Sequencer Feature Wish List

kkissinger · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:03 am Post subject:

Most sequencers advance on every trigger. In other words, each stage is active for one tick.

A possible feature would be to set the number of ticks for each stage.

Thus, each stage would be equipped with a switch to set the number of ticks for each stage.

MickeyDelp · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:21 am Post subject:

That is a big one for me too, Kevin. That is what I meant in my original post by "step length (1/2/3/4 beats)". emdot_ambient mentioned it too.

jordroid · Joined: Jan 17, 2010 Posts: 193 Location: ithaca, new york

I have had an idea in my head since seeing an envelope generator made by Boogdish recently in the 2011 build thread, he has a video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKvlIneAobA with the general idea, and it got me thinking of how cool something like that might be as a sequencer-

instead of switches for sequence length and direction, each step would have a three position toggle switch, the sequencer counts between the two outermost switches that are engaged. Center is "off", up is "count to next appropriate switch" and down is "reset to next appropriate switch". The sequencer will count either up or down depending on the relationship of the outermost switches.

Sooooo if switch one is "up" and switch eight is "down" the sequencer will count from one to eight and then reset back to one and start over (1234567812345678...). If we flip switch eight to "up" it will now count from one to eight and then count back down to one (12345678765432...). If we flip switch one "down" it will now count down from eight to one and reset to eight (8765432187654321...). If we flip switch one "off" and switch three "up", for example, it will now count from three up to eight and then back down to three (3456787654...). If we flip switch eight "off" and switch five to "down" it will now count from three up to five and then reset to three (345345...) Hopefully that makes some sense.

It should still do something if there are no switches active, or only one switch is active, so you don't accidentally stop the sequencer from running while you are jamming out. Maybe just count to the end and reset from whichever switch is active if one is, and just count from one to eight and reset if no switches are active. Maybe if only one switch is active count up if the switch is "up" and count down if the switch is "down", for example if all switches are off except switch six is "up" it will count 678678..., if we flip switch six to "down" it will count 654321654321... Or maybe something else, i'm not sure of the best way to deal with only one switch on yet.

Basically you have control over sequence length and direction, and you can reset to any step, not just step one, a major shortcoming of traditional sequencers.

That's my rough sketch of an idea that i think would be super cool to mess with, especially with more than eight steps. No pressure to consider it for this project, i just thought i'd share it Smile

jordan

emdot_ambient · Joined: Nov 22, 2009 Posts: 667 Location: Frederick, MD

Completely different idea:

I've seen some interesting matrix-like sequencers in 3U (like the Make Noise René), none of which I actually understand, not having investigated the 3U field since I'm not fond of its dimensions, small knobs and especially tiny jacks/plugs...

But I can imagine how I'd like a sequencer formatted like those to work.

Basically, each "step" (horizontal step) would really be a 4-step sequencer in its own right (a column of 4 vertical steps) which could be set to its own multiple or subdivision of the master clock.

When a horizontal step is activated, it plays all the vertical steps in its column (each with on, hold and skip settings) at the clock multiple/division set for that column. Only when the vertical sequence is finished does the horizontal movement proceed to the next step...though it would be cool to be able to set the # of repeats each vertical column plays before moving on the the next horizontal step.

In this way you could get multiple pulses per horizontal step with different pitches for each of those pulses, AND each column of vertical steps could be at a different, but rhythmically related, rate, making much more complex melodic/rhythmic arrangements possible.

This would allow you to program "ratcheting" effects without the use of multiple sequencers in concert with a VC sequential switch...or to program sequences of up to 32 steps (assuming an 8X4 step arrangement).

patchdub · Joined: Jan 21, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Taos, NM

boring but really useful would be to have both a manual forward and backward step push button. my mfos 16 step has both but my my klee only has a forward. i really like the option to go back and forth while i fine tune the melody.

also really like all the multiple gate options the klee has. perhaps something like that as well as a random or cv controlled gate out.

what ever you come up with im gonna be excited. i can't get enough sequencers these days.

MickeyDelp · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:32 am Post subject:

MickeyDelp · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:35 am Post subject:

patchdub · Joined: Jan 21, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Taos, NM

well the klee has three way switch that selects 1 of 3 gate outs for each step, a rad feature. i don't really know how a cv gate out would work but i imagine it being something like a lfo being able to override the selecting the gate outs instead using switches. i don't know if thats possible or practical but i always want more cv options available with my modules.