Elektron Musical Instruments

Just some short comments on this wishlist...

First just a general note: We always put ease of use first, so even if a 
feature sometimes can be good for some ocasions we might rule it out 
because it comes in the way of the everyday use, or is not intuitive to 
understand. If we wouldn't do that we'd force all users to carefully read 
the users manual, and it wouldn't be that much fun then.

On Tue, 16 Sep 2003, Federico Ciapi wrote:

>>   - We already know that the MM is capable of different swing for 
>> every
>>    track... obviously that's something that I would like to see in 
>> the MD
>>    too.

The problem about adding stuff to the Machinedrum is that we do not want 
to break what's already there. We'd divide the userbase in two parts if 
the upgrade would destroy all data already in there. The MD currently has 
one swing track. If we would make it one per track, what would we do with 
the current only one? We do not rule this one out though, there could be a 
way, we haven't looked into it yet.

>>    - Parameter Locks are linked to patterns; it would be wonderful if
>>    there was a parameter locks track in song mode that allow you to 
>> make
>>    changes that happen over multiple patterns.
>>    That's something that has already been done on the Quasimidi drum
>>    machine and currently can be done on the MD only if synced to an
>>    external sequencer.
>>    May be it's already possible on the MM?

To edit stuff on a song level would of course be nice, but that rises 
questions you might not have thought of. How would you edit the new layer 
of locks? How would you distinguish a song lock from a parameter lock? I'm 
afraid this would compromise the simplicity of the MD sequencer. After 
all, there is something about the directness that makes it more fun to use 
it than to fiddle with the common straight line sequencer.

> >>    - Muting should be available via Midi. That would be really helpful
> >>    when using the MD and MM with an external sequencer.
> >
> > I don't usually use an external sequencer, but this would nice for 
> > those
> > of you that do.

That's a good idea. We would just need to find the right controller. We've 
used pretty much all there are for the Machinedrum. If a SYSEX would be 
enough it would be easy.

>>    - Function + Level knob: increases or lowers volume of all tracks
>>    except the one currently selected (very useful when the current 
>> track
>>    is already at max volume and it needs a bit more)

Could maybe be something good... It would mean that we would introduce the 
first thing that would edit something that you have not actively selected 
though.

> > *wonderful* idea!  I also wish it were possible to somehow link the
> > volume of several tracks together.  that way, if you want to fade out,
> > say your drum sounds while your crazy elektro sounds continue to play,
> > you can do it without having to use routing and an external mixer.

To add another link layer would be good for use, but would it be worth the 
complexity? Would you do it globally or per track? Would it be worth the 
complexity of yet another mode to go into? I'm not sure. It would have to 
be judged against all other things that would be handy to link. 
Mute-groups etc. Remember that all features have their price in complexity 
if you do not find a good method to implement it. Usually that is made 
when the interface is made. Look at Yamaha sequencers, they are experts in 
making overloaded interfaces with lot's of features that are too complex 
to use. I still think the basic edit-methods are the most important.

> > - "empty" notes; they don't trigger drum sounds but you can assign
> > 	parameter locks to them for more smooth parameter sweeps (the MM has
> > 	this, and I really hope they give it to the MM's older brother as
> > 	well)

We add this to the Monomachine because we have three-colored LED's. But 
how would be show them on the Machinedrum? We already have the blink. 
Maybe a different blink would be good enough, but I don't want a dozen 
different blinks in there that the user need to keep track off. 

> > - make the mute screen a *tiny* icon in a corner of the screen instead
> > 	of in the middle; it's small now, but still blocks parameter values as
> > 	is; perhaps just an 'M' next to the kit number?

Does it really hide so much of the parameters now that it disturbs?

> > - make there an option to illustrate knobs rather than values in song
> > 	mode; I've grown used to seeing the knobs in pattern mode and when I
> > 	go to song mode and view values, it throws me off; but if someone
> > 	prefers the values, then make it so that they can select that option
> 
> I think that knobs are too big to show in song mode.
> But a bar could fit!

That would also differ from the knob and make the visual appearens 
different. I think actual values is the best compromise. At least they can 
be referred to also from the pattern mode.

> > - parameter locks can be used to control the delay and reverb engines
> 
> even better if these locks were linked to the song and not only to the 
> pattern (I think that this is even more  important for efx)

What track would they be linked to? A new one? If so, what would a trig 
mean? And what would the 16 selection LED's show if there were one? Would 
it mean that you couldn't reach the drums when you're in the master fx 
menus. Again, there is a cost to the feature.

> > - the ability to name individual machines; to remind you that your
> > 	kick/snare/hats are now on machines 9/10/11 instead of 1/2/3

Where would this be displayed? Would you really take your time to edit the 
names?

I can't go into detailed discussions about all feature requests, but I 
just wanted to show that there are so many things to think about that 
might not spring to mind immediately. And that we do not refuse features 
to be mean, but there is usually some good thought behind it! A musical 
instrument should never be able to do everything in my opinion, then it 
becomes a monster that's much not fun to use. For me the most important is 
fun of use, and that often does not go well with too many layers and 
hard-to-reach functions! Not said that there is room for an improvement or 
two in the Machinedrum!

Daniel