Cirklon tips (simple accumulator)

Apologies to those who've heard such things before but I was just messing with my Eventide Space and thought Cirklon newcomers might appreciate this simple idea.

In the case of the Eventide stomp boxes they have a brilliant MIDI spec so I'd advise defining them as instruments then defining their MIDI CCs as Track values for sequencing use.

Next create a simple P3 pattern. Don't bother with any notes but set Aux A to "offset aux D rel". Give the first step a smallish value to start with, +3 maybe, meaning that each time that step is played the accumulator adds 3. Now set Aux D to a MIDI CC you'd like to sequence - a parameter you want to change. If you defined these as track values you'll see the names helpfully in the list so it's easy to try them out and see which sounds coolest. Why not set a couple of steps in your sequence with values in them? I'm currently sequencing the Space's Size parameter - so it pops up in the display as each value is sent, which is a very handy thing in understanding what the accumulator is doing.

When you've sussed what's happening, try changing the accumulator behaviour - Menu then accum conf. By default aux D goes all the way (my kinda gal) but you can restrict the limit if necessary; maybe it's your first date. I quite like setting rvtz - so it reverses to zero and adding wrap is good cos the values don't necessarily repeat predictably then. Anyway, experiment.

It's brill for any type of CC but when used on effects gives a new level of weirdness I'm sure we're all looking for. With a separate track sequencing the synth that's connected to the effects unit you're really away - and that's before you start accumulating the Eventide's clever stuff such as the footpedal, morphing and changing multiple parameters at once.

Also - one way to make the accumulation far less predictable is to use a pattern direction like random, brownian or eitherway. And with 32 tracks to play with you can afford to use a few doing stuff to the same instrument or effects unit, with different lengths and speeds.

Simple pleasures on this rainy Thursday...