Hello,

I would like to know if it is possible to control external parameters from a Part Motion Sequencer ?
For example, I want to control the Cutoff Frequency of an external synth. If I set a motion control to a part cutoff, will it be sent to my external synth (on the right midi channel of course !) ?

thanks

Thanks for the question. To fully understand the answer you have to get a handle on what is “Motion Control” and what is specifically a “Motion Sequence”. Motion Control is the catch-all term for MONTAGE’s many ways of putting music in motion. The Motion Sequence is one of those ways. It was developed as an extension of the Arpeggiator. Here’s a quick primer:

_ The quick answer is, no, a Motion Sequence is a function that applies parameter change directly to internal MONTAGE settings. It does not generate any messages that are transmitted Out via MIDI, at all.

The Motion Sequence
A Motion Sequence is much like parameter “automation”. It can be set in motion by a trigger event and can address a variety of parameter destinations. If it helps, you can think of the MSeq as a Phrase — much like an Arpeggio is a Phrase of Note-on events, the Motion Sequence is a Phrase of Parameter Changes.

MIDI has a limited series of standardized CONTROL CHANGE numbers that are designed to be used to communicate between devices via MIDI. Example CC1 Modulation Wheel, is MIDI message that can be sent from the MONTAGE to your external device. What a receiving device does with this particular message (CC1) is entirely up to the programming in the receiving device. Some CONTROL CHANGE messages, like CC7 Volume, CC10 Pan, CC11 Expression, CC64 Sustain, etc., etc., do a specific (fixed function) thing to each receiving device.

What the Motion Sequence sends are parameter changes BUT it only sends them directly (internally) to MONTAGE synth engine parameters (parameters your external synth will have no idea about) — these include parameters specific to the MONTAGE’s Motion Control Synthesis Engine, including some 251 parameter destinations exclusive to the MONTAGE. (See Data List booklet “Controller Box Destination” page 182-184)

Besides the fact that Motion Sequences create no transmitted MIDI messages, (even if they did), your external device would not understand the language... they are MONTAGE specific parameters.
Motion Sequences cannot be recorded, because no MIDI data is generated.
Motion Sequences are always applied in real time.
They can run on their own clock or they can be sync’d to Tempo of the MONTAGE clock
They can be triggered by a Note-on, or by a dedicated button ([MSEQ TRIGGER] button).
They can be Sync’d with a Part that has an Arpeggio assigned... thus they can be Note Limited and/or Velocity Limited

You can think of what they do as similar to what an LFO or Envelope Generator does... they control parameter change directly. An LFO could be assigned to open a filter (it does so by direct assignment) you set the depth and speed. An EG could be assigned to change a filter (it does so by direct assignment) you set the Time and Level changes to automate the change. A Motion Sequence is assigned a Destination and can manipulate that parameter directly; you construct the movement via its Motion Sequence creation tool.

What you can do...
The link from the very internally focused Motion Sequence and the external synth, could be established by running the audio of your external device to the A/D IN on the MONTAGE back panel. The Audio In PART becomes controllable by both the Super Knob/Assign Knob system and the Motion Sequencer. You will be applying the Motion Sequence automation to the Audio of your external devices signal.

This is different from how it affects an internal Part. For example, you cannot address your external device’s own Filters, but you could assign one of MONTAGE’s boutique INSERTION EFFECT Filter’s to the audio of your external synth.

Motion Sequences and Arpeggios
If you wish to address your external synth’s own Filter with the MONTAGE Motion Control Synthesis Engine, you could do so via one of MONTAGE’s eight available Arpeggiators. An Arpeggiator is a device that not only can be used for Note oriented musical phrases, but can also be used to send CONTROL CHANGE (CC) messages as so-called “Control Arps”: you will find Preset Arp Phrases that are exclusively controller data cc10 Pan, cc11 Expression (gated fx), cc71 Resonance, cc74 Cutoff, cc16, cc17
You can create your own cc (control) Arps using the MONTAGE Sequencer’s Convert to User Arp function. Instead of the typical Note phrases, you set the Arpeggiator to KEY MODE = Direct This allows the keys you press to sound, while the Control Arp applies the CC messages to the resulting sound.

Arpeggio data, unlike a Motion Sequence, can be recorded because it does send the data Out via MIDI.

These Control Arps are the birthplace of the Motion Sequencer. Take a Controller Arpeggio (which are limited to the cc#’s provided by MIDI) and expand it to the more than 250 assignable Motion Control Synthesis Engine parameters and you have the germ idea for the Motion Sequencer.

The Motion Sequence is a clockable series of events (like a phrase of parameter changes) that can automate results — the Motion Sequence can be set to LOOP (like an LFO) or it can triggered as a “one shot”, which is more like an Envelope Generator...

Hope that helps get you started.

Wouah !! Thank you so much, Bad Mister, for having spending all this time for giving me and all of us this so comprehensive and easy-to-understand answer.

It's really clear now.