Manual step sequencer problem

jomtones's icon

I'm trying to make a manual step sequencer out of the built-in Max version, and I've gotten pretty far but for one little problem - when I load a preset it triggers the first note already.

Can you help me figure out how to stop it sending that first note on preset change?

NB. This sequencer doesn't sync with Ableton but has been designed to step forward with a button or MIDI input - note C-1.

Max Patch
Copy patch and select New From Clipboard in Max.
Wetterberg's icon

the numberbox called "position" just after the counter is connected to the preset engine, so every time you recall a preset it outputs the zero.
Connect the third output of the Preset object to it and that should cure your ails.

jomtones's icon

Thanks Wetterberg - think that's closer but I'm still getting a note playing on preset recall after connecting that 3rd output - sometimes the note seems to 'stick' too .... maybe I need to exclude something else from the preset as well?

jomtones's icon

Maybe this is overcomplicating it but perhaps I could add a variable that says 'only play a note after receiving MIDI note C-1'? I've no idea how to do this though, total noob here!

Wetterberg's icon

well, you need to resave the presets first - it's not enough to just connect it.

jomtones's icon

Mm, seems to happen with new presets too. Haven't had much luck with my 'gate' work-around either. Rehearsal is in 2 hours and I badly need to fix it! :#

My next problem is stuck notes when changing patches! Is there any easy way I can send a "kill all notes" on preset change?

Wetterberg's icon

I have been testing it, it definitely isn't outputting new notes. I'm stumped as to why yours is. I wonder if I should save it for you, because I can tell that there are no notes being generated.

I just came up with a way of handling this in a hack-around, though. See attached.

Max Patch
Copy patch and select New From Clipboard in Max.

Re: the kill all notes: I'd switch to just using a makenote, if you're worried about the time-scale of it.
[Borax] gives you ways of killing all notes, btw.

Wetterberg's icon
Max Patch
Copy patch and select New From Clipboard in Max.

Well the following patch has BOTH those mechanisms implemented. Again, I just tested and this appears to work.

jomtones's icon

Ok this looks cool - do I replace the bit next to the 'noteout' with it - input notes to the 'pack 0 0'?

Wetterberg's icon

put all this in where the [noteout] was - so this connects to that thing called step.overlay.

jomtones's icon

Ah, sweet silence! I don't know what you did but that killed it! Now to have a look at Borax :)

Wetterberg's icon

what this little critter does is :
Every time you load a new preset it shuts a gate.
The note coming down (that first errant one) then fails to enter, and immediately opens the gate.
next one then passes freely.

Good luck with borax - it's a great object :)

I've done stuff with "manual sequencers", and in those cases I only use the pitch value - that is, the incoming midi is then used for the velocity and note-on/off, so that you can scroll through the sequence, while still controlling the velocity. Pretty fun.

jomtones's icon

Nice one... just got one problem - I'm now missing that first note when loading a preset!

Wetterberg's icon

that must be because BOTH fixes are working. Simply remove either of them, I guess.

jomtones's icon

By both fixes, you mean the 'exclude from preset' too? I'll give it a go..

jomtones's icon

Ok, if I remove the 'exclude from preset' I get a nasty stuck note when loading presets. If I remove your gate patch I get the same.

But with both enabled I lose the first note of the sequence! So mysterious..

Wetterberg's icon

sorry man. I don't know what to say at this point. I'm all out of time for testing this, I'm afraid.

jomtones's icon

Ok no worries, thanks for your help.

jomtones's icon

Ok I figured it, just had to add one more element to the 'exclude' link! :)

Roman Thilenius's icon

u could make that extra note a special feature of your app.

"the mysterious sequencer - it always plays one extra note"

Wetterberg's icon

could you post the final version here, please?

jomtones's icon
Max Patch
Copy patch and select New From Clipboard in Max.

Sure ... just been adding a scaler too for output. Not very elegant but it does the job. Rehearsal ahoy!