Another question: Step Sequencers, Tangerine Dream...

[tluke]

Hello all. I wanted to continue a little if i may on Step Sequencers. I still love step sequenced stuff like Tangerine's Love on a Real Train from Risky Business soundtrack, and Carpenter's score for his own Escape from New York...

I remember the last time we discussed this, someone mentioned that the Moog Mod V has a step sequencer, and in listening to some of the sequence patches that come with it i hear that it indeed does, and they sound wonderful.

What i would like input on is:

Within Logic, where you had the use of Moog Mod V, hy would you use the Moog Mod to create your step sequence, when you could create a similar sequence using Logic's sequencer, and have much more control ...over note placement, etc?

And, that would be a midi sequence you could apply to any other instrument you wished.

I'm sure there's a good reason, i just don't know it (hence this post), but why would you opt for such a basic vehicle for your step sequence when you could have so much more control and versatility?

I mean, i find when i play the step sequences programmed for the Mood Mod V that they use the filters, and other features of the Moog Mod very well...and maybe that is reason enough in itself BUT, if you were only triggering the Moog Mod with your sequence...couldn't you achieve similar results through automation, recording filter sweeps and the like and so on?

I'm sure that if you had an Arp Avatar, the reason for using it would be self evident, as the machine itself imparted a wonderful mood/vibe, and sound...

But, if we're talking about software synth that can be triggered via a sequence in its host, why not just do it that way- through a Logic midi sequence?

Would it just not be quite the same? is it the way the Moog Mod processes and creates the step sequence... in a way Logic does not?

Looking forward to your responses. Thank you in advance.

[DanV]

Hi Tluke,

I beta tested the Moog V and am an avid Logic user so I can answer your q pretty well.

It is simple:
If you just want to have the step sequencer in the Moog V only trigger notes - you may as well use Logic's note sequencing as it will give you a finer and more practical control.

However...

If you are interested in controlling lfo's, envelopes, and oscillators in a rhythmic fashion - - it is a bit easier to just tweak around on the Moog V.

You gotta decide if sacrificing the cut and paste ease of logic in exchange for complex synthage action is what you want or not.

The largest benefit of using the step seq in the moog is that it has a "portamento" or "glide" control - meaning that you have the ability to choose how one step gets to the next. You can make it jump over directly - or you can have it glide over from point a to b with the freq in the osc for example travelling on a slope of sorts - as opposed to it travelling on a staircase. You dig?

It is possible to set up an environment in Logic where you can use the sequencer to adjust parameters in the Moog V via midi which would offer a lot more adjustability within your song, since you can copy, paste, and adjust with ease.

If you are interested - I can post up a thread for you explaining the steps to do this in Logic. The method could be applied to any synth or effect in Logic btw.

I find that using the arrange's note sequencer for parameter tweaking is often a lot better than using TBA (track based automation) or hyperedit. This is because it is much easier to make things rythmic and precise on the matrix edit(note sequencing part of logic) than it is through TBA - as quantizing and moving around tba is a big pain in the arse.

The worst part about logic's enviro is that it lacks a glide device . You can make pseudo glides with the use of an arp or a delay object and some transformers (pardon my enviro-talk) but it will glide at the same rate regardless of how far the notes are spaced from one another. I suppose if you felt like making a really complex macro you could construct a true glide - something that would travel at a non static speed from note to note; so for instance: c2 to d#2 would take a 16th note transition period while c2 to d#4 would take an 8th...

Gets me to thinking - I should try harder to construct a portamento object been a while since I thought about it.......

So in a nutshell - if you want portamento control of your steps - use the internal moog seq. Otherwise - just rock it through the arrange and the environment.

PEACE!

[DanV]

Okay, my first lesson is up:
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...&threadid=9517

[tluke]

This is verrry helpful stuff. Thank you. I'm going to work on the lesson and get back to you.



t

[AlphaDingo]

TLuke, why don't you just work on learning to play an instrument instead of wasting everyones valuable time with your crazy questions? What the hell is a moog? Something you made up? I wish I could "Escape from New York" of this crazy thread. dfegad

[DanV]

HAH, even if you aren't kidding, to me it's still funny.

[tluke]

The above was posted by a friend of mine, who apparently has much time on his hands. We went to music school together, where Mr. Dingo observed that i spent unusual amounts of time practicing my instrument. Hence the irony intended above.

Also look for AlphaDingo's rantings on the merits of the Motu plug in autopan. Quite amusing.

It seems Mr. Dingo would have us insert autopan on the master/output track of almost any piece.

[hearttimes]

we did a version of "Love On A Real Train" which was used by the show Gossip Girl. we used a novation nova and a prophet 5 for the sequence.

for live, using a box like the novation nova, you can set the keyboard up so that different keys fire different parts of the complete song.

for example in the nova laptop i can play the main sequence, the bass, the hi-hat/shaker, and the chord sequence, all tempo locked.

the keyboard kind of works like a mute on the different channels.

kind regards

[tluke]

That sounds awesome hearttimes, thanks for posting this. I would love to hear it if you have a recording.

Have you tried the Roland V Synth? I played one yesterday quite a bit, and really loved it.