All I was looking for was a cool new analog sequencer, but that pdf teaser gets my brain doing somersaults in anticipation.
9th revision appears to have brought the mothership to planet earth. I really like the look with the side section to work on.

DAMMMN!

PROC-BLOCKS (PB’s) – what are they?
Pretty much anything you want them to be, here is a list of what they can be configured to do:
MIDI IN (TEMPO), MIDI IN (CC#), MIDI IN (NOTE)
MIDI OUT (TEMPO), MIDI OUT (NOTE), MIDI OUT (CC#)
DIVIDER, CLOCK, SLEW GENERATOR, VCO, LFO, EG
RECORDER, QUANTIZER, LOGIC, FLIP-FLOP, DELAY
RANDOM, SAMPLE/HOLD, TRANSFER FUNCTION
BUTTON, ENVELOPE TRACKER, BIT CRUSHER, LEVEL SHIFT

i bet proc-blocks can make salad and take mind control.

I thought the patch knob on the bc8 was a freaky little thing, but those proc blocks seem utterly insane...

So it should be easy to run 8 steps to the midi note out and the other 8 steps to Midi CC#7 to control volume of each step. That seems an easy, basic setup. The fact that each of those groups can be different seq. lengths already put this beyond what the Frostwave can do because once you set a length, both upper and lower run at that..no options to set them separately.

Bit crushing out of the sequencer???? crazzzy.

Does "Recorder" mean that you can play notes into the steps and then manipulate them????

This makes no sense to me. I think we need examples on how to program using these blocks to really understand what they can do (and to understand what they are for).

It does look like a perfect companion to the bC16 though. I'm eager to see what can be made with an SM16 and bC16 combination.

Proc-Blocks...

Probably the easiest way to think of the SM16 is like a small modular with 8 bays (or slots or locations or panel widths etc..). 4 of these locations are taken up with a straightforward 16 step analog sequencer (it can be split into 2x8 steppers, but that is not relevant).

Now think about having a big cardboard box full of 'modules' these can be almost anything basic, like MIDI converters, dividers, simple envelope generators, delays, BPM clocks, simple LFO's, etc..... Instead of physically having to install those modules into the 4 remaining locations, you just hold down a button on a single 'universal' module (or Proc-Block), and it will change into whatever you want.

Example: Suck in the MIDI quarter clock (PB1), then feed it to a divider (PB2), run it to the sequencer and then process the sequencer with a sample&hold (PB3) and perhaps convert it back to MIDI (PB4).

Or perhaps use a couple of PB's as a simple CV recorders to record loops you like and mix between them live using another PB, whilst manipulating the sequencer live.


_________________
BC, Chimera Synthesis

Makes perfect sense to me, I think a video would show how to program it.

Just press and hold the left button of each PB down, then the function flashs on the LED display, then keep pressing the left button until the personailty you want is shown, then leave alone, et voila.


_________________
BC, Chimera Synthesis

Are these proc-blocks interconnectable with the bC16 levels? I could really see this working as a multi-purpose expansion for the bC16. This is getting closer and closer to a fully-featured modular system... very nice.

The only thing i'm really missing in the proc blocks list is attenuator functionality for lowering the amplitude of a CV signal. Is that what the "Level Shift" PB is for?

Hi Frank,

Yes, proc-blocks use the same voltage 'standard' as the bC16. Initially we had the unit producing 0-10v as well, but for various technical reasons we have not fully implemented that feature. There are some more accessories due out in November (level converters, joystick modules, sensor blocks, etc...) for use with the 2mm SM16/bC16 products.

PB config'd as "level shifter", in this case the functions are:

input1: signal A
input2: signal B
input3: hold
knob1: output level
knob2: output gain A (0-1)
knob3: output gain B (0-1)
output1: (A*gain)+(B*gain)+level
output2: level-(A*gain)-(B*gain)

So basically when a PB is set as "level shifter" acts abit like a two channel mixer with control over the DC level on the output, with a Sample&Hold function and 'inverted' output thrown in for good measure.


_________________
BC, Chimera Synthesis

Ah, then it makes more sense to me. Thanks. I could immediately find about a dozen good uses for this in conjunction with my bC16.

It's a very interesting concept. I imagine the same system could be used for a modular effect unit as well with PBs performing slightly more complex tasks like chorus, phaser, equalizer, compressor/limiter, etc...