Numerology is a sophisticated Mac modular step sequencer, capable of brewing patterns from simple to elaborate using combinations of note-making building blocks. It’s also a powerful host, opening up signal routing and modulation to AU plug-ins.

Version 3.1, released this week, may be a “point” release, but its two additions are significant. First, it’ll run as a VST plug-in in any host, which adds direct MIDI routing from plug-in to host. (Somewhere, plug-in developers are nodding, knowingly – AU may be more commonly associated with the Mac, but VST can be a better choice even for Mac users.)

Second, as you can see in the video, you get some tasty new real-time pattern recording modules. Out of the box, they’ll run easily with Novation’s inexpensive Launchpad controller, though you could adapt them to other controllers, too, if you wished. Check out the video to see it all coming together.

Description:

Numerology’s updated Launchpad mapping with realtime pattern recording into the DrumSeq, PolyNote and MonoNote sequencers. The laptop is running Ableton Live with three instances of the Numerology VST, as well as Camel Audio Alchemy for synth lead and NI Massive on pads. The drum sounds are from Numerology’s DrumKit module with a patch designed by Jason Wolf of Tripl3Tone.

All of this is yours in two editions:
Standard (US$129)
Pro (US$199) with multi-output support for hosted Audio Units, OSC support, custom scale quantization, and advanced modules

http://www.five12.com

Thanks to developer James Coker – and glad I can prod him to release videos with these software updates.

Numerology 2.3 & the Launchpad : Demo 1 from Five12 on Vimeo.

Remember the sequencer? There seem to be thousands of ways of firing up an FM synth or sampled keyboard, but when it comes to the process of actually assembling musical patterns – you know, the stuff music is made of – your choices are surprisingly limited.

Numerology is a box full of musical goodness, a set of modules for sequencing. An independently-developed tool with a passionate following, the software is the brainchild of developer Jim Coker, who has been dutifully adding carefully-crafted functionality with each release.

Version 2.3 adds beautiful, tight integration with the Novation Launchpad. It’s a fantastic match, with direct, one-to-one button manipulation of note, drum, chord, and matrix sequencing. In fact, it really gives Numerology the feel of being a hardware sequencer.

There’s great stuff in the pipeline, too: think OSC support, for control via monome, iPhone, and the like, plus the ability to run Numerology modules as Audio Unit plug-ins. And if you don’t have a Launchpad, recent builds have added other note tweaks, fixes, and other support.

But even before waiting for stuff to come, there’s already plenty to love about Numerology. At US$119, it’s a steal.

It could be a reason to pick up a cheap Mac, or to dedicate an older Mac to sequencing purposes in the studio. System requirements are light (hey, this is sequencing we’re talking about): OS X 10.4.11, 1GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 1024×768 screen resolution. I’m reconfiguring my workspace and making my MacBook into a little sequencing station.

I could ramble on all day, but best is checking out all the videos Jim has been working on for a sense of how this can work musically:
http://five12.com/

Sequencing – the collection of techniques that actually assemble events in our music – seems to get far less attention than it deserves. After all, there are fairly accepted ways of synthesizing sound, but as many ways of thinking about musical events as there are ways of thinking about composition. Among the big DAWs, you’ll often see pitches to upgrade based on new effects plug-ins or magical audio-processing abilities, but rarely MIDI sequencing improvements. (When there are, of course, I applaud.)

That makes this week’s pre-Christmas announcement of Numerology 2.0 all that more special. Numerology is a modular sequencer and that alone. It brings some of the modular capabilities usually found in synths to sequencing, with component sequencers and modulation for manipulating sequence evens the way you’d usually transform sound signal.

The upshot of all of this: you can play with musical patterns with the freedom usually reserved for synths. Features:

• Sequencing modules, including MonoNote (monophonic sequencer), polyphonic PolyNote (duh) and MatrixSeq, eight-track DrumSeq
• Component sequencers for modular-style sequencing, plus LFOs, envelopes, CV mixers, MIDI generators, MIDI processors
• Stacks: virtual equipment racks for easier composing / performance, and an integrated audio mixer
• Add software plug-ins (AU) or route to external hardware gear (yep, the computer is still awesome when it comes to sequencing outboard synths, even in 2008/9!)
• New, simple sound-generating modules for easy integration with the environment, including synthesis, polyphonic AudioSample and eight-part DrumKit
• MIDI remote control of parameters, plus custom CV, audio, and MIDI routing
• Timeline playlist arrangement
• Sync via MIDI clock, MTC, or ReWire
• Mac-only, 10.4.11 and later; US$99 until 1/4/09 (then $119)

System requirements are pretty tame (this is a sequencer, after all), so this could be a great application for an older Mac, provided it has a 1GHz or greater CPU. (PowerPCs included.)

How does it all work? Here are some videos to give you an idea. Hope to add this to my scary but delicious testing pile (New Years’ Resolution: more useful hands-on content).

A demo:

Getting started:

Any passionate Numerology users out there? We’d love to hear from you. What are your thoughts on the new version, and how do you use the tool in your music?