OS 2.0 Gratitude, observations, opinions etc

Tangsonghe · Post by **Tangsonghe** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:37 am

Thought I'd start a thread for discussing OS 2.0 as implemented
on the Stage and Stage II. As the Tribute edition upgrade ain't out
yet, can Tribute edition concerns please be aired elsewhere.

I'd first like to say, stirling effort from Moog Music for getting the
upgrade out to the Stage I users. I doubt that the conception,
structuring and implementation was easy. For me the arpegiator
turns the LP into a much more competant synth pad and effects
generator.

Tangsonghe · Post by **Tangsonghe** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:39 am

Arpegiator:

Solid arpegiator, easy to use. I love the way I can easily adjust the
tempo with the LFO rate knob. I don't love how I loose the ability to
adjust the LFO rate. This sound mangling parameter needs to be
accessable somehow.

I feel that the arpeggiator ON/OFF setting should be a saveable
parameter. Its a bit like the mod ammount issue commented on in
previous threads. Some users (particularly those playing live) will
want these settings to be already set when the patch is dialed up
and not have to (quickly) set them by hand when the patch is dialed
up. The LP is after all a preset synth. On the business side of things,
a potential customer browsing through the patch bank will not hear
any arpegiated patches unless they know how to turn on the
arpeggiator.

Tangsonghe · Post by **Tangsonghe** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:03 am

There are a few glitches using OS 2.0 on my LP Stage.

Please assume that I am using default parameters unless stated. I
also had no midi ins or outs and all clocks were set to internal.

1) Not long after twiddling some presets, I noticed that some of the lights
indicating the knob positions were moving without me touching the knobs,
and the values assigned to the knob were changing. It was as if a ghost
was tweaking the LP. With a bit of experimentation I picked up on the
following (sporadic) pattern:

If a knob is turned all the way anticlockwise and a new patch is selected,
the value of the parameter assigned to the knob in the new patch will
occasionally move its value towards the anticlockwise position of the
knob. Using the mod wheel may or may not affect this. This happens
when the knob mode is TRACK. You can see this for example by
setting knobs anticlockwise and trying patch 59 ('cutting zinc). The
EG parameter will slowly decrease, especially if you twiddle the mod
wheel. On patch 76 (Agogog a gogo), the LFO rate will slowly decrease.
The problem seems to stop after using the knobs to get the actual position
to reflect the computer value position.

2) Maybe this problem is related. The arpegiator rate occasionally
changes tempo. E.g. dial up Patch 62 (Kindermoog). Switch on the
arpeggiator. It starts at 274 BPM. Have some fun with the cool sound
and suddenly the tempo will jump down to 75 BPM without being asked
to.

Amos · Post by **Amos** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:24 am

Tangsonghe: Unusual symptoms! Definitely not something I noticed during alpha testing of this OS, but similar to things I have seen when there were power or grounding -related issues with an LP. I assume all of these problems are new since the new OS for you, correct?

Anyway, I'm sure we can work it out. See if you still have these problems with no cable connected to the LP main output (monitor using only headphones). Also, let me know exactly what you're doing with the Kindermoog (patch 62) arpeggiation, between the time you call up the patch and the time it switches to a lower BPM. I tested that over here and I'm not seeing anything, but I might not be doing exactly the same thing.

Thanks!
-Amos

PS) you can adjust the LFO rate while the arp is running in a few different ways... if the arp clock is set to MIDI, then the LFO RATE knob works as normal... otherwise, the easiest way is probably PRECISION MODE (go to Master Menu, scroll to Precision Mode, press LFO Rate button and cursor to the value... if you press in the Value knob while you turn it, you can adjust the value 10 points at a time for faster changes. This does not affect the arpeggiator. It's not an ideal solution but it works. The other thing you can do is to use an external MIDI controller; the LFO Rate always responds to MIDI CC# 3, independent of what the arpeggiator is doing.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:33 am

I can't seem to replicate either of those problems here.

Maskin · Post by **Maskin** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:41 am

Ghost wrote:I can't seem to replicate either of those problems here.

Same here, it seems like the power problem Amos is referring to..

Tangsonghe · Post by **Tangsonghe** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:47 am

Thanks for this guys, I was actually testing the Phatty out
of my rig with headphones only. I did this to get better access
to my computer to install the OS and test it. I had removed
all midi and jack cables and used only headphones. I'll check out
the possibility of power grounding issues.

Tangsonghe · Post by **Tangsonghe** » Sun May 25, 2008 4:08 pm

Hi Amos, sorry for false OS2.0 alarm. After all the testing, what
you needs are loads of happy punters emailing their joy and
satisfaction at LP heaven getting even better!

Your grounding diagnosis was correct. I was using the phatty
on a different mains adaptor for OS 2.0 install and testing.
Upon changing the adaptor, the value drift problem occured once
for a minute or so and then not again. I guess that adaptor has a
dodgy earth connection. I assume that changes in the ground
plane are interpreted by the pot scanner as knob changes, which
then trigger the TRACK algorithm. Might this grounding problem
be the reason why the install process itself was hit and miss for
me?

W.r.t changing arpeggio and LFO rates, I wasn't aware that I
could use the Precision mode feature. This sounds like a good
solution. For dance music I'd lock the arpegiator to the midi clock
but for weird FX I like to use the mod rate pot to sweep the
arpeggiator tempo. Controlling the LFO with precision mode is
a perfect work around.

Finally, is it normal to experience a slowdown in button sensing
when the LFO and arpegiator are working at high speed and a
key is held? I find that I can't change a knob function without
releasing the key. This doesn't bother me, as the arpegiator
is not really meant to be an audio frequency mod source is it?

llamastorm · Post by **llamastorm** » Sun May 25, 2008 4:42 pm

Just playing around with the arp right now -- running through my an Analog Delay and Chorus.

Whoa.

Seriously -- soooo much fun.

Whoa.

Great job on this.

sweep_it · Post by **sweep_it** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:42 am

I'm so happy with all the new feature, and exp. the arpeggiator which is a great addition the the LP. Thank everyone at Moog Music for this.

The only this I was expecting to act differently on the arpeggiator is the ORDERED mode: if you repeat a note more than once (say E G A G B C) the repeated note occurencies (G in the example) are not taken into account in the pattern. So you can't do On The Run for instance. Bug or (like the support in teh company I work for company likes to say) Feature Request?

A feature that I'd like to see in the future is the ability of transposing the arpeggio on the fly using the keyboard.
An maybe to use it as a mod source!

Ok ok I stop here it is so good already, so much added value with no additional cost.

All the best,
Fabio

Amos · Post by **Amos** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:47 am

Hi Fabio,

What you are describing is a "step sequencer." It would allow multiple instances of the same note, and allow transposing of the sequence from the keyboard. I have already thought of this as a possible new feature for a future update.

For now, we have the arpeggiator, which by tradition does not have these features... but it is certainly a lot of fun!

Extraborg · Post by **Extraborg** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:31 am

The new OS works fine for me and is a real treat. Thanks Moog.

waxdoctor · Post by **waxdoctor** » Mon May 26, 2008 12:04 pm

Amos wrote:I have already thought of this as a possible new feature for a future update.

dear amos,

it's fun - isn't it?

thanks again for this new and perfect update.

waxdoctor

tangent uk · Post by **tangent uk** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:02 pm

as far as i can tell everythings fine here,except for the new presets were not showing up until a factory reset,apart from that its all good!!

thanks moog/amos and his 2 coworkers

for the update

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:40 pm

Thanks again Amos and the fine people at Moog.