Re: [analogue-sequencer] Looking at P3 (questions)
2006-01-26 by implode7@comcast.net
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From: "Jack Deckard" <jcdeckard@sbcglobal.net> > Hi, I'm looking at buying either a (preassembled) P3 or Schrittmacher. I had > a couple of questions. > > Can you mount a power supply inside the rack mount case. In the Kit > pictures, it looks like there might be room. Has anyone done this (USA 120v > supply). > > Colin stated in an early post to analog-sequencer that he was not going to > support others writing code for the P3 (or in effect that). Any chance you > might change your mind Colin? > > The data input and MIDI control of the P3 are VERY impressive. The only > major feature of the Schrittmacher, that makes it worth looking at, is the > different row lengths for note and velocity data. Thanks for any info! > > Jack Deckard > > Some words in defense of the Schrittmacher (I own one in addition to my p3). It's really a very different concept...for what it does, it is way easier to use that the p3. But it doesn't do any of the advanced stuff that the p3 does. But - for instance - gate times can be up to 16 quarter notes in length, you can have up to 32 different length patterns playing simultaneously, the display is much better, allowing you to see all 16 values in a pattern simultaneously, and it is very easy to set up modulations...if you really like setting up patterns in which the velocity pattern, the gate lengths, and the note lengths, are all decoupled from the pitch, and all of them are being modulated - this is very easy to do on the Schrittmacher. You can do this kind of stuff on the p3, but it isn't nearly as fast - and you can have only 8 simultaneous patterns of different length playing simultaneously. Unless you use aux events, all of the components of the note are part of the pattern - velocity, gate time, note length, controller values - in order to have them all cycle differently, you have to set up different tracks using aux events ... This is by no means meant as criticism of the p3. Mine ain't for sale :) . But the Schrittmacher is really a fabulous instrument, imo, and is often the first sequencer that I turn to if I just want to set up something basic with evolving patterns of different lengths.