I was wondering what the advantages the Cycles has over the Model: Samples in terms of melodic/ambient playing (not interested in percussion).
I was asking because I currently using the model: samples as part of a live rig but using it pretty much exclusively as a melodic/ambient synth and I was wondering if the cycles would work better for this application. Plus I have a store credit worth about as much as the Cycles.
Right now I am using single cycle waveforms on the samples but I was wondering if I would get more functionality or better work flow from cycles. I know you get more variety with the model: samples but sometimes it is picky about what samples work well especially with melodic and ambient stuff.
I’d say the main advantage is starting from pre-determined places that allow you to get to a simple melodic tone quicker. The machines on the MC are very immediate. The downside of that, especially on the melodic side, is that their sonic range is limited. So if you don’t like those starting points, you aren’t going to be able to deviate from them drastically. The other main disadvantage compared to the MS is lack of a filter, so if that is really important to your sounds, I would not get a MC.
I like the cycles a lot, but it’s fairly limited for melodic stuff. I mostly use it as a drum machine to complement other gear. I’ve seen some people work magic with it and create great melodies/great covers of other songs, but I’ve never found it easy to use in that way. I’d say if you’re looking for something to complement the samples for melody, maybe look into the Roland S1.
cycles does have the chord engine, but the lack of filtering might be challenging for “typical” ambient music. I’d say the samples is a better fit in this regard
When I still had a model:samples, I used it a bit for soundscape type of things, and it was a pretty good tool for that, so personally I’d def prefer the samples over cycles for creating “ambiences”
…in essence, a synth voice is always way more flexible to serve u as an meledic instrument, than a single sample voice can…so, yesh, the cycles will do all the harmonic tricks u got in mind…far beyond any single cycle looped sample tricks…
warm welcome to the board…
Disclaimer: I bought the M:C early, found it limiting, eventually sold it. My issues with using it for melodic/ambient would be the monophony (the Chord machine is fairly limited), the lack of control over attack (unless one sacrifices the LFO for that), and the lack of a filter (the macro controls can partially compensate but it takes some experience to understand how). It is not bad for percussion of a certain type, and I think it would be good for dub techno.
Used Digitone 1’s are going for not much more a new M:C right now, maybe consider that? (You probably can’t use your store credit on one, though.)
