Okay, so bear with me here - the 1010 Blackbox sequencer, strange as it might sound, is my all time favourite sequencer. The reason for this is that it’s the only sequencer I’ve come across that treats each pattern more as a quantised clip rather than a pattern that follows a set start and stop cycle.
So the Blackbox has sixteen patterns per project. Each pattern has its own time signature, step count and quantise option. Each pattern can play any number of samples, as much as the Blackbox polyphony allows.
All patterns can run at the same time, as long as CPU and polyphony allow for it. They also run independently of each other. So they launch not to an overarching start and loop cycle, but to a quantized beat, each of these quantifications being unique per pattern.
This creates so much depth for improvisation and song writing with patterns, I can’t see myself going away from this now, when I’ve grown accustomed to it. Just starting and stopping patterns independently from each other, can create endless variations even if you change nothing within the patterns themselves.
I know the Elektron sequencers don’t do this. Nor does the Deluge, or the Novation stuff.
You know of any sequencers within synths or sampler, or just by themselves, that do this? I’m assuming they’re around, I’m just not aware and am curious to explore this workflow further.
It depends what you count as a pattern, but “plays free” tracks on the OT go a long way of what you asking for (only syncing to the beat, independently start/stop etc.pp.). I guess the major difference is the restriction to max. 8 samples playing at once.
In essence “plays free” tracks are decoupled from the sequencer. You can start/stop them manually. Syncing can be configured from none, to a specific number of steps to track length. They can loop or be used as one shots. And they can have their own trig mode like one/one2/hold.
Quite versatile especially for improvisations and ambient stuff.
(both audio and midi tracks can be configured as “plays free” tracks)
That’s exactly how I use the Blackbox sequencer. Thanks, man. Didn’t think I’d ever say this and really mean it, but I might have to check out the OT again.
It’ll be like seeing an old friend and see if there’s still something there
Roland MC-707 (and 101) can do this.
clips are changed/retriggered on master clock cycle, which is 1 bar (of 4/4) by default, but you can set it as low as 1/16th note.
Maschine does this. You can stack patterns into scenes, they can have Independent lengths, and you can quantize switches to other pattens and scenes on a flexible grid.
