Yeah the problem is that there isn’t a singular envelope depth, it can go to any number of parameters with a unique depth for each one!
Having the destinations light up when you press a modulation button is one of the more common feature requests though
I bought a deluge because it works as an MPE sequencer with my Linnstrument. There also seems to be a huge overlap between the deluge and Linnstrument communities so I don’t know that it was a bad choice. Midi LFOs have always seemed like an odd gesture to me anyway, wouldn’t it basically always be better to use an LFO on a synth?
Fair enough on the MPE.
I still feel (no real evidence) that the number of MPE people (on Deluge) is perhaps a small number, compared with the number that want to use the Deluge as a brain for sequencing several instruments. I could be wrong on that of course!
As to Midi LFO’s, they are amazingly helpful for doing all kinds of stuff. You can modulate any CC-able parameter on any synth/sampler/FX/pedal. Absolutely the dog’s bollocks!
It’s just another kind of CC automation (something the Deluge is generally good at), but instead of drawing it or recording knob motion, you use an LFO’s shapes.
LFO’s built into synths are often limited to modulating a select few parameters. Plus, when you use a central hub, you can keep that kind of stuff in a central project, and not have too have many copies of very similar sounds on synths.
For example, on my Hapax (when opening a song) I can have it load presets on my synths, then tweak those presets, then send LFO’s/automation anywhere in my studio.
I love my Deluge. I will never sell it as it’s amazing for writing music quickly. But I no longer use it as a central sequencing hub - there’s too much it’s missing.
Details for The Night before Synthmas #3 next week in Berlin have been posted.
The night before Superbooth 2023, Deluge users from all over will be performing back-to-back 10min sets at Club FitzRoy in Berlin.
Mai 10, 19:30
Club FitzRoy
S-Bahn Bogen 46, Holzmarktstraße 15.
Berlin
Entry is free!
Features performances from (A-Z)
Boris Hauf (hauf.klingt.org)
Enthusa G (https://www.instagram.com/enthusa_g)
Hollsound (https://www.youtube.com/hollsound)
i-yenso-x
Ian Jorg (Ian Jorg - Live hardware performance on a Deluge, at Carlucci Land, 2019 - YouTube)
Jen S
mxmx (www.mx-mx.de)
Oliver Rivo (https://oliverrivo.com)
oPan (baumusik - artists)
Osrow (Osrow (@osrow_music) • Instagram photos and videos)
Ray Malone (https://youtu.be/16RLX3MnGrI)
Sichbeton (https://sichtbeton.biz/)
Snow Deaf (https://www.snowdeaf.com)
STAUBI
Tai
Untreed (https://bio.link/utrd)
Pitch Shifton (@pitchshifton)
EDIT:
If you want to perform, email Ian: Still some places left to perform at our Berlin party on May 10th — Synthstrom Audible
Oh wow they are open sourcing the OS!
This has huge potential!
why am I not thrilled to hear that
From the email:
Since launching our beloved Deluge, we’ve added a ton of functionality, made it more versatile and packed it full of ground-breaking features. Our arranger, looper, advanced sequencing and MPE implementation are still industry leading.
At Synthstrom, we’re devoted to sustainability and want our Deluge to continue being the centre of our users’ musical excursions for many years to come. Late last year we started retrofitting older Deluge variations with the OLED screen featuring in our new units. The next step we’re taking has been even longer in development - waiting until we knew we had a community full of talented coders who were as passionate about the Deluge as we are. We know now the time is right - it’s time to take software development into overdrive - we’re going open-source!
What is open-source? Open-source means we’re opening our software code to the community; our users who know how to write code can now develop their own Deluge features, make refinements to the existing code and contribute to a Community version for all users.
Before the speculation even starts, this isn’t us working on a new model, there are currently no plans for that. We’ve employed a team to manage the open-source project so we can focus our energies into ramping up the building of new OLED Deluges to meet demand, speeding up the retrofitting and refurbishing off older units, and just maybe, finally getting the Deluge into limited retail - though don’t hold your breath on that last part 
Synthstrom will continue to maintain and update the main “Official” repository, including all official Deluge Firmware releases going forward.
Alongside there will also be a “Community” repository (for both the OLED & non-OLED versions), forked from the Official repository, as a central place for community code contributions to be merged together, so long as they don’t appear to break anything and represent complete features ready for use. And of course all future updates to the Official branch can be merged in, too.
And of course, you can fork either branch and make your own changes and share these with others, irrespective of what’s happening in the Official or Community repository.
Installing Community or other firmware builds is 100% compatible with your Deluge’s hardwarewarranty. However, if you use a non-official community build, we won’t be able to provide software support.
Our open-source project manager will initially oversee and maintain the Community repository, though this will probably change in the longer term, particularly if or when open-source development branches in multiple different directions. We’ve created thorough documentation and Rohan will also be on hand at the launch, to offer guidance and assistance to those getting involved - including open video Q&A sessions.
Rohan has always been eager to give back to the global community of makers and tinkerers that helped him as a beginner, we just had to make sure the time was right, we had the right people involved and that we had a system that aided those taking part.
We’re also launching a Patreon to help support those contributing to the ‘Community’ repository. This will allow the entire community to show their gratitude to those developing, testing and refining code by making a monthly financial contribution, from just $1. Though administered by Synthstrom, 100% of these payments (less Patreon fees and tax) will be distributed only amongst those coders contributing to the Community repository - distributed in accordance with how much each individual contributed.
We have re-opened the epic feature suggestion threads on our forums where coders can find ideas to work on and where users can discuss their desired features: https://forums.synthstrom.com/categories/deluge-suggestions
In special cases, the Official repository may consider submissions from the Community repository*, where features and their UI have proven universal appeal. However, Synthstrom needs to continue to provide our customers with a stable and high-performance official firmware version, so we need to be responsible for every line of code in this branch.
Deluge Firmware will be released under the GPLv3 license. There are no restrictions on personal use and this license allows for code to also be used in commercial projects - however, if even one line of code from this is used in a commercial project, the entire piece of code for that project must also be made open-source under this same license.
The newly open source Deluge Firmware source code will live in GitHub. We will be launching this project in June though you can follow our GitHub now and be alerted when it’s live. https://github.com/SynthstromAudible
Key dates & details:
Monday, June 5, 7pm EDT - Codebase made available, documentation released and Patreon launched.
Wednesday, June 7, 7pm EDT - Open Group video Q&A session with Rohan. Will be recorded and made available on GitHub following.
Saturday, June 10, 11am, CEST - Open Group Zoom session with Rohan. Will be recorded and made available on the GitHub following.
Following these Q&A sessions. Rohan and/or our Open Source team will be responsive in answering questions on the GitHub. Please try not to flood forums with questions until after these sessions as we anticipate much will be answered therein.
Open-source Project Manager: Jamie Fenton
An experienced games, audio and multimedia production tool engineer, Jamie Fenton is known in the Deluge community for developing the Downrush application. Downrush is used for transferring, viewing and editing of Deluge songs, patches, and media assets using a Wi-Fi SD card and your mobile device.
https://youtu.be/mc8y9d1wQ-M
just wow… as long as it’s not goodbye then it’s good
Great news, I think Synthstrom have struggled somewhat with staying on top of software in the face of endless bug reports and feature requests. I think this will really open up the Deluge to its full potential like JJOS for the MPC, or the unofficial Machinedrum firmware
Does this mean that there will be loads of different firmware versions, potentially? Or just one Official and one ‘Community’?
Loads of different firmware, but only two are supported by Synthstrom. Eventually if you like something you see on one of the firmware it can be pushed as an official merge.
fking very interesting news. could make it epic
Are there potentially issues with projects working on one firmware but not another?
Jamie Fenton is a legend so I am interested to see where this all ends up. Personally I’m not so much interested in new features as improving operation and what is already there.
Super cool and interesting though that Synthstrom took this step, I hope it works out.
This is definitely interesting, the Deluge could do with an improved Reverb algorithm, a little more luscious and less metallic, I can imagine seeing some of the mutable instruments open source instruments in the Deluge and to top it off some of the Polyend Play features, such as Randomisation algorithms and a sample per step feature, the open source development could be huge for the Deluge.
Yes! It’s remarkable that they have Jamie running the show on this.
Well its totally up to you what firmware you are going to install. If keep it safe you will keep the official firmware running on your machine, and wait till features/changes are merged in the official/tested branches.
But it could be possible that some developer picks up the code and makes an awesome new firmware, but remains unsupported by Synthstrom directly. You can decide for yourself what you want to run on your machine. Which is awesome. In regards to bug fixes etc, now all of the sudden you have a big pool of developers who are hopefully willing to help and maintain pull requests with fixes to the official branch.
Would be awesome yes, if they can pull this of within the same hardware specs