happy with. I could then drag and drop the step sequence into Bitwig and re-work it a little or send it to a different instrument (although the TAL was sounding great after a little processing).
I would never ever have came up with a similar groove by mousing in a key editor.

I also like step sequencers that allow modulation of parameters such as velocities, note lengths. This can get really creative at times. The HY-Plugins sequencers are particularly good for this.

But then we are all different and what works for me might not work for you.

[BONES]

I can assure you it won't work for me, I f**king hate the sound of the 303. It is easily the worst synth(s) I have ever owned.

[slackhead]

I can assure you it won't work for me, I f**king hate the sound of the 303. It is easily the worst synth(s) I have ever owned.

The 101 is not the same as a 303. Similar at time, but much more versatile.
But I didn't raise it because of the sound, but because of the creative process around the step sequencing.

[woodsdenis]

In composition, it would be too limiting for me because you couldn't easily preview other instruments or patches for that part. It kind of locks you into using SEM, which would annoy me, so I'd want to drag the MIDI in there, which means it would be easier to have done it from the piano roll in the first place (which is where my thinking was).

Have a look at TAL Bassline-101. Only yesterday I created a nice little groove based around a 16 step sequence which I then jammed around transposing on the fly until I had a 8 bar part that I was really happy with. I could then drag and drop the step sequence into Bitwig and re-work it a little or send it to a different instrument (although the TAL was sounding great after a little processing).
I would never ever have came up with a similar groove by mousing in a key editor.

I also like step sequencers that allow modulation of parameters such as velocities, note lengths. This can get really creative at times. The HY-Plugins sequencers are particularly good for this.

But then we are all different and what works for me might not work for you.

I use this seq feature all the time, Repro 1, and a lot if not all of the Bassline VST do it. Very handy for creating that type of bass line as well as melodic lines you wouldn't have thought of, a lot of happy accidents too. I didn't notice the Softube Model 82 didn't, which is a shame.

Probably showing my age and will ferociously be corrected if I am wrong, I am sure the real Pro 1 operated its seq like this also.

[slackhead]

Repro 1, and a lot if not all of the Bassline VST do it.

Indeed it does. But I can't imagine Bones likes Repro 1 very much either

[e@rs]

SEM: is it me or there's no way to load a user made preset from a different location than the user folder?

[interruptor]

SEM: is it me or there's no way to load a user made preset from a different location than the user folder?

I think you are right. Here on WIN10 each preset is saved in an individual file. I don't see a problem with it though, except that you need to figure out where that folder is if you want to manage the presets yourself.

[e@rs]

Not sure I was clear enough, I have no problem saving a preset in a different location, but I can't find a way to load it back into the synth from there.

[interruptor]

Not sure I was clear enough, I have no problem saving a preset in a different location, but I can't find a way to load it back into the synth from there.

You were clear, my answer wasn't. Like you, I cannot find a way to load presets from a different folder.

[rezoneight]

Probably showing my age and will ferociously be corrected if I am wrong, I am sure the real Pro 1 operated its seq like this also.

Pro-One sequencer is 2 patterns of pitch-only, no timing. 40 notes max. You can transpose it tho.

[RobustAmerican]

Not sure I was clear enough, I have no problem saving a preset in a different location, but I can't find a way to load it back into the synth from there.

Same here, but my saved presets are in the default user folder. I suspect this maybe a demo limitation and it's a very good one if so.

[zvenx]

Ob-e is like that too. It only looks one place and subfolders for user presets afaik.

Rsp