I get that it does step sequencing, eucledian, etc. etc. But does anyone play anymore? Anybody know how to play piano, or y’all just hitting buttons?
I want to perform live on another synth and record my performances via midi. Does it do that? Asking because I’m trying to decide between Digitone II and Oxi One.
Hook up a MIDI controller.
I want to use it as brain to sequence all my other synths. Is that possible? Talking about recording performances.
So, looking at the manual, it looks like it doesn’t really do what I’m needing:
“You can use an external MIDI controller such as a keyboard to input NOTE, TRIG
VELOCITY, and TRIG LENGTH data in LIVE RECORDING mode. Just play the notes on
the external keyboard and they will be recorded by the sequencer. The first note sets the
TRIG VELOCITY value for all notes on the trig. The last note that is released sets the TRIG
LENGTH for all notes on the trig.”
If the first note sets the TRIG VELOCITY for all notes on the trig, what happens if you have a grace note?
I’m always wanting to do this as well, which is play into a sequencer and have it record and replay EXACTLY as I played. It seems like very few synths offer this kind of feature. I suppose most of the target user base doesn’t play keyboard or something?
Anyways the only solutions I’ve found are using an intermediary sequencer such as Squarp Pyramid, or a Bastl MIDI Looper. It’s annoying that something this basic isn’t easier, or maybe I’m just ignorant of some other solution.
Agreed!
Happy to report I think this is an error in the manual. (This was how it worked on original Digitone though.)
It records grace notes and articulations pretty well, though you might find some limitations depending on the case.
Here’s a chord (flubbed it though) with a touch of strum to it and different velocities recorded from my Keystep just now:
Retrokits RK-008 is a compact solution for this too.
Great suggestion!
I can’t vouch for it, never used it, so it can’t tell you any downsides, but it looks to me like the maker is still enthusiastic about adding stuff to it.
Along with the RK-008, the Midiphy LoopA is also a very solid option. A bit more graphical than the RK-008.
This is also very true and by far the biggest reason why step sequencers have become so well-liked.
Edit: Oh and I can vouch for both the RK and the LoopA, having used both for an extended period of time. Both good.
It’s pretty much exactly how the MPC works. On the other hand, it’s step sequencing which kind of suck on MPC.
Step sequencing on the MPC is like trying to fish loose change out of the couch.
Quite many performance features. Individual track lengths that you dont have to stop like with traditional loopers, unquantized or quantized live recording, non-destructive quantize by percent for individual tracks or all tracks, non-destructive control all transpose that you can use for any or all tracks, mute/unmute queuing, motion recording, fast clearing of track’s triggers, layering tracks, reload a saved state. The list goes on, it’s a very much performance oriented box.
I wouldnt buy it to act as midi brain though. Its brilliance is in the combination of the sequencer and deep synthesis. It sounds like what you want is Ableton session view, so maybe get a Launchpad or something like Push
I use the RetroKits RK08, one of my best investments.
For software I prefer either Cubase or HY-Plugins sequencer bundle as VST’s inside Cantabile driving Arturia Collection & UVI Falcon routing out of Cantabile into Adobe Audition. HY-Plugins are pretty awesome for step sequencing & generative stuff as far as VST’s go. They can be controlled with Cableguys MIDI Shaper, which is mind blowing. Crazy stuff. I’ve also just used the Octatrack to live record different parts and layer tracks that way.
I’ve never tried Ableton or Ableton Live, but I’ve seen videos and screenshots and I’m not drawn to it. Am I missing anything?
I also tried MPC Pro on the iPad and hated it, along with all those ios beatmaking apps like beatmaker pro. Just feels so inside a box.
For my DAWless setup, I currently have the bitimbral Roland JX-08 and I do live recording/sequencing/looping on it synced with Behringer RD-9 (909 Clone) and Behringer TD-3 (303 clone) and it’s a lot of fun. Of course, as far as saving projects it’s not the most practical setup.
I did look on Perfect Circuit and it looks like the Digitone II is out of stock so I went with the OXI One and I’m picking it up tomorrow. If after reading the manual I find it doesn’t do live recording, I’ll add the RetroKits RK08 or similar to the setup. I’ll get the Digitone II when it’s back in stock. It does sound pretty great.
You summed this up so well
