Ultranova - Got one! Here are my thoughts..

[namnibor]

Originally Posted by MBTC

How are arp patterns edited on the blofield? That's one peeve of mine about the ultranova, there is a fixed set of arp patterns. There are of course a lot of different ways to mangle those so that they are non-recognizable, but it's too experimental once you've worked with a decent arp editor like synthmaster, omnisphere, nexus etc come to mind.

On the Blo's large screen you of course could select from many patterns and also user patterns and actually is shy of being a full-on sequencer...certainly easier and less of headache to set-up that on my Virus KC.

With that said, have learned using the DAW as work around for both Virus and Blofeld is simply faster, if anything else. The Blo has it's multi-mode and arp entwined very tightly to where one could easily summize they are one and the same. I actually like the arp set-up on Blo much better than Virus but apples to oranges when it comes to 'menu-diving', as it just becomes intuitive with practice, of which I need more of and will.

Side-note: unloading the Korg Radias because although has a great user interface and it REALLY *could be* a great-er synth, if it simply did not want to sound so damn ~~HAPPY~~ ALL the time .
My Elektron Analog Four just arrived... I am *never* sleeping again!!!

[MBTC]

Originally Posted by namnibor

On the Blo's large screen you of course could select from many patterns and also user patterns and actually is shy of being a full-on sequencer...certainly easier and less of headache to set-up that on my Virus KC.

How are the user patterns created? Imported midi file?

On the ultranova it just seems like a dumb limitation. Especially since there is a proper visual gate pattern editor, with stereo editing.

Originally Posted by namnibor

With that said, have learned using the DAW as work around for both Virus and Blofeld is simply faster, if anything else.

There was a time when I would just do everything in the DAW because a lot of arp situations lend themselves to that. Lately though, I've been using the arp + latch feature of the Ultranova as more of a composition tool to find some catchy melodies before I go too far with the DAW. For example, left hand on the UN, right hand on the MKII controlling a softsynth like Dune, where the Ultranova is doing a rolling/arpy bassline and Dune is doing a lead. Then map a couple of touch knobs to things like subtle osc pitch tweaks, a little sync or distortion etc to make it easy to make the bassline really dynamic. It's just a really fast way of getting inspiration. But I can't quite take it exactly where I want with the UN, because I've only got a choice of the few-dozen preset patterns, and to really change them I have to do things like change timing and add delay's to change up the groove. Something like one of the aforementioned arp editors on the UN would add tremendous value.

[namnibor]

They are entered by playing an actual note and of course you can adjust the octave range, length of note, time sig, and various latch/hold and ability to add new notes in real time, essentially "playing the arp" just as DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard has. Of course there's the high/low note priority, et al that you would expect as well as random. I have the Blofeld Keyboard but the Blofeld Desktop operates same way with attached midi controller but the Desktop does NOT have a 5-pin DIN Midi Out, only the Midi IN so on THAT NOTE, although I do not use USB 2.0 with Blofeld Keyboard and would actually recommend the Keyboard over the Module because MOST of the "bugs" on Blofeld seem to be USB related because as a 'cost-saving measure', Waldorf did not properly 'shield' the USB, at least definitely on the Desktop Blo, meaning dependence on MIDI over USB 2.0 for a live set-up for two way communication could prove cumbersome. The work-around is some sort of 'Ferrite isolator for USB', and that's all I honestly know regarding that and was determining factor on getting the Blofeld Synth after also realizing same exact Fatar keys I love on Virus KC and DSI MEK, as the after touch is so damn responsive. What is it with **some companies** skimping on their implementation of USB when the aforementioned module version would DEPEND on such for efficient and trouble free communication? Kind of akin to Access finding it somehow more logical rather than pragmatic, to use USB 1 for the Ti series, which again, VC **DEPENDS** upon full efficient use of bandwidth???
What I have read thus far and watched, the Analog Four's ARP grid/note editor is the way it should be in that it's very visual on the screen, providing people understand how to read notes as they appear on sheet music and the destination of number representing it's octave position.
Elektron made a POINT to mention they cut no corners and their USB port IS fully isolated electrically and shielded EFI/EMI. Sorry, sent this prematurely as studio cat decided my arm was something to apparently be stalking for last few minutes!!

[namnibor]

Do realize the King Korg essentially has 98% of very same MMT Sound Engine the Korg Radias has...and am sure the filters may be better on the King Korg, but also realize Korg did NOT implement After Touch on YET another synth...and I did mention my Korg Radias is being officially grounded and disowned due to THAT MMT Sound Engine...sounds way to HAPPY! Korg Forums have even enough info of speculation that amidst Korg's recent great releases down analog patch again, the King Korg has been alluded to Korg's Pink Elephant, with ebay rife with people selling them for like $800-$950. of late...something to consider.
Have learned as primarily a piano trained person, that after touch is so damn dynamically handy when taken time to set-up each program with what you want to modulate with it...King Korg is bit of a JOKER rather than a KING IMO without AT.

[MBTC]

Originally Posted by namnibor

They are entered by playing an actual note and of course you can adjust the octave range, length of note, time sig, and various latch/hold and ability to add new notes in real time, essentially "playing the arp" just as DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard has. Of course there's the high/low note priority, et al that you would expect as well as random.

That's probably a slight upgrade over the Ultranova -- I should have mentioned you can sort of change things up with the typical chord/as played variations, etc, so I guess those are considered "user patterns", but to me an arp editor means being able to visually edit, even if its just something like a step sequencer display, and preferably be able to do things like modify note velocity and duration or other parameters as part of the display, as well as (critical) the arp sequence step length. Being able to do things like record the arp, add notes in real time etc. definitely adds something, although it doesn't quite supplant the type of editing I'd like to see. Nexus for all its faults has an arp editor that is the gold standard I think.

Originally Posted by namnibor

Kind of akin to Access finding it somehow more logical rather than pragmatic, to use USB 1 for the Ti series, which again, VC **DEPENDS** upon full efficient use of bandwidth???

I don't know how you can get away with saying that while I can't, but I'll be content to live vicariously through you

[namnibor]

"I don't know how you can get away with saying that while I can't, but I'll be content to live vicariously through you"

Surely, you are being sardonic, at best?!? OOOPS~! "THEY" just remotely must have sent a signal from Germany, my cat is staring down the Virus KC as if it growled or something! Note to self: Watch for smoke!

Speaking of smoke, I am a straight-shooter and tell it like it is because I was not "blowing smoke up someone's arse when giving accolades where due re: strong reason I use both Virus KC and Blofeld Keyboard AND a Q. However, I will risk a post being "scrubbed" by stating three thousand dollars is a big risk to take even with a powerful dedicated DAW PC Tower I have running Reaper and recording mostly audio thus far from all hardware synths, to then *possibly* find out that VC (again, possibly), may simply not "play nice" for only reason of having a string rather than a hose for it's nexus to VC.

Now, on the Blofeld ARP, you can enter real time, adjust the whole matrix, note and track length, mute, et al...and adding/defining midi channel(s) and of course ARP and drive alongside, other synths in a chain, if you wish. Rarely will I buy anything brand new, being one to wait a bit and see how it works out for others, bug fixes, and then do as I have done with Analog Four, eight months post release. Three Year Warranty is just icing on the cake and here I go risk a "scrubbed post again", in saying save from DSI's excellent customer support, have found Elektron folks even attentive to the used Mk1 of MonoMachine I purchased end of 2012. They have a great forum community and Elektron answered MANY email queries I have had on the Analog Four over a period of eight months that it's quite amazing that the smaller "boutique" companies making innovative instruments have proven to really have great interaction with their users...**except** Waldorf, but to be honest, they HAVE answered the few questions I have sent to them, even if it was a month after the fact...they are an odd lot and it's the strength and power of their instruments that seal the deal with this odd-ball in the mix.

Nothing is smoking yet!