Some feature requests - Mask1
jbowman | Posted on Sat 07 Oct 2023, 09:39 AM First of all let me say that after owning the Mask1 for two weeks I am loving exploring this amazing instrument. The length of what follows is in no way a negative comment against the instrument in its current form, but in an ideal world this would be my wishlist of requests / suggestions for improvements: 1. There should be a way to have each key press play a different mask at random. You can get a similar effect by setting velocity to modulate Mask, but it is not quite random enough. 2. The curve to fade in the delay on the LFO should be more gradual, at the moment it sounds more like a pause and then the LFO comes in too abruptly. 3. It sounds like the oscillators are free running. It would be good to have the option to switch this to being initialised on key press - some of the Masks in lower register give a rhythmic character and it would be useful to be able to sync with key press. 4. Quality of life improvement - allow longer patch names and allow numbers in patch names. 5. Maximum release time on filter envelope needs to be longer - long enough so the filter release can outlast the oscillator envelope release time. 6. Minimum speed on the LFO needs to be much slower (to allow for slow filter sweeps - when using sine wave with large amount, the travel is fast even on Spd 1). 7. At the moment the oscillators phase a bit like VCOs it would be nice to have the option to have a completely digital feel for the oscillators (no drift, absolutely stable pitch etc.) 8. Could there be an option to use Mask as LFO wave? 9. Could maximum LFO speed increase to audio rate and have keyboard tracking? (then combined with point 8 you could get FM between the oscillators...) 10. Could pitch bend wheel be allowed to modify parameters other than pitch? 11. Can resolution of parameter ranges 1-16 (or 0-15) be increased to 1-31 (or 0-30)? 12. Looping delta envelopes (I know others have requested). 13. Allow option for Osc 1 / Osc 2 / noise to bypass the filter. 14. Allow LFOs and Mod sources to target more than one destination (with different amounts). 15. Allow option for LFO to be key synced. 16. Allow editing of both voices in layer / split mode. 17. Allow saving of a looper sequence with a voice. |
Audiounity | Posted on Wed 11 Oct 2023, 12:16 AM Just got my Mask1 and played with it for three hours. The presets were cool but my eyebrows really raised when I started making my own sounds from scratch. I just want to second some of the feature requests that I too encountered in playing the synth. All the points of having a longer length of time available (for delay fade in, slower LFO, slower release on filter, etc.) would be a great addition. This machine is a pad monster, the slower longer times will help maximize that potential. I would like the option to bypass or send a certain amount to the filter from each source. Also if there was just a rudimentary low cut parameter to get rid of some lows (without having to use the HP filter) would be great as the thing is capable of an insane amount of bass. Also getting a higher gradation to some of the parameters would really help dial in more subtle values. An number 14 as well! All the previous posts additions would be great but I just wanted to second some that stood out for me. |
Avi F | Posted on Sat 23 Dec 2023, 12:50 AM Love the idea of number 8 - mask as lfo wave. !!I actually just thought when playing the arpeggiator, a gate control might be nice, to make arp notes more short/staccato. |
| jbowman | Posted on Sat 30 Dec 2023, 01:37 PM After nearly three more months of using the Mask1 extensively, every day when possible, I have a few more requests:18. Could the looper be expanded to allow a step sequencer, with the bpm controlled by the Arp tempo (or MIDI, if connected)? Step sequencer mode could be activated by a long press on the record button. 19. I touched on this already with point 2. (and Audiounity has mentioned this also), but the delay and decay features on the LFO are potentially really useful features, but to unlock them there needs to be longer maximum time settings for both plus more gradations. 20. Velocity destination to Vol for each of the oscillators and noise separately would be useful for expressive layered sounds without having to layer patches. |
| jbowman | Posted on Mon 15 Jan 2024, 11:19 AM 21. It would be useful to have a delay function on the oscillators (possibly also on filter and noise), the same way as there is on the LFOs - combined with the looping envelopes that would help with slowly evolving sounds. |
Petit professeur | Posted on Tue 23 Jan 2024, 11:01 PM For the -1, maybe it would be great using a LFO at zero speed to have this random effect, as in an Arp Odyssey when you use S&H triggered by keyboard. |
| Petit professeur | Posted on Tue 23 Jan 2024, 11:08 PM And even if there is no more new features or updates, I own the Mask since April 2023, it’s still a joy to play. It’s such an inspiring instrument 😍👍 |
| jbowman | Posted on Thu 25 Jan 2024, 08:18 PM For the -1, maybe it would be great using a LFO at zero speed to have this random effect, as in an Arp Odyssey when you use S&H triggered by keyboard. Yes, this is how the Argon8 does it, just for another example And even if there is no more new features or updates, I own the Mask since April 2023, it’s still a joy to play. It’s such an inspiring instrument 😍👍 Agree! |
| jbowman | Posted on Thu 25 Jan 2024, 08:19 PM 22. One I have been thinking about for a while now - I do find the Compare button very useful but I mainly use it for cutting reverb tails when I am recording different takes. However, if the Compare button is capable of storing two different sets of settings for a patch, would it be possible to use this as a modulation destination via LFO, modwheel, velocity, aftertouch etc.? |
| Audiounity | Posted on Sun 28 Jan 2024, 12:16 AM Compare morph sounds really interesting. Also step sequencer sounds cool as well. |
| Audiounity | Posted on Sun 28 Jan 2024, 08:58 AM I think I just figured out my number one request. This thing gets into M and Microwave territory sometimes. I would absolutely love the multi 8 stage envelopes to scan the masks... This would put the Mask1 into some serious wavetable like possibilities that would make sound design exponentially more endless. |
KODAMO | Posted on Sun 28 Jan 2024, 11:14 PM Thanks for the requests. We added some of them in the upcoming firmware, stay tuned! |
| Audiounity | Posted on Mon 29 Jan 2024, 01:51 AM Awesome! Look forward to seeing what you all have cooked up for us! Thank so much! |
AndH123 | Posted on Sun 04 Feb 2024, 09:50 AM "16. Allow editing of both voices in layer / split mode."This is something I have been thinking about a lot as well recently. Would do wonders for my workflow! |
| AndH123 | Posted on Wed 14 Feb 2024, 11:38 PM Does anyone know if the second filter will be able to be run in either series or parallel? Parallel filtering on the Masks could be a massively cool thing. I've tried it a bit with mixer sends and some of my analog filters. |
| jbowman | Posted on Sat 24 Feb 2024, 10:13 AM Still loving this synth, here are some more wishlist items after another month of using it exclusively:23. Tempo on the Arp needs to allow odd numbers for the bpm. 24. Arp should allow choice of time divisions (e.g. 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, plus dotted rhythms etc.) 25. LFO time options should include the option to sync to looping envelopes. 26. (If we do get looping delta envelopes) it would be good to have the option to sync these to the looping ADSR envelopes. 27. Copy and paste all settings from one Osc to another - hold the Osc button for three seconds, it starts flashing, press the other Osc button, then both Osc have identical settings. You could do the same for the LFOs. 28. Could we have a looping delta envelope for noise frequency? 29. If smooth interpolation between Mask shapes were possible, it would be nice to have the option to choose whether to have smooth interpolation or abrupt changes, on a per voice basis. |
| jbowman | Posted on Sat 24 Feb 2024, 10:40 AM Sorry, last one for today which I forgot about but just came back to me now:30. The option to tempo sync (to the arp tempo if there is no external midi clock) would be useful for the time elements of the chorus and ring mod FX, as well as the delays. |
| AndH123 | Posted on Sun 25 Feb 2024, 03:20 AM @jbowman those are all GREAT ideas |
| KODAMO | Posted on Fri 01 Mar 2024, 03:32 PM Loops on delta envelopes are implemented, and you will be able to choose between a normal loop or a ping-pong one.We're only a few days from release now 😉 |
| Petit professeur | Posted on Fri 01 Mar 2024, 11:00 PM Can’t wait😍😍😍👍 |
| jbowman | Posted on Sun 03 Mar 2024, 01:36 PM I appreciate it's too late for the upcoming firmware, but a few more requests:31. Would appreciate more voice slots as I have filled up the 400. 32. Would be nice to have some options for the display, e.g. scroll speed, whether the display jumps from patch number to patch name or scrolls (jumping would be faster to see the name), etc. 33. Could the voice download which gives you the spreadsheet set out ALL of the parameters of the patch. |
| Avi F | Posted on Tue 05 Mar 2024, 02:32 AM Fantastic update! Process was flawless for me. Really like having the 2nd filter, and more cc control and more preset slots is of course, just awesome. Thanks! Haven't played with the new masks and delta loops yet but did get a chance to test them out w/my oscilloscope. Lot of nice variety of pulse sounds indeed. The lfo lights flashing with the rates, is a nice touch |
| KODAMO | Posted on Tue 05 Mar 2024, 10:28 PM Glad you like it. For people who find the LFO lights distracting, you can disable them in Global ("ANIM" parameter) |
| jbowman | Posted on Mon 15 Apr 2024, 10:42 PM A few more requests for this amazing instrument:34. For drones - could you add a latch feature to each of the envelopes - if you scroll past the maximum value 15 in release for each envelope there could be a value 16 which is latch, or you could add a latch menu item after loop. 35. Would be good to be able to target filter resonance, filter mode, filter tracking, filter extra, with the LFOs. 36. Would be goood to be able to pan each patch, to allow output of a stereo mix of the four parts which can be controlled (I know this is an option with layered and split voices, but not with single voice patches as far as I can see?) |
| Avi F | Posted on Sun 21 Apr 2024, 05:53 PM I just thought what if a feature could be added to assign either an lfo or matrix destination to osc env a, d, s, or r amounts |
| jbowman | Posted on Sun 21 Apr 2024, 06:41 PM Yes I agree with that - I have often thought that when running an LFO on Arps, for example. |
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