i would even be ok with the really limited ones if i could be confident that it was limited in the ways that make sense for me
what i really want to be able to do is basically just compose MIDI portably, and use some basic digital tone generation with a sample pool so i can assign sounds to my MIDI. then other basic (in 2025) stuff like arpeggiation, %-based triggering, panning, per-step envelope control. that, and we need robust off-grid support. it’s not enough to give me triplets. how can i do septuplets without robust off-grid control? most of these things don’t even let you set the fucking time signature! let alone changing tempo during a track (in an automated way so you are not just manually changing the tempo of the whole project lol)…
that’s assuming they even have a song mode… not a given either
does this make sense?
it’s a laptop, the dirtywave m8 or nothing i think
i don’t think the single DAW in a box is ever going to really compete with laptop. everything is too designed for a specific thing compared to 20 years of ableton iteration. and then the best examples are still working in a very specific window. i’d love an m8 since i’m travelling a lot nowadays, but the ordering situation is just a bit too much of a commitment for me. i also like the desktop polyend trackers, i think they’re a bit more feature limited than the m8 but i appreciate how much hands on control they have over a tracker. i should really just spend the time with renoise…
the other thing that’s always looked sort of interesting in this space are the recent mpc lines which seem to have matured to a good point with their software now being a competent lightweight daw. i’ve been tempted by the mpc live a few times as they surprisingly have some of the more robust CV in/out of anything in this product category, but ultimately i don’t think the mpc beats type workflow is really what im after.
the elektron boxes are expensive but i do think they are very good. they are once again focused in on making specific types of music though, and it just gets too hard to break out from that from either feature limitations or habit (in my experience). i do think my dream one of these would be a new iteration of the octatrak that had decent CV connectivity, but nothing elektron have done in recent years points to them doing that.
anyway, i’ve just spent the last couple of months reworking my setup to be free of any sort of sequencing or quantised control and it’s the most exciting making music has been in a long time.
this is my current eurorack setup. im still trying to keep everything to one small case, and generally avoiding overly elaborate/algorithmic modules. mainly following serge-style analogue computer design, lots of options for feedback, and as little delineation between CV and audio as possible.
the latest addition is the external matrix mixer at the bottom, which is the main ‘performative’ control option for more flexible live (re)routing/attenuation options.
i got some mono patch cables (I don’t actually have any heh) to see if I could bring the T-8 into my audio setup. It seems like it’s sync in port operates on a different logic than what the Korg NTS-1 sends out, since it doesn’t want to match to the beat no matter what step settings on the T-8 i set. There really isn’t documentation around, and the sync ports on the Roland seem to be made for other Aria products. I have tried syncing the NTS-1 and the PO33 to the T-8 but it doesn’t seem to want to take a clock signal. Syncing out from the T-8 works, but not in. Not sure what’s up.
ok i did a bit of research! would like to know what you’re trying to do here - are you trying to use MIDI CLOCK SYNC or SYNC PULSE? because those are two different things and will determine how you’ll want to wire them up. both the nts-1 and the roland have midi clock sync and sync pulse capabilities but the nts-1 can only take midi inputs, it can’t send them out, so if you’re relying on midi clock sync you’ll have to use something else for your master clock…also the direction of what is sending sync to what matters here, let me know what you’re trying to do!
I’m trying to use the Sync Pulse. The Pocket Operator and the NTS-1 seem to send a pulse sync every 1/8th note, except when I try to send it to the T-8 it will either be uneven or be a half step behind. I can have the master clock be the T-8 and the rest of my equipment will work ok but it won’t take a clock signal and cooperate.
But also I’m doing something really cursed by making a click track with a Nintendo DS using Korg-DS10, sending that through the right channel and putting it into the NTS-1, and then using that to drive other devices. I’ve gotten this to work with the PO-33, but not the T-8. My main problem is that the DS can’t take a clock signal (for obvious reasons)
the NTS-1 has a setting where it sends a pulse since every 2 or 1 beats. the T-8 also has a setting where it’ll play 1-24 (!) notes per clock sync, but between these two I can’t seem to get them to cooperate.
I did manage to get them to cooperate. it seems to stay in sync consistently now - i wonder if the click track had a drum track playing over it somehow.
pretty happy with it. the sounds on it are just so-so but that’s fine because the keybed is excellent and it runs off 8 AAs and weighs vastly less than my MODX8. i can use the macbook as a tone generator when the onboard sounds aren’t sufficient, but i think i’ll mostly use it for practices so i don’t have to lug the $1500 MODX8 back and forth every time
actually some of the sounds are pretty good
it’s a mix of some of the same AWM2 parts from the MODX8 but seemingly some of them have been updated. some of the brass and organs sound a bit better here than on the Montage/MODX
the onboard effects are surprisingly decent which is especially nice since this keyboard is all about performance. way better layout for that purpose than the MODX which is menu-dive city.
this thing fucking rules. i use it every day. outside of the price which is steep but ultimately still worth it (185 USD rn), basically a perfect device
