One of the most interesting modules i have seen in a while has been sent out to various testers in the last few weeks.
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The original:
RYK M-185 Sequencer |
The
Intellijel Metropolis is a 'complex multi stage pitch and gate Eurorack sequencer', based on the
RYK M-185 sequencer from the early Roland M-100 series.
This RYK module has always intrigued me, and i was always hoping someone would bring this style of sequencing/programming to the Eurorack.
(Watch some of the original RYK M-185 demos
HERE and
HERE)
Intellijel worked out an agreement with RYK earlier this year to create this
only official Eurorack adaptation of his brilliant sequencer design.
It has taken many months to procure all the special parts and the design has already gone through several hardware revisions.
Looking at the prototype picture that i see floating all over the internet, i see it has a quite lot of extra features.
It's a big, space-consuming module (34HP wide) and it looks very impressive with its rows of sliders for pitch and pulse count, the switches for different gate modes, and buttons for slide on/off and skip step.
All the core original M-185 functions seem to be there...(Read more
here)
On the left side of the module is a 5 digit LED screen, buttons for complex programming/editing and a few knobs for AUX-levels, Gate- and Slide-time plus one for data input.
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| Intellijel Metropolis Sequencer |
Some of the features :
-Sequencer modes:
Forward, Forward-fixed, Reverse, Reverse-fixed, PingPong, PingPong-Fixed, Random, Random-fixed, Brownian, Brownian-fixed
-TB-303 style slide (constant time portamento) with adjustable time
-Stage skipping (double click slide buttons)
- Internal quantizing with selectable scales and keys
-Can act as a master clk with BPM control or slave to an external (using clk src function)
-Save/load panel settings
-shuffle
-Internal clock divider
-Sync output (sets output pulse on last clock step of a sequence, used to slave other sequencers via reset)
-Two assignable AUX inputs which can control: gate length, transpose, key shift, root shift, sequence length, and step divisor.
-config menu to set slider pitch range, clock div type, clock offset
-tap tempo when in internal clock mode and tempo lock with bpm detect in external mode.
-All menu actions are one level deep. i.e. press the menu button and spin the encoder.
There are no hidden levels or sub menus.
Video: Metropolis Scrutineering by Dudadius
Metropolis Scrutineering from
dudadius on
Vimeo.
" First go around with the Intelljel Metropolis. This is a pretty basic setup; I didn't get into using the aux inputs to modulate things within the Metropolis. I'll try that next! As you can see though, the Metropolis really lends itself to performing and improvising. Very hands-on and easy to go all sorts of crazy ways, melodically. Similar to the Rene, in that regard, but from a totally different point-of-view.Patch notes. Pamela is sending clock to Metropolis, Trigger Riot, Modcan Dual Delay, and Sound of Shadows.
Metropolis is sending the same note info to three different oscillators. The third one going through a uScale first to create intervals. All going into the Dubmix. The Trigger Riot is controlling Tiptop drums, mixed through a VCA Matrix then an M277 for a little grit. That's into channel 2 on the Dubmix, where I add a little Spring Reverb at one point.
The kick and snare are ultimately doubled with the Cwejman BLD and DPO. Lastly, I dialed into some sustained notes on the Pressure Points and a Modcan Triple OSC. The uStep is advancing the Pressure Points.
I had some troubles with the Trigger Riot losing sync when I would change presets.
I'll have to delve into that some more."
Watch an early Metropolis prototype testing video (september 2012) at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zkgb9aZocg
Update November 11:
Now available for USD 580 - more info at http://www.intellijel.com/eurorack-modules/metropolis/
Manual as PDF available at http://www.intellijel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Metropolis-Manual-v1.0.pdf
