PLAN B analog blog

These are important questions, thanks for posting - see my replies in
line:


--- In PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com, "Pierre Zeeman"
<pierrezee@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Peter,
> 
> I just posted a question to the doepfer group regarding the a155's
> advantages over the model21's, so I thought I ask the opposite
> question here.  I can't say much about my uses than I wrote there:
> 
> I've read through all the docs on both models but since I've never
> used a sequencer like this, I don't have a real sense of how
> significant the differences between them are in any practical sense. 
> I only have room for one of these and because of where I live can't
> easily resell modules so I'd very much like to avoid making a mistake.

The Deopfer Sequencer with the add-on expander can do a lot of what
the M21 does...the big difference being four banks of 16 vs. two banks
of eight steps.  This is a big difference.


>  I suppose people will say that it depends on what I want to use it
> for, but the problem I have is that I don't know exactly what I'd use
> it for.  My natural inclination is to say that I'd mainly like to use
> it to sequence modulations, but I have this weird feeling that I might
> end using the trigger functionality a lot more than I intended... 
> 
> I think I favour the model21 (more controls, greater degree of
> expandability), but there are a few questions I have. In addition to
> cv modulations, I'd very much like to use the sequencer at audio rates
> but I see no mention of whether this is possible with the model21. 

The Model 21 has it's own internal clock which goes well into the
audio range.  It can as well accept an external clock and there is no
internal limitations to the Milton which would manifest themselves within the entire audio range.  One thing the M21 can do that the Doepfer with expander combo can't is Asynchronous direction VC, and this makes a big big difference if you're using the sequencer to generate audio waveforms.

Asyn allows for smooth harmonic generation.




 In
> fact, the midi features cause me to have some doubts whether this
> would be possible as midi clocks don't map well to audio rates. 

As far as Midi clock - yeah, it'll accept it, but that's an add-on. 
The sequencer is no way limited to running on midi alone.
 
> 
> I also like the idea of being able to use it as a multi-stage envelope
> generator (which seem to be possible for the a155 via the a154).  

Milton can do that...if you slew the output externally.  If it's a
volvtage controllable slew even better, then you can use a second
sequencer bank to actually conrol the rate of slew between phases.


> model21 seems to have some a154-like functionality built in (via the
> midi functionality).  How will this be accessed?  Will this ever be
> exposed to a modular panel in some way? 

Midi will be accessable through external commands only.  there will be
a jack on the back (inside) of the Milton and it'll be capable of not
only running, stopping, starting=, reseting form midi commands, but
will also have some VC presents such as pendulums andreverse and
random functions.
> 
> Finally, the awful and inevitable question, any idea of when the model
> 21 will be available?

Here's the schedule:

The Model 28 is done.  I put this on the bench before completion of
the Milton because after the rush to get it operational for Namm, my
programmer was completely burnt on the project, so I put the M28 ahead
of it to get us something new to sink our teeth into.  A week after
next we're going back to Milton.  It's really really close to
completion.  Most of the work is PCB design, there are just a couple
of bugs to work out in the firmware. Anyway, I'd give it two months.
> 


> thanks and regards,
> 
No problem. thanks for your interest.

- P

> Pierre
>