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Details:"highly coveted Signal Arts brand MIDI Sequencer once offered in Modcan A-Series modular synthesizer format. While the desktop box versions of these fabulous polyphonic sequencers are still being offered by the Signal Arts Company for $1,300.00, the Modular Modcan format unit above is no longer available which is why this unit is so very special!
Below is quoted directly from the Modcan website
(it is still listed on their site, however no longer available!) Modcan.com
More Info here
http://www.bigcitymusic.com/product.asp?cat=New&pid=1000540
and here
http://www.signalarts.ca/
"Overall, for the money, nothing even comes close to touching this [MAPS]. It's an amazingly powerful device. Given the legendary status that machines like the Latronic Notron have gained over the years (and price tag), I believe that this is a similar device at a much lower price "new", than what people are asking for old Notrons. Plus this has 3 cv/gate outs and can operate as a totally independent midi/cv converter. Sounds too good to be true really." Simon Birds, Australia. MAPS owner/user review on harmony-central.com
~~Modcan version of the Performance Sequencer available from Signal Arts~~
The versatility of the Signal Arts Performance Sequencer for sequencing, complex modulation and as a processor based event generator is unparalleled for the modular world.
Bridges the gap between Software and traditional Analogue sequencers.
Real-time control over all sequence parameters with tons of interactive performance features unavailable to analogue sequencers.
Built in Voltage and Gate outs and real knobs..unlike any software sequencer.
Backlit LCD display shows info for note value, duration, step length etc.
Sequences can modulate each other for true madness.
Playable and controllable in Real Time for live performance as well as in the studio!
Three Analogue outs with three gates.
Stores 99 sequences of 8 steps, chained to make longer sequences.
Nine different trigger modes.
Can be clocked with an LFO module for sync to Modcan
Sequences are accessed in real-time using panel switches
Also functions as a full feature MIDI to CV converted and as a MIDI
control device for use with other midi gear.
Can be used with other MIDI>CV converters for up to 32 channels of Voltage control
Module is three units wide
http://www.cyndustries.com
interesting how the Midi jacks are mounted on the pcb and wired to the front panel...
ReplyDeletedamn those qick By-it-nowers!
ReplyDeleteI hear the marketing that "it's deep" and "amazing" -- anyone care to give some clear examples of that?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know how it compares, for instance, to a Sequentix P3 or even a Schrittmacher in various areas.
The manual is on their site. You can, you know, RTFM and decide for yourself; bourgeoise nerds should be able to read!
ReplyDeleteThank god I'm not judging it by the manual. It reads like a comprehensive technical doc like an engineer would write. No soul, or 'analogy' to a performance experience.
ReplyDeleteI suppose this outlaws every japanese built music machine as valuable kit. I read the manual a few times, thought about it while staring at gear, bought it, and got exactly what I expected. It's not that hard to get one's head around, and boutique engineers aren't often folks with journalism or technical writing degrees.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing "boutiquesque" in a digital sequencer.... Nothing deep and amazing too. It is a midi/cv converter with some other firmware written on the top and a basic user interface. Regarding to the word 'polyphonic' seems too much for me.
ReplyDelete3 control voltages are just enough for a simple chord, no info on velocity to play with filters, blah blah.
1300 bucks? The electronic is worth not more than 100 in small quantities... I don't get it... Is it old enough to call it vintage?
AAAAAAAAArgh... gone for 1600!
ReplyDeleteapprox equal to:
-MacBook
-Ableton
-2x16 channel midi to cv
and you can also have some money back...
Don't get it , still.
musicians tend to prefer their instruments. not a lot of violinists jumped to using the killer gigastudio violin libraries when they were released just because they sounded good and ran on a computer for less money!
ReplyDeleteit's quite a good sequencer because of the ui, it's very very playable and there's loads of cross-sequence modulation pollination which absolutely cannot be replicated in ableton live. having a central sequencer with tight timing sending out a couple channels of monophonic cv along with five or six or ten channels of mono or polyphonic midi is really nice, expecially with how one can trigger sequences and perform out song structure and arrangement ideas.
Also, how many PC upgrades will you need to perform to keep this sequencer running in 10 years?
ReplyDeleteIn ten years (that's the lifespan of a Flash memory) this seq will have the same intelligence as a river rock.
ReplyDeleteThere are many plugins that make this sort of things (sequence modulation, etc..) and if that not suits your need, there's MAX.
I agree that having few knobs to turn is much more fun and direct but in the end you are talking about tens of polyphonic tracks being directed by this sequencer. I doubt that, in that scenario, the editing will result in anything less than a real nightmare. Having the tracks visible and editable on a screen it's another kind of job.
Anyway I didn't said that it is not a good sequencer. I was playing on his really high price-tag.
I think, on the other side, that today there is no studios without a pc/mac computer. Even the studio of an analog modular enthusiast...
Regarding the violin thing, that is a tool made not for the violinists!
Anyway, in the meantime I checked the concurrents of this sequencer.... Now I regard the entire category as a luxury item :))))