Conference napalm::commusic_v1

1386.0. "Dr. T's Fingers Sequencer and More" by IOENG::JWILLIAMS (Zeitgeist Zoology) Mon May 16 1988 19:47

    I just got Dr T's fingers over the weekend. It looks pretty cool,
    although I would hardly call it a stand alone product. What it
    basically is is a four track sequencer with limited note capacity
    that allows looping, randomization, and editing all in real time.
    
    You can have up to four voices, each with assignable midi channel,
    and a bunch of global editing parameters you would normally expect.
    Each voice steps through time, pitch, velocity, and duration series
    ( how series differ from sequences is slight ), and you can edit
    these series on the fly.
    
    It interfaces well with KCS, and works in the MPE environment. You
    can do all sorts of transfers and manipulations between the two.
    It seems like a really neat way of generating drum tracks.
    
    It's not the best thing since sliced bread, but for about $50, I
    think I can find a few occasions to use it. I thought about entering
    a large number of specs here, but it probably be a waste of time
    as none of you would know what I would be talking about ( It has
    a terminology that is unique ). The best way to describe fingers
    is that it is a four track sequencer that:
    
    1) Allows real time editing
    2) Allows algorithmic sequencing
    3) Allows automatic randomization
    4) Allows real time transposition
    5) Allows real time jumping
    
    It's marketed as a cross between a sequencer and a computer game.
    The idea is you create templates of patterns, which you then select
    and modify on the fly. Like I said, it looks as though it could
    turn out pretty handy on drum patterns and arpeggios. They toy with
    the idea throughout the manual that you can improvise on stage using
    it, but I think it would be a bit risky. They have some alignment
    dohickies that you can play with if your tune gets out of sync,
    but fast stuff would take some practice as you have to do everything
    between the beats. I would prefer to practice on a real instrument.
    
    It's a neat toy, however, and it looks as though I might put some
    good use to it.
    							John.

    The MMT-8 (Alesis) allows you to select the next pattern, so, you
    may do some random types of things. You are right, this is risky
    on stage if you don't recall which part goes to what (I tend to
    use numbers, as well as names). I do find that the ability to alter
    a sequenced song is veru useful, and I think that this is the wave
    of the future. What does FINGERS run on??
    
    							Jens

    Fingers runs on the ATARI ST, that I know of, that is.
    						John.