I am still just a mopho-key+tetra user, but I love the gated sequencer a lot. Actually, the fact that its programming interface wasn’t carried over from the rev1, still makes me doubt which version to upgrade to, because programming it the mopho-rev2 way is somewhat cumbersome.
I don’t like it as a melodic sequencer, too limited/inflexible, but it is a great modulation tool. So I mostly use it in the “no gate” mode for:
- controlled stepping filter effects
- rhythmic noise-patterns on sustained notes
- rhythmic sub-osc paterns underneath sustained notes
- customized LFO-waveforms!
In summary: “No gate” mode actually turns the sequencers into keysync-LFOs, with a lot of flexibility to design their shapes (using them 2 by 2 with slew smoothing out the transitions if needed).
A final trick to share: the sequencers are available as mod sources, but not as mod destinations. However, you can work around this using the mod matrix, because you can use the modulators as destinations…
If you don’t understand what I mean, here is an example I use from time to time, “aftertouch controlled rhythmic tremolo”:
- select the gated sequencer, put it in no gate mode
- select sequence 1; destination: env 2 amount; program your sequence pattern (press a key to hear the effect); now turn the destination off again
- go to the modulation section; set seq 1 as mod 1-source; set env 2 as destination; set amount to 0
- still in the modulation section, select pressure; set mod 1 as destination; set amount to taste
You can now use aftertouch to have your rhythmic tremolo effect fade in and out. Of course it doesn't have to be aftertouch, you can use modwheel, envelopes, LFOs or other sequences to bring your tremolo effect in.