The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum
SEQUENTIAL/DSI => Tempest => Topic started by: LoboLives on June 22, 2020, 10:36:16 AM
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"After nearly 9 years, Sequential’s 6-voice analog drum synth, Tempest, is retiring. Co-developed by Dave Smith and noted instrument designer Roger Linn, Tempest has been embraced by musicians from a wide range of genres for both live performance and studio recording.
Dave Smith had this to say: “Our users have put Tempest to a lot of really creative uses over the years. but a time comes when every good instrument deserves its place in the great electronic retirement community in the sky. On the bright side, we’re as busy as ever designing new products, and we’ll be telling you about some of these in the next couple of months. So stay tuned!”
To get one of the remaining Tempests while stock lasts, check with your authorized dealer or contact us at sequential.com/ask-sequential for referrals."
:) I seriously cannot wait for what Dave or Roger have planned next.
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I do wonder if they have another drum machine coming and that's why they mentioned new products at the end of their statement. It's probably just Dave reiterating their progress and commitment to new synths. Either way 9 years is a great run for the Tempest and I'm very glad to own one!
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I do wonder if they have another drum machine coming and that's why they mentioned new products at the end of their statement. It's probably just Dave reiterating their progress and commitment to new synths. Either way 9 years is a great run for the Tempest and I'm very glad to own one!
Personally I don't see another drum machine from Sequential but I'm with you on the fact that I'm glad I own a Tempest. I think even if a successor were to come out, I'd still keep the original Tempest and run them together :)
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RIP... except for mine... it will see no rest. ;)
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No rest for mine either...
Just hooked up the Prophet knobs and ready to blow things up 8) She’s such a beauty now!
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Several times a month, I get messages on Facebook, Reddit, & YouTube asking me "how to" questions from folks who are interested in buying the unit. (Many of those who write me seem to be on the fence between the Tempest and an Elektron RYTM.) I was surprised to hear this news that they are retiring it. I just don't see it in my mind that Sequential will release a new rhythm instrument as their next release, but I'm excited to know what they are up to now. It would be rad if Roger Linn made another drum machine! I really haven't used my Tempest in the way that he intended for it, as a performance instrument. But I love it and I use it every week and I'm always finding new ways to use it in songs or discovering new ways to hook it up with the individual outs. Either way, I'm very glad I have a Tempest and I often think of buying another since my never have enough room for recalling all of my earlier projects, without having to to a sysex session in MidiOx.
Here's a photo of mine sitting on Dave's desk at the Sequential office:
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It would be rad if Roger Linn made another drum machine!
See attached...
8)
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It would be rad if Roger Linn made another drum machine!
See attached...
8)
Nice! Are there any public details on the Linn Drum 2? I assume it's all top-secret still, but maybe he's made some statements I missed out on.
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It would be rad if Roger Linn made another drum machine!
See attached...
8)
It's horrible
I love it
What is it?
:) :) :) :)
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That's the current prototype of the LinnDrum II.
Same MPE-capable, multidimensional touch surface as the LinnStrument, only with larger drum pads, etc. It will be sample-based, with sample manipulation, and the ability to sample or load your own sounds. That's all I can say. ;)
Cheers!
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Sorry, that sounded cheeky. To be clear, I don't have one.
Those are Roger's words, and that's all he's been willing to divulge thus far. :)
Cheers!
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See attached...
8)
Very, very, very, very curious. And super excited!!!
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there? I've certainly seen nothing I'd want to replace mine with. In fact it's probably going to get more use than ever as I begin integrating it properly with my (small) euro setup. ;D
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there? I've certainly seen nothing I'd want to replace mine with. In fact it's probably going to get more use than ever as I begin integrating it properly with my (small) euro setup. ;D
Not to derail this thread too much, but could you share more on how you're integrating the tempest with a euro setup? Color me interested...
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there?
I agree. Pound for dollar, it's a near-perfect poly.
However, to this day, there remains no dotted-8th time division for the LFO, and I will never forgive Chris for not fixing that. Seriously, it's only the most ubiquitous syncopation in all of popular music. I literally informed him of that oversight, day one, and he said "Oops! Ya, I'll fix that...", and never did. And that, my friends, in so many words, is why the Tempest's OS ended up such a mess. Even in the final push to fix the OS, this was never revisited. As a musician, never mind that we're talking about the basic functionality of a dedicated RHYTHM machine, this is absurd and inconceivable.
Plus, any synth in my rig, poly or otherwise, has to have the option of a legato mode; which, of course, was also documented, promised, and never delivered. I literally bought the Tempest based on that one spec. I mean, who thinks synth drums and basslines, and doesn't bank on having a legato functionality?
That's a rhetorical question. You're not obligated to answer. ;)
Cheers!
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there? I've certainly seen nothing I'd want to replace mine with. In fact it's probably going to get more use than ever as I begin integrating it properly with my (small) euro setup. ;D
Not to derail this thread too much, but could you share more on how you're integrating the tempest with a euro setup? Color me interested...
Well, I haven't done it yet - future plans!
But, what I intend to do is find a module that converts gate signals to MIDI and use that (I know these exist but haven't researched thoroughly). If I can't find one of those that suits my purposes I'll be doing it via the computer (I know, I know) using something like the Expert Sleepers ES-9 and Reaktor or Voltage Modular. Probably Voltage Modular as I've been experimenting with that and it's pretty easy to code your own modules in Java so I know I could write something that will do exactly what I want.
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there? I've certainly seen nothing I'd want to replace mine with. In fact it's probably going to get more use than ever as I begin integrating it properly with my (small) euro setup. ;D
Not to derail this thread too much, but could you share more on how you're integrating the tempest with a euro setup? Color me interested...
Well, I haven't done it yet - future plans!
But, what I intend to do is find a module that converts gate signals to MIDI and use that (I know these exist but haven't researched thoroughly). If I can't find one of those that suits my purposes I'll be doing it via the computer (I know, I know) using something like the Expert Sleepers ES-9 and Reaktor or Voltage Modular. Probably Voltage Modular as I've been experimenting with that and it's pretty easy to code your own modules in Java so I know I could write something that will do exactly what I want.
I’m not into modular, but I had spent some time thinking about how to best trigger some LepLoop and Simmons drum modules via MIDI. I stumbled across a company called Ladik which makes a ton of useful modules. For your use, maybe the M-217 or M-218 would do the trick.
http://ladik.ladik.eu/?page_id=7
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Plus, any synth in my rig, poly or otherwise, has to have the option of a legato mode; which, of course, was also documented, promised, and never delivered. I literally bought the Tempest based on that one spec. I mean, who thinks synth drums and basslines, and doesn't bank on having a legato functionality?
Legato! That's the never-added feature from the original manual that I was trying to remember on another forum. I don't typically use my Tempest for anything but percussion, so it was easy for me to forget.
For a while, mine was free-running LFOs, and I was fortunate enough to eventually get those. Essential for synthesized handclaps, snares, & hihats if you don't want machinegun drum rolls.
I don't have any expectations of a Tempest successor coming out of Sequential, and if Linn's new machine is sample based, that ain't it either. I'm sure that in about three years, I'm going to regret not having bought a second Tempest on the cheap. I don't think their prices will go into the Roland Vintage stratosphere, but if you look at what it costs to get a Poly Evolver Keyboard today, that's the future for the Tempest. If you can land one used for close to a grand now and you've been sitting on the fence, now is the time to make that jump.
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When it came out there wasn't anything like it. The news that an analog drum machine by Smith and Linn had me hooked from the get-go.
Took some serious tightening of the belt to afford one.
Then followed the 'update years' with endless firmware fixes, but it was plain to see that the multi OS was creaking despite Chris doing his level best to massage the Tempest and its users.
DSI, in hindsight could've/should've done things differently including that 'possible sample import' line on the sales page.
The quality and choice of samples left a lot to be desired and not to mention the etc, so on and so forth.
Yet here I am with 'Tempy' on my desk, still rewarding me, still the first bit of kit I take with me when going on holiday or taking to jam sessions. Occasionally appears on my releases and everything still physically works and if something doesn't, then I've seen evidence that the company will fix it.
Got its own sound, its own vibe. A special instrument.
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I’m not into modular, but I had spent some time thinking about how to best trigger some LepLoop and Simmons drum modules via MIDI. I stumbled across a company called Ladik which makes a ton of useful modules. For your use, maybe the M-217 or M-218 would do the trick.
http://ladik.ladik.eu/?page_id=7
You've been reading my mail 😁
Thanks - those are exactly the modules I was thinking about. I'm tempted (at some point) to get one of each but I think I'll start with the M-218, less triggers but the 'strength' of the trigger gets converted to MIDI velocity. Modules seem to be well thought of over on Muffwiggler.
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I must admit this news came as a surprise to me as I thought it was discontinued years ago!
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I still don't think there's a 6 voice fully multi-timbral analog poly that competes with the Tempest is there? I've certainly seen nothing I'd want to replace mine with. In fact it's probably going to get more use than ever as I begin integrating it properly with my (small) euro setup. ;D
For some reason, Elektron's Analog Rytm doesn't really appeal to me as much as the Tempest -- as Tempest's ability to deliver a pretty comprehensive multitimbral experience checks a lot of boxes for me. The only other synth I've come across that appeals to me in that regard is the Cheetah MS-6, but they're older and harder to come across. I like that the Tetra has an analog noise source, but programming one (let alone for percussive combos) standalone seems a bit off-putting.
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NI Maschine standalone has been released and still, I will be waiting for some sort of a Tempest 2.
Could not find any other machine which can rival the dynamic nature of the Tempest. the ease of assignment of any param to velocity, beat-wide parameters which allows you to 'squeeze' the whole grove into HP or short decay, or to exaggerate sustain of all HH/ SD.
you can really play like a wild drummer which can open up the whole drumkit with sustain and dynamics
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The one is a sampler the other one is a poly synth/drum machine..My guess is T2 will be the best of both worlds ;)
NI Maschine standalone has been released and still, I will be waiting for some sort of a Tempest 2.
Could not find any other machine which can rival the dynamic nature of the Tempest. the ease of assignment of any param to velocity, beat-wide parameters which allows you to 'squeeze' the whole grove into HP or short decay, or to exaggerate sustain of all HH/ SD.
you can really play like a wild drummer which can open up the whole drumkit with sustain and dynamics
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Man... it will take a lot for me to drop cash on a DSI/Sequential product again. So many companies releasing great sounding, feature rich gear with buttoned up firmware. Rytm OS 1.60 is fantastic. Arturia with that amazing PolyBrute. Stiff competition for that hard earned money.
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stop whining. make music.
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stop whining. make music.
And yet, it took me all of 30 seconds to find a post of yours, from not that long ago, ironically commiserating with Stoss and whining in your own right about the state of the Tempest, complaining that its development had been halted prematurely...
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yes!
... but what I don't understand is: why they've dropped the development? this machine is not ready.
there are still things that can be fixed.
and as of today (November 2019) you can buy a fresh tempest in the store (ca. 1800€).
and btw. writing in this forum feels like writing a letter to a dead man.
::)
Cheers!
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stop whining. make music.
A fountain of inspiration.
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stop whining. make music.
A fountain of inspiration.
Sorry, I've no intentions to inspire trolls
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stop whining. make music.
And yet, it took me all of 30 seconds to find a post of yours, from not that long ago, ironically commiserating with Stoss and whining in your own right about the state of the Tempest, complaining that its development had been halted prematurely...
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yes!
... but what I don't understand is: why they've dropped the development? this machine is not ready.
there are still things that can be fixed.
and as of today (November 2019) you can buy a fresh tempest in the store (ca. 1800€).
and btw. writing in this forum feels like writing a letter to a dead man.
::)
Cheers!
cheers!
so what?
... you really do not have better to do than this??
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In the middle of a pandemic lock-down, venues closed, no one touring...
Actually, ya, I have plenty of time to point out your hypocrisy — especially when it's aimed at one of the more respectable members of this community. Not that Stoss hasn't already got you pegged.
Cheers!
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In the middle of a pandemic lock-down, venues closed, no one touring...
Actually, ya, I have plenty of time to point out your hypocrisy — especially when it's aimed at one of the more respectable members of this community. Not that Stoss hasn't already got you pegged.
Cheers!
well thank you for your time.
I honestly am hoping, despite the current situation, that you'll find a better job than trolling with someone who is actually contributing to the Tempest community.
But whining and trolling is much easer than actually do something meaningful. Now I understand why you both are such good friends ;)
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I did my part.
And your randomizer is appreciated, just not your otherwise unwarranted comments about "whining" to those who have easily contributed as much or more to this community and the Tempest's development than yourself.
Cheers!
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@KoSv
This is a community. These are conversations. When people start talking about a new piece of gear (Maschine +) and speculating that an unreleased Tempest 2 is a reason to not buy some other gear, I think it's a fair contribution to the conversation to say that other gear (Rytm & PolyBrute) are worth considering, and that any new iteration of the Tempest would have some serious hurdles to overcome for me personally to get on board. That is normal conversation. If we were sitting around a table drinking beer and talking, that would be normal conversation. If you were at that table and blurted out "stop whining. make music." the entire table would stop and look at you and wonder what your problem is.
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@KoSv
the entire table would stop and look at you and wonder what your problem is.
yes. but pehaps there are one or two people at the imagenary table that are quite happy because a stupendous boring conversation is being interrupted. :P
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It's best to ignore those two as they're endlessly derailing threads. For the record, Elektron is the worst company I ever dealt with as far as customer service for electronic gear is concerned. If we're going to bring up the Rytm, I'll just say the sound engine is not my cup of tea and the pads are awful even on the Mk2. Their parameter lock system is the only good thing I have to say about their products.
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I've spent a fair amount of time with the Rytm lately. I had the MKI since day one and am now on the MKII. I spent a lot of time ignoring the Rytm as I was always really happy with the Tempest and favored it for live performance with my group. When the pandemic hit and I found myself with more solitary time to dig into gear. I decided to focus exclusively on the analog synthesis side of the Rytm. While trying to emulate other analog gear, I've really grown to love the sound design capabilities of the Rytm. Many of the sweet spots are hidden in subtle use of the filters, envelope, LFO and overdrive. It's a great machine. The Rytm MKII pads are much better than the MKI but are not as sensitive as the Tempest. Repairing equipment through the Elektron US service center was extremely slow, but in the end they went above and beyond to make things right for me. Indeed, the parameter lock system is really nice. The most recent updates to probability have made it even better. I'd say that the Rytm is the ideal machine to get a nice beat going that can have organic fluctuation to it and can be programed to remain interesting over time. It's the perfect machine to accompany other synth and music activity. The Tempest is the ideal machine to create beats and manipulate sounds in real time. It is the perfect machine for a percussionist to perform live with. As a true instrument, it must be played.