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Husserl Rainbow

November 19, 2008

The first-generation design for Husserl, the most powerful step sequencer ever built. Step in for more information....

Husserl (Click image for bigger view)

With Husserl, it only takes a few seconds to make a complex pattern. Draw a pattern in one channel, copy all the controls to another one other channel, and change a few parameters. Already you have a complex sound, because both channels can modulate each other!And there's 16 channels! The demo track on the home page, Plateaux (Snap 7 in Rainbow; and Bank 9, Snap 85 in Sapphire), was made with only 4 channels!

Either tempo clocks, MIDI notes, or other sequencers can step, gate, and play up to 16 polyphonic step sequencers simultaneously. Each may only have 16 beats, 16 steps, and 8 repeatable phrases; but as they can modulate each other in real time, they can make literally any number or complex rhythms, melodies, and polyphonic textures.

A pin matrix lets each sequencer receive not only triggers, but also: pitch, velocity, and duration modulations from any number of other sequencers. In step and 1-shot modes, MIDI and other sequencers can step, gate, or '1shot' a pattern and phrase. Each sequencer can filter incoming triggers and notes in different ranges. The beat sequencer can skip incoming triggers, and also skip pattern steps, to make complex evolving patterns. Each sequencer has a chord generator, which is also modulated by the other patterns. Pitch mapping keeps all the results melodic. All controls on the panel, or subsets of the controls, can be copy/pasted between sequencers.

Some Details

Husserl is a polyphonic step sequencer with totally unique self modulation capabilities. It has 16 identical channels that can modulate any other, in a wide variety of ways.

The channel list on the left selects the 16 different complex patterns, each of which have an identical and complete control set. With a few clicks, all channel controls can be selectively or completely copy/pasted from one channel to another, including all knobs and patterns. When saving a snapshot, all data for all 16 patterns and channels are saved (as well as the contents of the copy/paste buffer, so it's easy to transfer patterns between snaps.)

Each channel has its own tempo divider. Each can be stepped, gated or played by MIDI, or triggered by any of the other 15 other sequences. Pitch and velocity filters can thin dense trigger clusters. Each sequencer also has its own beat filter than can play rhythms up to 16 steps. The rhythms can skip through the patterns, or put pauses in note patterns.

In Rainbow, the note patterns are up to 16 steps in length, with pitch, velocity, and duration for each note. The screen keyboard shows the playing notes in color, and the current note in the pattern highlights in red when you move a note in the pitch tables.

While the steps are monophonic, all notes can nevertheless overlap polyphonically. Also, when triggered in 1shot mode by midi or another sequencer, one pattern can overlap itself in different pitches. Pitch, velocity, and duration can modulate a sequence from any other channel's last played values (toggled with a single click in the pin matrix).

Pattern Bars.In addition to the foundation patterns up to 16 steps in length, each channel has an additional bar sequencer, that can change the channel's own notes upon each cycle of the main patterns. The bar sequencer can change pitch, velocity, duration, and tempo. Each step in the bar sequencer can repeat. Bar changes are included in the modulation data when the sequence pattern modulates another sequence pattern.

Chords and Pitch Mapping. Each pattern can also play a 3-note chord, the output of which is pitch mapped either/both by individual channel and globally. Pitch mapping has presets for standard keys, as well as custom tables for each channel. By adjusting the map, all a pattern's notes of the same key (for example all notes that are C sharp) can change to another key (for example F sharp), simultaneously and dynamically. Custom remappings for all channels is saved with the snapshot.

With all the modulation available, even four channels alone can produce a complex, evolving melody. It takes less than a minute to draw up a complete new pattern that can play without repeating itself for minutes, or even hours. Melodies can be recorded onto an empty channel and played at the same time, so the instrument is capable of making its own evolving musical patterns.

The instruments has 16 channels so it can play multiple instruments. It can step record from MIDI and play MIDI. A simple analog synth is included on one channel as a demo, and each sequence can also be sent to IC sends and MIDI controllers.

Algorithmic Recording

Husserl offers a unique multistep-record mode with real-time play that can mix any number of incoming sources (whether they be MIDI, other Reaktor instruments, or other sequences playing in Husserl). Each incoming note is recorded as a new step in a 16-step sequence. After 16 events, the recorder timepoint loops and records over the prior steps.

All channels can record and play back simultaneously. Any recording channel can playback can in step, loop, layer, and fugue modes. The playbacks can also modulate each other. Uniquely, Husserl can playback a pattern live--while it is still recording-- and simultaneously modulate another channel, and be recorded on another channel which is also in live playback. Multiple recording channels can record, playback and modulate each other, creating dynamic patterns which continually evolve and change in unique ways.

As one example shown in Rainbow snap 3, Algorithmic Music Composition (Bank 9, Snap 82 in Sapphire):

• Channel 1 records events from Channel 2, 3, and 4, MIDI, and other instruments. It also loops through the recorded events in at 120bpm.
• Channels 2 and 3 play in loop mode. The loop patterns are combined and played back by Channel 1. Channel 2 is audible, and it has its chord generator enabled, harmonizing via pitch mapping with recorded events on Channel 1. Channel 3 output is muted, but still plays back and modulates Channel 1 and 2, creating transposition variations and adding notes to Channel 1's recording loop.
• Channel 4 records events from Channel 1 which it simultaneously plays back in fugue mode, each fugue triggered by a single note from Channel 3.

So, Channel 1 and Channel 4 are both recording each other, and playing at different rates. As a result, Husserl composes its own patterns which continuously evolve and change on the fly.

In the current version, each incoming note advances the step recorder sequence by one event. A next-generation design is planned to integrate real-time recording, functioning as a complete MIDI sequencer, while still providing the same intermodulation modes as described above.

Husserl's unique self modulation modes, as well as its integrated bar sequencer, chord sequencer, pitch mapper, and note/step filters enable rapid and easy creation of complex melodies and harmonic textures. It can play any number of MIDI instruments, and also includes its own demonstration synthesizer and drum player. The exact intermodulation can change in real time depending on input from the musician, providing capabilities like the Korg Karma--but not requiring that the musician purchase a Korg synthesizer.

Obtaining Husserl

A production version of Husserl will be $199, and will be a standalone product not requiring Reaktor. Reaktor users can purchase an advance version of Husserl implemented as a Reaktor instrument for $79.99. Customers are entitled to free upgrades and requests for new features. Payment is accepted via Paypal.  Just click the button below to see how it works.