horacio2222 great idea to have such a thread, thanks!
Let me write down my SEQ v4+ workflow, i am sure others have different ways to use it. If anyone has any videos of using their SEQ v4/v4+, you could also post it here and describe what you are doing - thanks a lot!
First of all, i have a relatively static MIDI equipment setup, there are quite a few MIDI synths around and a rather small sized eurorack system - everything is statically wired in the studio, thus the ports don’t really change often. I’ve got a printed-out instrument map nearby to know which synth is on which midi port/channel for reference.
The most important part of my workflow is to use “empty” session preset files - i have saved one that maps my most beloved synths into tracks 1-16 with my preferred standard sequence lengths (usually 16 to 64 steps, depending on synth) and is otherwise empty (no notes). I’ve learned which track is which synth and thus can start recording instantly after loading that previously prepared session preset file (remember to save to a different session file when some nice recordings were made).
For song performance i do only work with mutes/unmutes and transposition - see my older videos on youtube, i.e. this one:
This works just with 16 prerecorded SEQ v4 tracks, muting/unmuting and synth knob (mostly filter cutoff) adjustments - i’ve recorded a lot of these videos earlier on, but don’t find enough time for it at the moment, i really should sit at the synths more 🙂.
For the more modern SEQ v4+, i usually stay in the transposition screen with MUTE mapped on the secondary row of Matias switches - like this everything i need can be accessed from a single screen. I often use SEQ v4+ for static step sequences and drums and LoopA for everything more dynamic and “off-beat”. The video above was SEQ v4 only and probably only using 10 out of the 16 tracks.
So my recommendation is this: while SEQ v4+ gives a lot of options (song mode, pattern switching), it may be easiest to start simply with 16 tracks, muting/unmuting and transposition and to prepare a few empty session files, so you don’t have to set up every session from scratch.
Hopefully this was helpful!
Best regards and enjoy your new sequencer,
Peter
