Analogue-sequencer

Hello to all,

I'm new to this list, so first of all, let me introduce myself I'm an
electronic music fan and composer, I've been producing music for the past 10
years, and had a few commercial releases since then. I've started producing
on an all-hardware based studio in 97, using a Yamaha QX sequencer so I'm a
little bit aware of the specificities of hardware programming... Now I have
a more conventional studio setup based on PC+UAD cards for recording, plus a
restrained but well-loved collection of analogue and digital outboard and
synths.

I'm on the market for hardware sequencer and being a SoS reader I came
across the P3 review this month. I was already aware of the  P3 but in my
mind it was more of a DIY project. I'm glad to see Colin did a great job at
producing them at a more industrial level !!

Then, I was just about to decide for a P3 when I saw an ad for a S/H
Schaltwerk from Doepfer at just � 850 here in France; basically it's just
over the price I'd pay for a brand new P3 delivered to my home... Imagine my
confusion and dilemma.

So big question, what would you choose and why ? (I expect biased answers
from this list but here we go)

PS: I may be answering to my own question here, but here I go with a few of
my own assertions I'd like you to challenge :
1/ I believe the P3 is more feature-packed (the lack of shuffle/swing on the
Schaltwerk is VERY annoying),
2/ yet the P3 is less of a "hands-on" sequencer, as it 'only' has one row of
buttons, two rows of knobs... while the monstruous Schaltwerk has, well, a
lot more (and flashing leds but that's another story). that, potentially,
can make the P3 a more frustrating experience.
3/ the Schaltwerk software architecture is somehow more classic xOx stuff,
giving it a more "immediate" feeling for old-timers like me :
step/tracks/pattern/songs where the P3 seems more obscure at first :
step/pattern/track/part/playlist/bank...

about point 3/ I have a bonus question, maybe you P3 users can answer, do
you get over the P3 "obscure" architecture quickly, I mean if you come
either from a xOx background or from a "cubase/linear programming"
background  ? how anal/intuitive is the programming on the P3 ? do you refer
to the manual often when programming ?

cheers,


Olivier


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