Sequencer: individual gate length per step

[tiddex]

Please make the gate knob an individual setting for each step instead of a global setting.
I traded in my MiniBrute 2S for the MatrixBrute and even more than the lack of envelope-triggering and -looping (which is practically added now with the LFO-editor) this feels like the biggest step down in functionality.
I am messing around a lot with gate lengths, especially when programming funky baselines, so I am begging you to add this. Right now I have to hook up the MB to a DAW to get that depth of editing.

How would the gate knob work in the different modes when gate lengths are individual?
In step-editing mode the gate knob would affect the individual gate length. The length should be displayed next to the mod-knob or in the sequencer display ranging from 0 to 100% / tie.
How to use the gate knob then when not in step editing mode?
Here is my suggestion:
Otherwise the knob could work in two different ways, changeable via the settings:

1. Catching individual gate lengths / threshold mode.
When turned right, the gate knob would start at the setting of the shortest single step. This is displayed at the mod-knob or the sequencer display. Turning it further it would increase the gate length of this step and all steps whose gate length is surpassed. When turning it left it would start at the maximum gate length. The knob would work like a maximum or minimum sthrshold for gate lengths. When all gates are catched, the knob works in the same way like it does now.

Example                         turning right                                                           turning left
knob:       default            +5%          +10%        +15%        +20%       +25%          -5%        -10%       -15%       -20%       -25%
Gate1:        15%               20%            25%         30%          35%        40%           15%        15%         15%        15%       10%
Gate2:        25%               25%            25%         30%          35%        40%           25%        25%         20%        15%       10%
Gate3:        35%               35%            35%         35%          35%        40%           30%        25%         20%        15%       10%

2. Changing all step lengths by the same amount
Thus keeping the distances in absolute percentage between them. When pushed against 0% or 100% / tie the relative distance shortens. After all steps are pushed against 0% / tie, the knob works in the same way like it does now. The dsiplay shows the minimum or maximum gate length when the knob is turned.

Example                         turning right                                                                               turning left
knob:       default            +5%          +30%        +70%           +80%                +90%                  -5%         -10%       -15%       -20%
Gate1:        15%               20%            45%         85%            95%                100% / tie           10%         5%          0%          0%
Gate2:        25%               30%            55%         95%            100% / tie       100% / tie           20%        15%          0%         0%
Gate3:        35%               40%            65%         100% /tie   100%  / tie      100% / tie           30%         25%        10%         0%

In case it should be a memory issue to save gate lengths in a preset, give us at least the possibility to route the mod-track to the gate-length knob. We could at least choose to sacrifice the mod-track for gate-control.

[DrJustice]

While not an actual gate control, an alternative is to use the MOD track to control the rate of an LFO with Retrig = Sngl, using a down slope saw or a square, then assign that LFO @+99 to the VCA or one of the filter outputs for Duo Split bliss. You could also control envelope segment times, but if you can spare an LFO it can be used an audio gate envelope with different duration for each step.

[tiddex]

Thanks a lot for your tipp. I appreciate that.
I had figured that solution myself, still I think it is a quite obvious feature to have a dedicated knob.

[TheAndyMac]

Thinking of buying a MatrixBrute - and surprised that this is not there already, but at least a workaround seems sort of possible.

[yeskeys]

We need to be able to assign the Gate knob to the Matrix! 

[endreola]

We need to be able to assign the Gate knob to the Matrix!

And it would be great to control Gate via MIDI CC.

[joeman]

Yes MIDI control over everything on the panel is definitely a must. (eg, swing and gate etc, and all buttons etc)

[STM]

Yes MIDI control over everything on the panel is definitely a must. (eg, swing and gate etc, and all buttons etc)

Yes, please!

[endreola]

I took the liberty and created a Support ticket for this EHR.

[Processaurus]

Being able to have gate time per step is key to groove. People get really into micro timing but personally gate time gets the organic feel to a sequence more so. Would love a gate time per step, but if that were too strange to reconcile with the usability of the front panel, just being able to make the gate knob a mod destination would allow you to use the mod lane, or a synced custom shape lfo to do your groove patterns.

It would sound really cool to be able to modulate the gate time along with a timbre change. Modular synthesists get into playing/modulating the step sequencer as more than just a static pattern of repeating notes.

[VAU]

requested Feb 2017 here:

https://forum.arturia.com/index.php?topic=90177.0

[endreola]

In following up with the ticket, Edouard responded with:

"This is something I wanted to add to the 2.0 update, but this is maybe something too heavy. (memory wise).  I will keep it in mind for a future update if possible, if a value per step is not possible, I will try to add the capacity to modulate the gate length knob."

Modulating the gate length may not be on top of everyone's list but it may help reduce the SEQ sounding "mechanical" and add some movement to the patch.

[standingwave]

 Modulating the gate time would be ideal in my opinion. It would definitely make the sequencer much more interesting to use as a composition tool.

[guyaguy]

While not an actual gate control, an alternative is to use the MOD track to control the rate of an LFO with Retrig = Sngl, using a down slope saw or a square, then assign that LFO @+99 to the VCA or one of the filter outputs for Duo Split bliss. You could also control envelope segment times, but if you can spare an LFO it can be used an audio gate envelope with different duration for each step.

Just curious...What advantage do you find in using the LFO over varying the EG's Sustain or Decay per step?

[Processaurus]

While not an actual gate control, an alternative is to use the MOD track to control the rate of an LFO with Retrig = Sngl, using a down slope saw or a square, then assign that LFO @+99 to the VCA or one of the filter outputs for Duo Split bliss. You could also control envelope segment times, but if you can spare an LFO it can be used an audio gate envelope with different duration for each step.

Just curious...What advantage do you find in using the LFO over varying the EG's Sustain or Decay per step?

For doing short percussive type decay sounds, there wouldn’t be much difference modulating the decay/release on the EG and a sawtooth LFO set as a one shot. The real emulation of a simple gate time would be using the square lfo, as a one shot, that would be modulating the “on” time of the faux envelope that the lfo is making. However, there is no decay possible, so it would be a choppy envelope sound.

If you use the custom LFO shape, you could do a smooth release ramp, but it wouldn’t quite be the same as a sustain stage on an envelope- the length of the release would be tied to the length of the sustain, because the whole LFO is just a little sequence playing out, and you would scale the length of the faux envelope by modulating the lfo time control.