The only option to play a single synth engine across the entirety of the grid is in the 3-in-1 layout - which doesn’t allow you to wrap to an isomorphic layout. The scaled layout prevents access to the full freedom of chord exploration that isomorphic layout offers.
What should this feature achieve?
Currently the largest isomorphic/perfect fourths layout is The Beach (with Wrap +5) which only gives you a 22 note range. With an isomorphic layout across all 60 notes you would get a 32 note range (two octaves and some). Giving isomorphic/perfect fourths layout to the entire grid will open the device to guitar and bass players - a potential gateway device into the world of synths. There is little to no learning curve from taking guitar chord shapes or guitar solos and translating that to the grid. Isomorphic/perfect fourths layout would allow guitar/push/linnstrument players to create and play 2 note tri-timbral patches with the chords, shapes and patterns they already know. Or massive 1 note tri-timbral bass and leads.
With full access to the grid, a user could work with a single synth engine utilizing all 8 voices - this would encourage deeper focus on individual engines instead of splitting focus to three engines. Single engine full grid access could encourage a deeper appreciation for the synth engine as its own singular/standalone instrument.
Are there any workarounds?
You can trigger the synth externally from a grid controller that has isomorphic/perfect fourths layout such as Ableton Push - at which point one might just consider playing built in synths instead of exploring Synth’s engines.
I would love that! It would be sick if the grid could be customized to whatever we wanted. I’m thinking about Novation’s components web based application that lets you drag and drop preconfigured elements to the grid.
But yes, drop tuning. Open tunings would be cool too!
This has been discussed before ( more than once I think). Fretted string layouts have notes of the same pitch are repeated - that doesn’t work in the Synth blocks so it has to be done with multiple blocks (I’ve tried it). Standard guitar string intervals can’t be done because there is one major 3rd string interval (6 string bass can and you can set it to set it to different ranges, because they are all 4ths). Custom tunings won’t work either, it raises more problems. Personally, I’ve played guitar for more decades that I don’t care to count and emulating it on pads I have found awful to try and use, you might just as well think of it as a simple chromatic block of 5 columns or rows.
If I’m following what you are saying, I think I agree. I’m not interested in emulating a standard EADGBE guitar tuning. Just 5 rows in 4th intervals in chromatic mode (wrap of row+5 as defined in the other three block layouts). Looking for something similar to a Linnstrument or Push chromatic layout. I would encourage you to check out Jxmie Blake’s work for a precise example of what can be achieved.
I think your best bet for the Synth is the New Flag grid. The first block of two columns either chromatic or a diatonic scale if it suits - I’d use it for bass notes. The two other blocks set to chromatic will give each row rising by a 4th. I’ve not spent time on the Synth for some time - ideally you’d want to make the third block a diminished 5th higher than the second block, but at a quick look you can’t do that, but I may be wrong. (For the guitarists knowledge of chord shapes on the four bottom strings would inform them, but it can be confusing thinking that way I feel.)
I think you are right, New Flag gives you a good amount of space, it is a good workaround. However, I think we’d benefit from having an isomorphic layout for the entire grid.
Would also be sick for the 3-in-1 layout that already exists, allowing you to get some bi and tritimbral patches going.
