Benefits of working outside sequencer? (newbies perspective)

[D.J.T.]

Hi all...Ext is an excellent host.

One aspect I am yet to 'discover' are the benefits of working outside the sequencer comp, as all functions/routings are possible from within seq.

So any seansoned ext-pros out there give some tips of working outside of sequencer comp?

Can an admin please move this to Ext forum. Thanks.

[shamann]

So any seansoned ext-pros out there give some tips of working outside of sequencer comp?

Well, I might be able to offer up a little something, as I use eXT a lot, but almost never use the sequencer.

Two things to start: a) think of eXT as a modular synthesizer, and b) think of it like you're a turntablist, doing freeform mixing of existing parts.

So add a synthesizer that you want to play in eXT. Then maybe you want extra modulation. Add an envelope comp and map to any parameter on the synth. You could do this endlessly, LFOs forever, and incredibly versatile ones at that. Then you are not quite happy with the sound. Stick an effect at the end of it. Stick a second one in there too. And a third. Now set up a mixer to mix the wet levels to a point where you're happy, and you have a pseudo-modular synth rack. No feedback paths unfortunately, but close enough.

Now set up a midi part to play that synth. Set up a second synth in what ever manner you want, then set up a midi part. You could then set up several cascading midi parts, so that one will trigger another and so on. With each midi part set up, you can now mix/play each part like you were a DJ spinning loops. Freeform sequencing.

A lot of fun working with these modular setups once you get going.

Cheers,
Steve

[BONES]

You could then set up several cascading midi parts, so that one will trigger another and so on. With each midi part set up, you can now mix/play each part like you were a DJ spinning loops. Freeform sequencing.

I have no idea what you're talking about. Would you care to explain in a little more depth.

[ouroboros]

with pics if possible

[shamann]

I have no idea what you're talking about. Would you care to explain in a little more depth.

Sure. Each MIDI part is a phrase of notes, so each are only a pattern without a song sequence. Each MIDI part can be triggered by a MIDI note. Default starts at C1, but you can assign it to any note.

So say you have a sequenced song made up of fifty patterns. In a traditional pattern sequencer, the master pattern list is usually configured beforehand.

Setting the patterns up in MIDI parts allows you to essentially do a live jam with the sequence. It's still sequenced music, but you can trigger it live from the keyboard. Sort of a halfway point between Kraftwerk and the Grateful Dead.

For instance, midway through a song sequenced in parts, if you decide to repeat the last 5 patterns on the fly, you can easily have the patterns configured beforehand to allow you to change the sequencing by simple live triggering.

An added benefit of the note triggerring is that note values from any MIDI part can also do the triggering. This way you can have master sequences, a barebones array of notes that do nothing else but trigger other patterns. Along these lines, you could set up a cascade of MIDI parts that trigger each other. For example, set up two versions of the same pattern, with a single note difference between the two. Then set up another MIDI part following the previous pattern with the changed note. This next MIDI part plays a line on a second synth voice, and is triggered by the value of the changed note in the previous pattern. You can then play a sequence on your keyboard like C1 C1 D1, where D1 will trigger the pattern with the changed note. When the D1 pattern hits the changed note, it triggers a flourish from the second synth voice.

The idea is that you can play the sequence of a song like you might an instrument. Adds some live playing elements to heavily sequenced music.

I hope that's clear. Been working on music all night, heads a bit cluttered at the moment.

Cheers,
Steve

[shamann]

Here's what the very basic setup might look like. With modular parts, you could set up hundreds to make it more complex. There are two patterns in MIDI part A, and one in MIDI part B. A note in the D1 pattern from MIDI part A can trigger MIDI part B.

Cheers,
Steve

[mystahr]

Quite interesting indeed

I still am in the process of grasping the full concept and its abilities... I'll get there

For now I use eXt to setup synths with a routing path into a few FX as to have a synthesizer on the fly to perform live work on.

[ouroboros]

wow. eXT is impressive. But I will not succomb Must get midi controller first and then.....

I love the flexibility you eXTra's have been demonstrating lately: it's quite a pitch for the product! THanks for the pics.

[D.J.T.]

shamann: Thanks for your detailed and very helpful example.

While I grasp the theory of your example and see it's Live benefits, is all this not simple to achieve within sequencer comp for a 'sequenced' performance?

Thanks again

[ModuLR]

shamann: Thanks for your detailed and very helpful example.

While I grasp the theory of your example and see it's Live benefits, is all this not simple to achieve within sequencer comp for a 'sequenced' performance?

Thanks again

Remember that you can always save your homebrewed live eXT synth rack setup... then load an instance of eXT as a VST within the sequencer comp. With that simple step, you are now playing your homebrewed ext synth rack within the sequencer comp.

and btw, feedback loops can be accomplished with something like senderella (be sure to stick a limiter in there somewhere if you love your ears).

[D.J.T.]

Remember that you can always save your homebrewed live eXT synth rack setup... then load an instance of eXT as a VST within the sequencer comp. With that simple step, you are now playing your homebrewed ext synth rack within the sequencer comp.

Thats a great point

[Caleb]

If you're really clever with eXT you can build facsimiles of products like rhythm & chords in an eXT project and load that as a VST midi part into the sequencer to be your guitar "player".

Then you could develop another project that comes someway to imitating Stylus RMX and use that as another plugin within the sequencer comp and then you have your drummer.

NicFit was telling me about a way you could build a project that can handle chord progression changes within a song so that you can use one set of patterns and transpose and invert according to a plug-in project in eXT.

You can workaround the limitations in the sequencer's mixer for master and group channels by creating them in a separate project which you then plugin and route tracks to.

And then there's a whole range of standalone utilities you can build in the modular window like beat extractors etc...

But there's a reason why I think of this as a mad scientist's tool. Some of these projects can become pretty convoluted and actually putting them together can take time - time you could have been writing music. Then again if the tools become really useful they can help you become more productive down the track.

Of course what would help is to have more examples of these kinds of utilities readily available with some documentation attached. There are some available with varying levels of explanation. I'm hoping to have a look at some of the better projects and host them on my new eXT resource site (hopefully with some documentation).

Caleb

[D.J.T.]

Hi Caleb,

Useful information. You have suddenly opened a little window for me. I can now see the benefits of building various components and then loading these as vst instances within seq comp. Cooool!

[R'yleh]

the modular approach and the Arp / chord / midiparts are the strongest point of XT, where the sequencer is the weakest and cannot stand against "mature" software sequencers imho.

in my feeling the development of XT is moving in the wrong direction in the last weeks, as the sequencer is more and more in the focus it seems.

For example you cannot dock the Arpeggiators and chord components to new pages, which is a shame ( especially for live use )

my 0,02 euro

[Caleb]

For example you cannot dock the Arpeggiators and chord components to new pages, which is a shame ( especially for live use )

Agreed!

All comps should be able to be docked in my opinion.

Caleb