Elektron Musical Instruments

Thanks Daniel =0)

Its nice to see how the thinking goes at castle Elektron, and a good thing 
to bring to everyones attention that nothing is ever simple =0(

Personally I would just like the MD to get a few tweaks to the effects and a 
few new machines, but if it never happens, I'll still be telling everyone 
who asks that it's the best drum machine ever =0)

thinking happy thoughts
amos
(who really would like the moon on a stick, but will settle for a lollipop)

>From: Daniel Hansson <daniel@...>
>Reply-To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com
>To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [elektron] MM and MD wishlist (post your wishes) (Daniel ?)
>Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 23:27:01 +0200 (CEST)
>
>
>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
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>

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