Encoders and faders control internal synthesis parameters on FM synths - which is the only engine I use on the M8. It takes a little time to find the right parameters to tweak - and their value ranges - but then it enables to sort of morph between various flavours of a patch on each track. This is a lot of fun during a live performance and - in my opinion - makes my liveset more ‘organic’ (for what it means) and alive.
Usually, one control (either encoder or fader) controls a host of parameters on each synth. Sometimes I use both fader and encoder on one sound, and get unexpected results with interacting parameter values.
Buttons (green ones and/or push encoders), I use to switch between fixed values - e.g. FX send, filter, or more synth paramaters - to instantly induce a dramatic change in the synth sound.
The crossfader, I haven’t been using so much yet, but plan to use it for global, er, things (or maybe internal MIDI tracks controlling other synths)
All this requires quite a lot of time to set up. But you are well rewarded with a fun setup to tweak during a live performance - without having to think too much.
I always thought it would be great to fully map one of the internal synths to a midi controller. Programming sounds via the M8 isn’t one of my favourite activities.
I attended last M8 meet up on discord yesterday. This was my first time : this is very friendly and inclusive. i submitted this track and had some nice feedbacks. that made my (birth)day
Thank you very much @Jord.Lim & @sleepside ! the mix and master still need improvement, my low-end are always too loud as i don’t have subwoofer speaker at home … WIP
I think you can try to use the links in the description but basically you just need:
-teensy 4.1
-anbernic clone
-usbc-micro usb cable
-3 sd cards (teensy OS, anbernic OS, spare one for samples etc etc)
-bolena for flashing the SD cards easily
you may encounter a situation where you‘ve to manually change the display driver thing from a table until it’s working, there are different iterations of consoles and some do it right away others need a bit of tinkering ^^
I’ll start in a few weeks but plan to disassemble the R36s to put the inner parts into a custom box with the OG button layout (either soldering or just with usb hubs under the hood) modding a better speaker etc.
I’ve been messing around with midi controllers for my M8, trying to get something small enough, with TRS midi and a battery.
I like to adjust the parameters for synths, and also prefer a controller for doing monophonic granular with the sampler (looping playback, short loop, slider to adjust loop start).
Then I remembered you can hold edit and use touch screen as a virtual knob to adjust any selected parameter. That’s 90% of my need for a midi controller gone, and in most ways it actually works better for me. It’s auto-mapped to whatever control I select.
Problem is (for me) it doesn’t allow you to change several parameters at the same time. Using one knob/fader to change a group of parameters (i.e. macro) can be pretty cool.
Also, with edit+swipe, you can’t define lower-upper value limits, which makes it tricky to work on small value ranges
(like, for FM synthesis, small increments often have big impact)
I don’t use it for performance, so I don’t have those problems. For me, I just like to have a knob to twist while I work on a sound. For anything more complex I use my faderfox uc4, which has TRS (although it’s the bad TRS).
opt+swipe allows you to define the touchscreen to multiple values, and if you go into MIDI mappings you can define upper/lower limit values. Not sure if you are aware of that feature.
