I just received the Intellijel Scales a couple of days ago and man this thing is golden! But I do have something that is bugging me a little. When I use a ‘step’ LFO from the ALM Quiad Mega Slope + output into the Pitch in on Scales I can select notes from the Megaslope. Super nice. So if I am in C Minor scale it goes from C up to the upper range. But the issue I am having is that if I change the C Minor to G Minor Scale I would expect thet it goes from G up to the upper range. But instead I am still going from C up to the upper range. Therefor my bottum value of the Megaslope isn’t my root note anymore. IMO it would make more sense to always have the root at 0 V so you can dial the quantization from there And scales automatically sends out the correct Voltages from the Root to the Oscilattor. Perhaps I am overlooking something. But now I have to offset the incomming channel everytime before I enter it into the quantizer.
Or should I use the B output and change the Interval with the corresponding root note?
EDIT: The Interval didnt work as i doesnt stay in the scale
Let me start by saying that i don’t own a Scales. So I cannot say I know how this module functions. I however agree with you that 0 volt should always be the root of the selected scale. Transposing scales from C to G would make G 0v.
Hi gang,
I’m still learning about Scales, too. Maybe an advanced user will check in later.
Daandriks, An offset sequenced in time with the key change is not horrible, esp. if it allows you to use this module combination as desired. I dig that kind of challenge. But
Could you achieve the same sounds by sending your clock straight to Scales TRIG to drive playback of a saved Sequence? Those saved sequences will give you the octave specificity you’re lacking… the step LFO frees up for something else
You are using a short-press of G while in Root mode, yes? (manual p26) If so, the behaviour you encountered…seems like a good thing. I would not want to see “hard” v/Oct range transposition in Root mode if it blocks audible notes that are valid members of the scale. (Silly thought: people would start “demanding” through-zero quantization - maybe you’ve invented something there )
Well unfortunately I really don’t find it desirable by design as I really would have thought that it would change the 0 V position when you choose another scale / key.
With a sequence this isn’t possible. I can’t use the shift functions and I have to save the sequences on the Scales. Don’t like the immediate of that sequencer for my set up. I want to simple change one slider / knob so the note changes in the sequence. This isn’t possible in the Scales sequencer. Also the shift will be replaced for a reset. Which I don’t want. I want it available for shifting or another pitch for Out B.
I want to have a sequence or movement in the Scales Pitch input. Then a trigger matching the envelopes is going into the trigger in and out to the the right envelopes. The Out A is going into my 1 V / Oct for my OSC which is pitched at a C. When playing a random scale in the key C that is just fine. But when I want to make a transition for another part where I go to a scale in the key of G then I would expect that the G is the 0 V for input. So you can faster create a “sequence in the other scale with the key of G.
For my I silence my melody and then want to introduce the new one in the other scale and key. But now I have to find the root note first for the 0 V with an offset of the incoming note and then push the volume or tune the OSC on forehand trough an tuner. A bit of much hassle. I do use the short press in the root menu to change the key of the scale. Intellijel says you then change the initial pitch. But it won’t transpose that way. It stays in the same semitones only the quantization changes to the according keys in the new scale.
I think I can fix it with the VPME.de T43 module and a switch. So I can prepare the offset on front and when I am done then use the switch. But it becomes a bit hard when I want to change again. Haha. Hopefully Intellijel has a solution for this
The detail/thought process is quite helpful to me. I haven’t been able to order the module yet but need to know this stuff so I can “rinse it out”.
100% What you are after is a fundamental tool with full modules devoted to it. Having it built-in as a mode would be perfect / not surprising at all. Like you say, hopefully that kind of solution exists.
That works! …like a manual mute button/lever? I feel that often the manual switches like that bring something extra than the programmed muting that was implied in my suggestion.
Would it work if you multed the sequence you’re using to transpose the root note, then sent it both to the SHIFT input to change key and to the PITCH input mixed with whatever you’ve been using as your quantization source? Then it would provide an offset to match the root changes.
I believe the reason Root does not transpose is because it’s just changing the notes available to the quantizer. This is similar to how Metropolis works, but now Metropolix lets you work either way.
Yeah I guess that is something that could work and is a fun way of doing so. That Precise adder is handy for other reasons aswel.so probably going done that road some day. I can work around it. The scales is just to good to just look for something else. It would be nice if it were an option in the device though.
Yeah this could work in some way. But the “transposing” isn’t that hard cable wise. Just a quadratt or disting to do the duty. It is just flimsy to dial in the right offset while a source is in the Pitch input. And then I would again give up the shift input to use for another quantized melody.
Perhaps it can be done in a firmware update. Th Interval button has a secondary function when you long press it. Perhaps the Root button can do the same to set where the 0 Volt should be. And when you select it the output will precisely add the right amount of Voltage to the signal so the OSC gets the right note.
OK, now I’m confused. You’re talking about manually changing root via the ROOT button, not modulating root via the SHIFT CV input, right? I was assuming you were talking about using the SHIFT input with ROOT assigned.
So you’re hoping that if you change root via the ROOT button or through the SHIFT input that it will set that new root note as the 0v point, is that correct? Your suggestion of having a ROOT Mode menu accessible by long pressing the ROOT button could potentially work. Then it could be indicated by different colours active on the ROOT SHIFT MODE button.
Yes correct. I want to change the ROOT by single press the root button and then single press a note button. The key changes from the selected scale. I would like to have the option to make the 0 V input gets connected to the root note.
So yes it would help if can somehow work by long pressing the root button so you get an alternative way of working. :-). Is this something you could implement or would like to think about?
Basically it could also be used as a quick transpose function for the melody without using the shift input. So when you have a C minor scale you can press the root note long time and press a G and it will shift the melody within the scale with a 7 semitones. So I see multiple functionalities for this
Cool, thanks for clarifying that. It’s not up to me whether this will be implemented or if it’s even feasible, but I can at least add it to the wishlist of things to consider. I can see this being a useful feature for sure.
But if your oscillator does not change its tuning, and it is tuned to 0v = C, then changing the meaning of 0v would require retuning your oscillators as well, right? And the pitch tracking of filters that follow 1v / Oct?
Sometimes I like to mult the 1v/oct output of CV sequencers, like Metropolis, into a Disting to convert to MIDI so I can capture the sequence for future reproduction. If, for example, the Brownian walk generates a particularly nice variation that would work well at a specific point elsewhere in a track. This same practice is also particularly useful for capturing sequences that were generated organically via CV then sent through a quantizer like Scales.
This idea of changing the meaning of 0V mid-song would suddenly mean that the notes being captured would not match the notes that you think it is capturing. Once the 0v reference is defined, it is set and should not change throughout a song, as that requires retuning everything else accordingly as well.
I think the request is for changing the relationship of the output to the input. For example if the root was set to Bb then sending 0V into the input would result in an output of 0.913 V (the closest Bb to 0, going up). It would still be with the assumption that a 0V output corresponds to C. Essentially what it comes down to is just adding the equivalent voltage of the selected root note to the input value.
After the original request, ICYMI, Daandriks also provided this great idea , which would allow the requested mode to exist alongside what’s there now:
If the suggestion is taken up, it would alleviate most concerns about needing to rework patches that prefer the existing behaviour for whatever reason.
Yeah this definitely sounds like a case where a T43 or doepfer precision adder before the input would be the tool I turn to, to apply an offset before the signal hits the input, and then Scales would handle applying an actual change in scale from major to minor, Dorian to myxolidian, etc. But it would be super handy to not need that other module in the chain.
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