(this is a cross-post from my review on the
Electro-Music forum)
After having the Moon Modular M-564 for several weeks,
I gotta say I love it. It's in the Moog/Dotcom-format, matches the looks and
front-panel style, and is truly a 'must-have' if you do extensive
analog-sequencing. It's a "double-wide" ("honey... let's get us a
'double-wide'!")
And.... this module WILL fit in the bottom-row of a dotcom studio-44 slant
cabinet!
The M-564 is kinda like the 962 Sequential Switch on steroids. It's basically the same 'kind' of module... it just does more. If you've ever used several 962's patched together (or a second sequencer) as a 'counter(s)', then this will free-up some of these modules, add to them, or even take-over that job. It also functions quite well as a Frequency Divider (as do most stepping sequencers)... but this is a sequenctial switch.
So far, the 'Moon People' have been producing modules with '4' as the appropriate number... the M-563 Trigger Sequencer (with four rows, inputs/outputs)... the M-564 Sequenctial Switch which has four 'stages' - (with four to one, or one to four, bi-directional switch in/out jacks)... and four trigger outs, four trigger ins, four momentary 'set' push-button switches and white indicator lamps... and each 'stage' has it's own count selector switch, which, as implied, sets the number of times that stage 'counts' a cycle before advancing to the next stage. The selections are: 'skip'; 1; 2; 3; 4; and 8. And then, there's the quad-quantizer module, as well. (but- the recent release of the VC-EG would be the exception, to date, regarding the 'quad' fuctions).
The M-564 seems to work equally well with 'gate' or 'trigger' signals... (at least, used within a Synthesizers.com system). Power connections are made for Synthesizers.com, and COTK systems. So if you are set-up on your power connections for either, you're ready to go... just plug-in, and play.
As with any sequential switch which has trigger-ins and trigger-outs (plus the switching section), this module isn't limited to just working with sequencers... it can also be used to control and/or respond to patching-up a 'preset-system'... for live or studio performing.
On a 0-10 scale... I'd give it a 9. Why 9? There's only one improvement I'd strongly recommend (or- performance quirk... if you'd prefer)... and that is: while running, if you change one of the selector switches on an upcoming stage, the new 'count-selection' doesn't take effect immediately, but rather, on the next cycle. This has the unfortunate tendancy to kinda screw-up one's playing 'on-the-fly', regarding the changing of whatever pattern(s) are patched-thru the M-564.
Think of it like this... and use a 960 as a comparison: With a 960... as the sequence progresses from stage 1 thru 8, you can switch the mode of an upcoming stage to 'skip', or 'normal', or 'stop', (or with the Q960... 'reset')... and that change will take effect immediately... as soon as that stage is reached. With the M-564, that's not the case. After changing one (or more) of the counter switches (skip-, the change will not happen until the next go-around (the next cycle). So- the operator has to take this factor into account... and- remember that the 960's behave one way, and the M-564 behaves differently. It's not something that 'screws-tha-pooch', IMO... but- I do consider it "less than ideal", and counter-intuitive. If it were 'my' call, I'd offer a retro-fix... but that's just me.
All in all- I would definetly recommend this module for those who love to do complex sequencing... and/or using modules to patch-up presets. The Moon (Lunar) people are a pleasure to do business with... friendly... responsive... trustworthy... and the time-factor is about as fast as you could ask for, considering they're in Germany. I'd have absolutely NO reservations about doing business with them!!!! (unlike one modular company most of us know of).
The M-564 is kinda like the 962 Sequential Switch on steroids. It's basically the same 'kind' of module... it just does more. If you've ever used several 962's patched together (or a second sequencer) as a 'counter(s)', then this will free-up some of these modules, add to them, or even take-over that job. It also functions quite well as a Frequency Divider (as do most stepping sequencers)... but this is a sequenctial switch.
So far, the 'Moon People' have been producing modules with '4' as the appropriate number... the M-563 Trigger Sequencer (with four rows, inputs/outputs)... the M-564 Sequenctial Switch which has four 'stages' - (with four to one, or one to four, bi-directional switch in/out jacks)... and four trigger outs, four trigger ins, four momentary 'set' push-button switches and white indicator lamps... and each 'stage' has it's own count selector switch, which, as implied, sets the number of times that stage 'counts' a cycle before advancing to the next stage. The selections are: 'skip'; 1; 2; 3; 4; and 8. And then, there's the quad-quantizer module, as well. (but- the recent release of the VC-EG would be the exception, to date, regarding the 'quad' fuctions).
The M-564 seems to work equally well with 'gate' or 'trigger' signals... (at least, used within a Synthesizers.com system). Power connections are made for Synthesizers.com, and COTK systems. So if you are set-up on your power connections for either, you're ready to go... just plug-in, and play.
As with any sequential switch which has trigger-ins and trigger-outs (plus the switching section), this module isn't limited to just working with sequencers... it can also be used to control and/or respond to patching-up a 'preset-system'... for live or studio performing.
On a 0-10 scale... I'd give it a 9. Why 9? There's only one improvement I'd strongly recommend (or- performance quirk... if you'd prefer)... and that is: while running, if you change one of the selector switches on an upcoming stage, the new 'count-selection' doesn't take effect immediately, but rather, on the next cycle. This has the unfortunate tendancy to kinda screw-up one's playing 'on-the-fly', regarding the changing of whatever pattern(s) are patched-thru the M-564.
Think of it like this... and use a 960 as a comparison: With a 960... as the sequence progresses from stage 1 thru 8, you can switch the mode of an upcoming stage to 'skip', or 'normal', or 'stop', (or with the Q960... 'reset')... and that change will take effect immediately... as soon as that stage is reached. With the M-564, that's not the case. After changing one (or more) of the counter switches (skip-, the change will not happen until the next go-around (the next cycle). So- the operator has to take this factor into account... and- remember that the 960's behave one way, and the M-564 behaves differently. It's not something that 'screws-tha-pooch', IMO... but- I do consider it "less than ideal", and counter-intuitive. If it were 'my' call, I'd offer a retro-fix... but that's just me.
All in all- I would definetly recommend this module for those who love to do complex sequencing... and/or using modules to patch-up presets. The Moon (Lunar) people are a pleasure to do business with... friendly... responsive... trustworthy... and the time-factor is about as fast as you could ask for, considering they're in Germany. I'd have absolutely NO reservations about doing business with them!!!! (unlike one modular company most of us know of).
Also note- I would not consider the M-564 to be a
choice 'instead' of the Q962... but rather, in addition to. True- one 'could'
use an M-564, and forgo buying any Q962's... but- think of the cost... the 2-U
space... and how great it is to use both the Q962 AND the M-564 together... or
separately! I say... 'buy 'em both!'.
~Morbius~