The Covert Operators: The Covert Seq

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:25 pm

I recorded a very basic example of one of the uses for the step sequencer.

It's a simple pattern playing that is feeded to ABL.
Anybody who has it or a 303 knows what a pain programming slides and attacks can be.

With the sequencer, you can just "play" the slides and attack.
This example has the same pattern playing during the whole of the sample.
The only thing i'm changing is 3 global parameters.
None of the actual steps or parameters on the synth are being altered.
You hear me tweaking the pitch, adding attack with velocity and playing slides with the note length plugin.

http://users.telenet.be/Vayner/SlidesAttack.mp3

This works with any synth that plays mono sounds with portamento or glide.

premodea · Post by **premodea** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:41 pm

So is this similar to a toned down version of Numerology written specifically in Live?

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:42 pm

spot on, premodea.

And AWESOMe sample, hoffman, you ol' 303 freak.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:02 am

Here's a little sneak peek at preset 1 for the BCR2000.
It combines MIDI Learn with automapping

I'll try to make preset 2 work with whatever sequencer configuration there is.
It's not easy, but not impossible.

Bumblebeeman · Post by **Bumblebeeman** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:29 pm

thought i'd give this bump as i gotta say i love it!!

Not for everyone but if you're into electro/minimal house you have to give it a go.

e.g I have two on phatmatik for drums, two on microtonic (pitched mode) ,firebird (arp mode) then impulse/simpler in all sorts of rack combos

it does open up a new way of composing and can come up with some very cool patterns that can be flipped/changed really quickly with tight control over everything.

Thanks Hoffman!!

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:04 pm

What I don't like is how wide it is - is there a way to contain all 16 steps within a rack so you can choose from the chain list?

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:10 pm

fatrabbit wrote:What I don't like is how wide it is - is there a way to contain all 16 steps within a rack so you can choose from the chain list?

I just put it across 2 BCR presets, volume, note and note length on the bottom of the bcr, other stuff on the top.

it's freaking sweet! I just put the bcr on my lap and LISTEN while I tweak knobs, start with a 4 beat pattern, nail it, expand it to 8 then 16, record the midi, move the clip to another slot, repeat until I have a bunch of clips. then I set the step seq to a different track with a different vst and do the same.

it's not working too well for drums for me, I still have to tweak that a bit, make the note range wider per drum sound.

It's a fan-fucking-tastic happy accident generator.

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:12 pm

DeadlyKungFu wrote:
fatrabbit wrote:What I don't like is how wide it is - is there a way to contain all 16 steps within a rack so you can choose from the chain list?
I just put it across 2 BCR presets, volume, note and note length on the bottom of the bcr, other stuff on the top.

it's freaking sweet! I just put the bcr on my lap and LISTEN while I tweak knobs, start with a 4 beat pattern, nail it, expand it to 8 then 16, record the midi, move the clip to another slot, repeat until I have a bunch of clips. then I set the step seq to a different track with a different vst and do the same.

it's not working too well for drums for me, I still have to tweak that a bit, make the note range wider per drum sound.

It's a fan-fucking-tastic happy accident generator.

Yeah I got a great sequenced bass pattern out of it on my first attempt.

I do have access to a BCR but it's my brothers', looks like i'll have to borrow it!

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:19 pm

Thanks for all the kind words and emails.

Every user should have received an update for the sequencer in their mailbox about 30 minutes ago. Let me know if that isn't the case.

It contains a few fixes that may have caused some functions like velocity mutes to be disabled.
More patterns and presets have been added.
The drum seq hasn't been updated much, but the presets for it are improved.
Now you are able to mute the chords by turning down the velocity to 1.

The BCR version is still under construction.
A new sequencer is being designed to be compatible with most configurable MIDI controllers.

Cheers

- the Covert Operators

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:22 pm

fatrabbit wrote:What I don't like is how wide it is - is there a way to contain all 16 steps within a rack so you can choose from the chain list?

I think that could be possible. But i'll have to do some tests first.
If it's possible. It'll be in the next update

Cheers

- B

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:39 pm

hoffman2k wrote:
fatrabbit wrote:What I don't like is how wide it is - is there a way to contain all 16 steps within a rack so you can choose from the chain list?
I think that could be possible. But i'll have to do some tests first.
If it's possible. It'll be in the next update

Cheers

- B

Yeah, that would be a great improvement. Scrolling causes terrorism.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:48 pm

Just a quick question. Do you guys use multiple instances of these?
And if so, do you find yourself tweaking a lot of of parameters on multiple instances?

I'm asking, because I want to improve more then just the sequencer. It's the whole experience that should go smooth.

Any feedback, good or bad, would be much appreciated.

Cheers

- Bjorn

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:04 am

hoffman2k wrote:Just a quick question. Do you guys use multiple instances of these?
And if so, do you find yourself tweaking a lot of of parameters on multiple instances?

I'm asking, because I want to improve more then just the sequencer. It's the whole experience that should go smooth.

Any feedback, good or bad, would be much appreciated.

Cheers

- Bjorn

I've only just got it, but I use the ableton set provided with it (with all the clips) and just that one instance to create ideas and bounce down to an audio track.

I probably haven't spent enough time with it, but i'm not sure how to get it to work probably in a new set... do I have to do all that automation that are in those clips?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:08 am

fatrabbit wrote:
hoffman2k wrote:Just a quick question. Do you guys use multiple instances of these?
And if so, do you find yourself tweaking a lot of of parameters on multiple instances?

I'm asking, because I want to improve more then just the sequencer. It's the whole experience that should go smooth.

Any feedback, good or bad, would be much appreciated.

Cheers

- Bjorn
I've only just got it, but I use the ableton set provided with it (with all the clips) and just that one instance to create ideas and bounce down to an audio track.

I probably haven't spent enough time with it, but i'm not sure how to get it to work probably in a new set... do I have to do all that automation that are in those clips?

It's very simple to have multiple instances.
If you are working in the original .als. Then select the track of the coverts seq and duplicate it.

If you want the covert seq in one of your other projects. Then just drag the Covert seq .als file from the browser into your live set.

No need to redo the automation.

D DAS · Post by **D DAS** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:20 am

i embedded two of them into my template. first four tracks are covert seq - audio 1 - covert seq - audio 2.

i am a little unclear on how to use this with drumz though. i mean with one drum sound it is easy but triggering multiple drum sounds i fuss with but have not got into it enough.

the pitch control on each step, does its # value corrispond to midi note numbers?