Nord Modular G2X as 8-step external sequencer

337is · Last edited by 337is on Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hi All,

Long time NM patcher but haven't posted here before. I've always patched happily inside my NM (both classic and G2X) but have recently acquired an Oberheim SEMPRO which I've been enjoying immensely. I would like to set up a simple 8 step sequencer in the G2X to control the SEMPRO and allow me to use to use the hardware buttons to turn trig/gate on or off, and then use the corresponding knob to adjust pitch on the fly. Can such a thing be done?

It seems like once I use trig, all pitch control flies out the window. And if I use gate then I can't accurately control the rhythmic pattern as they start to mush together. I can't seem to get useful results out of Note feature on the NoteSend module. Like even if I throw a fast rate LFO on it, I can't hear a change in pitch. Any pro tips to get me moving in the right direction?

Ext8seqpulse.pch2

Description:

Basic 8 step external sequencer

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Ext8seqpulse.pch2

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Baby · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Can you post the patch you are programming?

337is · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject:

Hi Baby, thanks for being willing to help. I've added the patch to this post. I added a pulse based on what I read in this post:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-36891.html

This seems to do the trick, but it feels like fancy magic, I have no real clue how/why introducing a pulse does the trick ... I understand that it increases the length of the trigger, but it seems like that should be built into the sequencer itself ... with this in mind, I don't know how long to make the pulse to replicate a "normal" situation. I mean, I don't need to add this pulse when just patching in the NM, so I don't get how/why its working on external gear. That said, it works, and pitch tracks correctly now. Has anyone done anything elegant in this area? Like building a patch to use the NM like a hardware sequencer for external midi gear? And on that topic, can I create CV signals for modular gear using a similar method? Methinks this might be really fun!

Baby · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:08 am Post subject:

There's no need to change the pulse length to advance the sequencer.

The trigger/gate response is highly dependent on the envelope used on your external synth. As programmed, it looks like you'd be triggering your ADSR every bar and each pitch would slur to the next.

You cannot use the NM for CV as it is DC coupled without modding. See http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-12266.html

I've tried to use Silent Way from the G2, but it has been quirky.

We use gate signals for various pulse lengths for ADSR and the like and trigger for single shots for AD et al.

I'll post a patch later.

varice · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject:

337is · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:00 am Post subject:

Hello varice, thanks so much for the kind welcome. I can't wait to play with this patch tonight when I get home. I appreciate you sharing your insight and will report back after some hands on time.

337is · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject:

Hello Varice, I had a chance to play with your patch and had a ball! Thanks for contributing. Smile

Now, will you be so kind as to entertain some followup questions? I read through your link to the other patch and I will admit that your grasp of the modular environment far exceeds my own. Smile

I went through your patch one module at a time and read the help files on them as I've never used several of the modules you did. Can you explain a bit about what's going on with the Constant feeding into the ShapeStatic? I think I get the Env to Delay, and even a bit of the Flip Flop, but I'm in a panic thinking about the And/Or Gate ... breathe!

Last question. Is there an easy way to make this patch respond to the note held on the keyboard? Currently, it doesn't jump to the new pitch and cycle through the sequence in the way I would normally expect.

Thanks again for the lessons, I'm deeply appreciative of your time.

varice · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:04 am Post subject:

I’m glad that you like this patch.

Well, the help file on the static shaper module is not very helpful. Rolling Eyes

Anyway, this module does logarithmic or exponential transformations of the input signal. In this case I needed to make the unipolar 0 to 64 unit output of the constant module increase in a logarithmic way (faster increases below 32 units and slower above) to counter the exponential way the that logic delay time modulation input works. If you bypass the static shaper, you will notice that the constant control has much less effect when below the middle setting, and a much greater effect nearer the maximum setting.

The flip flop module is used to detect if the clock sends a trigger before the logic delay times out and goes low (this can happen when increasing the clock rate from very slow rates and would cause the sequencer to miss a clock event). The AND gate is used to test that both the logic delay output and flip flop inverted output are high logic levels before passing the gate signal on to the sequencer.

If you are not that familiar with the logic modules, I highly recommend that you learn about them. They can be a very powerful tool. If you haven’t seen it already, there is an online G2 tutorial written by Rob Hordijk that I would recommend. It gets into more detail about the G2 modules than the manual and help file. There is a link to it in this topic:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-1638.html

One way to get the keyboard to work with sequencer is to add a monokey module and connect the pitch output to the blue input on the left side of the sequencer module. The keyboard pitch value will be summed with the sequencer note values.