the watmm GAS thread

I just got my Polyend Tracker and I've been making friends with it, it's funny to notice how the tracker workflow comes naturally back to me after 30-odd years - back when I was mucking about with my Amiga and Sound/ProTracker almost daily as a teenager. I haven't put it to test with MIDI yet, just trying out what the box itself has to offer. What did I come up with first? Bitcrushed breakcore. I hate breakcore. What am I doing? I've also completed my (1st gen) Volca set (not going to get the Kick, though), the Modular came in today and I have no idea whatsoever what to do with it, need to study. I've still to get deeper into the FM, the others I can (mostly) already handle. I'm lusting after a Sonicware ELZ_1, but can't find one that's for sale. I'd rather have a lot of small things I can hook up in various ways and do pattern-based things or DAW-based things or MIDI-based things.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:00 PM, dcom said:

I'm lusting after a Sonicware ELZ_1, but can't find one that's for sale. I'd rather have a lot of small things I can hook up in various ways and do pattern-based things or DAW-based things or MIDI-based things.

I've had an 8bit Warps for about a year and a friend of mine got an XFM a few months ago.  I can't remember whether the XFM engine is straight out of the ELZ-1 like the 8bit Warps engine is, but either way they both sound great and I bet the ELZ-1 is really nice.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:13 PM, TubularCorporation said:

I've had an 8bit Warps for about a year and a friend of mine got an XFM a few months ago.  I can't remember whether the XFM engine is straight out of the ELZ-1 like the 8bit Warps engine is, but either way they both sound great and I bet the ELZ-1 is really nice.

I'm not that interested in the 8bit Warps (chiptune is not my thing) and the Bass&Beats is fugly AF (and sounds very basic), but I could go for the XFM in lieu of ELZ_1. The two-sound morphs of XFM are cool. Sonicware has a portable sampler/groovebox coming as well, the Kickstarter for SmplTrek just closed with 450 k€ in funding.

The "chiptune" angle of the 8bit warps is kind of misleading, I know I've never used it for that.  I miostly use it for metallic sounds and plucked string type stuff, I actulally DO like chip music but it really isn't that well suited for it IMO. It can get into Casio PD synthesis territory pretty well even though it's not even vaguely related to PD synthesis other than being digital.

But the XFM has a better sequencer and also sounds great if you want modern sounding 4op FM.  The 8bt Warps has a much simpler architecture and the sequencer is only one track but it sounds pretty unique.

If you got one of each I think you'd have something like 20% of the feature set of the ELZ-1 but with a much more accessible interface.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:00 PM, dcom said:

I just got my Polyend Tracker and I've been making friends with it, it's funny to notice how the tracker workflow comes naturally back to me after 30-odd years - back when I was mucking about with my Amiga and Sound/ProTracker almost daily as a teenager. I haven't put it to test with MIDI yet, just trying out what the box itself has to offer. What did I come up with first? Bitcrushed breakcore. I hate breakcore. What am I doing? I've also completed my (1st gen) Volca set (not going to get the Kick, though), the Modular came in today and I have no idea whatsoever what to do with it, need to study. I've still to get deeper into the FM, the others I can (mostly) already handle. I'm lusting after a Sonicware ELZ_1, but can't find one that's for sale. I'd rather have a lot of small things I can hook up in various ways and do pattern-based things or DAW-based things or MIDI-based things.

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Be sure to check out the beta firmware releases here:
https://github.com/polyend/TrackerBetaTesting/releases

MIDI works fairly well, although it can slow to a crawl with a lot of MIDI CCs on multiple channels. With the new firmware you should be able to put an external input through the delay, which could be fun with the Volca Modular You can set it to mono L or R in the settings too, not sure if the Volca is stereo.

I'm currently using the tracker to drive a 303, 101, 909, JX-3P and a Minilogue XD at the same time. Works well, though I wish I didn't have to sacrifice a second track for 303 slides.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:23 PM, TubularCorporation said:

The "chiptune" angle of the 8bit warps is kind of misleading, I know I've never used it for that.

OK, cool, I would have to get my hands on it and hear for myself, the clips from Sonicware's site don't do it justice then.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:31 PM, chronical said:

MIDI works fairly well, although it can slow to a crawl with a lot of MIDI CCs on multiple channels. With the new firmware you should be able to put an external input through the delay, which could be fun with the Volca Modular You can set it to mono L or R in the settings too, not sure if the Volca is stereo.

I've been warned about the Polyend Tracker MIDI delay when combined with internal sound tracks, have to check out the new FW then. I got a Doepfer Dark Link to control the Modular with MIDI by bridging it to CV gate + pitch, looking forward to messing about with that. All Volcas are mono, but there are things you can do with them that make them output stereo (FM has chorus, Sample and Drum have part panning).

TBH these days mine spends most of its time doing sort of synthetic fake sitar sounds.  It's really good at them. 

The four track looper is very basic but also nice, and the reverbs are also really basic, but sound good enough that I've used them on other instruments a few times.

The wavetable editor is fast and fun but I use it a lot less than I expected.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:42 PM, dcom said:

I've been warned about the Polyend Tracker MIDI delay when combined with internal sound tracks, have to check out the new FW then.

FWIW, a friend of mine (same guy who has the XFM, actually) was over last night, and we had his Polyend Tracker and a Boss RC202 synced with a MIDI-modded Juno 6 and a thrid guy's EHX2880 looper, with my Octatrack as the master clock, and the Tracker's sync with everything else was tight.  He wasn't doing anything demanding with it though, mostly just using it as a drum machine, so I have no idea how well it works if you start to really push up against the MIDI bandwidth limit.

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:42 PM, dcom said:

I've been warned about the Polyend Tracker MIDI delay when combined with internal sound tracks, have to check out the new FW then. I got a Doepfer Dark Link to control the Modular with MIDI by bridging it to CV gate + pitch, looking forward to messing about with that. All Volcas are mono, but there are things you can do with them that make them output stereo (FM has chorus, Sample and Drum have part panning).

IIRC they improved it last year. I have very little issues using the Tracker for amens for example, and then adding stabs, basslines, pads, etc. via external instruments triggered by the tracker's MIDI OUT. I tested it here with a 101 on the bassline triggered via MIDI:

  On 5/17/2022 at 2:42 PM, dcom said:

I've been warned about the Polyend Tracker MIDI delay when combined with internal sound tracks, have to check out the new FW then. I got a Doepfer Dark Link to control the Modular with MIDI by bridging it to CV gate + pitch, looking forward to messing about with that. All Volcas are mono, but there are things you can do with them that make them output stereo (FM has chorus, Sample and Drum have part panning).

I’ve experienced the midi delay when my mate brings his Tracker to my place and it’s pretty straight forward to sync things up. We just have straight 4/4 kicks on two devices and use the midi delay setting to sync up like a dj deck. Once done it stays in sync well. What’s strange is it’s different in his setup at home than mine. I use an Elektron MD as my master clock into a Kenton 5 way midi thru and the tracker uses one of those 5. At his place he uses a Digitakt as master clock. 
 

It’s something that might need tweaking if you change setups is what I’m trying to say.

Great instrument, enjoy it.

It just dawned on me that Roland tried to dual-use the joystick on the D-50/D-05 as not only a part balance, but also the data entry point for editing. As a result, they default the joystick for data entry.

If you are not adept at synthesizer patch editing, *and* patient, the chances of figuring that out and discovering how cool the part balance control is relatively slim. Even with a software patch editor. Because Roland would not put a separate data entry fader/knob on the thing. Comically cheap.

Another example of how perseverance is typically one of the best qualities you can bring to a synthesizer.

/1st world synth rant

I had a couple friends around last night and one of them has a Tracker.  We had two loopers, the tracker and a modded Juno 6 synced up with my Octatrack as the master clock, and the tracker's timing stayed tight the whole time, although he was mostly using it for drums so he wasn't exactly pushing the SPU or MIDI bandwidth.

  On 5/17/2022 at 4:13 PM, TubularCorporation said:

I had a couple friends around last night and one of them has a Tracker.  We had two loopers, the tracker and a modded Juno 6 synced up with my Octatrack as the master clock, and the tracker's timing stayed tight the whole time, although he was mostly using it for drums so he wasn't exactly pushing the SPU or MIDI bandwidth.

So you're collaborating by recording loops and then working on/tweaking them in real time? That sounds like fun.

The problem I had on the Tracker was this: when sequencing external MIDI gear from the Tracker along with the internal sampler, the MIDI sounds happened ~25 ms ahead of the internal sounds. Tuning the MIDI clock delay setting had no effect, which would be expected, as MIDI clock wasn't part of the equation. This was on the latest version back in March, and it hasn't been fixed yet.

https://github.com/polyend/TrackerBetaTesting/issues/570

I read on Elektronauts the other day that Polyend have admitted openly to the Tracker having unfixable problems due to the limited CPU or whatever. Take it with a grain of salt, might be BS. 

  On 5/17/2022 at 4:53 PM, dcom said:

So you're collaborating by recording loops and then working on/tweaking them in real time? That sounds like fun.

Sort of, more like a technically more sophisticated but musically less sophisticated Frippertronics kind of thing, treating the loopers more like lvery ong delays with high (but usually less than 100%) feedback.  Less emphasis on recording and manipulating stuff, more on having long, synced loops recording all thetim and changing with every pass becasue of the slow decay.  Not necessarily playing in time with the loops at all sometimes, building them up in layers other times.  We're just starting to figure out a good workflow for multiple loop[ers but it was a good start.

But not IDM at all, more like a Hawkwind/This Heat collab or something.  Plus the bass player had a Moog MF101 on the right output of his 2880 and used the pan controls as aux sends (so direct signal and loops straight to the amp on the left output, and through the MF101 in parallel on the right output). It's funny how the knob per function UI on the 2880 still puts it ahead of so many more advanced loopers out there in terms of performance control.  The guy who was using it also had a Ditto X4 with him and it never even came out of the box.

how to make idm :

ANd them im going to randomize this parameter and than this one aswell ...

Does anyone have any experience with Blokas' MidiHub? I've read through the manual and watched some videos, and it seems to be quite useful/fun if you're doing MIDI.

Also, any Empress ZOIA users? Looks and feels interesting - alternatives also accepted, so let me know what effect boxes are you using.

  On 5/19/2022 at 11:45 AM, dcom said:

Does anyone have any experience with Blokas' MidiHub? I've read through the manual and watched some videos, and it seems to be quite useful/fun if you're doing MIDI.

Also, any Empress ZOIA users? Looks and feels interesting - alternatives also accepted, so let me know what effect boxes are you using.

I've been eyeing this for a while now! With the Polyend tracker you can't set LPB like you can with Renoise so I end up writing breaks in 320+bpm, at that point most external sequencers stop working.. Would help with the CC limits too. Wish there was a reseller in Switzerland though

anybody?

https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/nts_2_pt/index.php

  On 5/19/2022 at 1:01 PM, iococoi said:

anybody?

https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/nts_2_pt/index.php

Could be fun.

  On 5/19/2022 at 1:01 PM, iococoi said:

anybody?

https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/nts_2_pt/index.php

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i preordered at my local synth shop. i think there are better deals to be had on a scope but i like that it’s compact and can be powered by usb. i was just trying to find decent scope software for macos but everything was ridiculously expensive so when this was announced i jumped on it

  On 5/19/2022 at 2:30 PM, nikisoko said:

i preordered at my local synth shop.

I just ordered a copy, too, but the delivery time seems to be months. Nevertheless, looks like a fun package, and the gadget will be useful in many ways.

Beginning to slightly regret getting the soundcraft epm8 instead of efx8, basically the exact same mixer except the latter has built-in fx in place of the 2nd aux bus. Feeling the need for some high quality reverbs at the moment, Zoom MS50 isn't really cutting it.

  On 5/19/2022 at 11:45 AM, dcom said:

Does anyone have any experience with Blokas' MidiHub? I've read through the manual and watched some videos, and it seems to be quite useful/fun if you're doing MIDI.

I've also been eyeing it for a while but for what I'm doing I need more ports and fewer filtering and processing functions, so getting a pile of cheap 90s MOTUs was a better option. Two MIDI Time Piece IIs and a Midi Express XT ended up costng about the same as the MIDIhub (to be fair, I got the Express back in 2010 for $80 locally, they're a lot more expensive online), and they do almost everything I need them to (there are a few things baout how they handle clock routing and filtering that I wish were a little more flexible but overall the MTPII's in particular are some of the most useful pieces of gear I've ever bought, and you can still find them under $50 even now if you really keep an eye out.