Let's Not Talk About Square Waves Any More...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
For some reason I thought that topic would be more interesting, but when you get right down to it, all square waves are, well, square. Point taken, and I’ll assume my initial instinct was correct.
So, new topic, and in this I’d like to hear from the people that own BigSeq. With the advent of several products that kind of follow the same path, albeit with much more sophistication, it has become apparent to us that BigSeq desperately needs a BigSeq 2. While Adam is either (a) coding Kombinat, or (b) prancing about the exotic Orient, I’ve been working on a complete redesign of this venerable product.
Things we’re going to include for certain:
1. New UI - The user interface for BigSeq is problematic in my opinion. It would be nice to, for example, swipe your mouse across all the filter sliders, rather than having to adjust them one by one. I’m going to do a modern non-hardware interface for this, and try out a new style. It will have a lot of procedural (i.e. “drawn on the fly, instead of PNGs”) stuff in it, and will be flat 2D instead of fakie-knobby. Rather than stacking all the sections (there will be several additions) we’ll have one pane that shows whatever engine you’re working on, and another pane that shows that engine’s sequencer. In this manner, real estate isn’t so cluttered.
2. Some additions to the randomization - One of the things I do, when I use BigSeq, is set it so one or more of the random buttons get ticked every measure, resulting in a new pattern every four beats or whatever. We’re gonna add this as an option on each possible randomization event, mainly to save me the trouble of automating it. You might find it handy too. There will also be a global randomizer, and some other randomization features.
3. Some more effects - Rather than just the VCA/filter (w/ distortion) combo, we’re going to break the distortion out in its own section and give it some more options. The filter will be replaced with the Dr. Device filter section, and we’re also going to add a bitcrushing sequencer and a “stutter” section which will do pretty much what you think.
So, those are the things on the docket at this point. If you’re a BigSeq owner, I’d like to hear any usability comments you might have, or maybe there’s an additional effect I haven’t thought of that might extend the usefulness. (Note that a global swing will be added, so no need to ask for that.) The extension of the product will naturally move it in to our $49 price bracket, but I’d rather not put everything and the kitchen sink in to it. Obviously, we’re not going to add every suggestion, but I’m interested to hear if there’s anything we haven’t thought of that wouldn’t be hard to add and would tip it over the edge.
10 comments
As a BigSeq user, those additions look great to me.
One thing I've been thinking about is that it would be neat to have a simple tempo-syncable delay line with adjustable feedback, and a delay send sequencer track - so that you could make textures and rhythmic effects using stepwise delay bursts. That might step into toes of your other products or bloat the package too much though.
That's not a terrible idea at all. Let me ponder that.
-CR
A step sequence controlled Lfo modulator could add interesting filter effects. I was messing around with filter lfo automation in Live and got some interesting results.
Being able to split the incoming signal into 3 bands by frequency and have different step sequencers for each band. This would be great for loop deconstruction.
I'd like the random function to be more like the opportunity sliders in Replicant rather than just a randomizer button.
I'm glad the filter is getting an overhaul. I like BigSeq's filter, but it is very distinct sounding when you add distortion, so its use is more limited.
i don't own bigseq, but all of this makes it sound much more appealing than it does now. so i'm excited to see where this all goes.
as a brief aside while we're on the topic of audio damage products... why is it that in Live i can't use the tab key to change between session and arrangement views while i have the plugin window open? i'm pretty certain this is true for all audio damage plugs i own tho its certainly not true for other plugs i own.
If I really think hard of the reasons why I don't use BigSeq that much, it comes down to two things - both of them you are going to address. The UI and being able to change parameters in a sweep is a damn good idea. The randomize function in BigSeq is something I've never become too friendly with. I am sure you have lots of cool ideas here, but just let me tell you what would light up my day.
1) Lighter randomization - in some softwares this is called Variation.
2) A way to lock settings for steps. Let's say you've done a random pattern that a couple of steps are totally brilliant. You lock these, and randomize further and see what kind of stuff comes out. Same idea as with Liptikl.
/C
I like the lock step idea.
I think the lock step idea is great. Its like video poker.
+3 on video poker. this is the way i work with plugs anyway: recording everything and chopping out the bad bits. this is a great way to do that from within the plug. and bonus: save presets to be re-used.
other per step possibilities (if these aren't getting too far from the original vision and/or venturing into dblue glitch territory): pitch up, pitch down, reverse.
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