Mastering MONTAGE 5: Super Knob Morph

The Controller matrix of the MONTAGE is huge. This is why we are starting slowly. The Super Knob, on the upper Common level of the architecture, can have 16 parameter Destinations (1-16); Additionally, each Part can have its own 16 parameter Destinations. The Super Knob can control its 8 AssignKnobs and each Part has its own 8 AssignKnobs. Let’s begin by seeing how the Sawtooth Wave that we hear when we initially recall this sound, is turned down by the Super Knob, and the Square Wave in Part 2, which starts silent, is turned up by a single gesture.

Recall “Super Knob Morph A”
From the HOME screen (touch the Home icon in the upper left corner)
• Highlight the PERFORMANCE NAME: “Super Knob Morph A”
• Press [EDIT]
• Press the [COMMON] button (right side upper COMMON button)
• In the screen select “Control” (left column of the screen) > “Control Assign”
• Make sure the AUTO SELECT option is active (green)
• Move Common Assignable Knob #1 to recall its setting
• Then Common Assignable Knob #2 to recall its setting

Here you can see that Common Assignable Knob 1: Destination 1 = PART 1 Assign 1; Source = AsgnKnob 1
Move Common Assignable Knob 2: Destination 2 = PART 2 Assign 2; Source = AsgnKnob 2

You can view both of these assignments by touching the DISPLAY FILTER and setting it to “ALL” or by moving the “SUPER KNOB” 
The Display Filter simply changes what you are viewing at the current time.

Added in version 1.60, as you move the Super Knob with “Auto Select” active, you can review all parameters linked to the Super Knob.
“Destination 1” is the currently selected item (it’s blue). Move the cursor to highlight “Destination 2”. Highlighting each assignment in turn will allow you to review “how” the controller movement is being applied.

After that the assignments in the individual PARTS can be made. You do so by dropping into PART EDIT. Let’s view PART 1, first:

• Press the [PART SELECT 1/1] right front panel
• The screen will read “Edit – Part1 – Common”

This will light the lower [COMMON] button for ELEMENT/OPERATOR. If not, it means you were last viewing an individual ELEMENT, press the lower [COMMON] button which is also found in the lower left corner of the screen (blue).
For Part 1 the Common Volume will be reduced using Polarity Bipolar and a negative Ratio, the following settings basically works well. 
• Select “MOD/CONTROL” (left column of the screen) > “Control Assign”

If you move SUPER KNOB you will see that:
Destination 1 = VOLUME
Source = AsgnKnob 1
Polarity = Bi
Ratio = -64
Param 1 = 5

The Curve graphic shows (reading left to right) the Volume is full and that as you turn up the SUPER KNOB this PART will be turned down in Volume.

Select PART SELECT 2 (button is labeled [PART SELECT 2/2])
• Press the [PART SELECT 2/2] button; or touch where it shows “PART1” in the lower left corner and select “PART2”
• The screen is now: “Edit – Part2- Common”

Now when you move ASSIGN KNOB 2 you will see that: 

Destination 1 = VOLUME
Source = AsgnKnob 2
Polarity = Bi
Ratio = +63
Param 1 = 5

The Curve graphic shows (reading left to right) that as you turn up the AssignKnob 2, this PART, which starts at silence, will be turned up in Volume. In the minimum position you will only hear the Saw wave, in the maximum position only Square wave, in the center position a mix of both. These particular examples use the STANDARD Curve Type. This should be easy to follow, to hear and to understand.

Because both the AssignKnob 1 of PART 1 and the AssignKnob 2 of PART 2 are linked to the SUPER KNOB, moving the SUPER KNOB with “Auto Select” active, will show you these same two Controller boxes. And as you move the SUPER KNOB the red indicator for the linked AssignKnob moves with it.
Try that: Move the Super Knob while the Auto Select is (green) active – observe the screen information:
Select [PART 1] move the Super Knob – observe the AssignKnob red indicators.
Select [PART 2] move the Super Knob – observe the AssignKnob red indicators.
Select [COMMON] move the Super Knob – observe the AssignKnob red indicators.

The DISPLAY FILTER will recall what items are going to be changed when the Super Knob is moved. When you are viewing a PART edit screen, this is a quick way to see which parameters are being influenced and by which Controller. Simply highlight the Destination box to review/customize the relationship.
Similarly, when on the upper COMMON/Audio level of the architecture, with the “Auto Select”, you can quickly review the PART links to the Super Knob.

As programs get more complex – this is a very important tool. Because as you will see many things can simultaneously be linked to movement of the Super Knob. This Display Filter–Super Knob recall feature, makes it much easier to sort through deeper complex Motion Control programs. For now, just recognize that the Auto Select function helps you *Filter* the data that is recalled to the *Display*. The Display Filter can show everything assigned to a specific SOURCE (Controller).

Recall “Super Knob Morph B”
Basically the same with a few small changes: The Super Knob starts at 127 (fully clockwise) thus starting with the Square Wave, and morphs to the Sawtooth as you move counterclockwise. And the rate of change is different. Let’s see what’s going on:

From the HOME screen (touch the Home icon in the upper left corner):
• Highlight the PERFORMANCE NAME: “Super Knob Morph B”.
• Touch “MOTION CONTROL” in the screen just under “HOME”.
• Touch “SUPER KNOB” in the second column.

Here you can see that the SUPER KNOB is stored at a value of 127, effectively reversing its application:
• Touch “OVERVIEW” top of the second column to view the routing scheme.
• Change the “PART” from COMMON to “PART 1” to view the assignments to PART 1.
• Touch the box “Edit PART 1 Control Settings”.

This will take you directly to the PART 1 Controller setup… Now you can toggle between PARTs 1 and 2 using the PART SELECT [1/1] and [2/2] buttons on the right front panel.
Try manipulationg the shape of the Curve by highlight “Param 1” and altering the value.
Notice how the application of the controls are being altered by the PARAM 1 setting of “3” (for PART1) versus “7” (for PART2). These determine how fast one PART fades out and the other PART fades in:

By setting PART 1 to the CURVE created by “Param 1 = 3” and setting PART 2 to the CURVE created by “Param 1 = 7” creates a different crossfade – changing how long they overlap…

EXTRA CREDIT:
Let’s experiment by checking out using different Curve Types for getting a slightly different morphing process – because PART 1 has a Negative RATIO and PART 2 has the Positive RATIO, you can create these interesting mirror images with the CURVE TYPES:

For example, set the CURVE TYPE = “BELL“ shape with opposite positive/negative RATIO settings for the PARTs;

Set PART 1 (Sawtooth) to RATIO = -64 (above)
Set PART 2 (Square) to RATIO = +63 (below)
This allows you to get the Sawtooth wave at the extremes (top graphic) and the Square wave only in the middle (bottom graphic) of the Super Knob travel.

Another example, the “AM” shape with opposite positive/negative RATIO settings, allows you to switch alternately between Saw and Square as you turn the knob from minimum toward maximum

NOTE:
Navigating back and forth may, at first, seem to be a chore (because you must select the PART and then move the KNOB in order to view what you want) but as you begin to recognize that each PART has its own set of functions the power of this is revealed. Spending time navigating and experimenting here will be well rewarded as you get used to just how deep “scuba diving” with Montage can get! Try to avoid applying AFTERTOUCH while viewing the ASGN KNOB 1/ASGN KNOB 2 with the “AUTO SELECT” option active. This kind of access to parameters and controllers is the equivalent of ‘patching’ analog synth modules together to make a voltage control sound. This is the first step into the MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM.

Recommended: For example, the STANDARD Curve Type selection would work a bit more smoothly. Set the RATIO = -32 and +32 for the respective Parts 1 and 2, using the Bipolar CURVE TYPE for both. Set the PARAM 1 = 3 for PART 1 and PARAM 1 = 7 for PART 2. This PARAM (will change the CURVE TYPE structure. The graphic gives you a good indication of what is actually happening). Explore the PARAM 1 settings to see how it changes the curve.

At the RATIO‘-32’ and ‘+32’; and both set as PARAM 1 = 5, you still get a bit of the PART that fades out when you reach the extremes – instead of silence from the faded PART at the extreme

For Part 1 (fade out of Saw wave) you could use alternately polarity Unipolar with a Ratio of 32, which works especially fine if the Super Knob starts with left position.

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Catch up on the previous article in the series – “Mastering MONTAGE 4: Super Knob Bipolar”.

Next article: “Mastering MONTAGE 6: Super Knob Complex“.