MOTM

I disagree entirely with a manual scale entry approach.  SCALA already has
all the scales I need captured in a standard format.  Would I want to
re-enter them all again on a limited user interface, 128 entries for each
scale?  No way!  That's one of the reasons programs like SCALA were created,
to relieve the tedium of scale entry across different platforms.  Other than
panel space, having the USB/MIDI interface doesn't take away any real time
modular features that you could have.

 

John Loffink

The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site

http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com

The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site

http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

 

-----Original Message-----
From: motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve
Maietta
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 10:23 AM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [motm] Re: Quad Quantizer: need your inputs

 

First of all, its great to have a new module feature thread again, it's been
so long!!    

 

  

  Regrading scale programming on a quantizer module, my thought is if the
module came with 20 or so scale presets from the "factory" then I'd bet that
95% of users would just stick with those anyway, especially if they had to
load some app to transfer scales via USB, or coax their sequencer to send a
MIDI scale dump or whatever..  so for most users its probably not even too
important.    But wait. . . unless programming scales became part of
patching the module..using ya know, patchcords, cv's and gates...hmmm  now I
bet most people would end up playing with new scales!  Even if a user didn't
really care what exact note was programmed, the modular
experimentation-ability of the module would of course, keep the users mind
going and results fresh.  Think less in terms of strict scales, but more of
a user defined voltage memory bank.

  

    So I propose this idea for those who are mad patchers, or those would
want to experiment with different tunings, a mode of operation where you
enter the "scale", note by note and then name it(maybe) and save it all from
the module panel.  It would be nice if no computer was necessary to program
it, and no cumbersome MIDI scale program messages would have to be
attempted.    Might need an encoder for this or a button or two, maybe
not... but its an idea.  And gives the freedom for real modular
experimentation, and intertwinedness in a patch.  Afterall, wouldn't you
rather see it be a usable experimantal feature waiting to be (ab)used..
rather then just loading a scale, 1.2.3 done.  (yawn..it came with 20 scales
anyway right?)  

 

   So yes keep it in the patchcord realm... no midi/usb jack necessary, you
patch up a voltage, tune it to just the right pitch,(listen to an osc or use
a MIDI/CV -if you're after a perfect pitch, you might not be, its a modular
afterall) press the button (or send a trig pulse) and it saves this voltage
level as step 1 of user scale 01, and then go to the next one.  Program in
an octaves worth and it automatically spans it to the 88 key range or
whatever.  You might need an additional ADC channel for this..  But the best
part is thinking of patches where the module is reprogramming itself as part
of the patch.. wow the patching possibilites..  would it tend towards chaos
or towards a single note??  :)  and then yes you have 2 (or 4) of these in a
single module.. wow..

 

    Power to the people!  Lets think "outside the box" and keep it "inside
the box" - no computer necessary!

 

 

~Steve