Poll: Sequencers & Arps on Hardware Synths

[cryophonik]

Not when you are paying for features you don't need and/or if those features mean you miss out on something that you'd rather have.

I can relate. I generally prefer synths to have arps and don’t care so much about step sequencers (with some exceptions, e.g., Elektron), so I was a little disappointed when I got my SE-02 and realized that it doesn’t have an arp. It was a bit of an opportunistic impulse buy, so I guess it never even crossed my mind that it wouldn’t have an arp, especially since Roland puts arps on almost everything. The sequencer is pretty cool and is probably integral to many SE-02 users, but I’d still rather see a basic arp than a nice sequencer. Oh well, it’s not a dealbreaker AFAIC.

[pdxindy]

Thing is, what would be my motivation to get to that point?

Your motivation is up to you. I enjoy becoming proficient with stuff that interest me and the Elektron Sequencers are excellent musical tools.

[FranklyFlawless]

I neither use step sequencers or arpeggios for synthesizers, nor do I consider either of them essential. However, I find patches using arpeggios irritating, so I would rather not have them.

[BONES]

I was a little disappointed when I got my SE-02 and realized that it doesn’t have an arp. It was a bit of an opportunistic impulse buy, so I guess it never even crossed my mind that it wouldn’t have an arp, especially since Roland puts arps on almost everything. The sequencer is pretty cool and is probably integral to many SE-02 users, but I’d still rather see a basic arp than a nice sequencer. Oh well, it’s not a dealbreaker AFAIC.

You can always program the sequencer to mimic the behaviour of the arp, can't you? Or does it have a set key?

Your motivation is up to you. I enjoy becoming proficient with stuff that interest me and the Elektron Sequencers are excellent musical tools.

So is Studio One and I never had to learn how to use it. It was pretty much completely intuitive from the get-go. Learning how to use the Elektron sequencer would be like learning how to use a Reverse Polish Notation calculator - a complete waste of time for anyone with a computer.

[pdxindy]

Step sequencers are _almost_ as divisive as internal effect processors in synthesizers. I don't know how many times I ended up in discussions with people about this. Why should you have internal effects or a step sequencer when you can do that so much easier and better on the computer? While that is true - I find step sequencers and effect processors to be like cooking with cream. I'm damn addicted to them. Everything turns better. More inspirational too. If you don't like the sequence or the effects - just switch it off and do it yourself.

More options are better than no options?

/C

In theory yeah... but in order to make a sequencer interface that is enjoyable and fluid to use, it takes up a fair bit of space which I would rather go towards more synth parameters. And most synth sequencers are more limited in features or controls and so I often don't find them all that easy to integrate into my workflow. So even when a synth has a sequencer, I usually end up not using it. Also, getting various hardware synths and their sequencers to sync properly is more work.

[pdxindy]

Learning how to use the Elektron sequencer would be like learning how to use a Reverse Polish Notation calculator

Just cause you find it hard to learn doesn't mean everyone does.

[cryophonik]

Step sequencers are _almost_ as divisive as internal effect processors in synthesizers.

It’s funny, I have somewhat mixed feelings and not strong preferences when it comes to effects on most synths. Generally speaking, my preference is for digital synths to have effects. For analog synths, I’m a little more flexible and it really comes down to how good the effects are. I don’t miss effects on my Moogs or SE-1X, and I find that I tend to turn off the delay on my SE-02 lately. I could get by just fine without the reverb on my Prophet 6 or Rev2, but the other effects are decent. The effects on my PolyBrute and Pro 3 are very good IMO and integral to my sound design with those synths.

[ghettosynth]

Learning how to use the Elektron sequencer would be like learning how to use a Reverse Polish Notation calculator

Just cause you find it hard to learn doesn't mean everyone does.

Right! Never mind that RPN calculators are so pleasant to use. I can never go back. Free42 is an amazing phone app. It's my daily driver, yes, I do use a calculator every day. While I miss my real HP42 from back in the day, it died and I'm not interested in the actual hardware enough to pay collector dollars for one. I like that I always have an RPN calculator as long as I have my phone, or, one of the dead phones that I keep about in case my phone is charging or I left it in the car.

Generally, no, I don't like step sequencers in synths and I also get annoyed by ARP patches, some of the time. I could rant on a bit more, but I feel that I've already shared the really important stuff, i.e., RPN, so I'll just leave it at that.

[cryophonik]

You can always program the sequencer to mimic the behaviour of the arp, can't you? Or does it have a set key?

No, not really. You could program the sequencer to play set intervals above/below the note you’re playing to represent a given type of chord (e,g., a minor 7 chord), but the intervals are fixed, so it would simply transpose that same sequence relative to whatever note you play. That’s not going to give me what I usually want, which is for the synth to arpeggiate the chords as I’m playing through a progression of different chord types in real time. They both have their uses, but they work in different ways.

[ghettosynth]

You can always program the sequencer to mimic the behaviour of the arp, can't you? Or does it have a set key?

No, not really. You could program the sequencer to play set intervals above/below the note you’re playing to represent a given type of chord (e,g., a minor 7 chord), but the intervals are fixed, so it would simply transpose that same sequence relative to whatever note you play. That’s not going to give me what I usually want, which is for the synth to arpeggiate the chords as I’m playing through a progression of different chord types in real time. They both have their uses, but they work in different ways.

Yep. Now that I'm going back to "some" hardware, my old midi patch bay and this are getting resurrected.

[cryophonik]

Yep. Now that I'm going back to "some" hardware, my old midi patch bay and this are getting resurrected.

Very cool! I’ve never used one, but it looks like a fun box.

[BONES]

Just cause you find it hard to learn doesn't mean everyone does.

I didn't find it hard, I simply didn't see any reason to bother. That, of course, goes to my point that I wouldn't pay an extra penny for an on-board sequencer.

Never mind that RPN calculators are so pleasant to use.

Yeah, I had a string of RPN calculators when I was at uni, back in the days before personal computers. It was efficient for programming but I don't know that I'd ever have described it as "pleasant".

That’s not going to give me what I usually want, which is for the synth to arpeggiate the chords as I’m playing through a progression of different chord types in real time. They both have their uses, but they work in different ways.

That will depend entirely on how many steps the sequencer has.

[DrGonzo]

And most synth sequencers are more limited in features or controls and so I often don't find them all that easy to integrate into my workflow. So even when a synth has a sequencer, I usually end up not using it.

Good point. It can be tricky on how to add a good step sequencer - but Elektrons aside I feel Korg have managed to make theirs pretty intuitive. Not as advanced as the Elektrons but basically just push, twist and go.

/C

[DrGonzo]

It’s funny, I have somewhat mixed feelings and not strong preferences when it comes to effects on most synths. Generally speaking, my preference is for digital synths to have effects. For analog synths, I’m a little more flexible and it really comes down to how good the effects are. I don’t miss effects on my Moogs or SE-1X, and I find that I tend to turn off the delay on my SE-02 lately.

Absolutely and there is a very fine line on what can be regarded as a traditional effect and something that walks hand in hand with the sound engine. I always felt the effects in the Dreadbox synths are as important of the sound as the analog oscillators/filters. DSI/Sequential are quite good with their effects I agree.

[kritikon]

I generally like sequencers on synths. I don't use them loads, but I do use them and enjoy them - particularly like the recent Korg ones. It's a different and extra way of automating parameters that might not be easy with limited onboard LFOs/envelopes or just easier. Not however a deal breaker or maker. Nice to have.

I never used to be that fussed with arps but I've grown to like them more, but it entirely depends on the arp and what it can do. Straight up/down/shake-it-all-about arps are a bit meh. But something like the Monopoly where it can cycle around the oscillators on an arp is a beautiful thing. I don't often use arps in music I make, but I do play with them when just playing for pleasure. Same goes for onboard FX - I rarely record them and use sw FX in the DAW, but for joy-of-playing, FX are crucial, so I don't have to be slavishly hooked up to a DAW or computer. I delved into the Wavestate arp recently and was surprised at how I liked it (both hw and Native). Lots more guts/tweakability to it than I realised. Actually I'm finding more and more in Wavestate that makes it an incredibly powerful synth and it's 2 of my digital synths that most benefit from these gizmos rather than the analogues IMO.

No synth I buy has to have either arp or sequencer. But generally a nice thing to have. My little Wasp has f**k all of anything on it like that, but it's no worse for it - I great little quirky runt of a synth that doesn't need bells or whistles.