Nord User Forum

[samcell]

hello

I'm new, so do not be surprised

I wonder what the name of this function, when the harmony of one sound plays in the background or repeats the phrase like a sequencer and at the same time you can play melody with this or other sound separately. can Nord Wave do the same? if so, how? for example like this one

[mjbrands]

Hi samcell and welcome to the forum.

It seems to me the built-in sequencer is sequencing the first voice. The Wave doesn't have a built-in sequencer, nor an arpeggiator for that matter. However, if you have some other sequencer (such as software running on you computer), the Wave can certainly do stuff like this.

The Wave is 18-note polyphonic (so you can have 18 notes sounding at the same time). It is also bi-timbral, so you can use two different sounds at the same time (slot A and slot B); the 18-note polyphony is automatically spread out over the two slots so you could for instance play the sound in slot A on the keyboard and have an external sequencer use the sound in slot B for accompaniment.

Edit: if you were to configure both slots to be in mono mode, the Wave would very much work like that Oberheim; it would then be limited to a single note per slot (voice), just like the Oberheim. In addition to mono mode, you could enable legato mode to glide between different notes.

[samcell]

hello mjbrands thank you for the quick answer

ok so which sequencer you can advise? not drum machine or synthesizers with keys, I mean separate module which can be connected for example to the Nord Wave

[mjbrands]

Well, I suppose that would largely depend on your own preferences. For example, do you want something that can work completely without a computer, or do you maybe want something that can run on an iPad, or may you'd prefer something you can run on a laptop, etc. Also, will you just be noodling at home, or also on stage?

You could for example go for a Doepfer MAQ16/3 - fits nicely with some vintage equipment or some nice modular stuff. http://www.doepfer.de/maq_e.htm

Or maybe a Yamaha Tenori-On. It is an instrument in its own right, but it can also be used to sequence external equipment. There's also an iPad version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6tLRCDqJ2c

There's the weird and wonderful ones from genoQs, who didn't go bankrupt but instead got a life. http://www.genoqs.com/

The Cirklon is another interesting one. http://www.sequentix.com/cirklon.htm

But this stuff is all so terribly expensive.

There's all kinds of sequencer apps for the iPad, but I'm not really familiar with those. I have NodeBeat and I like it, but I got it for free when they just released it. It generates random 'music', which you can influence.

Apparently the step-sequencer in Fruity Loops is pretty nice and the cheapest version is less than 40 euro: http://www.image-line.com/help/help.htm ... uencer.htm

There's lots and lots of options, and something simple and cheap (or even free) is probably the place to start.

Edit: I wonder if Nord Beat could be used to sequence more than just drums.

[Johannes]

mjbrands mentioned a couple of powerful (but expensive) and software based and thus less expensive ways to go in this direction. Definitively worth checking out!

If you are looking for more "plain" hardware sequencers, I would consider the Korg Electribe Series which are in particular suited for those pattern sequences IMHO plus have their own sound engines (Synth or Sampler depending on the exact model). The a bit older versions can be found for a steal nowadays.
Also, Akais MPC series is known as a decent hardware synthesizer, also works with patterns but main focus is drum sequencing but can definitively also be used for your purpose. Or, use more loop oriented versions, i.e., audio loops rather than MIDI. The Kaoss Pad series (e.g., KP3) from Korg can be used for that prety intuitively, plus allows a wide range of effects and manipulating of the "background sequence" which should make it really easy to achieve something like in the video you showed. This last option is probably what I would go for in this case, plus it is also very affordable.

[samcell]

thank you for answer mjbrands I'm looking for synthesizer sequencer,
something for home and stage, without computer but I think it must be midi in any case

Doepfer MAQ16/3
Genoqs Octopus

sounds and looks great, yes it’s little bit expensive

Cirklon Sequencer

I can’t fine the price of Cirklon, because it seems to be a universal device...

I’m not sure about iPad stuff like Yamaha Tenori-On

thank you for answer Johannes

Korg Electribe
The Kaoss Pad
Akai MPC

I watched several demos, it seems these devices more focused on drum-machine, right?

also I’m interested what you think about Doepfer Dark Time Sequencer? because it’s not too expensive and works like first three

[thom0720]

me wants.... OBERHEIM! jeez what a good sound...

[mjbrands]

Cirklon Sequencer

I can’t fine the price of Cirklon, because it seems to be a universal device...

I think it's about a 1000 euro - quite out of my price range

Korg Electribe
The Kaoss Pad
Akai MPC

I watched several demos, it seems these devices more focused on drum-machine, right?

The MPCs are generally geared to hiphop producers, but of the three it is the most capable device. Since you use samples, you can make it sound whatever way you want it to - it's just the workflow is focussed on beats and bass. I suppose that's the case with a lot of mainstream made-for-radio music these days.

There are several models of Electribes, but the most modern ones are the MX and SX. The MX (blue) is more or less a virtual-analog synth combined with a sequencer; the SX (red) loads small samples but is otherwise pretty much the same as the MX. You could see then as sketchpads. The MX sounds a bit thin, but you can really quickly make beats, add animated effects, etc. You can sequence external gear, but if that's your sole goal, you might as well go for an older (2nd hand) version.

The Kaoss Pad is firstly an effects unit; it can do all kinds of cool stuff to audio you put through it. The effects aren't the best, but the interface is very much meant for live performance and you could consider it an instrument in its own right. There's also the Kaoscillator Pro, which is similar but instead of being an effects unit, it's a (fairly simple) synthesizer. Personally I think the Kaoss Pad is the most interesting of the two. There's also the Mini Kaoss Pad 2, which is even more portable (can run on batteries), very small but still has a nice feature set.

also I’m interested what you think about Doepfer Dark Time Sequencer? because it’s not too expensive and works like first three

That's certainly an interesting one. I think there's also a version where they 'integrate' a Dark Time sequencer and a Dark Energy synth in the same unit (well, they're just mounted side-by-side in the same frame).

[pablomastodon]

Just to shake up your brain a little bit, you might think about doing this without buying any sequencer at all...all you really need is the ability to record a simple .wav file...

First off, if the kind(s) of loops you're interested in using as background material for your foreground noodling are as short and simple as what was shown on that vid, why not simply play them into a .wav file and dump that onto your Nord? For that matter, they don't really have to be all that short; the Wave has enough memory to handle many many much longer loops. For that matter, you could create a program with numerous different loops so that you can change it up for different parts of your tune (be sure to use mono mode to avoid having two loops running at the same time -- unless that's your goal).

Set the midi channel to Bi-Timbral and set Slots A and B to different channels. Now the trick is how to get one Slot to play your loop continuously undisturbed while soloing on the other Slot. This could be done in any one of several different ways.

Traditional thinking would have you play that loop note from an external controller with a sustain pedal. Play the note assigned to your desired sample while holding pedal down, then play the other Slot at will from the Nord. But that involves spending money on an external controller and a sustain pedal and a midi cable, having to hold down the pedal, and, worst of all, traditional thinking (when in doubt, discard traditional thinking).

You might have a midi device which is capable of sending Note On message without sending any following Note Off message. That would be simple and elegant, but not many have such devices...plus, we're trying to avoid spending more money on more equipment to transport and learn and connect and...

For the really twisted souls out there, here's a solution which requires ONLY a midi cable: as above, set the midi channel to Bi-Timbral and set Slots A and B to different channels, then turn Local OFF and connect midi out to midi in with short cable. Now, enable the Slot which contains your custom loop program, play and hold the desired note with one hand. Disconnect the midi cable (either end, it doesn't matter), release the note, then immediately reconnect the midi cable. You've just filtered out the Note Off message manually; the loop will play until the cows come home. Switch to the other Slot and have your way with it. Whenever you're ready to stop the loop, switch back to the loop slot and hit the same note again to generate another Note Off message.

Note that you must immediately reconnect the cable in order to switch slots because local is off. Anyone who wants to do this regularly might go to the trouble of dissecting a midi cable and installing an NC momentary switch. Hold the note, hold the switch, release the note, release the switch. Done.

Also note that the Stage 2, with its Hold feature, can do this without midi cable histrionics.

Another really GREAT feature of this method is that you are not locked into some sequencer's rigid quantization scheme. Because will actually be PLAYING your loops, your result can sound human and you can twist time however you may wish. It's totally free-form.

With all that money you saved on buying a sequencer, you could even help defray the operating expenses of this Forum!

Bless,

Pablo

[Johannes]

Great idea, Pablo! Certainly very untraditional but innovative thinking! Definitively worth trying. I also find playing sampled loops can get nice results!