Elektron Musical Instruments

First an apology - I started a thread last month on
asking opinions on a good hardware sequencer that got
a lot of activity and really helped me out.  But I
never said thanks to everyone here.

THANKS!!!!

My only excuses is that right after I started the
thread I moved from Saudi Arabia back to the US and
have been completely off-line until last week.

If anyone is interested, I'll post some detail on what
I picked & why.  The short version is nothing really
hit the sweet spot (of course :-).  But honestly from
everyone\ufffds comments and spending hours with various
sequencers, I think the Hardware Sequencer market is
even worse off and riper for innovation than the drum
machine market was a couple of years ago when Elektron
released the Machine Drum and all the buzz before hand
was "who needs another drum machine - and in HARDWARE"
- until musicians and reviewers touched it.  The rest
is history & here we are.  Daniel, you could really
clean-up with a good sequencer.

From my recent look, I felt the sequencer market had
gone astray and nobody really makes a sequencer whose
feature set targets & and develops the core task at
hand \ufffd sequencing.  IMO, over the last 5 years the
sequencing functionality has been reduced or not
further developed in favor of more and more
\ufffdproduction\ufffd features for sampling and tone
generation.  It was as though the manufacturers were
assuming or conceding that users would do their
detailed, in-depth sequencing with one of the
heavy-weight computer-based software sequencers and
therefore it was fruitless to compete on sequencing
functionality so they focused on all-in-one
production, i.e. differentiation via sounds and sound
generation.

I think this was a major market mistake = major market
opportunity, and one I hope Elektron will address for
us.  This trend has been 180 degrees opposite from
what I want in a Sequencer.  If I want a sampler or
sound module, I\ufffdll buy one.  Don\ufffdt sell me what\ufffds
called a Sequencer that\ufffds 35-40% sequencing and the
major portion sound production.  
Maybe I\ufffdm unique, but from the comments I\ufffdve seen here
and on other music-oriented lists I don\ufffdt think so.  I
think a lot of serious musicians would shell out some
hard cash for a good,well-designed Sequencer.  

The last mass-market sequencer that really tried to
incorporate these design goals was Yamaha\ufffds QY700. 
And while the sequencing features and functional
ability are still impressive (better than anything
else for non-live, standalone sequencing IMO) the
samples and sound hardware are very dated,
architecture as well (not a slam \ufffd it came out in
1997, ancient as quick as this market evolves).

 This thread has captured most of the key control &
management specs I\ufffdd to see too.  I second those who
added

\ufffd	32 Tracks Minimum
\ufffd	8 MIDI outs

To which I\ufffdd add

\ufffd	Stereo In / Out
\ufffd	1/480 Quarter Note Granularity
\ufffd	MD-solid MIDI sync & video time-code sync

I\ufffdd like to throw out the following for Interface &
Interface-driven functionality:

\ufffd	Multi-line interface capable of display at least 8
(preferably 16 tracks at once).
\ufffd	Color TFT Display, minimum 320 x 240 (640 x 480
better)
\ufffd	Navigation keys + multi-function dial for easy value
changes
\ufffd	Assignable knobs for real-time control
\ufffd	Joystick (great MnM idea \ufffd but instead of attached,
why not external for portability)
\ufffd	Full midi creation and editing on a track / pattern
basis \ufffd recording (step / performance), multi-track,
pattern, score & event editing, mute, copy, paste.
\ufffd	Ability to sequence pattern sets into songs (no hard
limit other than available memory / storage).

And Connectivity:

\ufffd	Compact Flash or Secure Digital Slot (preference for
CF)
\ufffd	Computer Connectivity \ufffd USB, 10-BaseT or integrated
WIFI.  USB is minimum.  Integrated WIFI I think is
extreme, but it should allow WIFI via CF adapter.
\ufffd	Minimum 64 MB memory, expandable to 512 MB via 2
slots x 256 simms.
\ufffd	Minimum 20 GB harddisk \ufffd standard 3.5 inch drive,
upgrade at will, no proprietary BS.

In short \ufffd continue where Yamaha left off with the
QY700 from a sequencer  edit/control perspective,
up-dating the visual and connectivity interface to
modern technology.  The networking & color may seem
extreme, but I don't think so - there's a whole
commodity world there employing this tech - no reason
musician's should benefit from the same.

That\ufffds what I would like from a sequencer.  If someone
wants to add sound capabilities to make it a little
more marketable, I have no issue with that \ufffd I\ufffdd use
it big time.  Give me the sequencer first, then
phatten it up a bit with sample storage and editing
integration.  Don\ufffdt try to deliver samples with it \ufffd
there are plenty out there, just give me the ability
to work with standard formats.  Leave off the tone
generator; it just drives up the price & this can
definitely be done better elsewhere (like sample
production).  Add a basic effects section for final
mixing and balancing if there\ufffds a real demand (again,
I\ufffdd this on the computer or with an array of effects
processors, personally I don\ufffdt need it in my Sequencer
per se).

Lots of words, though meant with luv, Eric

--- tahvenaine2002 <tahvenaine@...> wrote:
> I would buy without any questions!! ;)
> --- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "Eddie
> Higginson" 
> <ehigginson@h...> wrote:
> > I wholeheartedly agree. Please Elektron, save us
> all from messing 
> about with 
> > QY700s, Rm1Xs and all those other sequencer and
> sound module combos 
> and give 
> > us all what we really want: an Elektron-designed
> sequencer. I would 
> like 
> > 32-track though, and how about a green screen this
> time for pure 
> aesthetic 
> > appeal alongside the MD an MnM?
> > 
> > 
> > >From: "puretokyo2002" <puretokyo@h...>
> > >Reply-To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: Re: [elektron] Elektron stand-alone
> hardware sequencer
> > >Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 05:59:22 -0000
> > >
> > > > in fact, one of my "I hope they make it" synth
> items is an 
> Elektron
> > > > dedicated sequencer with the MnM/MD interface
> and full 
> polyphonic
> > > > capabilities (well, and the ability to record
> any incoming MIDI
> > > > information).
> > > >
> > > > Joe.
> > >
> > >Amen. My god, what we could achieve with a stand
> alone, 16-track, 
> > >polyphonic, 64-
> > >step, step-sequence would be incredible.
> Elektron, PLEASE. PLEASE 
> PLEASE 
> > >PLEASE.
> > >There is an huge gap in the market for this kind
> of tool.
> > >
> > >Ideally, in addition to the specs above, it would
> have:
> > >
> > >64 steps (4x16, like the mono)
> > >4 midi outs (to control samplers/synth modules
> etc)
> > >2 midi ins (to allow a keyboard and a knob-board
> or return from a 
> synth)
> > >8 knobs for CC parameter control (say, 2 pages of
> parameters for 
> each 
> > >track)
> > >2 lfos for each track, sending midi parameter
> data to the external 
> synths
> > >polyphonic recording/sequencing on each track
> > >MnM-style Arpeggiator, Slide etc
> > >
> > >This would be an absolutely incredible machine
> for writing music 
> and for 
> > >performing
> > >live. The vast majority of the hardware and
> software design is 
> already 
> > >complete, and
> > >thus it couldn't be that difficult to produce.
> > >The reason I personally would like it is that I
> find the MnM/MD 
> perfect for 
> > >writing,
> > >arranging and assembling, but can't control
> enough external 
> > >synths/samplers, and
> > >not without routing midi via the computer.
> > >
> > >Who else would like to see something like this?
> What features 
> should it 
> > >include? If we
> > >shout loud enough...
> > >
> > >Angus.
> > >
> > 
> >
>
_________________________________________________________________
> > Express yourself with cool new emoticons 
> http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo
> 
> 


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