MIDI Sequences Triggered by MIDI notes in 2024

stub

I'd like to be able to launch MIDI sequences via MIDI notes.

The sequences themselves would be full and not-necessarily-quantized (i.e., not step sequences, maybe 96 ppqn or greater), like the kinds of sequences from a DAW; possibly in standard MIDI format, or imported from them.

The launching would be one-at-a-time (overlapping would be cool though "dangerous"). Launching could have the options to start immediately upon triggering or on the next beat, or on the next measure's downbeat. Also, have an option to follow a master tempo or follow the tempo of each individual sequence.

In my search here, I've seen Atom 2 and LK recommended for similar goals. But I'm not very familiar with either. Are there any other recommendations? I do have Atom 2 & StreamByter, but don't know much about them.

BACKGROUND: I have a Kurzweil K2661 workstation. The sequencer is under-rated. One mind-blowing feature is the ARRANGE mode which allows you to map any sequences to key-ranges, it will play those assigned sequences upon the key-press, AND it has an option to scale the volume (via each track's CC 7) of the sequences based on the velocity of the triggering note (!!).

It gives the option of following the meta object's tempo (i.e., the "song"), or the tempo of each triggered sequence.

Another unique feature is reference quantize which allows you to quantize one track (at a percentage of 1-100%) to any other track in any sequence-- i.e., if you prepare it right, you can have "grooves". But I digress.

reezygle

The launching would be one-at-a-time (overlapping would be cool though "dangerous"). Launching could have the options to start immediately upon triggering or on the next beat, or on the next measure's downbeat.

You can do this with Drambo midi mapping notes to launch sequences as well as controlling when it triggers.

Also, have an option to follow a master tempo or follow the tempo of each individual sequence.

There’s of course a master tempo in Drambo, but not tempo for individual sequences. However clips can have different time divisions.

stub

Does Drambo allow importing standard MIDI files with unquantized sequences?

Perhaps the tempo could be controlled externally some other way.

reezygle

@stub said:
Does Drambo allow importing standard MIDI files with unquantized sequences?

Yes.

stub

Thanks. WIll check out Drambo & LK.

rs2000

@stub said:
Thanks. WIll check out Drambo & LK.

These two would be my preferred choices for this purpose too.

stub

Thanks, @rs2000. I was impressed with LK's tutorials, which are well-organized and clear. Need to learn more about Drambo.

espiegel123

@stub said:
Thanks. WIll check out Drambo & LK.

Atom 2 which you mention that you have can do what you want, also.

stub

I'm getting the impression that Drambo might not do multi-track sequences that play a mixture of internal & external instruments?

My only gripe with Atom 2 is that that UI is so tiny, its kind of hard to read and use. But I should dig in more.

tyslothrop1

@stub said:
I'm getting the impression that Drambo might not do multi-track sequences that play a mixture of internal & external instruments?

My only gripe with Atom 2 is that that UI is so tiny, its kind of hard to read and use. But I should dig in more.

What's missing? In Drambo you can have several midi outs routed to different midi channels and you can have internal instruments at the same time.

Poppadocrock

Atom 2, LK

stub

@tyslothrop1 said:

@stub said:
I'm getting the impression that Drambo might not do multi-track sequences that play a mixture of internal & external instruments?

My only gripe with Atom 2 is that that UI is so tiny, its kind of hard to read and use. But I should dig in more.

What's missing? In Drambo you can have several midi outs routed to different midi channels and you can have internal instruments at the same time.

I'm wanting to import up to maybe 30 SMF/MID files; each of which has up to 16 tracks, and be able to route them to either external MIDI destinations or internal instruments (with the app-- or via AUM) -- then use MIDI notes to trigger each sequence to start-- either momentary or latch/toggle.

I wasn't able to find info about importing SMFs in Drambo, and I read that Drambo only imports one track/channel.

I'm just trying to suss out what will work for me. Everybody uses sequences differently, so I'm just trying to get a feel for what will work best for me.

Also, I'm thinking about having freedom with tempos, time-signatures & tuplets.

tyslothrop1

Ah, ok. Multitrack import. Maybe some day...

stub

I took another look at Atom 2, and it seems they've made the UI a bit more readable. I was quickly able to find import MIDI, and other features. Need to hang with it more.

Thanks all.

stub

Can't find how to set up triggering sequences with MIDI notes using Atom 2. Is that something that is handled in AUM? I don't need a step-by-step, but perhaps someone can point me in the right direction?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to trigger sequences immediately upon triggering (i.e., not wait until next beat, measure, etc.)

rs2000

Imaginando LK is probably the closest to what you're looking for.
Have you tried it yet?

espiegel123

@stub said:
Can't find how to set up triggering sequences with MIDI notes using Atom 2. Is that something that is handled in AUM? I don't need a step-by-step, but perhaps someone can point me in the right direction?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to trigger sequences immediately upon triggering (i.e., not wait until next beat, measure, etc.)

Long-press the Launch button for the options.

I suggest reading the manual. There is a lot of good information in it.

stub

@rs2000 said:
Imaginando LK is probably the closest to what you're looking for.
Have you tried it yet?

I haven't tried LK. I'll definitely look at LK more closely because of this thread's narrowing it down to those two.

I already have Atom 2, so I thought I'd start there. On one hand I love how powerful, flexible and deep it is. But as my brain is starting to show its age, I'm realizing my eyes are bigger than my stomach sometimes (as the old saying goes).

@espiegel123 said:
Long-press the Launch button for the options.

I suggest reading the manual. There is a lot of good information in it.

Ah! There's the MIDI note thingy.

I will read the manual, for sure. In the meantime, does anyone know if it can just fire a sequence right when it receives the trigger-- (not waiting til next beat/bar, etc)?

rs2000

@stub said:
...
In the meantime, does anyone know if it can just fire a sequence right when it receives the trigger-- (not waiting til next beat/bar, etc)?

I wanted the immediate clip triggering too because it's fun to play MIDI snippets live!
In LK, you would disable global trigger quantization and set the clip's follow action to Stop so it will only play once.
"Random other" is a nice follow action too, if your clips are cut properly 😉

wim

@stub said:

@rs2000 said:
Imaginando LK is probably the closest to what you're looking for.
Have you tried it yet?

I haven't tried LK. I'll definitely look at LK more closely because of this thread's narrowing it down to those two.

I already have Atom 2, so I thought I'd start there. On one hand I love how powerful, flexible and deep it is. But as my brain is starting to show its age, I'm realizing my eyes are bigger than my stomach sometimes (as the old saying goes).

@espiegel123 said:
Long-press the Launch button for the options.

I suggest reading the manual. There is a lot of good information in it.

Ah! There's the MIDI note thingy.

I will read the manual, for sure. In the meantime, does anyone know if it can just fire a sequence right when it receives the trigger-- (not waiting til next beat/bar, etc)?

Pattern changes are Immediate.

stub

Thanks, all!!