Korg SQ-1 MIDI-behavour

[chris-korg]

FYI:

Korg is now providing additional tips on the SQ1 with an FAQ-page:
http://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/sq_1/faq_tips.php

[Jamie Munro]

Chris have you managed to get decent length notes from it? Everything I'm seeing us 1/8 or 1/16 on average, while that's ok to create a hi hat loop or bassline it's limited musically and well, annoying. So my question is, how long can you make 1 sequence last and how many notes could you play? I hope this makes sense, it has to be on every bodies mind

Tbh I'm not bothered about its midi, at best I will use the midi out for note on and off in my ms20 and the 4 x cv outs for the better stuff such as filter etc

I'm waiting for my order to arrive...........sooooo looooong.

[chris-korg]

I do have a problem with the term "note-length".

You do have 2 parameters:
- step-length (depending on clock-rate)
- duty-length (changeable with the step-knob)

Step-length:
Here you have almost unlimited possibilities. Important is the DIFFERENCE in clock-rate between the SQ1 and your other gear.
So a SQ1-step can be 1/16th, 1/8th, 1/4th, 1/2 - note and so on.

Duty-length:
On the SQ1 the duty-length <= step-length where the duty-length always starts at the beginning of a step-length. Duty-length is simply said where you hear a sound. That means even if step-length corresponds to a 1/4th note what you hear could still be a 1/8th note.

Hope that answers your question

[Jamie Munro]

Cheers chris

So I'm understanding you just have to run at a very low tempo if you want notes to be held?

I'd be looking for a sequence/the sequencer to hold notes for 2 bars or maybe more

Possible.?

[chris-korg]

hi!

i tried to describe the main problem with the sq1 & midi in following link:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=96199

if you could "tie" notes with the sq1 your task would be very easy - without this you have to use a clock-division of 1/32 if i calculate right (its late and i'm tired) which is possible with additional gear but rather un-usual.
maybe it would make more sense to just play the notes via keyboard in - 2 bars is a long time...

[Chief Big Smoke]

Does the SQ-1 send 'clock out' through the 1/8" MIDI Out when synced via the Sync-In (1/8" port)? I'm not sure if this would be considered CV-to-MIDI conversion, but I would like to know if the SQ-1 can simultaneously send CV out, Sync-Out and MIDI-Out (clock only) based on the Sync-In tempo.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[chris-korg]

My first post on page 1 ("SEQUENCER STEP RESOLUTION:") should answer your question.

[Chief Big Smoke]

Thank you very much. I read through your original post, but wasn't sure if your setup was utilizing the MIDI-Out or the Sync-Out in that example (you described the setup in that way, but referred to the Sq-1 out as "Sync-Out" when describing the consequence of the different modes).
This may work perfectly for what I would like to do with my setup.
I appreciate the response.

[lu77]

Korg need to improve the specs on midi and explain channels and part A/b much better. When I read it I got the impression midi was fixed to channel 2 meaning it would never sequence my monotribe. But I gather part A is channel 1 and part b is channel 2 (I agree that's dumb, I want to use the two sequences on one machine!)

Also wondering if a keyboard can transpose the sequence via cv or something? That would be ideal, then I could play the monotribe by keyboard AND sequence it...


It's very odd to me that the sq-1 looks so much like the monotribe, yet really cannot work with it without mods, and even then, very limited functionality.

[chris-korg]

On the SQ1 I do feel like beeing a "Beta-tester" for Korg (as mentioned in my previous postings).

I do hope that Korg will come with a Firmware-update soon !!
The hardware has in my opinion lots of potential BUT the software is really dissapointing...

[Jamie Munro]

Not seen any updates yet

Just visited the states and while I was there I've bought an sq-1, I'm having fun learning it but it's more limited than I thought for now....

[Jamie Munro]

Here you go

http://i.korg.com/SupportPage.aspx?productid=726

[Jamie Munro]

Midi behaviour

No sync cables connected other than USB in and MIDI and Cv out

Maybe I am missing something but after connecting sq-1 via USB I would expect it to respond to convert if required and retransmit clock info across all outputs. It doesn't. It only transmits the note info being sent from my DAW via its midi out. It doesn't even transmit across its midi out. What's the point if this is true?

It also does no midi to CV transmission. More than this because the clock is not being transmitted or converted, any cv modulation being sent is not in time either WTF!

Talk about disappointment, what kind of sequencer doesn't sequence? It's great on its own don't get me wrong, but I've got no idea what tempo I'm at if that's the master and even then ..........

Ideas ? Experience? Thanks anyone

[chris-korg]

Some ideas on how to overcome Korg SQ-1s limited Midi-capabilities:

transposing for playing lower notes than C3 & sending velocity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4o3KX4Hk0o

sending Midi-CCs instead of Midi-notes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ry3H3SywM

[Weirdofromouterspace]

Hi,

first of all a big "hello!" to everyone!

Thanks for your efforts, Chris - I'd just like to comment on two things:

Linear: does not behave as decribed - no difference to "chromatic" mode

Korg provides info about this on their FAQ site that you mentioned above:

I set CV BEHAVIOR to LINEAR, but the pitch changes in semitone steps.

Although analog CV voltage can produce linear change, pitch control via MIDI is in semitone steps. This means that even if CV BEHAVIOR is set to LINEAR, the MIDI OUT operates the same as the CHROMA setting. If you are connecting an analog synthesizer via MIDI, try connecting it via CV.

Minor / Major: this is only C-Minor resp. C-Major !!! This is not sufficiant as
the Music-world is more than "C" (either it should be possible
to define a root-note or it is possible to define your scale by
selecting the notes).

I don't really see this as a drawback - I mean, the workaround is really simple:
Since it's no secret which notes scales such as E major or A flat melodic minor consist of, just set the SQ-1 to chromatic mode and enter the corresponding notes there .