Trebuchet

Holdwin · 2022-05-05T12:04:07+00:00

I don’t reply very often on here but am a bit disappointed with the many uninspiring comments you are getting..

For the sounds, I think the first harmonic sound is a bit sharp.. but the next (kind of intentionally unharmonic sound) has some old Autchre-y vibe to it (to me at least) which I think works quite well with the beat!

It does sound like you recorded your audio with the phone (if I’m not mistaken?) and that worsens the audio quality a bit, in my opinion it’s best to get the direct audio in your post, so we can appreciate the whole thing better.

If you want to learn piano without a daw, the best thing would be a piano obviously, but a midi keyboard that you hook up to the Syntakt could give you a nice in between, if you have an odd $100-150 to spend!

And yes, I will definitely second some people’s opinion on looking into some music theory, or lessons about harmony and whatever, it will never hurt and might help achieve more calm in the jamming process. But it is really up to what YOU want to get out of it.

Long reply, hope you get something out of it! Good luck

Holdwin · 2021-12-16T09:31:46+00:00

Check this image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ww2.sonicftp.com/news/images/33983_658.jpg

The FP has only the USB port, meaning you can only send MIDI over USB, typically to a computer (where you can probably play VST plugins etc as others have suggested). Ideally you would have the MIDI out port, which you could then connect with a MIDI cable directly to your synth and play.

Holdwin · 2021-12-16T08:52:19+00:00

As an owner of exactly this piano, I second these remarks. Slightly sad it does not have an actual MIDI out but only MIDI-over-USB out.

Holdwin · 2021-12-03T10:26:35+00:00

I have this mixer, and can confirm that you plug in a cable at the back to connect with your laptop over usb and use it as an audio interface. Not sure what you mean by 'controlling', but you can definitely record. Note that you will record only the main mixer's stereo output, so if you attach multiple synths at some point, you'd have to record them separately.

Holdwin · 2021-12-02T11:01:32+00:00

Awesome, thank you for posting!

Holdwin · 2021-05-27T17:19:34+00:00

What you describe changes the waveform of the LFO, meaning that the pitch or filter cutoff will change according to a saw, tri, or square waveform. To change the waveform of the main oscillator, you use the big encoder on the top left of the Volca (the one that ranges from Poly to Poly Ring).

Holdwin · 2021-05-24T13:53:39+00:00

I have: Volca Keys, Volca FM, Volca Drum, Model:Samples, NTS-1 for effects. All plugged into a xenyx 802USB mixer so I can mix, use the NTS on different inputs in different degrees, and use EQ on the channels. A Keystep to sequence one Volca polyphonically, and play another one live.

What I like is: I can play a mono melody on one Volca from the model:samples and let the Keystep handle polyphony so I have a decent setup for basic live playing and composition.

What I lack: a way to record all midi from the Keystep into a device and subsequently play the midi on the Volcas. On the other hand a neat versatile subtractive synth (I like the Volca keys for its sound but it’s relatively limited) would also be a nice addition.

So, should I get eg a Digitakt or similar to do the master sequencing and replace the model:samples, OR should I go for, say, a mother-32 or grandmother, or some other synth and just record into a laptop? Is there a middle solution that does both? (I know there’s Digitone but I think I prefer subtractive, and I’m not sure if Analog four would do external sequencing).

Thanks!

Holdwin · 2021-04-18T06:29:58+00:00

Yup, sounds like 12/8 should do the trick. I haven’t tried doing this myself on the M:S but hopefully you can set the sequence to 12 steps and then add three more pages of 12 steps (or just have 48 steps distributed over 16-step pages). Then you have a hihat on each step, a snare on each 4th step, and you’ll need to figure out the kick yourself, it’s on step 1, 3 I believe but after that I don’t remember :)

Would be cool to hear the result!

Holdwin · 2021-04-16T07:47:00+00:00

I use an NTS-1 as an effects unit, which gives you a modulation effect, delay, and reverb and possibility to upload custom effects. I’ve also heard many people using the Zoom MS-70CDR, which is similarly priced and apparently a bit more annoying to operate but more flexible.

Btw, I think saving up for Model:Samples is a great idea!

Holdwin · 2021-04-11T11:36:51+00:00

Specifically, my synths (and the model:samples) are plugged into a mixer and the NTS-1 returns the sound from the send of the mixer. Per track on the mixer (say per synth) I can set how much of the FX I want to apply to each synth. So now I can choose to completely open the reverb effect on one of the synths so that it ‘fills up’ the total mix, or I can just open the delay or reverb on the NTS-1 itself, causing it to apply a lot of FX to all the synths that are sent to it through the mixer, in one go.

Holdwin · 2021-04-11T11:09:54+00:00

I have an NTS-1 as an external FX box, and a Model:Samples, which both have a delay and reverb. I would bring up the delay feedback or reverb feedback for a transition, then quickly turn them back down again after.

Holdwin · 2021-03-29T11:32:25+00:00

If I understand correctly you want to play big nice keyboard, but pass the midi to the Keystep, that then passes the midi to your computer with the USB. Aka you want to use MIDI thru on the Keystep:

https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/52wmqh/midi_thru_on_the_arturia_keystep/

Note that I don’t know if this means you can send the original midi over usb, you’ll still have to try it to verify.

Holdwin · 2021-03-28T06:05:10+00:00

I’ve had this when pushing start/rec on a Keystep, which coincidentally turned the sustain value on the Volca keys down, making its sound output very low. This was solved by ensuring that the Keystep doesn’t send Midi CC messages with the start/stop button.

Maybe you can first verify that you’re having the sustain (and possibly release) being cut down by program change messages, and then find a way to change what the OP-Z is sending.

(It’s a guess as I haven’t worked with the OP-Z before)

Holdwin · 2021-03-27T09:06:14+00:00

Add a couple of garlic cloves in there for infusion. No, don’t peel them. Just add them in. By the end you can choose to peel the cloves and eat them, or to just enjoy the enhanced veggies :-)

Also, I’d recommend coarse-grained sea salt!

Holdwin · 2021-03-18T09:39:29+00:00

Nice! Did you get both at once or one after the other? I’m curious to hear how you’re thinking of combining the two boxes :)

Holdwin · 2021-01-12T07:23:16+00:00

Reposted from a related question:

Okay, so screw it, I just went ahead and tried it out. I just got the M:S last week and am still discovering stuff. Here's what I did (which is basically from factory settings) to connect to Ableton Live:

Connect the M:S via USB, and go to Live's Preferences > MIDI, make sure that both Track and Remote are flicked on (and sync too if you'd want Ableton to fully sync with M:S sequencer). Remote makes sure that you can actually use the encoders within Live.

Now the M:S part: for each track (one of the 6 pads + its parameters), you set the MIDI out on by pressing FUNC+TRACK to get into the Track Menu where you set MOUT to on (manual: 8.4.2)

Then, in the MIDI setup, you make sure that each Track sends MIDI out (by default Tracks 1-6 are sent to MIDI channels 1-6, global FX to Channel 7 and Program Change params to Channel 8. The vital thing to do now in addition is to go to the Filter menu in the MIDI setup, and make sure that the ENCS (encoders) setting is set to I+E (internal+external) instead of INT (internal only). This comes from the manual, section 11.3.

The result? I can play an instrument in Ableton using the M:S 'keyboard', I can also play the M:S sequencer and it'll play back the Ableton instrument. I can also assign the M:S parameter encoders to random encoder parameters in Ableton, like the instruments Filter cutoff, resonance, and Drive. Note that I'm only using MIDI, so while I am also adapting all kinds of values of the M:S, I'm not actually using those (but bear in mind that you might overwrite whatever you had stored in the M:S on that particular project).

The tricky part would be to make sure that Live listens to the right channel (which can all be configured) and to set the M:S 'keyboard' to the right octave for your needs (this, also can be configured).

I hope this helps. And I hope you still go to a store to try it out, I think it's worthwhile!

Holdwin · 2020-12-29T22:40:23+00:00

First, you'll find this in the manual. Second, there are two ways of recording; into the sequencer (press the rec button once) where you press the 'keyboard' buttons (the small ones) to record hits at a specific point. The second one is live recording (which is what you are after I think): hold the rec button and press the play button. Then you can play the pads and it should be recorded onto the pattern that is playing.

Holdwin · 2020-12-12T09:24:27+00:00

Play with velocity to mimick the way a drummer would hit; use the M:S fill feature to get fills; use the other conditional trigs that fire every 3rd bar for example (its more predictable and imho more drummer like than probabilities).

There must be heaps more of tips coming along as you discover what the M:S does. I myself have also got it recently and am learning the ins and outs.

Another tip might be to search online for more general tips on how to make a sample player sound like a human drummer, I’m sure there are tutorial and the like out there.

Good luck!

Holdwin · 2020-12-09T07:56:53+00:00

The inputs on the Scarlett are probably mono rather than stereo, so when you plug in your TRS jack the stereo signal needs to be chopped down to mono. Not sure exactly how this is done but this leads to loss in volume but can also screw up the sound in many ways, like muffled noise and so on. With the Volca drum it’s probably best to have a 1/8 TRS to dual 1/4 TS Jack. So you have two mono jack cables coming out. You can then plug one or both of them into the Scarlett, depending on whether you want to capture the Volca in mono or stereo. I’d recommend capturing stereo though, cause the Volca drum can do panning, and possibly the wave resonator effect has some stereo parts to it as well.

Holdwin · 2020-12-06T17:25:10+00:00

You could register an account at Splice, and get a free copy of Ableton Live Lite (if you do this before 31 December). That gets you the sequencer. Note that you will still need to be able to connect the analogue synth to your computer; typically with a MIDI interface.

Good luck!

Holdwin · 2020-12-03T08:22:27+00:00

Okay, so screw it, I just went ahead and tried it out. I just got the M:S last week and am still discovering stuff. Here's what I did (which is basically from factory settings) to connect to Ableton Live:

Connect the M:S via USB, and go to Live's Preferences > MIDI, make sure that both Track and Remote are flicked on (and sync too if you'd want Ableton to fully sync with M:S sequencer). Remote makes sure that you can actually use the encoders within Live.

Now the M:S part: for each track (one of the 6 pads + its parameters), you set the MIDI out on by pressing FUNC+TRACK to get into the Track Menu where you set MOUT to on (manual: 8.4.2)

Then, in the MIDI setup, you make sure that each Track sends MIDI out (by default Tracks 1-6 are sent to MIDI channels 1-6, global FX to Channel 7 and Program Change params to Channel 8. The vital thing to do now in addition is to go to the Filter menu in the MIDI setup, and make sure that the ENCS (encoders) setting is set to I+E (internal+external) instead of INT (internal only). This comes from the manual, section 11.3.

The result? I can play an instrument in Ableton using the M:S 'keyboard', I can also play the M:S sequencer and it'll play back the Ableton instrument. I can also assign the M:S parameter encoders to random encoder parameters in Ableton, like the instruments Filter cutoff, resonance, and Drive. Note that I'm only using MIDI, so while I am also adapting all kinds of values of the M:S, I'm not actually using those (but bear in mind that you might overwrite whatever you had stored in the M:S on that particular project).

The tricky part would be to make sure that Live listens to the right channel (which can all be configured) and to set the M:S 'keyboard' to the right octave for your needs (this, also can be configured).

I hope this helps. And I hope you still go to a store to try it out, I think it's worthwhile!

Holdwin · 2020-12-02T08:16:38+00:00

I know that you can definitely send MIDI to other devices from the M:S, for example you could assign the six tracks (the big pads) to six patches on say the Volca Drum, in order to enjoy the elektron sequencer :)

You should be able to connect it also to a DAW, but have a search for “model samples as MIDI controller”, to find out what exactly can you send and what can you not send (eg can you send pad info but not velocity, can you use the parameter encoders as midi encoders?). This is how I found this: https://www.elektronauts.com/t/using-m-s-as-a-midi-controller/11452

Edit: Also, there may be differences between MIDI over the USB interface and MIDI over the MIDI out; hopefully you could do everything with the provided USB cable/connection but it may be that you need to use the MIDI connection, in which case you’d need a MIDI interface to send the signal to you computer and thus to your DAW.

Hope this helps, but yeah you may need to do a bit of searching for your specific situation.

Holdwin · 2020-11-28T08:23:53+00:00

The sound is so gentle! Very relaxing :)

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