Part of the whole reason I went off the deep end and made so much formless noise music as part of bagger 288 was that I was sick of sequencers and sequencing. I had been using Fruity Loops/FL studio for some time, and when I finally got fed up with it, my search for something else as fun/intuitve to use instead left me empty handed. So, I focused on noise and drone for a couple years. I learned a lot, but I was still hoping to find something I enjoyed using for sequencing.
Then I found Five12's Numerology sequencer. Still not very well known--when I tell people I use Numerology, most still assume that I'm talking about reading some sort of astrological charts or using the I-Ching or something.
Numerology was so fun to use for sequencing my Nord Micro modular and software synths that I even picked up a couple more synths specifically for using with it! And I've been having a blast ever since.
Numerology is an OSX only
modular sequencing application and general MIDI swiss army knife as well as an AudioUnit host for synths and processing plugins. I've only been using it to control external software and hardware, however. The details about the specifications and features can be, of course, found on their website:link
There are a few things I like most about numerology:
-- it has many modulation sources (LFO's, modulation sequencers, gates, envelopes) that you can essentially use to extend the functionality of any modules you have. For instance, here, I use it to add extra modulation to the cutoff, wave position, and Frequency Modulation amount of my Waldorf Microwave:
link
or send some rather complex modulation to my nord Micro Mod:
link
that sort of modulation can be done internally with a micro mod patch, too. But Instead of using it's DSP resources for sequencing and modulation, I can do it all over midi. And, it's nice to have that sort of control data for various modules all coming from one central location. On another note, the LFO's in Numerology are very easy to sync to various step lengths (instead of hz, as in the Micro mod) and can add to that evolving feeling while still being locked to the tempo of a track.
Another thing you can see in the picture is the tabs along the top of the window: those are all tabs to different "stacks," which hold the sequences and modules for each different MIDI output. I've made a "default" stack that has all the settings for my different synths already set up. You can see each of the different synths labeled, and I also made 3 different stacks, for 3 different "instruments" running alongside numerology in reaktor, receiving on different midi channels. It is very easy to make presets inside each stack, and you can also easily assign a keyboard key to each preset and then use your keyboard for switching between patterns live. You can have wildly different sounding presets with the numerology modules because of the amount of flexibility they have.
And you can work in other ways too, for instance, here, I sequence the effects in my Micro Modular as they process the input of another synthesizer (the background pad, made with that TG-33 I reviewed earlier ;P)
link
--Everything can be modulated. Ever wish you could put an LFO on the pitch of a note in a sequence? and then put one on the length of the sequence? And then an LFO on those LFO's? And another LFO on THOSE LFOS??? And reset the sync of the LFO's with an incoming midi note??????? Maybe not. But you can do all that stuff very easily in numerology and options like that are the difference between boring mechanical repetition and organic sounding, evolving sequences, to me.
--It is perfect for creating polyrhythmic, polymetrical, strangely evolving sequencing and patterns. One of the greatest things to do with Numerology is set up separate sequences for velocity, pitch, gate, and any other modulation options, set them to different pattern lengths, and then sit back and watch the results.
This track:
link
is a typical example of how I kind of phase patterns against each other, and have LFO's on the pitch of one or two key notes in a sequence to add to melodic variety. The amount of options are ludicrious--you can set the step lengths to be in any divisions of a measure (quarter, half, triplets, etc) or in percentages (???) and even ratios. I've used these sort of sequencing options to squeeze bizarre pseudo-granular note sequences from my synths, like this:
link (listen towards the end... sorry, not a very interesting track with this demo)
--there are all kinds of fascinating sequencing modules to use. I have barely even scratched the surface, really. Mostly I use their mono step sequencer and then layer them for phasing sequences ala Reich. But there is a very interesing Chord sequencer, a "Matrix Arpeggiator" that seems like the one to end all arpeggiators, as well as a pianoroll style sequencer, and a great drum sequencer that I use for triggering drum sequences. Their customer support is great, and I have had features implemented within days of asking for them on some occasions. Constant development is underway, too--they are currently working on an AU version of one of their sequencer modules, and I was also told that a microtonal sequener module is in the works for a future release.
Anyway, Great software! It'd be a shame not to give it a try.
