As above, just wondering if anyone is using analog sequencers with their voyager or foogers? If so what sequencer? What do you like about it?
I’m learning to use the built in sequencer of my GRP A4 - so recently I tried a lot of things - also with my XL and my Midi Murf (also the Murf as a self-oscillating sound source with syncing to the sequencer). I love to explore all these endless possibilities. To use an analog sequencer is very intuitive - and in my case - all is lost the moment after you turn on an other knob… très dada!
I bought the q119 because it was about the cheapest one that I could find that didn’t require DIY.
It’s probably not the best sequencer in the world but I love it. It’s not the Moon 569, but it does it’s job very well.
STG Time suite of sequencers and Doepfer MAQ 16/3.
Doepfer Dark Time
If you aren’t hell bent on having 64 steps, the DarkTime is a good choice. From a performance point of view, the to..from switches are killer.
I have the q119 that Eric mentioned, 3 x 8 of the STG time modules and a 16 step Trigger Store (also STG).
The biggest drawback of the q119 is that you do not have a separate control of Gates (every step sends a gate no matter what; and that you can’t change the step length real time.
What are you looking to do? There are alot of options and plenty of ways to go wrong. What’s your price range and what are you looking to get out of it?
Just looking to explore for the most part. I don’t have a budget. I think I have narrowed it down to the DarkTime or the 960. Many thanks to all who chimed in! I’d like to be able to set individual gates so don’t think the q119 is for me.
I wish they would make an analog sequencer like the 960 or the Moon but add patch memory, like the Voyager has. And I mean in banks of 1000.
This way you could program tempo/time signature/key changes.
Pretty sure you can do this in the upcoming oberheim 2 voice. I’m very eager to get my hands on one.
A Synthesizers.com Q960 is looking and feeling like the original Moog 960 step sequence we all heard and saw before. But such a good old thing is a bit limited by todays view.
Yeah I agree, but Ive really burnt myself out on the computer, I’m on it all day.
Being able to turn a dial is somehow much more gratifying, and I also like to be able to tweak the tempo real time. Sure I could map the tempo of a digital seq to a controller but… well.
Also caught the bug that makes me lust after analog gear. Its like porn to me.
I’m using my Tip Top Audio Z8000 sequencer with it right now, along with a Doepfer A-156 quantizer. Works great, but I want to get a uStep and uScale as well.
Right, same here. There is no computer connected to my synths. But I was rather referring to the many different analog sequencers with added features. I would love to have something like the PPG 300 modular series sequencer here. It had a buttom row with a dial switch for the note length. So you had a calibrated way of setting up rhythms. Better then using row 3 to control a Moog like step sequencer’s timing.
If money is not an issue for you, definitely grab a 960. The Moon does more, meaning that you can have each row running in a diff direction/different clock (based on what I’ve seen) but the 960 is the classic and has so much in/out. Just team it up with a sequential switch and a clock divider and you can do quite a bit with it.
They pop up for sale every now and again.
Another, somewhat non-conventional option is the D3 Archangel; which has 64 steps and a row of touchplates, built in quantizer and additional add-on options to come. It’s not cheap and I’m not sure if they are even available yet (pre-order list might be full and still not completely fulfilled) but the demos I’ve seen look great and if you tally up the cost of 960+quantizer+divider etc, you’re there. And the touchplates seem very nicely done.
Check it out…: http://www.det3.net/products/archangel
And this video by STG (Suit & Tie Guy if you don’t know) that is not yet up on the D3 site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwojPEs2174
oooooo boy, this archangel is exactly what I am looking for! THANKS!!
The other really hot sequencer is Cirklon (http://www.sequentix.com/cirklon.htm). It’s has the option for extensive analog CV output but it’s interface is pretty hi tech digital. Don’t watch the videos becuase you will want that too. It’s not cheap and is made to order in batches but the folks that have it really like it, even analog synth buffs.
I really want Archangel, if not for giant array of steps and for the touchplates. So tempted I might dump some other gear just to snag one, but I’m obsessive compulsive when it comes to buying things that cost between $18000-$2000 that have LEDs and knobs.
If you really really want one, you should reach out to D3 immediatly because there are only a limited # being made (and along long long long wait for the project to come this far).
YIKES, yeah I contacted the developer and found out the price. When I said money was not an issue that was a little hasty. I had no idea sequencers could climb that high in price!!
I already am a little stretched out because I’m on the wait list for a Dewanatron Swarmatron, and i was planning on getting the oberheim 2 voice once my tax refund arrives.
So I guess I just need to decide what I want more. The archangel or the oberheim. I’m leaning towards the sequencer cause I already have some stuff that overlaps the oberheim(my voyager).
Also If I get the sequencer its about 1500 less which means I could potentially get a used rackmount voyager giving me the two voices and the sequencer which is what I liked most about the oberheim 2 voice(other than it’s tone).
Outside of any of my points above does anyone here favor the oberheim tone over the moog tone? I kind of do, but it’s purely from youtube and no real hands on exp. Also, I never plan on parting with any of my moog gear so can’t use any of that liquidity for any of the purchases above.
Think I need to start going to AA, this gear lust is serious, I’m too old to not have a savings account.
regarding the Cirklon, that seems to be quite abit more sophisticated than the analog sequencers Ive researched. Think I would rather just stay in the daw for those tasks. Perhaps Im missing something intuitive about that device, but that was my first impression.
(Cirklon) yeah. I used to have a Roland MSQ-100 (dating myself now) and it was very useful, just a few buttons, one big knob. Cirklon is the complete opposite; very complex and very expensive, of course if you are Stateside, even more so due to dollar vs. GBP weakness not to mention shipping. And the analog capability comes at additional expense. You can spend your entire life mastering it, but like you said, plenty of capable software out there.
To answer your question on sound, if pressed to choose, I prefer the SEM sound to the Moog sound; maybe because I no longer have my SEM and miss it (look at my gear list below, it’s all Moog all the time). But like you, I’m on the pre-order list for a new 2-voice from Tom. So I’m going to sell my LP Tribute once (if) the 2-voice arrives. (there is a chance that Tom won’t deliver, unfortunately. Fingers crossed)
Many synth manufacturers try to emulate the Moog filter, etc. and some come close to modeling the sound. But nobody gets anywhere close to the SEM sound. The SEM excels at lush pads, drones with plenty of movement, and in simplicity of a perfectly balanced unit. The bad news is that Moog gear on the re-sale market doesn’t get much; quite different from what I thought when I got into this. But I’m not in it for the money and have no delusions that I’ll even break even.
But if you can only have one, or if you could have one + a few pieces of subordinate gear, you’ll have a hard time arguing with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQfzF2LvSs
..and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yFMbd1LLYA&playnext=1&list=PLD103F5EF9ACEF539&feature=results_video
…and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeF0i2saxjc
If you are definitely going to pickup a 2-voice, consider that your sequencer for now; based on what I’ve read you can do 2 x 16 steps simultaneously; If you are unsure or if Tom packs it in before delivering, you can get Archangel and two SEM Patch panels for about the same amount of money. You just won’t be able to play the SEMs duophonically without other gear. And you can always grab a Slim Phatty and/or Minitaur for the full range of Moog leads and bass.
Life is good!
Many Many thanks for your frank thoughts on the gear in question. I felt a little peculiar bringing up the oberheim gear in a moog forum, but it’s nice to know folks here are simply into making music and it 's not a democrats vs republicans turkish chicken.
Damn, and like I said the oberheim sounds so f’n good!! Those uTubes just ended it for me. Its going to be the 2 voice, which comes with a seq, and the Dewanatron Swarmatron.
That archangel was calling my name, perhaps it will find a way to land near me irregardless.
I hate to subject myself, but perhaps its time I get a part time job applying lotion to super models.