Korg Forums

Vrakulven · Joined: 19 Apr 2015 Posts: 1

Hi,

I´ve got the MS-20 Mini and I love it. I bought the Arturia Beatstep to use as a sequencer, but got disappointed when I couldn´t get it to work with the MS-20 as I wanted.

I want to be able to sequence the MS-20 and transpose via the MS-20 keyboard in real time. Hope you understand what I mean, english is not my first language. Smile

So - to do this, I tought about buying the Korg SQ-1 or the more expensive Doepfer Dark Time. How do I connect the patch cables? Is there more gearI have to buy to get it to work?
I´ve been searchin the web but never found a explanation that I seen to understand.

Thanks in advance!

/Vrakulven
_________________
Noob.

Frenzies · Senior Member Joined: 10 Feb 2015 Posts: 464

chris-korg · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:05 am Post subject:

I would suggest to go the Midi-way instead of CV/Gate for transposing.
(except you are already the proud owner of a modular system)

So the Setup would be Midi-Keyboard -> sequencer -> MS20mini

I do use 2 different sequencer in this kind of Setup:
MidiPal OR
Doepfer Dark Time

From there you can expand your system as you like (additional synths, additional sequencers, midi-patchbays etc.)

If you want to go the CV/Gate-way there are some videos on YT

Jamie Munro

Steinberger · Full Member Joined: 17 Jan 2012 Posts: 228

I'm curious. Since the SQ-1 does USB MIDI to CV conversion(Controller > SQ-1 > MS-20) doesn't that kind of approach the Beatstep Pro if I'm using my Taktile controller or maybe a Trigger Finger Pro? I finding myself surprised by how badass the SQ-1 has turned out to be after spending a few hours with it yesterday. It's almost like a baby Electribe junction box.

Jamie Munro · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:43 pm Post subject:

Well you would think BUT I personally I am starting to find limitations with it

It's ok but it can't pass tempo information to its outputs if USB is master (computer DaW), which for me isn't a lot of good, it also doesn't manage to pass on synced cv to its outputs either. AND unbelievably it doesn't pass tempo info to its midi output either unless it's master WTF !!

As a master unit it's good fun and works well but you've still gotta use your ears to match tempo to other gear, which when you are running several instruments and analog delays etc it's not ideal as you are constantly stressing about clock management

If they could make the usb input convert to Cv tempo and also midi that would be great, I'm not holding my breath but I think they should, it's software fix after all and it's not like they don't have competition. What will really piss me off is if they decide to make a better and bigger one to compete with the beatstep pro but ditch the development of this, that's not much like korg to be fair but you never know.

Comparing to beatstep pro is a bit harsh IMO, from what I've seen the pro is capable as drums, and is it about 8 tracks of cv, all managed by temp and ALSO it is going to show you the key you are playing per step.....that's unreal if so, and it's going to work with all standards of cv I believe, if so, my sq-1 will be taking a backseat faster than I would have liked but we will see how it plays out.
_________________
Live fast, ride fast

Steinberger · Full Member Joined: 17 Jan 2012 Posts: 228

Yeah I really hope they continue to enhance the firmware to solve some of those issues but for what it is I'm not really wanting for much.

I've got a setup right now that includes a Taktile 49 controller, SQ-1, MS-20M, electribe2, iPad all being routed with a iConnectAudio4+. The recommended, by KORG, control setup causes the SQ-1 to jumper/override the portamento control on MS-20M. The SQ-1 slide function is to sort of replace that.

I have a somewhat complex to configure, but easy to work with, setup now that uses both USB MIDI and CV connections on both the SQ-1 and the MS-20M that allows me to either use the SQ-1 exclusively or as a mod sequencer when controlling the MS with the Taktile or electribe2 or whatever. I don't have a problem with MIDI clock issues. Everything stays in sync regardless of when I switch to a different master. What I did have issues with initially was filtering MIDI noise and note messages going everywhere. The iConnect gear is really great with solving these kinds of things and I don't have a ton of MIDI cable spaghetti to get what I want either.

As a mod sequencer I think the SQ-1 is working out really nicely.