MnM vs A4

dubathonic · 2014-03-11T23:44:24.000Z

""pixelife"":

I’ve never really figured out how best to utilize the advanced seq control.

Any tips?

Try this: Take a wave with lots of harmonic content, maybe an Ens machine. Make a pattern a bar or two long with just one regular trig. Set the Hold, Dec and Rel parameters to fairly high values so the note lasts most of the pattern. Give the note some “character” in terms of its filter settings and LFOs.

Now add a few trigless trigs. Plock them all to change just one parameter, then another. Let the sequencer run and listen as you change the plock values and move the Ttrigs around on the grid.

Some changes will have more effect on the sound than others of course … I find it’s good to be fairly methodical till you get a feel for the possibilities.

Occasionally convert some of the trigless trigs to ones that trig either the filter, the LFO or both. Or just the envelope and not the others, etc. Continue digging.

TBH this isn’t a quick learning process, and the advantages sound better on paper at first. I routinely spend entire sessions doing what I just described and my batting average is probably 85% useless garbled noise and 15% angel choirs.

nedavine · 2014-03-11T23:53:23.000Z

I recently did a video trying the MnM as a dedicated drum machine and it was pretty fun but I’ve not even scratched the trigless trigs and stuff. To be honest I’ve only really gone deep on the OT sequencer I should give the MnM sequencer a chance. Might link up the shruthi and jam out with it tonight.

FreeFall · 2014-03-11T23:59:21.000Z

Don’t let that smudge in your screen make you not fall in love with the MNM!

The magic of the MNM is not as immediate as the A4, which is actually kind of cool because the MNM has a totally different type of magic inside!

The machines in the MNM are like nothing else, and it does take time to get used to them to the point where you sort of know which machine makes what type of sound the best. The MNM excels at weird digital sounds and complex pad sounds. You can also load your own wave forms, which can make the MNM sound like something entirely different than how it sounds by default. The A4 sounds lovely, but it will always sound like an A4.

The MNM also has amazing MIDI control. A4 can’t do that.

MNM can do six mono sounds at once, or a six voice poly sound, or split the keys and have a variation of the two. I know A4 has poly now, but it’s only 4 voices of one sound, I believe. The MNM can make some absolutely massive and lush synth pads that the A4 will never be able to make (it’s just different). Great for evolving textures.

I think you have to decide if you want more analogue, or more digital in your setup. The MNM makes a great contrasting element to an analogue heavy setup. Just gonna take some time to get used to it so you can really get the most out of it.

The A4 is like dog who’s in your face and ready to play. The MNM is more like a cat that has it’s own finicky way and unique characteristics.

FreeFall · 2014-03-12T00:10:05.000Z

""pixelife"":

I’ve never really figured out how best to utilize the advanced seq control.

Any tips?

Imagine you have a two bar long pad sound (no LFO trigs) that goes:
…“sssssshhheeeeeewwwwww…”

Placing an LFO trigger somewhere after the first trig has started might make the pad sound like:
“ssssssshhhwww …(LFO trig)… whawhawhawhaahhwaawhhaawhhaa”.

And then another trig further down the pattern with a different LFO setting so the pad now goes:
“ssssshsssseeeew…(LFO trig 1)…whaahhwaawhhaawhhaaw…(LFO trig 2)…WubWubWubWubWubWub”

All from a single ‘note on’ trig. That way your sound can evolve and change without sounding like it has been ‘played’ again.

nedavine · 2014-03-12T00:24:15.000Z

""FreeFall"":

[quote=“pixelife”]I’ve never really figured out how best to utilize the advanced seq control.

Any tips?

Imagine you have a two bar long pad sound (no LFO trigs) that goes:
…“sssssshhheeeeeewwwwww…”

Placing an LFO trigger somewhere after the first trig has started might make the pad sound like:
“ssssssshhhwww …(LFO trig)… whawhawhawhaahhwaawhhaawhhaa”.

And then another trig further down the pattern with a different LFO setting so the pad now goes:
“ssssshsssseeeew…(LFO trig 1)…whaahhwaawhhaawhhaaw…(LFO trig 2)…WubWubWubWubWubWub”

All from a single ‘note on’ trig. That way your sound can evolve and change without sounding like it has been ‘played’ again.
[/quote]
I tried that but this happened…

2d87c4617c58b5bcfa8bb5ffaca26e7ebcfee6aeb2695ebd50309caacd4c29ed.jpg625×415 92.9 KB

tsv · 2014-03-12T00:44:34.000Z

Haha!

Seriously though some nice tips here. I love the MnM and find it compliments the A4 well.

TrabanT · 2014-03-12T07:20:02.000Z

hello and good morning EVERYBODY

firstly, biig thanks for the useful advice I was given …

i had doubts, but now my doubts seem to be alleviated.

nobody said: MnM + A4 = waste of money … thats what I feared, but it is not.

realley cool tips here and (as usual) friendly feedback and constructive from experienced users …

thanks everybody for contributing (posted this question before going to bed, and now I am having my wake up coffee … what a pleasant read

Accent · 2014-03-12T07:41:00.000Z

The Mono just takes time. I’ve had it for just under a year now. I went from “wow!” to “meh” to “is this really what it can do?” to “holy shit, it can do this?!?!” to “Holy Shit, I can’t stop using this thing!” within a few months, maybe 6-8, and at this point I’d probably still keep it if I was homeless. What it can do is not going to be readily apparent until you spend time with the machine and the manual, but if you put in the time you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Comparing it to the A4 is like trying to compare two restaurants that serve totally different cuisines-you might have a great meal at both, but the flavors and experience will be different.

pixelife · 2014-03-12T08:32:54.000Z

Thanks for the tips guys!

Yeah the Mono is really indispensable in my rig. I’ve had it since late 2010 and it’s constantly surprising me.

It sits next to the A4 for a reason. It’s less immediate but god, what a deep machine. I think it will go down in history as a serious digital classic along with the PPG, Waldorf Wave, etc… And I think that with this recent analog hype it makes it even more special and indispensable if you’re looking to not simply follow trends.

Gonna go and do some weird sounds now!

nedavine · 2014-03-12T09:27:56.000Z

""TrabanT"":

hello and good morning EVERYBODY

firstly, biig thanks for the useful advice I was given …

i had doubts, but now my doubts seem to be alleviated.

nobody said: MnM + A4 = waste of money … thats what I feared, but it is not.

realley cool tips here and (as usual) friendly feedback and constructive from experienced users …

thanks everybody for contributing (posted this question before going to bed, and now I am having my wake up coffee … what a pleasant read

I made this a while back to compare the two. Did you see it?

I tried creating the same patch on both synths and used the OT to switch between the two.

namnibor · 2014-03-12T09:35:15.000Z

Not only do the A$ and MnM work well together, I firmly believe I can get much deeper bass out of the MnM…even after the A4 update. The MnM midi sequencing of external gear makes it a monster then you have various synthesis machines, with the FM machines having quite a lot of magic to be found…and incredible sounds.

TrabanT · 2014-03-12T12:01:08.000Z

hey nedavine … your track sounds really nice … i dont really get the “this is MM and this is A4” , but thanks for your info still!

eventually i have to get the OT … but not now … really like the glitchyness you added

TrabanT · 2014-03-12T12:02:12.000Z

i also noticed the deep bass grolling rolling bassyness of the MnM compared to the A4…

thanks for your post namnibor

license · 2014-03-12T18:49:08.000Z

As far as Elektron gear I only have an Octatrack right now. But I am and have been more interested in the MnM than the A4. It sounds better and has way cooler sequencing and more interesting features overall, even if it never gets an OS update.

The A4 seems cool but just not as cool. It will be more interesting if I ever venture down the CV rabbit hole.

darryR · 2014-03-12T19:14:25.000Z

Just got my MnM 2 days ago.
For what its worth I think I looked at most of the videos for MnM and A4 and decided I liked the sound of the MnM more. Besides I have a tetra and Minibrute and will be getting a minitaur later this yea, but might rethink that as the bass I got from the MnM was really impressive. Besides from that I am a bit underwhelmed though by the synthesis page available. Hopefully as II explore it more that will change.
Having issues coming to grips with the sequencer atm =(

rhampton · 2014-03-16T10:30:26.000Z

""Daisuk"":

Well, it has a lot of synthesis methods, for one. Three LFO’s per voice. Awesome tape delay effects. You can load your own waves into it. It can generally sound incredibly good, very digital, otherworldly, it has a completely different sonic character to the A4.

But it depends on what you want from it. What kind of music do you want to make? If you want to explore odd soundscapes and how weird you can go, I’d recommend you to keep your MnM. If you’re making something a bit more straight forward, and are looking for good “basses” or “leads” or whatnot, maybe it’s not for you.

Overall I think the Mono and the A4 accompany one another very well, they sound excellent together.

But then again, I’m a huge fan - wouldn’t sell my Mono for the world. Last bit of kit I’d ever git rid of.

I totally agree…I got mine and even tho the Sounds are not the best, it’s interesting enough to Keep because of it’s creativity and what you can get out of it…it’s like a Treasure Map,you may end up where the X is but you still have to Dig to get the Gold…and even then there’s more hidden underneath the Surface…Check out the Photo i uploaded…this is one of my Favorite screens to really get a creative…Just about any sound can come out of this screen…there’s no way i’m selling mine…i sold my A4…but i will get another one used in the Future…in the mean time i’m really enjoying the MnM with no regrets…

20140214_193519.jpg2048×1536 224 KB

TrabanT · 2014-03-16T21:36:43.000Z

i copied that page … seems to me like there are only synth sounds coming out …

was hoping to make a basedrum, and glitchy things also

thomaso · 2014-03-17T10:40:54.000Z

My experience is that the mnm isnt tight enough for good percussive sounds. You will get a small variation each time the sound is trigged. Its not because of freerunning oscs, but i think it is some randomness to the trigging of the different lfo’s. (i tried using the lfo’s as envs for perc sounds).

For glitchyness use the DDRAW machine. use a triggered lfo to change waveform. No smoothing on the waveform change. Play around with the lfo’s to get some nice glitchy sounds. Then filter to taste.

TrabanT · 2014-03-17T14:13:31.000Z

hi thomaso, just played around with the ddraw machine … no luck so far … i guess i need more than 5 days to get into the machine

cheers

thomaso · 2014-03-17T14:59:00.000Z

And i guess glitchy isnt a set term either. hehe. I havent turned my mnm on in a year or so, but if i remember correctly, using a synced square valve set to one shot, and wave 1 on the osc. and if you play around with the speed you can get some nice hard abrupt changes. Remember to change the balance to just the one osc, so the other doesnt play.

Or use two lfo’s in random and different speeds to change both osc 1 and 2’s wave. set the lfo to hold, so it changes to a value and holds it. Then you will have a different wave from both oscs each time you trig the sound.

Another tip for some fast trigging notes is to use the ARP. Set it to SID mode, remove all the green lights but the first two. hold the second one and press down on the keys so it will play one seminote down. Set the speed so its synced, but faster than 16th notes. Then when you press both C and C# you will get a fast repeating C.
Combined with the lfo trick above, it should sound glitchy! Or broken. Or just pure awesome!

I think i have to turn on my Mnm tonight.