“The zillion is sort of a remix sequencer box, but is based more on the Triadex Muse than the remix feature found in our past products. Although you can do all that and much more. It’s strength is you can generate and manipulate countless patterns live in ways that other sequencers can not do. And even use MIDI to input notes of a scale or sequence, as well as tranpose patterns. Really too much to list here, but more details will be available on our website as work progresses.”
A demo:
I’m far from exploring the limits of the Octatrack sequencer, but I’m a sucker for generative stuff like this.
I’ve just bought one. Hopefully this will play really nicely with elektron products. With the A4 for instance you can use the Zillion to send the Midi to one voice. Record the midi input and then change to the next voice. Adjust the parameters on the zillion so you have a different pattern thats still in key and record the MIDI output to the new voice and so on so forth. This will mean that you can spend your time doing the parameter locks and sound sculpting whilst this thing does the heavy lifting of programming the sequence. I’ll try to post a video of my using it once it arrives.
I forgot it was me who started this thread, LOL. Looking forward to reports from those of you who bought one.
In the meantime I shall have to content myself with the TT-303’s auto generation feature, and the OP-1’s sketch sequencer (which to me is a pseudo-auto generator).
Looks cool. I swear you guys have got to check out the midipal. It’s probably one of three must have tools . This is a 65€ tool
Compact MIDI event processor. A swiss-army knife for your MIDI setup.
MIDIpal
The MIDIpal is a smart and small MIDI processor. Insert it between a MIDI keyboard (or sequencer) and a MIDI sound module to unleash powerful compositional tools and effects.
The most versatile MIDI event processor
Compositional tools
[ul]
[li]Arpeggiator: Arpeggiate your chords. 4 modes (up, down, up&down, random), 15 rhythmic patterns, adjustable tempo, rhythmical division, gate and groove, syncable to MIDI clock.[/li]
[li]Step sequencer: Record step-by-step a sequence of up to 128 notes (with ties, rests, slides and accents), and play it back with transposition. As simple and elegant as the classic SH-101 sequencer![/li]
[li]Randomizer: Randomize note values, velocity, and send random CC at each key press.[/li]
[li]Keyboard-controlled drums sequencer. Control a drum module from a keyboard by triggering and combining patterns — one for each key of a 49 keys keyboard. Create mesmerizing Euclidean drum patterns.[/li]
[li]Chord memory: Enjoy the classic chord memory feature of early 80s synths.[/li]
[li]Delay. Up to 32 echo notes added after each note, transposition and velocity adjustment for creating feedback arpeggio effects, syncable to MIDI clock.[/li]
[li]Scale processor. Never miss a note in a solo… The scale mapper replaces each note you play by its nearest neighbour in one of the 25 preset scales. It can also transpose and add voicing/random harmonies.[/li]
[/ul]
MIDI message generation
[ul]
[li]Clock: Make your MIDI setup groove! MIDI clock source with adjustable tempo and adjustable groove/shuffle/humanization patterns, from super-tight to funky.[/li]
[li]CC-LFO: Generate up to 4 tempo-synced LFOs and cyclic automation movements for any MIDI Control Change (CC) message.[/li]
[li]CC knob: Use the MIDIpal as a knob to send any CC or NRPN message.[/li]
[li]Controller: Up to 8 sensors / potentiometers (or any voltage source) can be connected to the MIDIpal board, turning it into a versatile “brain” for sensing applications.[/li]
[/ul]
MIDI setup plumbing
[ul]
[li]Dispatcher: Play a rack of monophonic synths like a polysynth. The MIDIpal will automatically route each note of a chord to a different MIDI channel.[/li]
[li]Monitor: Sometimes things go wrong with a MIDI setup… Use the MIDIpal as a trusted source to display the stream of MIDI messages coming from a cable.[/li]
[li]BPM counter: Use the MIDIpal to check the accuracy of a MIDI clock signal coming from a sequencer or drum machine.[/li]
[li]Splitter: Control several synths from a single keyboard by routing one half of the keyboard to a MIDI channel, the other half to another.[/li]
[li]Channel filter: Remove all MIDI messages coming from a specific channel.[/li]
[li]Channel Merger: Merge several MIDI channels into a single MIDI stream.[/li]
[li]Clock divider generates a slower subdivision of a MIDI clock.[/li]
[/ul] [b][/b]The MIDIpal can also store 4 custom MIDI transform setups, each of them made of up to 4 filtering/remapping rules.
Other features
[ul]
[li]Powered by a 9V battery or a DC adapter.[/li]
[li]The MIDIpal source code is [b]open source[/b] and easily modifiable… So why not use it to implement your own MIDI transformation features?[/li]
[li]The MIDIpal is open hardware. Use it as a foundation for your next project requiring MIDI event filtering or MIDI control; or embed one in your DIY instrument to extend its capacities.[/li]
[/ul]
Buy it now!
The MIDIpal is sold [b]fully assembled in a black aluminium case[/b].
Olivier Gillet, Mutable instruments SARL 2011-2013. Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
it is really tough to figure it out with a A4, I get some sound but I am expecting permutation and it is not working out so well I need to spend a bit of time on another device.
Also when I run it I can seem to effect the sound of the A4 so there must be a config thing I am overlooking.
I think I am expecting too much… I have to focus on it I think and the AR keep distracting me. I expect it will become clearer. I watch the NAMM demo a few time but I, as it says in the manual have to play around…
I got it a couple of days ago. My unit has a fairly major issue where the touch panel doesn’t work properly. I’ve contracted future retro and they are sending me a new front panel to instal myself. (This is really handy as I didn’t want to go through the hassle of shipping it back to them)
Despite the issue with mine though I have had a chance to mess around with it a fair bit. It’s a really cool little unit. I wish I understood the maths of what was going on a little bit more though.
It really lends itself to experimentation /trial and error. After turning it on it doesnt take long to get some really cool sounding sequences out of it. The direction function is surprisingly handy as it can turn a one bar loop on it’s head every 3rd time it’s played for instance. This an give something really short and simple enough of a change up to take care of the sequencer fatigue that you can get from listening to the same thing over and over.
It can run freely rather than in set loops, but it tends to sound a bit to ‘random’ for my tastes when that’s the case.
It’s super cool for percussion stuff as it can create fairly interesting rhythms quickly.
I have now had a chance to use the zillion with the monomachine, machinedrum, and FR-777.
It’s great!
Because it only outputs one note at a time, I’ve not yet found a good use for it with the MD.
Works fantastic with monosysnths, and is more controllable than you might initially suspect.
Couple things I wish it had:
-tap tempo
-you can transpose up, but not down
For me, it’s very worth it and I’ve gotten some great sounding results out of it, and look forward to using it more. Once I record something, I’ll post it up.
Any recordings yet Sinner? I tried one out at Switched On in Austin last month and was pretty impressed but I’d love to hear some other demo’s. I just got a monomachine so I’ll be real curious to here how they play together.
I’ll work on it this weekend. After getting the Zillion, I ended up getting a new interface and had to rewire my studio. That’s done now, so I’ll see what I can do to get some recording done. Anything in particular you’d be interested in hearing?
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