Strokes (Sequencer, Sampler, Synthesizer & Groovebox) news

Kashi

From the manual:

First off, hit play on your DAW (or on the Transport section in standalone)
and head to the Strokes Sequencer page. On the first sequencer channel (top
left), turn the fourth dial until some triggers start to appear on the
sequencer grid.

I have succeeded in pressing play on the transport bar....but then I'm stumped. Which dial? I can't see any dials in the top=left hand corner (?)

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@jsmonzani said:

I’m very used to wire and combine modular sequencers so I see Strokes as a sort of convenient collection of sequencers and interplay between them. I’m trying to figure if the lack of flexibility compared to wiring modules in MiRack is compensated by an all-in-one well-thought interface.

Modulation of pattern and notes trough LK in the video is a nice workaround. I’m wondering if these, or if sequencers notes can be modulated within Strokes. I’m interested in generative sequencers, i.e. mutating sequences. I love Xynthesizr and Polyphase for instance. So any sequence whose notes or rhythm slowly evolve overtime raise my interest.

The pre-patched stuff is genius. It's a semi-modular, but you can wiggle hundred osf parameters, and they interact with one another as happens in modular.

If you look at the dev's last video on the Plaits modules, I think that answers your last question: pitch can be modulated, and is automatically quantized according to the notes you enter.

(FWIW, I did not understand what LK was doing in that video.)

FordTimeLord

@Kashi said:
From the manual:

First off, hit play on your DAW (or on the Transport section in standalone)
and head to the Strokes Sequencer page. On the first sequencer channel (top
left), turn the fourth dial until some triggers start to appear on the
sequencer grid.

I have succeeded in pressing play on the transport bar....but then I'm stumped. Which dial? I can't see any dials in the top=left hand corner (?)

Slide your finger up and down on these numbers. The devs videos are easier to follow than the manual, I’ve found anyway.

Kashi

Gotcha! Thanks @FordTimeLord

ElectroHead

@Bietfriek said:
I’m also in doubt because of the modules available in MiRack. There is already a lot to discover in MiRack, it even has a version of Plaids, Braids, Marbles, Clouds and more built into it. Perhaps the static structure of Strokes is more user friendly? What are the user experiences and end results between the two, is there a big, noticeable difference in f.e.“character” or “fun”?

To wire up an emulation of Strokes in MiRack would be a) a long and laborious process, b) a big headache to navigate. And I doubt emulating the note and pattern variations would be possible.

"Static" is the wrong adjective, the antonym of which is animated - and Strokes can get very animated, Yes, it's "fixed-architecture" as a opposed to modular, but if you dissect, it's a large collection of modules cleverly wired with multiple matrixes.

sigma79

Is it worth buying as a synth. I guess 8 tracks of sequenced plaits.

Hosted in Drambo?

I guess it can sequence other synths.

How does it compare to other sequencers for complexity. Pattern lengths. Might you write the midi to Drambo timeline. Or might you lose stuff the sequencer does within strokes or is sequencing out different to sequencing the internal synths?

Does the sampler offer anything if sample then taken out of Strokes?

FordTimeLord

@Kashi said:
Gotcha! Thanks @FordTimeLord

No worries. I’ve just noticed the manual that the app links to is an older version. I think this is the latest version, just in case that’s adding to the confusion!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hViEDttYSAIFygN1Y4kWXByMXfX5r3K4/view

jsmonzani

@ElectroHead said:

@Bietfriek said:

To wire up an emulation of Strokes in MiRack would be a) a very laborious process, b) a big headache to navigate.

I second that. While it's easy in miRack to combine for instance a logic sequencer and two Euclidians (just did it), it will be too complex to make a full Strokes for sure! Even a single lane will take space.

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr I'm guessing LK sends CC to automate the pattern changes and note changes.

Thank you all for your answers!

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@Kashi said:
From the manual:

First off, hit play on your DAW (or on the Transport section in standalone)
and head to the Strokes Sequencer page. On the first sequencer channel (top
left), turn the fourth dial until some triggers start to appear on the
sequencer grid.

I have succeeded in pressing play on the transport bar....but then I'm stumped. Which dial? I can't see any dials in the top=left hand corner (?)

The manual references an outdated GUI. I think now you can just click in the sequencer grid to make triggers appear.

I would suggestion clicking on the exclamation mark and loading the demo patches to get started with this thing.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@sigma79 said:
Is it worth buying as a synth. I guess 8 tracks of sequenced plaits.

Hosted in Drambo?

I guess it can sequence other synths.

How does it compare to other sequencers for complexity. Pattern lengths. Might you write the midi to Drambo timeline. Or might you lose stuff the sequencer does within strokes or is sequencing out different to sequencing the internal synths?

Does the sampler offer anything if sample then taken out of Strokes?

It's for generative sequencing, not composing (although you probably could compose some things in it). It gets very complex. "Pattern length" is think is not relevant here, in the same way it's not relevant on a modular sequencer. Once you start inter-modulating the sequencers, even a very short sequence is sufficient to produce endless variation.

I think the midi out should not lose anything significant compared to driving the internal sounds. It was originally designed as a sequencer, not a groovebox.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@jsmonzani said:

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr I'm guessing LK sends CC to automate the pattern changes and note changes.

Yeah, makes sense. Looks like no way to do those things in house.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

Why does he say there are 16 Plaits oscillators? I see only eight voices.

Krupa

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
Why does he say there are 16 Plaits oscillators? I see only eight voices.

Aren’t there 16 types of plaits oscillators?

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@Krupa said:

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
Why does he say there are 16 Plaits oscillators? I see only eight voices.

Aren’t there 16 types of plaits oscillators?

Yeah, that's probably what he means: types of oscillators, not oscillators. Thanks for clearing that up!

sigma79

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

@sigma79 said:
Is it worth buying as a synth. I guess 8 tracks of sequenced plaits.

Hosted in Drambo?

I guess it can sequence other synths.

How does it compare to other sequencers for complexity. Pattern lengths. Might you write the midi to Drambo timeline. Or might you lose stuff the sequencer does within strokes or is sequencing out different to sequencing the internal synths?

Does the sampler offer anything if sample then taken out of Strokes?

It's for generative sequencing, not composing (although you probably could compose some things in it). It gets very complex. "Pattern length" is think is not relevant here, in the same way it's not relevant on a modular sequencer. Once you start inter-modulating the sequencers, even a very short sequence is sufficient to produce endless variation.

I think the midi out should not lose anything significant compared to driving the internal sounds. It was originally designed as a sequencer, not a groovebox.

Thanks.

Probabilty etc has always been how I make noodles anyway. Id have aum recordings also to send to Drambo.

Will check more demos soon.

HotStrange

@Gavinski said:

@HotStrange said:
Strokes is a testament to what good can come from being a great, active dev. It seemed to flow under the radar at first and now with 2 huge updates (Sampling and Plaits) it seems to really be taking off. You love to see it. Great app.

Definitely, and that's when you know that the higher than average price point is worth it too. Also big up to @enkaytee for keeping flying the Strokes flag and letting people know about the big updates. It's definitely nice to see an app that initially doesn't get much traction blooming into something a lot of people are saying is their favourite recent app, while other stuff heavily hyped on release disappears into the void (where it sometimes belongs, sometimes not 😁)

Agreed! And for good reason too. For me, it’s one of those rare apps that would entice me to buy an iPad just to use it. Up there with Drambo and Borderlands.

jsmonzani

deleted post

danimal

@jsmonzani said:
So I've tried Strokes and as a pure MIDI sequencer, it doesn't work for me.

As I thought, each lane is stuck to produce the same MIDI note and it can't be self modulated. Sure you can modulate the pitch of the internal sound engines (plaits or sampler) but not the output MIDI note if I'm right.

Alternatively, you can input external midi notes that will be assigned to lanes, but again, this isn't an internal way to change them.

At least that's what I got. So that is not what I was looking for but thanks for answering my questions

Hi, yes it’s not a traditional sequencer at all but the modulated and quantised pitch is reflected in the midi out for each channel which surprised and delighted me 🤓

enkaytee

Just a reminder that if you own the iOS version there's an upgrade deal available to get the desktop VST3 and AUv2 plugins. Contact John via his email (on the Strokes website - https://www.congburn.co.uk/stroke)

[Deleted User]

Interested in this one - it seems capable of producing completely mental Aphex-Twin stlye beats, something I’ve tried coaxing out of other sequencers without success, and love those synth sounds.

Shame there’s not more videos and demos, as at twenty quid these days, this is a proper fence-sitter.

Will continue sitting and hopefully, watching.

jsmonzani

@danimal said:

@jsmonzani said:
So I've tried Strokes and as a pure MIDI sequencer, it doesn't work for me.

Hi, yes it’s not a traditional sequencer at all but the modulated and quantised pitch is reflected in the midi out for each channel which surprised and delighted me 🤓

Thank you! Yep sure! Actually, I've deleted my post while you were answering me as I was wrong: modulating pitch indeed modulates the effective midi note! My mistake.

I'm getting stuck notes when switching off the sequencers at slow ambient tempo, though. I've reached the developer for that.

Kashi

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

@Kashi said:
From the manual:

First off, hit play on your DAW (or on the Transport section in standalone)
and head to the Strokes Sequencer page. On the first sequencer channel (top
left), turn the fourth dial until some triggers start to appear on the
sequencer grid.

I have succeeded in pressing play on the transport bar....but then I'm stumped. Which dial? I can't see any dials in the top=left hand corner (?)

The manual references an outdated GUI. I think now you can just click in the sequencer grid to make triggers appear.

I would suggestion clicking on the exclamation mark and loading the demo patches to get started with this thing.

Thanks @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr , yes I dipped into the demos briefly last night, was helpful

@monz0id I too am hoping for more videos/tutorials.....I guess some folks just intuitively understand apps like this, and others (me) don't...

[Deleted User]

@Kashi said:
@monz0id I too am hoping for more videos/tutorials.....I guess some folks just intuitively understand apps like this, and others (me) don't...

It’s a bit more complex than a reverb app, that’s for sure! Hopefully the new versions will attract more sales and demos. With only two presets included, I need a bit more info to see how easy it would be for a dullard like me to get something decent going.

Is there a master randomiser option? That would help to get started.

I’d actually be interested in the full package too, as this might be a great companion for Live.

enkaytee

@enkaytee said:
Just a reminder that if you own the iOS version there's an upgrade deal available to get the desktop VST3 and AUv2 plugins. Contact John via his email (on the Strokes website - https://www.congburn.co.uk/stroke)

From John -"apple need their % so there has to be an app store purchase first, then I can offer a discount on the VST/AU upgrade"

gravytop

Strokes is turning out to be one of the most delightful apps I have used in my 6ish years of mucking about with music on the iPad, and for otherworldly and frankly frightning suprises it ranks with the Igor's -scaper apps or any of the more out there offerings I've encountered. Much easier to get results out of Strokes than, say, Beatcutter (i.e., sound) and it regularly produces noises in the "shortwave transmissions from outer space" category.

The surprises can also mean sudden volume jumps, so caution is advised esp. if headphones are on. Top notch, but one thing is kind of pestering me, and that is the piano keyboard that pops up whenever I change the root note of a channel. It seems superfluous, in the context in which I am using it, but I could be wrong.

Anyone know of a way to suppress this, or am I alone in being mildly bugged by this feature? If I just entered a note, surely the tirggering of a note input mechanism is redundant, at least sometimes... right??

enkaytee

@gravytop said:
Strokes is turning out to be one of the most delightful apps I have used in my 6ish years of mucking about with music on the iPad, and for otherworldly and frankly frightning suprises it ranks with the Igor's -scaper apps or any of the more out there offerings I've encountered. Much easier to get results out of Strokes than, say, Beatcutter (i.e., sound) and it regularly produces noises in the "shortwave transmissions from outer space" category.

The surprises can also mean sudden volume jumps, so caution is advised esp. if headphones are on. Top notch, but one thing is kind of pestering me, and that is the piano keyboard that pops up whenever I change the root note of a channel. It seems superfluous, in the context in which I am using it, but I could be wrong.

Anyone know of a way to suppress this, or am I alone in being mildly bugged by this feature? If I just entered a note, surely the tirggering of a note input mechanism is redundant, at least sometimes... right??

I guess it’s just a quick way to select a note with a visual reference rather than scrolling through a list but I’ll mention it on the Discord channel…

gravytop

@enkaytee said:

@gravytop said:
Strokes is turning out to be one of the most delightful apps I have used in my 6ish years of mucking about with music on the iPad, and for otherworldly and frankly frightning suprises it ranks with the Igor's -scaper apps or any of the more out there offerings I've encountered. Much easier to get results out of Strokes than, say, Beatcutter (i.e., sound) and it regularly produces noises in the "shortwave transmissions from outer space" category.

The surprises can also mean sudden volume jumps, so caution is advised esp. if headphones are on. Top notch, but one thing is kind of pestering me, and that is the piano keyboard that pops up whenever I change the root note of a channel. It seems superfluous, in the context in which I am using it, but I could be wrong.

Anyone know of a way to suppress this, or am I alone in being mildly bugged by this feature? If I just entered a note, surely the tirggering of a note input mechanism is redundant, at least sometimes... right??

I guess it’s just a quick way to select a note with a visual reference rather than scrolling through a list but I’ll mention it on the Discord channel…

Thanks -- I will note though that I thought to contact the dev right after posting this, and he responded immediately, said it was something others too would like to be able to suppress, and it would be considered in an update addressing user preferences. What a developer, and what an ace product.

I have been having probs with Ableton lite, and been on the fence about an upgrade to a full version. But his modulation app might just drive me to do it.... great stuff, I think.

enkaytee

@gravytop said:

@enkaytee said:

@gravytop said:
Strokes is turning out to be one of the most delightful apps I have used in my 6ish years of mucking about with music on the iPad, and for otherworldly and frankly frightning suprises it ranks with the Igor's -scaper apps or any of the more out there offerings I've encountered. Much easier to get results out of Strokes than, say, Beatcutter (i.e., sound) and it regularly produces noises in the "shortwave transmissions from outer space" category.

The surprises can also mean sudden volume jumps, so caution is advised esp. if headphones are on. Top notch, but one thing is kind of pestering me, and that is the piano keyboard that pops up whenever I change the root note of a channel. It seems superfluous, in the context in which I am using it, but I could be wrong.

Anyone know of a way to suppress this, or am I alone in being mildly bugged by this feature? If I just entered a note, surely the tirggering of a note input mechanism is redundant, at least sometimes... right??

I guess it’s just a quick way to select a note with a visual reference rather than scrolling through a list but I’ll mention it on the Discord channel…

Thanks -- I will note though that I thought to contact the dev right after posting this, and he responded immediately, said it was something others too would like to be able to suppress, and it would be considered in an update addressing user preferences. What a developer, and what an ace product.

I have been having probs with Ableton lite, and been on the fence about an upgrade to a full version. But his modulation app might just drive me to do it.... great stuff, I think.

Yeah - he said he'd contacted you directly - he's definitely a top developer...👍

FordTimeLord

A noodle with Strokes running into 201 Space Echo and Springs.

tahiche

I just checked out the video on the sampler update and this app looks amazing. It’s like a Digitakt for the iPad!.
And it’s got this “must” feature that’s missing on both Drambo and the Digitakt…

Being able to load a kit, to decouple sequencer info from sounds is such a basic feature. I’m definitely gonna try this out. When I don’t have my Digitakt around (most of the time) I 5hinkmim gonna feel right at home with this.