#368

So I have been looking into the ER-301 and I have a few questions.
Recently sold my Morphagene and got a Nebulae v2, but I am not liking it as much as I thought. It seems to produce really rough sounding grains and too many of them, no matter what I do with the settings. There seems to be no calm grain generation in this module.
I am aiming for the sorta broken delay that can’t figure out it’s start point, randomness in size of grain, possibly pitch variation, etc.
And this brings me to the ER-301. I already have Clouds and love what it can do on its own. But I am thinking that Nebulae isn’t really cutting it for the sounds I like to create. So I am wondering…
Is it at all possible to place a pitch sequence within the grain generation in the 301? And how does it stack up with Morphagene? I like the seperate pitch / speed about the Nebulae, and the cleaner grain generation of the Morphagene.
Does the ER-301 have the ability to work around some of these shortfalls, or am I just being naive and hopeful?

#369

Has anyone used the ER-301 as a pitch and trigger sequencer? Could this serve as a replacement for an ER-101 by sampling CV and sequencing it? I’m seeing a lot of videos for it online, but nothing about using it as a sequencer.

#370

The output jacks on the ER-301 aren’t DC-coupled, so they can’t really pass voltage. They can be used for rudimentary things like clocks, but pitches and LFOs don’t really work.

It can sample CV for internal use.

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#371

It’s such a shame the outputs aren’t dc coupled, there’s probably a good reason for it, but it could have been an amazing sequencer…

#372

The scope of the ER-301 was limited by the designer to be a ‘sound computer’. You might want to look at the Percussa SSP instead if CV output is a make or break thing for you. That’s probably the closest thing AFAIK.

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#373

just checking, but did you happen to see these tips in the Nebulae thread?

#374

Does anyone here have a setup that involves both Norns and the 301? I’m drawn to the 301, but fear that norns can do many of the same things and that I am just drawn to the 301 because it looks cool.

#375

I have both, maybe I can help. Other than both being sound computers with multiple purposes, there’s not really any overlap to me. Yes, both have granular capabilities, but the 301 has a far better interaction potential with your modular (obviously) and the norns is the far better standalone device. It really comes down to how much modular you have/how much you use it compared to making music on a singular device. Me personally, I have never felt like one makes the other redundant. Is there anything specific you’d like to know when comparing the two?

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#376

I’ve got both, and I use them very differently. The ER-301 is super powerful, and you can both tweak the equivalent of scripts within the UI, and combine and run them in parallel, and even have them interact. Meanwhile, the Norns will give you sequencing controls that the ER-301 lacks. I tend to use the Norns on its own with my guitar, but I trust I’ll use it more with my modular when I find time to dive into Crow. (Time. Ha!)

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#377

I have both (and crow), I think the er-301 is super useful as a mixer (and sample playback) that can do so much. I kind of like to think of the 301 as ableton in the rack…if that seems line something you need, it’d be a good fit. Norns crow and the 301 together unlock a lot of possibilities because you can send 99 virtual cv and gates into the 301.

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#378

@dubiousphil

That’s good to know, and is my main concern. I actually don’t own any modular gear right now, but I’ve got an idea for a very small system consisting of the 301 and Empress’ forthcoming Euroburo, mostly to sample, process, and mangle audio coming into the system. As the 301 is the most difficult piece to acquire, it will likely be the first purchase. But I kind of needed some reassurance before making that kind of commitment.

Now that’s the truth! I’m not sure where I think I’m going to find the time to learn another platform, et alone one as deep as the 301. :grinning: Thanks for your thoughts Marc.

I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re totally right!

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#379

I just ordered an ER-301 and this is my plan, there is a lot of potential in using Norns to interact with the 301, or using it as a bridge to make other devices do so!

I also plan on just using the Norns as an effect for the reverbs, since I’m told that the reverbs in the ER-301 can eat up a lot of cpu so it might be nice to offload things like that.

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#380

The only thing I’d recommend (which the euroburo might have, I don’t know) is some way of getting cv sequences and gates into your 301 or some hands-on controls like sliders, touchpads or buttons if it’s gonna be one of your only modules. The 301 can have a myriad of parameters that come alive when you have direct control. I’ve used mine in a palette case with a voltage block and a pamela’s new workout, which was good fun. The 16n faderbank might also be a good idea as it can also be used w/ norns or other gear and it can communicate via i2c with the 301.

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#381

Indeed! Euroburo has got 4 CV ins and outs, so let’s hope that they include the functionality that modular users need. We shall soon see. The other thing that seems like fun is that both units can behave either as effects units, sound sources, or loopers. Feels like there’s a lot of potential there.

EDIT:

CV modules on ZOIA, per Empress site

CV Modules

LFO

Sequencer

ADSR

Sample and Hold

CV Invert

CV Rectify

Value

Trigger

CV Flip Flop

CV Delay

CV Loop

CV Filter

Clock Divider

Comparator

In Switch

Out Switch

Slew Limiter

Quantizer

Steps

Multiplier

Random

Rhythm

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#382

Updated (And More Hopeful): According to Perfect Circuit (see webpage) we should see the Euroburo by the end of the year (“before the year ends”). The summer release was delayed due to the pandemic. However, in the video that is on that page, Mitch Lantz from Empress says “in two to three months.” (And thanks to @naxuu for the intelligence.)

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#383

i second that having a 16n to interact with the er-301 is crucial. i also have a fates (norns) and use half of the 16n to control parameters on that and the other half to control an assortment of parameters in the 301 simultaneously via midi and i2c. add a grid and you have a very versatile and powerful environment that is anything but redundant. i find all 4 pieces to be indispensable. i haven’t explored crow but at 2hp it seems like it would live comfortable in a small system.

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#384

Yeah, definitely! Bounds is another great one for that kind of end-of-chain stuff.

Something I’ve been thinking about is having a different interface for a collection of apps so I can have a multipurpose set up. For example, I made this no-screen nanokontrol2 i2c faderbank thing (n16o), which ive embedded into bounds, so I could use both. I have a grid too, and am planning at some point to make something that just uses the grid (no screen) so that way I can have three things and use them all at the same time

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#385

Well, that will work for my timeline, because while I was debating this purchase with myself the unit I had my eye on sold. Oh well!

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#386

I’ve been having lots of fun using buffers to manipulate incoming audio. In this vid I’m triggering random slices of audio being recorded to the buffer. A little bit of help from clouds as well.

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#387

Just double my available rack space from a 4U 104hp to a 7U. This thread has been really tempting me…

Question, is there a good recent video/breakdown of where the 301 is right now in terms of function and ability?