Re: new EDP features (was: echoplex or jamman?)

["Dennis W. Leas" <dennis@mdbs.com>]

(I'm re-sending this as it didn't seem to go out correctly the first time. 
 Please pardon 
if you get this twice. - DL)

Kim Flint wrote:
>
> we're gonna make you real happy in the near future.....;-)
>

I like to hear that!  You know, you guys already are batting 1000 as far 
as I'm concerned. 
 It's hard to describe how much pleasure I've derived over the past few 
years from looping 
via the EDP.  Many years ago, I used an old TEAC 4 track for awhile but I 
gave up looping 
because such "primitve" technology gotin the way.  I find the EDP so 
incredibly easy to 
use, in comparison, that it usually doesn't get in the way of my 
creativity.

But enough of my effusions...since you brought up the future of the EDP, 
I've been meaning 
to share these thoughts:

How about a new additional unit, I'll call the "EDP Helper?"  I'll try to 
explain it's 
proposed features without too much meandering.

1) The EDP is wonderful as a stand-alone unit.  A pair of EDPs also works 
very well for 
stereo.  What I want to do, however, is to use several in a synchronized 
fashion.  The 
paradigm here, probably due to my history of tape machine usage, is to 
view multiple EDPs 
as tracks on a multi-track recorder.  Of course, because of the nature of 
solid-state, 
digital recorders like the EDP, you'd expect them to do things tape 
recorders couldn't do. 
 The "EDP Helper" would have many features specifically designed to 
operate multiple EDPs. 
 These features would include manipulation of MIDI clock timing, starting 
and stopping 
loops (perhaps sequencing through the memories of an EDP, e.g., do {play 
loop from MEM 1 
twice, followed by loop from MEM 2} ) and a user interface specifically 
designed for 
multiple EDPs.

2) As a central control, the "EDP Helper" would also have MIDI sequencing 
features (at a 
basic level) in order to support changing parameters and operating modes 
of the EDPs.  
Players would use the "EDP Helper" instead of a full-featured sequencer to 
change, for 
example, the number of beats/8ths for a particular EDP.  This sequencing 
feature, as well 
as other features, could perhaps be optionally controlled by a nifty GUI 
program on Mac or 
PC.

3) The display of the "EDP Helper" would supplement the EDP display.  For 
example, I could 
really use a display that shows where I am in the loop.  It could be as 
simple as a 
"count-up" which is reset at the loop start (similar to the regular EDP 
display when 
recording).  The player could select what kind of information to display 
and which "slave" 
EDP would be the source.

4) The audio looping features of the "EDP Helper" would be light-weight 
when compared to 
the EDP.  For example, when I use multiple EDPs in a synchronized fashion, 
I designate one 
of them to function as the "master" MIDI clock source.  I play a simple 
pattern into the 
master, many times just a shaker, clave, or bass drum pattern.  I don't 
need to do things 
like INSERT, NEXT LOOP, and so forth.  I use the "master" EDP simply as 
the MIDI clock 
source.  Most times, after I build synchronized loops on other EDPs, I 
fade out the master 
EDP for the duration of the piece.  Conversely, if somebody only had an 
"EDP Helper", they 
could still do useful looping with it.  This would expand the market for 
an "EDP Helper" 
beyond owners of multiple EDPs.

As described above, the "EDP Helper" would be very heavy on the control 
and display 
features and light on the audio feature.  Perhaps, it could even be 
implemented totally in 
software.

Your thoughts???

- Dennis Leas
--
dennis@mdbs.com