2024 Shuffle

Hi all, I'm considering moving from this:

[edited, sorry!]

to something like this:

My current system is a Mantis and an ALM 84hp/3U. The Mantis is designed for DAW integration and effects processing, and the ALM is designed as a subsystem for fun with some leftover modules.

The issue is that my main system is kinda overpowered as an effect rack for the DAW, kinda underpowered as a standalone instrument (only Maths for envelopes, or erstatz envelopes from Nerdseq), and heavily reliant on Nerdseq. Which, I love Nerdseq for a lot of things, but it can feel out of place when I'm working in the DAW and it doesn't otherwise lend itself to the patch programming style of patches that I'm coming to prefer. So, generally, this setup lacks focus.

The 2024 revision I've got in mind would refocus the Mantis as a standalone instrument and make the ALM case a "studio" add-on for when I'm at home and working in the DAW / with samples. Which I think makes sense!

It does have some redundancy with Rene / Sport Modulator / Step 8. The main appeal of those modules for me is the ability to step through chord progressions with performance gestures in Rene; the steppy modulation and patch programmability from Sport Modulator; and the ability to patch up shift registers and runglers and weird square waves and overall utility from Step 8. Plus it includes Quadrax, which fixes the lack of envelopes problem.

Looking for an eyeball on the design, any feedback appreciated. Does this look like a reasonable system?

Thanks in advance!

EDITED Mar 8th, 02:05

The main appeal of those modules for me is the ability to step through chord progressions with performance gestures in Rene

how are you going to get chord progressions out of this? also not enough voices for chords...

The main appeal of those modules for me is the ability to step through chord progressions with performance gestures in Rene

how are you going to get chord progressions out of this? also not enough voices for chords...

Imprecise phrasing on my part! I meant implied harmony, so setting up a few states quantized to different scales and then switching between them to match output pitch sequences to a chord progression, not actually generating chords. Here's a video on it with Rene:

EDITED Feb 21st, 21:10

I should add that switching from Nerdseq to Rene is maybe the most speculative change here. Cutting Nerdseq would lose me a lot of functionality / utility that I currently might be taking for granted, so there could be some blind spots in making that switch. It can function as a big Pam's if you need it to, so I might end up needing to put Pam's back in if Nerdseq is out.

The idea with Rene is to have something more performable in line with making the main rack a standalone instrument; and to do "program a whole song" type of stuff from my DAW / Optx.

Update:

I picked up a few of these pieces last month!

• Step 8. My new favorite module, unexpectedly my now-favorite oscillator, opens up all kinds of new patches.
• Quadrax. Totally solves the envelopes problem, I haven't felt strapped for modulation since I plugged it in.
• Ultra Random Redux. This one was always going to be an insta-buy for me, it came out last week so I grabbed it instead of Sports Modulator.

I also learned some quantizing tricks in the new Nerdseq firmware that have me feeling less GASy about sequencers / quantizers (though still would like to try something more performable one day).

I'm thinking that my next move is going to be to pick up a Contour 1 and lock in this config for the Mantis for the next year or so:

Going no-Maths seems fine given that I have plenty of other attenuation/offset options, plenty of envelopes in Quadrax, a Contour for one Maths-style envelope, and an extra slew circuit in the URR. Of the samplers, I think Nebulae is the one to keep in the rack for this config since it's less liable to distract me making "beats" and more focused on use as a looper, single voice, or fx. It also strikes me as neat to have three stereo effect outputs for Vortices's three stereo inputs -- not that I'd necessarily patch it that way, but it seems balanced. Steady State Gate is a sad cut but between that and Nebulae I'd rather keep in the Neb.

From there, I'll be selling off some of the stuff I'm not using and keeping the ALM case as overflow / a home for OPTX, or to re-rack subsystems for travel every now and then.

Mainly posting this for closure on the thread, but all ears if anybody has feedback!