Are these functions available?

[FlavioBParticipant]

Hi there!
I’m interested in Zaquencer, but before buying it I’d like to know if it supports following functions:
variable pattern length (like having patterns with 6 steps or 16 or 5 or whatever);
mute of single steps;
skip of single steps.

Thanks in advance for your replies and regards!
F.

[alien_brainParticipant]

yep yep and yep

[FlavioBParticipant]

Ok that’s a good start!
Now another question: is live pattern editing possible? I mean, can I edit the running pattern? In other words, I hope there is no play and edit modes as on Roland TR drum machines…
Ah, last but not least: how many rows and how long are they? I mean, I can have 32 steps pattern length, or 2×16 or 4×8: would this mean that with 1×32 I would have only one big pattern and one row?
Thanks,
F.

[alien_brainParticipant]

Live editing is possible. If you chain more than one pattern you’d better save your edits before the next pattern hits because all will be reset to the saved state when the next pattern is loaded into the edit buffer. Bummer. Wish we could set it to automatically update the saved pattern. Oh well. It’s not impossible.

One pattern or row per track, with alternate views for all the lanes for example note or velocity. Navigate to one of four tracks with independent midi out settings

Get one. It’s like a multidimensional etch a sketch for your ears. Just don’t expect a robust hardware!!!

[FlavioBParticipant]

Good good good! It’s getting interesting!
Live editing with auto-save would be very interesting: do you think this might come in some future firmware release? Has this feature eventually already been added to the “wishlist” or “feature request” list?

Total of four tracks, correct? And each track can be maximum 32 steps, correct?
Is there a dedicated drum track, or are all 4 tracks the same (which means I can choose if it’s a drum, a mono or a chord track)?

I’m still a bit confused about “track” and “pattern”, can you help understand the difference?

Thanks!
F.

[alien_brainParticipant]

i think its been discussed and i dont remember the outcome but im sure there was a good reason for the limitation. you could ask it in that forum and zaq– erm, Christian will usually give a very eloquent answer.

its a four track machine. it has an ungodly number of patterns all with 4 tracks up to 32 steps each, all track step lengths are independent from each other. you can set any/all tracks to any midi target, and recall most patterns with a midi cc or by the front panel buttons. each track has a variety of sequencer / midi related lanes.

i dont use the drum function yet but any or all tracks can be set to a percussion map that you set up that allows some special things like triggering more than one midi note at a time etc. advantages include muting each drum instrument independently. drawbacks are the single velocity per step covering all played instruments on that step.

there is also a chord function that i havent used much yet.

the rest has been great to use with basslines and drum loop manipulation… better than anything else hardware for both of those in fact, in my opinion. of course it all boils down to how you like to work. i develop a sequence over time with tweaks here and there that is near impossible to do on most other hardware without spending an assload of money. this is an inexpensive tactile way to touch your midi sequence and build loads of detail in your patterns. despite its few minor flaws, i would say its the best value i have ever seen for what it offers. i give it 5 stars.

obvious drawbacks are the hardware build quality of the behringer base product. at some point, youll be looking to replace a button on a PCB that is surface mounted. not easy or cheap but at least you can upgrade the component. i dont think its too long until everyone will need to do that. encoders too. i try to be careful with mine.

[FlavioBParticipant]

Hi again.
Thanks for your kind explanations… I do see the difference in terms of “durability” and of course in terms of costs: I can get for less than 100 Euros a BCR2000 and then I just need to buy the Zaquencer Firmare (eventually the overlays as well, as they seem to come handy!).
Actually I’m sequencing my drums with an “MaM SQ16″ which I kinda have learned in a few sessions (at least what matters the most to me, of course).
I had a MAQ 16/3 (Doepfer Hardware), but it was unsatisfying, thus I sold it.
I’m looking out to the Cirklon, but it’s waaaaaaay to expensive for me.
Then I found out about Seq12 being now built and sold from Mode Machines – 1200 Euros for 12 Tracks (each of 16 steps), chord and drum tracks as well. That could be my final destination, but in the meantime I wonder if the Zaquencer will make me happy, as it “only” has 4 tracks available simultaneously.
I’ll give it a try!
Thanks so far!
F.

[ChristianKeymaster]

Hi Flavio,
thanks for your questions, and ALien, thanks for your answers
I have written a bit about the autosave over here, in Alien´s request:
https://zaqaudio.com/forums/topic/pattern-autosave

[FlavioBParticipant]

Hi Christian,
thanks for chiming in, really appreciate it.
Of course, thanks again as well to alien_brain

I read that post about autosave function, thanks. So, in the long run, do we need to think about having to replace somewhen the memory chip(s)?
Or will this never happen, as the hardware itself (rotary pots and buttons) will be dead before the chips?

A last question: how’s the license related to the owner or hardware? I mean, if I buy a user BCR2000 and install Zaquencer on it, what happens when this piece of hardware will be dead? Will I lose the Zaquencer license and thus will need to buy another one?

Thanks and regards,
Flavio.

[ChristianKeymaster]

Hi Flavio,

I do not think that one has to worry about the longevity of the Flash chips under normal use.

As I wrote it could lead to a problem with an autosave function in the pattern chain though, doing a write every couple seconds or so.

My first BCR is 11 years old, I have been using it as a regular BCR for 8 years and then as the main development unit for another 3 years, doing heavy, heavy flash operations (firmware transfers, thousands of writes during testing), and there is no hint of a weakness of the Flash chip.

Regarding the license, please let me refer you to the text from our FAQ:

Q: What if my BCR2000 with an installed Zaquencer license should break? Can I transfer the license?
A: As a general rule, the Zaquencer license is bound to one BCR device.
Still, if your BCR with a Zaquencer license on it should break, please get in touch with our customer service at support@zaqaudio.com. We don´t want to leave our customers hanging, but we will evaluate every case on an individual basis and reserve the right for asking for proof and denying the support request.

[FlavioBParticipant]

Hi Christian.
Thanks a lot for your time and efforts.
I’ll try to get one asap!
F.

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