A third LFO ? -> Sequence "mod only"

The Moog Forum Moog Beta Forum
1

For a better overview, I start a new thread:
from here: Issues for some other day

I have to admit, I wasn’t very busy with the “Seq Mod Only” feature until now.
So thanks, mikeh, for the great hint, I just discovered a third LFO in the Sub37 …

However, there are some bugs:

  • When using the mod only sequence, moving the same knob as the mod destination on the Sub37 (for instance “cutoff”), will pause the running modulation for one second approx., then it comes in again.
    Turning the same (virtual) knob in the editor, the pause will not occure.

  • While the sequence modulation (only) is running, switching off “mod only” (back to normal sequence mode), the sequence continues running. Great!
    Otherwise, if the sequence is running and switching to “mod only” - the sequence stops. Too bad!


    To make this third mod source perfect, I would suggest:

  • Trigger Source
    by default, the trigger source of the sequence is the clock generator from the arpeggiator of course. It would be great, if the trigger source could be also LFO1 rate, LFO2 rate or even the Gate from the keyboard or external gate in.

  • One Shot feature
    The “One shot feature” could make an additional envelope from the seq mod instead of a LFO.
    This feature is also desired for normal sequences.

  • (as mentioned already) Interpolation
    Interpolation between the values of the seq mod could make the programming much easier (by setting only the benchmarks) and the “stepped” LFO would become a real LFO. (Here’s the question, how many interpolation steps and when to send, so a lag processor might be better)

All these parameters should be stored as preset values.

To handle all these values more easily (and all other sequence values too) it would be great if some tools added to the sequencer in the future:
Copy (… from step x to step y),
Paste (…after step z, overwrites the existing steps),
Insert (…before step z),
Delete (… from step x to step y)

Also it would be nice if the reset-to-default function (alt click) works for the values of the sequence (both pitches and modulations)



Your idea, mikeh, using another modulation source to index the sequence steps, is also funny. I could imagine some interesting effects and self-running-ever-changing-patterns, but I think the handling would be very complex, if not even confusing.


Thanks for reading!
Bernard

2

Very interesting idea!

3

Bernard - good summary.

Your idea, mikeh, using another modulation source to index the sequence steps, is also funny. I could imagine some interesting effects and self-running-ever-changing-patterns, but I think the handling would be very complex, if not even confusing.

I don’t think it would be too bad. It would be used only in the “sequencer” mode (not the 3rd lfo / lookup-table mode). When the sequencer takes a step, it checks if the step is beyond the current end-of-sequence value. If so, it jumps to the start-of-sequence value. That’s not to say there’s a lot of bookkeeping going on, but something quite similar is happening now, with the two parameters we already have: first-step and last-step.

How about this: have parameters seq-start and seq-length. Modulate the seq-start with a square wave from an LFO, which is synced to the ARP/SEQ clock. Now we have two “short” sequences that alternate. Could be fun.

4

Would love to have a detailed step-based reproduction scenario, thanks.

5

You’re welcome!

  1. Connect the Sub37 to a computer, start the editor (in my case, an older Thinkpad with XP running, USB connection, no problems at all).
  2. Switch on the Sub37, be sure the Sub37 is connected to the editor.
  3. Initalize a sound by pressing “INIT PRESET” either on the Sub37 or in the editor.
  4. On the Sub37, turn back the knob “CUTOFF” to 12 o’clock.
  5. On the Sub37, switch the “PATTERN” knob to “REC” and play some notes on the keybed. After that, switch back the pattern knob to “SEQ”.
  6. In the editor, add some modulation values to the recorded steps of the sequence.
  7. Set the “SEQUENCE MOD DESTINATION” in the sequencer page of the editor to “cutoff”.
  8. In the sequencer page of the editor, set the “MOD AMT” to 100%.
  9. In the sequencer page of the editor, switch on the “MOD ONLY” button.
  10. Switch on the sequence either on the Sub37 or in the editor. Press a key on the keybed of the Sub37 to play it back.

While holding the key, you should hear a note with some modulation of the cutoff, caused by the sequencer modulation.


Now

  • Hold the key or use the “LATCH” function.
  • On the Sub37 turn the “CUTOFF” pot a little.

While you’re moving the knob, the modulation of the sequence stops. If you release the knob, the modulation starts again after approx. 1 second.

  • In the editor, move also the “CUTOFF” pot with your mouse.

The cutoff gets some glitches (because of the sequence modulation), but the modulation of the sequence keeps running.

Repeat steps 1. to 9. of the above instructions to get a sequence running (mod only).

Now

  • In the editor switch off the “MOD ONLY” button.

The running sequence keeps running! You not only hear the played note with modulation, but also the programmed sequence. - As it should be.

  • Keep the sequence running.
  • In the editor switch on the “MOD ONLY” function to switch off the sequence notes and use the modulation only.

The running sequence stops!
You have to press a key again to keep the sequence (modulation) running. - Too bad!

Cheers,
Bernard

6

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

The first issue seems like a limitation to me, the second sounds incorrect but low priority. I will report them both anyway.