Analogue-sequencer

Folks,

Build 3.1.004 is in the Yahoo files section now.
This build has a number of new features:

 - revised playlist edit mode (open for discussion)
 - direct access to playlist hold from play and playlist edit modes
 - 'mixer' function on knobs above part keys in play mode
 - new user conf options
 - set midi channel aux event

Playlist edit mode has been changed with a view to making it easier 
to use. I'll update the manual section shortly.
You'll find a brief description of the changes in the text 
file 'revised-ple.txt'. If you use playlists much, let me know what 
you think.

The mixer function allows you to send midi volume and pan messages 
from the knobs above the 8 part keys - each note knob sends volume, 
and the upper knobs pan, on the midi channels assigned to the 
corresponding tracks.
You can temporarily defeat sending of these messages by holding FUNC 
as you move the knobs. This allows you to choose a starting value 
before you jump to it. Remember in play mode the knobs operate 
in 'pass thru' mode.

To enable the mixer function, you'll find a new user conf 
option, 'Enable mixer'.
Also new in user conf are 'Note numbers', and 'Auto save edits'.
The first causes notes to be shown as midi note numbers in pattern 
edit. The second defeats the save/lose/back options in pattern edit, 
so pressing PLAY/EDIT will take you straight back to play mode.

The 'set midi channel' event allows you to redirect the note on a 
specific step to an alternative midi channel.
Randomisation of this event can produce nice effects where you have 
a number of different synths connected.

Cheers,
Colin f

--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, "colinfraser_com"
<colin@c...> wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> Build 3.1.004 is in the Yahoo files section now.
> This build has a number of new features:
> 
>  - revised playlist edit mode (open for discussion)
>  - direct access to playlist hold from play and playlist edit modes
>  - 'mixer' function on knobs above part keys in play mode
>  - new user conf options
>  - set midi channel aux event
> 
> Playlist edit mode has been changed with a view to making it easier 
> to use. I'll update the manual section shortly.
> You'll find a brief description of the changes in the text 
> file 'revised-ple.txt'. If you use playlists much, let me know what 
> you think.
> 
> The mixer function allows you to send midi volume and pan messages 
> from the knobs above the 8 part keys - each note knob sends volume, 
> and the upper knobs pan, on the midi channels assigned to the 
> corresponding tracks.
> You can temporarily defeat sending of these messages by holding FUNC 
> as you move the knobs. This allows you to choose a starting value 
> before you jump to it. Remember in play mode the knobs operate 
> in 'pass thru' mode.
> 
> To enable the mixer function, you'll find a new user conf 
> option, 'Enable mixer'.
> Also new in user conf are 'Note numbers', and 'Auto save edits'.
> The first causes notes to be shown as midi note numbers in pattern 
> edit. The second defeats the save/lose/back options in pattern edit, 
> so pressing PLAY/EDIT will take you straight back to play mode.
> 
> The 'set midi channel' event allows you to redirect the note on a 
> specific step to an alternative midi channel.
> Randomisation of this event can produce nice effects where you have 
> a number of different synths connected.
> 
> Cheers,
> Colin f

hi Colin,
how does the mixer function combine with the events that use the knobs
for masking or otherwise controlling AUXEs? i'd hate to lose them as
i've been using them for lots of stuff recently, and personally i
don't really see any added value in this new mixer-function as i do my
mixing in my mixer.. and while i'm on the subject of AUXes, i'd also
really like to see an event like the 'set note' event, but then for
the length/delay/velocity parameters; it'd be really useful combined
with the masking-events. and i'd also like to see events that control
the playlist: length, first/last playlist step and that kind of stuff
if it's possible.

grtz Chiel

> how does the mixer function combine with the events that use the knobs
> for masking or otherwise controlling AUXEs? i'd hate to lose them as
> i've been using them for lots of stuff recently, and personally i
> don't really see any added value in this new mixer-function as i do my
> mixing in my mixer..

No problem. Even with the mixer enabled, the knobs will behave with aux
events as before.

> and while i'm on the subject of AUXes, i'd also
> really like to see an event like the 'set note' event, but then for
> the length/delay/velocity parameters; it'd be really useful combined
> with the masking-events. and i'd also like to see events that control
> the playlist: length, first/last playlist step and that kind of stuff
> if it's possible.

The problem with the events is that there are only a few slots left.
Before I can add many more, I'd need to remove some of the existing ones.
I have an idea that would remove a fair number of events - making the 'swap'
and 'grab' events hold both the value to be swapped/grabbed, and the track
number. So instead of having separate events, you would have a single grab
event the value for which would run through 'note, trk 1' to 'note, trk 8',
then 'velo trk 1' to 'velo trk 8', and so on.
This would also mean randomisation or accumulation of these events could
pass through different value types as well as tracks.
But it would be very hard to make it backward compatible with existing
pattern data - it would maybe need a sysex translator or something.

Cheers,
Colin f

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "ch.³l" <oozi@oozi.demon.nl>
To: <analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 6:37 PM
Subject: [analogue-sequencer] Re: P3 firmware update


>  and personally i
> don't really see any added value in this new mixer-function as i do my
> mixing in my mixer..
>
> grtz Chiel
>

I think the mixer function is quite useful....I sometimes have 6 to 8 
programs loaded in my sampler... and I only have 4 sets of outputs.   This 
will allow me to control volume of several programs that are mixed to a 
single pair of outs on the sampler.

I definitely prefer to mix on the mixer... but MIDI mixing is very useful to 
me as well.

Dave

On Sun, 1 May 2005 19:20:08 -0400, "Dave Magnuson"
<resfreq@hoohahrecords.com> wrote:

>I think the mixer function is quite useful....I sometimes have 6 to 8 
>programs loaded in my sampler... and I only have 4 sets of outputs.   This 
>will allow me to control volume of several programs that are mixed to a 
>single pair of outs on the sampler.

I personally find it very useful when working with a compact setup.
With it I could gig with a small multitimbral synth setup and not have
to take my little Novation Remote 25 to do the levels. With just one
synth and a P3 I wouldn't even need a mixer...

Good tip: try out the new Set MIDI Channel event with a 16-part
multitimbral synth, playing a single pattern but changing the output
MIID channel on each step using an accumulator. If you have a 16-part
synth with every part having unique effects, synced delay settings
etc. you might well have a good reason to change your trousers... and
this off ONE P3 track...8)

Paul 
---
Paul Nagle / Soft Room Music
 www.softroom.co.uk
 www.BogusFocus.com

** Binar's Project Poltergeist and Headshock's MFPE available direct from the Bogus site NOW. **

On Sun, 1 May 2005, colinfraser_com wrote:

>  - revised playlist edit mode (open for discussion)

woo hoo!!!! i have no idea what you changed yet, but i do use playlists
frequently and in the past they've required some mental gymnastics...

>  - direct access to playlist hold from play and playlist edit modes

LOVELY!!!!!!!

>  - 'mixer' function on knobs above part keys in play mode

ah, my first requested feature... thanks colin!!!

bleep.
out.

---
http://leichenfeld.iuma.com
http://thirdwavecollective.com

>  - direct access to playlist hold from play and playlist edit modes
> 
> LOVELY!!!!!!!
> 
> >  - 'mixer' function on knobs above part keys in play mode
> 
> ah, my first requested feature... thanks colin!!!


Yeah! And midi note numbers too.. whatever will we get next?
You've spawned a real monster here!
Nice one Colin ;-)
Phil

hi Colin,

i've upgraded to FW v3.1.004 today, and i've only just now noticed the
playlist-hold access thing.. nice! 
one thing about the revamped playlist-edit mode though; it'd be handy
to have more visual indication of which step in a playlist you're
editting, in addition to the playlist step-number in the screen. an
amber flashing LED would do the trick for me, or, even better, all
eight playlist-step LEDs come on in amber on entering edit-mode, and
the step you're currently editting flashes, while the currently
playing step stays green & flashing, as-is. as for the rest the new
playlist mode is all fine by me. it took a little getting used to, but
now it all seems to be a bit more obvious what you're doing since the
revamp.
another thing i'm having some trouble with is getting notes that are
passed through a p3 to not be forced-to-scale when the notes coming
out of the p3 itself are being forced-to-scale. i can recall that it
was something to do with pattern-rec mode but i can't seem to find the
way to get this accomplished.
lastly, i think there might be a slight bug in the "copy-active"
function in play-mode. it seems to copy all playlists in a part to the
new part, not only the active ones, but it only saves the tracks that
were active when copied when the part is switched. so you don't lose
anything you didn't want to lose, but it requires switching to another
part and back to get the original playlists for non-active tracks back
in the part that you copied the active tracks to. and while i'm on the
"copy-active" subject; would it be possible to copy active playlists
from one part to another while keeping the track mute-settings for the
parts?

grtz Chiel

> I'm kind of prevented from doing this by the need to support the 3 
> bank by 16 pattern memory mode.
> Amber LEDs in playlist edit indicate a green playlist step and a red 
> pattern selection on the same LED.

right.. got it. another way of making it apparent which step you're
editting by means of the playlist-LEDs would be greatly appreciated
though. i tend to get distracted when i have to shift my view a few
centimeters up & right.. ;-)

> That should just need the midi thru FTS turned off on the thru 
> channel setting.
> Use FUNC+thru to toggle it. The thru channel is shown as F-nn when 
> thru FTS is on.

> > lastly, i think there might be a slight bug in the "copy-active"
> > function in play-mode.

> I'll check that out when my head is less frazzled.

kewl. no big rush..

> > would it be possible to copy active playlists from one part to
> > another while keeping the track mute-settings for the parts?

> Is that something you'd like as an option at the time of copy, or a
> switchable (i.e. user conf) option you'd use all the time ?
> I guess FUNC+copy active could do the modified operation.

either one would be fine. i was thinking a user-config option would be
easiest but if you were to make it an option at the time of copy i'd
probably find good use for it too..

grtz Chiel

> one thing about the revamped playlist-edit mode though; it'd be handy
> to have more visual indication of which step in a playlist you're
> editting, in addition to the playlist step-number in the screen. an
> amber flashing LED would do the trick for me, or, even better, all
> eight playlist-step LEDs come on in amber on entering edit-mode, and
> the step you're currently editting flashes, while the currently
> playing step stays green & flashing, as-is.

I'm kind of prevented from doing this by the need to support the 3 bank by
16 pattern memory mode.
Amber LEDs in playlist edit indicate a green playlist step and a red pattern
selection on the same LED.
I wanted to avoid making things different between the different memory
layouts.
I was tempted to drop the 3 bank mode to make life easier, but I know some
people are using it.

> another thing i'm having some trouble with is getting notes that are
> passed through a p3 to not be forced-to-scale when the notes coming
> out of the p3 itself are being forced-to-scale.

That should just need the midi thru FTS turned off on the thru channel
setting.
Use FUNC+thru to toggle it. The thru channel is shown as F-nn when thru FTS
is on.

> lastly, i think there might be a slight bug in the "copy-active"
> function in play-mode. it seems to copy all playlists in a part to the
> new part, not only the active ones, but it only saves the tracks that
> were active when copied when the part is switched. so you don't lose
> anything you didn't want to lose, but it requires switching to another
> part and back to get the original playlists for non-active tracks back
> in the part that you copied the active tracks to.

I'll check that out when my head is less frazzled.

> and while i'm on the
> "copy-active" subject; would it be possible to copy active playlists
> from one part to another while keeping the track mute-settings for the
> parts?

Is that something you'd like as an option at the time of copy, or a
switchable (i.e. user conf) option you'd use all the time ?
I guess FUNC+copy active could do the modified operation.

Cheers,
Colin f