I’ll DM you on that 
prolly not buying, but mostly because people trash talk it so much, I’m actually not not interested
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Yeah, there’s definitely a layer of abstraction with the grid that you won’t find with any other hardware device that has clear labels. A lot of scripts don’t work for me because of this. I think the reason Cheat Codes does is mainly due to two things- its functions are thoughtfully designed and are represented through a strong visual layout (as far as grid layouts go), and its creator, Dan Derks, has provided very clear, extensive documentation.
It definitely has a learning curve but I’ve use it so much that I now have a mental map of everything, so I don’t really have to think twice about where everything is when I turn it on, but I’m only talking about the main layout. I haven’t even messed with the two other pages…
I imagine a lot of coders on lines aren’t really concerned with making their scripts accessible, since they initially created them for their personal needs, so I’m thankful for anyone who puts in the extra work to make a script with really good documentation.
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All true, this. I remember getting into Cheat Codes on my last run. It took me a day to figure out how to get it to make any sound at all.
But once you’re over the threshold, it’s quite accessible. Same goes with mlr and mlre. You open it and go “what the f**k” but after an hour, it all makes sense.
Then you’re away from them for awhile and get back and you open them and go “what the f**k” 
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There’s a lot of learning, forgetting and then relearning, for sure. I think the only way that it finally stuck for me was just using Cheat Codes exclusively. I think it’s a deep enough script that I could justify having the Norns and grid dedicated to its use… I’ll probably move away from CC2 eventually, to learn MLRE better, but not before I’ve mastered it.
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Second, I didn’t realize until I’d gone cold turkey on hardware for some time, how much the process of writing music mattered as having all the options available and the end result. It was, is, literally a meditative experience for me to sit down and play and write. I kind of knew that somehow, I’d expressed it before in many threads and forums, but it wasn’t until I removed myself entirely from it that I realised how much I’d actually meant it to myself.
THIS!
This is the reason why hardware is so magical and why it will never die. My journey actually started mostly in the box and for quite a while but this was mostly due to not having money to buy anything lol. So I really love everything you can do in the box and I can certainly get into a meditative state just by firing up Ableton but man there’s so much magic when the gear is in front of you and you touch stuff and just go on a journey.
Have you tried modular btw? I struggled initially with it but now it’s starting to click big time and it’s the most amazing thing ever. It doesn’t have to a big gigantic system either, I learned small systems work the best for me.
On the subject of Norns and Grid, I’ve been interested in them for a while but they’ll definitely have to wait as I’m all spent up this year haha. What is your setup now btw? Gonna get the OP1 again too?
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Not tried modular yet I have built an imaginary rig which has the Bitbox sampler, the Zoia Euroburo, the Bluebox mixer and a sequencer which I wouldn’t know which one it is yet, as a starting system. But it’s just so damn expensive, to the point where you can’t deny, there is a lot of power in a daw.
I don’t really have a rig right now, I’m just experimenting again. I got norns and grid, my 1010 samplers still cause they never left, and two Chase Bliss pedals which I couldn’t get myself to sell when I went daw, and I’m happy I didn’t now.
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Yeah, go easy! No need to overwhelm yourself with too much choice, I’m sure there’s lots to explore with Norns and Grid + your pedals for a long time anyway!
I think you’re gonna love modular, but yeah it’s expensive. It’s worth looking into getting second hand though and maybe some of the Behringer modules too. I don’t like Behnringer but you can’t deny the value for money with their modular lineup.
And I think it’s great that you learned Logic, since there’s nothing better for arranging than a DAW. That’s why hybrid is the way for me as you use the best of both worlds.
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Now updated to 4.0 with full stereo sampling/playback 
Maybe you can cut out the bitbox 
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WHAAAAAA …
(angst but in a good way)
Looks like I timed my return quite well
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stumbling into this thread again to chime in
that’s a pretty incredible rig that makes me think of old school radiophonic setups
you don’t need a million things but that’s actually substantial power in a relatively small desktop footprint
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Yes, even tho I’m back in the hardware game now, I got zero wants to get more stuff.
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There’s an interesting sequencer script on Norns called Mosaic which draws direct inspiration from the Elektron sequencer and adds a whole lot more. One of the latest additions in v1.1 is parameter slides alongside a live looper, for example:
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A Monomachine patch randomiser for Norns:
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Btw, the Arc is back. Not that I need and / or understand it, but Arc seems pretty awesome regardless ($1100, sold out for now)
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What setups do you mean with oldschool radiophonics?
Raw oscillators and a reel to reel is my interpretation.
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@thermionic is basically right
combining norns + 1010 + a few cba pedals feels like a digital approximation of everything possible with vintage studio gear: old school mixing desk, eq/reverb modules & multiple r2r tape machines linked together (enabling loops, delay, splicing + creation of multitrack recordings)
the new school setup is compact and might be less “fun” to play but far less tedious to control (by virtue of preset recall and other modern amenities)
just an observation since the radiophonic era inspired my interest in electronic music and continues to influence how i create
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