Muff's Modules & More

Putte · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: About the GMS-760

I think it´s time we discuss the Grove audio sequencer GMS-760, don´t you? I´m not sure it´s out on the market yet (1st quarter 2012?), but we can allways start with the specifications and such, right? I took a closer look at it yesterday, and came up with some questions:
-Without the GMS-761, it totally depends on other modules clocking its pace. Am I right? And you only get a 4x8 step sequencer, or? I just wonder why anyone would skip the GMS-761. Two modules and two prices confuses me!

-Sequencer modes are 1X32, 2X16 (Great!), 4X8... But, what is 2X8X2, and I can´t even read the last one. Does it say iX16X2?

-Can the rows be controlled independently, by for example a clockdivider? I´m thinking of the four shift inputs.

-What´s the difference between setting a step to off and setting it to function, if function is skip?

Well, I guess that´s all for now.

ericD13 · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:38 am Post subject:

I can only answer how I understood the page.

- without 761 you have 4 independant 8 step sequencer (Cv and trig), wich are controlled independantly (you'll need 4 clocks, or a divider), I imagine you can use the trick from JLR :

- if a step is off, the trigger will not be rised but the next one wait (one clock time), if a step is skipped it doesn't take a clock time (for exemple if 4th step is skipped then the 3rd is played then immediatly the 5th)

ericD13 · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:07 am Post subject:

It seems the 760 is a clone of the Moon 569.
A good explaination of the controls can be find on Moon site :
http://www.lunar-experience.com/DOWN/569.pdf

Just me · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:12 am Post subject:

Don't concern yourself about vaporware. There is enough stuff actually available to do what you would need in the way of sequencing.

Putte · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:51 am Post subject:

Clone, that´s unfair. Cloning is what we´ll get when the chinese dip their noses in modulars. The only differense we´ll see n those homepages are 'Moon Mobular' or that the sequencer´s called 'W569'. Of course, the difference we´ll hear is something completely... different.

Well, if not a clone, I´m convinced the GMS-760 wouldn´t ever have seen the day if the M569 hadn´t been out there before. Accept for that extra seventh U, what are the differencies? What makes the M569 worth the extra money (being more expensive, even for us in the EC)?

To me, the M569 looks more hefty, the panel/front appears more expensive. The GMS-760/761 has a frequenct range, and the one on my Q960 is useful to me. On the other hand, the Q960 could keep on setting the clock for all sequencers.

Perhaps the extra U makes it easier to handle. I don´t know. Did anyone compared them?

sduck · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:08 pm Post subject:

It looks close enough to the Moon 569 that although clone isn't exactly the right word, it's going to get thrown around. If they'd put it all behind one panel it would have been a perhaps too blatant copy. I don't have any experience with the moon, but the panel controls look almost identical upon quick examination. What's the actual price difference between these 2 units?

bwhittington · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:16 pm Post subject:

CF3 · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

Putte · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:58 pm Post subject:

bwhittington, In a way, that would make things so much easier.

sduck; We can talk price forever, and finally it´ll just come down to tariffs, taxes and such. The price difference depends on where we live.
For me, the M569 would be some 18,5% more expensive than the GMS-760/761 combination. The Moon modular would be a lot cheaper to transport, but all in all more expensive.

JohnLRice · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:49 am Post subject:

It is interesting, although it's been under development for quite a long time (almost 2 years now?). I think it would have been better if the design was a little more original but . . . .

There are a few features mentioned that the Moon doesn't have like jumpers to disable the quantizartion, both unipolar and bipolar CV and a future MIDI output module.

The Moon 569 offers the Gate IN/OUT expander modules though that the Grove doesn't, the layout is less crowded looking and Moon has a MIDI to CV module too. And one of the most important things to consider is that all of the Moon modules are available NOW and my experiences buying direct from Moon were as good as buying from Synthesizers.com. (except the shipping cost from Germany to USA was a lot more) And their USA distributor Noisebug.net is equally awesome at only selling you what they have in stock and gettng out the door fast!

Putte · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:10 am Post subject:

JIR, that jumper for quantization is a huge advantage - I think! I´ve never had any quantized sequencer. Perhaps I should try the effect, by connecting my Moon quantizer to the Q119 or Q960 (if that works).

I´m having some problems with my Moon modules, perhaps due to a lack of power. In spite of that the M569 seems to be my choice. The assistant modules might be the best reason for this, but also that the overall look is more.... Well, it looks more reliable in some way.