10 or 16 stages for a sequencer "poll"-ish Q

[kvb]

I am bouncing back and forth between a couple of ideas relating to something I am finalizing.
Everything is breadboard functional.
What I have is made up of pieces that come from drawings found on the web and in a book.

I am trying - as much as I can - to not copy someone else's work.


So, I'm left with a bit of a silly dilemma.

What I have is as functional as what I originally set out to do. It is ten stages.
Plus, because it is not a direct copy from someone else, it could be marketable.  - Who knows if I would ever even go through the trouble of trying to sell a few - but it's a thought.


The dilemma revolves around the thought that I should go all the way and build a 16 step sequencer.
The ten stage one is going to end up being fairly large anyway, and it will be tons of work to complete.

But, if I was to change my original intention slightly and build the 16 stages I would basically end up copying somebody else's stuff - and I might as well go and buy the guy's pcb.
And, then I would only be able to use 80% of the board, make modifications and build separate boards anyhow.
And I would loose the relative originality of what I have come up with -
just to get a bit more functionality and slightly longer patterns with more notes.


So, if you were going all the way on building a sequencer would you stay with your original idea at 10 stages or build the 16 stage monster?

[frequencycentral]

I've built both 8 and 16 stage analogue sequencers - I prefer 8 - far more managable to play and program - and to build. I'd rather have two seperate 8 stage than one 16 stage. I think 8 is more musically useable than 10 - try a 4022 instead of your 4017, very similar, just 2 less steps.

[MusicAudio]

I'd have to agree with Rick on the 8 stage being more manageable than 16 step, and that it's more musical than 10 step. If you are using the 4017 then you can make it 8 step by connecting output 9 to reset.

Also, if you want to make it 16 step then make it 16, only buy the ready made pcb if you want to. If you think what you have is marketable as a 10 step sequencer then it's going to be marketable as a 16 step. Trust me, whoever makes the pcb you talked about isn't the first person to think of a 16 step sequencer.

[The Tone God]

It depends on what you are hooking the sequencer to. With a filter I tend to like 8 steps to get a S/H like sound. For other effects I sometimes like 16 steps. Since typically we set the speed to a multiple of the song beat and most music we use is 3/4 or 4/4 a multiple of four works well.

try a 4022 instead of your 4017, very similar, just 2 less steps.

Or you could use the 8-step diode Vanishing Point mod I posted awhile back and use the more common 4017 instead of trying to find 4022s.

Andrew

[kvb]

ok thanks, for some feed back.
Just to clarify a bit - I'm not using a 4017

And you replies also highlight another aspect of the dilemma.
"What is the sequencer for?"

My original intention was for this to be just for guitar effects. <10 stages = enough
But, the same sequencer could be controlling an analog synth module and be making music on its own. 16 + needed.


I really am not looking forward to adding anything (like another sequencer) to the list of things that are needing to be completed.
I also think that I should finish what I have started. I suppose I could live without a 16 stage sequencer for a while.

OK, talking out loud sometimes helps me think more clearly.
thanks

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Ten is a pretty weird number. (musically, at least.)
I would say 8 is pretty well as good as 10, but if you went to 16, you might consider an option to have it switchable between one output with 16 settings or two simultaneous 8 note sequencers.
Depending of course what you want to do with the thing.

[kvb]

Ten is a pretty weird number. (musically, at least.)

Yes it is. I should have just posted "8 or 16" so as not to confuse the issue.
I've got the # of stage selector thing figured out - as well as some other things.
There is a very musical reason for having more than 8 stages.

I hope to make things clear for the good people here at this forum when I am finished building.
Another question I will post as I get closer to that point in time is: "How clear should I be?"
I want to share, but I don't want to give the whole thing away - assuming it's actually a good/new idea.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If you don't want to give something away, my advice is to not say anything.
Personally, I'm happy just to see the knobs & to know exactly what the effect does - because I am sure that given the specs, I (or someone else here) could duplicate it anyway.
A relevant story from WW2:
The British defence scientists had heard a rumour that the Germans had a rocket that could bomb London. All their best scientists sat around, did the maths, and said "No, that isn't possible. It's bluff."
Then one guy said, "What if it had liquid fuel?" (a pretty radical idea at the time).
Then everyone said, "Well of course it could, if it had liquid fuel!"
What I am saying is, a thing is impossible until
1. somebody wants it, and
2. somebody builds it.
After that, no matter how secret it is, other people will be encouraged, and they will make one too

[Unbeliever]

Plus, because it is not a direct copy from someone else, it could be marketable.

If originality was a requirement for something to be marketable, marketing wouldn't be needed - you'd just say 'here's object <x> - buy it' - and people would have to, because it would be the only choice available.

10 stages doesn't sound very musical to me. When was the last time you played in 5/4 or 10/8?

[kvb]

I am sure that given the specs, I (or someone else here) could duplicate it anyway.

Yes, I am sure of that.  Someone else might even have the capability to begin production immediately. If I was to show the idea before I am ready to build a bunch I could loose the whole thing to someone else.

After that, no matter how secret it is, other people will be encouraged, and they will make one too

Yup.  Even if I keep it a secret until I have some to sell. I will have to tell everyone about it so that some might buy it.


I'm planning to ask a few people from here (that I don't really know, and I hope are trustworthy) if it is a good idea to even consider making and selling product "X"

Just thinking about the many things that I would have to go through to get things started is enough to make me cringe (pcbs, web page, idiot proofing the product, speedy production concerns, do my real job, etc.)

Oh, and there's the thing about how R.G. would tell me that a PIC could do things so much better and cheaper. I am not being sarcastic. I know that it is the truth. So what do I do? Keep the whole thing a secret until I have spent the next two years or so figuring out how to make this project ASMOP.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhh!?!?!?