I’ve got it since launch. It’s quite stable right now with the latest beta, but there are some issues atm:
Glide on digital oscs does not work
Inputting notes in 16 step mode ignores velocity
no free running lfo’s
Extensive beatroll can make it run out of sync with other devices
Very limited midi control over parameters
no polyphonic recording in the internal sequencer
Also, to me, the engine remains a synth that can do percussion too, with added sequencer. There is not much that is geared specifically towards percussion imho. So you need to build sounds from oscs with envelopes and filters just like a normal synth. That said, it can also be used as a wonderful polysynth.
Also, the sounds really benefit from fx/eq. the individual outputs are stereo (can also be used as mono) so it is very wise to have a mixer at hand that can handle the individual outputs from the tempest.
If you need more info let me know…
Don’t know if it’s the bug or not, but if i map roll speed to a slider and use it, it goes out of sync quickly. I think it’s more of an overlooked “feature”. Just using the roll button never made it go out of sync for me. It’s just when i fiddle with the speed in realtime.
+1
Don’t limit yourself to digital osc.
You can make fairly easily great kicks, hihats, and percussions. Snares, for me is whole diff story.
Hihats cymbals and rides: use Noise as mod. source on the analog osc or filter
Use the self-oscillating filter for kicks. I assigne low-pass and high-pass filter to the pitch envelope for extra Punchy kicks. Filter FM creates some body to your kick.
If you a have an OT pass some voices thru it a little Compression on the kick does wonders.
As mentioned in the manual modulate the env. decay.
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There are tons of recipes out on the internet.
If you want to have your Kick sound the same at each trigger assign it to a voice, other wise your kick will switch voices and sound differently on each hit.
I don’t know how the presets sound, all I can say is, have a go at creating your own stuff from 0. You’ll have lot’s of fun, even if you’re own patches aren’t satisfactory.
Check out the forum of DSI, there are lot’s of extra functions on the new Beta OS, witch is quite stable.
One Tempest tip is to play with the relative levels of volume and amp feedback. Extremely high amp feedback feeding into very low volume can keep a sound fairly undistorted whilst giving it some real punch.
Don’t know if it’s the bug or not, but if i map roll speed to a slider and use it, it goes out of sync quickly. I think it’s more of an overlooked “feature”. Just using the roll button never made it go out of sync for me. It’s just when i fiddle with the speed in realtime.[/quote]
Ohh Ok…
I´never used sliders for beat rolling…
Thx for making that clear…
I follow on your post and i say thanks for all these first insights !
The main “issue” is that i already have the “Elektron Quadrinity” and i just got yesterday Daren Ager’s A4 DRUMA pack, that is awesome and deep.
But my boss (also the producer of this new project) didn’t know this,and since he was way for along time he just decided to buy Tempest with the other guy that is the co-producer. Anyway, this project is going to be a fair new approach (especially in regards of italian habits) because will involve as artistical brains me and my assistant too and we are mainly technicians. (i am not an instrument player at all)
I hope he will enjoy a short demo i’ll do for him with A4+OT and matrix chains…ehehhehehehe.
Anyway i am happy to have opportunity to play a genuine DSI/Linn machine thru an SSL desk =)
Not 100% sure exactly how you have it set up but in case this helps:
When you plug in the individual outs the voice corresponding to that output is sent exclusively to that individual out and is not sent to the main L R outs or any other output.
What you want/need to do to control what comes out of each of the six outputs is to assign each pad to a specific voice (set Screens mode to “Sounds” then press shift + Mod Paths to get to the voice assign page).
To give an example - if you want the snare sound to always come out of output 5, you need to assign the snare to voice 5.
FYI if you have none of the voices assigned what happens is the Tempest assigns the voices according to its own algorithm (usually every successive sound will be assigned to a different voice).
Correct. In my experience it cycles from 1-6. If you press the same pad 6 times it will play voice 1-6 in sequence. On the 7’th press it’s back to voice 1.
Voice assigning and pad choking is one of the bigger challenges to master with the Tempest.
Owner (new) of the Tempest. Do you DSI loyalists have a forum too?
I hear bad and good on the Tempest but I think the bad is usually user related and the good far out weighs the bad.
For example, some have wrote there is no low end on the BD, while others say “What are you talking about”
Seen a video on youtube of a guy who programmed a 808/909 sounding kit in 3 hours… So time to get into some drum designs and figure out the poly synth end.
the kicks on the tempest dont work good for hard/industrial styles and yes they all disagree with me but listen to the videos and tracks or kick example other give they dosnt work so well for darer, bassy styles.
the tempest has many short coming but the sound is awesome ! i do use it more for synth, leads, bass, perc type sounds then a reg drum machine
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