Sequencer might be good for demo's... but thats about it.

[Sharp]

Speaking for myself, I use computer based sequencers (software) such as Digital Performer, when I have the occasion to do music these days. I've always been into software sequencing. All due respect to Sharpie here, but a software program almost always kicks butt over a hardware sequencer (flame goggles on).

I would agree that a software sequencer has far more features, but I certainly can’t see anything that would suggest that just because someone uses one that they would have an advantage over someone who really knows how to use a hardware sequencer for all it’s worth. Bear in mind I’m referring only to midi based music only. Not VST’s and all that jazz.

That said, I think KORG needs to make up their mind here. If they are serious about the idea that placing a sequencer on a workstation is intended to be used as a tool for writing music. Then they should get serious about it and develop the system.

Regards.
Sharp.

[sasori]

I also feel that KORG have not done much with them since the release of the M1. It’s all very much he same to me. By that I mean considering the number of years between the M1 and the Triton Series, I feel we certainly haven’t seen 16 + years of development gone into the sequencer.

Well said. As I eluded to before, the sequencers built into korg keyboards seem to be soley put there for store demo's. More than likely, the demo songs were not created on the units themselves, but imported.

So, I see it as more a midi player than a traditional sequencer. And I'm now using the OASYS in the same exact way that I used my M1: make a sequence of empty tracks to slave to an external sequencer and hope the MIDI spec doesn't choke on the data.

[StephenKay]

I would agree that a software sequencer has far more features, but I certainly can’t see anything that would suggest that just because someone uses one that they would have an advantage over someone who really knows how to use a hardware sequencer for all it’s worth. Bear in mind I’m referring only to midi based music only.

There's also the question of "talent". A barren mind with a tricked out dual G5 running Logic is no equal to a talented individual with a Triton or Karma.

That said, I know that there are countless things I have done in sequences by using graphic editing techniques on computer sequencers that would have been impossible to do on a hardware product - the sheer tedium of trying to do it on the hardware product would have just meant that the idea went unrealized. I'm talking about things like placing individual calculated controller values before each note - even tedious on a computer sequencer, but light years more tedious on a hardware product.

Well said. As I eluded to before, the sequencers built into korg keyboards seem to be soley put there for store demo's.

There have been lots of great music created on hardware sequencers, and dare I say it, even the Korg Triton-style sequencer. While the Korg sequencer section needs updating, I don't think it was put there for store demos only, even if you keep saying so. It can be used, and countless people use it. Again, you are used to a different system. But I agree with you that it needs to take a step forwards into the year 2006.

[Drew FM]

Since the Oasys has the touch screen capability, Why not make it so you could 'draw' your own velocity curves like a software sequencer? I realize that currently it recognizes local pressure, but if you look at the screen (the touch matrix) with it turned off, you can see that it has plenty of resolution to do this. This could be expanded to many parameters of the Oasys, not just the sequencer..............

In my experience with touchscreen monitors, and developing for them, the resolution of the graphic display is separate to that of the touchscreen overlay.

Yes I understand that. Thats why I said, "If you look at the screen with the Oasys turned off." You can see the matrix of the touch surface if you shine a light on the screen.

[Daz]

A barren mind with a tricked out dual G5 running Logic is no equal to a talented individual with a Triton or Karma.

... but I do my best with my G5/L7

Daz.

[Daz]

As I eluded to before, the sequencers built into korg keyboards seem to be soley put there for store demo's.

LOL ... I thought that was what the fancy Combi's were for ? j/k

Glad that Live is doing it for you ... it seemed to me to be a good fit with a lot of what you were saying.

Daz.

[sasori]

Another thought is that if Korg would work out a license with Ableton (for example) it would mean that those of us who occasionally are on the road (or plane) could continue to compose (more easily) with a laptop; working out the final arranging/production later by copying the Live-file to the OASYS; that would be super-monkey cool.

[sasori]

ou can see the matrix of the touch surface

OK, which pill do I take for that, the red or green?

[sasori]

LOL ... I thought that was what the fancy Combi's were for ?

Yea, like patch '00'; I call it, "the idea killer" because once you hear that patch, you completely forget why you turned the keyboard on. Like walking in to a Tower Records knowing what you want to get. But whatever they're playing, once you enter, immediately erases that thought.

Of course, I have the memory of a dog.

[Drew FM]

ou can see the matrix of the touch surface

OK, which pill do I take for that, the red or green?

Blue.

[ricky recordo]

Forgive me please for mentioning Emagic's Creator/Notator package again. I ran it on a simple Atari 1040ST. In my mind Creator/Notator still gives the best balance of power and ease-of-use in the sequencer world - to this day.

...I'm not impressed. And why would I use it now? Because a bunch of people who once used it 20 years ago say it was great? In spite of the pitiful graphics and other limitations? No, I don't think so.... That's not to say it wasn't a good program - I'm sure, for its time, it was happening.

Yup, and it kept on "happening" for me until my Atari finally died about a year ago... maybe longer now. Notator lived a good, long, productive life in my studio.

I've tried lots of other sequencers over the years, but always ended up coming back to Notator. As the great grandpappy of Logic Pro, Creator/Notator was/is feature-packed and damned easy to use even back in '89 or so when I first bought it. You're right though - I did "grow up on it", along with my Ensoniq ESQ1's sequencer, and the Korg sequencers in my old M1REX, my long since gone X3 and the Trinity. I've also owned and used a Yamaha QY300 since the early 90s, and I've also got an old Alesis MMT-8 still kicking around (too bad the switches and buttons were so crappy on it - it was a very ESQ1 kinda way to work).

In my early Windoze days I used Cakewalk, CoolEdit Pro and PowerTracks. Since transitioning over to Macs in the house and studio, we've moved to Logic and even use Garageband at times. I find them quite intuituve because the original Creator/Notator DNA is still evident in their design (and the graphics are just a wee bit better now too)

All that being said, I'm still looking for another Atari 1040STE or Mega to run Notator - my own personal favourite sequencer of all time.

[Derm]

I think the best thing Korg could do (and possibly the easiest) to save the sequencer would be to implement a system of chaining & repeating the existing songs.
I think this is how the cue list worked? For example:
Song 1= Verse
Song 2= Bridge
Song 3= Chorus
.......and so on.
This would make a tremendous improvement. Obviously the FX settings would have to identical to prevent glitching between songs. As the sequencer can store 200 songs, you might have capacity for about 25-30 fully structured songs.
It would beat the hell out of the current system.
I think its a great pity that anyone should have to buy additional software or hardware to get the most out of the Oasys
Please, Please, please

[Mike Conway]

Derm, that is pretty much how the Cue List works. It's a nice tool. Consider that the Triton would allow you to copy 2 Combis to a Song - Combi #1 to tracks 1 - 8 and Combi #2 to tracks 9 - 16. You set up your effects and you can use much of your Cue List work, within that Song setup - no FX switching, which is preferable.

To avoid the sound of note or FX cutoff, one of my tricks for switching a Multi/Combi was to also trigger an external module, like drums, where you can hit a Crash or ride cymbal, at the end of a cue and execute the Cue switch, while the Cymbal is decaying. Before the decay is over, you can have your next set of programs sounding. (I sequenced a lot of songs with just my SY99 and E-MU Pro/Cussion this way.)

The OASYS has a lot more FX, but only lets you copy one Combi to a song, even though a lot of Combis are 8 parts or less. On a Triton a brass Combi, like "Hawaii 5-0 Horns," only used 2 program slots, so it was nice to have the 2 Combi copy option and be able to add it to a string section. With the OASYS, I'll create my Song setup, from individual programs. I rarely use a Combi.

I think its a great pity that anyone should have to buy additional software or hardware to get the most out of the Oasys

I think a big part of the OASYS market is, hardware people, such as myself, who would rather not use a computer, except to dump the finished songs to. I like to be at one machine, like the OASYS, and be able to use all of its controllers (realtime, quick sound edits) and touchscreen with the sequencer. I'm all about interface, so a mouse has never appeared musical, to me. (I have Sonar 4 and still don't use it.) For myself, and obviously you other composers, the hardware sequencer is still very important.

[Derm]

I think its a great pity that anyone should have to buy additional software or hardware to get the most out of the Oasys

I think a big part of the OASYS market is, hardware people, such as myself, who would rather not use a computer, except to dump the finished songs to. I like to be at one machine, like the OASYS, and be able to use all of its controllers (realtime, quick sound edits) and touchscreen with the sequencer. I'm all about interface, so a mouse has never appeared musical, to me. (I have Sonar 4 and still don't use it.) For myself, and obviously you other composers, the hardware sequencer is still very important.

Agree totally, Mike. I've got a dedicated music pc with all the bells and whistles right beside me, but its not the way to compose.
One question,with the cue list, if you chained identical songs (FX, program/combi) would it still glitch?

[Mike Conway]

One question,with the cue list, if you chained identical songs (FX, program/combi) would it still glitch?

No, it's seamless - just like inserting patterns, except you have all 16 tracks of a song.