Yeah I use it to get the tempo of a few songs that start with just piano only, then ~1/3 way into the songs I press the Play button to start the sequencing for drums, bass & other instruments...  Works great for me!

I just focus on when it swells to its brightest to get the tempo, then look away while counting out the tempo in my head & focus on starting the song on the keys.

As an alternative: Montage has LEDs around the assignable knobs and these knobs values can be set using control arps.  It may be easier to "see" these LEDs flashing instead of Superknob.

As an alternative: Montage has LEDs around the assignable knobs and these knobs values can be set using control arps. It may be easier to "see" these LEDs flashing instead of Superknob.

I'm guessing you  would use an 'extreme' key to trigger the arp to start?

Are there some rather specific use cases to use those knobs to do the job?

Does the Arp Master switch need to be ON for an arp to even run?

Does one, or more, of the part Arp switches need to be ON or just the master?

What parameter would you have the arp control to do the flashing?

How do take into account that the parameter a knob controls depends on the context of the front panel? Can't knob 8

be a common knob, a part knob, a filter knob, an amplitude knob and other? Won't the flashing stop when a different context

is used?

I'm interested in exploring this but having trouble understanding how it might be generally useful.

Control arps need the same prerequisites as note arps.  So yes, arps need to be turned on both master and part level.

Triggering is up to you.  There are options.   Use arp based and then set the arp key limit if you want to limit the key range.

I don't follow the "specific use case" question.  For now this is trying to address the behavior of how superknob's flashing isn't cutting it.

Yes, assignable knobs change modes depending on Part of Common assignable or one of the 3 fixed functions.  So if you're modulating (arp controlling) a knob then you need to have the knobs in the correct mode to see them blink/move.

If you want to dip your toe in, take a look at the control arps that are presets.  These may be all you need and/or allow skipping the step initially of creating a custom user arp more tailored to the LED pattern you're after.

Of course since this is for display purposes only you would probably want to target an assignable knob that isn't also modulating some other parameter.

If superknob isn't used for something else then you could also use superknob automation using the ring of amber LEDs around the superknob as your metronome display or a connected (linked) common assignable knob's LEDs.

Control arps can even control the assignable switches [ASSIGN 1&2] so control arps could flash those on and off.  

Posted by: Jason

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If you want to dip your toe in, take a look at the control arps that are presets.  These may be all you need and/or allow skipping the step initially of creating a custom user arp more tailored to the LED pattern you're after.

I check that and come back

The assignable switches used in presets use "AF1" or "AF2".  These do not flash either but instead force them on.   I created a quick user arp using MIDI recording (not pattern) that flashes an assignable switch.  So it's an option.  No way to share on Soundmondo due to user arps which are not feasible using Soundmondo.

The "easiest" way to get this dialed in is to use a computer to create a MIDI file with the CC values changing and import this to Montage to create a user arp.  Montage doesn't have surgical editing of MIDI events like Motif had.

The "ASSIGN 1/2" arp sub-category are the presets that modulate the assignable knobs.

Can you try using the 'Attach file' button to see if it lets you post the file?

Posted by: Jason

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The assignable switches used in presets use "AF1" or "AF2".  These do not flash either but instead force them on.   I created a quick user arp using MIDI recording (not pattern) that flashes an assignable switch.  So it's an option.  No way to share on Soundmondo due to user arps which are not feasible using Soundmondo.

 

The "easiest" way to get this dialed in is to use a computer to create a MIDI file with the CC values changing and import this to Montage to create a user arp.  Montage doesn't have surgical editing of MIDI events like Motif had.

 

The "ASSIGN 1/2" arp sub-category are the presets that modulate the assignable knobs.

what I understood so far is that for use an arpeggio for trigger a  led pulse around knobs, there is a conter part; you need to  sacrifice one part, am I right? The preset assign 1 up +1 works pretty well. 
is it the case also for assign switch? Otherwise, For the moment the assign switch trick you gave to us  remain a complete mystery to me. I go check that with you say preset af1 af2, this is still on preset arp?

Posted by: Jason

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The "easiest" way to get this dialed in is to use a computer to create a MIDI file with the CC values changing and import this to Montage to create a user arp.  Montage doesn't have surgical editing of MIDI events like Motif had.

Is that means you cannot create this arp triggering sequences on/off assign switch on the montage itself because you need to manipulate cc value and montage cannot do that?

Posted by: Darryl

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Yeah I use it to get the tempo of a few songs that start with just piano only, then ~1/3 way into the songs I press the Play button to start the sequencing for drums, bass & other instruments...  Works great for me!

I just focus on when it swells to its brightest to get the tempo, then look away while counting out the tempo in my head & focus on starting the song on the keys.

i was not enough aware that the beat was set on the peak brightest SK luminosity! 🙄 But still a little confusing for me, it would be easier if we could set the behavior of the flash ( length and progression of the intensity ), and best would be to have a different color for the first beat, then it will be an useful visual metronome . That would be simple functions to implement. I guess it could be more tempo lighting possibilities with the new montage.  😍  

what I understood so far is that for use an arpeggio for trigger a led pulse around knobs, there is a conter part; you need to sacrifice one part, am I right?

The 'trigger' can be a single key - so on an M you can use a single element with a note range of C7 - C7 which is the highest note on an M8X.

Is that means you cannot create this arp triggering sequences on/off assign switch on the montage itself because you need to manipulate cc value and montage cannot do that?

You CAN create the arp on the instrument but not as well. To get a knob to flash you want to change the parameter value it represents from LOW to HI and then back to LOW. If you do that on the instrument you need to actually twirl the knob yourself. The issue there is you can't go from LOW to HI without hitting several values in between which would get recorded also.

If you create the MIDI manually you can just put in the two correct parameter change commands for the HI and LOW values without any values in between.

it would be easier if we could set the behavior of the flash ( length and progression of the intensity ), and best would be to have a different color for the first beat,

That isn't possible.

Use the right tool for the job. Don't turn an expensive synth into a strobe light. Just buy a MIDI controlled flasher - then you can put it in a central location where everyone that needs to (e.g. drummer) can see it.

For a strobe (on/off) use case why not just create a simple motion sequence? See page 45 of the ops doc. It can provide the two values you need and sync to the tempo.

Honestly, when the original Montage was released, I used to refer to it as the Marketing Knob. Something flashy and cool looking, and big enough to really stand out. Because the most important thing about a synth is how cool it looks (I'm only partly kidding here).

I was also happy to learn before purchase that you could turn the flashing off, as I thought it might induce seizures. However, having played the M for a few weeks now, I'm surprised to find that I don't even see it as I'm playing. Or, more to the point, it doesn't draw my attention. 

That said, and more to the point of the post, the cool / sexy fade in / out / colors thing is a nice feature for a Marketing Knob, but if I was going to use it for BPM I'd want a hard on / off, like the Kronos has. I think that would be more functional. But of course, less sexy. And as anyone knows, sexy sells way better than functional. 🙂

I was also happy to learn before purchase that you could turn the flashing off,

On that same Utility -> Settings -> System screen where you do that you can control the brightness of the button and slider lights (but not knobs) when they are dim using the Half Glow setting: OFF, 1/4 or 1/2.

The 1/4 (1/2) means an available, but not selected, button will glow at 1/4 (or 1/2) of max brightness. It also affects the brightness of the intermediate slider lights.

The default is 1/4 so if a button is glowing at all it means it is programmed. That makes it easy to see which scenes a performance is using or which parts/elements/operators a performance is using.

Not sure why you would want to use OFF unless things were fully automated.

Easy to see the effect - just watch the sliders and the scene/other buttons while you change the setting.

CAUTION: the setting is NOT saved on power down but defaults to 1/4 on power up. This is another one of those 'gotchas' that can jump up and bite you when you least expect it.

There are others: in particular the front panel master volume and A/D Input gain knobs. I've never found ANY way to even know what value those knobs are set to or what the actual range of values is. So if the knobs get moved I don't know how you can be sure you have put them back where they belong.

Before powering the instrument ON I do a 'sanity check' to make sure every, knob, slider, and controller (especially foot pedals) is in the starting position I want it in.

If you tweak things during a gig then it can also be necessary to do that 'manual reset' of everything when changing performances manually or using Live Sets. Or when a new performance is loaded the sliders (or pedals) may be physically positioned at a different point than the logical parameter value the performance initially specifies. This can mean a temporary loss of controller action until the controller position 'jumps' to sync to the parameter value.

Posted by: Toby

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Just buy a MIDI controlled flasher - then you can put it in a central location where everyone that needs to (e.g. drummer) can see it.

I don’t find in the European  market such device that has to be midi ( midi in) if you have references, please, tell me.