Sorry! I am torn on new Frap stuff, because I’m really out of space, and don’t honestly need anything more. Mostly what I want from them is that promised Usta firmware update!
I can certainly appreciate that. I was hoping for a filter or LPG since their lineup is missing one and I’m out looking for one as my next purchase anyway 
How do you like the Usta anyway? I’m bothered by the lack of inputs(seems to be endemic to battleship sequencers in general) but I feel like the LED rings is the best solution so far to the overloaded UI issue and I’ve often thought about getting one even if only to try it out.
I haven’t used Usta as much as I should have – I keep getting distracted by the next shiny acquisition – but I’m generally happy with it. The screen is small, but it’s used mostly for setup. The UI is well thought out. I agree about the number of inputs. Some internal routing options might help but that could be a UI or computational nightmare. There are some differences from Elektron sequencers that are refreshing. Each track has its own set of patterns, which is nice to change up just one line. It works with irregular clock. Having stages instead of steps is quite nice, as is the ability to change the duration of a stage without affecting the total length (the time needed is taken from or given to another stage), so I can keep the bar structure while shifting a melody within it. I get bored with repetition easily, so it’s nice to be able to make these tweaks, in addition to the usual ones of muting steps or changing the pitch on the fly.
Separate patterns and clocking per track sounds like killer features. Also happy to hear about it handling irregular clocks too, how does that work with ratcheting?
I got a Moskwa II because with the expander it has 12 dedicated cv and gate inputs which is gold for “sequencing the sequencer” kind of patching, which I like to do, but the module IMO has one flaw which is that it doesn’t work with irregular clocks. The reason for that is because Moskwa can do clock multiplication(for ratcheting among other things) and that requires interpolation which causes instability unless a straight clock is used. It’s nowhere near being a deal breaker for me, but it definitely limits what you can do with it.
Usta can also do clock multiplication, but there’s no good solution for that, or for things like swing or ratchets, with an irregular clock. Usta estimates the BPM of an external clock as the median of some number of prior samples. You might like the resulting effects or you might not, in which case you can avoid using those features. The point is that Usta tolerates it well. With some modules, irregular clock just breaks too much.
There’s only one clock input, but different tracks can use different internal clock settings. There’s an example on the Frap Tools demo page with two identical tracks, but with a difference in BPM of 1 or 2. It leads to nice phasing effects.
One solution I thought of would be to separate the clock and the advancing of the sequence. That way you could send a stable clock to help the sequencer keep track for the purpose of multiplication/ratchets and other clock-dependent functions while giving you the ability to arbitrarily advance the sequence anyway you want to. There’s probably some nuance as to how to handle things like glide and gate length and obviously you’d still have the same problem if you actually want to mess with the clock(such as abruptly changing tempo), but unless I’m missing something, I think this should work.
I didn’t realize that was you. I have a bunch of your Intellijel 1U panels, they’re great. I didn’t realize you had one for Pams, otherwise I would have linked to it.
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oh wow! black er-301 AND maths.
some day soon I hope hope hope…ill be contacting you. 
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Rings and Beads are so awesome, I got two each. Also love the Kastle Drum, which is the “composer and perfomer” in this jam:
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This is so good. Sounds absolutely massive and it’s really nice how it keeps evolving.
I’m gonna send this to everyone who says Rings/Beads always sound the same. This oughta shut them up.
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Well here’s my first modular small drum/sample/bass setup. Not much there but I need another case to fit some other modules I have. Don’t have any envelope/lfo modules yet but it’s a start. Quite happy with this.
Only been able to test a couple of modules at a time as I’m waiting on patch cables, I don’t have many here to do anything worth while.
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Any chance of doing the PEXP-1 Pams expander? I’d def order one with the Pams panel if so. Mine’s currently sprayed with Plastidip.
I’d also love a cleaner panel for Morphagene, if that’s ever something you plan on doing.
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Yes I would love to make one for PEXP-1 eventually, but it will probably not be within a couple of months. Also, looking at pictures of it makes me wonder if its possible to remove the front panel without desoldering the midi jacks?
I have had some requests for Morphagene, so I guess it’s time to learn how to do transparent bits as well It now has +1 on the wish list.
Good point on the midi sockets, I’ll check mine when I get home and let you know.
Yep; as you suspected, you’d have to desolder the midi and DIN ports. Bummer.
The audio input on Rings is so useful for interesting textures. So often overlooked.
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That is a shame, thanks for checking!
Is the plastidip working out good for you? I have considered testing it on some other stuff that ‘needs’ to be black
Yeah Beads can do absolutely atrocious things.
Epic sounds @Jeanne!
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It does work well, I like it because I can peel it off really easily if I decide to sell. It works great for basic things like an expander, not so great for modules where you really need the labelling to know/remember what is what.
I just have it on a few expanders and some small modules I couldn’t get a black panel for (Pams expander, Doepfer switch, Doepfer octal VCA (before they released the black panel version), an Intellijel Shifty, and 4 2hp 8 channel patchbays I found on Tindie).
Just make sure you let it dry long enough so it doesn’t tear when you tighten the screws/knurlies (if using it for modules)
Matte/satin tends to look better than glossy. I got a satin black Plastidip Luxury Metal, which is very very slightly metallic, and looks great.
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Seriously, when Rings arrived, I plugged my Bass Station II into the audio in and created 318579419439 samples for future songs 
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