Analogue-sequencer

Richard Scott wrote:

>Hi again
>
>I am really interested in the P3 as a semi improvisational tool/random generator and am wondering how it will work in practise. I don't want to just play patterns i prepared earlier - but nor do I want total chaos. Its difficult without seeing one to know how immediate the P3 can be on stage/in the heat of the moment. For example;  
>  
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I am totally happy to go into any situation with little or no 
preparation and improvise an entire live set. But you might be more of a 
perfectionist than me (many are).

>Can i play notes from a masterkeyboard (actually in my case a wind controller or a buchla lightening) thru the P3 and then easily decide to grab a group of notes for a sequence or an arpeggio on the fly? Can I randomise then this pattern without stopping it?
>  
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You can do *everything* (bar sending sysex) without stopping.
I typically fire in my patterns direct from a MIDI sequencer, go into 
ARP record, use the randomise feature for notes or controllers or 
whatever all very quickly.
The stuff that takes longer is adding weird auxilliary events - this is 
only because the list to select from is quite long and finding the entry 
you need in the heat of a gig is less than instant. Colin knows this 
though and I expect a marvellous solution even to this, in due course.

>will the p3 the input from a master keyboard and output both sequence/arp data and the keyboard data. 
>  
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It outputs the pattern data and also can send "thru" data if you 
generate yours arps on a master keyboard. The thru stuff can even go 
through FTS <g>

>can I easily randomise an arpeggio on the fly? 
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You can set direction to random as it plays or randomise notes - is that 
what you mean?

>can i easily change ALL the notes in a sequence from a masterkeyboard without stopping playing?
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Sure

>If I just want to change a couple of pitches in a sequence can i go straight to it or do i have to go through a dozen menus first ? :)
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Everything is menu based. But you can go from the top level to editing 
notes in a pattern in one action. And you can then change any pitch by 
just reaching for the knobs.

>please note the use of the words "easily" and "without stopping"- ultimately I can do most of this kind of thing on my nord G2/Akai MPC400 but not "easily" or spontaniously:) The next box i buy needs to be FUN !!
>  
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We really need to do a video to show you how cool this is and how quick 
- once you learn it. Make no mistake, you can be *very* fast with the P3 
but only when you are able to use it automatically. Where are you? If 
you're anywhere in the north west of england I'm sure a demo can be 
arranged... :)

Paul

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Paul Nagle / Soft Room Music / Bogus Focus Records / Binar / Headshock / The Joint Intelligence Committee
        www.softroom.co.uk / www.BogusFocus.com / www.JointIntelligenceCommittee.com