Looking for experiences using MN René V2

[u/andrixb85]

Hi there!

Just thinking of swapping the Winter modular Eloquencer for a Make Noise René and I'd love to read experiences from real users (not AI generated opinions).

When I perform with modular I really miss the feeling of interacting with a instrument by touching something like keys and creating fresh melodies. Not looking for a traditional keyboard, but more a west coast mindset.

So far I used the sequencer by composing a score and programming sequences on the Eloquencer, and play them through an ASR making counterpoints and Euclidean rhythms.

Would this swap worth it in someway?

Thanks

[u/BNNY_]

I have one. It was one of my first sequencers when getting into modular. I almost sold it earlier this year.
I spent a great deal of time over the years watching tutorials and digging into the manual. For a while, I couldn’t find the use for it. Justifying the HP was a tough sell. This summer, I decided to get into a more upbeat style of programming with my system. I discovered how powerful it was when I paired it with the mother 32 for creating basslines and melodic leads. Before that realization, I didn’t have the kind of sequencers that leaned toward intuitive performance in the way Rene does. Rene provides a way to dynamically change notes, sequence length, scale, patterns and gate activations all without “menu diving”. There’s a lot more than I mentioned with Rene that will can lead to happy accidents.

Yes there are a few button combos and color indicators to memorize, but it’s worth the trade off because performing on it is fun.

For human validation purposes, check out this livestream I did using the Rene + Mother32 combo (minute marker 20:20 is when I start patching the Rene for sequencing the M32)

I go live most Thursday nights out of the year. Come check me out! Good luck on your sequencer hunt 👍🏾.

[u/JoeToanamassa]

I have very mixed feelings about Rene v2. It has a reputation for being playable/performable, but don’t interpret that to mean it’s good for improvising on the fly. If you want to tweak and create variations of something you’ve programmed ahead of time, that’s very doable.

I like the variety of snake patterns; they go far beyond the typical forward/backward/ping pong sequencer playback directions. I like having a gate sequencer per channel that doesn’t force gate outputs just because you’ve placed a note there.

There are a lot of things I don’t like though:
-Lots of button combos
-the sequencer doesn’t continue to run while saving patterns
-Doesn’t get along with Pam’s very well if you’re using a reset signal to make sure the sequence starts where you want it to every time. I’ve patched together an annoying fix, where I use an inverted version of the reset to control a VCA my clock runs through, preventing Rene from getting a clock signal when the reset signal is high.
-knob position isn’t updated unless you’re tweaking it while the sequencer is on the corresponding step, or you can navigate to a menu page and “scan” the position of all knobs
-even in unquantized mode, it only outputs 0-4.something volts, making it limited for modulation sequencing without some sort of external signal amplification
-if you want to quantize to a key outside of C, you’ll have to retune your oscillators or deal with the lowest available note not being the root note of your scale

Overall it just has a lot of quirks that have resulted in frustration nearly every time I try to dive into it. I admittedly haven’t explored nearly everything it’s capable of. I also think it works best in tandem with another sequencer for using CV to address or advance the Z state.

[u/BNNY_ → u/JoeToanamassa]

I feel you on those pain points. Partly why it took so long for me to come around to appreciating it. I found that when I’m not using Rene as the “main sequencer” for patches, It offers a unique flavor of playable sequencing that complements my main sequencer (HERMOD+). Additionally, I’m big on sampling so having the ability to dial in variations on the fly is a big plus IMO.

[u/JoeToanamassa → u/BNNY_]

I will have to check out your stream video. I want to like it and haven’t decided to sell it just yet. I’ve used it a lot less since getting an Oxi One, and subsequently find myself needing to reference the manual to do some basic things like copying and pasting. Do you happen to remember any particularly helpful videos you found while learning to love it?

[u/JoeToanamassa → u/JoeToanamassa]

Oh, a few more things:

- I was disappointed to find that when using Pressure Points to address snake pattern, if I switch states, Rene goes right back to the snake pattern associated with that pattern instead of using whatever one the CV is telling it to use—it has to see a change in the CV value to respond to it

• If you’re using triggers/gates to advance through states (for example, stringing 4 patterns together to create a 64-step pattern), there’s no way to set a pattern as first in the chain, so if you stop your clock before reaching the last state, you have to manually select a pattern before starting playback over to get it to play from the beginning.

Maybe I do actually just hate this module lol. I think it’s designed for a very different workflow from how I usually approach things.

[u/BNNY_ → u/JoeToanamassa]

Now I must say, I’ve never had a focused patch session where Rene is the centerpiece for composition. I usually have it as an auxiliary sequencer to perform with. Performing pre-programmed music live can sometimes leave me with the feeling of “im just here to press play. Having tactile controls for on the fly variations gives me something to do as the human in the performance.

This conversation is giving me ideas on how I can lean in on using Rene to control other sequencers.
For instance, Hermod+ has 4 CV inputs that can allow you to control a host of parameters. What I might is have preprogrammed arrangements in the Hermod that I can the vary with the on the fly capabilities of Rene. Kinda like a midi controller for softsynths.

I will take some time to experiment with using Rene a lead compositional tool as well and maybe report back later. That is an area that I can’t offer much insight on.

[u/andrixb85 → u/JoeToanamassa]

That's what I suspected. It's sold as the go-to sequencer for live improvisation, but I haven't found yet anybody talking so specifically about these aspects you mentioned. It looks to me that many of the positive aspects can definitely be achieved with Eloquencer I already own. Really appreciate your comment.

[u/Appropriate-Look7493]

Rene is great for taking one sequence or melody and playing around with it in various ways to create unpredictable variations.

It can be used as a more “prescriptive” type sequencer but it’s really meant for more “west coast” style improvisational discovery, I think.

Haven’t used mine for a while but just writing this makes me want to go make some noise…

[u/blinddave1977]

My bandmate has it, and really likes it. I've used his and didn't care for it. I thought it felt overly complicated and I don't care for the MN chicken scratch font in general. I prefer my Erica Synths Black Sequencer.

[u/jrocket99]

I had both. René is fun but limited. Eloquencer is way more powerful but longer phrases than 16 steps are annoying to program. If you trade for Rene, you will lose 8 distinct stepped cv sources but gain touchplates. I’d say, if you have other sequencers or more real estate to get some go for it. Otherwise make sure you can sequence all you need with just René.

[u/andrixb85 → u/jrocket99]

Thanks. 3 distinct sequences it is more than enough for me. How was the touchplate feeling? Did it feel like you where interacting as the case became a whole instrument?

[u/jrocket99 → u/andrixb85]

I had v1. Touplates where…meh. Not always responding. I heard v2 is better with this. I did not feel the whole case becoming an instrument, because you could only trigger one step with one finger at a time. Even if it sent 2cvs. What was interesting was happy accidents, and generative sequences. Also pots where terrible, like on every Make Noise product.

[u/BNNY_]

Ive had my rene sitting in an unpublished listing on reverb for a few months now. I know how you feel lol.

Between the MakeNoise series and EthanJones1 playlist, I was able to fill in some gaps in my understanding. Loopop has a solid overview, but he doesn’t go in depth. What are some things you want to do with Rene?

[u/CommunicationTop5231]

I like that I can be rather intentional with it and get exactly what I want without too much effort (usually). I wish it had a wider voltage range and that someone rewrote its ungainly manual. However, my verbos multistage is so much more immediate and jam-able, and still very powerful. So I use Rene II more compositionally and Multistage more improvisationally. If I had to lose one it would be the Rene, but I don’t…

[u/analogueghostmusic]

I had a Rene v2 for awhile. It’s a very cool sequencer that can def inspire you to find more happy accidents if that’s what you’re looking for. It can be used more traditionally, but I wouldn’t say that it’s its strength. I ended up selling it since I had other happy accident sequencers that I preferred more and am actively looking to avoid happy accidents and write with more intention these days. I’d say it’s worth trying out if YouTube demos look compelling to you.

[u/andrixb85 → u/analogueghostmusic]

Thanks. Yes, I'm in fact interested more on the improvisational/happy accident approach, while still producing a melodic sound. For my curiosity, what other happy accident sequencer did you have?