MOTM

Well here's one perspective:

The simple analog step sequencers you're talking about have knobs and
the ability to work with voltages in real-time. You are not enslaved to
a calculator-pad entry method and edits are immediate. I don't think
anyone is intending to use them to reproduce Vivaldi's Concerto for
Strings and Thoroughbass in G minor (though that would be a noble task,
however foolhardy). 

But of course with a MC-4 (or 8) you *can* do more complex work--and
everything you say about the MC-4's power is correct. But what I'm
curious about is why you would use such a device, which, if it has
storage uses tape backup (can't recall), instead of a computer or
hardware sequencer with a rock-solid MIDI interface (such as the newer
type that buffer timing information) and a full-featured MIDI-CV
converter. 

If you are indeed using the MC-4, I applaud your effort, and I'd like to
know what makes you want to use it. I would love to try my MC-8, but I
still haven't gotten around to having a cable made for it (if anyone has
a spare, I have cash). But I wouldn't use it nearly as much as the
simple sequencers I use on the FR777, SH-101, (past) Roland 104, etc. Or
as much as the Frostwave Fat Controller that's coming my way (I'd bet).
Of course, I quit sequencing with my computer years ago, and I only use
MIDI for timing when necessary, and never for notes. Perhaps that's
where your allegiance to the MC-4 (if your impassioned post is indeed
implying that) comes from--because it's *not* MIDI.

I just thought it was obvious that there are a hell of a lot of
different sequencers out there, and there are a lot of people choosing
different ones based on their needs. People buying an 8x2, knob- or
slide-laden step sequencer probably weren't in the market for the power
the MC-4 has to offer. I think the Encore Expressionist looks pretty
neat, but honestly, I don't know what I'd do with it. If I want to play
classical or jazz I pick up my trumpet. My electronic music is in an
entirely different place, far outside my formal education.

And of course, anyone having read about Suzanne Ciani's nightmare
session, having to re-enter an entire composition to overwrite the
transposed mistakes of an assistant (or something like that) may be
skeptical of working with (and hopefully saving with) older technology.

BTW--are you sure it was Rogue who had the NOS MC-4s? Because Dr Sound
used to have a boatload of NOS MC-4s and MC-8s (as well as 100m cabinets
and keyboards). If Rogue had any, I would bet they got them from Dr
Sound.

BTW2--Dr Sound has *one* NOS Roland 180 keyboard left. I bought the
second to last. Almost all of the 100m cabinets are gone too. There's
one left NOS, and a module or two (used perhaps) in the counter by the
stairs. Supposedly the MOTM freaks bought 10 keyboards in a *single
weekend* and some guy bought all the modular stuff (and asked an
employee to show him how it worked!) Must be nice to plunk down
thousands of dollars without knowing what the f*** you're buying or how
to use it.

Later,

David. 

-----Original Message-----
From: elhardt@...
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 1/30/01 12:46 AM
Subject: Re: [motm] No kitchen sinks & run/skip/rest (sequencers)

n0nspaz@... (markus) writes:

>>my naive $.02 on the sequencer thing.
i vote for the 'modular sequencer' idea where one starts first with, say
a 
basic 1x8 module which then interfaces to.... (purchase #2) some kind of

master brain module for the sequencer modules(a 1u or 2u module with 
functions for the daughter modules). would it actually be possible to
buy 
as many sequencer modules as one liked ?<<

NFAY@... (norman fay) write:

>>IMO run/skip/rest switches for each stage is THEE essential feature on
an 
analogue sequencer.<<

I have been totally baffled by all the interest in simple analog step 
sequencers in the recent years.  People want 7 steps instead of 8, some
want 
skip/rest switches (like Polyfusion), some want to be able to link
sequencers 
to expand beyond 8 or 16 steps, and a million other things.  You can
have all 
of those things and more.  You can have up to 12,500 event storage, 8
control 
voltages, 4 gates and 4 triggers per step, real-time cv/gate entry,
step-time 
cv/gate entry, numerical entry, ext clockable, voltage controlled
sequencer 
rate, and so on.  It's called the Roland MC-4.  Even when it was
mentioned 
that Rogue music still had some new units at only $400 I didn't see
hordes of 
people bang down their door to grab that great deal.  What's wrong with 
everybody?

-Elhardt