Hardware sequencer recommendations please

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:25 am

I currently have a Yamaha RM1X sequencer. While it's great, I'm really interested in finding something which is more flexible when it comes to odd time signatures (e.g. 5/4, 10/8, 7/4, 9/8 ).

Can anyone suggest something suitable? I heard that one of the Yamaha QY models can handle different meters, but further research suggests they may only have similar options to the RM1X.

I haven't had much luck finding anything else.

Help!

HxC · Post by **HxC** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:47 am

What are you sequencing? An SP? Anything else?

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:41 am

the 505 does 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4 but i don't really know how to use it honestly.

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:48 pm

hXc wrote:What are you sequencing? An SP? Anything else?

Yeah, 404, with a mind to expand at some point in the not too distant future. I was considering picking up a Korg Electribe ESX1 at some point too.

hXc wrote:the 505 does 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4 but i don't really know how to use it honestly.

That's not an option for me right now, though I'm coming into some moneys in a few months so I could definately consider it then.

I was hoping to get something else in the meantime though, and am quite willing to sell the RM1X if that's what it takes. I imagine whatever I get won't even cover half of a 505 cost though :\

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:49 pm

Oh, something with swing would be nice too.

NOT THAT I'M LAZY OR ANYTHING YOU UNDERSTAND

DREWDANK · Post by **DREWDANK** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:53 pm

get that korg bro.

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:19 pm

I expect it's great in and of itself, but if the sequencer fits the bill I might even push to get it earlier

HxC · Post by **HxC** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:39 pm

If you're into complex time sigs like that, have you ever considered:

Just free hand playing the SP onto a recorder, then re-sampling the pieces you like from that & putting it back into the SP at whatever bpm it fell at?

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:46 pm

If I were to do what you suggest, wouldn't the SP essentially treat it just like a straight 4/4 loop?

I guess it wouldn't be a huge problem, I will definately look further into doing this.

For the sake of increasing my output it would be outstandingly useful to have something with a pre-existing feature.

ghost bazz · Post by **ghost bazz** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:37 am

waddup eldwarfo? I have an RM1X too... I think the seq on that thing is going to be more robust than what you will have on any of the SP's, although I just bought a 505 on ebay and should be able to do some direct comparisons within a week or so.

Also... as far as price for an RM1X and the 505, they're pretty close on the bay. I think both fall right around $200... so you should be able to sell the yamaha and pick up a 505 without losing any cash.

... and... a way to play different time signatures with only a 4/4 sequencer is to change the number of measures you are playing and then count the beats. for example... if I wanted to play something in at 5/4, I would play 20 quarter note beats total in four bars... so by making a seq that is 5 measures long @ 4/4... you get the same number of beats = 20. If you wanted to play something in 3/4 you would make your seq 3 measures of 4/4 time and count the beats as 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3... cause 4 measures of 3 beats is the same number of beats as 3 measures of 4 beats. Not sure if that makes sense, but it works. You just have to count in your head and not get thrown off by the metronome accenting the 1st beat.

eldwarfo · Post by **eldwarfo** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:19 am

Hi! Thanks for the advice (and the same to everyone else), but I'm definately after something which is specifically designed to handle odd meters. I'm aiming for increased workflow moreso than anything else.

Some further reading into the ESX1 suggests that it DOES have odd meters as part of it's normal functions, which is just peachy for me. Having a second sampler into the bargin will be an ideal situation for me anyway.

I'd still love to hear more suggestions etc. but I think I'm convinced by the ESX1

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:23 am

yeah the metronome can be confusing.

the 505 has swing too. BUT i would not sell the rm1x for the 505. i might get one in addition at a later time. i'm actually looking at the rm1x/rs7000/qy series all the time but i can't find one cheap enough so far.

ghost bazz · Post by **ghost bazz** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:36 am

jbl wrote:yeah the metronome can be confusing.

the 505 has swing too. BUT i would not sell the rm1x for the 505. i might get one in addition at a later time. i'm actually looking at the rm1x/rs7000/qy series all the time but i can't find one cheap enough so far.

Word... I would LOVE to add an rs7000 to the arsenal.

Rob P · Post by **Rob P** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:25 pm

Count Sierackula wrote:waddup eldwarfo? I have an RM1X too... I think the seq on that thing is going to be more robust than what you will have on any of the SP's, although I just bought a 505 on ebay and should be able to do some direct comparisons within a week or so.

Also... as far as price for an RM1X and the 505, they're pretty close on the bay. I think both fall right around $200... so you should be able to sell the yamaha and pick up a 505 without losing any cash.

... and... a way to play different time signatures with only a 4/4 sequencer is to change the number of measures you are playing and then count the beats. for example... if I wanted to play something in at 5/4, I would play 20 quarter note beats total in four bars... so by making a seq that is 5 measures long @ 4/4... you get the same number of beats = 20. If you wanted to play something in 3/4 you would make your seq 3 measures of 4/4 time and count the beats as 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3... cause 4 measures of 3 beats is the same number of beats as 3 measures of 4 beats. Not sure if that makes sense, but it works. You just have to count in your head and not get thrown off by the metronome accenting the 1st beat.

Count,great advice!!

I know that J-Dilla often did 3 and 5 bar loops,and there's Venetian Snares who never use 4/4 time signatures and he was saying that what he does isn't as complicated as what it appears,it just gives more flexibility
and I think that he uses your method as well

tape smoke · Post by **tape smoke** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:05 pm

i think you can do any time signanture on the 404 , as long as you know where the notes go , and experiment with 3 and 5 bars like mentioned above.