Analogue-sequencer

Folks,

A couple of bits of news...

The Sequentix website has undergone a total re-design, courtesy of 
P3 owning web design guru Pete Lunnon.

http://www.sequentix.com

I'm going to add a links page to P3 owners websites, so if you'd 
like to be included, let me know your URL.
If you have a link on your page to a different P3 URL, I'd 
appreciate if you could you change it to point to the Sequentix 
site - it helps with the Google rating ;-)

There's a new beta release for P3 in Yahoo files.

This build includes enhanced midi soft-thru.
If you go to the place where the 'thru' softkey used to be, you'll 
find 'Thru Conf', which takes you to a new menu.
This menu has softkeys thru, recrd and exit.
Above the first two are shown the current midi channel for soft-thru 
channelisation (thru), and record mode input channel (recrd).

To select a specific midi channel for either option, hold down the 
softkey, and then press one of the step keys for the required 
channel.

To set thru to the other options of 'any' or 'off', tap the thru 
softkey without pressing a step key.
Each subsequent tap toggles between any/off.

Similarly for the record channel, you can tap the softkey to toggle 
between 'any' and 'trk'.
For the record channel, 'any' behaves as it has done up to now - go 
into record mode, and all incoming notes are re-channelised to the 
midi channel of the track being recorded on.
For a specific midi channel, only that channel will be re-
channelised to the record track.
If the setting is 'trk', the input channel will automatically be 
switched to whatever track you're recording on.

To toggle FTS for thru and recorded notes, use FUNC+softkey.

Then press exit when you're done.

Hopefully this will cover any possible midi setup you might want to 
use P3 with. Let me know what you think...

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

Yep! same here, I quite agree, very pro-looking
and doin' the biz.  Well done Colin.  :-)

Cheers.



--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, "Gert van Santen" 
<g.vansanten@c...> wrote:

> colinfraser_com wrote:
> > Folks,
> > 
> > A couple of bits of news...
> > 
> > The Sequentix website has undergone a total re-design, courtesy of
> > P3 owning web design guru Pete Lunnon.
> > 
> > http://www.sequentix.com
> 
> The new site looks awesome, Colin! Very professional :-)
>  
> Gert
> www.waveworld.tv

colinfraser_com wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> A couple of bits of news...
> 
> The Sequentix website has undergone a total re-design, courtesy of
> P3 owning web design guru Pete Lunnon.
> 
> http://www.sequentix.com

The new site looks awesome, Colin! Very professional :-)
 
Gert
www.waveworld.tv

On Tuesday 09 August 2005 12:12, colinfraser_com wrote:
> Folks,
>
> A couple of bits of news...
>
> The Sequentix website has undergone a total re-design,
> courtesy of P3 owning web design guru Pete Lunnon.
>
> http://www.sequentix.com

Very, very nice looking site, Colin.
Congrats!

- Robert

Looking at those nice production P3 pics, I remember again 
that the production P3 has 4 MIDI outs on the back, while 
the DIY version I'm playing now (Boele's) only has one.

Does the OS already support those 4 outs? That would be very 
nice! 

- Robert

> Looking at those nice production P3 pics, I remember again 
> that the production P3 has 4 MIDI outs on the back, while 
> the DIY version I'm playing now (Boele's) only has one.
> 
> Does the OS already support those 4 outs? That would be very 
> nice! 

The four outs on the production units all carry the same single midi stream.
At the moment they just act as a built-in thru box.
But the wiring of the 4 output sockets has been kept separate in case I come
up with a scheme for providing multiple outputs to drive them.

The existing P3 CPU only has a single UART (serial interface) so it can only
provide a single output.
You can use software to emulate a UART, but the CPU doesn't have any spare
pins for this, nor would I want to put the extra load onto it.

What could be done is that an additional small CPU, I'd probably use an
18-series PIC, could be attached either to the UI bus, or memory mapped in
place of a couple of RAM locations, which would accept extra midi streams as
parallel data from the main CPU, and provide the necessary FIFO buffering
and serial conversion for additional midi outputs.

I know how I would do this in theory, but I haven't made any start on
implementing it.
If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people would be interested ?

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

> The new site looks awesome, Colin! Very professional :-)
>  
> Gert

> Yep! same here, I quite agree, very pro-looking
> and doin' the biz.  Well done Colin.  :-)

> Very, very nice looking site, Colin.
> Congrats!
> 
> - Robert

I can't take much credit for anything other than receiving the site template
and thinking, "Oo, that's nice !".
The man who did the site doesn't do the web design thing for a living, but
would like to.
Hopefully you're taking these positive comments as encouragement, Pete.

Cheers,
Colin f

Hi,

On 8/9/05, Colin f <colin@colinfraser.com> wrote:
> I know how I would do this in theory, but I haven't made any start on
> implementing it.
> If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people would be interested ?

I don't have a P3 (yet ;-)) but I would definitely be interested in
such extension...

Sascha

On Tuesday 09 August 2005 23:34, Colin f wrote:

> I know how I would do this in theory, but I haven't made
> any start on implementing it.
> If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people
> would be interested ?

I sure would be, depending on the price of course. Do we get 
an additional 24 tracks then as well? ;P

Well, I first have to decide if I'm going to build my two 
kits, or get your production P3 instead. It looks SO much 
better than the original DIY version I'm using now.

- Robert

> If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people
> would be interested ?

well I haven't got my P3 yet either but if that means I could address 4 multitimbral modules (say a wavestation, an andromeda, a nord G2 and an Akai Mpc4000) separately just using the P3 to select what goes out to where without any unwanted replication... hmm, yeah I could be interested in that!!

but could it also be possible to send a track to multiple channels on different midi outputs?  hmmm, getting ahead of myslef here !! :)

Richard

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would prefer to see another 2 rows of 16 knobs for
3x16 or 1x48 note sequences per pattern/track, but hey
that would push the price up on the P3.

Ah well! it's was just a thought, but a nice one,
maybe I was just dreamin' the whole damn thing.  :-)


Analog1k.



--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, Robert van der Kamp 
<robnet@w...> wrote:

> On Wednesday 10 August 2005 12:49, Richard Scott wrote:
> > > If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people
> > > would be interested ?
> 
> > but could it also be possible to send a track to multiple
> > channels on different midi outputs?  hmmm, getting ahead
> > of myslef here !! :)
> 
> Not needed! You just copy that track to one of the 24 
> *extra* tracks that come with the retro-fit, 8 tracks per 
> MIDI output. Heh. Oh let me have my dream. ;)
> 
> - Robert

On Wednesday 10 August 2005 12:49, Richard Scott wrote:
> > If this were avaiable as a retro-fit, how many people
> > would be interested ?

> but could it also be possible to send a track to multiple
> channels on different midi outputs?  hmmm, getting ahead
> of myslef here !! :)

Not needed! You just copy that track to one of the 24 
*extra* tracks that come with the retro-fit, 8 tracks per 
MIDI output. Heh. Oh let me have my dream. ;)

- Robert

i'm lucky enough to actually have a Poly Evolver Keyboard!!!

highly highly recommended...




--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, bleep <bleep@w...> wrote:

> 
> I know this is the P3 group, but I suspect a number of us have Evolvers.
> And in case you didn't know, V3 of the Evolver OS was announced yesterday.
> The main upgrade for non-polyevolver users is that a large number of
> parameters have had CC#s assigned to them. Previously, the only way to
> remote control an Evo was via sysex, which our P3s can't handle...
> 
> But oh can they ever handle CCs.... *evil grin*
> 
> P3 + Evo V3 = mind-bending fun.
> 
> For details: http://davesmithinstruments.com/other/news.html
> 
> Enjoy,
> Fred
> 
> bleep.
> out.
> 
> ---
> http://leichenfeld.iuma.com
> http://thirdwavecollective.com

--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, Sascha Matzke 
<sascha.matzke@g...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> While we're in this "a free wish everyone" mood ;-). I think it would
> be great if the P3 had endless encoders with LED rings - but that
> would be another "feature" to push the price up.
> 
> Sascha

If you want that kind of feature, dial yourself a nordlead 3 up.

> My bigger gripe with encoders is their inherent lack of resolution.
> Anything more than 24 or 36 steps per rotation costs a lot of moolah, making
> an acceleration algorithm fairly essential.

Some bits of hardware I've used have inc/dec buttons which operate on
the last-edited parameter, so you twist the knob to a value close to
the one you want and then hit inc or dec a few times.

When I was playing with Paul's P3 my fingers kept straying to the
inc/dec buttons, even though my brain kept telling them there weren't
any.

Regarding LED feedback of knob positions: I wonder how many P3 users
actually pay attention to the knob positions, given that the knobs are
multi-mode and obviously don't track pattern changes. (I suppose one
could think about a display mode where the LED's reflect the accuracy
of the knobs - like the "I am now tracking" behaviour on the E-mu
command stations.)

	-- N.

-- 

  nick rothwell -- composition, systems, performance -- http://www.cassiel.com

I would agree in one sense that the large keyboard seems a bit overkill with a polyphony of 
only 4...I think the main reason for such a large keyboard was so the Poly could have 
enough real estate for the knobs...

I give him an A+ for the knob layout...while some of my other synths' best capabilities are 
within hidden menus, the Poly has everything right at the surface...making for ridiculously 
easy tweaking...




> At last! Rather frustrating that I sold my Evolver having given up on 
> Dave ever doing this. I even asked him at Frankfurt this year but he was 
> quite dismissive of the idea. Damn, may have to get another... shame 
> they don't make a 3 octave keyboard version. Would seem more sensible 
> somehow for a 4-note poly synth...
> 
> Thanks for the news!
> 
> Paul
> 
> -- 
> ---
> Paul Nagle / Soft Room Music / Bogus Focus Records / Binar / Headshock / The Joint 
Intelligence Committee
>         www.softroom.co.uk / www.BogusFocus.com / 
www.JointIntelligenceCommittee.com

Hi,

On 8/10/05, analog1k <analog1k@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> I would prefer to see another 2 rows of 16 knobs for
> 3x16 or 1x48 note sequences per pattern/track, but hey
> that would push the price up on the P3.

While we're in this "a free wish everyone" mood ;-). I think it would
be great if the P3 had endless encoders with LED rings - but that
would be another "feature" to push the price up.

Sascha

On Wed, 10 Aug 2005, Sascha Matzke wrote:

> While we're in this "a free wish everyone" mood ;-). I think it would
> be great if the P3 had endless encoders with LED rings - but that
> would be another "feature" to push the price up.

I think we've talked about that before on the list... I sure know I've
come up with a few P4 designs incorporating those elements. But I now hate
them all. Know why? Look at the range of values the parameters behind
those knobs can have, 0-128. That's *far* too many values to represent by
an LED ring.

Your typical bass line doesn't even extend over an octave, so even if you
had a luxurious 32 LEDs in the ring (do those even exist?) that would
leave you with 4 notes per LED (assuming a range of 128). So in a bass
line using F2, F#2 and G#2, for example, all these notes would be
represented on the same LED, which actually misleads us into thinking all
the notes are the same.

And this doesn't even touch the special issue that the P3 has, different
note ranges.

The only way to reach the goal we're attempting to reach via these LED
ringed encoders is to incorporate some sort of plasma display around the
encoder itself. (I have seen this done in a mixer somewhere... I can't
remember where though.) That display can show the range as well as the
encoder's position within that range. I guess there are other ways of
doing this, but my point is that they're all ridicuolously expensive.

Whoa... sorry for the soapbox, folks...

Fred.

bleep.
out.

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

I know this is the P3 group, but I suspect a number of us have Evolvers.
And in case you didn't know, V3 of the Evolver OS was announced yesterday.
The main upgrade for non-polyevolver users is that a large number of
parameters have had CC#s assigned to them. Previously, the only way to
remote control an Evo was via sysex, which our P3s can't handle...

But oh can they ever handle CCs.... *evil grin*

P3 + Evo V3 = mind-bending fun.

For details: http://davesmithinstruments.com/other/news.html

Enjoy,
Fred

bleep.
out.

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

> The only way to reach the goal we're attempting to reach via these LED
> ringed encoders is to incorporate some sort of plasma display 
> around the
> encoder itself. (I have seen this done in a mixer somewhere... I can't
> remember where though.) That display can show the range as well as the
> encoder's position within that range. I guess there are other ways of
> doing this, but my point is that they're all ridicuolously expensive.

I think the least expensive way to provide encoders with a constant display
of their current position would be a number of extra PLED displays above
them.
Some P3 values aren't numeric, and there are lots of different scales for
values, so the extra level of detail required really calls for alphanumeric
display.

My bigger gripe with encoders is their inherent lack of resolution.
Anything more than 24 or 36 steps per rotation costs a lot of moolah, making
an acceleration algorithm fairly essential.
Try moving an encoder knob from one end of the range of 128 to the other on
a Korg microControl, for example.
It takes an age, and if you turn it too quickly, it can lose track, and jump
backwards !

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

bleep wrote:

>I know this is the P3 group, but I suspect a number of us have Evolvers.
>And in case you didn't know, V3 of the Evolver OS was announced yesterday.
>The main upgrade for non-polyevolver users is that a large number of
>parameters have had CC#s assigned to them. Previously, the only way to
>remote control an Evo was via sysex, which our P3s can't handle...
>  
>
At last! Rather frustrating that I sold my Evolver having given up on 
Dave ever doing this. I even asked him at Frankfurt this year but he was 
quite dismissive of the idea. Damn, may have to get another... shame 
they don't make a 3 octave keyboard version. Would seem more sensible 
somehow for a 4-note poly synth...

Thanks for the news!

Paul

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

> And in case you didn't know, V3 of the Evolver OS was 
> announced yesterday.
> The main upgrade for non-polyevolver users is that a large number of
> parameters have had CC#s assigned to them. Previously, the only way to
> remote control an Evo was via sysex, which our P3s can't handle...
> 
> But oh can they ever handle CCs.... *evil grin*

You might like to try setting up pattern with aux A randomising the value of
aux C, aux B randomising the value of aux D, and aux C  redirecting aux D to
a midi cc. This will send a random cc with a random value.
Random evolver patch madness.


Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

Hi,

On 8/10/05, Colin f <colin@colinfraser.com> wrote:
> I think the least expensive way to provide encoders with a constant display
> of their current position would be a number of extra PLED displays above
> them.

Good idea... This way it's done on my Yamaha 01X - an even if the
encoders do not have a good resolution - it's definitely more usable
this way.

Sascha

> Regarding LED feedback of knob positions: I wonder how many P3 users
> actually pay attention to the knob positions, given that the knobs are
> multi-mode and obviously don't track pattern changes.

I use the knob pointers when I'm editing a few steps to the same value - it
gets you in the right area quickly, followed by fine adjustment with the
PLED if necessary.
Otherwise I pretty much just twiddle by ear.

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com

djparislee wrote:

>I would agree in one sense that the large keyboard seems a bit overkill with a polyphony of 
>only 4...I think the main reason for such a large keyboard was so the Poly could have 
>enough real estate for the knobs...
>  
>
Agreed. That's what he and Dave Bryce said. And the synth did look and 
sound lovely; I just don't have room for yet another 5 octave keyboard, 
unless I sell, say, my Jupiter 6 or something...

Paul

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