Frap Tools USTA: Review, tutorial and setup walkthrough
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
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Modules used in this video:
USTA from Frap Tools
SWN from 4ms
4Robots from Plum Audio
Troika, athrú and I-ō47 from Instruo
2^4^8 VCA from Voicas Modular
ES-9 and Disting from Expert Sleepers
Cases:
Palette case from Intellijel
RackBrute 3U from Arturia
Cables:
Tendrils! (get them here - non affiliate link...: www.signalsounds.com/catalogs...) ... and one Stackcable
TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
0:50 Overview
3:40 Setup walkthru
5:00 Project structure
6:10 Stage params
7:30 CV channels
8:40 CV stage types
9:05 Gate stage types
10:10 Variations
10:35 Gate layers
11:10 CV layers
12:10 Short cuts
13:10 Main screen
14:05 Stage loops
15:20 Song mode
16:45 Composition
18:05 Misc features
20:10 Pros & cons
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
When you google an item thinking “I hope loopop has done a review” and he has! 🙌🏽
The more I look at various sequencer options, this seems like an amazing combination of playability and the ability to arrange entire songs in one. It seems a lot more direct than other options like Nerdseq or Hermod.
I do wish Frap had clearer markings for functions on all of their modules.
I absolutely adore your videos. I feel like I'm long overdo to actually leave you some love in the comments so here it is!
Great tutorial on USTA! Really helped to clarify some of the ways to use this sequencer...appreciate it!
Powerful stuff, and great music played for the demos, really nice!
beautiful piece of modular technology
That thing is awesome! I really like the look of it too.
You make the best euro tutorial videos, thank you
if you divide octave into 12 notes you have dorian, mixolydian, major, minor and other familiar scales.
Here are a few others:
in 13EDO:
ryonian, karakalian, lobonian...
in 14EDO:
titanium
15EDO:
blacksmith
16EDO:
Mavila(7)
17EDO:
hydra, screamapillar
18EDO:
father, bicycle, rice (I'm not making this up)
19EDO:
deutone, sensi, negri.
And that's just a few of each. Arguably the most popular EDOs are 19, 31, 41, 53, 72... And that's only equal divisions of one octave, but there's Bohlen-Pierce, Pythagorean, just, 5-limit, 7-limit, otonality and utonality, and then traditional folk microtunings like Arabic maqam, Indonesian slendro and pelog, Indian shruthi, etc.... Microtonality is maddening.
Do you choose a mode before making music, or do you just scroll thru the list and stop when you like what you hear ?
Awesome bit of kit! Cheers.
Thanks for the video... have been waiting since superbooth for an in depth look at this .. Excellent explanation as we've come to expect from you ;)))))))
It reminds me of the 4-track workflow of ZAQuencer ... (the special firmware that converts the BCR2000 into a 4-track step sequencer). I love Eurorack sequencers like this. Thanks for sharing this video.
Great demonstration. Thank you
The video you know was coming!
Excellent demo! 👏😎👍
Very cool! Would like to see a desktop version with CV/KorgSync/MIDI ins and outs for each of 4 tracks. Nice outro jam @ 23:00
What I am missing a bit in this video is the clear inspiration from the Buchla 250e, which kind of sets it apart from the more linear sequencers and explains why it's a genius 'odd ball'. It's just great to have a 250e in eurorack :). I guess you can say it's a true WestCoast sequencer while covering the same domain as a Metropolis - and you're still capable of making ever evolving beats. USTA is one of the coolest sequencers out there, but it's not the best choice if you're doing dance music. However, I think it's great to combine it with a regular dance music sequencer or a maths cycle to drive the clock in various ways, especially if you need to perform live for an hour.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Cool camera panning at the intro ...aside the fine quality of the whole video afterwards of course
Thanks ! Very helpful
Wow and I thought I was intimidated by the depth of options in the sequencer of my Digitakt when I first got it. 😵 I guess as long as your committed it will be a lot of fun.
Regarding pointers to music outside of the 12 TET tonality:
I personally find Wendy Carlos's "The Beauty in the Beast" surprisingly tonal and very inspiring to listen to. Unfortunately it is hard to legally come by these days. The whole record/CD is using her Alpha and Beta scales.
Interesting sequencer!
I dig it. I have a 1010Music Toolbox and a Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis. It seems to be a nice step up from the Mimetic for creative sequencing. I don't want sequencing to always be explicit. It's more fun when I'm influencing the sequence rather than micromanaging it. This has my attention. I haven't looked at the price yet. Fingers crossed.
I'd say more like a leap on the moon away from a MD... the only thing I see in common is 4 tracks. ;) It made me think of a beatstep pro on steroids or acid... (I don't know the toolbox hands on, only by reputation )
This is great, i wish you did one on the stillson hammer mk2.
Very good explanation, some times i rewatched the video. Just a question for the external keyboard. Very important for me.
As you reviewed also ground control, do you think I could use ground control to input notes on usta?! thank you very much.
i love stages sequencers and this one is very interesting with.4 tracks, random, probabilities, microtunig, etc... but I am already lost with the color code of Make Noise Tempi so my brain will be completely dazed and confused with this one ahah! i wonder what's the alternative of it.
can you have stages that are not quantized and end up with unquantized pattern lengths? kinda like a “free mode”?
definitively buchla inspired
Is there an easy way while in edit mode pattern mode. you can rotate the primary encoder to see the different pattern. the only way to actually here is to go to performance mode and change the pattern loop to the new pattern? isn't there anything more simple or am I just confused and am asking for something that is just not how it works? It just seems a bit inconvenient imo. or I am missing some option in the docs yet. any help. thanks! :)
USTA means mouth in serbo-croatian :) . Please consider doing Kurzweil VAST, we need you there! :)
Because of the name, I first thought it's going to be a formant filter :)
22:50 the sound is great!
Hi loopop. That Intellijel CV/Gate générator 1u at thé left top corner, is it a beta?. I don't recognize it :/
Yes, it's not released yet - they sent it over for me to try out...
That module is not for me as i wouldn't be using it every day and there's stuff i would forget and so goes your creative flow. Shame as it as a lot of features, something like the Intellijel Metropolis or Steppy with a turing machine would keep me interested. As always Loopop gives a great thorough review, one of the best.
What is that 1U module oin the top left of the rack? Never seen that before!
it's a pressure sensitive module I have for testing; it hasn't been released yet
Many core features in this module remind me of the kind of things Metropolis was capable of when I had it. I always thought how great it would be to have a multi channel version of Metropolis and looks like USTA might be just that.
Yes, Metropolis was the first thing I thought of also.
I don't see no Black Sequencer or Designer 128 yet.
Might have to take the dive.
"Now that's illegal...I still do it" Hahahaha
Isn't that just the difference between self resonating filter and not? It makes no sense osc>filter>vca because then it prevents you from using resonance as it's own voice.
not exactly. you can still play a self oscillating filter if it's before the VCA, it will just be gated or silenced by the VCA. If I cranked the filter up to self oscillate then there would be no way to "shut it up" if it's after the VCA, which is why filters are typically before the VCA I guess. A filter after the VCA has some advantages because you can get it to ring even after the VCA has been shut down.
how would you say the Usta compares to the ER-101? If you've ever spent time with one.
I have spent time with both. They are both equally capable of the same type of sequences. USTA is a little more immediate and easier to use. Programming on the fly is easier and a little more fun on the USTA. The ER-101 excels in live improvisation due to the math transforms. The USTA does start with two assignable CVs, something the the ER-101 does not come with, but add the ER-102 and the combo excels in the composition>live>improve arena. With the math, groups and parts, the permutations are virtually limitless. They both record. The 102 imports .mid files. I bounce recordings back and forth between the the two. Neither is leaving the stable anytime soon. Jury is out which one goes in the portable rig.
Wow this thing looks absolutely monstrous. Like a metropolis in all the ways you want it to be but totally it’s own machine.
Any way to use this as a master clock? No clock out seems like a gross miscalculation
" We designed USTA to be open and flexible, and we did not want to ‘force’ the musicians to a specific pulse: since you can have four different BPM values across the different tracks, we chose not to include a clock output section.
However, it is still possible to obtain a clock output, even when you have stages of different length, and this is one of the reasons we added two gate outputs per track. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a gate output.
Set all the gate colors to green (ratcheting mode).
Set every gate value to match the stage length value.
In this way, you will obtain a continuous stream of gates of exactly one time unit each. "
Not ideal for polyphony. Was hoping to use the usta for this :(. Do you recommend another sequencer for this application? One where you can create a whole song with. Thanks for the nice review!
Toolbox can output polyphonic MIDI tracks that you can record in real time with a keyboard, I believe. If you use its 5mm MIDI out adapter to a MIDI-CV voice allocator, you get polyphony. uo_C can do some neat stuff with three pitch outputs. Depends on how you need your polyphony to work, I suppose.
From a non-module controller standpoint, I believe the new Arturia KeyStep Pro can output its polyphonic sequencers to its four sets of CV voice outs.
@@sliceofsparta8985 I went for NerdSEQ! Toolbox can do midi tracks as wel but no longer then 128 steps I think.
Great review/demo as per usual. I was wondering if there is a MIDI equivalent of this marvel? The workflow is entirely accessable even for an old goat like me. Any suggestions appreciated.
Fin Corrigan check out Vector by Five12 - I have it in the pipeline for review so I’ll be able to answer more in depth when I do
@@loopop Thank you!
I was wondering this as well. One thing you could do with this sequencer is integrate it with Bitwig and convert the CV and gates out of this into MIDI gate and CC messages. Then route those MIDI messages to any software or hardware that takes MIDI. I love Bitwig so much :-) I'm for sure going to experiment with that when I buy this sequencer in the near future.
@@mikedurden Hi Mike, yeah I was aware of CV conversion which can be a good solution for some but in my case as with many others we'd like to put a steak through the heart of the computer!!!! It's really the pattern variation I'm looking for with a bit of showy knob twisting :)
@@loopop I am so amped for your review. The videos put out so far for the Vector don't compare to your expositional skill :)
This reminds me of the Faderfox SC4
if i got it right its not possible play one ot hte tracks in a 3/4 grid right?
you can. disable stages and change the length of the stages and adjust the ratio to the clock
Hello loopop & Community, Do you know what is the yellow cable that can be seen at 0:22 and where it can be bought on the net? Thank you
That's a Stacker cable by Tiptop. Hosa also makes one that's similar.
@@Midiman741 you great
yes - tiptop stackcable indeed
Modular Addict has the same type only cheaper...;)
@@monsieurpatate303 not as great as loopop!
iwhich one did u prefer in terms of fast to play ?the vector or the usta?
Both are fast, usta has more direct knobs, vector more features and is more expensive
Practically, what is the real difference between USTA and the Z8000 ? 4 channels, one put them in a circle, the other in a 4x4 matrix. Do you see any big advantage in USTA versus Z8000 ?
z8000 is just cv, no gates, no pitch quantizing, all outputs share same knob values for the same position on the grid.
@@anthonysaunders3477 Perhaps you did not test the Z8000 long enough. Of course there are some "goodies" and in USTA and some logic is embedded, but this not change fundamentally the feature of the sequencer. Perhaps the Z8000 is even more versatile (10 sequences can be run at the same time with infinite variations). But of course USTA is offering nice features and avoid the use of external clocks and tools, this can help. And it's cool to have the choice in any case !
@@KNHSynths I owned a Z8000 for years, I don't think they are comparable, one would need so many other modules (quantizers, gate sources) to get close to the same functionality. They work best for different applications.
Hm, it certainly seems a very versatile sequencer. Yet i still prefer the user interface of the Korg Wavetrack, which seems more intuitive for me.
omg this seems quite complicated, why didn‘t they put more buttons to access all the special features (like on Metropolix) - this looks like a Buchla 250e, but it isn‘t?
all i frikken want to know is ...once i clone how do i put the clone on another sequence
" 6.5.2 Clone a Structure
It is also possible to clone structures (STRUCT) of stages: these are in fact Layers, Patterns, and Tracks. Layers and patterns may be cloned within their track only.
To clone any of these structures, hold the Esc button (B.4) and push Shift All (B.2), then release them.
Figure 77: Clone Structure selection.
The Clone Struct menu will appear in the display, pro- posing all structures that can be cloned. At any moment simply push Esc to exit the Clone Struct function."
so seems copying is only possible within the track, bit silly. can clone and entire track though. that sounds also a bit drastic, potentially
🙏🏼
I’m extremely interested in usta, I really like the aesthetics, and everything about it, I’m saving up to buy one. I’m looking at the review, and the manual, and I can find how the probability can give me ratchets and random cv, but I can’t find if it can turn on, or of a stage or gate with probability. Can this be done, sorry noob question, but would be happy if someone know.
Did you find out? I want to know too. Random gate on/off is important
@@sumocloud got this answer on muffwiggler: The probability CV value is bipolar so if I set a ratchet gate to one and turn up the probability and range sometimes the gate won't fire and sometimes it will at higher values. Does that help?.. I ordered one, really like this type of more classic sequencer.
Thanks yes that's helpful if not completely clear:) seems possible at least. It would be nice if there was a simple binary probability for gates without ratchets being involved at all tho, altho I imagine you can get this result with a bit of extra fiddling.
@@sumocloud totally agree, it should be quite easy to add in a firmware. It feels like they wanted it to be much more like a classic Moog/modular sequencer with some modern features. But I like that they didn’t try to make it like a daw like many other sequencers try to be. I’m adding a bermulli gate to this, will post some experiments later.
I'm tempted by it. It seems like a weird mix of very hands on control, crazy polymetric stuff and headache inducing video-game button combos. I worry I will get lost, like I did with the er101 which I ended up disliking despite the possibilities it brought. Benoulli gates are amazing though:)
When are you reviewing that ES-9 in the background?
I don't think I'll review it. It just works according to the manual, and not much I can add to that...
omg, WHERE DOES ONE BUY that KIND OF CONE FORM KNOBS
Thank you .It was interesting and you explained it well .Your help graphic is a good idea .However ! Wouldn't it be good if all modules had an SD card slot with a save menu ?Yes that is a few SD cards .It seems strange that a company would go to so much trouble to produce a module and not have a way to save .For the sake of recording parameters wouldn't it make sense ? If I ever go the route of hardware modular I will have to take up photography .
Wait, this has no ability to save your sequences at all? Or just no way to back them up externally? If it has no saving whatsoever, or even just strictly one project at a time, I am completely not interested. Lol and for a digital module like this, the old "take a photo of the patch" trick wouldn't work at all. Most settings are hidden behind menus and modes.
No, it can save hundreds of sequences. Removable SD card is underneath the module.
@@stujay A bit tricky if the module has to be removed .
@@markquavertune2003 That's true. But easy enough to make a biweekly or monthly backup schedule. If you're like me, you're constantly moving modules around anyway, always trying to perfect the perfect machine that shall always elude your grasp.... :)
Hey, just to confirm, yes, you can save presets with this module so no need for a camera
RooUsta! knobs resemble plastic cups
i do value the microtonal quantizer in this! really wish more sequencers/quantizers supported microtonality in eurorack. i write a lot of microtonal music, but often have to resort to VSTs...- here is a piece i made using FM8 and Reaktor, in 22edo (obviously the piano and pitched percussion are in 12EDO, but the clash is kind of nice): vicentehansenatria.bandcamp.com/track/in-quiet-places-where-the-moss-grows-green
Very interesting! Definitely has a unique vibe
thank you!
if you’re interested, there’s more microtonal non synth stuff here: www.vicentehansen.com/anticueca-numero-6
and under works, “seasons will pass you by” is a just intonation string quartet piece.
anyhow, big fan of your channel/patreon!! thanks for all your work
Vicente Hansen Atria this is awesome!
Amazing, thank you
Hmmm... lots of desirable features, but this commits some Deadly Sins of Modular UX. As you pointed out, the color coded mode thing is probably my most loathed, especially when there's a screen right there that could tell you what you're editing and what value you're setting it to. ESPECIALLY when a color can mean different things in different modes. And if the problem was that they ran out of firmware memory for such information, maybe it would have been wise to relegate those alternative scales to color coded modes and put the critical sequencing features into the menus in their place. Did the beta testers really need to switch between esoteric scales more often than they were adjusting chain lengths or ratchet probabilities? At the very least, perhaps put some of that wasted faceplate real estate on this huge module to use with some printed legends/keys as on-panel labels to aid the user. Ugly perhaps but not as ugly as a module sitting on a shelf unused because the owner can't justify the enormous hp footprint for a frustrating module that requires pulling out the manual every time they try to use it. I really like that it can capture/save external CV input into a sequence though. And that it has pattern chaining and a proper song mode. Sorry if I missed this, but what is the project management like? How many songs/projects can it store?
Hopefully with user feedback like this they’ll add some onscreen indication of stage type. You can store as many projects as you like but “only” the first 128 appear (alphabetical order)
@@loopop Oh well that's very cool! Does it have an SD card or just ample onboard memory? And tbh the more I think about it, I'm sure my suggestion of moving the alternative scales to color coded modes would be a bust if they have more than 4 or 5 options, particularly if those LEDS are tricolor only. But the need for onscreen feedback about primary sequencing features is sooo important. I can only assume the idea was to make them quickly accessible for on the fly performance use and not require menu diving, which is sound logic, but at least override the screen with the currently-moving knob's parameter type and value while it is being turned. No need to worry about fitting it alongside the other info, just swap out the entire screen for a brief moment. But only their developers know how feasible that change really would be to implement.
I’m fascinated by modular setups but my brain can’t handle the amount of cables involved.
Check out vcv rack, it's free and lets you figure it out.
I’m in the same boat. I already live in a mess of spaghetti from my other synths/guitar pedals/other random electronics. I don’t need another mess of cables // a new way to spend waaayyy to much money on electronics
VCV Rack seems great but I’m a computer-less musician :/
it’s not for everyone obviously, but for sound explanations and for sound itself nothing better
IDOW ;)
I’m fascinated by modular setups and how much $$$$$$$ you need just to buy one purdy lil’ Frap Tools module, jeez
Thank you for reviewing this. Some interesting ideas in there. The ability to run each of the four tracks at different BPMs is uncommon. But this is definitely not a sequencer for me! The interface is way too overloaded for my taste.
Here are some non-EDO links for people interested in exploring music outside of the standard 12-TET system.
UA-camr acriel with 5-limit Just Intonation: ua-cam.com/video/J_4zr0Qk6o0/v-deo.html
The American composer Easley Blackwood's micotonal etudes: ua-cam.com/video/HbuFPpiJL1o/v-deo.html
The Russian composer Ivan Wyschnegradsky's 24 Preludes in quarter-tone system: ua-cam.com/video/VOat_xsGUOw/v-deo.html
The American composer Ben Johnston: ua-cam.com/video/vwQxCi6pSEk/v-deo.html
What is a ratchet?
it's when a gate length is cut up into a number of smaller gates. Allows you to create a short drum roll like behaviour on a single stage/step
Can’t decide between this and Five12 Vector ?
Review of vector coming soon hopefully...
loopop brilliant !!!!
Brilliant in conception but interface leaves much to be desired. One simple improvement would be color display with parameters in the color of the layer of control they represent. That would eliminate the need for memorization for the most part. I have Zetaohm FLXS1 where colors on screen differentiate the tracks, with white text up top as description of page function. It's simple but helpful. Other than that, module build looks kind of cheap and that glossy surface looks messy with oil from fingers. Am I being too judgmental? Wondering what others think of the points mentioned.
I own it and can attest to a rock-solid build.
I bet this is expensive.... *checks price on Google*... I was not prepared for that =x
More companies should use those light up Jack's like that drum module though. That's really useful to track signal flow =D
Very MARFy.
Thanks for your review ! Can we mute a channel ??
Yes you can easily mute with shift +track button. Awesome sequencer, great review but I don't really understand all this cons.
1 second in, this thing looks rediculous but I’ma let you finish ;)
Check out Sevish's microtonal/xenharmonic music: ua-cam.com/video/gn-ZGmYcveo/v-deo.html
16 steps is a good divisible measuring system. The 12 step "inch" imperial ruler fails often, and the 10x metric system is better for measuring lengths and un-quantified measurable segments.
But.... in the 16 system.....
16 divided by half is 8,
8 divided by half is 4.
4 divided by half is 2,
and 2 divided by half is 1.
even in graphic design is a great system
Thanks for the mathematics!
Usta means mouth in Polish
i apologize in advance for thie following rant but i must say it.
here again every button and knob has 200000000 functions... "and this color indicates this, and that color indicates that, and when i press this twice but this three times, then this will happen with the propability that i set five steps ago but only for this pattern on that channel controlled by this particular combination of instances." again in a live situation - or in any situation you either WANT something to happen the exact way you imagine it and just aren't fast enough to do it OR you have to be content with child like tweaking and rotating knobs until something "interesting" hopefully happens. it surely is an impressive piece of kit and can do magnificent things but i have no doubt that it either is fast and pretty much random or exact and slow.
It's all situational. What you can control vs. what you can prepare in a live setting are very different worlds. Set up the "rigid" things in an arrangement beforehand, and have other control options available to introduce spontaneity and improvisation into those sequences once you take them into a live setting.
That being said I would probably prefer an Eloquencer or Hermod to this.
100% agree. Amazed such poor interfaces are still being produced in the 21st century.
this is brilliant and gorgeous..great time to be broke..sigh.
side note.....USTA in Polish means lips or mouth 🤔....
This is the shape that is made by the knob, a kind of mouth...
In turkish it means master
@@emrah1986 So the question is : Is this product Turkish or Polish ?
Frap Tools is an italian company from Modena... nor Turkish, nor Polish, and all the bosses in the company have good italian names.
But from their web site, you can read on the USTA product page something that will close definitively this question :
"usta / ˈusta / s.f. [probably from an ancient Germanic form, cfr. German Nüster, English nostril] - the trail left by the prey. Idiom., more common: ‘good sense’, ‘wisdom’. Idiom. a usta ‘by heart’. The ‘Usta’ sequencer follows both of those meaning: literally, it gives your patch a trail to follow; more broadly, it offers you a way to approach your composition ‘by heart’, without too much planning."
Great video but for $750, I'd learn just how totally forgetful I have become.
hmm let’s watch....
this or rene.....or both
both....
I’m not gonna lie... at first I thought that said fap tools...
this thing looks so awesome it's almost fappable
That’s not ‘lying’. Stop writing and thinking in cliché.
Illegal filter application! Though shall be sued!!!
Modulars are there for you to waste days or weeks away to get anything of use, then you are left with no time to make the music.
But the argument can also be made that the journey can be just as important as the destination to some artist ;)
Drop the wine
Really? Maybe true if you've no idea what you're doing and where you wanna go.
if it was easy then everyone would do it and it would be worth nothing. experimental musicians are responsible for everything new. think about that.
There's some good arguments being put up here in defence of poor user interfaces. Bad UX design doesn't make anyone clever, least of all the designers. It's the same crappy argument Unix geeks have used for years. Most of us want to focus on the music creation, not a fricking manual. And what about those who are colour blind - about 10% of the male population?
Looks waaaay too complicated and not really intuitive, unless your scientist.
Seems fine. I am an engineer though. Does that count?
@@sacredgeometry haha. Maybe.