In another thread someone brought up the gated sequencer of the Sequential Rev2. Something that I loved about that sequencer (from my time with the Rev2) was having multiple sequencing lanes of different step lengths. Basic example, having a sequence with a note length of 16 steps and another lane sequencing cutoff with a length of 4 steps for a nice rhythmic sequence.
My question is, is there any other gear with an internal sequencer that can do this? I was wondering, for instance, if you can do this with the Syntakt. Can the FX track be a different length than the other tracks? That would still be a limited number of parameters, but it would still be fun to play around with.
I’ve thought of someday acquiring a dedicated sequencer, like the Hapax, but I’m just not sure if I’d use it. It’d be nice to have a workhorse synth or groovebox that could do such a thing. Maybe that’s too big of an ask for one box. I like the Rev2, but I don’t really need another poly synth.
It will not work with an external sequencer, as it will not have access of the per voice structure. Exactly like parameter locks VS midi sequencing in Elektron boxes.
Might be possible with a MPE sequencer and a MPE synth, but it depends on the capability of the sequencer and the MPE enabled parameters in the synth…. So for now, to my knowledge, only the Rev2 (and Prophet 08) can do this.
Now if you’re happy with a simple cc automation with different automation lengths, there are probably many options. But I wanted to make it clear that it’s not the same thing as in the Rev2.
Every track, including the FX track, can have it’s own length (FUNC+PAGE). But you can’t sequence parameters in different lengths than the track they “belong” to. A workaround for dividable lengths is to modulated a parameter, e.g. cutoff as you mentioned, and then copy-paste the 4-step modulation four times so that you can have it repeat every four steps while the notes in that track are laid in 16 steps.
Another, maybe obvious workaround is to assign an lfo to a parameter that resets every X number of steps.
The Analog Rytm’s new firmware lets you do a version of this.
Now, when you hold down Fill, you can choose different page lengths for each track. It’s not really true polyrhythm, but I’m sure people are using it creatively in all sorts of ways.
I kind of hate it because it means you can no longer mute & unmute things while you hold down Fill, but I’ve been assured that’ll be addressed . . . at some point . . .
If you’re willing to sacrifice/combine tracks, with the A4 you can pass the sound of one track into another. You can chain these along with tracks of different lengths and get as wild as you like.
Tables (which are among other things very powerful modulation sequencers) on the M8 have three lanes which can each have a different length and rate. There is a table in each instrument and an additional AUX table that can be run alongside the main phrase, so that’s six lanes of “automation” sequencing on each track in addition to the three in the phrase. The type of thing on each of these “lanes” can be freely mixed and matched on a per step and per lane basis, it’s not like they have to just be controlling one thing the whole time. The tables active on an instrument or running as an AUX are also not fixed, they can be frely swapped in and out or called on a per step basis.
Iridium has a step sequencer, you can modulate, length, ping pong, notes, with scales and 8 independent mod lanes. 4 step cutoff over 3 step pitch, over 5 step fx lane, etc. Also chord mode with same features plus divisors (ratchet)
Modulate fm, or particle engine per step.
With the Syntakt i was thinking about the FX track’s filter parameter. If it can have its own step length, that’s sort of what I was talking about. But really, I was looking for something more wide open. Like with the Rev2 you can choose up to 4 parameters to sequence independently from the main note sequence. THAT is what I was wondering about: if there are any synths with internal sequencers that let you do this. I’m not talking about polyrhythms either, which I guess i didn’t make clear.
Syntakt’s FX track can have its own length, yes.
A possible workaround for your idea is to use a MIDI track and a cable from the output to the input - that way you’ll be able to sequence, for example, the cutoff CC for one of the internal tracks using a separate MIDI track, which can also have its own length. But this gets a bit convoluted and also potentially “wastes” tracks, especially on Syntakt where you have to sacrifice a synth track.
That is possible with the iridium, the 8 modlanes can also tfigger multiple parameters. I modlane 1 can trigger cutoff and pitch and x,yz , and modlane 2 can trigger a,b,c and y…
I guess that’s not very “wide open” but Korg Opsix has a motion sequencer the length of which is independent from the note sequencer. It has 6 lanes (M1-6), i.e. you can modulate up to 6 parameters, but all these would have to have the same lenth.
