To: thejg@blueyonder.co.ukg.erlitz@gmx.de,
From: "Andrew Scheidler" xpandrew@ph.k12.in.us,
cc:
Subject: Re: [AH] System 700 sequencer
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 12:46:44 -0500
Is the Step Time parameter on the SAM-16 quantized?
Andrew
>>> John Grant <thejg@blueyonder.co.uk> 10/27/04 12:57 PM >>>
> I bought a SND SAM-16 recently and this unit gives me exact all
> the features of the System 700 sequencer (especially variable Step Time)
> plus the ARP sequencer-like switching-between two different analogue =
inputs.
Yeah I'll second that, up to a point.
Having played with a system 700, the sequencer was one of the things that
really grabbed me. Last summer I found one for sale but the seller backed
out & I then bought a Sam16 as the nearest modern equivalent, only to find
out it was probably the better choice anyway.
One thing the designer of the Sam16 (Sebastian Niessen) told me that he
didn't like in the system 700 unit (which he otherwise loved) & had set =
out
to fix in his design was that when you clock the system 700 externally (eg
from midi) then you lose the ability to set step lengths as discussed =
here.
Admittedly the Sam16 is nearly as expensive as a second hand 700 cabinet =
but
then it has an unbelievably complex & inspiring feature set, timing that =
is
unusually tight (for anything midi) & fits neatly in a rack. You can also
record all your sequences/tweaking in midi for later use as complex
modulation patterns & there is a feature where you can write chord =
sequences
with each click on the dial representing chords which you play in by hand.
That only works with midi (not cv) but I've plugged it straight into a
midi-cv & thence a modular for real time tweakable, cv-transposable
polyphonic sequences that would take a lot of setting up by other means.
Having said all of which I'm still glad to have a couple of older, 'more
basic' units like an SQ10 - precisely because they are unquantised & =
somehow
a bit more organic to work with & I imagine that goes for the 700 too.
If you did want to have the original 700 I noticed there is one on Vemia
right now at =A31300 ish, plus some 700 main consoles for it to sit on!
cheers
:-j
> From: "Gregor Erlitz" <g.erlitz@gmx.de>
> Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 17:40:48 +0200 (MEST)
> To: analogue@hyperreal.org
> Subject: Re: [AH] System 700 sequencer
>=20
> to be honest, i don=B4t understand all this raving about the system 700
> sequencer. I bought a SND SAM-16 recently and this unit gives me exact =
all
> the features of the System 700 sequencer (especially variable Step Time)
> plus the ARP sequencer-like switching-between two different analogue =
inputs.
> Plus the SAM-16 has a row of quantized pitch-cv encoders that makes the
> creation of "musical" sequences much more easier than on the System 700
> sequencer- which has no quantizers at all on the cv-outs.
> My system 700 seq also needs to be clocked externally to run tight- due =
to
> component aging the step-time is not constant over all step, even if you =
put
> the knobs in "zero" position. At least mine shows that behaviour.
>=20
> In addition to that a new SAM-16 costs way less than a System 700 seq =
and
> has very sophisticated MIDI-capabilities. From all analogue sequencers =
in
> the world i found this being the most "usable" one.
>=20
>=20
>=20
>> I'm currently writing a step-sequencer for the PSIM that includes the
>> "step duration" feature. I'm using the uWave XT as a control panel.
>>=20
>> After playing with a Sys-700 sequencer at AHMW, I realized the amazing
>> coolness of this contol for realtime tweaking. It's especially good =
for
>> messing with the feel of sequences against other sequences or a drum
>> machine; one knob twist and your 12/8 sequence becomes 13/8 :)
>>=20
>> http://www.ph.k12.in.us/~drew/ahmw/pics/2003/011.JPG/011.JPG
>>=20
>> I'm also incorporating quantized scales into the step sequencer, along
>> with my favorite features from other units.
>>=20
>> Andrew
>>=20
>>>>> <_ah@alt-mode.com> 10/26/04 8:27 PM >>>
>> Peter Grenader writes:
>>>=20
>>> This quantized stage delay seems interesting. You can do it with
>> Milton,
>>> you'll just have to use one of the banks to control the speed of the
>> clock
>>> that's driving it. But it more 'raw' than a rotary pot wit musical
>>> intervals on it. What I have done to correct this is run the output
>> of the
>>> bank controlling the clock through a quantizer. If the clock's got a
>> 1V/oct
>>> input, you're there.
>>=20
>> The quantizer trick is interested and useful for almost any analog
>> step sequencer with a clock that works on 1V/oct (not sure if that is
>> very common). However, you would need a quantizer that works on
>> octaves only to get the clock changes necessary. I guess a PSIM or a
>> Miniwave with the right EPROM could do the job but not a standard
>> chromatic quantizer unless you want some interesting rhythmic steps
>> inbetween (might be interesting to try).
>>=20
>> Of course, this kind of thing is easy with MIDI based step sequencers
>> like the P3 or MAQ 16/3 (I think).
>>=20
>> Eric
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>=20
>=20