#50

If I remember correctly, you can do this with the Stepper Acid.

edit: This is called the Detach Mode.

#51

Hi. I’m looking at the Tempest, right now. I have a Vermona DRM-1 mkIII for analogue sounds and I need something that can work with samples, too (I know Tempest can do this with its own library). I also need to be able to use it to play the DRM-1… Can beats be set up to play intermal and external (midi) sounds via the 16 pads? If so, I’m in.

#52

Hey there, I had to sell mine about a year ago for financial reasons and I think there may have been one final update since then. As far as I know, the samples you’re able to import are very very limited… I don’t think you can import your own samples at all, and it’s just the packs they post online. This is all due to memory limitations. I never used its midi functionality, unfortunately, but I know that was a source of frustration for many people, which led to the aforementioned updates, of which there were many over the course of 3-4 years. It’s probably best to go and have a look at the most recent manual addendum and see if its capable of the things you want to do with it.

#53

Tempest only does it’s built-in samples, can’t use your own. That together with no preset/program change support (how this is even possible from the person/company who created MIDI is beyond me) unfortunately made it useless to me. All other features seemed rather nice.

@lloydcole you’re probably better off with a sampler, maybe check out the Digitakt, though there are obviously more options.

#54

It’s been a while but I was wondering if you could set up pattern pages on the LXR or if the maximum is effectively 16 steps per pattern.

#55

this topic is super relevant to my interests, as i typically utilize four polymetric percussion tracks, plus a vanilla 4/4 bass drum. i’ve been limited to software for this (using Reason) for a long time, but have been looking for hardware to manage this.

i haven’t seen ANYthing that isn’t built around a 16-step sequencer (i haven’t checked all the recs in this thread yet, so apologies if there’s an exception i’ve missed). i’m not…super concerned for my own work, because i tend to pre-program, but it would be incredibly rad to see hardware built within another framework.

my original plans were to get a TR-8S, but i’m honestly probably just going to go the sampling/looping route.

#56

This Digitakt (and perhaps all of the Elektron gear) will happily do this. Each of the 16 tracks (8 sample based, 8 MIDI) can be set to any number of steps from 1 to 64 (you can have up to 4 pages of 16 steps). And each can be further scaled 1/8x, 1/4x, 1/2x, 3/4x, 1x, 3/2x, 2x. And the pattern has a master reset point (like 256 steps - or any number between 1 and 1024) - or just infinite if you prefer.

So, yes, you can have your 4/4 and then several tracks of polymetric percussion on a Digitakt.

#57

thank you for the rec!

apologies, but i think my language wasn’t super clear. the OP’s complaint was about having to carry over the remainders when live-sequencing polymetrics, due to the hardware being built around 4/4 time & 16 steps (despite capabilities of changing pattern length on “pages” of the sequencer, etc) which i can totally relate to, b/c i mostly use 5-beat measures.

this is thread is great for me, though, b/c it’s giving me more options to compare, if i end up in the market for one of these beasts (i tend NOT to live-sequence). :blush:

#58

Ah - yes - indeed, sorry - I didn;t reread all the way back. Yes, when you set a length, the DT does force you into pages of 16…

If you want something in 13/16 it is easy. (Which, incidentally, I do a lot!) If you want something in 5/4 it isn’t… though on the DT, if you only need 8ths resolution for that, you could program it in 10/16, and drop the speed of that track to 1/2x.

2 Likes
#59

One month ago I bought DSI Tempest with its odd time signature capabilities in mind. Positive opinions in this thread contributed to my decision to choose the Tempest.

I have quickly found out that there is a bug inhibiting the use of “loop screen” function in every time signature, except 4/4. Using the function caues the sound to disappear or even the machine to freeze totally. And the “loop screen” is vital when step programming lenghty beats. The bug is even present in some of the factory preset beats.

Such an disappointment… I have immediately happened to like the Tempest’s sound and interface. However, it turned out to be useless to me in order to realise my musical ideas in a pleasant way.
Today I have sent the Tempest back to the shop.

1 Like
#60

That’s awful; I don’t recall encountering that while I owned a Tempest.

#61

Doepfer 155/154 combo is great for odd times in a modular environment. You can CV the bar length.

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#62

O that’s rad.

If we speak of modular, I must mention Trigger Riot. It can be any time from 10,000 b.c. to a million years in the future.

#63

A quick shout for the humble Novation Circuit - has adjustable pattern length and micro-steps (divisions of 6 per step), I find it very intuitive for going off-grid. Sadly the swing is hard-wired to 4/4 so getting a swung feel in 3/4 or 6/8 is a bit tricky.

4 Likes
#64

I thought this was pretty wild. It amazes me what people do with Excel.

5 Likes
#65

Can it take an external swung clock?

#66

TidalCycles is probably the best thing I can think of for this sort of things.

2 Likes
#67

I tried using this a while back, but never could get it to work, unfortunately.

#68

I’ve never tried but I’d assume so - I clock it from Logic all the time when using it for recording and never had any problems doing so.

#69

re non-linear software, I’ve been enjoying experimenting with K Devices ESQ (Max for Live)

1 Like