So far, it has been a relative normal sequencer, record your steps and play them back. But now it will be more exciting with the motion sequencer part.
Motion sequencer
The motion sequencer is a extremely powerful feature and opens a new world of crazy modulating sounds. The monologue allows you to record parameter changes directly in the sequencer. There are two ways to work with step modulation. By changing the slider position to the third sequencer part “motion” and pressing start and stop, the motion engine is activated. Now you are able to record any parameters inside the monologue. Exciting is here that you can not only record the cutoff movements but also record the LFO rate or individual waveform changes. Just below you find a tutorial video, where I show you how you can sequence waveforms. This makes it possible to build a drum machine per example with the monologue engine.
A more accurate and less freely step modulation is also possible in the monologue motion sequencer. By holding the desired step where you want to add your parameter changes and turn the knob, the automation will be draw. This features allows you to do more exact parameter changes and especially very helpful when you want to recreate my waveform sequencing patch. The way how you trigger a sequence can be also changed in the device. On the right side, you have an very handy button that allows you to trigger the sequence from the keyboard. This allows to transpose the sequence and enhance the playability of the sequence.
On the whole I like the sequencer of the monologue very good. With him you can do a lot standard stuff but also very crazy experimentations. I have some major critics for the sequencer section. It’s a shame that you can create only one sequence with up to 16 steps. There is no option to create longer sequencers or to create entire patterns. You are limited here to one sequence with 16 steps what makes the sequencer not perfect in my eyes. 32 steps and the option to save multiple patterns in the memory would be super handy for live performances. Than another problem for me is that you can’t change the direction of the sequence. It’s always moving forward. Especially with so crazy sounds it would be certainly exciting if one could play back the sequence backwards or randomly.
Inside the menu, you can find also a scale designer that allows you design own scales. Here you find also different experimental scales designed by Aphex Twin.
Factory patches
The available sounds in the monologue are of good quality and very useable. Obviously due of the filter characteristic and crazy sequencer, many presets go in the acid direction. It would certainly have be more beautiful if you had more classical synth sounds build in, which can cover a wider spectrum.
To get an overview of the included presets, here is the factory sounds walkthrough video part 1.
Here the factory sound walkthrough video part 2. Unfortunately, in later models, they added more presets to machine. This review machine from 2016 had only 50 included presets. The current available monologues comes with 75 presets.
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