Fun things to do with your G2

Anig Browl · Joined: May 05, 2004 Posts: 20 Location: San Francisco

I'm not going to have it until next week. But as a disenfranchised modular 1 owner, I have been speculating a lot about things to do with the G2 once I get hold of it.

Many of these involve noodles (self-generating patterns/sounds) or semi-automatic control of sequences. And I am very excited about the possibilities offered by the new MIDI modules and the increase in the number of inputs to four. It seems to me that there are tremendous possibilities in connecting another sound modules to the G2 and using the red beast to both control and process the audio output of the other machine.

I'm particularly taken with the idea of using a sampler for this, as two of the outputs from the G2 could then be looped back into the sampler for processing with its effects or resampling in some fashion (though not that many samplers would do this on the fly, I suspect). I made one my first tracks with a micromod looped into the back of an Ensoniq sampler and the headphone output going into the computer's line in. Many samplers will let you modulate the start point of the sample in response to velocity or some other MIDI control. Hyper- (well, MIDI-) precise sample triggering and layering should be interesting as well, though if this is intended to synchronise with further G2 processing sampler latency will have to be taken into account.

Finally, the possibilities offered by pairing the G2 up with another sequencer fascinate me. I like hardware sequencers (drum and groove modules) and the G2 seems like it would combine very well with a pattern-oriented sequencer (particularly if I could find a way to control the pattern switching from the G2 also...). I can see myself using the hardware sequencer in very unorthodox ways, for example to change switches in a 'state machine' kind of patch or triggering particular notes just to act as counters in some patch. It should be possible to construct some very interesting MIDI noodles!

mosc · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 7:15 am Post subject:

Yes, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The MIDI modules really work too. I've used a few computer based MIDI processing programs and the G2 shows up as being great for not getting clogged up or bogged down by high MIDI data input.

cebec · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 7:40 am Post subject:

This is precisely what I'm looking forward to, as well. (my G2 delivers today).
I plan on using Softstep (by Algorithmic Arts) and Reaktor (as a sampler/FX processor) with the G2 (noodling/MIDI processing) to create generative and algorithmic music...
Since I'm relatively new to the theoretical and more technical underpinnings of this approach, I'll be watching this space indefinitely.
Perhaps Anig and Jan can 'tutor' me with their musings and patches.

mosc · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 8:12 am Post subject:

cebec · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:29 am Post subject:

got my G2 and i'm in awe. much better-sounding and more fun to use than i'd hoped, and that's just with the factory presets! didn't get the full impression from demo'ing it at a store.

unfortunately, one of the knobs is loose and wiggles a bit... there's also a click in it's rotation that changes location, it seems.

i'm going to have to return it -- plan on keeping this one for a long time, and lavishing affection and attention on it, daily... that knob's gonna be turned continuously, so...

p.s. for future reference, how do i clear the memory of all patches?

mosc · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 8:06 am Post subject:

Hehe... I know the feeling.

Yes, I'd get that knob fixed or get a new machine.

As for erasing patches. I don't know if there is a special command, but you can run the file browser tool in the G2 editor (CONTROL B), select all of the patches in a given bank, and right click to select the "delete selected patches" command.

cebec · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:01 am Post subject:

Music123's paying for return shipping and sending a new one today (after they twiddle the knobs to check for tightness/smoothness).
Perhaps I won't have to go a day without it!

mother misty · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:46 am Post subject:

Another nice thing you can do is to make a midi-controller
(by placing a bunch of controller send modules) assign those to your favourite hard/software synth and.... assign morph-groups!
ALL your synths (hard or software) now can have morph-groups!

Rob · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject:

Nice to see you here!

The G2 is just great. The mixers, switches and level department is a joy compared to the classic NM. I know these modules look of less important, but actually they are the all important glue to get everything to work as it should.
And yes, MIDI out modules are great fun. Right now I'm midifying the phoneme sequencer module (GI SP0256 speech chip) in my analog modular, so I can directly control it from the G2.

But what pleases me most about the G2 is the broad range of sounds and the sound quality. It needs a little fiddling about but it can sound amazingly great.