Deciphering HarPeggiator Rhythms?

[The Coyote]

I am a bit baffled by the HarPeggiator rhythms. I am using the PitchFactor with the H9 editor, which shows the rhythms as alternating deep-turquoise and grey-black patterns on a 16-step grid. Some of the patterns alternate across only the topmost octave of the grid: Rhythm 1 and Rhythm 6 appear identical in this respect. Most of the patterns appear as “stripes” but some (Rhythm 16, for example) appears as a stairstep pattern.My best guess is that the deep turqoise is “signal on” and gray-black is “signal off” and the relative height of the pattern is the relative volume of the output. Can someone confirm or further explain this?

[brock]

Yes, you have the general concepts down pat – indicators of relative levels for each of the 16 steps.  If you look up top on the Seq View page, you’ll see MIX – DYNAMICS – OUTPUT ‘big dot’ sliders.

Slide the DYNAMICS away from zero at center, and you’ll see the difference between Rhythm 1 & 6.  That’s your ‘attack & release’ time over each step.

Dynamics is similar to an AD envelope in a synthesizer.  It will determine the ‘width’ of each step.  For example, a Dynamics value of +10 will gate each step to 1/10th of its starting duration at Dynamics=0.

Rhythm 16 is two sets of 8-step ‘fade-ins’.  Automated crescendos.  It’s followed by some fade-out & fade-in combinations.  You can smooth that out with a negative Dynamics value.

[The Coyote]

Thanks so much for confirming what I was guessing at. I “discovered” the Dynamics slider after writing the last post, and I’ve notated the 20 different rhythms of the Harpeggiator in standard music notation. I am about to notate the 20 patterns of the pitch sequencer. Would other users be interested in these and, if so, where might I post it? Right here, perhaps?

Working with the PitchFactor is definitely a gateway drug to the H90; I expect I’ll be getting an H90 very soon. A couple of suggestions for future upgrades (if not already implemented):
1) Add some contrast to that rhythm graph! The turquoise/black is pushing my squintometer into the red.
2) Allow for user presets. And increase the number of steps. I’ve been working with the Fractal Audio AX8 for the past five-six years, and I love their sequencer: up to 64 editable steps, and the number of steps is editable as well.

[brock]

The Coyote wrote:

… I am about to notate the 20 patterns of the pitch sequencer …

I’ll mention this because I missed it for so long myself:  That turquoise / black ‘keyboard’ to the left actually scales out an octave above & below the input note (assuming a C input & chromatic scale).  Lines up nicely with the Pitch Sequences.  That should help with the standard notation.

… Would other users be interested in these and, if so, where might I post it? Right here, perhaps?…

I don’t recall what file types are allowed here, but they are limited.  And when I use too many outside links (DropBox) to files / images in a post, it will get flagged as spam & disappear.  Another option might be the Eventide H90 PatchStorage section.  While H90-specific, it applies, as H9 Programs & Lists can be loaded in it.

… A couple of suggestions for future upgrades (if not already implemented …

  I’ll unfortunately report that these H9 ‘page 2’ graphics don’t carry over to H90 Control.  And I’ve read there are no plans to do so.  Yeah, I think those H9 Control pages are spectacular, too.

As for your other sequencer enhancements, those specific types of requests have been floating around since I’ve been here (2013).  HarPeggiator isn’t going to break backward compatibility, but there is hope for a new H90 algorithm with a highly configurable sequencer.

My personal favorite FR (also since 2013):  scale-constrained sequencing, combining diatonic harmonizing & SIFT technology with a next-gen HarPeggiator or two.

[The Coyote]

Thanks again, Brock, for your clarifications. I discovered the vertical keyboard pretty quickly. Also, I mentioned 20 pitch sequencer patterns earlier, and that should be 26. (If anyone is counting, the selection of rhythms (20) and pitch sequences (26) give you 520 patterns, not including the addition of dynamic shapes, effects, rhythmic values, and the “random” pattern.).

Re, the patterns I am writing out, I have all the rhythms written on a single 8-1/2 x 11 page, and I could probably squeeze the pitch patterns onto two pages. I would assume this would be a valuable resource, saving people a lot of time when making creative choices with the Harpeggiator. I took a quick look at the presets page and it seems as though it would be a decent place to upload something like this. We’ll see if I get around to it 🙂

I think I’ll explore the MIDI option if/when I need more patterns than the presets provide. As mentioned, the Fractal AX8 has a powerful sequencer (and MIDI out) that could drive the Pitchfactor or H90 into arpeggiator heaven.

[brock]

The Coyote wrote:

… I think I’ll explore the MIDI option if/when I need more patterns than the presets provide. As mentioned, the Fractal AX8 has a powerful sequencer (and MIDI out) that could drive the Pitchfactor or H90 into arpeggiator heaven.

You may find the link below useful.  1st link on that page works out the CC value ranges for sequencing with the H910 / H949 algorithm.  There’s another post around here that does the same for the Diatonic / QuadraVox algos.

https://www.eventideaudio.com/forums/topic/pitchfactor-h910-949-remote-midi-cc-values/#post-145582

I’ll add that an EHX 8 Step Program can effectively bypass the MIDI requirement, for those reluctant to dive in head-first.  Map the Pitch parameters to expression pedal, then adjust each slider in Step Mode to create your sequence.  Using a hybrid expression / MIDI approach, you can cue up eight-step sequences to smoothly chain together some very long patterns.

[brock]

Blast From The Past:  Here are the graphics we used to get in H9 Control.  And at the time, I was thrilled to have them.

.https://www.eventideaudio.com/forums/topic/harpeggiator-rhythm-sequences-gfx/#post-141722

 

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