LOOK! New hardware TR sequencer - Europa Analogue Solutions

[plutoro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TywnYgaA_3c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z17YEUc6FKM

[LoneStar]

Awesome. But sadly, way too costy. I mean it's just a metal box with a handful of buttons and a $5 microcontroller, the most expensive part is maybe the DAC for the CV out.

[HxC]

If I just woke up from a coma and saw that thing I'd say "1989" - don't know if that's a good thing or not. If his^^ reply about the price is any indication I'd say not. Don't know if those were onboard sounds but Casio is jealous-

I'd love to see a fresh modern hardware sequencer hit the market- C'mon Roly- make a cross between an SP & an MC-500:
http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/sequencers.php

[LoneStar]

If I just woke up from a coma and saw that thing I'd say "1989" - don't know if that's a good thing or not. If his^^ reply about the price is any indication I'd say not. Don't know if those were onboard sounds but Casio is jealous-

I'd love to see a fresh modern hardware sequencer hit the market- C'mon Roly- make a cross between an SP & an MC-500:
http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/sequencers.php

I wanted to say 95% of that price tag are development costs and profit. And no, it doesn't have onboard sounds as it is a sequencer only - or did you see any audio output jack on the pictures? Analogue Solutions aren't exactly famous for stunning audio demos of their products either, lol.

As for existing sequencers, don't you forget the Yamaha QY-700 / Rm1x / RS7000 ones, the best I've come across yet for pattern-based music.

[HxC]

You are right.
I have always secretly sweated the RS-7000.
Market wants- market gets!
I'd rather Roly do a battery powered sample pitcher.

[LoneStar]

The sad truth is, the market for sequencers or sample-sequencers like that is rather small. That further pushes the prices, naturally. Sure, there are millions of hobby musicians around doing it the electronic way, but 99% are laptop people and perfectly happy with software and maybe a cheap midi controller.

[HxC]

Yep- these companies surely gauge the market interest before releasing stuff. No one wants to do an "Ensoniq" (fail, get bought, then buried).

Cheap & fun is certainly a theme these days. I wonder what Roger will come with- seems like he'll end up doing a way scaled back version of the Linn 2 http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/products ... ndex.shtml
Bet it will still be rad tho-

[LoneStar]

Yeah, I've been waiting for the LinnDrum2 forever... "Scaled down" sounds like it could actually be affordable... as in way below 1000 Eur.

[helloitabot]

Part of the appeal of the Europa is definitely the retro styling. I do like the whole one button per function thing, still kinda expensive. I think if they had better marketing and created a bigger demand they could afford to sell them cheaper, but some people are experts at musical electronics and not PR I guess.

From Linns website: "the goal of LinnDrum II is be a new musical instrument" What do they mean by this? Will it be radically different from an MPC or what?

[HxC]

One more non-EAS reply then I'mma quit thread jackin' but the Linn quote I was focused on was "I'm working on one or more products that, while different from the early LinnDrum II designs... ...will be powerful, creative and not too expensive. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised"

[cartesia]

It's good that they split..

I love DSI stuff, but the earlier linndrum 2 ideas they had didn't appeal to me at all..

[Unfolding]

Coooool... I know price is debatable (about 500 pounds), but the simplicity of this is beautiful. My next buy will likely be this or the Native Instruments Maschine (conflict: I'm trying to avoid music software). This looks perfect to hook up some old desktop synths to actually play alongside the samplers & drum machines in a live manner.

Forget the boring acid techno demos (its like giving a guitar to a bro & then he plays country-pop: its missing the point entirely), think about what you could program with 16 bars by 17 layers! That's like, err... 272 variations on a theme right there!

*want*

[drewzle]

*want*

indeed

[* warrika *]

Forget the boring acid techno demos (its like giving a guitar to a bro & then he plays country-pop: its missing the point entirely), think about what you could program with 16 bars by 17 layers! That's like, err... 272 variations on a theme right there!

*want*

huh? 16 bars is only in song mode, patterns are one bar. And I think a song can't have more than 16 bars, but you can loop some of the bars several times.

It's really not that great, o.k. 16 synth tracks is nice, but they are all monophonic (one note at a time), you could probably do more with an Electribe EMX as a MIDI sequencer. With a Yamaha RM1x you can have 16 polyphonic synth tracks and you can drop sysexes, ccs and all that.

And no, I do not want one because I don't have any analog drum modules to control through the trigger outputs. If I did, I would probably want it, or at least I would look for some kind of MIDI interface with a lot of trig. outputs.

But yeah, a lot can be done with imagination, the Detroit techno cats and the early acid used Roland TR machines, TB-303s and all that gear made for guitarists earlier and they made great music for the time with it. Jimi Hendrix used a 1950s guitar model...

[Unfolding]

@* warrika *: Hey if you don't want one, cool! I was speaking for myself there. This thing's definitely made for a niche market.

Sure my mathematics was potentially flawed, but 1 song is up to 16 patterns, each pattern is up to 17 layers +the 17th layer is 12 fixed notes for drum modules. That's still more than enough if you want to get creative with it- you know, use mutes, switch notes, adjust the device its controlling.

The thought was 'in song mode, what's 16 patterns x 17 tracks? Err... 272!'. Makes sense if you only play one note at a time. Doesn't make sense if you want to write something worth hearing. Sure, patterns are 16 monophonic midi tracks, sure, but each track is independent of the next track. With a bit of layering & a polyphonic synth that's suddenly not a problem.

Also, the term 'monophonic' is misleading for a device that doesn't create sound. The voices put out is dependent on what you control via the Europa.

Yeah, an EMX would be a good & cheaper alternative if you're in the market for a step sequenced synth. The RM1x is sweet too as a 2nd hand all-in-one box. Pretty much all midi hardware can sysex, even the Europa. But I wanted a step sequencer, didn't need the synth element.

Reason why I'm defending it like this is because I bought one a couple of months back to go along with my SH-32 synth. As the synth's a little desktop box with no keyboard & can layer sound patches in a multitambral sense. The SH-32 was designed to be played by a sequencer- it'll receive & play notes across multiple midi channels simultaneously. The Europa can send notes across multiple midi channels. They're a good couple!

Yeah, anyone who uses laptops with midi controllers isn't likely to want a Europa. I don't blame them. Thing is I don't want to be dependent on a computer to make music- too many distractions & hardware's cooler than software.

EDIT: sorry for the rant!