Hi all

I've heard from multiple sources that the mc202's a problem to control from external CV.

Apparently it's to do with the fact the 202s sequencer quantises the incoming data.

Kenton do a kit so you can skip the sequencer layer and directly control the sounds of the 202. But it's £150 fitted n posted.

Anyone know if the 202 will be ok if triggered via a cv step sequencer? I wonder if anyone has acctually tried this. Before anyone mentions get a 101 I know, but I want the smallest footprint.

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

I used to run 4 x MC-202s from an MPU-401 MIDI-CV converter. I don't recall having any special mods done, so as far as I know it should just work. This obviously bypasses the MC-202's own sequencer - which is a blessing!

My memory doesn't serve me any better than that, I'm afraid.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Hi elf, Thanks for reply

I don't think that would bypass the 202s internal sequencer layer.

From what I understand if you plug into the fitted as standard CV ports on a 202 it goes via the inboards sequencer then onto the sound.

The only way you can stop the sequencer auto quantising everything and also adding latency as the 202 processes everything is to mod it to totally bypass the sequencer later

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

Check this

http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/sockets/roland/mc202.shtml

(Click the 'more info' tab top right.)

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

My mate had a 202 and said the same thing re timing issues when I said I wanted one. What's on the Kenton website is accurate, imo the whole MC-202 appeal is the weird (and confusing) sequencer albeit always being cheaper than the 101 does make it appealing to people who also want a 101 but the CV/Gate input issue is a pain

Also no white noise

Get an SH-101!

Only joking. In fact, the 202 is slightly more versatile as it has accent control but sadly, is missing the great noise generator on the SH.

But anyway for the MIDI / CV thing, it does not go through the sequencer. The notes are triggered by the control voltage and the length by the gate. A Kenton Solo will work just fine.

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I'm All Ears.

http://www.dinsync.info/2010/03/for-final-mc-202-modification-in-my.html

Fair enough.

I don't recall having any mods done at all and we ran that system for several years. Maybe it just wasn't an issue for us as we never used portamento or pitch bend into the 202s - very likely, since they were just there for running 'twinkly' sequencers over the real meaty stuff (including a mighty Digisound modular!!).

I do recall we used to spend a bit of time shifting MIDI track timings forwards and backwards with all MIDI instruments (some early MIDI synths were *very* sluggish responders) to get tighter sync, so maybe that answers the 'latency' question.

John Price (Kenton) knows his stuff (he's modded and made all kinds of stuff for me), so I'd trust his description and remedy completely.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Ken, hi, it ' does' go via the sequencer mate. The built in cv is not direct.

I've got a 101 that I love but I really want to slim down the amount of space my kit fills out. I'll gladly swap my 101 for a 202 for the smaller footprint. But I have to have one or the other.

VJ. Great links, that's exactly what I'm talking about mate. I'm not brave enough to DIY it tho.

I acctually like the 202s sequencer. But would want to control it from a CV step sequencer most of the time. Not fussed about midi.

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

The 202's CV input does indeed go through the processor before being shoved out to the osc; I suppose it's because it was meant for programming, not playing. If you can stand to pre-program your sequences, you could just clock the 202, or use it as the clock, but I'm guessing you already know that... which means either a slightly laggy sequence, or a pricey mod.

There used to be some software called 202 Hack which allowed you to program the 202 from a computer - by loading a MIDI sequence into the softwareI think, and then export the resulting audio file into the 202's tape interface. Not sure if it's still going but might be worth checking out if you're interested.

Hi Nathan

Yes aware of 202 hack but thanks.

Ideally I want to run my 202 live from an analogue step sequencer 75% of the time. 25% of the time the 202s sequencer

I've got really board lately with the studio based approach. However live stuff really floats my boat.

Back on track. To use my 202 from a step sequencer I am going to need this mod? Would you agree?

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

Quote Kolakube:

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I've got really board lately with the studio based approach. However live stuff really floats my boat.

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But are we going to hear any of the stuff you did before you got bored, Kola? I'm curious how all this gear you're amassing is being used!

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

If you would like to hear some of my pervious stuff I can gladly send you some.

The fact of it is I dont enjoy the DAW environent nor is there any money to be made, so I make music for fun. Simple as.

Fun for me I'd what I do now. I don't care if anyone else likes it. People these days cannot even be bothered to hit a like button on YouTube never mind anything more than that so I write for me.

Basically I fiddle with my analogue step sequencer, sync it to my mpc, drop samples over the top, mute and un mute from pads, transpose from keyboard, fiddle with guitar fx pedals, tweak filters and envelopes.
Well, I'd certainly say that beats staring into a conputers screen making highly polished music and sounding much like everyone else. For me anyhow and that's all that counts.

I'd rather make much less polished music and have fun doing so.

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

Oh, and I'm not amassing gear mate. I'm slimming right down. Hence swapping my 101s out for 202s or slim phattys.

I now have less kit than ever and am far happier for it. Ideally I want the smallest footprint ever. And no computer, but that's allready gone.

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

PM sent! I'm keen to hear what you're doing with the technology I cut my teeth on!

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Well, your going to have to hang on mate.

The reason for this very thread is the fact I'm heavily changing my set up. I think since starting this thread I have decided patch memories are a must as I hope to do alot of live work. There is a 75% chance we are emigrating in the next 6 months. I aim to do live beech shows once set up over there. However, it all depends on my wife's career, the remaining 25% that is.

Also my equipment isn't as antiquated as you make it sound. I have an mpc2500, Nord lead 3 and a dark time sequencer. These are all built in the last ten years. I have sold most of my large (relative) studio and am now slimming down to a highly portable computerless setup. But it's a process, a one I expect will not be complete until the end of the year.

My set up is going to be 4 synths (3 of which are monotimbral) and an mpc. That's it!! Add to that cheapo mackie mixer, cheapo fx n guitar pedals and that's me.

I'm a hands on tweaky sort of guy. Not a computer nerd. Whilst I can write highly polished music on a computer it's a sterile experience for me. Worse, 99% of DJs and musicians play "live" this way. I am hoping my raw unique sound, and the fact I'm not a T.W.A.L.T during my live shows could get me somewhere.

Laptop DJs n musicians, it's like attack of the clones 2. Never in all of the 80s and 90s did I think the production of music could be so drab!

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(Sent via my iPhone and no doubt riddled with typos as a result)

Hey Kola, not sure if you are still looking for input on this. I think some previous posters already stated it well. I used a 202 w/o mods and externally played for a while, and as already said, this works fine. Only if you want it to be really tight and cannot nudge the audio in channel in the DAW (e.g. when playing live!), then the slight lag can be a bit annoying. Depends on the duties the 202 is taking over of course. But after all, tight timing is one of the cool things of CV I think.

So I put the Kenton kit into my 202 and it is like any CV synth now. Kenton kit adds a nice CV-Filter control as you probably know, and using the headphone out of the 202 as a modulation source makes its tone a bit rougher (in a nice way). Or just sending a sequencer CV line into this is fun, too.

Sooo..if it is your bass synth that you want to use in tandem with drums maybe in a life setup, I would recommend it. If it is more for bleeps and blops and some drone stuff (that is probably what the prog-rocker Elf used it for! 4 units wow!!), then it is just fine as it is IMO. I take it you already have a sequencer, so you probably know meanwhile whether the slight lag is annoying for your type of music or not.

In any case, a lovely little synth I like it very very much.

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http://soundcloud.com/schmuckfenster

Edited by flo (13/09/12 05:37 PM)